nnDnnDDnDDDDDDDnnnnannnnnDDDDDDn ^*RST UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY (^ 3 S, o sS" Gr4-7 V, /S" Vol. XVIII. JAN. 1, 1890. No. 1. 1- Estahlished in i<^7ef. fth.nn wets. each, sent p. TERMS: Jl.OO Per ANNUM. IX ADVANCE; ZCopies forJ1.90; 3 for $2. T.^i; 6 for $4.00; 10 or more, 7.5 cts. each. Single num- ber. .'5 cts. Additions to eiub.s inav be , '^^ti^^.'^l^.I'f^l.o^^r^.''^'''' '-'''''] A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO rVBLlSHED SE51I-MONTHI,Y BY Clubs to different postofflces. not less i.nn 90 ets. each. Sent postpaid, in the U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- j tries of the Universal Postal Union. 18 ets. per year extra. To all countries t NOT of the U. P. U., 42 ets. per year extra. BEE-ESCAPES. AN IMPROVEMENT ON REESE'S; A VALUABLE IN- VENTION. The cut tells the story, and I can almost hear the reader exclaim, "Why didn't I think of that?" It represents a solid board, with bee-spaces on one side, to match hive and supers. The holes (seen below the wire cloth) are bored through the board, of any size from % to \V« in. The cones are horizontal instead of perpendicular and are double, or one inside the other, with a grood bee-space around the inner one. They are made by pressing- a piece of grreen wire cloth over a piece of wood, of the shapes given below, and just a bee-space thick. It is surprising how nicely the wire cloth can be shaped. There should be just room enough for a bee to pass out at the exit; but it is not so easy for any to get in, on account of projecting wire. The efficiency of the escape does not depend on this, however. Should dibbern's bee-escape. any bee find its way into the outer cone it would be almost certain to travel aniund the inner cone, and out again into the hive. This will fool any ordinary bee; but should one occasionally find the way back into the vacated super— why, it would soon become lonesome, and down through the hole it would go. The cones are fastened to the under side of the board, and the cones will just fit nicely in the bee- space under it. The cones can be removed in a moment, and the holes corked up, and it can then be used as an inner cover. I also use such a board with one or two holes open, to place under supers of finished sections, to keep the white new comb from getting soiled, while the honey remains on the hive to ripen. Of course, some bees remain with ihe honey to care for it, but it comes out nice and bright, at the close of the white-honey flow. The bees can protect it from the moth, and keep it from leaking, much better than we can. Then what a satisfaction to handle nice, clean, dry sec- tions, instead of sticky ones, when we come to pack in shipping-cases! I think these boards will be wanted by our best bee-keepers, for this purpose alone. It will be seen that I have a triple use for these boards. I have experimented and studied bee-escapes for several years. Many are the contrivances that I have tried with varied results. I have tried the tent escape, and others, but none proved eutirelj' satisfactory. The Reese escape was the best of any heretofore; but that was not perfect, though it has recently been improved. It is my opinion, how- ever, that depending on a vertical funnel-shaped tube, requiring room under it, will always be ob- jectionaiile. Some have lately advised using small cones in the holes through the solid board; but such will be found insufficient. To Mr. Reese, of Winchester, Ky., however, belongs the honor of giving us an escape that generally worked verj' well. It was in using this escape, and trying to overcome its weak points, that I discovered my horizontal escape. But for his escnpe mine might never have been thought of. Mine is all right, and I think it will be found all that can be desired. I now make it free to the bee-keepers of the world. 6 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Jan. I hope all will give it a trial. If it will help to make the labors of beekeeping any easier or more pleas- ant I shall feel well repaid. C. H. Dibbern. Milan, 111. After we received friend Dibbern's arti- cle as above, the following communication from friend Keese himself came to hand : Mr. Root:— I inclose you a portion of a private letter just i-eceived from Mr. C. H. Dibbern, which will explain itself somewhat, in regard to the latest improved bee-escape, of which I send you a model. REESE'S HORIZONTAL BEE-ESCAPE. You can see there are no projections in my new es- cape to Interfere with bee spaces in anyway; and the escape-boards can be piled up snugly for future use. They can also be used for inner covers for brood-chambers or supers by stopping the passage; and in hot weather, what a beautiful plan for ven- tilation over the top of the surplus cases! Winchester, Ky., Dec. 4. J. S. Reese. The letter referred to by friend Reese is as follows ; and as it contains some addi- tional hints we give it to our readers : Dear Friend Reese:— Your welcome letter of yes- terday, together with your model of bee-escape, is just at hand. I am much pleased with your escape, and I know it will work perfectly. In so far as there are no projections, it is perhaps an improvement on mine. Still, as all modern hives have bee-spaces, I see no objections to it on that account. Again, when used for an inner cover, yours could be cov- ered by a piece of tin, while mine would have to be removed, unless there was a full bee-space in un- der the board, in which case it would be necessary only to plug up the hole and turn it over. I pre- sume it will require a season's experience to decide which is really the better. I admit that yours is an ingenious arrangement— something that I tried to conceive, but failed. Since writing you before, I have made a board with a center escape, and it is a beauty. Still, I don't know that it is any improve- ment on the single-exit escape. Milan, 111., Dec. 3. C. H. Dibbern. Without question, friends Dibbern and lieese have given the bee-keeping world a valuable invention, and they both deserve the thanks of bee-keepers for the part each has played in the matter, and for so freely giving "their ideas to the bee-keeping public. Priend Reese's bee-escape was a good thing, and worked satisfactorily, as we gather from a large number of reports ; but there was just one trouble with it, and that was, that the cone stuck up perpendicularly above the board, making it necessary to have an empty super, or something of the sort, to take in the cones ; but friend Dib- bern has very ingeniously laid the cones, as it were, on their sides, and flattened them down so they could be adapted to an ordina- ry honey-board— the same, bee-spaced on one or both sides, as the case might be. With such an arrangement it is possible to put the escape between the hive and super, without bothering with an empty super- shell. It would be well to incorporate Reese's escape into Dibbern's board, then there will be no possibility of the cones themselves being damaged. Ernest. DON'T RAISE A SUEPLUS OP DHONES. DOOtilTTLE'S VIEWS ON AN IMPORTANT MATTER. From what I have seen in nearly every apiary which I have visited in the past, I am of the opin- ion that bee-keepers lose very much of the profits which they might otherwise secure, by having too much drone comb in their hives. Each colony should be allowed one or two inches of drone comb, but no more, unless such colony is one which we wish to rear drones from for the improvement of our stock, and in this case I generally give from one to three frames of such combs. Where three drone combs are used in each hive, it is a rare thing that I secure any surplus honey from this colony, for the drones will consume nearly if not quite all the surplus honey gathered bj' that colony, especially if I try to have the colony keep these drones throughout the season. To be sure, the colony will generally give some surplus right in the height of the season; but this must be given back for the drones, if they are kept after the honey harvest. I have given this item so that the readers may know just what a lot of drones in each hive will cost them. "But," says ono, "if this is the case, why allow any drone comb in any but the colony which is to rear drones?" The reason for allowing one or two inches of drone comb to each colony is, that all colonies, which I have ever seen, will have some drone comb any way, even if they have to tear down the worker-cells to get it, building drone comb in its stead. Now, where we try to exclude every cell of drone comb, the bees revolt, and build drone comb in outof-the-way places, a few cells here and a few there, so that the bee-keeper has no chance of keeping unwelcome drones from flying, by way of decapitating them just before they hatch, un- less he uses a drone trap, which thing is an incon- venience to the bees and their owner, generally speaking. By having this one or two inches of drone comb all together in a single comb, and that comb placed in a certain position in every hive, it is a very easy thing to open the hives every 23 days and decapitate all the drones in a whole apiary. By placing this comb on the outside, or next to the side of the hive furthest from where the brood- nf St is, in the spring, the queen will not lay in it till the bees become strong enough to compel her (so to speak) to lay in drone-cells. In this way drones are not produced in hives thus flxed till late in the season: and if left in this position, none will be reared late, as these oul side combs are the first to be filled with honey, thus doing away with any more drones, as the bees are not as anxious for drones at this season of the year, hence will not take the honey out of the drone-cells to rear them. In this way , about twice decapitating the drones dur- ing one season is all that is needed with any colony, "But," I think I hear gome one else say, "it is ISOO GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. ? easy enough to talk about having only one or two square inches of drone comb in a hive, but quite another thing to keep the drone comb down to this; for almost every year holes get in some of the combs by way of mice, moldy pollen, etc., which the bees fill with drone comb when they ' patch up.' How is this to be avoided ? " To remedy this matter, my usual plans have been, either to fill these holes with old worker comb or with foundation, using the comb where wires were not used in the frames, and foundation where the frames were wired. The best time to do this is when fruit-trees are in bloom ; for at this season there is little honey in the hive, hence all patches of drone comb are readily discovered. Take all but the desired combs, which have drone-cells in them, out of the hive, and substitute perfect work- er combs for them. Now take these combs to the shop, and, after cutting out the drone-cells, flt a piece of worker comb into the hole made by re- moving the drones ; or if the comb has a hole in it, fill it with worker comb, thus getting the start of the bees. To best do this, I have several sizes of old fruit-cans, without either top or bottom, one end of which has its edge filed sharp, so that it will easily cut a hole through the combs by twirling a little while pressing down. By using the one which will just take out the drone-cells, a good job is done; while by using the same to cut out the "patch "of worker comb, the same will fit inex- actly. These worker " patches " are always taken out of Imperfect combs, which materially lessens the number to be patched. For wired frames, cut away the cells around one side of the hole, so that the septum will be laid bare about the edge of it, and press a piece of foundation on this bared edge, having the foundation so warm that it will adhere to the comb while doing it. Now, this is the best way I used to know, and the only way, where the apiarist is short of combs; but there is a point about it which I do not like. All around the edges of this "patch" there will be cells of all shapes and sizes, which the bees pur- suade themselves into thinking are for drones, whenever any are large enough to rear drones in, so that we often have as many drones reared around a large " patch " as would be reared in one square inch of drone comb. To remedy this has caused me some study. When I came to have a surplus of combs, so I did not need all I had in early spring, I thought out the following, which has proved as near a success as any thing that I know of. All the imperfect combs were taken from the bees as before; but instead of being " patched " they were hung away in a dry airy place till the bees became strong enough so I could form nuclei. Now, all nuclei or very weak colonies de- sire only worKcr-bees, so they will build cells of that size only as nearly as may be, they being al- ways willing to build comb whenever there are bees enough, and honey coming in from the fields, or they are fed. After cutting out the drone comb, or thinning the combs as I desired, they were set into nuclei to be patched; and, let me tell you, the patches thus put on were very pleasing to my eyes, and I have here told my readers how it is done, so they can share the pleasure with me, next season, they having plenty of time to prepare for the same. Borodino, N. F., Dec. 19. G. M. Doolittle. Friend D., I agree with you exactly, and I want to thank you for one or two ideas that, so far as I know, have never before been brought out. One is, that a colony having a large number of drones need not be expected to furnish any surplus, even thougli the sea- son be extra good. Anotlier is, managing, by decapitation every 23 days, so that not even a/ei/; drones shall take wing from the hives which we prefer shall not rear any fly- ing drones at all. The third idea is, turning combs over to nuclei, that contain patches of drone comb, and letting the worker-bees of said nuclei do the patching. Since you men- tion it, I feel quite certain they would put in only worker comb, but I never thought of it before. SKUNKS AND BEES. THE HABITS OF THE FORMER; NOT AN ENEMY OF THE BEE-KEEPER AND THE FARMER. What do I know about skunks? I have had a great deal of experience with these animals. I have caught hundreds of them in traps. Before their skins became valuable for furs 1 got rid of them the best way that I could. The main thing, of course, is to get the life out of them without mak- ing a smell. When I was trapping up on the front- iers of Iowa, 30 and 40 years ago, there was no sale for the skins; then I used to take them out of the traps alive and let them go. Sometimes they would come back and get caught the second and third time; then I would shoot them. But few know how to shoot a skunk and not get a smudge. If you shoot his head off, there will be trouble, as their wea- pons are still in good order, and will be used. If you want to shoot the skunk when it is in a trap, stand by the side of it, and about 10 or 1.5 feet away, with a good load in your shotgun. Then shoot him through thf^ small of the back. The object is to kill the hind end of the animal first. By cutting through the back you paralyze all the back parts, and there will be no trouble. I have tried poisoning them when they were in my traps. Put strychnine in a bit of lard, or in a small piece of meat, and place it on the end of a pole 10 feet long. Poke it out to the skunk slowly. He will accept it and eat it right down, and in a few minutes will be dead. But very nearly all that I killed that way made the charac- teristic bad odor. I never saw one die from strych- nine but that I felt sorry for the poor thing, as it appeared to sufi'er so much. Skunks are easily trapped; then if you don't want to save the skins, shoot them through the back. But if you want to save the fur, get the skunk into water deep enough to drown him. If the water is not over half a mile away you can lead him there if you don't hurry too much. I have done it a great many times. There is no trouble in handling a skunk if you do not fight him. I can always make friends with him, and then take him where I please. When we get a skunk in a steel trap, unless some- thing has been there to frighten him, or fight, when we get there there is no bad smell. After he has gotten into the trap, as there has been no one there to plague him, he has spent all his energies in try- ing to get away, and has very likely got the trap- chain wound around every thing within reach, and the poor thing can hardly move. Now, we want to get the chain free. We can not go right up to it at first. The skunk is watching, and is afraid that it GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Jan. is going to be hurt. We will try to make it think that we won't hurt it. Walk and move about at a distance, gradually coming nearer. Talk or sing a little; watch the chap closely. If it raises its flag (tail) we are to fall back a little. If we have a hatchet or hammer, pound lightly on something; work up to it by degrees, all the time watching his flag. As long as that is down there is no danger. Usually it will take half an hour to get up to it safely. Then work carefully. Begin with the end of the trap chain; get that loose first, then all the chain clear. We now want a pole about 10 or 12 feet long. Fasten the trap-chain to one end of it, and get hold of the other end. It every thing is all clear, begin to lead the animal toward the water. The poor thing will be glad to go if we give it a chance. We go slow at first; but if we have clear ground, and the animal is caught by the fore foot, it will come along about as fast as we walk. If caught by the hind foot it will go about half as fast. When we get to the water, get the skunk into it deep enough to cover him, without holding him down. All the poor thing thinks of now is to get out of the water, and will drown, and never think of using his weapon of defense. But now having told you how to kill the poor creature, I am going to put in a plea for his life. Why kill the poor thing? I just want to tell you that the skunk is a great destroyer of grubs and bugs of all kinds, and I never saw any evidence that it ever eats any of my bees. But it is always, Avhen the weather is suitable, digging grubs out of the fields and garden. They are very plentiful here, and I am willing for them to stay. One year an old skunk had a litter of young ones under a corn-crib in the corner of our home beeyard. I fed her and petted the young ones. They are very affectionate, and as nice as a cat— if we don't abuse them. They do the farmer more gctod than harm. They are around my house nearly every night in the sum- mer. We often see them when we go outdoors in the evening. In one respect they are like folks. There are some bad ones amongst them that will kill chickens, and perhaps eat bees. If I knew one was doing mischief I would set a detective for him in the shape of a trap, and kill it; but 1 would not kill all because ime was bad. E. France. Platteville, Wis., Dec. 9. Well done, old friend. You have given us an exceedingly valuable paper, and one that perhaps no other man could furnish. So you have really made friends and got ac- quainted witli this little animal that seems to be looked upon with disgust by almost every member of community. I am very glad indeed to hear a word in its favor. I think, however, that the testimony is incon- trovertible that they do eat bees, at least oc- casionally, in considerable numbers. We certainly ought to try to encourage an ani- mal that destroys the grubs and insects. By the way, old friend, your fund of informa- tion and knowledge in regard to the habits of the wild animals of our country, it seems to me, ought to be put in a book. I doubt whether any work extant has ever been able to give the facts you have in your possession in regard to these near neighbors of ours. The trouble is, that those who are acquaint- ed with the habits of the denizens of our forests can hardly be induced to write their knowledge otit for print. BEE-HUNTING IN THE SIEKBA NEVA- DA MOUNTAINS. A BEE-HONT. Continual from last issue. In the month of June, 1886, a party of four of us started out on a bee-hunt. We intended to go to Peavine Valley, about 35 miles northeast of Placer- ville, then across the American Itiver, and up Silver Fork Canyon, as bee-trees in that neighborhood generally contained considerable honey. With this much in the way of introduction, I shall proceed to give you a detailed narrative of our journey, and experience in hunting wild bees. We took an early stait in the morning, and were several miles on our journej' before sunrise. It was a beautiful morning. The air was fresh and invigorating; wild birds of various colors sang their lays in the trees overhead, as if to welcome the great sun, for another day. Myriads of small insects were beginning to circle in the air, with their monotonous hum, while ever and anon a beautifully colored hummingbird would go flitting by. The Sierras were white with bloom, and the air was loaded with the fragrance of various wild flowers. We reached the American River about noon. The wild scenery along this river is grand beyond description. The river rolls and tosses impetu- ously in its rocky bed. The banks are fringed with a growth of alders, willows, weeping-aspen, dog- wood, etc. In some places in the river there are beautifully clear pools of water where mountain trout swarm in abundance. Ever and anon we • came across the water ousel, a small brownish-col- ored bird, flying about from stone to stone, present- ly diving into the water, disappearing from sight. In a few seconds it came to the surface again, after going several feet from the place of starting, hunt- ing for a meal of young flsh and other things, up- on which it feeds. The king-fisher is seen patient- ly watching from some commanding point, ever ready to pounce on any unwary flsh that dares to venture too near the surface of the water. On either side of the American River the mountains rise abruptly to a height of several hundred feet. The north mountain-sides are covered with a dense growth of youug firs, spruces, hazels, ceanothus, flowering dogwood, maples, etc. On the north side the snow generally lies from a month to six weeks later than on the south side, thus making the bloom considerably later than on the south side. The south sides are generally pretty open. The mountain-sides are clothed with a scattered growth of manzanita. chaparall, shingle-brush, etc., all of which bloom early in the season. Later on in the season come goldenrod, asters, lilies, lupines, peppermint, pennyroyal, etc. The further up the river we go, the grander and more impressive the scenery becomes. Dark forests of pine, fir, and spruce, rise up in the distance, while here and there a grand old sugar-pine towers up its head sublimely from the ridge-top. After following the river as far as we intended, we went directly up the mountain-side. At length we came upon a small level spot, and took a rest under the shade of a large oak. After resting an hour or so, and taking a refreshing drink of the cool mountain water, we again resumed our jour- ney. We found a great many wild bees at work on various flowers. When about half way up the 1S9U GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. mountain we stopped to admire the beautiful scene- ry abounding on every side. Far away in the dis- tance, like a silver ribbon, we could discern the Sacramento River, and the miles of valley border- ing on each side. To our left rose the majestic summits of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, covered with snow, while in front of us, on the opposite ridge, a dark belt of silver firs girdled the moun- tain. After resting a few moments we again began the ascent of the mountain. The first thing that attracted our attention was a small mountain meadow with its crooked streams, covered with Rocks and lonely flower leas, Playgi-oundsof the mountain breeze. There were innumerable wild flowers in bloom, of all hues and colors. We found a number of bees working on Mexican clover. In a few moments we had a line started, which ran directly up the moun- tain-side. Arriving at the top, and not finding the tree we were in search of, we continued down the other side, and soon came across their home, situat- ed in a tall black flr, about lOU feet from the ground. We found two more trees that afternoon. Fatigued with our day's journey, we proceeded to make camp for the evening, and get supper. We soon had a great fire blazing, wood being there in abundance. Our journey had sharpened our appe- tites, and we ate our supper with a keen relish. After supper we gathered a fresh supply of wood, and then made us a bed of pine needles. We re- tired early, and slept soundly until morning. Get- ting up early, and rekindling the fire, we soon had our coffee boiling, and made preparations for breakfast. After breakfast we concluded we would cut one of the bee-trees and have some honey to eat. We intended to cut the tree we found first, a large yellow pine. Two of us worked a cross-cut saw, and two more chopped. The tree was over five feet in diameter. After five hours of steady work, a monarch of the forest came crashing to the earth, bringing in its fall a couple of smaller trees. The bees were terribly confused at this sudden downfall of their long-cherished home. After waiting for the bees to get filled up with honey, so they would not be so cross, we went to work and soon had the tree opened. We took out comb after comb, filled with honey. We obtained almost 300 lbs., and if the empty comb had been filled as it is at certain seasons of the year, there might have been nearly 300 lbs. of honey. Some of the combs were over five feet in length. The bees clustered up in one corner of the log, and I placed their brood inside, fixing it up with sticks so that It would not tumble down. In a few hours the bees were covering their brood nicely. I fixed some bark over them to protect them from wind and rain until I should have time to come after them. Placerville, Cal. S. L. Watkins. To he continued. MRS. AXTELL'S REPORT. WINTERING ; TAKING OFF HONEV ; MARKETING ; DISPOSING OF CHUNK HONEY, ETC. The weather has beeo very warm for several days. Bees In the cellar are quiet, although the thermometer is up to 53. We carried water, and poured it along the alleys between the htves. We keep the cellar dark, but keep two windows open, and the door that comes up into a large room, and both doors of the room are open. I think pouring water around in the cellar has a great deal to do in keeping them quiet. Before we did that, they were very uneasy. There are 1.56 colonies in the cellar, which is 20x20 feet square. We also have 114 wintering out of doors at the out-apiary. The bees seem to be in very good condition this fall, but they are light in stores. We obtained about 13,000 or 14,000 lbs. of honey, mostly gathered in the spring. It is white honey. As it Is a good deal of work to prepare so much honey for market, we sell the most of ours in Chi- cago, where it is sold by commission men. It would be impossible for us to sell our honey ourselves. We have orders for it as fast as we can get it ready for market, and could sell much more if we had it. The honey that is not well filled out, we cut out and sell in pans and candy-pails. We fill a pall full of chunk honey, then fill solid with liquid honey. We next melt up some rosin and lard into a soft wax, and wax the top of the pail, and nail down the lid. We instruct the buyer, as soon as he receives it, to loosen the top a little at one side, and drain off the liquid honey, or bore a hole in the bottom and let it all drain off. This is the way we fix it when we send it a distance by the cars. HOW WE TOOK OFF OUR HONEY. We took off all our honey this fall without the use of a smoker or bee-hat. When the first frost came we hurried out in the morning to the work, and found the bees below out of the supers and in the brood-combs, except a very few hives, and those we left until a colder morning. We slipped off the supers and set them on top for a hand to carry into the honey-house; laid back the honey- boards, and did not cover the hives until the supers were all off. There were a very few bees carried into the honey-house ; but during the day they flew to the window, which we swung open, and they went home. We tried using Dr. Miller's small tents of mosquito-bar over the supers during warm weather, and found the bees soiled the sections by their droppings when confined inside of the tent before they found their way out at the top. We found but little trouble in getting the bees out of the supers by smoking them vigorously at first, not too fast, so as to confuse the bees, but enough to drive them down quickly, and then snatch them off before the bees came up into them again. PACKING FOR MARKET. In packing honey for market, great care is taken to have the bottom and three-fourths of an inch or so up the sides well protected by two or three thick- nesses of paper, with no break in the paper to let the honey leak through. We generally have it packed several days before sending; and if any crate leaks we unpack and fix it so not a drop can run out. It liurts tlic mle of honey very much to have it leaky and dauhu to handle. It soon becomes very untidy in looks; and it is the appearance of the honey that makes it sell quickly. We have taken great pains, in packing, to put all weak combs between two strong ones. Occasionally we find a crate or super of very nice honey, but sealed only at the top and a little at sides. Such ones we pack between two strong ones, and turn them bot- tom upward. We hear no complaints of their be- ing broken down, though I believe If we could make sales of all such honey at home it would be better; but we had more of it than we could well sell at home. lu GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUIIE. Jan. MRS. CHADDOCK'S DEATH. We were sad to hear of Mrs. Chaddock's death. One by one we are passing' away ; and it seems to me it is unwise to defer a preparation for that other world to which we are all so rapidly hastening. Yes, Mrs. Chaddock was a friend to humanity. So be my life a thing felt, but not lauded, And I but remembered by what I have done. As the wintry winds whistle around us, let us each one look around to see if we can not help some one else to be more comfortable. Roscville, 111., Dec. 14. Mrs. L. C. A.xtell. No doubt, good friends, you have trouble in keeping your bee house cool during this very warm winter. It is now December 23, and we have radishes, lettuce, and onions, still unharmed in the open ground. In fact, for two weeks past there has hardly been a frost. The frequent occurrence of such warm winters in our locality has been the strongest factor in deciding us to winter our bees in the open air. Dandelions are now in bloom, and the bees are flying al- most every day. Your plan of taking off honey after the bees have been driven be- low by frosty nights is a very simple and easy one. The greatest drawback I have found is, that sections are too much soiled by being left for the bees to travel over un- til time for frost. The objection you make to Dr. Miller's tent, I think would not ap- ply if the honey were taken off during warm weather. ^ I ^ JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. IS THERE DANGER OP HYBRIDIZING THE SEED? I SEE by the reports you receive, that very many of the growers of buckwheat sow it beside other kinds. Most of them do the same here, then they cut a little strip of the Japanese with the other kind, thinking the rest will be pure, not realizing that bees will mix the pollen of the two kinds. Now, the effect of this mixing of the pollen on the next sowing of the seed is very plain. Some stalks will ripen later, and the grain will be smaller. This ignorant, reckless management, if kept up, will soon make the variety only a little improvement on the old. Now, friend Root, this buckwheat is too valuable to be thus spoiled. Not only does it yield nearly double the amount of grain that the other varieties do, but it is much earlier. I com- menced cutting mine, on new land, in just two months from the time of sowing; and then it stands up so much better. On my five acres of land there was not ,',i of an acre lodged. It was a heavy growth, 4 to 4!4 feet high, and leaned only a little, so I had to cradle it one way. I believe it is equal- ly good for honey or flour. If there is any seed yet in the country that is ab- solutely pure, some one ought to procure it and keep it for sale; and I believe you are the ones to do it. I'd rather pay three times as much for pure seed, that which has never been sown nearer than 60 rods of any other kind, than that which Is offered in the market, or ray own either, which is as pure as the seed I obtained of you, as there was no oth- er buckwheat nearer then 80 rods. The extra ex- pense of pure seed is not of much account, as it takes so little seed ; 18 lbs. is plenty on strong clo- ver land. H. S. Hoxie. Holloway, Mich., Dec. 4, 1889. If what you say be true, it certainly is a serious matter ; but 1 should like to have our experiment colleges tell us whether buckwheat will mix. Will Prof. Cook or W. J. Green please tell us what they know about it? and if they don't know will they undertake to have some experiments made in regard to the matter, during the coming season? BASSWOOD SECTIONS VS. BASS-WOOD HONEY. WHAT H. K. BOARDMAN THINKS OF THE MATTER. The destruction of the basswood timber, much of which is used for making honey sections and other bee-keepers' supplies, is rapidly exhausting the honey resources, and is well becoming a subject of alarm to bee-keepers. We must turn our attention to some other kinds of timber for this purpose; for when our resources are exhausted, your business as well as ours will be at an end. I have no doubt that basswood is better adapted to making one- piece sections than any other timber. But every thousand sections so used represents so many pounds of honey resource wiped out of existence; and whi!e T do not expect to stay the destruction of this valuable timber to the bee-keeper, I have de- cided to give the little influence in my power in that direction. I have decided to buy no more sec- tions in future, nor bee-supplies of any description, made from basswood timber. This may look to you very feeble, but it is right. H. R. Boardman. East Townsend, O., Dec. 18. Friend B., I heartily agree with you in what you say about the destruction of bass- wood ; but 1 do not believe that it will be best for all of us to declare that we will use basswood no longer for sections. The mat- ter was discussed quite freely, after reading your paper, at the Michigan State Conven- tion, and different parties present mention- ed a great variety of purposes for which basswood is now being used. One friend said, that in his locality they were cutting more of it for broom-handles, a great deal, than has ever been used for sections. An- other said they were using carload after carload in the manufacture of paper. The envelopes we are now sending to our cus- tomers are said to be made of basswood. If all the bee-keepers in the land should at once give up basswood, it would probably be only a drop in the bucket. My advice would be this: Commence to raise bass- wood. If it does not pay for honey, I think in many localities it would pay for a variety of industries for w^hich it is now being used. Not only should we plant basswood, but let us keep cows and other stock from our tim- ber land. When basswood sections were first made, scarcely ten years ago, a man brought us some logs. Well, a few days ago he brought us some lumber made fjom the shoots that started up around the stumps. I believe such shoots always come up and grow with incredible rapidity if we only keep stock off the land. GARDENING FOR JANUARY. The above was crowded over into our next issue, by the report of the convention at Lansing, Mich. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 11 A VISIT TO G. M. DOOLITTIiE. FlllEND STEPHENS()N TELLS WHAT HE SAW AND HEARD. Editor Gleanings— Dean- iNos, and in his book, " Scientific Queen-Rearing." I was particularly well pleased with his division- board feeder, which, as you may remember, is prac- tically a frame with sides built up of thin stuff to an inch or two of the Itop, much on the principle of your Miller feeder. Another thing that attract- ed my attention was a comb-foundation machine consisting of a pair of plaster dies fitting over one another, and inclosed in a box which opened and closed like a book, f witnessed the operation of making some foundation in it, and I think that, for small operations, it is a very desirable machine. Next in order came the bees themselves. Most of his hives were still on their summer stands, pro- tected by chaff packing and top cushions contained in an outer box. Some of these will.be [removed to a bee-cellar later on. The hives had a decided tilt forward to keep out moisture, a la Muth. The bees, of which I saw a few specimens under their quilts, were the yellowest Italians I ever saw. On one of them I counted five yellow bands. Indeed, the golden color extends nearly from the thorax to the tip, and the black bands are quite small. The yellow was more of an orange, like that of the Cyp- rian, though without admixture of Cyprian blood. The bee-cellar was well contrived, with top and sub-earth ventilation. The floor is occasionally sprinkled with sawdust, to keep down damp, and the entrance is closed by three doors, one within the other, so as to form dead-air spaces, thus secur- jng a mild even temperature. Boston, Mass. H. Stephensqn. Perhaps I should explain, that, although friend Stephenson writes from Boston, Mass., his present residence is in England. IJe has, however, been Jiving for some time in Charlamont, Bedford Co., Va.— The plas- ter dies alluded to have been frequently mentioned in Gleanings, as our older readers will remember. My impression is, that they are not much used now. — In re- §ard to the five yellow bands, I think friend tephenson must refer to the downy fur or covering. I have never seen more than three distinct yellow bands, as we define them in the ABC book. It is also my im- pression that friend Doolittle had decided to use his sub-earth ventilators, either very little or none at all. Will he tell us about itV AVINTERING BEES. HAVING AN EMPTY AIRSPACE BEI.OW THE liHOOD- COMBS, ETC. One of the most important requisites for winter- ing bees in the North is the proper temperature. We have to observe, that the temperature of the air surrounding the cluster only has any effect in this respect. This is many times overlooked. We may have in a cellar a comparatively low temper- ature; but inside of the hive the temperature may be just right, if no or very little ventilation is al- lowed. Another time the cellar may be much warmer; but by full ventilation of the hives the temjierature inside of them may be too low never- theless; so if we want to find out the proper tem- perature for the bees, we should always speak of the air surrounding the cluster, to get comparable results. In fact, I do not know what is the best tempera- ture here. What I could say would be guesswork only; but 1 know that some hives are of such a construction that this best temperature is always secured automatically, and this for many hundred years. The reader may be astonished, but it is as true as it is simple. If we keep our bees in a shallow chamber just as large as it is necessary for the colony, and not larger, packed as warm and as tight as possible, and give no ventilation above, the temperature of the air in this chamber will soon get warm enough by the consumption of honey, the entrance to this chamber being just under the cluster of the bees. Under this chamber and under the entrance is a second chamber, not quite as large, but empty. A similar arrangement is known here in the United States as downward ventilation, except that, usual- ly, the entrance is on the bottom of the lower emp- ty chamber; but this difference is important. We will suppose, now, by the breathing of the bees the temperature of the air surrounding the cluster will get warmer; the warm ;air will always rise, and so the upper chamber will get warmer by and by. The entrance is open, and so if the air in the lower chamber gets warmer than the outside air, it will pour out by the entrance, and cool air will gel in till the air in this lower chamber has nearly the same temperature as the outside air. The bees are entirely quiet, so long as the temperature is cor- rect. Now, if the temper^turelin the upper cham- ber gets too warm, the beeB;commencejto extend.the cluster, and consequently are moving. This causes some disturbance of the air, and cold and fresh air from below is mixed with the warm and impure air from above, and so the proper temperature and ventilation are secured 'again. The air in the low- er ctiarnber is somewhat warmer now than before, 12 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. and will pour out ag-ain by the entraace, and the lower temperature in the lower chamber is secured again. But this arrangement has some other advantages. By this ventilation, some air, but not more than is necessary, will leave the hive, and with It a part of the water, breathed out by the bees, will go away. If any water will condense, it will be always where cold and warm air meet; that is, near the entrance. The upper part of the hive will remain dry. The cluster of the bees is, if the upper chamber is not too high, always just above the entrance, and so the bees can, if necessary, have access to the con- densed water here, and have dry winter quarters nevertheless. In Poland bee-keeping has been a pursuit for many hundreds of years, and was very important some centuries ago. Many tons of honey and wax were exported every year. Here they used log gums with an entrance half of the height of the hive. In the fall, that part of the combs lower than the entrance was cut out, and so the condi- tion just described was secured. This manage- ment may not seem very good, but winter losses were and are nearly unknown in that country, with very severe winters. In Russia it is the general opinion that no colony can be wintered by any oth- er arrangement, either outdoors or in cellars or clamps. In the province of Hanover, Germany, too, is an old kind of bee-keeping a pursuit. The bee-keep- ers of that country use a straw skep about 18 inches high, and the entrance is somewhat nearer the top than the bottom of the hive, and winter losses are very rare. The modern bee-keepers of Germany use frames about 14 inches high. Some claim, as here in the United SI ates for some years, that they are better than shallow frames for wintering. The entrance was at first on the bottom of the hive, and the re- sults of wintering not very good. Since some years it is recommended, and now quite generally in use, to make the entrance about 6 inches above the bottom on the front, and not on the side of the hive, every one says that the bees winter much bet- ter in these hives than before. It is surely correct, that the bees always adjust their winter quarters near and above the entrance, and so the winter quarters in these hives is in fact only 8 inches high, and not 14 inches, and the 6 inches undei the entrance act like the empty chamber spoken of before. We can easily secure all these advantages with the Simplicity hive. Just slip in, in the fall, a frame about 5 inches high, and the same size as the Simplicity, with the entrance cut in the upper edge, under the hive, and pack all as well as possible, of course leaving the entrance open, but nothing else. This will do for outdoor wintering, if a board is leaned against the entrance to keep out winds. In a very cold climate, cellar wintering is surely pref- erable; but if the cellar is not very warm, or the temperature is inclined to change, it is advisable to use a similar arrangement; but packing, I think, will not be necessary. Very probably it will be simplest to nail this frame firmly to the bottom- board, and use this in winter, set upside down. I will not say that, by this arrangement, only good wintering is secured, but it is advisable, because many requisites for good wintering are secured au- tomatically. It is too late to try this arrangement for this win- ter; but I should be glad if some bee-keepers would try it next year, and report in Gleanings the result, with all the other circumstances. Selma, Tex., Nov. 1, 1889. L. Stachelhausbn. Friend S., your arrangement is by no means new. Our older readers well remem- ber that the same thing has been recom- mended at different times for fifteen or twenty years back. The old original Amer- ican hive was made with auger-hole en- trances just half way up. The Simplicity hive has been used for wintering by turning the bottom-board upside down. This, how- ever, gives only a two-inch space below the combs. Dr. Miller mentioned it at the Chicago convention, and I believe his hives are all arranged during this present winter to have a considerable space below the combs. One advantage you did not men- tion is, that dead bees, and dust and other debris, fall down below the entrance so as to be in no danger of clogging it. There is a division among the brethren, however, in regard to having the hive above the brood- nest made air-tight, or as nearly as may be. Some of our friends claim that bees will winter in an inverted glass jar, perfectly well, provided the mouth be of a good size, say like that of a candy-jar, and be left open. I do not know that this has been tested by actual experiment, but I think very likely it is true ; and if so, no doubt the bees would winter with a better econo- my of stores than by almost any other ar- rangement. MANUM IN THE APIARY WITH MEN. HIS SOME VERY PRACTICAL, DIRECTIONS FOK PREPAR- ING COMB HONEY FOR MARKET. Ai/:(/i(s( 7.— " Well, Ed, here we are home again. Fred, you may hitch up another horse after dinner, and go after Scott. 1 expect Leslie to come from his yard to-night by stage, then the boys will all be home again from their yards. " Hello! there is Scott now. How under the suu did you get here, Scott? Fred was just going after you." "Well, Mr. M., you told me, Ihe last time you were at my yard, that you would probably send for me to-day; and as I got my work all done at about 9 o'clock I thought I'd rather walk home than to wait there with nothing to do. 1 have walked five miles many a time. "Hello, Scott!" say Ed, Fred, and Will; and here they have a general hand-shake all around. Scott inquires: " Where is LeslieV" " Oh ! he will be here to-night, I suppose." " Well, then, boys," says Scott, " what hinders our having a bee-convention all to ourselves, this even- ing, as I understand some of you go to your homes to-morrow?" " Ves! yes! yes!" all cry out; "say we do." fn the evening all gather in the sitting-room for a general good time, and the time was well im- proved, as each related his experience during the past eight or nine weeks; and as the boys all go to their respective homes in the morning except Scott 1800 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 18 and Leslie, many promises are made to keep up the friendship between each one by way of correspon- dence. AUGUST 8. " Now, boys, we are left alone— four of us— to prepare the honey for market; but as the crop is a rather light one we shall have a short job of it. I have already four women scraping sections, and another one coming today. Scott, you may nail crates together, and Leslie will stencil the ends and stamp wood sides, and wait on the women while I grade the honey; and Fred will crate and weigh it, so each will have his special part to do. "Good morning, Mrs. F. I suppose you have come to help us in this work, so I will give you a few in- structions to start with. You will occupy this cor- ner of this long table. As there is ample room for six persons to work around it you will have one- third of one side. In this largest pile are the sec- tions of honey that have not been scraped. All are in clamps, just as they came from the apiaries, 16 sections to each clamp. Now, you take one of these clamps and set it on the table at your right hand. At your left hand you have an empty clamp, all clean, into which you set each section after it is scraped. Here is a knife to work with. This is a common potato-knife, such as many housekeepers use for paring potatoes, apples, etc. This knife will require sharpening often, as it needs to be sharp to do the work well; therefore, whenever you want it sharpened you can call on Leslie, as he is supposed to render you ladies any assistance you may re- quire. The first thing to do is to turn back the screw at the end of the clamp, here, which holds the sections snugly in place. With your right hand, take a section of honey, thus, and set it on the table before you, and with the knife scrape all the propo- lis from off the top, then from the edges of the section, and then from the bottom. Be sure to get it all off, so that the section will look white and clean. You will need to be very careful, and not stick the point of the knife (nor your fingers) into the honey; and if you should, do not put that sec- tion with the others, as the honey will run out and soil the sections under it. But you can set it in that large tin tray over there, made for that pur- pose. There, that section is scraped just as I want them all. It is now set in this empty clamp; and when you have it full, turn up the screw and carry the honey into the crating and grading room; then take the clamp you have just emptied, and scrape off all the propolis from that as well as the separa- tors, although you are not supposed to remove the stain, but simply that portion which would cause them to he sticky. There, now you can take the knife and try your hand at it. There! you have punched your finger into the first one. Well, never mind. [ will set this section over a colony of bees for them to take up the dripping honey, which they will do very quickly; but that section will now have to go in with the No. 3 honey." Mrs. F. says : " I will pay for that, Mr. M." "Oh, no! I never ask my girls to pay for any broken honey. I simply ask them to be careful. You were not so much to blame in this case, after all, as you were a little nervous, owing to my stand- ing here, looking at you; but you will soon get ac- customed to handling honey, and then you won't mind it. And now since you are so willing to pay for this box, I will make you a present of it, and perhaps that will impress upon your mind the im- portance of being careful. "Why! how do you do, Mr. T.? Walk right in, if you are not afraid of these ladies, though I judge you have always been a little shy of the opposite sex, for here you are, past middle age, and the in- dications are that you have never dared to pop the question; but I will say no more about that before these ladies. Well, how have the bees done with you this season?" Mr. T. says: "Not very well, I assure you. My crop is a light one; but, you know, I don't fuss with them much. I have only 35 colonies, and it won't pay to spend much time with them. But I have a little honey, and 1 have come here to learn how to fix it for market, and then I want to send it with yours, if you are willing I should." " Certainly you can do so. I will now show you how we prepare the different grades for market. In the first place, the honey is all hauled here from the out-apiaries, and stored here in this large room, which is, as you see, well ventilated. Here it re- mains until prepared for market. In this middle room the sections are all nicely cleaned by scraping oft' all the propolis. It is then stored in this other room, where I grade it. This work I do myself, making four grades. Thus, No. 1 is that which is very white, and well filled and nicely capped. I mark this Suowflake. No. 3 is the next best, which includes all well-filled sections of white honey. This is marked Choice Clover. The next grade is partly filled sections, such as are not wholly capped. This is marked LiuM Wei(iht, and the fourth grade is whatever dark honey I have. We usually get a little sumac and daisy honey. Although not very dark, yet it is too dark to be classed as white honey. This I mark Comb Honey. "After the honey is graded, the No. 1, or Snow- flake, is put into paper cartons, and all the other grades are put up with wood sides, which are stamped to represent each grade." Mr. T. asks: " How do you like the paper cartons?" " Well, if we can get a cent a pound more by us- ing them, it will just about even up the extra cost between cartons and wood sides; and what we get over one cent is clear gain in favor of cartons; therefore as yet I use cartons only for a fancii grade of honey." " I see your shipping-crates all hold 30 sections. Do you prefer that size to smaller crates?" " Yes, I do. I have used crates holding 13 and 16 sections, but now I use crates holding 30 sections all together, for the reason that my honey does not bring more or sell any quicker in small than in large crates; and as the30-lb. crates do not cost any more than those holding only 13 lbs., it is, of course, cheaper for me to use the large ones, and then it saves the bother of having so many sizes." " Do you aim to have every crate hold just 30 lbs?" " Oh, no! we can't do that very well. Just come out here where Fred is crating and weighing. There, you see there is a pile marked 18 lbs., and there is one marked 18'/i, and there is one 19, and one 19!/j, and that last is 30 lbs. We don't have any over 30 lbs., as the dealers do not like to have them weigh over a pound to the section, and they prefer to have the crates weigh a little less; 19 lbs. net is about right to suit the dealers. We tdm to have as 14 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. few fractions as possible. Were you to weigh this honey now, you would find nearly every crato would overrun from 2 to 4 ounces, as I set ray scales so that, when the bar is just half way up it will give 2 ounces overweight; and when the liar is up, as it usually is, it overruns even the 3 ounces. This is done to allow for shrinkage in case 1 hold the honey any length of time. Now, in your case, Mr. T., as you have only 3.5 colonies, and, as you say, about 800 lbs. of honey, it will be necessary for you to make but one grade, as you can doubtless sell at home all the imperfectly filled sections as well as what dark honey you may have." *' Well, Mr. M., I am very much obliged for the in- formation you have given me, for surely I have learned something here today about preparing honey for market." Bristol, Vt. A. E. Mandm. There, old friend, j'ou hive given us one of the most practical and valuable talks that have yet come from your pen. In fact, you have given us little glimpses that indicate why you can not only m;inage out-apiaries, but you also let us into the secret of man- aging your fellow men and women, and finding them work. Nothing vexes me so much as to find that somebody has set an entirely new baud at work handling sec- tions of honey, without previous instruction and drill. You may take an expert house- keeper, or a man of genins, and even though you may tell him what is wanted, he will al- most certainly do as Mrs. F. did. 1 can imagine just how the poor woman felt. Had you not assured her that it was a small mat- ter, in the kind and exceedingly careful way you did, she might have felt "miserable all that whole day, and possibly have lain awake during the night. I know, because I have found out afterward how easily good, well- meaning people may have their feelings hurt. A new clerk in our ofllce spilled some red ink, and it got on tlie edges of some new books. She supposed there was no remedy, and worried about it until she made herself almost sick. She. with otiiers, thought the red ink would have to be scraped off in some way. When it was mentioned, one of the women in our bindery department in- stantly replied, '' Why, bless your heart, that is the easiest thing to fix in the world. Put red ink all over the edges of the spattered books. See here." She then picked up some books thnt were made in just that way. The very anxiety to do every thing just right often results in making new hands nervous, and getting them into just such troubles. Where our old hands carelessly make expen- sive mistakes, we are in the habit of allow- ing them to pay for making it good— that is. if they prefer to do so. It sometimes helps them to be careful. But allowances must always be made for novices. Perhaps you will never know how much you lightened the heart of poor Mrs. F. by your very kind and Christianlike wdy of fixing the matter. I have heard of gilt-edged honey, friend M., but I do not know that I ever saw any "Snowfiake." I am greatly in favor of making different grades— where the crop is large, even as many as four grades ; then let your customer buy what he wants, and get what he pays for. WHERE SHALL "WE FURNISH OUR CHILDREN RECREATION, ETC.? AT HOME OR IN READING-ROOMS. Mr.Editor:— Friend Terry's article, headed "Our Homes," has occupied my mind much of the time since I read it; but I must confess that I differ greatly with its author. I've been a resident of this city rather more than:half a century, and I've paid some attention to how the boys and girls of my time turned out; and it is a great pleasure now to spend a day with one of my schoolmates and talk of old times, and make inquiries with refer- ence to the success in life of those whom we knew in childhood days. During these visits, how often I've been addressed in this way: "Lucinda, doesn't it surprise you, the way the boys of wealthy families that ufed to go to school with us have turned outV Some died in early life, drunkards; others in the poorhouse; while an oc- casional ne'er-do-well is supported by relatives." These boys had warm, well-lighted, cheery homes, with books and paperslin abundance; but it didn't save them from wasted lives. How different were the surroundings of Abraham Lincoln, sitting in a log cabin before an open log flre, trying to solve the mysteries of a spelling-book; burning on one side and freezing on the other! The boys of the pooi' bent-wood sawyer, who carried his saw-horse from door to door, are the successful business men of Peoria to-day; and I remember a poor widow who daily bent over the wash-tub to support her three little boys. She lives in altluence now, for they occupy positions of trust and emolument, and do not foi-get their self-sacrificing mother. Boys are not moths. They are not attracted by light and heat; that is not what attracts them to saloons, nor drink either. They want some place where they can work off their surplus spirits, and not be reprimanded continually. Freedom is what they will have. Girls do not need reading-rooms, for they have something to do Thej' can not get time enough to do half they want to. They are continually seeing some article of adornment which they want to make. Now, in some of these towns where there are sa- loons, suppose there should be a free reading-room opened, well lighted and warmed, and furnished with easy-chairs, the latest books and papers; and near by, another large shop, furnished with work- benches, tools, vises, lathe, etc., with piles of brick and mortar, and the boys told, "Now you are free to go to either place, and use all there is there." Where would you expect to find the most boys? Now, in fancy let us listen at the keyhole of such a building, during one of our long winter nights. "Tom, what are you going to make?" "I am going to make a sled, so as to be ready for coasting— a big long one to hold a dozen. Won't it be jolly, though?" "Ohfle! I'm going to make a toboggan. Charlie, what are you trying to do? " " Make mother a mush-stick." "Oh! an't I glad of that brick and morlar? I'n) going to build an arch, and see if I can't stand up- on top of it; and if not, fall in. I heard father say, that the reason the vault fell in at the cemetery was because it was not keyed, and I've wanted:tQ try on one ever since. Don't you know what a time the jury l^qd PY^FI*'? couldn't a^ree; and whep thg 1890 &LEAN1KGS IN BEE CULTURE. 15 judge dismissed them he said: 'If it was a good job, and well done, why did it fall in?' " " Well, Bill, while you are building an arch, I'm going to try on a chimney, for ours always smokes." I have often said, that the prettiest thing I ever saw was a little boy, and I've had the genus, from time to time during the last tliirty years, in my family, so I claim to know something of their char- acteristics. I've had four different boys, in periods lasting from two to seven years, and only one of them could I interest in books to any extent, let me charm never so wisely. One little German boy could hitch up my horse, and drive around to the front door, when he was so small that he had to climb into the feeding-box to put on the bridle; but learn to read, he could not. When he had learned one lesson, he had forgotten the one that went be- fore. But he never forgot the place for any thing, nor to put it back when he used it. While reading Our Homes, that little couplet came into my mind so often : Little boats should keep near shore. While larger boats may venture move. We live in an extravagant age; persons live in larger houses, burn more coal and light than their incomes justify, as one expenditure leads to anoth- er. Mr. Terry, in reckoning up the expense of warming and lighting three rooms, has forgotten several accounts. It is more work to refill and clean three lamps than one; to sweep and dust three rooms than one. In the spring there will be three rooms smoked up to be renovated. Can not one room be ventilated as well as three? Will that mother's health be benefited by caring for three rooms in lieu of one? Fathers and mothers are now o\ erworked by reason of useless expenditui e; fathers distracted at the round-up at the close of the year, because their accounts will not balance. Bee-keepers for three years have had poor crops; but f hope they can say, " I owe no man a dollar." Peoria, 111. Mrs. L. Harrison. Why, my good friend, I do not understand that you differ so very much from friend Terry after all. lie and I were not discuss- ing the children of wealthy parents— that is, we did not have them particularly in mind. When we consider that particular class of boys and girls, I think we very nearly if not quite agree with you. Abraham Lincoln did not need the encouragement of a pleas- ant room, abundant light, and modern comforts ; but had he been supplied with them, I am inclined to think he would have made a great and good man, even then. If this were not so, it would be a very sad com- ment indeed, not only on the boys and girls, but on humanity in general. "We all know, I suppose, that it is chiefly the boys from the farm that supply the material for our great merchants and manufacturers in the cities ; but these same merchants often go back to farm life again when they are able to do so. Your idea of a sort of industrial school,! grant, is a grand one; but did it not occur to you, dear friend, that the Home of the Honey-bees is almost exactly such an institution, except that we keep the boys and girls at work all daylong, and pay them wages, from five cents an hour up? I have tried some experiments strikingly like the one you suggest. The great difBculty is, that the Sl^ boys spoil lumber, spoil tools, and make such a cliaus of the brick and mortar that it would require a lot of money to clean up and make good what is lobt and damag- ed. Very likely you will say they must be taught to clear up and put away things in as good order as they tind them. There is a youngster over at our house who is going through this very drill. Sometimes it is like pulling teeth to make him put up his tools and playthings after he tumbles them all over the floor. But mamma holds him to it, and now he is t)eginuing to be a little back- ward about scattering things to such an ex- tent that it will take him quite a spell to gather them up. His hobby just now is ov- ens. These ovens he constructs of brick and mortar, in the back yard. He has asked me more questions already about ovens, arches, clay and mortar that will stand rain, etc., than I can answer without consulting a mason. In om- juvenile department of the public schools of Medina we have one teacher who is a gem in her line, and her schoolroom is sometimes pretty well fllled with sticks, cards, boards, and other ma- chinery, to induce children to build and ex- ercise their ingenuity when their bent seems to lie in that direction rather than books. It seems to me that these youngsters need a kind teacher, or mamma, pretty much all the time. Of course, our boy Iluber builds his ovens just as he pleases, and has unlim- ited liberty for hours at a time •, but mamma glances over her spectacles now and then, in the direction of where he is working, to see that he is protected from catching cold, or is not straying away, etc. Now, I am sure that you and friend Terry are pretty nearly in a line in your desire to have the childrtn grow up in wisdom, godliness, and purity, is not the home the very best place to bring it about, or say, in close proximity to said home — the back yard for building ov- ens, the front yard for croquet and other games? ^ I » SENDING HALF A POUND OF BEES BY MAIL. FRIEND PRATT STILL THINKS IT PRACTICABLE. About bees by the half-pound by mail, let me say that I have given the matter considerable thought, and I have a plan whereby it will be perfectly safe to send half a pound of bees with a queen, by mail. The cage should be made of some tough light wood, about the thickness of section-box wood, three- cornered in shape, with braces across the grain the full length of the cup. The corners could be dove- tailed, glued, and nailed. By having thinner par- titions than I put into the one sent to Mr. Doolittle, six of them could be used. The candy could be ground in a paint-mill, as you suggested. After the bees have been put in, and sealed up as tight as possible, the whole thing could be slipped into a stout porous sack, made the correct size to hold the cage loosely, after which stitch up the opening with strong twine; tie on a tag, and mail it. Ry way of experiment 1 went through the process as above, to see how much the cage could stand. I have not succeeded in breaking it yet, but I think 1 could with a sledge-hammer. E. L. Pratt. Marlboro, Mass. No doubt all you say, friend Frntt. is true. The time may he when we shall be sending 1(i GLEAKIHGS IK BEE CULTUltE. JaJ<. bees in half-pound lots by mail ; and while we do not wish to discourage progressive ideas, we should, at least for the present, be very careful and not forfeit the privilege we now have, of sending a queen and a dozen or so attendants for one or two cents post- age. There is not a bit of doubt but that you can make a cage light enough for one- half pound of bees, that will stand all kinds of rough usage through the mail-bags ; but the point is, will every one be as carefulV While you may have ingenuity and mechan- ical skill enough there are a hundred others who do not. If further steps are taken, do not try the experiment again without fiist obtaining permission from the proper post- al authorities. As the law stands now, half a pound of bees is not admissible — at and help distribute tbe mail. Our advice is, " Don't fool with edged tools," but discourage the practice in others every possible chance. A California apiarian exhibit. FRIEND MERCEK GIVES US A GLIMPSE OF A CAL- IFORNIA HONEY-SHOW. Friend Root:— I send you, by this mail, a photo of the exhibit that we had at the District Fair at Los Angeles, Sept. ;i3 to 30, 1889. You will probably recognize all of the faces in the picture. Mr. W. W. Bliss is the first one on the left. That next fellow, whose head looks as round as a pumpkin— well, that's your humble servant, and the next is the other half. The fourth one is my son Edward. We tried hard to get friend Wilson in the photo, but he mm».i'if"&^j-s I,. F,. MERCER'S EXHIBIT AT VENTURA, CALIFORNIA. least if the intention and spirit of the law is considered. Just see what has happened within the last two months, and think what might have been the result with half a pound of bees ! The following is an editori- al on the subject, from the Canadian Bee Journal, page 881 : SENDING BEES BY THE POUND BY MAIL. Not two months ago we were the recipients of some most beautifully pathetic language at the hands of the railway mail clerks on our local line of railway. And their language was plentifully sea- soned with " cuss-words " too. Do you all want to hear why? Simply because half a dozen little bees escaped out of a broken queen-cage, sent from this office, and walked over the backs of the hands of the mail clerks, with their hot little feet, just half a dozen! But the edict went forth, that if such a thing occurred again the heads of the postofflce de- partment should hear of it, and we all know about what we would have to look for then. Think, then, for a moment of our chances if a whole pound should get loose and roll out of a sack, and turn in was on the fly so all day that our artist could not catch him. To begin again, on the left of the picture the first is the column that supports the upper part of the booth. These columns are all wrapped with found- ation, which gives them the appearance of wax col- umns Next to the columns is a cake of beeswax, about 3 inches thick, 3 feet wide, and 4 feet high. The spot on the edge is one of your $10(X) re- ward cards. Everybody wanted the reward, but failed to find ihe proof. Next behind the flag is a one-frame glass case of bees that built five good queen-cells while in the case at the fair, with peo- ple handling the case continually from morning un- til ten and eleven c)'clock at night. Next, and outside of the curtain, is a common L. hive such as we all use in Ventura Co., except that it has on it a T super. On top of the T super is a 34-lb. case of comb honey, and on top of the honey GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 17 is an 8-frame glass hive, with T super; also glass, with glass over the top of the super. This hive rests on a pivot, as do all the others that have bees in them, so that they are easily turned around for examinaiion. This large hive attracted a great (leal of attention, as it was all glass except the cor- ner posts and a small strip at top and bottom. We had a feeder in the super, and kept the bees at work. You can see on the side of the super, where they built the comb to the glass after we took the hive into the pavilion. Back of the hive you will recognize the Given press. Hanging to the upper curtain is a queen-nursery, frame of foundation, drone-trap, strips of perforated zinc from Dr. Tin- ker; also some zinc honey-boards from A. 1. Koot. A number of cases of honey show just back of the bee-books and smokers. To the left of where 1 stand is a glass case of bees— an L. frame of bees and queen is the lower part, with five queens in the upper part. The small case in front of me contains the queen that took the prize. You can see the ribbon on top of the case. The object that appears to be between my wife and me is a wire cage of honey. At the right of Ed is a ten-pound case of honey, which has also a ribbon on it, $10 premium for 10 pounds of honey. The sign at the lower right-hand corner is on the side of one of our six- frame Perfection extractors. The white pyramid at the corner does not belong to my exhibit. It is a pyramid of sacks of flour, about 14 feet square at the bottom, and about 20 feet high. The frame in the foreground is the property of Mr. Bliss. It is a tine frame of foundation. The Agricultural Association offered in premiums to bee-ketpers about $100, 61 of which was awarded to your humble correspondent. The following is the list: Best swarm of bees, Mercer & Son, Ventura; first premium, $fi. Second best swarm of bees, C. N. Wilson, Los An- geles; premium, $3 Best queen-bee, Mercer & Sou, Ventura; first pre- mium, $3 Second bestqueeu-bee, C. N. Wilson, Los Angeles; premium, $1.5u. Best 10 pounds comb honey, Mercer & Son, Ven- tura; tlrst premium, $10. Best 10 pounds extracted honey, C. N. Wilson, Los Angeles; premium, $10. Best 10 pounds beeswax, C. N. Wilson, Los Ange- les; premium, $.5. Best and largest display of honey, both comb and extracted, Mercer & Son, Ventura; premium, di- ploma, and $1.5. Best made hive and section boxes, C. N. Wilson, Los Angeles; diploma, and $10. Best comb foundation, W. W. Bliss, Duarte; pre- mium, diploma, and $5. Best comb-foundation machine, Mercer & Son, \'entura; diploma. Best comb extractor. Mercer & Son, diploma. Best tank, Mercer & Son, diploma. Best display of agricultural implements, Mercer & Son, diploma. Best miniature apiary in operation, Mercer & Son; premium, $;^. The Los Angeles Tinux says our bee show was the center of attraction in the great pavilion. It is really surprising to see how little some people know about bees. Several ladies asked my wife what kind of bugs we had in those glass cases. Others would ask what kind of wood that was, meaning the larger pit ces of beeswax. We had on e.vhibition one of your Dovetailed hives, also our common L. hive with T supers, that is in general use in Ventura Co , but somehow the committee saw fit to give the premium to a sort of revised edi- tion of the old Harbison hive and section — a hive and section that is at least ten years behind the times. L. E. Mebcek. San Buena Ventura, Cal., Oct. 13, 1889. Well done, friend M. The picture of yourself and wife and son makes me feel as if I were back again in your beautiful coun- try. The arrangement will be helpful to others getting up similar exhibits. Friend Bliss has got so far in the background that 1 should hardly recognize him unless some- body were to tell me whom to look for. So the story about manufactured comb honey is current away off in California as well as about here. THE PBEVENTION OF BRACE-COMBS. POSITIVE TESTIMONY AS TO THE VALUE OF THICK TOP-BARS, FROM SEVERAL SOURCES. Since Dr. Miller's initial article appeared on the subject as above, on page 889, Nov. 15, already several communications have come in. While at the International Con- vention in Brantford, I met our genial friend J. B. Hall, of Woodstock, Ontario. He is that bright Canuck referred to by Dr. Miller, and who, I believe, tirst suggested the value of thick top-bars. I asked Mr. Hall if he would write us an article on the subject. Said he, straightening up to his full height, and in his Scotch accent, " I wouldn't write an article for twenty dollars ; but 1 will answer here all the questions you may ask." It seems that he uses a long Quinby frame that is longer than the regular Quin- by. With such a large frame, a top-bar with ordinary thickness would hardly be strong enough to hold the weight of honey, and so he had them made 5 inch thick. Quite accidentally they were an inch wide. After they had been used he noticed that there were no brace-combs built above them. He did not know why this was so, unless it was because of the extra thickness of the top-bar. When lie made his top-bars thicker (not for doing away with brace-combs, but for strengthening the frame), little did he realize that he was quite accidentally blun- dering on to a most valuable (as it seems to me) discovery. Now, then, we will let the rest talk. The first is from the pen of Mr. W. S. Adams, who writes in this practical style : COMPARATIVE EXPERIMENTS WITH THICK AND THIN TOP-BARS, WITH THE RESULT IN FA- VOR OF THE THICK BARS EA'ERY TIME. Mr. Ro(>t:—¥or the information of Dr. Miller, and others interested in the thickness of top bars as a preventive of burr-combs, I would say that a series of experiments during the two last years with me proves their feasibility. I give this j ear's experi- ments. I work entirely for comb honey, and use the Simplicity frame, and contract to seven frames during the honey-tlow. In experiment No. 1, one hive contained 4 regulation frames, and 3 with toj)- bars one inch thick, with a narrow honey-board over the regulation frames to bring them flush with the others. In experiment No. 2 I alternated thick and thin top-bars, eight frames to the hive, tliin top-bars double, having a % block at each end, with a ^-inch strip tacked on to bring them all Hush. In experiment No. 3, four hives were selected, with 7 18 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. frames in each, and the top-bars were one Inch thick. All my bars are •« wide. The rest of the apiary had the regulation top-bars, with honey- boards of various designs. Result: In experiment No. 1, the narrow honey- board was badly glued to the frames, and slightly stuck to the Tease; but it was perfectly free over the thick top-bar frames, and the frames them- selves were as clean as when first put in. In ex- periment No. 3 there were no burr-combs on top of the frames, but comb between some of the slats over their frames. In experiment No. ;5, on the first hivo I placed a T super directly on the frames. On the second hive I used the Heddon case. On the remaining two I used brood-frames There was not a vestige of comJ) on top of the frames of any of them, and only a trace of propolis. This occur- red after the season was over. The first time I took off honey they were bright and clean. The experi- ments were conducted with black bees. My blacks beat the Italians badly on white clover, while Ital- ians led on the fall Howers. Wm. S. Adams. Guys, Md., Dec. 5, 18,S9. Again, our friend C. G. Looft adds his testimony as follows : THICK TOP-BARS AND NO BURR-COMBS ; POSITIVE TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF THEM. Reading Dr. Miller's article in Gleanings, Nov. 1.'), relating to the width and thickness of top-bars, and the fact that considerable interest in them is being manifested, and that information regarding this subject seems to be quite welcome, induced me to arrange a few fact.s out of my experience with brood-frames which have top-bars of this kind. It is quite a wonder to me, in view of the length of time that this matter has been before the bee-keeping public, that so few of the best writers on apiculture have not tried frames with such top- bars before this, and so be able from actual experi- ence to give absolute information about the main quality claimed for them— that of preventing the building of brace-combs over top-bars. True, Mr. Alley, in his usual vigorous style, has been claim- ing for some time that the honey-board is of no use; and Mr. Bingham, who has used thick top-bars for years, says the same thing; and it strikes me that he is the man who can give considerable In- formation on this point. To do away with the honey-boards, their cost of making, extra labor in handling, and to avoid the cleaning of brace-combs from them and the tops of the frames, which Dr. Miller says is no light job, is certainly very desirable, when, as in my experi- ence, the building of brace-combs can be prevent- ed in so simple a manner as making the top-bars thick enough up and down, and of the proper width. I have in use a sort of modified Bingham frame, about six inches deep, end-bars 1% inches wide, with Alley top-bars, which, as I make them, are I inch wide and >| inch thick. During the past year, in my locality, so far as brace-combs are concerned they have proven to be entirely satisfactory, there being no more trouble of brace-combs between the top of the brood-nest and queen-excluding honey- board than there is in the bee-space between two supers on the hive. I also have some frames about the depth of the regular Langsti-oth, which, so far as I can see, worked equally well. Mr brother, who uses a shallow frame like the one I use, makes his top-bars 1 inch wide by 's inch thick, and will have no other. He rips them out of common %- inch boards. For frames deeper than the Bing- ham, my preference is the thicker, or '« bar. Here it is proper to mention an interesting fact. In hiving new swarms 1 used queen-excluders; but my brother hived all his new swarms into these empty frames, without excluders, after having placed the supers from the parent colony upon them, yet in not a single instance was there any brood reared in the supers. Whether this was caused by the form of the frames or of the super, I am unable to say. It is important that the width of the top-bars be in proportion to the distance that the frames are spaced apart from center to center. Extreme width is undesirable. In that case you would likely have the trouble of which Mr. Heddon complains, page 669; yet Mr. Kildow, page 03:2, re- ports a success with only ,'u-inch space between the frames, while Mr. Root's experience, as stated in his foot-note to Mr. Kildow's letter, was about the same as Mr. Heddon's. It seems to me the whole essence of the thing lies in having top-bars thick enough, and spaced the regular bee-space apart; for is it not reasonable to suppose that the same bee.-space which so nicely prevents brace-combs being built between two su- pers tiered above each other would also prevent their being built between thick top bars'? and when they are not built between them there are none built over them. Any one, of course, can test these statements for himself; and I will say to those who should test the arrangement just men- tioned, and it should work as well as it has in my locality, there can be no doubt of their being en- tirely satisfied with the results. C. G. Looft. Forest, O., Dec. 5. F. L. Smith says : HONEY-BOARDS AND BRACE-COMBS ; HOW TO DO AWAY WITH BOTH. Allow me to reply to Dr. Miller's article on the topic as above in Gleanings, Nov. 15, page 888. On the following page the doctor is anxious to know whether thick top-bars will allow him to dispense with honey-boards entirely. My experience with thick top-bars is limited to half a dozen hives. I found no brace-combs; but at the beginning of the next season I transferred combs and brood into three-eighths-inch top-bar. My objections'were, the inch-thick top bar brought my sections too far from the brood, and I found the bees did not enter sections as readily as they did with ^g-inch top-bar; and in the production of comb honey I consider it of the utmost importance to bring the sections down as near the brood as possible. As to using a honey-board, I have always considered them an ex- pensive incumbrance. I have never found it nec- essary to use one of any kind, not even a queen-ex- cluding one. The inventors of honey-boards claim they will prevent brace-combs; but according to Dr. Miller's experience they do not entirely. There is a method to prevent brace-combs, with- out the use of thick top-bars or honey-board, and I wish to emphasize it very strongly. It is simply by properly adjusting frames and supers. To prevent brace-combs, let us first ascertain why they are built. My answer is, to fill unrequired space. Contract that space to the actual requirements of bees, and we shall find no brace-combs, which can be proved by any practical apiarist by experiment. To illus- trate: Place the super so there shall be an inch 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 19 space between the top-bar and bottom of the sec- tion, and a fine lot of brace-combs is the result. Now remove the brace-combs from the top-bars, bring- the super down to within k inch of top-bar, and I have yet to find the first brace-comb. There is still another point of equal importance with adjusting supers, that must be manag-ed in connection with it in order to insure complete suc- cess; tliat is, in properly adjusting the frames; for I consider that just as much depends upon the lat- ter being properly spaced as does the super being brought (Joit'd to the reciuired distance, for brace- combs are almost invariably started on the side of the top-bar, and for no other reason than the one above given— too much space. Mr. J. E. Pond, sev- eral years ago, wrote an article in regard to crowd- ing frames closer together in order to compel bees to enter sections more readily. I considered the i» space between the top-bar and bottom of section, we have the whole matter of preventing brace-combs under our control. Chittenango, N. Y., Dec. t>, 18^9. P. L. Smith. S. A. 8huck writes : THICK TOP-BARS PREFERRED; THEV PREVENT BRACE COMBS!, AND WHY. I wish to offer a few thoughts concerning heavy top-bars. About nine years ago I purchased :iO(l all- wood brood-frames of A. I. Root. These were, I thought, very light; and with what I had of my own make they gave me frames enough for .')0 col- onies. In 188;i I made about 700 more frames. These were like my former make, top-bais 's wide by ii inch thick. The season of 1882 was a good one; and when fall came I was completely disgusted with light top- bars for brood-comb. The light top-bars had sag- ged, in many instances, from !i to 2 of an inch; and the bees, in their efforts to even up matters, had poked bits of wax " all over" them. I have nearly all of these frames yet; and al- though I have scraped the wax off from them from year to year I have not become reconciled to them. In the mean time I have made several hives with top-bars one inch, and some I'a inches wide; and so long as these wide tojj-bars were kept all in the same hives, and properly spaced, and the space above the frames kept at '«,or a very little less than '« inch, there has been no trouble with brace- combs. But just as soon as these frames were in- terchanged with those having 'a -inch top-bars, or from any cause the space above the frames be- came too large or too small, the brace-combs ap- peared. Dr. Miller says: " I wonder if it is not the simple matter of distance that prevents the bees from starting brace-combs." That is, undoubtedly, the sequel to the whole thing. And this, too, is the very reason that Heddon and others place so mu(;h stress on exact measurements and distances. DISPENSING WITH HONEY-BOARDS AND BRACE- COMBS. During the past season I have used T supers on about 'M hives without honey-boards. The top-bars in these hives are 'ti inch thick by 1% inches wide. There were no brace-combs built between or on top of these frames this season; and 1 feel confi- dent that, so long as the proper distances are main- tained between frames and between tops of frames and supers, no more bi'ace-combs appear than will appear between supers and the upper surface of queen-excluders. As for distance of sections from brood-chamber, let us reckon a little. With top-bar |-inch, space between top-bar and queen-excluding slat-zinc or break-joint honey-rack "B-inch, thickness of honey- rack "s inch, space between honey-rack and section- case ?i-inch,in all 154 inches. With "^s-inch-thick top- bar and if'g-inch space between top-bar and section- case we have but 1,4 in.; and with all-zinc exclud- ers it is only IJs inches; so the best that can be done with i^ii-inch top-bars and all-zinc excluders, not al- lowing any thing for the thickness of the zinc, is only \ inch less than with %-inch top-bar and no honey-rack. It appears to me that '« of an inch is not enough to make any appreciable difference in the amount of honey obtained, and but very little to boast of, if we take Into consideration the frail- ty of frames with only 'a-inch top-bar. Liverpool, 111., Nov. 21, 1889. S. A. Shuck. HENRY ALLEY AND BRACE-COMBS. In the December number of the ApicuUu- rist, page 18;^, I noticed the followinj>- para- graphs on the subject before us : The Bay State beehive is one of the best in use, as no brace-combs are ever found between the sec- tions and the top of the frames. Nor was a queen ever known to enter and deposit eggs in any of the sections, notwithstanding the fact that no slatted honey-board or other device is used to exclude the queen. A hive which permits the bees to build brace- combs in any part of the brood-chamber is a nui- sance in any apiary. Convert such hives iato kin- dling-wood, as that is the most proper use to which to put them. If you have frames with a 'a top-bar, destroy them and adopt the wide top-bar, and thus take some comfort in keeping bees. And again on the same page, in answer to a correspondent, Mr. Alley uses these words : Where a .'a-inch-wide top - bar is used, and the space between the top-bar and the sections is % of an inch, one needs a heavy bar with which to piy up the section-cases when they are to be removed from the hive. Having a curiosity to know exactly what frame Mr. Alley uses, I next consulted his book— the ' Bee-keeper's Ilandy-book.'' On page 84 1 hnd this : OB.IECTION TO NARROW TOP-BARS. The most serious objection to the narrow top- bar is the fact that the bees build the combs be- tween the bars, and fasten them to the honey- board, bottom of the sections, or to whatever the frames are covered with. When this is the case it 20 GLEAi;flNGS IN BE£ CULTUEE. Jan. is very difficult to remove the combs from a hive. Now, this can be mostly if not wholly obviated if wide top-bars are used; and as there is no reasona- ble objection to using- such, I would strongly ad- vise the novice to adopt them at the beginning. On page 632, August 1, 1889, A. L. Kildow declares most emphatically for top-bars H inches wide by i inch thick. He says : " I used this kind of frame last year, and this in alK)Ut SO colonies ; and I have yet to tind the first bit of burr-comb between. It brings the sections close to the brood-nest, and the bees are quick to enter them." Now, then, friends, you have the whole matter before you. The facts brought forward seem to be positive and convincing. If, indeed, fur- ther testimony should substantiate all that has been said above, then it would seem that honey-boards might better be dispensed with in all cases, except where it is desirable to exclude the queen from the supers ; and even then, plain sheets of zinc could be used in place of the regular bee-spaced slatted honey-board. T lirst thought that the frames with thick top-bars, an inch or H inches wide, would cost considerably more than our regular frames ; but in talking with our foreman he informs me that they can be made for very nearly if not quite the same price as the ordinary regulation |-inch-wide top-bars. But a question comes in right here that does not seem to be settled, and about wliich there does not seem to be an entire agreement of opinion : Is it necessary, if the top-bars are U inches wide, that they be also i inch thick? Has experience demon- strated that the extra thickness and the ex- tra width are both essential in the preven- tion of burr-combs V It may be argued, that the extra wood in the top-bar takes up comb space. But in answer it may be said that it more than offsets this by the prevention of useless burr-combs, and the consequent labor of removing them. Now, then, as I said before, the testimony seems to be convincing; but experience teaches us that it is wise to go a little slow. Are there not some who have tried the ex- tra-thick top-bars, coupled with the extra width, and found them a failure in the point at issue? Again, are there not others who can substantiate the facts already brought forward ? This matter of the prevention of burr-combs, when it may be done so cheap- ly, I deem to be one of the most important subjects we can discuss ; so let us have the truth, let it be for or against. Ernest. THE DOVETAILED HIVE. IS THERE ANY DANGER FROM UNEQUAL. SHRINK- AGE OF SIDES OR END ? It seems to me just a little reckless to allow a new thing to become as prominent as has the new Dove- tailed hive without its having been more thorough- ly tried. It may be said, that there was nothit'g really new about it, only a new combination of old things. At any rate, it's too late now to stop it, and the only thing left is to discuss its merits or demer- its with a view to retaining or changing any of its features, and to show up, if need be, any dangers that may arise in the making or using thereof. And I can't say a great deal about it, for I've only a few in use for a single season. The dovetail fea- ture is perhaps the most striking thing about the hive, and that feature will, in some hands, secure the perfection of joints, and in others a failure. In these days, when every thing runs so much to specialties, this does not matter so much, for few will want to cut out the stuff for their own hives. I consider myself as good a mechanic as the ma- jority of bee-keepers; but I would not undertake, with the tools of the average bee-keeper, to make a dovetailed hive-body satisfactory to myself for less than double the price charged by A. I. Koot for the same body. To be at all satisfactory, the dove- tails must be made with exceeding accuracy; and even after being made with the nice machinery friend Root uses, I should want to put my hives to- gether just as soon as possible after receiving them, for 1 have no great faith in their remaining accu- rate a long- time without being put together. It is practically impossible to get stuff to remain in this climate without shrinking or swelling; and the end of a hive will not shrink or swell with certainty exactly as the side; so if they shrink or swell un- equally after being cut out, and before being put together, there will be trouble about getting the joints together, and considerable certainty of split- ting. After all, that is not so great an objection, for the price of the ready-made article is so low that the average bee-keeper will not be tempted to cutout the stuff for himself, unless so far distant that freight-bills are prohibitory. In fact, one of the best features of the Dovetailed hive, as offered, is that it is a marvel of cheapness. After keeping hives years enough to throw some of them aside from old age, I have found one of the greatest dif- ficulties is to have joints that will stay. Twenty years from now, if I should live so long, I can tell better about the dovetailed joint; but I feel pretty certain it is away ahead of any thing I have ever tried. Take the simplest kind of joint, one end of a board merely nailed on the end of another board, as in the common dry-goods box; and if enough nails are used it is about impossible for the board containing the points of the nails to warp, while no amount of nails will prevent the warping of the board containing the nail-heads. Now, in the case of the Dovetailed hive, each board at the joint con- tains nail-points. There may be just a little warp- ing allowed at each outside tenon at the corner where the warping of the board tends to draw out the nail; but I think that can be entirely prevented by driving a two-inch nail, not in the same way aa in the other tenons, but perpendicularly into the corner, so that no effort of the board to warp can draw the nail, but merely pull upon it sidewlse. The peculiar cleat at the ends of the cover is a pret- ty thing in theory, but I don't like it in practice. It is so much easier to put in place quickly on the hive a perfectly flat surface. The cleat is grooved to let in the end of the cover thus: the idea being that it will be held more firmly in place, and a single nail at the middle of the cleat will hold it secure, and at the same time allow the board to shrink and swell without causing the splitting that is supposed would take place if the cleat were nail- ed throughout. For a few years I have used a cover which is the same, except the cleat, and I use the plain cleat, □ making the under surface of the cover entirely fiat, the cleat projecting above. Five 'i)i or 3 inch wire nails driven into I 1 a 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 21 the cleat hold the board secure against warping; and although my covers are not painted, I have as yet had no trouble from splitting. The grooved cleat will xometimeg split, and then it is of little use. The plain cleat I think is stronger, and I like so much better the flat surface. For my use, the slot- ted hand-holes are not satisfactory to lift the hive by; and as it will be easy to add a cleat at each end to carry the hive by, 1 think I shall add them. Aft- er all I've said, the Dovetailed is the only hive I have ever seen that I like well enough to make nie think of changing gradually— very gradually, how- ever—from the hives I am using. (;.C. Miller. Marengo, 111., Nov. 18, 1889. I know, friend Miller, that it would have been a little reckless to put out a new thing in the way the Dovetailed hive was, pro- viding it had been new. As you intimate, there was really nothing new about it. It is not even a new combination of old things. With the exception of the dovetailed corner it is almost the identical hive that O. M. Blanton, of Greenville, Miss., uses — one, too, which has been sold by C. F. Muth for some time back, and it is also about as near the old-style Ileddon hive as any thing can be, with the exception of the surplus ar- rangement and dovetailed corner. If these two hives, then, Heddon's and Blanton's, were a success, would it be dangerous to put forth the same thing with the dovetail- ed corner V The section-holder, I grant, is a little new to the bee-keeping public ; but it was tested, nevertheless, before we ever thought of using it here. O. J. Hethering- ton, of East Saginaw, Mich., uses essential- ly the same thing, or at least he did do so, besides others whom I might mention. You say a few will want to cut the stuff for their own hives themselves. Very true ; but they can never make the Dovetailed joint. That will have to be delegated to the supply-dealer, on account of the expen- sive machinery required. Any one desiring to make the Dovetailed hive would have to make the ordinary box or lap joint ; and, of course, it will not be the Dovetailed hive, but a hive embodying its principles. Now as to the matter of unequal shrinkage and swelling of the sides or ends of the dovetail- ed corner. Very likely there ought to be a great deal of trouble from this source from a theoretical point of view ; but practically there is little or none. We have sold, we estimate, 10,000 Dovetailed hives during the past season, and we can not remember to liave had a single complaint that the bodies would not go together by reason of unequal shrinkage of sides or ends. Let me tell you why. Green pine lumber will shrink from i to I of an inch in a foot ; but good weath- er-dried pine (such as we use in all our hives) will shrink or swell, under varying conditions, but a very small trifle. Now, all the Dovetailed hives we have nailed togeth- er in our establishment since we have had our machinery perfected would never at one side or end vary in width more than i^g of an inch, and this only in rare cases; and even when it does do this, the man who nails up the hives says that the wood itself will yield so that the hives can be driven to- gether without splitting ; but in 99 cases out of 100, the sides or ends, if made from the same lumber, will not shrink unequally. All our Dovetailed hives are made of lum- ber that has been in the yard from eighteen months to two years ; and if the hives have been made from the same lot, the unequal shrinkage or unequal swelling is inappre- ciable. Of couipe, if any one will take the pains to put the ends next to the stove, and the sides exposed to the damp weather, he might then experience trouble ; but we should be assuming that he would do some- thiner that he would not be likely to do. Packing - boxes of small dimensions have been made for years, and we don't have any complaints made against them on account of unequal shrinkage. As to the cover, 1 don't know that I could quite agree. We have had one cover in the apiary, nailed in the way \o\\ state, and there wassome warp- ing. It is true, that a plain board can be slid on to a hive a little easier, but not enough easier, it seems to me, to make it of enough moment to warrant us in making a change'. A cover-board slid into a groov- ed cleat, and nailed, is a good dtal less liable to warp than one simply dependent upon nails, I think. However, time will decide which would be the better way. This is a point we can change, if future needs should demand it, and yet not interfere with the other parts of the hive. Now, doctor, I thank you for bringing up these points, not because it substantiates the superiority of the dovetailed corner, or the hive in par- ticular, but because it gives me an opportu- nity to answer others who have doubtless raised similar questions in regard to the corner. Ehnest. PACKAGES FOR EXTRACTED HONEY. WHAT SELLS THE BEST. It seems to me the honey-producers^sbould know more of the honey-trade as conducted in our cities. Who will tell us the most acceptable and economic- al package for retailing extracted honey in our large cities? If we run our honey into barrels we incur an expense that the consumer will bear no part of. I imagine that e.xtracted honey must be in glass of some kind to retail well by the city gro- cer. It is the only way I can get the grocerymen to sell it for me in their stores, and it must be in a small one. Once they could sell extracted honey in tin pails holding from five to ten pounds, by making it about five cents lower than comb honey. But comb honey retails heie in our groceries at li}-< cts., and I do not feel that I can profitably produce extracted at five cents less. I find on trial, that the small l.'o-lb. glass pail filled with light-colored hon- ey holds its own in the market here, sold at ^5 cts., with 10 cts. paid for pail on its return. If I try to get 10 cts. per lb., and cost of the glass, I make it cost more than honey in the comb; and after a while my patrons feel that they have so many of the pails that they do not want to pay for any more. If honey-producers and honey-merchants cotild agree on a glass holding the right amount, one that looks well enough to set on the table as it came from the bee-keeper or the honej -man. it seems to me it would be much to our mutual advantage. If the retailer would allow the glass to be returned he 22 GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. would cheapen the price so much it would add to the consumption very much. After a number of pails or glass jars have accumulated on the gro- ceryman's hands, he could; refill from your 60-lb. tins, and they could be sold back to the bee-keeper, who could use them again. My idea of a glass for retailing extracted honey is one holding 3 lbs., self- sealing, like the Mason, as large a mouth as the quart Mason jar, but not so tall that, when a tea- spoon is in it it gets daubed with honey to the top of the handle. The only trouble with the li^-lb. glass pails is, you can not seal with rubber, and there is some daubing if shipped. A small glass ships safely. I have shipped honey without break- age in the Ija-lb. glass i>ails. J. B. Colton. Waverly, Iowa. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. THE STANLiEY REVERSIBLE EXTRACTOR; A SPLEN- DID TESTIMONIAL. Mr. Root:— We have used the Stanley reversible extractor for six years in two apiaries. For the first three years we also used a non-reversible ex- tractor, because of mechanical defects in the Stan- ley as first sent out. For three years we have used the Stanley exclusively. My father says he would almost as soon think of returning to bo.x hives as to non-reversible extractors. This year we took out 1I,(»KI pounds; last year 5000, and in 1887 not less than 8000 pounds. We are extracting now, since cold weather began. The honey is as thick as the traditional " molasses in January," but the extract- or does the work well. We use two extractors— one holding four frames, and the other two. Both have gearing. I prefer the four- frame one. Most of our extracting is done by girU. Since I was twelve years old I have done a share of the extracting each year, with a Staidey four-frame extractor. Does that look as though the Stanley were a "7/ian-kill- er " ? Turning the machine is the poetry of ex- tracting; lifting the combs, the iveiijhtkst prose. Hurrah for Stanley and his Automatic extractor ! He deserves a place with Watt, Arkwright, Whitney, and Howe. Clara Jones. West Bend, Wis., Dec. 10, 1889. JAPAN clover; something THAT THREATENS TO RUN OtIT, IN CERTAIN LOCALITIES, BEE CLO- VER AND OTHER USEFUL GRASSES. Some time ago I wrote an article for Gleanings, calling the attention of beekeepers to the north- ward march of Japan clover, and Its destructive in- liuence on bee-pasturage. In a foot-note under that article, you claim to have consulted the au- thorities, and found that it was considered a useful plant — useful, I suppose, in killing out briers, weeds, etc. ; useful where the land is tilled continu- ally, and such things as meadows are unknown. As I could not believe that I was mistaken, I have, since that time, watched for some other mention of it in the agricultural or bee journals, and have at last been rewarded by finding at least one high au- thority that takes the same view that I do. The editor of the Home and Farm, of Louisville, Ky., in the Issue of Nov. 15, has this to say: "Bermuda grass and Japan clover are on the march, and each and all will be sure to usurp the domain previously held by blue grass, timothy, and red and white clo- ver, just as soon as a sulHcient decrease of fertility in the soil weakens them below the measure of the strength of the invaders." My observation agrees with the above, only I fail to see that a decrease in the fertility of the soil is necessary; The invading plants will grow on the best of land. I should be glad to hear from others on the subject. Perhaps friend Jenkins can tell something about it, as I should suppose that Japan clover has had a foothold In his locality for years. Paris, Tenn., Nov. 37, 1889. W. H. Greer. ALFALFA, THE PRICE OF; THE GOPFTEU AND ITS DEPREDATIONS. Alfalfa seed is now held in our markets at from 9 to 11 cents per pound, and sold by the hundred weight, and not by the bushel; but I suppose a bushel would weigh 60 pounds, hence a bushel would average us $6.00. This, in the way we sow, would be sufficient to plant 2'/4 acres. Tn this local- ity irrigation on alfalfa is more to keep out the gophers than any thing else. Of course, you know that this little fellow, who is second cousin to the somewhat troublesome mole of the Eastern States, is the greatest enemy of the alfalfa root; and my remembrance of the summer seasons in Northern Ohio leads me to belie\ e that no watering would be necessary with alfalfa. I am not so sure, though, that the plant would stand the zi-ro w*^ather, ex- cept in localities where there is a heavy and contin- uous snow to act as a mulch. A mulch, also, of straw and manure, put on before the snow, would undoubtedly help it through the winter. St. Helena, Cal., Dec. U. Wili- C. Aiken. CALIFORNIA HONEY — HOLDING IT OVER AND "GETTING LEFT." Friend Rnot:—! have sold but a few tons of my honey yet. Isold it early in the season ai (lets.; and since that, honey has been dropping otf in this market, from some cause that I can not account for. We can get only 5 cents for nice white honey now. We do not like to sell for that, it we can help it. This is the first time that I ever got left by holding my honey until fall. We have left about two tons of honey In the second supers in one of our apiaries. It is so thick that we can not get it out of the combs with our eight-frame extractors. They, of course, are not geared. L. E. Mercer. San Buena Ventura, Cal., Oct. 12. BEES FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES ; WHAT WAS THE CAUSE ? July 3d I bought 1 lb. of bees and queen of you, through R. K. Herriman. I put them in a four- frame hive, one of brood. They did well until about Sept. 1. At that time I saw the queen. I went away for four weeks, then I discovered they were apparently fighting. I kept watch of them, and in that time they had decreased about half in number. In a week longer I united them with another. At that time there was not over half a pint of bees, and no queen, with plenty of sealed honey. I have inquired of a number of local bee- keepers, and they never heard of such a thing as bees fighting among themselves. As you can see, I have lost bees, queen, and all. Newburg, O., Nov. 1, 1889. D. D. Burrows. If your four-frame nucleus did well until Sept. 1, 1 can not very well conjecture what should have made them act as they, did. If your entrance is very large, your bees may 1800 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 23 have tried to rob tliem until they were grad- ually used up. Could I have seen them, and taken in the circumstances, I think I should have been able to decide where the trouble was. OLD-FOOV BEE-KEEPEHS AND LOW PRICES; GET- TING AHE.\D OF THEM BY PEDDLING HONEY. In the spring I started with 32 colonies. Increas- ed to 73, and took 3224 lbs. of comb honey, or a little over UK) lbs. per colony, spring- count, in 1-lb. sec- tions. I work for comb honey entirely, as I can find no market here for extracted. I have sold a little over two- thirds of it for 12><, and some for 15 cents per lb. But there are many old-fogy bee- keepers that keep from four up to fifty colonies in the old-fashioned way, who ruin prices. They cut the honey out, and bring it in and sell it for what they can g« t. That scares other bee-keepers, and they sell for about the same figures. In conse- quence of this, the storekeepers would pay me but 11 cents, and they sold at from 1.5 to 18. So I put it on mj' wagon and peddled it, two sections for 25 cents. I hare sold 2(K)0 lbs. that way: and as I have two hoys and they did not have much to do, I had them help me. I keep my bees in the city. On my little farm of 11 acres, right on the river, I have .5t> chatf hives and 17 single-wall hives. Our city has a little over 30,000 inhabitants. Joliet, III., Dec. 2. Thomas Bossom. Can you give us any information as to what they are? D. L. Holcomb. Arcadia, Wis., Nov. 20, 1889. Prof. Cook replies as follows : Without doubt these are mites. They doubtless gathered under the cover for warmth. It is not prob- able that thej^ have injured or will injure the bees, though mites often do annoy and even destroy bees and other insects. A case is mentioned in my Man- ual. The hen-mite often annoys fowls very much. If Mr. H. will send me specimens I can speak posi- tively. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Dec. 7. SWARMING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER. Did you ever know bees to swarm as late as the middle of November? November 20 was a very warm day (70^), and about noon I noticed that my bees seemed to be in (luite a commotion, just as if they were swarming. I went to see what was the trouble, and found them settling on a small tree near one of the hives, and they seemed to be tr.ying to get back into the hive, but the others drove them ott' and away from the tree; but there was at least a pint of bees killed in and around the hives. The.v afterward settled on a post. I put them in a box, and fed them some, but they all froze Thanks- giving eve. There was about a quart of bees when 1 hived them. Morris Crawford. Quenemo Kan., Dec. 2. Your bees did not swarm out naturally. It was rather a case of absconding. Unless you know to the contrary, I should say it was a colony that was staived out. They might liave come from an adjoining apiary, or from the foiest. In such cases they al- most always try to force an entrance into some good colony, but with just about the result you describe. RED LICE inside OF A HIVE-COVER ; WHAT WERE THEY THERE FOR? In a neighV)or"s apiary which I visited a few days ago 1 saw some very small insects adhering to the under side of the cover of the hive. They can scarcely be seen by the naked eye; but by placing them under a magnifier of about ten diameters they appear like red lice. One or two teaspoonfuls can be brushed from inside a cover; and piled to- gether they resemble brick dust. None were found ui)on the bees or inside the hive where the bees have access. Friend Zeller and myself examined the bees very closely, with a view of ascertaining whether bees might have lice; but as none were found upon the bees we concluded that the insects )}ad ^ot into the hive for comfortable quarters. BEES FLYING IN THE RAIN. About a week ago it was raining quite hard. It had been very cold before that; and as I passed by my bees I noticed that they were flying quite strong. I should not suppose they would fly in the rain; would you? When bees have the dysentery, will they fly out in cold weather, and cover the front of the hive with this yellow matter? Greenleaf, Mass., Dec. 4. F. W. Greenleaf. Friend G., your bees have a sort of dysen- tery, without question. I should conclude they had been gathering something that was unwholesome. If there is very much of it in the hive, it may use them up. I should not be in haste, however, to decide. Feed- ing them stores of granulated sugar might arrest the trouble ; but at this season of the year it is a little dillicult to give any help. a question concerning brood-frames. Does it make any difference which way a brood- frame is placed in the hive; i. e., crosswise, or in the direction of the entrance? If any diflerencc, what is it? Do bees fill that portion of the frame or frames next the entrance first? Masontown, Pa.. Dec. 4. Lowky Johnso.n. Many bee-keepers think there is a differ- ence ; but my impression is, it is so small as to make no material difference. Father Langstroth rather preferred having the en- trance at the ends of the combs, and during the busy season letting the bees in clear across the whole end, that they may have ac- cess to the spaces between the frames with- out having to crawl from one frame to an- other. I have not been able to see that bees deposit their honey nearest to the entrance, unless, indeed, honey is coming in so rapid- ly they drop it almost everywhere. During some of our great yields I have seen them put honey in bits of comb carelessly left on the alighting-board. ignotum tomato. I am certain that tomatoes will mix, if planted to- gether. Ignotum is the finest that I have grown in 21) years. P. B. Stout. Paola, Kan.. Nov. 27, 1889. Friend S., I think you are mistaken about tomatoes mixing. Our experiment stations have so decided. If they have changed their decision we should be very glad to hear from them. By the way, it is almost impossible for a private experimenter to give a matter of this kind the very thorough test that it gets at our stations. They go to the expen.se of a large number of experiments, varied in every possible way ; and where they once make fi decision, I think I woul^ abide by it, 24 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Jan. COCKOO-BEES. I have had trouble with the cuckoo-bees, and did not know what they were until I saw Prof. Cook's explanation. I am the one who first called atten- tion to them at our bee-meeting last May, and that was what set the investigation on foot. If what Prof. Cook thinks is true, they are going to be a terrible pest; for, so far as I can learn, they are spreading. I already hear of them in three coun- ties, and so far we know no remedy. The idea of their breeding in the hive never occurred to me until I saw Prof. Cook's article. I sold my bees last spring, so that 1 had no opportunity to observe them after I found out what they were. Noblesville, Ind. T. W. Abbott. SIZE OF BROOD-CHAMBER AS AFFECTING liONOEV- ITY OF QUEENS. Will a queen last longer in a small brood-chamber than in a large one? Is it possible to have the brood-chamber so large that the oviparous duties of the queen would exhaust her in one year? Fayette, Miss. J. N. Bedford. Friend B., the size of the brood-chamber has little to do with it unless there are bees enough to prepare cells for the queen to lay eggs. Then the question assumes this shape: Will a queen become exhausted by having a very large colony of bees, with hive to match, sooner than she would with a small colony of bees V My impression is, that the queen is not harmed by doing extra work ; for some or the queens that have lived the long- est have produced the greatest number of bees, and given the greatest crops of honey. We solicit for this department short items and questions of a practical nature; but all questions, if accompanied by oth- er matter, mu.-it be put upon a SKPARATK slip of paper with name and address. Can I make any thing selling honey— that is, buy- ing and selling, and peddling? J. G. Nance. Graeey, Ky., Nov. rJ6, 1889. (Without knowing our man, friend N., 1 do not know how we could answer. There are people who make buying and selling honey their exclusive business, and we have some friends in mind who take whole cities like Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo, and canvass them thoroughly, going to ev- ery house, and showing samples of their honey. They have for years been doing a good business.] [It depends upon where you put your bees, friend R. If in the cellar, I think I should prefer to have tbem fastened in; but in that case I should want plenty of space under the combs, that dead bees might fall down out of the way. Where bees are wintered out of doors It is not generally considered best to fasten them in.] FROM OUR ABC CLASS. This department is designed primarily to cover questions either not already answered in the A B C of Bee Culture (price in cloth 81.25), or, if incorporated in this work, are here dwelt upon more in detail on account of the importance of the question. While these answers are of vital interest to the ABC scholars, they will doubtless be found, in many in- stances, to be of considerable value to the more advanced student. For lack of space, the question itself, instead of be ing directly stated, is omitted, tne same being implied in the answer. It is hoped that the class will first consult their textbook before sending in their questions. F. W. O., Massachusett)^.— You can Italianize at al- most any time during the warm months of the year. It is usually better to wait until after the main honey-flow. CELLAR ventilation FOR BEES. W. B. IF.— Do not go to the expense of putting in extra ventilators for the bees. Open the cellar door and windows at night, and close them before daylight. In colder weather, of course you will not need to do this. ARE DEEP HIVES BETTER FOR WINTERING THAN SHALLOW ONES? J. W. C, Otoi.— Theoretically a deep hive is better for wintering than a shallow one; but practically there is no difference. Those who have the Lang- stroth hives, winter their bees just as successfully as those who have deeper hives. We can make bee- hives of odd size if you want, but you will always have to pay more for supplies. KEEPING BEES ON SHARES. Suppose A has an apiary of 20 colonies, and lets it out to B on shares, B to do all the work and bear all expenses, A to get his share in money, what part should A gel? Wm. Coleman. Birr, Ont., Nov. ^.'0, 1889. [Such questions are hard to answer. The best answer I can give is to say, "Just as you two can agree." I think it will be very much better for B to buy the 30 colonies outright, then he will have all the money himself— that is. providing there is any. We do not favor putting bees out on shares, espe- cially so small a number.] SHUTTING BEES IN THE HIVES DURING WINTER; IS IT ADVISABLE? Would it injure bees to keep them shut in the hives in the winter time, by nailing screen wire over the entrance? Daniel Richardson. Spencerville, Ohio, Dec. 7. J. W. F., Kentucky.— Yes, you can feed the bees in the open air in the spring, or, in fact, at any other time, providing you put your feeder at a distance of, say, 100 yards from the apiary, house, or public highway. The honey should be pretty well diluted, and should be fed in an atmospheric feeder, or in any feeder that will prevent the bees from being daubed or drowned. Wo usually prefer to feed in this way cheap sugars dissolved in water. For full particulars, see " Water," in the ABC book. foul brood; acids a kailurb; a sure way to curb it. J. TV. F., Califuniia.-YouT favor inclosing 85 cts. for an atomizer is received. Later experience, as you will see by more recent issues of our journal, has convinced us that the acid methods for curing foul brood are of but little avail. Even C. F. Muth, who for years advocated salicylic acid, now pro- nounces it a failure. We should be glad to send you an atomizer, but we don't wish you to invest your money where it would do you no good. The only satisfactory way to treat foul brood is to scald the hives with boiling water for 1.5 or 30 seconds; burn the old combs and frames of brood; shake the bees on to frames of foundation, and the cure is certain. For particulars, see " Foul Brood," in our ABC book. Perhaps it would be interesting to you to know that, at the last session of the N. A. B. K. A., ill Brantford, it was declared most emphati- cally that spraying with acid for foul brood is a fail- ure so tar as cure is concerned, and a waste of time. 1890 GLEANINGS IN IJEE CULTURE. 25 FROM 14 TO 150, AND 150O LBS. OF COMB HONEY. I Started in the spring with 14; lost '^ in wintering, they being queenless. I increased to 30, and got 1500 lbs. of comb honey, mostly gathered from al- sike clover and basswood. There are about -50 to 60 acres of alsike clover within reach of my bees. West Granville, Wis., Dec. 3. H. J. Raebel. $303 PROFIT FROM THE BEES. I will send in my report for this year. In the spring I had 34 hives, and now I have 74 and about 1500 lbs. of honey. I sold the most of it for 15 cts. per lb. I sold 88 queens, which brought me $115. My clear profit for this year is $303.35 from queens, honey, and fixtures. J. W. Taylor. Ozan, Ark., Nov. 34. FROM 6 TO 30, AND 1036 LBS. OF HONEY. My report for the past season is this: I began the season with six colonies, and increased to 30. I ex- tracted 1036 lbs. of honey, which sold readily at 10 cts. per lb. 1 also sold one colony of bees. The remaining I!) go into winter quarters with plenty of stores, and the pro.spects for a beginner are en- couraging. L. D. W. LUNDY. Victor, Ont., Dec. 6. My report for 1889 is as follows: Spring count, 13; four weak, the rest only fairly strong. No apple bloom. White clover commenced to yield May 38th. By being missent I did not get sections until swarming commenced, June 7th. I increased to 19; doubled up to 17, which I haye packed for winter, whenever it comes. Yield, 366 lbs. from white clo- ver; 139 lbs. from fall flowers in sections one half to three-fourths filled. All sold; home market, 16 cts. Wm. S. Adams. Guys, Md., Dec. 5. FROM 33 TO 40, and 4000 LBS. OF HONEY; STRONG COLOKIES INDISPENSABLE FOR CLOVER. From ;k colonies we secured 4000 lbs. of comb honey, increased to 40, which is an average of over 100 lbs. to the stock. Getting all strong by the time white clover is yielding nectar is every thing toward securing a large yield in a location where the harvest depends on white clover. In order to accomplish the desired results, good queens are in- dispensable. A. A. Gilbert. Bast Arrow, N. Y., Dec. 17. 3000 lbs. OF HONEY FROM 45 COLONIES. Colonies, spring count, 45; increased to 70. Honey, 1V4 tons, one-fourth of which was comb. Almost all sold at, extracted, 5 to 6 cts. ; comb, 11. Swarming began about April 1, and continued about 3 weeks, with an occasional swarm during the summer. Early in May, bees seemed to get a little honey, and were inclined to rob. Tbey began to work in sec- tions the first week in .lune, and continued to store some all the time till in October; and are still gath- ering enough to keep them. Wm. Stevenson. Pasadena, Cal., Dec. 6. only a sprinkle, and the other fmllow got it. Here is my report for 1889 1 increased from 37 to 44 colonies. I worked 8 colonies for extracted hon- ey, and the rest for comb honey. From the 8 colo- nies I extracted 353 lbs., and they would have just doubled In the number of colonies had not three swarms absconded. From the 19 colonies I got 365 lbs. of comb honey, and they increased to 31. The 19 gave me 13 new colonies. Last March and April I got my barrels and tubs ready, for I thought from the looks I was going to get a regular deluge of hon- ey; but it passed (juietly around, and I got only a sprinkle. The "other fellow" got it. Well, never mind; it will come my turn after a while. I should not grumble, however, for I did better than any oth- er bee-keeper that 1 know of in this county. the ITALIANS AHEAD. The two last seasons have fully convinced me of the superiority of the Italians over the black bees. The blacks gave me no surplus last season, and not much this. They did not have half enough stores to winter them either season, while the Italians gave me a little surplus last season, with an abun- dance of stores for themselves and the blacks too. They gave me twice the surplus this season that the blacks dirt, and enough stores to winter themselves and their black neighbors. W. Z. H.'S PLAN OF HIVING SWARMS. I hived a new swarm of Italians on six empty frames, by the W. Z. H. j)lan, June 14th. They gave me 36 lbs. in lib. sections, and plenty of stores for winter. I hived a new swarm of blacks in the same way, June 15th. They did not give me a single pound of surplus, and only about half enough stores for winter. I sold my crop of honey at 1-2'A cts. per lb. for e.vtracti'd, and 15 cts. for comb. Paris, 111., Dec. 14 J.P.Adams. 0a^ QaEp3Fi6j\[-B@^, With Replies from our best Autliorities 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 151.— a. What size of hrood- frame arc liou usinnf h. Far your purpose, and in your locality, do t/dit think ynv could produce as larye or larger crops of honeii with any other size of framcl The Langstroth frame seems to be the best for me. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MUTH. a. Langstroth frame, b. I think there would be no gain in adopting another size. Illinois. Mrs. L. Harrison. a. The standard Langstroth. b. Possibly; but the L. suits me best for all purposes. Wisconsin. S. W Geo. Grimm. a. Langstroth size. b. I have tried other frames, but for my purpose it suits me best. Ohio. N. W. A.B.Mason. a. Simplicity - I/angstroth. b. No. The size of frame has nothing to do in the yield of honey, pro- vided you keep in the limits of rationality. Louisiana. B. C. P. L. V^iallon. a. The regular Langstroth frame, b. Yes, I think I could produce just as much honey from various other sizes and shapes of frames. California. S. W. R. Wilkin. a. 18 X 9, outside measure, b. I doubt if it would make any difference; but I wish I had the regular Langstroth size, for the sake of being like others. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. 2(i GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. a. l;i inches Ioiik liy '.i>2 deep, inside measure, b. No, neither in mine nor in any other Jocality. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. a. Regular Langstroth. b. Gallup, c. New Hed- don. For extracted, no difference. For. comb, I think Heddon the best. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. a. The Gallup, b. No. I think the Gallup the best size of frame in the world, all things consider- ed. If I did not, I would change to the one I con- sidered better. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. a. I am using the regular L. frame and another frame, which is 21 inches high and 13 inches wide. I think the frames that we are using are as good as any that we know of. Wisconsin. S. W. E. Francb. a. 12 inches square, b. No more, certainly, and probably not as much, until after I had spent years in learning how to use some other size to the best advantage. Cuba. O. O. PoppLETON. a. 1334 X 13'., inches inside measure, b. I don't lay much stress upon the size or shape of the frame, e.xcept for the convenience of the apiarist. This size and shape ;suit me for all purposes in my locality. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boabdman. Ha. The largest part;of my bees are in the regular Gallup frame, b. No frame that I have tried equals the Gallup frame for extracted honey. 1 have at present Ki>out KiO colonies in S and 111 frame L. hives. I had thought at one time of ,transferring my Gal- lup into L. hives;, but the, experience of the last two years has convinced me and those working for me, that, for extracted : honey, the transferring should he the other way. Wisconsin. S. W. S. 1. Freeborn. I use the Simplicity frame in half my apiary, and the Gallup in the other , half. This is not a state of things to be recommended, but the apiary was so when T bought it, and both frames have enough good points that I dislike to exterminate either. Withlthe lapse of years 1 find myself leaning a lit- tle more toward the Simplicity. I do not think any other size could improve on its honey results very much. Ohio. N. W. E. B. Hasty. a. We use mostly the suspended [Quinby frame, 18^ by 11%, outside, b. According to reports com- ing from .several parts of the United States and Europe, a large comb and a large hive give us larger crops with far less work! than {small combs and small brood-chamber. Our experience on this question is based on comparisons made on three kinds of frames and hives during 30 years. We have both the Quinby and the Langstroth frames in use now, and the Quinby hives alwaun yield larger crops. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. We are using two sizes— my old style hanging frame, 11 x 14, and ^the shallow closed-end frame. With proper manipulation there is not much dif- ference in the yield. What difference there has been during the past ^season has been in favor of flje large frame and large brood-chamber. Several causes enabled the large frames to secure the best results. Plenty of old combs were on hand to stority the old hives to the utmost limits, while the shallow frames were filled with foundation to be drawn. It will take another season's trial in my yards to demonstrate the value of the two sizes of frames. New York. E. Rambler. In my old style of Langstroth hive I am using the standard Langstroth frame, eight to the brood- chamber. In my new patented hive, which you have all heard of, the frame is an inch longer than the Langstroth frame, inside measure, because the end- pieces are not quite so thick, and there is no space between them and the ends of the hive; and in- stead of being eight inches deep in the clear they are only five inches deep, and I use eight of them in the brood-case, and two brood-cases constitute one brood-chamber. With this arrangement and this size of frame I get more bees with less labor and more surplus honey than with any other frame or arrangement I have ever used. Please excuse my statement of the above facts. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. The general preference seems to be foi- the Langstroth frame, and we had no doubt that it Mould ; and the fact that it is in so general use, if for no other reason, should induce not only those just commencing, but those who can "think of making a change, to get as quickly as possible into line. From the above, the Gallup frame seems to come next in the way of preference. Yery likely, however, the American frame would an- swer almost every purpose, unless it is that it is a little too deep. There are some very good reasons for having a frame still larger than the Langstroth, such as the suspended Quinby, used by the Dadants ; but 1 think that he who uses something different from the common run will sooner or later suffei' by it. Our friend Dr. C. C. Miller has some- thing almost like the L., but not quite. During years past he has raised only coml> honey, and has therefore got along vei'y well ; but should he tindertake selling bees and queens, as I think he has some idea of doing, he will find himself in an embarrass- ing situation. Nobody wants to buy bees in a frame that is almost but not quite an L. A great deal depends upon what one is accus- tomed to ; and I feel (juite certain that those who have expressed a preference for something different from the L. could, with very little loss, when they really got at it, manage to accomplish every thing with the L. that they accomplish with the other frames. In bur manufacturing business, every year that passes brings us larger or- ders for the L. frame, and smaller ones for all other kinds. A few days ago a man sent in an order for a single Gallup hive. Now, although we have illustrated and given the dimensions of the (xallup frame for 12 or 1.5 years, we have not had a single order for a Gallup hive in two or three years. Not one of our hands, not even the oldest ones, knew how to go to work to make one, with- out instruction ; and this is the case while we have shipments of hives holding the L. frame, going out by the carload almost con- stantlv. 189U GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 27 PYgEIiF WB MY ]S[EI6}IB0R^. He made himeelt' of no reputation, and took upon him the I'orm of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man.— Phil. 3: 7. Once upon a time, so we are told, a good missionary felt called upon to go and labor for the salvation of a certain class of slaves. These slaves were under such cruel bondage that they were obliged to work at the most heavy and fatiguing labor, from very early in the morning until very late at night. In fact, their overseer was so cruel and heart- less, that, if they did not spring to their feet at the ring of the bell in the morning they were led not only to expect harsh words but cruel blows; and his tyranny was so great that they barely had time to eat their simple meager crust before they fell asleep at night. In the morning and at noon they were permitted to stop their toil only long enough to partake of the plainest foocl, furnished only in sufficient quantities to sustain life. The missionary could really find no opportunity to present the gospel of Christ Jesus. But a worse obstacle still, was, that they did not believe what he had to say, and, in fact, did not care very much about it either. They could not see any point or comfort or hope in Christ's promise, ''Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'' Their spirits were so ground down, and life and hope were so crushed out of their poor souls, that they gave up, and toiled on in a dejected, sullen sort of way, like veritable beasts of burden, and they had come to be but little more or little else. This good missionary, however, could not give up. Missionaries are celebrated for laboring long years without any apparent fruit mani- festing itself as a reward for their labors. And this missionary had the true spirit of Christ Jesus in his heart. It made his kind- ly heart bleed, out of sympathy for these poor downtrodden people. In that day it was customary to buy and sell slaves ; but they had so lost spirit and life that it did not make much difference to them whether they belonged to one man or another. They had learned to regard the white man as their bitter enemy and foe. Their overseer was white, and the missionary was white ; therefore they reasoned, "How can he know any thing about us or our condition V and even if he says that the Christ whom he tells about has proffered salvation to the black as well as to the white, what does he know about it V lie is a white man ; he has liberty; he is permitted to own property; he has education ; he is a man, while we are only colored slaves. There is no hope for us." Now, this good missionary was finally led to the conclusion that, if he would do any thing to save these people, he must come down to their level. As it was, they held aloof from him. They looked at him from a distance. Even though he told them he was their brother, they did not believe it, nor accept the statement. It was too im- probable and too ridiculous. lie must have some plan in his head, probably something that would in the end make them still more miserable and downtrodden, they thought. For a long while he pondered the matter. He was so intent on reaching them, and saving at least some of them, that he slowly came to the conclusion to do what most men would call a crazy and a rash act. His plan was, in short, this : To become a slave himself. Slaves were sometimes, under some circumstances, permitted to purchase their own freedom in those days. In the same way, a man could, if he chose, sell himself into slavery. This missionary, finally, as a last resort, sold himself into slavery. We do not know what he did with the money which he received as the price of his liberty. He certainly did not spend it in riotous living. Most likely it was invest- ed in a way that would assist in carrying out his lifelong plan. He became a slave. He lived in a hovel with the ether slaves, and he endured the very same toil they en- dured, side by side. Of course, he was a good, faithful, and obedient slave, and we hope he escaped the hard words and the blows that fell to the lot of others. Very likely, however, he did not, for overseers wlio happen to be wicked men often delight in showing their authority, and being un- reasonable and tyrannical with even the best of their servants. Whatever it was, he endured it all for tlieir sakes, and glorious was his reward. The hope of his life was accomplished, and one after another of his colored comrades came to Jesus. When he surrendered liberty, position, and all that this world can give for their sakes, they be- lieved. His heroic act touched their hearts, and brought them to Christ, when nothing else would have availed. He gave his life, that they might live. Dear friends, do you begin to see the ap- plication and the purport of my little New Year's story V The great God of the uni- verse, the creator of all things, in his love and sympathy for us did just what I have pictured in this simple story, that was told in my hearing not many days ago. Now see if you do not see a new beauty in some of the texts of Scripture which I am going to repeat to you with the above application in mind : " For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that the world through him might be saved." Let us now turn to the verse preceding the one at the head of this talk : " Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." And now comes the beautiful thought of my text to-day : " But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Let us now take the verse after our text : " And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the deal It, of the cross.'^ It seems hard to stop right here, dear friends, so let us read the following verse : '" Wherefore God hath also exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name." Well, this does not seem to be a good stopping-place either. Let us read two more verses : " That at the name of Jesus 28 GLEANINGS INBEE CULTURE. Jan. every knee should bow, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Now, friends, you have the picture that I wish to place before you. Is it not enough of itself, even though all the rest of the Bible were dropped ? Are not these few words enough to proclaim Christ as king ? There are some other passages I want to quote from — passages that were written be- fore Christ came. A great part of the world seems inclined to reject Christ be- cause he, with the universe at his command, should condescend to so low a position ; that he should, when he came here on earth, in obedience to the will of the Father, choose a place among the lowly and humble. Let us now go over some of the beautiful words which are found in the 63d chapter of Isaiah : " And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him. He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sor- rows. Tie was wounded for our transgres- sions, he was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes are we healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one to his own way." Suppose, now, when this good missionary had come among these poor slaves they had enn then refused to accept his proffered help, or refused to listen. I presume likely some of tliem did do that very thing; but even if they did, should we be in haste to judge and condemn y Haven't we, in fact, done pretty much the same thing, alter he " endured the cross and despised the shame" for our sakes ? And now I come to the second part of my talk this morning. A good manv think they have no room for Jesus. In fact, when God saw fit to send his only Son, Christ Jesus, down to this w orld of ours, to live a human life, to toil with us and by our sides, that he might save us, at the very outset the world decided there was no room for Jesus. Instead of giving him a palace for his birth, and the most gorgeously furnished cradle that the world could procure for the new-born babe, he was born in a stable and cradled in a manger, "-because there was no room for them in the inn." It is true, there were good shepherds watching, and they very soon found him out, for an angel led them. This angel proclaimed, " Fear not, for behold I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people ; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." You see, the great God took pains to announce him to the world, that the world might know that the promised Messiah had come. Yes, ahcarenly host 'pru.ls'wg God came with the announcement, " Glory to God in the high- est, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Now, even though the above be true, notice that nobody took any particu- lar notice of it. We are told that the moth- er " kept these sayings, and pondered them in her heart," but the world at large forgot all about it. Jesus grew as other poor children grow. He doubtless went to school, and we know he learned a trade. I once heard a carpen- ter say that he always felt happy with his calling, when he remembered that it was the occupation of Christ Jesus when he worked among men. Jesus toiled just as we toil, until he knew every phase and every temptation common to poor humanity. When he went to take up his public minis- try, again came the plea, " We have no room for Jesus ; " and some said in plain words, " We will not have this man to rule over us." Were they excusable in refusing to believe so strange and incredible a tale, as that (foci himself had come to earthV Why, they might laave been had not his presence been daily attested by a series of miracles— miracles performed in the open air, and all before crowds of people. Ie fact, at one time ^ ye thousand were fed. They had a good dinner ; and if there is any thing in this world that a man is sure of, especially when he is hungry, it is in regard to his dinner. You can not persuade him that he has been fed, nor can you by any il- lusion make him say he has had his dinner when he has not. Jesus constantly, and step by step, demonstrated to every intelli- gent and thinking human being that he held in his hand the power of God. In fact, bystanders once said, " What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" Notwithstanding all this, he was at the same time the servant of the people. He had so completely surrendered his liberty and himself that he never per- formed even one miracle for personal need. He was often hungry and thirsty, and fa- tigued and sleepv. yet he took his chances just as we do. No miracle ever favored him. One of the infidel writers said that Jesus w^ent through life a poor, sad, and sorrowful man, disappointed at every turn. Now, I do not think this writer has stated it quite truly; but for all that, there is a pathos in the description of that unbeliever, that to me is deeply touching. I like to think of it— disappointed. Yes, he was dis- appointed because of our unthankfulness and ingratitude. He was truly disappoint- ed, and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Why, some- times I feel as if I could cry when I think of it. But I think the cry would do me good, because I should say, as I wiped my eyes, " If this indeed be true, I think I won't repine any longer. I won't mind it, even if folks do forget how hard I have toil- ed to give them a place where they might earn their daily bread. I won't mind it, even though I receive rude and unfeeling words in recompense for my pains. Christ Jesus did a thousand times more. I am go- n g to be happy, and smile through my tears, because it is my great and inestimable priv- lege to follow "just a little in the Master's ootsteps." Now, then, dear hearers, shall we say in our hearts, " There is no room for Jesus?" Shall we reject him, and refuse to accept his love and his companionship when he left his throne in heaven, to come and be one among us? It seems to me I hear you say, " Dear Bro. Root, we do not reject him, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. ^9 and we will not, if he will forgive us for our past neglect. If he will pardon our past ingratitude when we have turned our backs toward him, we will come to him this Xew Year's day. We will gladly accept of his companionship." Why, the word '' com- panionship " almost makes me tremble, to think of so familiar a term in regard to the mighty Son of God. And yet, is it not trueV Do not the words I have quoted prove it? While considering this theme I have been wondering why it is that any one should re- fuse to accept Christ. Some of us have abun- dance of this world's goods. May be we have every thing we need, aud think we do not need to ask any odds of anybody. But, dear friends, all the wealth in the world can not preserve health. The very breath you draw is in Gods hand, and death is near. In that one respect, at least, we are all alike helpless. We are all dependent upon the gieat Ruler of the universe. We must sooner or later come to him, whether we wish to or not. We may carry our dehance and stubbornness to the brink of the grave, but we are helpless finally. Spite and stub- bornness are terrible things. I once heard of a husband and Avife who carried it to such length that it is said they did not speak to each other in long years, even though liv- ing in the same household. Of course, there was none of the spirit of Christ Jesus in the heart of either. It is Christ Jesus that cures just such difficulties. He heals all such troubles by a single touch, as he did ages ago ; and it is his delujhl to heal and help, and nothing else can do it. I suspect that many hold aloof, and continue to refuse to hear him, and even turn their backs toward him, l)ecause of some such foolish spite or jealousy. Some refuse, and turn from him, because they are guilty of wrong doing. Some seem to recognize that, should they become Christians, they must be fair and open, and honest and true with their fellow-men : but they have been so long ac- customed to being little and small, and tricky and evasive, that they will swap their chances of a home in heaven, just to gratify this foolish, silly, evil passion; and at the same time these little tricky ways defeat the very object in view ; for no man or woman can well accumulate property while having a reputation for little vices like these. Xow, then, dear brothers and sisters, if you have lived until the present moment without the joys of being a seri;«/(£,/or ChrisVs sakelQt me beg of you to commence this day. Let us do as he did, and take upon ourselves the form of a servant, remembering that, by so doing, we shall be serving him ; for he has said, " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." And let us, when tempted and tried, and when we get inclin- ed to be stubborn, and say we are not going to be a slave to anybody any longer, repeat the text that I gave you when I started out to talk to-day — " But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant." Have you any room for Jesus, He who bore your load of sinV As he knocks and asks admission, Sinner, will you let him in? Room for pleasure, room for business; But for Christ, the crucified, Not a place that he can enter Tn the heart for which he died? Cho.— Room for Jesus, King of g-lory ! Hasten now ! his word obey ! Swing the heart's door widely open- Bid him enter while you may. THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AT BRANTFORD. CONVENTIONS IN OENERAL, AND WHAT THOSE WHO DO NOT ATTEND, AND DEPEND SIMPLY ON THE PUBLISHED REPORTS, DO NOT GET. As I came back, I found, after all, there was very little I could put down on paper ; and yet there was much that I had absorb- ed, and which I know, from past experi- ence, will be of value to me. There are a great many things that do not get into re- ports, that stick by us ; and he who attends the convention will get the benelit of it. It is these same things in editors that have a fashion of cropping out now and then through the pages of the bee-journals. I wish to commend the most excellent report which is given in the American Bee Journal, by friend Hutchinson. While I am about it I might extend the same com- pliment to Mr. Macpherson. of the Canadi- an Bee Journal. Both gentlemen have left out the chaff and given us the kernels. As at almost every convention, there was some chaff with the wheat, and it requires no lit- tle discrimination to get at the gist of it, or, to carry out the figure, separate the wheat. After one good brother, who had wasted, as I thought, a good deal of valuable time on the floor, and had finally, to the relief of everybody else, taken his seat, Bro. Hutch- inson (who sat near me) leaned over to me and whispered, " What is the gist of that ? '" I laughingly replied that I could not tell him ; but as it did not appear in the report published, I presume there was not any gist to it at all. I do not wish to convey the im- pression here that the convention was bor- ed very much with such chaffy speeclies ; but at every convention there are a few of them, and he who reports the proceedings carefully must exercise a great deal of ed- itorial discrimination. Did you ever think of it ?— editors and reporters are nothing but professional fanning-mills. They try to retain the wheat, and blow out the chaff. I wish that we might have more wheat and less chaff at conventions when many of us are on expense. The president can do a great deal, but the members of the conven- tion can do more, in helping him. There is one thing which I wish could be put on paper, and that is the enthusiasm which we all get at conventions. It is as good as a show to hear Dr. Mason get off' some of his dry jokes while in the chair. Thev were not nonsensical jokes either. And there was that inimitable J. B. Hall, with his Scotch accent. In his earnest and apparent innocence, he had the whole con- vention laughing before they knew it, sever- al times. And there was R. L. Taylor, who scarcely if ever smiled, but in some way or other had the faculty of getting off some- thing pretty sharp every now and then. To HO GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Ja hear Prof. Cook talk is enough to make one feel there is nothing in the world so pleas- ant as bee-keeping, or experimenting upon whatever line he is talking upon. I watch- ed the faces of a good many while he was talking, and I could see an enthusiasm and a glow that showed that something of more than ordinary interest was going on. Oh dear ! there are so many others who deserve personal mention, that I fear I must stop short off, or some good brother will feel hurt. I do not know of any thing at the conven- tion that gave us more real pleasure, and that made us wake up, if we were iaclined to be sleepy, than the bee-keepers' songs. Unfortunately our good friend Dr. C. C. Miller was absent ; but very fortunately the secretary, R. F. Holtermann, had secured the services of the City Quartette. Every time a song was rendered there was a quick and hearty encore ; again and again they were called up; and again they were en- cored. The quick German wit of our friend Eugene Secor's original songs, and the mel- ody of the music composed for the occasion by our own Dr. Miller, no doubt gave the songs a freshness and newness that thev possibly would not have had otherwise. 1 think our association ought to be proud of two such men — a real poet and a real musi- cian, either of them of no mean talent. While I am dictating this my eyes rest upon the report in the last American Bee Journal. In touching upon this point W. Z. II. says, " The session was opened very pleasantly by singing several of the bee-keepers' songs. The last one that was sung was one that appears on page 772 of the American Bee Journal. This w^as ren- dered in such a way that it ' brought down the house.' It did us good to see the old, staid, and sober President Mason so far for- get himself as to slap his knees, tip back his head, and shake his sides with laughter." You are just right, Bro. II. We all felt like Dr. Mason, but we did not express it in the hearty manner that he did. Don't let there ever be held a convention again, without the bee-keepers' songs being a prominent feature. Sometimes it is a little tiresome to sit for a couple of hours, without something to enliven our spirits. The music will more than offset the time it takes up by the freshness and invigoration that will be sure to follow in the discussion. I wish you could all have shaken hands with those hearty Canucks. Well, I will shortly introduce you to their faces. Bro. Holtermann had arranged to have one of the city artists take a picture of the conven- tion. The picture was taken, and is a most excellent one— a far better one than I could have taken with my camera, even if the Canadian officials had not put it in safe keeping at the custom-house office. This picture will be reproduced by the elegant half-tone process, for the readers of Glean- ings, and then we are goiijg to introduce each of the members, one by one, to you After the convention closed, a party, con- sisting of Mr. and Mrs. C P. Dadant, Mrs. Root, and your humble servant, to )k in Niag- ara Falls. We should have been glad if the party could have been made larger ; but the other members, for various reasons, could not go. On the way there I enjoye-bars, Thick 43, 45 Uncapping-bowl 71 Warm Weather 65,66 Water, Bad Well 49 Weighing Frames 71 Wide Top-bars 43, 45 Wiley's Silver Lining 61 Winter of 1889 69 Carniolan Queens ^^° Bees a Specialty. The co-partnership of Andrews iV Lockhart is now closed, and the senior partner (who has bred those queens and bees for six years) will breed queens and bees from imported mothers, in the season of 1800, and will sell, the Ist of June, untest- ed at ffl.OO; one-half dozen at $5.00; one dozen at $9.00. The tested, the 15th of June, $3.00; one-half dozen, 16th of June, $10.00. All queens above the untested will be put into one class, and sold as tested at $3.00, of next year's breeding. I expect to have queens of last year's breeding, which 1 will sell on the 10th of May, tested, $3.50; one-half dozen, $13.00. Send for circular. l-6db John Andrews, Pattens Mills, Wash. Co., N. Y. For Sale.— For cash, cheap, or trade for a good piece of land, from 50 to 200 colonies of Italian bees in the Quinby hive, and a few in Root's Simplicity. Too much work, with other business. 3tfdb G. Hakseim, Secor, Woodford Co., Ills. SEEDS FOR THE GREENHOUSE, GARDEN, AND FARM. As a number of the friends in the South and Southern California are now sending in their orders for seeds, it reminds us that it is time to indicate our preferences, and to let j'ou know what we feel like advising and offering for sale during 1890. PRICE 5 CTS. PER PAPER; 10 PAPERS, 40 CTS.; 100 PAPERS, $3.50. Seeds of new or rare vegetables and novelties, we include at the uniform price of 5 cents per package; but, of course, we are obliged to put a smaller number of seeds into such packages. This will be noticed with the Bush Lima Bean and Snowball Uauliflower, etc. Now, these 5-ct. papers are all sent by mail postpaid; but wJien you order seeds by the oz., or i^B., you must pay 9 cts. extra for postage and packing on each and every pound of seeds ordered. Peas and oedns by the pint and quart, must also have 8c per pint, or 15c per quart, added for postage ; on corn, add 12c per qt. for postage. One-fourth oz., lb., or peck wul be sold at oz., lb., or peck rates. ASPARAGUS. Asparagus, Palmetto. Oz. 10c; lb. $1.50. We have given this new variety a trial beside the Colossal, and it is certainly a stronger and more robust plant. Asparagus Roots. Palmetto, 10 for 10c; 75c per 100; $6.00 per 1000. By mail, add 5c for 10, or 20c per 100. BEANS. Ktdney Wax. V, pt. 10; pk. $1.50. This is an improvement on the ordinaiT- Golden Wax Bean, in giving us larger pods, more perfectly free from rust; and last, but not least, if you can not sell all of them tor snap-short beans you have a shell bean that is nearly equal in size and quality to the larger white kidney bean ; and if you do not sell them all shelled, you have a good crop of dry, nearly all white, kidney beans. We consider it quite an acquisition. White Kidney, liarge. Pt. 10c; pk. $1.00. Bu., $3.35. One of the best to use shelled, when green or ripe. We sell bushels of these at 10c a pint, shelled green. We market them in new pint strawberry-boxes. POLE BEANS. Extra-Early liinia Beans. These are fully equal to the old lima beans, and are fully as pro- ductive, and from ten days to two weeks earlier. We consider it an acquisition. Price 20c per pint, or $3.50 a peck. King of til e Oarden Lima. Vi pt. 10c; qt. 30c; peck, $3.(K1. These are fully as good as the common lima, and the pods are considerably larger, saving time in picking and shelling, as well as increasing the .yield. We get 15 cents per pint for these, when green, siielled. See White Kidney bean above. Henderson's Nevir Busli Lima Bean. Yi pt. 40c; qt., *1.00; peck, $6.50. (Dwarf Lima, or Caro- lina.) In oui- catalogue tor 1889 we pronounced this the most im- portant novelty for 1889. It is a genuine bush lima bean; t)ut I do not see how a seedsman can conscientiously adver- tise it without mentioning that it is much smaller than the ordinary nole lima bean. In every other respect it is fully equal to tne pole li mas, and may prove a valuable acquisi- tion to many who can not well go to the time and expense of 1>roviding poles. It is exceedingly prolific, each stalk or stem )earing from .')0 to 100 pods, under good cultivation. The ex- tra trouble of pi<'king and shelling, in order to get them ready for tlie table, is the only drawback. We have them put up in .') ( cut packages icjutaining 10 beans. Allot inir heans will he furnished in o-cent packages ; but where they are to go by mail, postpaid, of course the above packages will have to he quite smaU. If wanted by mail, add Sc per pt. or 15c per qt. for postage. BEETS. Et-llpse. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. These have given us the best satisfaction of any thing we ever raised in the way of beets. They are a very quick grower, of excellent quality, and the appearance of the bright smooth scarlet bulbs is fully equal to any thing that has been pictured in the colored plates of our catalogues. 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 transplanting well, and are exceed- ingly hardy. Seed is of our own raising from selected roots. Pblladelpliia Turnip. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. This is a little later and larger than the above, and is a nov- elty because of its alternate rings of dark and light pink. Lane's Improved Sugar. Oz. 5c; lb. 35c. The best varietv for stock-feeding. It showed a larger per cent of sugar at the Experiment Station than any other an- alyzed. It is so sweet, that, when small, they are nice to eat raw. Has yielded as high as 20 tons to the acre. Long Red ITfangel. Oz. 5c; lb. 30c; 10 lbs. $2.50. Yields enormously, but not so sweet as Lane's improved. Seed is of our own raising, from selected roots CABBAGE. Select, Very Early Jersey Wakefield. Stock > keep it is IN the ground. During August and September the sets may l)e gathered and sown. You can, with care, keep them over winter. The sets grow in the form of lit- tle onions, on the top of the stalk, like the old-fashioned onion-sets we used to see when we were children. We gather these sets as soon as they are ripe, say about the middle of August; then we sprinkle them in a drill, about as we would peas, say from thiee to five inches apart. PARSNIP. Bloomsdale. Oz. 5c; lb. 40c; 10 lbs., $3.00. This is the only kind we have, but we consider it equal to any. PARSLEY. Fine Curled or Double. Oz. 5c; lb. 50e. PEAS. Liandreth's Extra Early. Vi pt. 5c; pk. $1.50. We consider this equal to any for the first peas of the sea- sou. It yields its crop in a very short time. Not equal in qualit3- to the American Wonder. Alaslca Peas. Yipt.bc; peck, $1.50. This pea is not only the earliest of any thing we have ever tried, but, strange to tell, it is also of a delicious quality, vei'y productive, and an excellent pea in every respect, except that the pods look ready to pick before the peas inside are large enough to amount to any thing. If you pick them when they LOOK plump and full you will disappoint your customers, and have trouble. Get careful pickers; tell them not to pick a pod until they know by squeezing it that there aie good-sized peas inside, and you will then call it, as we do, ahead in quality of ,anj- other early pea in the world. American IVonder. V2 pt. 10c; pk. $1.75. This is a cross between the Champion and the Little Gem. The vine grows from 6 to 8 inches high. It is the first to rip- en among the green wrinkled sorts. On account of its dwarf habits it can be grown very easUy under glass. Stratagem. '/4 pt. 10c; pt. 20c; pk. $1.75. This has made its way rapidly in public favor. It is not on- ly of rare excellence in quality, but the pods and peas are so larg<; and fine looking they call attention at once from any thing else in the market. It has given us excellent satisfac- tion. Champion of England. Pint, 15c; pk. $1.50: bushel, $5.50. So well known as to need no recommend here. Marro-wfat. Vi pt. .5c; pk. 75c; bu. $3.50. One of the most desirable and well-known late sorts. Peas by mail will be at same rate as beans for postage. PEPPERS. Spanisli ^Pepper. Oz. 2.5e. ; lb. $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. 25c; lb. $3.00. -•V laiger.variety than the above, but'in every other respect the same. Cayenne [Pepper. Oz. 35c; lb. $2.50. Much called for, for seasoning soups, pickles, etc. ^ , «, . POTATOES. Early Ohio. The Experiment Station, Columbus, O., says there is noth- ing earlier. Early Puritan. Nearly as early as Early Ohio, and much more productive. Highly recommended by our Ohio Experiment Station. Prices: 1 lb. by mail, 26c; 3 lbs. 60c; 1 peck by express or freight, 50c; 1 bushel, S1.50. Lee's Favorite. This is a few days later than the foregoing, but yields better still. In our locality during the past season "it has given us over lOO bushels, from.one-fourth of an acre. Empire State. This, the Experiment Station considers as good a late or medium late potato as any before the public. They decide that the above four varieties are the cream of the list. Beauty of Hebron. This is piefernd by Terry because it gives as good, or bet- ter yield than any other, and comes oft' early enough to admit of getting in wheat in good time. It is a standard early sort. Prices of any of the above, except Elarly Puritan : 1 lb., by mail, 15 cis.; 3 lbs., 40 cts.; 1 lb., by express or freight, 7c; 1 peck by express or freight, 35 cts.; 1 bushel, $1.00. Barrel, $2.75. Potato-eyes. Any of the above varietus by mail postpaid, 15c for 10; or 76c per 100. PUOTPKIN. Early Sugar Pumpkin. Oz. 5c; lb. 75c. This was selected from 13 different kinds of pumpkins last season. They are small, somewhat cheese-shaped, handsome in color, and sell on our market-wagon readily at the same price as Hubbard squashes. They are specially designed for the first pumpkin pies of the season. Connecticut Field. M pint, 5c; quart, 1.5c; peck, 75c; bushel, $2.00. If wanted by mail, add at the rate of 16c per quart for postage. RHUBARB. Either Victoria or Linnaeus. Oz., 10c; lb., $1.50. RADISHES. Early Scarlet Globe. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; lb $1.00. This is the radish that Vick gives such a beautiful chrorao of in his catalogue for 1888; and for forcing in the green- house, it is ahead of any other in the way of forcing rad- ishes. They begin to form a bulb almost as soon as the second leaves come out. They are very hardy, and of exceedingly rapid growth. 'Wood's Early Frame. Oz. 5c; lb. 60c. The very best long radish for raising under glass, or for extra early. White-tipped Scarlet Turnip. Oz. 5c; lb. 60c A fancy variety of the scarlet bulb with white bottom; very showy. Lady Finger. Oz. 10c. ; lb. $1.00. One of the standard long radishes. Sometimes it grows as large as a parsnip, and yet is of excellent quality. Bechert's Chartier Radish. Oz. 5c. ; lb. 50c. A novelty, and one that has given us the greatest satisfac- tion; of rapid growth and good size, both at the bottom and top. In favorable soil it will grow to a large size, and still be excellent in quality. They are remarkably certain to make a good bulb. Chinese Rose Winter. Oz. 5c; lb. 60c. These not only stand cold weather until toward Christmas, but we consider them really a most delicious radish, and the most free from being corky, of any radish known. They are not as strong as radishes ordinarily are, but are of a sweet turnip flavor. SALSIFY, OR OYSTER PLANT. New Mammoth. From Sandwich Islands. Oz. 10c ; lb., $1..50. We have grown this side by side with the common salsify, and we find the roots larger, better shaped, and equally good in other respects; they are, therefore, without ques- tion an improvement. SPINACH. Bloomsdale Extra Curled. Oz. 5c: lb. 35c. It combines as many of the good qualities as any other. SQUASH. SUMMER VARIETIES. Early White Bush, 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 squash. WINTER VARIETIES. Perfect Gem. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. A round squash, about 6 inches in diameter. The quality is excellent, and it will keep till spring. Huhhard. Oz. 5c; lb. 60c. Too well known to need comment. We have tried nearly all the new squashes, but have not yet found a better one. Boston Marrow. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. An old standard staple, especially in and around Boston. TOMATO. Dwarf Champion. Oz. 25c; lb. $3.00. This is a great acquisition for an early tomato. It is not only very early, but the shape is equal to any of our best kinds, and it stands up without staking, on account of its strong stalk. They are smooth and handsome, and ripen all over nicely, quite a little ahead of the Mikado. Lorilland. Oz. 40c; lb. $5.00. We have tried this, and it seems to be the best a^; amber, b3i@6M. Comb honey, 1-lb. sections, white, L3@I3; light, 12®11. New sections, 13@10. Beenwax, 30@31. Dec. 37. Schacht, Lemcke & Steiner. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco, Cal. Boston.— Honej/.— Sections, 1-lb., 16; 3-lbs., 15. Extracted, 7@9. Beeswax, 33. Trade dull. Jan. 9. Blake & Ripley, 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. For Sale.— Ten 5Slb. cans of choice clover honey, at 8 cts., and 1000 choice white comb in 1-lb. sections, 14-lb. in a crate. Price 14 cents delivered on cars. Dr. Larch, Deer Park, Boone Co., Mo. For Sale.— 1000 lb. of basswood and clover honey, with a slight mixture of autumn honey, in pails holding 7i4 pounds. Boxed and delivered at Wa- verly, la., at 65c per pail. J. B. Colton, (Waverly, Bremer Co., Iowa. For Sale.— About 1600 lbs. of clover honey, in 1- Ib. sections, I will sell at lie per lb. here, on track. Joseph McGregor, Earlville, La Salle Co., III. Get honey direct from the producer. Send for reduced prices of filled sections, pails, cans, etc. Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, la. For Sale.— 900 lbs. of white comb honey, in 1-ib. sections, 24-lb. cases. I want 13c on board cars. H. Hatch, Lowell, Kent Co., Mich. For Sale.— About 2500 lbs. No. 1 clover honey in 60-lb. cans. P. O. B. here at $4.80 per can, boxed singly. In kegs or large lots, less. R. L. Tucker, Nevada, Vernon Co., Mo. For Sale.— About 1000 lbs. of first-class white- clover honey, put up in 60-lb. tin screw-top cans. Sample sent on application. M. W. Harrington, Williamsburg, Iowa. Yol. XTIII. JAN. 15, 1890. No. 2. TERMS : $1.00 Pee ANNTTM, IN ADVANCE;! f? (,+ riTil n oT) a r1 -i in 7 J? '7 ? 2Copiesfor«1.90; 3for$2.75; 5for84.00-, -C/Of/CC't/t't'O/t'e/tC/ Lfl/ ±OiO, \ PUBLISHED SEJU-MONTHLY BY \A. I. ROOT, MEDINA. OHIO. 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- I ber, 6cts. Additions to clubs maybe .' made at club rates. Above are all to I be sent to one postofkice. r Clubs to different postoflBces, 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 I NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. THICK OR DEEP TOP-BARS FOR VENTING BRACE-COMBS. PRE- A VALUABLE ARTICLE FROM THE PEN OF JAMES HEDDON. Mr. Root:— I was not only somewhat interested but considerably surprised in noting in your last issue the excitement and enthusiasm manifested by some of your subscribers upon the above sub- ject. As it is one which I have had much experi- ence with, and which I have written one or more articles concerning, I think in some back number of Gleanings and American Bee Journal, vrhichl see you have forgotten, and your latter-day sub- scribers have never seen, let me give you a little history concerning deep top-bars, and also state that, while it is a fact, as I stated years ago in pub- lic print, that they do tend to lessen the amount of brace-comb which will be built, and have a still stronger tendency to produce nice straight combs, they can not be relied upon to take the place of a honey-board, as your correspondents believe. I state this as the result of many experiments, and will say that I now have hundreds of these deep top-bars in use in my apiary, and by this mail I send you a sample taken from one that I now have in stock. Were I at the apiary I could select one for you just like it, which has comb and the rest of the frame attached. Let it not be forgotten, that, at the time I brought forward the idea, a great kick was made against using so much wood and oc- cupying so much of the brood-chamber space with wood instead of comb. It is strange, that, when some bee-keeper comes forward with something new, claiming superiority for it, that such frivolous arguments as "too much wood," "too much bee- space," "too many sticks," etc., are at once raised. But, now for that history: Twenty-two years ago, when I first began to pay attention to bees and bee-hives, and when the fa- mous K. P. Kidder, of Vermont, was selling hives all over this country, either in person or through agents (Mr. A. C. Balch, of Kalamazoo, can tell you something about it, as he was an ardent admirer and user of the Kidder hives), I saw in Mr. Kidder's hive two styles of top-bars, and one of them was one of these deep bars with the V, which was made on the bar with a molding-machine. This bar must have been made of l>2-inch pine, as the side of the bar ran down perpendicularly for at least la of an inch before the bevel began. It seems to me that any one of our older and experienced bee-keepers of to-day should know enough of the instincts of bees to know that such deep top-bars would have a tendency to both lessen the building of brace- combs and guide the bees to straighter comb-building, where no foundation or only foundation-guides were used. Do not misunderstand me. The comb may be all within its frame, and the top part of it straightly attached to the board, and still the comb may not be what I call straight ; that is, smooth and level, like a board. These deep bars have a tenden- cy to produce such combs. Mr. Kidder experimented regarding the distance apart these top-bars should be placed, putting % bars so close together that ten of them occupied 14 inches. Friend Looft, on page 18, says it is a won- der that so few bee-keepers have tried such top- bars, and asks people to report from actual experi- ence. As I used hundreds of them before 1 invented the honey-board, and as I did report regarding them years ago, and got a rebuff at every corner, and I found them only favorable to reduchm brace- eonibs, and not by any means equal to the honey- board, I will let that answer friend Looft's query. Mr. Bingham has used such top-bars, !'» of an inch square, for many years, and at the same time used some of them turned cornerwise, one corner up 41 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. and one down; consequently one to the right and one to the left. You may know, that, when so turned, brace-combs were plentiful. Years ago Mr. Bingham told me he did not know which way he preferred them. Mr. Looft uses a very shallow frame, and no one will be troubled with brace- combs as badly with a frame six Inches deep as with one the depth of the Langstroth, the reasons for which I have explained in another article. Mr. Looft talks as though from their use there was never any trouble with brace-combs between two supers on the hive. Most bee-keepers know that bees build plenty of brace-combs between two sets of frames containing comb. But, again, where the frames are as shallow as Mr. Looft talks of, much less brace-comb will be built. Mr. F. L. Smith quotes Dr. Miller as saying that honey-boards, even the break-joint, will not pre- vent the building of brace-combs above them ; but Mr. Smith forgets to state that Dr. Miller is the only person who has reported failure in that line; and if Gleanings will ask for a one-line report from those using them, I am confident we shall see 99 saying they will, to every one saying they will not; and then if they will go into the deep-top-bar busi- they will have good frames, and like the deep top- bar, finding that they will decrease the number of brace-combs built above them and below the honey- board, but are nowhere nearly equal to the honey- board as a practical preventive of all brace-combs. Friend Smith's statement, that there is a method of preventing brace-combs without the use of thick top-bars or honey - boards either, he emphasizes strongly, and then tells us how it is done. Simply by properly adjusting frames and supers. Then he goes on to tell us how to properly adjust them; and, Mr. Editor, will you please put me on record as strongly emphasizing the statement, that neither this adjustment described by Mr. Smith, nor any other, will prevent the troublesome building of brace-combs when conditions are favorable for that work, but the honey-board will? Perhaps Mr. Smith does not know that, when any bee-space is contracted to a distance Jess than I'^g, bees will build brace-combs in it worse than in one larger. Do you not remember, friend Root, about the experience Bro. Hutchinson and I had in making wooden queen-excluding honey-boards? Father Langstroth was right; and not only himself, but many of us who have come after, have proven him right, in de- claring that is is the best passageway for bees, in which they will place less glue and brace-comb than in any other bee-space. Mr. Smith is correct in his statement, that lots of brace-combs will be built in a § bee-space. A little further on Bro. S. speaks about a proper distance apart for frames, and quotes friend J. E. Pond regarding what he has had to say in the past, about crowding frames close together. Now, bees will build more brace-combs between these deep top-bars if placed very close together than if placed scant % of an inch apart; and this is not all. There Is another and more important feature in connec- tion with this close spacing. I remember spending several hours with friend Bingham upon this sub- ject, after having exchanged several letters regard- ing it. We brought up and discussed points that have been entirely overlooked and not mentioned by Mr. Pond and others upon the same subject. These closely spaced frames do give some of the results claimed by their advocates, but they are not as safe for wintering as those placed further apart. I should prefer IV2 inches for them to winter in; but I do not allow that much, because I prefer less for summer. 1 split the difference between what I believe to be the best winter and the best summer distance, placing eight frames in just ll'/2 inches. Divide 11^ inches by eight, and you have the exact distance we use. When any one tells your readers that the practical honey-producer of the future will use one distance in summer and an- other in winter, please laugh at him for me. That will never be. My experience differs from that of friend Smith, I preferring scant % to one inch for the width of top-bars. In fact, I have tried all of the conditions, all at once, asked for by Bro. Smith, and it will not prevent brace-comb building when the bees are much inclined, but the break-joint honey-board will. Brother S. A. Shuck is disgusted with light top- bars. Here is my hand, Bro. Shuck. I have been disgusted with them for many a day, and especially with those sent out by our good friend Root, " so as not to have so much wood in the frames." Don't be afraid of distance between brood and the sur- plus sections, provided that distance is made up of wood, space, or any thing else above the heavens or below the earth, except sealed honey. Look out for that. Just here is where bee-keepers have been de- ceived. It is not the distance from the brood to the surplus receptacles, but it is the pesky sealed honey that makes the bees reluctant to enter. We have tried it on a large scale with as many as three honey-boards in each hive, all breaking joints with each other. Others have tried the same three honey-boards, and all report that the bees enter the sections with them as readily as where but one or none is used. Now, we wonder if friend Alley means deep top- bars by the words " wide top bars. " If they are wider than %, they are just that much worse for us. I can assure Bro. Alley, that, in this locality, his wide top-bars will not work. Why does Mr. Kildow speak as if l^s-widebars were something new? That is the old idea father Langstroth gave us, and all of our older bee-keep- ers know that it is not nearly as good as ?a. I will conclude by saying that I have had so much ex- perience, and that, too, on a large scale, and for the express purpose of making the best hive ar- rangement possible (the mechanical construction of the bee-hive having been my greatest hobby for twenty years), that I believe I am warranted in de- claring that the best of all arrangements to practi- cally prevent the burr-combs, or brace-combs, is the break -joint honey-board. Further, in order to have the least brace-comb between the brood- frames and its honey-board or the cover, or any thing else that rests above them, use a top-bar I of an inch wide and g of an inch deep. It will not sag, dangerously increasing the bee-space above it. There is no appreciable objection to its use in most hives. I really can not afford the time to look over back volumes, and call your attention to the exact places where I have dilated upon this subject be- fore; but one of my bee-boys calls my attention to page 159 of the American Bee Journal for 1879, where I gave a cut of my modification of the Langstroth hive, which was my preferance at that time, and in connection with my description the following sen- tence occurs: 1890 GLEAKINGS IN BJlE CULTUHE. 45 "The top-bars ot the movable frames are heavy, and their sides run straight down ?s of an inch be- fore the bevel commences. I know that this shap- ed bar gives truer combs and fewer brace-combs be- tween their tops and the honey-board or surplus receptacle." And at this time 1 had many of the J bars in use; and the reason why I advocated the 5a depth before the bevel commences was because such a bar, V bevel and all, could be made of | lumber. I am pleased to write the above on this subject, because it Is one I have long- felt I understood thoroughly; and I will say, that all bee-keepers who think they are going to master the brace-comb dlflBculty without a honey-board will find their mis- take a little further on. James Heddon. Dowaglac, Mich., Jan. 8. WIDE TOP-BARS AND BURR-COMBS. A VALUABLE ARTICLE ON THE SUB.TECT. In the Jan. 1st issue, page 20, you ask, " Is It nec- essary to have top-bars 78 thick, if they are IJg wide ?" I answer, " Yes, without any if s or buts or wherefores." I first began using ^i-inch, then %, then IJ^, and a few hives \%, and a few even stretched that width; but everything over IJ4 was soon relegated to the woodpile, while the \K stayed around a good while. Some of them are here yet, but are too wide for the best results. My experi- mental stage covered a period of about ten years, during which time I scarcely made hives twice alike, certainly not any two seasons. Now for re- sults: As to width of top-bars, every thing above IH was wholly unsatisfactory; of the 1>4, most of them worked all right. If new swarms were hived in them during extremely hot weather, each comb would be in its proper place; but if the weather was cool, then there was trouble at once. The bees seemed to work in closer quarters, and would put three combs on two frames, or go crosswise of the whole, so I gave up the \)i ; and after all others had been thoroughly tried I settled down to l^g as the nearest right, and {^ to % the proper distance apart. For thickness I used li of an inch, beveled shape, so that they are % thick at the edges, mak- ing a top-bar that will not sag down as a flat % piece will. Then, too, bees will make a stronger comb on a V top-bar than on a flat one; but it lets them up 80 near the top that they will build burr-combs be- tween and on top of the frames, about 98 times out of every 100; and I guess it is only a mistake that the other two don't do it, and they will make some burr-combs on top of % frames if they are much over %, inch apart; and at that distance they are quite apt to fill the whole space nearly solid with bee-glue or a single row of cells seemingly stuck up endwise between frames, with now and then a hole just large enough to pass one bee up or down. Now, brethren of the bee-fraternity, don't be in too great baste to get rid of your honey-boards, as I once was, for I went and made racks for all my hives, about 15 years ago, which were used on the T- tin principle, only my tins were made of wooden strips nailed into the bottom of the rack, and then strips of tin nailed on to them to support the sec- tions (and glass boxes in the same way, before sec- tions came into use); they came down close to the top-bars; but after using them two or three years I went back to the honey-board and rack combined, which I now use. E. M. Johnson. Mentor, O., Jan. 6, 18!m. Thanks for the information you give, friend J. I am the more glad of it because of its caution. I would not advise any one to discard the honey-boards just yet. Let each one, if he chooses, try a few hives w^ith thick top-bars, and first ascertain whether his hive, his locality, or himself, justifies the change. It is no doubt true, that thicker and wider top-bars largely discourage the building of burr-combs. It is equally true, that they do entirely prevent it in many cases, if the testimony of several witnesses can be relied on as true, and there is no reason to think that it can not. In the mean time, let us have more facts from others. It is a very important subject, and it is well worth sifting down, both pro and con. Kemember, we want the cons as well as the pros. Ernest. THE BRISTOL HIVE. ITS CONSTRUCTION, AND SOME OF ITS FEATURES, AS DESCRIBED BY THE INVENTOR, A. E. MANUM. As the Bristol hive is now so extensively used In New England, a description of it may not be unin- teresting to some of your Western readers; and to assist me in describing it with its different parts, I have made a photograph of it, which I inclose. 1. On the right is a Bristol hive put together just as it appears both in summer and in winter, when closed, except that the winter entrance - slide is drawn out and leaned against the front of the hive; and on the top of this hive will be seen one of my cushions, such as I use over the bees in winter. By the side of this hive, standing on the gi-ound, is a brood-chamber, D. This brood-chamber is \6% long by 13,14 wide, and 11 deep. The sides are cut 16?4 long by 11 wide, and the top edge is rabbeted .'a X Vi, with a saw-kerf cut in one edge of the shoul- der, to admit of the metal frame support, or tin rab- bet. The kerf is cut % deep; and by using % hoop iron it allows the iron to project M inch; and the top-bar of the frame being /s thick, it therefore leaves ^^ space between the upper surface of the top-bar and the under surface of the honey-board. The ends of the brood-chamber are cut 16 in. long by 11 wide. In giving the dimensions of any piece of lumber I always call the length the way the grain of the wood runs; and as the stock is % thick, and the end-pieces nailed on to the ends of the sides, it makes the box 13^ wide inside. On the top of the brood chamber you will ob- serve a Bristol clamp, E, filled with sections; and I believe it is the most convenient clamp in use, as you see this clamp covers only half of the brood- chamber, two clamps just covering it. But when two are not needed, as in the early part of the hon- ey season, or at the close of the season, only one clamp may be used when one of the half honey- boards, H, is used in place of the second clamp; thus giving the bees no more surplus room than they require, and being able, with these small clamps, to give the bees more room as they require it, or reduce it by degrees, thus keeping pace with the honey-flow at either end of the game. The stand. A, shows for itself how it is made. The top of the stand is 22 inches square, and the in- 46 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. side bottom edge of the outside case is rabbeted so that this rests on and over the outside edges of the stand. The top of the stand is the bottom of the brood-box as well as that of the outside case. The stand In the picture having been used, it shows very plainly where the brood-box rests. The en- trance is also seen from the top of the stand. This entrance is 14 inches long by IX wide; but by the use of the entrance-slide it can be reduced to 3 in. long by % wide, this being the size of entrance al- lowed the bees in winter. At A is the alighting-board, which forms a bridge over which the bees walk up to the entrance. The entrance, as will be seen, is under a portico, and therefore protected from the rain and snow and winds, and is directly under the brood-chamber. At the corners of this portico there are " gumps " upon which the slide rests when in use; but in summer, when not in use, it is laid under the hive from the back side of the stand, which is open, forming a shed or storeroom where articles are kept when not in use, such as honey-boards, divi- sion-boards, slides, etc. The outside case, B B, is made in two parts, just alike. The sides are 34 inches, and ends 33J^ by 9 inches wide, by '« thick. The cap F has sides and to cover the brood-chamber when one of the clamps has been removed from the hive. L is a sack made of cotton cloth, and filled with chaff or planer shavings, which answers as a cush- ion to cover the bees with during winter. It takes 1/2 yards of yard wide cloth to make one of these sacks; and when properly filled it just fills the out- er case of my hive. Hanging to the brood-chamber D, is seen one of my round queen-cages, made of tinned wire cloth. At each end of this is soldered a tin band to keep the wire in shape; and at one end there is an ar- rangement into which feed may be placed for the queen, and at the other end a cork is used as a stopper. I call these "pocket cages." They are very convenient to carry queens in from one apia- ry to another, packed in the pocket. In the sum- mer season I always have a few of these cages in my pockets; and when I wish to remove a queen for any cause, I run her with a few bees into one of these cages, and put them into my pocket, where I sometimes keep them one or two days; and when I visit one of my out-apiaries, and find the man there in need of one or more queens I find it convenient to be able to draw on my pocket for them. Bristol, Vt., Dec. 4, 1889. A. E. Manum. MANUM'S BRISTOL HIVE, ends of the same length as the body; and as all are BO rabbeted that one rests over the other, water can not get inside the hive. Any degree of pitch may be given the roof. I cover the roof with pat- ent clapboards, as they are plentiful and cheap here, and they answer a very good purpose. On the top of the outside case rests an empty Bristol clamp edgewise, E, on the top of which may be seen one of my bee-escapes, which I have used 15 years or more. These escapes are also seen at the arable end of the caps, where I use them principally. J is a Bristol separator, and K is the follower, which, by the aid of the thumb-screw, just below E, holds the sections in place. The Bristol frame, 13 x 9>^ inside measure, stands just below the separators. G is a division-board feeder, which answers as a division-board, and also a feeder in early spring, when obliged to feed syrup, and also to feed nuclei when necessary. The feeder is filled, and placed in the brood-chamber by removing a comb. The feed Is then near the cluster of bees, and out of the way of robbers. H H is the honey-board (brood-box cover) in two parts. I prefer to have these in two parts on ac- count of the convenience in using one of the halves IN WHOLE AND IN PART. Very good, friend M.; but I fear your de- scrii)tion is rather brief for some of us. Having the entrance underneath the hive is one of my old hobbies. It was discussed considerably ten or twelve years ago. When the Simplicity hive is pushed forward over the bottom-board it amounts to pretty near- ly the same thing, especially when we make the entrance to a powerful colony large. I am glad to know that you prefer to have the outside cases rabbeted, or beveled, so as to keep out the wind and rain. I believe it is a valuable feature, even though there is a tendency now to ignore it. Your " clamp," as you term it, holds 16 sections, if I am correct. Your bee-escape, fixed permanent- ly in the gable end of the hive-cover, is to me a novel idea, and, I should say, valua- ble. Altogether your arrangement meets my hearty approval, though 1 can not but regret that you have started another odd- sized frame. It is, however, so near the dimensions of the crosswise Langstroth frame that it amounts to pretty much the same thing. In fact, I suppose it would be just about right to hold six one-pound sec- tions. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 47 HAMBLE NO. l9. RAMBLER'S VISIT TO THE CARNIOLAN APIARY. The Kambler has been resting a few weeks. A nice little shower of honey made him sit in the shade. Bee-keepers are popularly supposed to get their tons of honey by sitting around. We were finally aroused from our lethergy by Bro. Lockhart, of the firm of Andrews & Lockhart, who proposed to take the Rambler home with him. The Rambler had just invested in a Hawkeye camera; and being RAMBLER OFF ON A RAMBLE. thoroughly aroused for the journey, and not know- ing what might happen, we had our photo taken, and left it for a hair-loom in the family. We trust our posterity will duly appreciate It. When every thing was ready we were willingly carried away to the delectable Lake George Mountains. On our'journey we passed the apiary of ' X Bro. Andrews, shook hands, and broke bread with the senior partner of the Carniolan Apiary. It was a cloudy day, but our Hawkeye gave us a very good picture of this celebrated apiary. The hives are well shaded with grapevines. The bee-tent, cart, and many nucleus hives, are plainly shown. The building in the rear is a sort of half-way station be- tween the apiary and shop, only a corner of the latter being shown. During the great rush of queen raising the past season, it seems that doors were a nuisance, and were removed. Bro. L. also used the further end for a bedroom. The building faces the east; and wishing to get the first streak of morning light, and also to have plenty of ventilation, he ^ removed the whole gable end of the building. It is needless to say, that Bro. L. has good lungs and is built for business. A man brought up on French Mountain wants no seven-by-nine breath- ing-hole in his bouse. We soon left Uncle John; and a further pursuit of our journey brought us into a veritable bee- keeper's paradise. The pasturage in this locality Is raspberries, white clover, sumac, chestnut, bass- wood, horsemint, button-bush, buckwheat, asters, and goldenrod, all by the hundred acres, and the field not much occupied. Bro. L. has an out-apiary started here; and when the Rambler proposed to move up a hundred colonies he looked a little dan- gerous around the corners of his eyes. Wintering troubles have made a great many " has been" bee-keepers. One of these " has beens"i8 Ike Oakley. Not being successful with bees he has turned his attention to the hunting of relics. The plow yearly turns up hundreds of flint implements, skeletons of soldiers and Indians, guns, swords, and other war-relics. As a result, his museum is quite varied; and even if it is located in a rickety old shed, we spenj: a very agreeable half-hour in its ex- amination. One geological specimen deeply interested the Rambler. It was a portion of black rock covered with small indentations. He gave us a small speci- men, and said a glacier once sat down ilpon it. We asked him how he knew. " Why," sajs he, " those marks are an unmistak- able evidence." " That's so," says the Rambler. "He must have been very heavy and awful uneasy, and had but- tons all over the seat of his breeches, to make those marks." "Why," says he, " you— you— this was an ice gla- cier." We could plainly see the cranK stick out of Isaac's eyes, and we immediately changed the subject and soon took our departure. Our journey finally came to an end on the north side of French Mountain. As we climbed the mountain we noticed a few rocks around us. As we advanced there were more rocks. At the top it was all rocks, and Bro. L.'s apiary is appropriately named " Rock of Ages Apiary." We found Mr. Lockhart, Senior, a brawny Scot, and felt quite fraternal, for we have great pride in our Scotch blood. We gave our pedigree; but the wary Scot had traveled much in the Far West, and NDREWS \ LOCKH \ slor^AN APIAHV. put the Rambler to the test of pronouncing the word " Achlefackokention." " Ken ye say it? Yer nae Scot if ye ken nae say the word." The word was too much for the Rambler. The 48 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. San. secret of getting a right pronunciation is in having a prominent Adam's apple in the throat. Mr. L., Senior, used the Rambler like a gentle- man; but with all our blandishments we could not establish the fraternity of Scotch blood. As previously stated, this region is not noted for Its honey production; and from the number of bees we saw passing over the lake we should think many were lost therein. We found the busy work- ers upon goidenrod, nearly to the top of Prospect Mountain, 'MW feet above the lake. Messrs. L. were (juite enthusiastic over .Japanese buckwheat. Their few acres between the rocks were splendidly filled, and they were expecting a yield of fifty bush- els per acre. Of course, our friends claimed superiority for the Carniolans, and we were not in a position to con- tradict them. The climate is Just right here in summer and fall for rusticating; and people who indulge in a few weeks' vacation gain in health and spirits. Hunt- ing and fishing is the main business of the tourist, and Messrs. L. have a full complement of guns, dogs, boats, and fishing - tackle, and know the haunts of game. The morning on which we bade our friends adieu, our Hawkeye gave us a view of one of these hunt- ing-parties. The four dogs had their breakfast placed before them; but at sight of the guns it was forgotten, and they were all howling for the hunt- ers to start. A few years ago, Bro. Andrews tried to get up a party of bee-keepers to camp in his cottages. The plan is a splendid one, but it has never materialized. Bro. L now proposes to improve on the plan, and camp out in a tent upon one of the beautiful islands. If Bro. Root will promise to be present we will guarantee a parly of bee-keepers to make the hours pass pleasantly and lively while he may so- journ with us. Hurrah for a grand camping party of bee-keepers at Lake Geoi'ge next September. Can it be done? asks the Rambler. PROPER CARE OP HONEY. WHERE TO KEEP IT; A GOOD ARTICLE. I AM learning more and more the importance of properly caring for honey after it is stored. I be- lieve it is a matter to which too little attention is paid, and concerning which too little is known by honey-producers themselves. All agree, that, to create a demand for the principal product of the apiary, is a matter of prime importance. To do this, two things are necessary: To make honey tempting to the eye in the store, and tempting to the palate in the dining-room. I incline to think the hitter item the principal one, after all, that has been urged in favor of "gilt-edge" honey; hence my reasons for treating the subject. I have this year been inquiring of my customers and others (some old bee-keepers) where they keep their honey; and the answer is, generally, " In the cellar." That is the worst place in the world for it. One woman told me they kept their honey in a cool place in the house. That seems to be a prevailing impression, that honey must be kept in some cool place; and to find that cool place, what more natu- ral than that they poke it into the cellar? There they have the very worst conditions for it. The cellar is a good place for milk and potatoes, but not for honey. CELLARING HONEY. This largely explains why so many folks do not like the article. I know that parties who once try a few pounds of mine generally want more; and some who thought they did not like honey are be- coming good customers. It is the quality, I firmly believe, that sells it. If all honey had to be like some I have tasted, I should not like it either. HOW TO RIPEN AND PRESERVE HONEY. This is a somewhat mooted question: Can we se- cure at the same time the whitest and the best- flavored honey? I claim that we can. The most es- sential ingredients for ripening and preserving honey are warmth and dryness. Especially are they necessary from the time honey is stored in the hive until it is thoroughly ripened. This I have proven to my own satisfaction by repeated experi- ments. These ingredients, I think I have also dem- onstrated, are most fully obtained in a tight, single- walled honey-house painted some dark color, and not on the hive. At the close of the white-clover harvest, which occurs from the 4th to the 20th of July, I take the bulk of my honey, finished and un- finished, off the hives. My first reason for doing this was to preserve the whiteness of the finished sections, and to keep the bees from daubing the edges of the unsealed cells with what appears to be a mixture of wax and propolis, which they are sure to do during the honey-dearth of summer. I leave a few cases on the hive each year. The honey I take off' I pack chiefiy in unused hives in my honey- house. Said honey-house is built of flooring lum- ber, single-walled, 13x13x8 feet in size. This room, painted red, with the sun pouring in unobstructed through the south windows, and the door shut, in warm weather, is so hot that it roasts the oil out of me worse than a broiling sun in a harvest-field. Here, during the hot months of summer, I leave my honey to ripen. The honey thus stored away I have found, by repeated tests, to be far superior in thickness, and richness of flavor, to most of that taken off as late as September. Of this last, that which comes nearest to the early-removed honey in excellence is some which I have taken from the upper story of a hive which stood in the sun, ex- posed to its heat through almost the entire day. This upper story is separated from the lower by a honey-board, having only three crosswise slats for the passage of the bees. The heat of the sun tends to drive the bees down into the lower story, or out in front, especially during the hot dry season when no honey is coming in, throwing the surplus story pretty much into the condition of my honey-house. And it is in that hot dry room we have the condi- tions best calculated to evaporate the water, and in- tensify the body and flavor of the honey. I see no flaw in the theory of this process of rip- ening honey; but, " the proof of the pudding is in the eating." Even unsealed honey thus treated be- comes as good as the best, and better than any I have ever tasted when first taken from the hive, especially a shaded hive. I challenge any one to try it. But even in the honey-house, certain rules must be observed. Perhaps some apiarists arrange their honey on shelves next to the wall. I should expect such a one to conclude that honey ripens best in the hive. The best place for it is in boxes in the middle of the room, where the sun can shine full i890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 49 upon it some time in the day. Be sure to set the receptacles several inches above the floor, and away from the wall. Sections left out seem to gather dampness during the night and in rainy weather, when that packed away is protected. Cer- tain it is, such honey becomes thin and watery, and acquires a rancid and often partially sour taste. That packed next to the floor or wall in boxes gets into the same condition. Extracted honey may be even more sensitive to these conditions than comb honey. It should be extracted where the sun can shine full upon it as it runs out of the faucet. Put it in open vessels— 5 or 10 gallon lard-cans are the best, all things considered; tie thin cloths over them, and set them in the honey-house, where the sun can shine upon them as far as possible. Do not set them next the wiill. I have found on experi- ment, that the honey in cans near the middle of the room, to become the best; that in screw-cap cans next best, and that in jars next the wall, the poor- est. The last had more or less of that taste and smell resembling soured honey. Before I knew any better I left honey in waxed kegs out of doors. It spoiled in the same way. The thickest honey will be the last to granulate, and the thinnest will be the flrst. HOW TO MAKE HONEY NICE. Some folks like only candied honey. To such, if any of them read this paper, I would say that honey begins to " grain " on the approach of cold weather. If it is stirred a time or two at this stage it will can- dy much quicker. Also, when honey is left undis- turbed, the watery and sugary particles tend to separate, and the latter to form into large crystals- To stir at this time— pouring from one vessel into another— is the best way to do it. Break these crys- tals; the watery particles are absorbed, and the honey candies in fine grains, which much improves its flavor. Geo. F. Kobbins. Mechanicsburg, 111., Dec. 10. Very good, friend E. I do not know but that I indorse every point you make. Comb honey, when it is kept in cellars, or where it is damp, or even in a room where the tem- perature changes so much as to cause damp- ness to settle on the surface, will fast ac- quire a moldy and disagreeable taste. It is for this reason that comb honey had better be placed in a room where it will not freeze. BAD >A7"ELL-WATEB. PROF. COOK CONSIDERS AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT. Mr. Root:— Would you be kind enough to ask Prof. Cook if he could explain to me the cause of water having a bad smell, in a well 28 feet deep? If I pump it out dry, in two or three days it smells bad again. There is no nuisance about the house. I have cleaned it out, but I can not account for it. Newcastle, Pa, Nov. 2:'). Wm. Gibson. In accordance with the request above, we forwarded the question to Prof. Cook, who replies : In reply to Mr. Wm. Gibson, let me say that I should be suspicious of ill-smelling well-water— at least, till I had it examined. Sometimes water has a rank odor from the presence of sulphur. This may be unpleasant till one gets accustomed to it; but I do not think it harmful. We dug an artesian well here at the college, which extends down some hundreds of feet through solid rock. This water we regard as very wholesome; yet it smells and tastes very strongly of sulphur. A much more common cause of odorous water comes from decaying organic matter. In cistern water this is often very ottensive. In such cases, drawing water from the top or near the top of the cistern, instead of from the bottom, will free the water of the odor. In this case, sediment from the roof is carried to the cistern, sinks to the bottom, and from the decomposition comes the horrible smell. I have been very thankful for the discovery that simply drawing water from the top removed all this odor of putrefaction. Such odors are not so frequent from wells; but as the water is usually used for drinking it is far more to be dreaded. Such water is not wholesome, and may cause the very worst forms of disease. In case the surface soil is sand, pollution may come from a vault or cess-pool for a long distance. I should never feel warranted in using such water without flrst boiling it, till I had it examined by a compe- tent chemist. Analysis will soon show whether it is safe to use or not. As suggested above, a few minutes' boiling of such water, just before using it, will remove danger. It should be boiled fifteen or twenty minutes. The danger comes from minute vegetable organisms, which are destroyed by the prolonged boiling. The diseases that arise from the use of such wa- ter are typhoid in character, and hence very viru- lent. Sometimes the water may contain the germs, without any tell-tale odor. Some years ago we had here at the college a very serious outbreak of ty- phoid fever. It was found that all who had had the disease had used water from a well previously sup- posed to be unexceptionable. The water was ex- amined, and found to be very impure. The moral is: We can not be too careful to prevent all fllth or decaying matter from gaining access to the well. Vaults, barnyards, and dish-water pools near the well are dangerous, and the more so on porous, sandy soils. A. .7. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Dec. 30. In addition to the above, I would suggest, friend G., that you examine the ground around your well for quite a distance. If there is any standing water, take it off by deep underdrains, by a good fall. If there is not a good fall around the well, say for a hundred feet or more, draw in dirt and make the ground slope away from the well. Should this be too expensive, make a well somewhere else. We have recently had some little experience in well-drilling, and I greatly enjoyed having long talks with the drillers, who had been at it all their lives. They said, that, although they could not un- derstand it. yet practical experience seemed to decide that there is just as good a chance of getting water on high ground, or even on a hill, as anywhere else ; therefore there is no propriety in choosing a low spot to dig a well. Better take high ground, even if you do have to go a little deeper. No doubt thousands of good people— yes, tens of thousands of innocent and unsuspecting children— have been sent to untimely graves by carelessness in regard to our drinking- water. Many say they can not afford to have a well as they would like ; but, my 50 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. dear friends, most of us manage in some way to pay doctors' bills and funeral ex- penses. m ^ GRINDING YOUR GRAIN AT HOME. wii.son brothers' bone-mill, from a sanitary poInt of view. Friend Root:— If it is not too muCh out of the line of Gleanings, I want to tell your readers something- that will be a permanent beneflt to some Of them. Every one knows what an endless amount of patent medicines, patent foods of all kinds, full t)atent, half patent, and third patent flour, and the thousands of patent machines there are, all work- ing night and day, manufacturing all the patent ttroductioDs the human mind can conceive of to Suit the palate instead of the digestion. Almost all of these modern improvements I have tried, some- times from choice and sometimes from force of cir- cumstances; but as I didn't have a patent stomach, I have found of late years that old man Gastric was giving way; and the more of these modern intro- ductions he had to contend with, the more obsti- nate he became. In fact, it looked as if death was on his countenance sometimes. About two years ago I sent and got one of Wilson Brothers' $5.00 mills for grinding graham flour. I see you adver- tise his No. 1 mill for grinding bone, etc.; but this was No. 0. It proved to be all they claimed for it, and more too. The introduction of this mill was a poor day's work for the patent-medicine men in our family. My wife mixes enough clear flour with it to suit us ; and from that day old man Gastric's coun- tenance has brightened up, and even our children are showing- the beneflt of Wilson Brothers' $,5.00 mill. I ihink that these men have been a greater beneflt to those having weak stomachs than all the patent-medicine men put together, and all the patent roller-mill machinery besides. I have spent thousands of .f 5 00 in my time; but I can recall no instance where that amount gave a better return. I hope that flrm is doing a good business, and long may they live. E. E. Risien. San Saba, Texas, Dec. 24. Well, friend R., you may be interested in knowing that, in the first volume of Glean- ings that was ever published, I made some quite thorough experiments in regard to this very matter; and I talked cracked wheat and cracked corn so strongly to the brethren that some of them got tired of it. A few days ago Mrs. Root said she did wish she could have some corn meal ground as it ought to be. She said all she could get at the flour-store was ground fine, like flour, and that spoiled it for making corn cake or corn mush. Now, friend R., we know just what to do. We will take a bone-mill ov^er to the house, and grind not only corn, but wheat, oats, and barley, to suit. I believe you are entirely right in the position you take ; and I am firmly satisfied that, if people would only take the trouble to grind their own grain they would not only get material for food that is ever so much more wholesome than that bought at the stores, but they would also get it for half price or less. Just figure up what your flour and meal cost you, and buy some grain of some of your farming friends, and grind it yourself, and see what that costs ; then have your wife learn how to cook these cracked grains, and see if you do not pronounce them more delicious than any thing our best hotels can furnish. It may be some trouble to sift the hulls out of the oats; but there is no food I enjoy so much as freshly ground oatmeal ; and noth- ing is more conducive to my health, unless, indeed, it is the bowl of hot lemonade I have every night just before going to bed. DR. MILLER'S REVERSIBLE BOTTOM- BOARD. Its use in the cellar, for hauling bees, etc. I HAVE never had any desire to invent a hive. For a good many years I used the hive that happen- ed to fall into my hands just as I found it, except- ing the cover. This was a ten-frame hive; but hav- ing had only eight frames in it for a few years, I concluded in 18^9 to change to an eight-frame size. Sometimes I question whether it might not be bet- ter to use the full ten frames the year round, and possibly the change to eight frames is not the wisest. Aside from the matter of size, the part upon which I bestowed the most thought was the bottom-board. For a good many years I had used nothing but fixed bottom-boards. I had thought I could not tolerate a loose bottom-board. In fact, for hauling back and forth, fixedness seemed a necessity. But there seemed to be an increasing weight of testimony in favor of having much space under the bottom-bars in winter. It looked reason- able, too, that bees might do better if the fresh air could have easy access to the cluster, and I had had many instances of dead bees clogging the ?8 or i4 inch entrance in winter; and it was always difficult, although important, to clean out all dead bees from under the brood-frames. Of course, a deep space under the bottom-bais would not do in summer, so I concluded I might do what others had done, and have the space deep in winter and shallow it sum- mer. Two ways of doing this presented themselves. One was to have the hive made with an immovable bottom, nailed on in the usual way, only, instead of a i's or K inch space under the frames, to have a space of about two inches. This would be all right for winter; and for summer a board or boards could be pushed in to partly till up the space, leav- ing it only ?8 deep. I was afraid it would be diffi- cult to keep the space clear enough under the board, so I rejected this plan and adopted the other, which was, to have a reversible bottom-board. on. miller's reversible bottom-board. It is simply a shallow box, IVi inches deep, 2J4 inches longer than the hive, and open at one end; 3S4 inches from the open end is a 'g-inch saw-kerf at each side, ]>i inch deep. This allows a wire-cloth stopper to be slid in, when hauling, to shut in the bees; and during winter, wire cloth having 3 mesh- es to the inch is slid in to exclude mice, and yet leave all practically open for the bees. In summer it is reversed, and makes a perfectly plane surface 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 51 upon which the hive is placed without fastening; but when reversed again, in the fall it must be fas- tened to the hive, to remain so till placed where it is to stay the following spring on its summer stand. Just what the best thing was to fasten with, was not easy to determine. At one time I thought to use hooks for fastening; but a little experience with \andeusen clamps taught me that, after be- coming a little old, there was some difficulty in get- ting the parts to fit properly together. Besides, there is some objection to having a hook, or any thing that projects, so as to prevent an entirely plane surface. Then I thought nothing would be quite so satisfactory as to have four screws let into the bottom, screwing the bottom firmly to the hive. But my assistant objected to setting a hive full of bees on its end twice each year to put in and take out the screws. Finally an old cabinet-maker ad- vised me to fasten the hive on the bottom in the same way that the frame of a common table or stand is fastened to the top. An inch bit bores a shallow hole in the side of the hive, which is lengthened by a gouge chisel, and then the hive is turned upside down, and a quarter-inch hole is bored through in a slanting direction, to come out at the side of the hive in the first-named hole. Thus the hive can be placed on the bottom-board, and four 1^-inch screws, two on each side, perhaps three inches from each corner, can be screwed in, holding the two together in a very solid manner. So far I am much pleased with the more than 200 of these bottom-boards in use. I am, however, dis- appointed in the ease of putting them on. It is difficult to set the hive exactly to fie the saw-kerf mentioned; and as the hives sometimes get out of square, the difficulty is increased. I think next summer I shall try leaving some of them fastened without reversing; and for the summer, put in a thin board with cleats under, or perhaps a shallow box made of thin stuff, and inverted, leaving a shallow space under the bottom-bars. I shall be glad of suggestions, whether my general plan be approved or not. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111., Dec. 16. It is true, friend M., that you have never had a desire to invent a hive, but you have helped us here at the Home of the Honey- bees a good deal in deciding upon the de- tails of the construction of a good many things One of the things, however, that we could not quite agree upon was the bot- tom-board of the Dovetailed hive, as you will remember. You argued in favor of one made reversible, essentially as you de- scribe and illustrate above. Now, the ob- jections that I would have to the one you illustrate is, that it would be more expen- sive. Another thing, a body that would be adapted to such a bottom-board could not be used for a super, because such a body would have to be a bee-space deeper below as well as above the frames, and that would not work, you know% in tiering up. It is true, there will be some advantage in in- verting the bottom-board, as you describe, during winter; but, really, is "it necessary? Is there not a cheaper and simpler way? Why not leave the bottom-board off entire- ly? When we carried our forty colonies into my front cellar, we removed the bot- tom-boards from all except from some seven or eight colonies. The bottomless hives we piled one above the other, after the manner of H. R. Boardman (see Glean- ings, p. 319, 1889). The dead bees drop out, I find, very nicely, in between the hives. There is plenty of bottom ventilation, and I am sure from what I now know that I should not want a bottom, even if reversi- ble. During all the warm weather we have been having, the bees in the cellar have been remarkably quiet ; and the number of dead bees on the floor, I should say, was very small in comparison with the number I saw at Mr. Boardman's repositories. Now, doctor, you do not always winter bees suc- cessfully in the cellar, if I remember cor- rectly, and yet 11. R. Boardman does so in- variably. Don't you believe that you would have just as good success as he, by leaving off all the bottom-boards altogether, and piling the hives up in the cellar quincunx fashion— that is, one hive covering the space between two others below? and if that were a fact, wouldn't the reversible feature on your bottom-board be an unnec- essary expense?— Now in regard to the mat- ter of fastening bottom-boards for hauling bees. I have tried the screws on some .>5 colonies, the bottom-boards being screwed on while the hive was empty and the body turned upside down. When we brought the bees up from the bass wood apiary to my house, and when we came to remove these screws from the hives containing full colo- nies, you may imagine that we had a— well, " a picnic." Mr. SpafOord held the hive up in the air w^hile I crouched down under, with screwdriver, and wormed away until I thought my neck would break. Occasional- ly a bee would come out when the screw- driver slipped. But your plan of putting the screws in from the top, toenail fashion, would obviate all this trouble. But there is this objection to it— it would take too long, fastening and unfastening the bottoms. Now, Rambler's plan of passing a loop around the bottom - board and cover, and twisting it taut with a stick, works very nicely. It holds both cover and bottom when removing the bees. A better plan is a double loop, which I will explain in the depart- ment of Our Own Apiary later. Both bot- tom and cover are made perfectly secure for moving bees, and for any other purpose, except for shipping. Ernest. HONEY-DEAAT FROM PINE. SOME OF IT STORED DURING THE LATTER PART OF DECEMBER. Mr.^A. I. Root:— Having seen many articles in Gleaninos about the poor quality of honey-dew, and they not corresponding with our experience here, you will please allow me to state in your col- umns, that ours in Virginia is an entirely different article; and to prove my assertion I inclose a few pine leaves coated with it. I also send by this mail a vial containing a sample collected this morning, by placing the point of a penknife under the drops, many of which were as large as would hang on the leaves. Bees are swarming on them, and the queens are laying. We often have this honey-dew, but I have never known it to come in midwinter be- fore—generally in August or September. Please 62 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Jan. tell us your opinion of its quality, and whether you still think the Northern States are preferable for apiaries. If any one doubts these facts I will give him all necessary proof. J. Osborn. Amherst, Va., Dec. 30. I will say to our readers, that the pine leaves seem to be of young, vigorous-growing foliage. They were literally daubed with some kind of sweet, which to the taste is very aromatic and pleasant. The nectar in the vial corresponded to it exactly. Xow, without having further facts in regard to the matter, I am inclined to decide that this honey-dew is an exudation or secretion from the plant itself, and not of insect ori- gin. This, however, never takes place, if I am correct, unless the trees are of a vigor- ous growth. The sample of pine leaves seemed to indicate that they were, and friend O. can probably tell us whether this is the case right in the middle of winter, as it were. I should be very glad indeed to see a specimen of this honey after it is stored in the sections, and ripened. I should think that, in quality, it would com- pare with the finest-flavored honey ever pro- duced anywhere. Can anybody tell us more about it ? Since the above was written, the follow- ing comes to hand, which seems to indicate it an insect secretion after all: MORE ABOUT PINE-TREE HONEY. Fi iend R(Hit:—l by this mail send you some in- sects that are producing considerable honey on the pine timber. Bees have gathered 10 to 30 lbs. of it, to the hive, this month, and it is now candied in some of the cells. The honey is quite clear, and some think it the best. No honey candies here while sealed in the combs. I will send you a sam- ple of pine honey, if you have not seen any. It does not come every year. I never saw it at this season before. In 1886 it was plentiful in March and April. As soon as pollen is more plentiful I think I can rear queens. F. C. Morrow. Wallaceburg, Ark., Dec. 30, 1889. The insects mentioned above, so far as I can see, are almost exactly like the green fly of our greenhouses, only they are black in- stead of green. CHAFF HIVES FOR CELLAR WINTER- ING, ETC. FRIEND DOOLITTLE'S EXPERIENCE ? In reading the account of the International Bee Convention, as given in the Canadian Bee Journal, I see that Mr. J. B. Hall is represented as believing that bees would be "protected too much "if they were put into the cellar in chaff hives, he illustrat- ing what he meant, by saying, "When I go into a warm room I take off my overcoat," thus leaving us to infer that he thought bees would be too warm in the cellar, if in chaff hives. Now, this used to be just my idea of the matter till I began to experiment to find out the truth. After these ex- periments, I am prepared to say that bees will win- ter far better in the cellar, if in chaff hives, than they will in single-walled hives, providing they are fixed as they should be in the cellar. The experi- ments conducted were as follows: One season, some four or five years ago, I had some quite weak colonies, formed by uniting nu- clei late in the fall. These were In chaff hives, as I had intended to winter them outdoors; but after all the rest of the bees were in the cellar, which I had intended to put in, I found that there was consid- erable room left in the cellar, so I decided to try a part of these small colonies in chaff hives by put- ting them into the cellar, for I feared they would not go through the winter where they were. Ac- cordingly, I put some six or seven of them in, two of which were placed in the cellar, just as they stood outdoors; i. e., the bottom-board, cap, and chaff or sawdust cushion were all carried into the cellar, with no means provided for ventilating the hives, save what air would go in and out the en- trance. Two others were left the same as outdoors, save that the cap or hood was left on the summer stand. The remaining ones were raised from the bottom-board some three inches, by way of putting two sticks of ordinary stovewood between the bot- tom of the hive and the bottom-board, one on eith- er end of the hive, the cap being left outdoors the same as with the last. That the reader may better understand, 1 will say that the chaff, or fine straw (I prefer the latter), is about four inches thick on all sides of the hive, while over the top of the frames I use two thicknesses of common cotton cloth, pre- ferring that these pieces of cotton cloth be free from propolis, although not all of them are so. Over these pieces of cotton cloth I use a sawdust cushion, which is nearly as large as the whole top of the hive, this cushion coming out well over the straw on all sides, thus making it impossible for currents of air to pass rapidly through the hive, or for the bees to get above the cotton cloth out into the tops of the hive. This sawdust cushion is of about the thickness of the straw at the sides; and being of fine, dry, basswood sawdust, it is capable of absorbing lots of dampness before it becomes wet to any appreciable extent.L Now for the result: On setting the bees out in the spring, I found both those dead which were put into the cellar, the same as they would have been left outdoors; one dead, and the other in a weak condition, of those which had only the entrance of the hive for ven- tilation, but had the cap left off; while those raised from the bottom-board on sticks of stovewood, were apparently in as good condition as they were when put into the cellar the fall previous. Seeing the success attained by these last, I now commenc- ed to put more colonies into chaff hives in the cellar, so that the present time finds seven-eighths of all my bees in chaff hives, three-fourths of which are in the cellar, all raised at the bottom, and fixed as above. I have just been in to see them, so that I might tell the reader the difference between these and those in single-walled hives. Those in the single- walled hives are clustered closely on all parts of the cluster, bottom, top, and sides, the same as they would be outdoors, only not quite so compactly; while those in the chaff hives are clustered just as closely as the others at the bottom of the cluster, and a little way up the sides; but as you come to- ward the upper half of the colony, the bees stand out around on the combs the same as they would in summer; while at the top, all along next the cushion and cotton cloth, they make no preten- sions to clustering whatever, although you can look at them for a long time without any of them stirring, no matter how close you hold the light to the hive. In this way they have free access to all 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 53 parts of the hive, so a colony never starves as long as there is any honey in the hive, by their eating the honey from one [side and failing to move over, as is frequently the case. But the greatest item of the whole is. that these colonies in chafif hives do not consume more than two-thirds the honey that those do in the single-walled hives, while the safety of their wintering successfully is almost fully in- sured, for I have yet to lose the first colony in these hives where wintered in' the cellar. Where they are wheeled right into the cellar, as I gave in a recent article in Gleanings, the labor of put- ting them in is very little more than with ordinary hives. Of course, a less number can be put into a given space, yet 1 think the saving in honey will more than compensate for building a little larger cellar, where it is necessary. BEES BY THE POUND INT THE MAILS. On page 970 of Gleanings, 1889, 1 notice you see " important results " from the sending of bees in the mails. I also notice a rather less bitter com- ment than some previously made on the same thing, in the last Review. Now, all I have to say further on the subject, after what I have already said, is, that, when the time is ripe for sending bees by the pound in the mails, they are going to be so sent, and nothing can hinder them. You speak of the impossibility of making a cage stout enough, and at the same time light enough, not to be brok- en. This will be easily accomplished when such want is felt, or the time is ripe, as spoken of above. What is there to hinder Inclosing the cage in a sack of stout burlaps, and, if necessary, the whole again in a sack made of duck or bagging? This would make it so that nothing short of willful meddling could get the bees out into the mail-bag, and yet the bees could have all the air they require. Borodino, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1889. G. M. Doolittle. I suppose from the above, friend D., we are to gather that bees are much better off in the cellar in chaff hives, providing they have abundant lower ventilation ; and I am inclined to think this latter a pretty g(>od thing, no matter where they are wintered. I know that bees do sometimes seem to suf- fer, even in the cellar, wliere there is but lit- tle over them to keep the warm air from passing away. Now, in your arrangement you had the whole top of the hive so well protected that the warm air, being lighter, filled it completely, enabling the bees, as you say, to move about from one part of the hive to another, without being obliged to knot themselves up into a dense wall or cluster. Leaving such abundant ventila- tion below would permit any bee that got too warm to go down and get fresh air to its heart's content ; while others that do not care for fresh air (like sundry human be- ings) could stay where it is hot and close all winter if they choose. I have seen bees winter in the cellar in just that shape. They would be standing around on the tops of the frames, and even up against the sides of the hives, sometimes a single bee at a time, and all as still and motionless as if dead. A little of your breath, however, would start them to life. Very likely this state of af- fairs would be great economy in the use of stores ; but will the arrangement you de- scribe always secure this state of affairs V— Perhaps bees may be put up as you de- scribe, so that even the banging of the sacks of mail would not break the duck or bag- ging, and let them out. But I hope no one will try it— at least, not just now. "WHAT IS HONEY PROF. COOK undertakes TO MAKE IT PLAIN TO US. I AM requested by one of our best bee-keepers to give a fuller explanation of the nature of honey. He says: "I feel certain you are correct, and it is through a misapprehension that any one is dis- quieted by what you have written on the subject." I believe this friend is correct, and so I am glad to add a word in the matter. WHAT IS DIGESTION? Digestion is the act by which food is so changed that it can be absorbed, or can pass from the stom- ach to the blood. Water and salts are already in that condition, and so need no digestion. White of egg, muscle, starch, and cane sugar, are not in that condition, so they must be digested when taken as food. Whatever animal, then, eats cane sugar, must digest it. This digestion simply changes the cane sugar to a reducible sugar, one of the glucose group of sugars. This reducible sugar is just as wholesome as is the cane sugar; and as it needs no digestion, it may be more healthful food than the cane sugar. One of our Michigan physicians has told me that he believed that honey, for this very reason, is a more wholesome— a more healthful food, than is cane or common sugar. Nectar is cane sugar dissolved in water. When the bee sips the nectar she adds to it the secretion from the four large racemose glands, which empty into a single duct right at the base of the tongue, where the nec- tar enters the mouth. These pass together into the honey-stomach, and here the honey digestion takes place, indeed, there is nothing in the honey-stom- ach except the nectar, or honey, and the pollen which is sucked in with the nectar. This pollen is mostly separated from the honey by aid of the stomach-mouth, as shown by Schiemenz, before the bee reaches the hive. Thus only the honey, with possibly a little pollen, and, if the bee is collecting very rapidly, some still undigested nectar, is emp- tied into the cells when the bees reach the hive. The nectar was cane sugar, neutral, and turns the ray of light to the right. The honey is reducible sugar, acid, and turns the ray of polarized light to the left. Now, these are all facts, as certain as that bees gather sweets from floyers. As they are facts— long well known to science— it is our duty to accept them, even though they were unwelcome. But why are they unpleasant? Reducible sugar is as clean, and possibly more healthful, than is cane sugar. A healthy secretion is added to change the sugar; but milk is a secretion, and we regard it as one of the most inviting and wholesome foods. The digestion took place in the honey-stomach, a clean reservoir from which it comes, any way, so no one need object to that. Although honey is certainly digested nectar, there is nothing in this that should alarm or disquiet any one. It is clean, wholesome nectar, transformed in a clean vessel by aid of a clean, wholesome, secretion. People who have not studied the question of digestion may associate something unpleasant with the word. This is quite uncalled for. It is not the digested food that is un- 54 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. savory; that is pure and sweet, and fit to go to the blood which receives it. It is the indigestible part of the contents of the stomach and intestines, to- gether with the excreta, that are unclean. These are found only in disagreeable form in the lower part of the intestines. I will say, that this view is not original with me. It is found iu all works on physiological chemistry, and in all works that treat fully on the scientific part of beekeeping. Does some one say: " Well, what of it?"? Only this: Any truth is important. We may never know when facts may bear practical fruit. Some may have thought that Franklin was at small business when he was tripping lightning with his kite. Would they have thought so could they have look- ed ahead and seen the telegraph, telephone, and electric motor? Though we may safely doubt any scientific statement in silence, we should never deny such until we have carefully tested the mat- ter. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Jan. fi. There, friend C.,you have given me a new idea. Milk, butter, cream, eggs, and all such products are the results of digestion, inasmuch as they are an animal secretion ; therefore we need not necessarily feel dis- gusted, even if the bees do add something to the honey they swallow, and thjow it up again. In the same line, we need not object to honey-dew for food, even if it is plain that it is the secretion of insects to be found on the foliage of the trees. The honey-dew from the pine-trees, mentioned by friend Osborn, on page 51, is the most beautifully flavored, aromatic honey, I think I ever tasted, judging from the small samples sent in. — I sui)pose. fiiend Cook, the only reason why some of the friends feel stirred up in regard to this matter, is. that certain un- scrupulous parties— Mrs. Cotton among the number— claim, or seem to claim, that sugar syrup fed to bees comes out honey when capped over in the combs. Now, your posi- tion would seem, at least in a measure, to strengthen this idea. Those who know you, of course know you do not mean to do any thing of the sort ; and 1 feel pretty well sat- isfied (from what experiments I have made) that all the real change the bees make in the nectar gathered from flowers amounts to so little as to be hardly worth mentioning, un- less from a scientific point of view. PERTAINING TO BEE CULTURE. ABTIFICIAI. HONEY. F/(cnd Boot:— Inclosed please find a circular con- taining something about honey. Those parties are distributing their circulars through our town, and say their agents will call in a week or two, and sell family rights for fl. CO. I think it deserves a place in your Humbug and Swindle column. I should like to have your opinion of the circular. Payne, O., Dec. 1.5, 1889. E. H. Underwood. The following is a copy of their circular : HONEY. After years of experimenting with blossoms and their extracts, we have secured from the Patent Office National Legal Authority, with protection from the same, to offer our honey to the people. And in doing so, it shall go squarely on its merits. It is difficult for all persons to obtain natural honey, as so many live in the cities and could not raise bees. Their dislike to certain persons also prohibits many. Their sting is a fatal poison to a few. They are tender, hard to winter, worms are destructive to them also. Our advantage is, we can reach all the people with perfect safety and atone-half the expense, and furnish you a honey that no man can tell from bee honey, perfectly healthy, and that you can make for your visitors in ten minutes. Ours never produces colic. We gather the same sweets by extraction from the blossoms that bees get. We make it just the color that bees do, or we can make it as white as the whitest sugar. Now, we will satisfy any person of all the above statements, or we will not ask you to buy. To any out of employment and who want to work, call on us, and if we don't give you the best seller now on the market, we will give a donation to you. We will sell at a uniform price, that none may have any just cause of complaint against us. Please preserve this circular until agent calls. Family rights, f l.(X). Gorrell & Parkison. Friend U., we are very much obliged for the circular. In fact, we shall be glad to get every thing of a similar purport. There are several things about the circular that in- dicate at a glance that the parties are hum- bugs. No address is given. Never pay any attention to any circular or advertisement that contains no address. Second, the ex- pression, " Patent National Legal Authori- ty," is humbug, the whole of it. There Is no such thing in existence. To wind up with, the expression, " Family rights $1.00," stamps it as a fraud. Never give even a nickel to anybody who comes to you with any thing that winds up with something about "family rights." I know that some of you are inclined to argue the matter ; but look back and see if all the money you ever invested in a family right for any thing was not money thrown away. Give these fel- lows a wide berth. Treat them in such a way that they will get discouraged, and go home and go to work, making up their minds that honesty is really the best policy. AN OLD FRAUD REVIVED— J. M. BAIN. Mr. Root:— Bo you know any thing about a paper called Mutual Helper, Vanville, Ohio, James M. Bain Editor? I signed for it two years ago. He says, " I will give a town lot, 103 feet in length by 40 feet in width, in Marqiiand, Madison Co., Mo., to any per- son that pays $1..50 for one years subEcription to the Mutual Helper." I have got a deed for the lot, and it has been recorded, but I haven't heard from it since, nor have I paid any taxes on it. The paper says they would notify me when the taxes were due, and how much they would be. I begin to think it is all a humbug. Please let me know whether you know any thing about it. I thought may be you did, for the paper is printed in Ohio. Stephen M. Rymph. Port Ewen, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1890. Friend E., James M. Bain, with his Mutu- al Helper and city lots, has been so exten- sively advertised as a humbug and swindler that we did not suppose many would be caught by it. He has for years been a dis- grace to the State of Ohio ; and, dear friend, when anybody offers to give you more than a dollar's worth for a dollar, and throw in a city lot besides, set him down as a humbug at once, and donH send him any money— not even a postage-stamp. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 55 BBE-HUWTIN'G- IN THE SIERRA NEVA- DA MOUNTAINS. A BEE-HPKT— CONCLUDED FROM LAST ISSUE. After dinner we started out again, bee-huntingr. J had gone but a short distance when my attention was attracted by some bees worliing on a singular- ly beautiful flower of a deep flery-red color. I learn- ed that this plant is what is known as a snow-plant, a flower of surpassing and wondrous beauty. It grows along the snow-line of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, at an elevation of 6000 feet and upward, where snow usually falls to a depth of from four to six feet. The botanical name of this plant is Sarco- des Sangui Ilea. After wending my way up Silver Fork Canyon, a steep and precipitous water-course, I came across several bees working on various wild flowers that I was not acquainted with. After hunting quite a while for the tree, and not flnding it, I returned to camp. I found that the others had been unsuccess- ful too, not flnding a single tree. The next morning we started out again, intend- ing to go up to the head of the canyon. The scene- ry along the canyon was grand beyond description. The north sides were covered with a dense growth of tall arrowy firs, sprucas, and tamaracks, their countless spires rising one above the other in all directions, while on the south side the country was more open, being occupied with a growth of flowery chaparal, manzanita, deerbrush, etc., with here and there occasionally a sugar or yellow pine. On the south side of the ridge we came upon a large open tract of country, covered with the fra- grant white-flowered folocio. Thousands of bees were at work gathering honey and pollen, their happy hum imparting cheerfulness to the wild scene. This folocio grows in patches by the hun- dreds of acres, forming a dense green carpet under the yellow and sugar pines. We had no difficulty in flnding several bee-courses. We found one hive in a sugar pine, and another in a cedar. Being satisfied with our afternoon's work we started for camp. At the base of the mountain we came across one of the old apiaries of R. Miles, who used to keep 135 colonies in three dlfl:'erent apiaries. The present owner does not know any thing about bees, only about 30 colonies being left. The old empty hives are scattered in all directions; some of the benches are broken down and rotted off, tumbling the bees to the ground. The present owner never comes near, unless to take off some surplus honey. None of the hives are protected from the weather. Some, the tops are partly off; others, the sides are warped out of shape, making a place for wind and rain to beat in. At one time this was a well- kept apiary, the hives standing on benches 60 or 70 yards in length. The hives were painted various colors— red, blue, green, white, etc. The hives he used were the Harbison and Quinby. Mr. R. Miles, the bee-man, came to an untimely death. He got lost in the snow, and was not found until two months afterward. Arriving at the camp we made our usual arrange- ments for passing the night. We kept up a large Are, the mountain air being pretty cool. The scene from our camps after night, was grand. On the op- posite ridge the gigantic forest-trees stood out in bold outline, and seemed to pierce the sky, while a dripping spring below us made pleasant music over the moss-covered rocks. Deep silence brood- ed over the mountains, broken occasionally by the cry of some night-bird, and the night wind rustling through the tall pines overhead. Presently a silver arch rose over the horizon of the distant moun- tains, and the moon in all her majesty rose in the heavens, flooding the landscape with its silvery light, and fringing the tops of the pines with a frost-like drapery. At length we all dropped off to sleep, and slept soundly until morning. Getting up at our usual time, we soon had breakfast. After breakfast we concluded we would cut all the bee- trees we had found, instead of hunting any more, as we did not have the necessary utensils for hold- ing the honey. We spent three days in cutting the trees. They averaged over 100 lbs. to the tree. The following week I returned and transferred all the bees from the logs to frame hives. I man- aged to save all but one colony— the queen being killed, I suppose, by the fall of the tree. I moved the bees to my mountain apiaries; and they all did well. Bee-hunting is truly a fascinating pastime. A well-known bee-writer has said, " It is the pas- time of the few and the mystery of the many." In bee-hunting you are continually learning some- thing new. Truly the study of God's works is a noble one. S. L. Watkins. Placerville, Cal., Dec. 27, 1889. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE, FAITH CURE, ETC. SOME KIND WORDS IN REGARD TO IT. Friend Root:— I want to object, in a friendly way, to your article in regard to " faith cure." I have no doubt others will write you as I do, that for once you have got matters decidedly mixed by confounding Christian Science (so called) and heal- ing in answer to the prayer of faith. I have no more sympathy with the former than you have; and if you meant to refer to that, your language is mild enough; but don't confound the two. Be- cause Warner's Safe Cure doesn't benefit you, don't condemn all medicine, even if the family physician prescribes it. It seems from your writing, that you must be- lieve in an answer to the prayer of faith for heal- ing. You speak of asking friends to pray for you, if under great affliction. What is the use of pray- ing, if favorable answer is impossible? But, to ans- wer you in regard to the prayer of faith for heal- ing: It is scriptural. See Mark 16: 17 and 18— " And these signs shall follow them that believe They shall lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover ; " also James .5: 1.5— "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." Please note, there is no limitation of time in regard to this; and these assurances are as good as they were the day they were written. Again, there are to-day hundreds of people living who have been cured in this way, but I have never heard before of any pay being received. The most noted advocate of "faith cure" in its right sense in New England is Dr. Cullls, of Boston, who has been the means in God's hands of doing untold good in other ways. Dr. C. is a practicing physi- cian, making a specialty of lung diseases, and able to command a good large sum for his services; and yet when a person wishes to claim, by faith, heal- ing of disease, he always finds Dr. C. ready to claim God's projnises; and while man j' have been curedi 56 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUllE. Jan. no fee is ever charged. I speak as one who has ex- perienced healing in this way by faith, and so I asl£ you to investigate this matter thoroughly. It seems as though you should not lose any sub- scribers because we can't all agree with you. We believe you honest, and it would hardly show a Christian spirit to get angry because you consider- ed it your duty to write as you have ; so I trust that none who love the Master will have any angry feel- ings about it; and surely those that don't love him needn't care. You brother in Christ, C. B. Peaslee. South Pittsfleld, N. H., Dec. 11, 1889. Many thanks, dear brother, for your very kiud suggestions. Your concluding sen- tence indicates most unmistakably that the spirit of Christ Jesus has found a lodging- place in your heart, no matter what may be our convictions and beliefs In regard to oth- er matters. A great number of letters have been received in regard to the position I have taken, but none written in a better spirit than your own. SWEET CliOVEK IN MISSISSIPPI. PttOF. TRACY'S OPINION OF IT, OF THE MISSIS- SIPPI AGKICULTURAL COLLEGE. Friend Root:— Notiug what you say in last number of Gleanings about sweet clover, I here- with inclose a letter from Prof. Tracy, of our Agri- cultural College, bearing on the subject, which you may like to see. You will notice he says they use it for both pasture and hay. I should like much to know if bees are kept near this 160 acres, as its value as a iionny-plant can be determined with ac- curacy, that not being much of a honey country, and the increased yield would be marked. The small patch I had the past season was too small to give any indication of its yield; my idea being to secure seed, and gradually encourage its spread in waste places. But bees swarmed on it continually, notwithstanding the wet weather, and the period of bloom extended into the fall; indeed, in sheltered spots it is green aud blooming now. I have never heard whether they have a "chair of apiculture." Send them a copy of Gleanings, and suggest it. Pontotoc, Miss., Dec. .5, 1889. C. P. Coffin. We take pleasure in publishing the letter from Prof. Tracy, and hope we may hear from him again. Mr. Coffin:— The clipping which you inclose, from the Columbus Index, undoubtedly refers to the melilotus, but it does not say half as much in favor of the plant as might have been said with truth. I can say nothing, from experience, as to its value as a honey-plant, but I have often seen bees feeding upon it; and being a clover, I do not doubt its value. As a hay-plant it is certainly one of our best. It requires care in handling, as the leaves shatter off easily; and if handled often when very dry, little (xeepting th« bare stems will be left. With proper care in making, it makes the best hay we have for mixing with Johnson grass and other coarse feeds. We have about 160 acres of it, a part of which we use for pasture. We find that cattle do not usually like the feed at first, but they soon learn to eat it, and soon prefer it to other pasture. S. M. TRAcy. Agricultural College, Miss., Nov. 26, 1889. Friend C, we are much obliged to you for your suggestions, and also for your letter from Prof. Tracy. I do not believe, how- ever, that sweet clover is worth very much for pasture or for hay, in the Northern States. The matter was pretty thoroughly discussed through our columns some years ago. While cattle eat it at a certain stage of growth, to some extent, this stage goes by so soon that it has been generally voted not worth the trouble, as feed for stock. THINGS BY THEIR KIGHT NAMES. UR. C. C. MILLER SCORES SOME GOOD POINTS ON APICULTDRAL NOMENCLATURE. 1 AM glad to see some attention paid to the matter of apicultural nomenclature. It is not an easy thing, always, to get the right word in the right place, and confusion exists with regard to some of the words in common use among bee-keepers. One thing that tends to increase the difficulty is, after a word has been used for some time the very fact of its having been used gives it some show of right to be used. It is pleasant, however, to note that some progress has been made. Nowadays we sel- dom hear a man say, "I had five swarms live through winter," or, still worse, " five hives." The word '"colony" Is used with general uniformity, although I think I have seen objections raised to the word, in the British Bee Journal. On the other hand, it is still common to hear workers spoken of in the masculine gender; as, "Across bee planted hiH sting on my nose." Not only is this common in ordinary conversation, but our best editors allow it in the printed column. The error does not appear flagrant and glaring, only because so very common; but from a grammarian's standpoint, is it not just as bad to say, " A bee planted his sting in my wife's nose" as to say, " My wife got a sting in his nose " ? Please, Messrs. Editors, exercise the same authority in this particular that you do with regard to other grammatical errors, and let the worker-bee be spo- ken of in the feminine or neuter gender. The words case, clamp, and crate, are used in a somewhat confusing way. One man uses the word case for any receptacle on the hive, and crate for the same thing used for shipping; while another uses the words in exactly the opposite way. Web- ster defines crate thus: " A kind of basket, or ham- per of wicker-work, used for the transportation of china, crockery, and similar wares." I think the use of the word in a more general way has become so common that it applies to articles very much unlike crockery. A sewing-machine, for instance, is crat- ed for shipping, when it is fastened in an open framework of wood; but if the machine were en- tirely inclosed in a box, I think no one would be likely to call the box a crate. An essential element in a crate seems to be that it must be at least partly open. If I am right in this, it is doubtful whether the word crate can often be used as applying to any thing used in the apiary, and probably never to any thing used for shipping honey, unless it be to the open framework very rarely used in fastening to- gether several of the receptacles used for shipping. The word clamp, as long ago as 1861, and I don't know how much longer, was used (see first volume American Bee Journal) to mean a place in which bees were buried for wintering, and I don't know that I ever saw such use challenged ; and of late years it has been used by some for a receptacle to 1890 GLEAKINGS iK BE:B CULTtlKE. 57 hold sections when on the hive; by others, when used for shipping. A clamp, according to Webster, is, " in ycncral, something that fastens or binds." A cabinet-maker will show you the clamp he uses. In defining the verb, Webster says, " In joinery, to fit a piece of board with the grain, to the end of another piece of board across the grain; as, to clamp a ta- ble to prevent its warping." In this last case, I think the joiner's clamp with a screw is not used, and the only thing that could be called a clamp is the cleat or small piece of board nailed across the larger board. Because it is clamped, no one would call the whole table a clamp. Is it right to call any thing a clamp except when the clamping is espe- cially referred to, and when that is the principal thing? If we allow clamping to include wedging, then sections are sometimes clamped for shipping, and they are also sometimes clamped on the hive. But is it right in either case to say the sections are in a clamp? Suppose some goods are put in a shipping-box, and then wedged in, as is sometimes the case. Is such a box ever called a clamp? The principal use is as a shipping-box, and not as a clamp; and I think I never heard the word clamp thus used, except among bee-keepers. Is it really proper in any case to use the word clamp as a re- ceptacle for bees or honey? The word case means " a covering, box, or sheath ; that which incloses or contains." The word is very general in its meaning, and, I suppose, can be ap- plied to any thing that contains sections, whether on the hive or used for shipping; and it is doubtful whether the unmodified word can be restricted to the one use or the other. An old professor used to say, "Any fool can find fault; but the remedy, that's the thing." I have been finding fault with words as used, and may be asked to tell what are the correct words to apply to the receptacle which contains sections on the hive, and that used for shipping. Frankly, I don't know. We ought, if possible, to settle upon a word that in- cludes any and every thing used to hold sections on the hive, and another that clearly and exclusively means something for shipping. Case is correct for either, but is objectionable just because it means too much. True, the older editions of Webster re- strict the word case to shipping-cases; but the lat- est does not so restrict it. The term " shipping- case " describes exactly the thing wanted, and I don't know that any thing better can be desired un- less a single word can be found to mean the same thing. I am not sure that we can find a name so appro- priate for what is used on the hive. Is there any thing better than the old-fashioned word super? It means oue/-, and is thus appropriate for any recep- tacle placed over the hive. Can any suggest a bet- ter word? It is a little confusing to see in Root's catalogue Moore's crate and the T super. One is just as much a crate or a super as the other. I am aware that I am on slippery ground when I attempt to talk about the meaning of words; but 1 believe my only object is to help j ust a little to get things clear, and so will take very kindly any good- natured attempt to show where I am wrong. And now, Mr. Editor, as editors are supposed to know every thing, will you please give me the defi- nition of the word apiary, as used at the present day? I don't think Webster covers the ground, and I confess I have not been able to. C. C. Millef!. Marengo, 111., Dec. 'M. We heartily indorse all you say, friend M. Commencing with a wrong word is very un- fortunate ; tor after custom has established a thing it is next to impossible to make any change. I suppose most of you remember our talk on substituting something for the term " extracted honey ; " but even had eve- ry bee-keeper in the land voted for a better name, most likely no change would have been made. In regard to the meaning of the word '' apiary," the ABC book defines it as "A place where bees are kept ; " and before it was decided on, a good many of the veterans passed their opinion on it. EXTRACTOES, KEVERSING AND NON- REVERSING; 2, 4, 8, AND 30 IRAME MACHINES. A VALUABLE ARTICLE, FRESH FROM THE EXTRACT- ING FIELD, FROM THE PEN OF A. W. Ot-BURN. Friend Koot:— This is to be an extractor talk between you and me, and the whole Gleanings family. On page 842, Nov. 1, you ask if there is an apiarist among your readers who uses a Stanley extractor. Yes, we have one here, and how do we like it? Pretty well, yet I would not buy one for my own use. Now, do not understand me as find- ing any more fault with the Stanley than with any and all others, for none of them are right. What is the matter? In the first place, the most of them are too small, and run too slow. You know the first few revolutions of the basket throw out the hulk of the honey; but it does not dry the comb. That which does not come off the walls of the cells is the best and the thickest part of the honey, nor will it come off, nor will the combs become dry, without very fast running— the faster the better. I have never seen an extractor run fast enough to suit me. Now, were you ever in a sugar-mill (we will call it a mill where they extract the molasses from the su- gar by centrifugal force)? If the opportunity ever presents itself, go and see it. You will then see a practical demonstration of what I was saying about the thick and best part of the honer being very hard to get off from the side walls of, the combs. With the centrifugal machine in the sugar-house, when it is first charged with a new lot of sugar, and put in motion, the thin molasses throws out very easily; but it soon gets so thick that the motion of the ma- chine has to be increased to a high rate of speed, so that it hums like the cylinder of a thrashing-ma- chine; then it does what it is designed to do; i. e., it dries the sugar, i. e., gets the molasses out. Now, is not that what we put combs into an extractor for, to get the honey out? With one of these slow machines it is impossible to get the best results. I know, Mr. Root, you have made thousands of ex- tractors, and I know that you know that I have w.sed extractors a gaod deal in the last 15 or more years. I have never seen one that ran fast enough to suit me yet, nor have I ever seen one large enough to suit me. Now, before you express any surprise, think a moment, that, for our business heie, what is there in the way of having an extractor that will hold 20 or :50 combs, and to run like siilit ; that is, one to run by a onehorse engine, if you choof e? It is cheaper than bone and muscle, to extract 5(1,000 or 100,000 lbs. of honey. Now tell me, what is the use of all this starting and stopping, as in the case with a small 58 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. machine? It takes no Ivuijcf to empty 30 combe than it does 3, after the machine is ready to start; then if you have your machine built correctly, and run by power, two minutes is enough to extract the :J0 combs. How long would it take to extract 30 combs with a two-frame machine, run by man- power? About reversible extractors, I do not know. The Stanley, which we have, and are now using, is the first one I ever used, and it is a question in my mind whether it is faster than the old machine, where we turned each comb separately, or not; for it is not as handy to get the combs in and out as the old one, and then the baskets get tangled up every little while, and time is lost in getting them straightened out again; so I think it is a question whether they are faster or not. Perhaps after this season's crop is taken I shall be able to tell you more what I think of the Stanley Automatic ex- tractor than I can now, for as yet we have thrown out only 15,000 lbs. this winter, but we intend to extract until the llrst of March. BREAKING COMBS. Would you be surprised to know that we never break a comb unless it falls and strikes in some po- sition that would break almost any thing? I think the wire cloth the basket is make of should be fine, so there will be plenty bearing surface for the comb to rest against, then the comb will not stick and break out of the frame when you go to remove it; no trouble about the honey going through fine cloth, for it will get through all right. Friend Root, here is another thing: What is the objection to uncapping the combs by steam? I have never tried it, but I think it is just as feasible as running a train of cars by steam. For large apiaries, if we can uncap and extract by steam, then will the cost of production be reduced to a much smaller figure than it is now. You make one strong point in fa- vor of the reversible machines when you say, in your remarks upon friend Mclntyre's letter, page 841, that "the reversing device loosens the combs from the wire cloth better than you can do it by hand." So it does, and that is a strong point in fa- vor of those machines; but for all, with fine wire cloth, the combs will not stick very much. I think you must be joking, Mr. Root, when you say, that " an expert with a two-frame extractor will throw out more honey, than one with the great big heavy machines." Now, bless your heart, what do you think we could do here with a two-frame machine when the six-frame Stanley is not fast enough? We have to get over our apiary every week, and no mis- take about it, and then the strongest colonies are full, and crowded for room. Well, my son (who is 15), and myself take the combs out of the hives and extract them, and throw out from 1500 to 3000 lbs. a day, right along, and still at the time I write this we are not quite keeping up with the bees; they are gaining on us, and we shall have to get another man, from this until the first of February. Now, I do believe my son is an " expert " with an uncap- piug-knife, and that T can throw out as much honey as a green hand, and do it well; but still, we can not do it fast enough. The time spent in the honey- house extracting mitst be reduced, and it can be— I am sure of that. Two good active men should be able to take care of 500 colonies of bees here in Cu- ba, and take one hundred thousand pounds of honey; then the business will pay a good interest on the capital invested, but not with the slow process of extracting we have now. Two men can not handle the honey, and keep up with the bees. You know that, two years ago, or thereabout, you gave a cut in Gleanings of our comb-carts. Well, we have two of those carts, and they hold 30 combs each, and we have a box on top that holds 8 or 9 more, making all together in the two carts about 80 combs. We go out in the apiary and fill them, and return to the honey-house and extract them in twenty or twenty-five minutes, but I tell you it is too slow. It should and can be done quicker. Be- sides, it is very hard to work so fast, but we are obliged to do it or get behind. You know it is now more than six years since I came to Cuba. I went back to California and stayed 18 months; but I think you will agree with me, that I have been here long enough to form some correct conclusions of Cuba as a honey-producing country, something of the possibilities, and what is required to make the business a success. I will not admit to any one that the business of honey-producing upon a mod- ern and large scale is an experiment. 1 think the business has passed beyond that; and I would say to those who have their " weather eye "upon the dark side of Cuban bee-keeping, " Keep cool and wait results." Friend J. L. Gregg, of Tempe, Ariz., has the right idea of running bees for extracted honey; i. e., keep them extracted clean, even if you have to extract every other day. The bee-keeper that waits for his colonies to get chuck full, loses one-third of his honey crop, in my opinion. Havana, Cuba, Dec. 24, 1889. A. W. Osburn. Friend O,, your experience seems to run in doing business on a larger scale than most of us know any thing about. There may be a few apiaries where it will pay to use a small steam-engine to uncap and ex- tract the honey ; but I am inclined to think that most of us will have to wait for anoth- er generation before we take much stock in such arrangements. EXTRACTORS. A FEW GOOD POINTERS, BY W. L. COGGSHALL. I HAVE a Stanley reversible, and a Novice with the reels, or racks, taken out, and am using them for store cans (if you or any one else wants them for half price, drop me a postal). In fact, they are worth only what an ordinary store can is to me, for I shall never use them. First and most important with an extractor is, to have the combs hang as they do in the hive. It requires a great deal of time to take a frame by the top-bar and then by the end, and lower it into the extractor 18 inches instead of 9, as you would have to do with the Langstroth frame. Second. Have the extractor large enough to hold three-fourths of a barrel under the reel, and then you will have to strain but very little of the honey —two or three pails at the last end. Third. The extractor should be high enough to admit a pail under the honey-gate (3-inch gate). Fourth. The extractor should be fastened to the floor, and bolted to the side of a building, so it will be impossible to move it one-sixteenth of an inch. Fifth. When the honey is brought in, set it on a level with the extractor. Sixth. Have a capping-dish by its side. Seventh. Have the honey-gate on the other side, directly under the handle of the extractor. 189d GLEANINGS iK BE^ CULTUiiE. Eig-hth. Stoie can just beyond. With the above conveniences, with the help of an assistant, we took off the hive and put in barrels 2r)30 lbs. in 5'/4 hours, or 46i) lbs. an hour. The ex- tractor ia not a reversible. It holds four combs, iwoon each side (not one on each side). I have a light frame, a little larger than the comb, Yi inch deep, with tin on one side and gauze on the other, slipped in a groove 2^4 in. from the outer gauze, or where the first frame hangs. The frame with the tin and gauze has slats in the end for the honey to go out, and at the bottom the tin Is bent, and the machine has a strong gear, 3 to 1, with a short crank at the side. I have one of those machines at all of the out apiaries. You see, it does not take long to get the wheel to reeling, after the horse is taken care of. I have 600 colonies. W. L. COGGSHALL. West Groton, N. Y., Dec. 3, 1889. "\'ery good, friend C; but it seems to me that you and a good many others, even many of the large bee-men, make a mistake in considering any arrangement whereby the honey must be lifted up, a pailful at a time. 1 do not believe that 1 would submit to any such arrangement, even if I had on- ly thirty or forty colonies. Our extractors are made with the understanding that the honey-gate is to be kept wide open when- ever the extractor is running. Now, the honey may run from the extractor into a barrel, tank, or large can, or any thing you choose, placing the extractor on a platform or big box, high enough so that it will run of itself into a large receptacle beneath. By all means, have the extractor screwed fast to the floor or box. It has been said, that we can not build om* houses alike, be- cause no two people ever agree as to how a house should be arranged to be convenient. There seems to be a good deal the same dif- ference in regard to extractors. Even most of our great honey-producers have an ex- tractor after their own fancy. FLORIDA. A REPORT FROM PROF. WEBSTER. We Started with 35 colonies at the beginning of the year, mostly not very strong. The old honey gave out early in the winter, and the bees natural- ly dwindled away to small numbers. Some had either to be fed or starve. Instead of spring dwindling we have winter dwindling, which gener- ally commences in November or December, and lasts till January or February, according to the sea- son. This refers to our own locality. In other lo- calities the bee-forage varies, and there is more honey gathered late in the season, which causes the dwindling to come at some other season, if it comes at all, and it generally does, so far as I have been able to learn. Some localities are having a scarci- ty just at the time when we are getting our best How, such is the great variety of soil and vegeta- tion in this State. Notwithstanding all that some enthusiasts say about bees gathering honey and pollen during every month in the year here in Florida, I have satisfied myself from actual obser- vation that many colonies are lost from starva- tion. I have met several people who had increas- ed their bees to 10 or lo colonies, and then lost them all in a single season. I have no doubt that the loss of queens often contributes a large share of the cause of loss, but that will not account for all. We lost five or six weak colonies from starva- tion during the fall and winter of 1888. It would probably have paid to save them by feeding, and it would have been done had we not been busy with other matters; yet there is small profit in feeding bees where 30 to 50 lbs. of honey is an average yiild, and that worth only 7 or 8 cents per pound. HONEY FROM PINE-TREE BLOSSOMS. We generally get our first yield during January or February, from the spruce, or scrub pine, as it is called here; but last winter the weather was so cold and rainy that we got nothing from that source. In February we got some honey from the long-leaved pine (PiriHs a)(st)-(xh'8). We could hard- ly believe that the pine would yield any thing but pine gum or pitch. Observation, however, has satisfied us that it yields a very good honey, about as light colored as goldenrod honey, and in quanti- ties that sometimes give a surplus for extracting. When the bees are working very busily on the pine- blossoms, and filling up the hives with honey, while we can find no other bee-forage that they are work- ing on, we can only call it pine honey. ORANGE HONEY. This is our next yield, and often commences be- fore the pine is all gone. It is liable to get mixed with it in extracting, or with andromeda honey, which comes about the close of the orange season. Andromeda honey is about as dark as buckwheat honey, and has a rather strong taste, that, of course, deteriorates the value of orange honey when mixed with it. Where orange-groves are not abundant, and in full bearing, it is difficult getting it pure; and for this reason, orange honey has suf- fered in reputation, even among good bee-keepers. Some of the leading apiarists from the mangrove region, near the east coast, who are surrounded by orange-groves, had never seen any pure orange honey till I showed it to them last spring. Their bees are near hammocks, where there are many shrubs and vines that yield honey in the spring, and there are too many bees to store much sur- plus from what orange-bloom is in reach of them. They will get more as their groves increase in number and age. We have never taken more than 15 or 30 lbs. of orange honey per colony. New groves are being planted, and old ones bear more each year, so that the yield is constantly increasing. The only way to get the honey pure is to extract pretty clean just at the beginning of the orange- flow, and again just before the close. The orange generally blossoms in February and March. One difficulty here in getting a good yield of it is in hav- ing strong colonies at that time, which is at the end of the winter season, when the bees are gener- ally weak in numbers. Orange honey, when pure, is as light colored as white-clover honey, very thick and heavy. As to (juality, we are not afraid to com- pare it with any known honey. The yield last sea- son was very good, and many beekeepers in the vi- cinity of abundant orange-bloom had a surplus of pure orange honey, who had never had any before. We did not get as much pure honey as we might have done, for the reason that my son, Oscar B., and I were off on a trip 300 miles down Indian River and Lake Worth, camping out, and making botanical and conchological collections; but if a love for sci- entific study gives the bees a chance to run their 60 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jak. business to suit themselves once in a while, we don't blame them if they mix the honey sometimes. HONEY FROM ANDROMEDA AND OTHER SOURCES. Alter the orange yield, which extended into April, we extracted some andromeda honey, to be laid away for feeding back, in case it is not sold. Tn May the gallberry and saw-palmetto yielded a surplus of very fair honey for extracting, which closed the season for the pine region. We did not extract any alter about June 1st, till we concluded to take our bees to the coast for mangrove honey, which we finally did about July 1st, and thereby hangs another tale that had better be postponed for another letter, provided jou care to hear it. We realized in all only about ;{5 or 40 lbs. of honey per colony from our bees up to the time that we con- cluded to move them to the coast; and had we stay- ed at home we should have taken no more. Here in the pine woods, 30 to 30 lbs. of honey per colony should be left in the hives in June for summer and fall use. The bees are very strong, of course, when we quit extracting. They keep up breeding during summer, getting just enough honey to keep them going; but by October the honey is pretty well used up, and they quit breeding. Cooler weather comes on; but warm dajs tempt them out, and I think they do actually gather pollen, and perhaps a little honey during every month in the year; but cool weather chills many a bee till it never gets home again. They wear themselves out, and I have seen colonies with plenty of honey in December and January that did not have a pint of bees in the hive. Some colonies will be strong, while others, with plenty of honey, run down. Without honey, no colony can keep up its numbers. Lake Helen, Fla., Dec. 2:!. G. W. Webster. A LAWYER'S EXPERIENCE WITH BEES. A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE SENSATION OF A BEE-STING; A REMEDY FOR THE ITCHING PAIN, THAT DOES NOT COME OUT OF A BOTTLE. Mr. Root:— I want to siy something to your readers about bee-stings. Possibly it may be new, possibly not; but any thing that will relieve the terrible Itching pain ought to be known. In May last I got an untested queen and nucleus from Oli- ver Foster, of Mount Vernon, Iowa. She proved to be a hybrid queen, and her progeny as vicious as wild-cats. At first I did not get stung very often, and it made no impression, and I boasted that a bee-sting did not amount to any thing, and laughed to scorn the foolish fears of my neighbors who crept tremblingly up to see the busy colony. Well, "pride goeth before a f all " in the bee-business, just as well as in any thing else. One evening 1 walked in front of my hive, when a bee shot from the opening and hit me near the corner of my left eye with such force that I thought the man who struck Billy Patterson was 8omewher<» around, and I left. My eye swelled to immense proportions, and the Itching drove me nearly frantic. I was in the very depths of degradation, when the swelling ex- tended to the other eje, and I looked like Sullivan, and as if I had been having a "set to," and had been knocked out. 1 spent the most miserable night that I can remember; but T was much more miserable the next day when I went down to my office and had to run the gauntlet of jeers and sar- castic remarks thrown at me from all sides. I think they would have shown more mercy if I had not talked every mother's son of them almost to death about bees. From that time on, the slightest sting (and they grew quite frequent, for I had my nose in that hive morning, noon, and night, when I had a moment to spare) would putf up like a poison- ed pup, and itch! Oh my! how they would itch! One night, in desperation, 1 held my hand right over the lamp chimney until it singed my wrist bare. To my astonishment, I got relief. It began to hurt again in about half an hour, when I gave it another scorching. Well, that just about cured it, for one or two more burnings left me free from pain. From that time on, when I got stung I had only to heat the part just as hot as I could bear it to get temporary relief; and by repeating the oper- ation it always cured the sting. I got a select tested queen of you last September, and got lots of bees from her. She is a beauty, and was laying inside of '24 hours after she was out of the cage. 1 proceeded to decapitate the hybrid queen, though 1 did hate to do so, as she was so prolific, and her workers were so industrious; but they were so terribly, awfully vicious that I could not put up with them. I divided, and now have three nice swarms in the cellar, each with three times the quantity of honey they can possibly con- sume; but I was too anxious to winter well. My cellar is dark and dry, and the temperature is about 36° or 38° most of the time. My bees are the won- der of the community, for you know we are within a few miles of the summit of the Sierra Madre, the main range of the Rockies. Not only will they do well, but I am going to have some comb honey next season — if I don't get slung blind before the season is over. J. F. Crawford. Saratoga, Wyoming, Dec. 23. Very good, friend C Now will every one of our readers who gets stung try this sim- ple matter of heating, as mentioned above ? May be it will turn out like some other things that work with some people and do not with others. I know that hot water will often relieve the pain of a sprain or bruise, almost as if by magic. The water must be so hot that it will almost make you cry out. I do not understand it ; but 1 do know that, when the pain from the hot wa- ter begins to abate, the pain of the sprain goes with it. ADULTERATED (?) HONEY. SAID TO COME FROM CHAS. F. MUTH & SON; HOW THE GENTLEMEN HANDLE THE MATTER. Friend Root:— Dec. 12 I sent to Mr. Meek, who is a very good man, a keg of as fine clover honey as there is. Now, Mr. Meek sends me the money— yes, but he shakes his head, and seems to say that that home-made stuff is too flue for honey. Mr. Meek's good opinion is of interest to us, and it would be a pity to permit him to make erroneous statements in his publications. His letter and my reply, with your own remarks in Gleanings, will do, perhaps, a lot of good. I will inclose both. Chas. F. Muth. Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 23. Chas. F. Mulh A Son:— The keg came to hand yes- terday. If this is honey, I must confess I had never seen the article before, though I have several stands, and have been acquainted with bees for 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 61 more than half a century. I keep it, not because it is honey, but, having ordered it, I feel under obliga- tion to do so. This home-made article may do as a substitute. Find my check for amount. Please re- ceipt and return bill. Zephaniah Meek. Catlettsburg, Ky., Dec. 18. Copy of Reply. Zephaniah Jiefk;— Your favor is at hand inclosing f5.80, balancing invoice of lath inst. Accept thanks. Your letter causes a smile, without the least bit of ill feeling on our part, because we know that you are sincere and conscientious. However, we say that we never soiled our Angers by adulteration. We, too, are sincere, and I would add that we will pay you one hundred dollars if you will prove that the honey we sent you is not the pure product of the bee, derived from clover and linden blossoms. Hoping that a closer examination will convince you that we have sold you some of the best honey in the world, and wishing to supply you in the future, we are, with best wishes of the season. Yours, Chas. F. Muth & Son. Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 23. We take pleasure in assuring friend Meek that C. F. Muth never sold a drop of adul- terated honey, if ha knew it ; and as he is a veteran in the business, and about as keen and sharp a business man as you can find in Cincinnati or elsewhere, there is n >t much probability that he has been deceived. W^ILEY'S FALSEHOOD. A MICHIGAN MAN WANTS TO KNOW IF TFIERE IS A "SILVER LINING" TO IT. I HAVE long wanted some one to give me the bright side of Prof. Wiley's pleasantry. I have been expecting Bro. R)ot to show us the " silver lining to the cloud," as he commonly sees the bright side of every thing. I thought that, when the Rambler got his bearings he would tell us of the service the professor had done us poor bee-keep- ers. But it is not likely that they ever drove into town on a one-horse chaise, with seven boxes of honey, and had a glass-front groceryman come out and pay the high market price, " and a little more," for the honey, just because he knew by the looks of your rig that you were not handling bogus honey— he, the groceryman, being suspicious of that honey down at the commission house, "so white and fair." And then when you are selling honey that you did not take off the hive as soon as sealed, or, rather, sections that you have been three years trying to get the bee.s to put honey in, the surface of which is geographically expressed as gently undulated, the woodwork varnished with propolis, and color variegated; and when your attention is called to these defects, you can speak right out that it is none of your " bogus manufactured artificial hon- ey; " but that it is just as the bees made it— honest honey. And then when you have put the best sec- tions outside, and best side out at that, if you do not have enough good ones for the outsides you can cover up a poor-looking one with one of A. I. Root's cards, offering one thousand dollars reward; and if there is a kick, you can get in some sledge- hammer blows that the bees do not make them all alike, as a machine would; and even if you are not much of a talker you will be able to convince nine out of ten persons that the bees made it; that It is hoiest hoiiry, and honesty covers a multitude of faults. And then your friends and neighbors buy of you. They know that they are getting what they pay for; but they are not so sure of that hon- ey that is shipped in to commission houses by those honey-kings. If it were not for that humbugging superstition produced by Prof. Wiley's after-dinner pleasantry, those king-bees of Cuba, California, and Wisconsin would have crushed the life out of us poor but hon- est bee-keepers, in our home market, long ago. Frank L. Lee. Farmington, Mich., Dec. 14, 1889. Thanks, friend Lee. I can just fancy that a comical smile was playing on one side of your mouth when you wrote this. Yes, there is a faint glimmer of a silver lining ; but over against it, in striking contrast, is the dark cloud of unretracted falsehoods passed from one newspaper to another. Just the other day a prominent lawyer in Cleve- land sent down to Medina for a crate of "choice bees' honey." "• Why in the world should you send to Medina when there is just as good honey in almost all the grocer- ies and commission houses right in your own city, and perhaps at your own door V " I thought. Read lag on down the letter a little further the writer said, " I am afraid of the honey that is in Cleveland. I know that your honey is the honest proiuct of the bees." From one point of view, Wiley's falsehood benefited us to the extent of a sin- gle crate of honey. That was the silver lin- ing you referred to. From another point of view, there are thousands and thousands of customers just like this prominent lawyer, who like good honey, and would use it, pro- viding the ban of suspicion had not been placed on it by willful and malicious false- hoods circulated by the press. While this state of affairs enables us to sell now and then a crate of honey which we should not otherwise have sold, it prevents the sale of thousands of other crates of just as good and honest "■ bees' honey " in the city, which the consumer is suspicious of. Ernest. CHEESE-CLOTH AS A BASE FOR FOUNDATION. SUCCESBFCTLLY IN USE IN 100 COLONIES IN ARIZONA. I HAVE been using foundation on cheese (or but- ter) cloth for two years, and I like it very much. In this hot climate, whore the mercury often goes up to 110°, we feel the need of something to hold our combs from melting down, especially when ex- tracting. You know, as well as myself, if the bees are well shaded they will take care of the combs, with proper ventilation; but when we undertake to extract from these combs, with the mercury up to 110°, we often have quite a mess of broken combs. Now, friend Root, the only objection to cloth dip- ped in wax is the inclination of the bees to gnaw at it and take It out, as suggested in the A U C book. I And, if 1 dip it often enough, or, in other words, if I make the coating of wax thick enough, there is no trouble about it. They will finish it up in nice style, and it works all right. I have about 100 hives supplied with combs made in the above way. To put them in the frames, I have a machine that 62 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. presses them in nicely. Then I put in about four little quarter-inch wire nails, which hold them se- curely in place. 1 first cut the cloth just the size of my frames, and then dip it in the wax about four times, when it is thick enough for all purposes. Now, friend Root, is it not possible for you to get a very fine wire cloth, say of copper, woven so as to make the meshes about 30 to the inch, so as not to cost more than one or two cents to the foot? If that can be done, bee-keepers can make a founda- tion that will be the thing for this hot country. If iron wire could be made fine enough, I have no doubt but it would be just as good, but I have my doubts about their being able to make it fine enough to answer the purpose. You have done much in furnishing bee-keepers with cheap wire cloth for other purposes, and if atm one can get this thing, you can. Let us hear from you on this sub- ject. John L. Gregg. Tempe, Arizona, Dec. 14, 1889. Friend G., no doubt you can succeed with cheese-cloth by coating it with so great a quantity of wax ; but, dear friend, just think what it costs you. You are not aware, perhaps, that we have ah-eady tinned wire, so small that it will just give us only the strength desired. In fact, No. 36 we have decided to be too small for the wired frames illustrated in our catalogue. Our good friend Vandeiisen, however, makes flat-bot- tom foundation on this very small wire, and he can put in just as many wires as you choose. You will find this wired founda- tion much cheaper, I am sure, than to use so great a quantity of wax as you do on cheese-cloth. The expense of the wax is the trouble. If you use less wax, so as to make the base of the cells about the usual thick- ness, the bees will surely go to work and tear the cloth, sooner or later. We have tested it pretty thoroughly. Very likely you require not only wired combs, but combs with additional wires, in your very hot climate of Arizona. BEE-YARDS. SHALL THE GROUND BE SODDED, OK SCRAPED LIKE A BRICKYARD, A LA BOARDMAN? In Gleamngs for Nov. 1.5 I notice what friend Boardman says in regard to scraping off the turf, etc., in bee-yards, and in some former edition I think you stated yourself that a bee yard should be as clean as a brick-yard. No one enjoys seeing a nice bee-yard more than I do; but what makes the nicest bee-yard may be a difference in taste in dif- ferent persons. For my part I do not like to see a bee-yard or any other yard appear as barren as the ground of the " Garden of the Gods" in the Rocky Mountains. Nothing in the world can approach in appearance a lordly coat of verdant green sod, as well in a bee-yard as any other yard or lawn. How would a public park in a city appear if the turf were scraped off with Bro. Boardman's saw-scraper? CEMENT BOTTOMS AND DOORYARDS FOR EN- TRANCES, AND HOW TO MAKE. I love to have bee-yards as well as house-yards as green as they can be made; but at the same time, have a clean place without grass, to place the hives upon. This can easily be liad by simply making a cement floor for that purpose. To do so, make a frame of strips two inches wide by one inch thick, of a size large enough to project over the sides and rear of the hive four inches, and in front 34 inches. Nail stays across to keep it sq uare. Place it on the ground where you wish to set your hive, and mark around the outside of it. Remove it, and with a sharp spade cut down through the marks about four inches deep, and remove the ground to that depth inside of the marks. Then fill up the exca- vation with fine rocks, pounded down solid, and just even with the outside surface. Remove the stays on your frame, and apply it as before, sloping downward in front about an inch. Now fill up the frame even with the top, with a mixture of ^.i good cement and ^:i sand, thoroughly mixed dry, and then water enough to make a thin mortar. Slope off the top corners after leveling off with a straight- edge and trowel, and you have an everlasting floor for your pets that needs no scraping. Sow'your yard in dandelion and white clover; and in the spring, when the former is in bloom, and you see the bees enjoying themselves at it, I think you will want no more scraped bee-yards. The lawn-mower is sufficient. J. B. Baumberger. Washington, Kan., Dec. 10. Friend B., your plan is tiptop. Essential- ly the same thing has been given, however, before. Are you sure you have got it thick enough to stand 15 or 20 below zero ? Even if it is, I am inclined to think that many of us can get slates or very thin stone flagging so as to be cheaper than the cement. HONEY FROM LOBELIA. medicated honey FOR THE CURE OF COUGHS, . COLDS, CONSUMPTION, CATARRH, ETC. We respectfully call your attention to our lobe- lia honey that the bees gathered and stored with our surplus, during the months of August and Sep- tember, 1889. We wish they hadn't done it, tor our surplus is not salable unless for medicinal pur- poses. The pastures were thickly covered with lobe- lia, and in due season the bees went to work and stored honey that has a strong taste of lobelia. In fact, it is so strong that a very little of it will nau- seate a person, and in many cases vomit him. We got but little honey that was not so tinctured with it as to be worthless; yet it is beautiful, clear, heavy honey. Brood-chambers are full of it, so our bees have their cough medicine handy. What next? Rochester, O., Jan. 1. M. W. Shepherd. Well, old friend, I am inclined to think that the lobelia honey you have on hand is worth a good many times the [price of ordi- nary honey. Lobelia is now a recognized remedial agent in medicine, and I think it quite likely that this notice will bring you a call for all you have, at a good price. You may send me five or ten pounds for our own use. I have before mentioned, that, when I was quite small, I was for several years weak and feeble from the effects of inflam- mation of the lungs. Well, my cough was so distressing that almost every winter for several years they were afraid it would be the death of me. Lobelia always gave re- lief. I used to take enough to feel just the least symptoms of vomiting, and then the cough would "letup." When I got older I used to carry lobelia-pods in my pocket, to 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 63 chew when I was in school, when my cough- ing would disturb others. Still, the poison must be taken with discrimination ; but I should think your lobelia honey would be just the article exactly. One could deter- mine by experiment just the quantity need- ed to produce the desired result. I should be exceedingly glad of opinions from our medical brethren in regard to lobelia honey. As we miyhear from a good many, please let us be brief and to the point. Meanwhile, friend S., you had better put a price on your medicated honey, and do not be in a hurry to dispose of it all. THE MICHIGAN ST A.TE3 BEE-KEE3PERS' CONVENTION. SECTIONS OPEN ALL, AROUND. Continued from last i^sue. There was quite a long discussion in re- gard to sections with openings for bees all around instead of at the tops and bottoms only. Our friend II. D. Cutting brought saniples of both kinds, showing very dis- tinctly that the bees fastened the comb hon- ey more securely to the wood of the section where there were openings at the sides as well as at the top and bottom. The reason of this I never clearly understood before. It seems that the bees leave passages for their convenience, at the corners and at the sides, where the sections are made in the usual way ; but where openings are also made in the sides, allowing them to pass free- ly from one section across to the next, they seem to decide that these holes through the comb are not needed. Now, this not only gives us more honey in a section, but it gives us comb honey more securely fasten- ed to the sides, thus greatly, it would seem, obviating the danger of breaking down, and leakage during shipment. This is a very important matter, if it should transpire to be true. There is, however, a difficulty in using sections open all around in most of our usual arrangements, especially where the T super, which has been so largely adopted of late, is in use. The difficulty is this : Where sections are to be open at the sides as well as at the top, the sides must come tight up against each other. If they do not, the bees will stick propolis and glue in the crack or opening. If this opening is large enough to allow a bee to pass clear through, it would not be so bad; but the space left where the tongue of the T tin goes up through is j ust right to get the sec- tions badly propolized. Of course, this can be scraped off, but the labor is very much greater. We have in our apiaries obviated the trouble by turning the T tin over so the tongue is downward. This, however, ne- cessitates having the bee-space of the T su- per at the bottom instead of on top— an ar- rangement which has been pretty universal- ly decided to be objectionable. I should be glad of facts from experience, in regard to the matter. .TAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. Very large yields were reported, both of honey and grain. One report was given of 2'.>0 bushels from 18 acres of ground. There was quite a discussion in regard to Japan- ese buckwheat for flour. Several millers had complained because it was so much larger than any buckwheat they had ever heard of before, it would not go through their screens ; ard some of them made flour of it by sifting out all the largest and plump- est kernels. These best kernels were called ''screenings." Beekeepers were advised to look into the matter whenever they take Japanese buckwheat to mill. A miller at Lansing, Mich., however, pronounced it the finest buckwheat he ever ground. Very likely he had screens adapted to it. Thirty- one pounds of flour were obtained from a bushel of grain. As the flour is quoted at 2 cts. per lb., it would seem that the grain ought to be worth from 60 to 75 cts. per bush- el, for making into flour. TAYLOR'S METHOD OF FINDING QUEENS. Our friend K. L. Taylor gave the follow- ing method of getting a queen quickly from a powerful colony. If I remember correct- ly, it was to provide your hives with some sort of perforated zinc honey-board ; then when you wish to find the queen, smoke the bees at the entrance, and drum on the back of hive just enough to alarm them, so they will commence going up through the honey- board. It seems that the queen starts very quickly under the influence of an alarm like this ; "therefore all we have to do to find her is to pry up the honey-board and turn it over. She will be found on the under side, trying to get through. Friend Taylor, in order to prove the feasibility of this method, took 25 colonies, one after another, and found the queens of every one of them as quickly as he could go over them, in the way I have described. Our friends will recog- nize this as somewhat similar to friend Iled- don's plan for finding queens by turning over a section of his divisible brood-cham- ber. I have often secured queens from box hives by drumming say a pint of bees into a super or empty box placed over the hive. As soon as a pint have collected in this up- per receptacle, you will be almost certain to find the queen among them. By friend Tay- lor's method she starts out to go up in the same way. The worker-bees, of course, pass through the zinc readily. She, being prevented, however, will be found on the under side. SHALL WE USE BASSWOOD FOR SECTIONS V This matter was very thoroughly discuss- ed. Several members present told us that both basswood and white poplar were being gathered up, for use in the paper-mills ; and one statement was made, to the effect that more basswood was being cut from one lo- cality for the above purpose than all the bee-keepers in the United States together were using ; therefore should we decide with friend P.oardman and friend Manum not to use basswood any more for sections, these other fellows would probably cut it all off for their use. This is not very good rea- soning, I know ; but is it worth while for us to stop using basswood just to let other in- dustries take it from us ? White poplar seems to be found in considerable quantities 64 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. in many localities, but the timber is usually small. Somebody asked about the white poplar in Ohio. Friend Hunt remarked that Ohio was not so " poplar "' since elec- tion. The president here called him to or- der, reminding him that politics was out of place in a bee-keepers' convention. This timber, called white poplar, seems to be the same thing that we have for years been ac- customed to call aspen, or, in other locali- ties, " quaking asp." This latter name is given on account of the peculiar tremulous motion of the leaves when stirred by a breeze. Another brother got up here to tell us that the aspen in his locality furnishes so much honey that it would damage him al- most as much to cut it off as it would to cut off the basswood. It yields its honey so early in the season, however, the bees are seldom as well prepared to gather it, there- fore it can not be of as much value as bass- wood. Now, dear friends, it seems to me that about the only encouraging outlet for us is to plant basswood forests, and may be poplar also. They are both exceedingly rapid growers. In many localities we need not go to the trouble of planting — simply keep live stock from the woodlands, cut out the other timber, and you will very soon have a basswood orchard or a basswood /or- es^ if you choose, to your heart's content. I am inclined to think it will pay bee-men to pick out pieces of woodland in their vi- cinity, and set to work in a systematic way to encourage the basswoods. On page 10, Jan. 1, 1 mentioned where basswood sprouts had come up around the stumps in the com- paratively short period of ten years, so as to give trees large enough to yield honey and to make sections. Where you own a piece of basswood timber, you can monopolize the matter ; and it seems quite likely that a basswood forest would pay, even for other purposes than sections and honey. Come, boys, let's get at it. Look over the bass- wood tracts in your neighborhood ; and where the land is not held too high, buy it up and go to work encouraging the little basswood-trees. If you have the time, and feel like it, you can get a more even stand by doing a little transplanting. I for one should like to go out this very afternoon and start the thing going. It is true, we have eight or ten acres of transplanted trees already, but it is not enough. Every man who proposes to make bee culture his occupation for life ought to have 25 or more acres of basswood, all his own, somewhere in range of the flight of his bees. If he goes to w^ork earnestly, cutting off the oth- er timber, and encouraging the basswood, in the majority of cases I think his children will respect his memory enough to keep the project going. What do yoii say V I did not give the above suggestions at the con- vention, but I give them now. Have you any thing better to offer ? FLAT-BOTTOM FOUNDATION. Quite a number testified to the fact that comb built out on flat- bottom foundation has less of a fishbone than on foundation made of the natural shape. The reason seems to be, that the bees, in changing the flat-bottom to the natural-shape cell, thin the base more to the thickness of natural comb than with the other. I believe it was generally admitted, that bees are often slower to commence working on it ; but this is not always so, and need not prove to be very much of a hindrance. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, LENDING GLEANINGS, FINDING SOMETHING TO DO AT eOMK, ETC. Mr. Root:— Gleanings is one of the journals that ought to be found in the family of every bee-lieep- er, gardener, and farmer. There is but one thing lacking in it, and that is a poultry department. I think that is the next thing to bees. There is not enough attention paid to poultry. It is useless for me to even try to estimate the value I have receiv- ed from Gleanings and your ABC book. I have been a constant reader siace Jan. 1, 1883. Pardon me if 1 have done wrong; but I don't think there is a family within four miles of me but that I have given a copy of Gleanings to, in order that they may reap the benefit. I make my bees do as I please. I have them boiling over all the time. I have too many irons in the fire to be comfortable. I am a blacksmith, bee-keeper, poultry-breeder, stone-mason, buggy-painter, carpenter, and wagon- wood maker ; but I do not go away from home to do work. T. A. Inghram. Waynesburg, Pa., Dec. '3.5. Well, well, good friend, we are certainly very much obliged to you for your kind wishes. You have not done any wrong at all in lending Gleanings, so far as we are C'tncerned. Just keep lending them, right and left, in the same way, and tell us how many numbers you lose, and we will replace them free of charge. Don't be at all back- ward, for we have stacks of them that will probably never be used, unless for paper- rags. Surely you are taking pains to find something to do ; and I agree with you that it is worth a great deal to be able to find plenty of work at home, without being obliged to run around for it. A man who can induce people to come to him is certain- ly in much better shape than the one who has to go around and beg for something to do. I often think about saying more in Gleanings in regard to poultry ; but our agricultural papers have so much of it, be- sides our regular poultry - journals, that there hardly seems to be any great need of any thing from us in the matter. a new Tj-cent package for extracted honey ; using an egg-shell, and sealing with wax. I send you by mail to day a new package for ex- tracted honey, filled with honey which I think might be granulated by this time -at least, I be- lieve it is new. as I have never heard of such a package before. The cost of them is nothing to those who keep poultry, as the contents can be used. A pin or fine needle is sufficient to make a hole with at the small end of the egg. The other end will require a hole at least as large as a small pea. I can not give the exact proportion of bees- wax and rosin used in sealing. I use a glass syr- 1890 •GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 65 inge for tilling them, as the honey must be kept away from the edge of the shell. In order to make a proper job of sealing, it is necessary to counter- act by cold the heat of the wax when sealing, as the heat has a tendency to expand the contents, there- by forcing the honey out through the hot wax, and spoiling the job. I hope to have some of these packages at the World's Fair in 189:i, as well as oth- ers which are under way. THE DOVETAILED HIVE ; MOVING BEES. I am very much interested in the Dovetailed hive for moving in the flat to and from out-apiaries; but I suppose they have to be nailed about as well as any other hive. I moved my bees last summer into a basswood locality 1.5 miles from here, and I think I was well repaid for the extra trouble and expense. THE PICTURE-GALLERY. I want to thank you a little extra for the illus- trated supplement to Gleanings. I am sure there are a lot of unspoken thanks among your subscrib- ers. This letter gives me an opportunity to vent mine. W. Harmer. Manistee, Mich , Dec. 30. RAISING QUEENS IN NUCLEUS HIVES. I should like to have you tell me how to start a nucleus to raising queens. I have .53 colonies of bees, and it is my second year in the business. 1 don't know every thing, and all the old bee-men around here tell me it can't be done. If it can, I want to do it this coming spring. Hammond, Wis., Dec. 23, 1889. A. E. Bradford. Most assuredly, nucleus colonies will raise queens, if you make them queenless during the warm months, or when bees can fly. It is better to have the cells reared in full colo- nies, then give the hatched queens to nuclei, to be fertilized. Full particulars are given in the ABC. You will be interested in reading, also, G. M. Doolittle's book on queen-rearing, price $1.00, postpaid. It can be had of us. WARM WEATHER FOR BEES IN THE CELLAR. We put 156 colonies of bees in the cellar. The last one was put in on Thanksgiviug day, and it has been so warm ever since (4 weeks now) that it has been very difficult to keep them quiet enough; but by keeping the two windows open all the time, and the door opposite windows open that come up- stairs into the hall, and the outside hall-door open, the cellar is kept dark and well ventilated; yet they get so lively some days we are obliged to close the windows, and throw water over the floor. I never knew it to be warm so long in winter before. Roseville, 111., Dec. 26, 1889. Mrs. L. C. Axtell. We have been having remarkably warm weather ; in fact, pansies in our flower garden would stick up their pretty heads during almost the whole of last December. Yet our 40 colonies in the cellar have been quiet, and the cellar has maintained a uni- form temperature of from 44 to 4B degrees. Our cellar is under the front room of the house, and the windows are shaded, or rath- er covered, by the floor of the front porch. This darkens, as well as helps to keep down the temperature. The walls, being 14 in. thick of masonry, the temperature does not . vary milch. NEW pollen; WARM WEATHER. We are having a very warm winter. So far it is more like spring than winter, and has been so al- most all this and last month. The thermometer is ranging from 70 to 80°. Our dooryard is sod- ded with Bermuda grass, and it is now like a green carpet. The maples are budded out, and the bees have been bringing in a little pollen for three or four days. Vegetable seeds that were scattered in the open ground are coming up thick, such as to- matoes, okra, and mustard; and corn is up two or three inches high. I was raised in this county, and have never seen any thing like it. I feel as if we ought to be planting our crops. We have not had cold weather, even to kill our pork. We have had but few frosts yet, and then ice formed in water- buckets standing out, only once or twice, and that last month. My report for 1889. I commenced in spring, 1889, with 29 colonies, and increased to 51. I took off, extracted honey, 2716 lbs.; beeswax, only 24 lbs. In lib. sections, not full pounds, 1700. I left, I thought, plenty in hives, but I may have to feed back some. Honey nearly all sold. R. J. Mathews. Riverton, Miss., Dec. 26. A WARM CHRISTMAS. This goes to you to-day, to record the fact that on Christmas day, 1889, all doors and windows are open, birds singing, bees flying, flowers blooming, at a temperature of 74° In the shade 1 Bees are swarming on flowering quince, which is in full bloom. We've had in) winter, except a few days in November. A second crop of potatoes was plowed up, and the ground sown to a late crop of buck- wheat in the fall. The ones not gathered that re- mained in the ground have produced a S FREE. Ibuy my seeds in bulk of Peter Henderson & Co., W. Atlee Burpee & Co., J. C. Vaughn, of Chicago, and tomato seed of the Livingstons. The seeds are put up in fair- sized, plain papers, and mailed ;it the moderate price of 2H cents per packet. I select varieties that, by actual trial in my own market garden, prove suited to the hot dry climate of the Western prairies. Henderson's Early Puritan Potato, already at the head as a white market sort. Price, sacked, on board cars at Crete, for large selected tubers, $1.50 per bushel. Not sorted, fl.OO. Kaffir corn is of great value for hay and grain; fS.OO per l)ushel. Flour corn is also of value for table use, bolted meal, and fodder; price $2.40. Nebraska is a great corn country, but Kansas (crops grow better in Pro- hibition States) took the First Premium of $500 at the St. Joe Exposition. Hogue's Yellow Dent, how- ever, took the second premium of $350. I have it di- rect from Mr. Hogue; price $1.00 per bushel. Giant Golden-Heart Celery, Henderson's Bush Lima (5 beans, 2 J4 cts.); Osage and Emerald Gem Muskmelons, and other excellent novelties. Bu- bach. No. 5; Jessie, Warfleld, Haverland.and Gandy Strawberries, 25 cts. per doz. by mail. M. S. BENEDICT, CRETE, NEBRASKA. Send me the names of 10 regular subscribers to the American Agriculturist, or Ladies' Home Jour- nal, and I will give you next season your choice of the following: 1 untested Italian queen, 13 Laced Wyandotte eggs, 1.3 B. Leghorn eggs, or 10 S. S. Hamburg eggs. All 1 want is the names of 10 per- sons who take either of the papers. Write for cat- alogue of nearly 2000 papers at reduced rates. C. M. (iOODSPEED, Tliorn Hill, N. Y. |[^In responding to tliis .vdvertiscmcnt mention Gi.KANiNGARDEN.FLOWER&FIELD. utCUw POTATOES, FKUIT TREES, ^ ^^^ ^ I'LAM'S and VINKS, all the hesl kinds. TIIK NEW CUKKANT "fraiidull," a/ruit specialt!/. Our Free Cataloeue is a Novelty all should have, as it gives Accurate Descriptions and Fair Prices, instead of hnm. bdst Had exaggeration — too common. Send your adilress on a pustal for it at once. FRANK FOKD & SON, Ravenna, Ohio. twin respoiidint? to this advertluement mention Gleanings. For Perfect Draft, Simplicity, and Duratility, Bingham patent Smokers, and Bingham & Hetherington Uncapping - Knives ARE WITHOUT QUESTION THE BEST ON EARTH. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials. Itfdb BmaHAM k HETHEBmaTOK, Abronia, Mich. larin responding to this advertisement mention GLEANiN(is. TAKE NOTICE ! BEFORE placing your Orders for SUPPI^IES, write for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sec- tions, Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Frames, Foun- dation, Smokers, etc. Address K. H. SCHMIDT & CO., 21-20db NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co., WIS. It^"ln re.spundinK to tliis advertisement mention GLEANINGS. SEND for a free sample copy of the BEE JOURNAL — 16-page Weekly at $1 a year— the oldest, largest and cheapest Weekly bee-paper. Address BEE JOURNAL., Clileagio, III. BEES letfdb '^ T^c>TJ.ltxr-y A oiJLltr-y The Canadian Bee Journal and Poultry Weekly is the best paper extant devoted to these specialties. 34 pages, WEEKLY, at Sl.OO per year. Live, prac- tical, interesting. Nothing stale in its columns. Specimen copies free. Subscribers paying in ad- vance are entitled to two insertions of a five-line adv't (40 words) in the Exchange and Mart column. THE D. A. J0ITE3 CO.. BEETOIT. 017TASI0. CAH. SAVE feeight! BUY YOUR SUITLIES NEAIt HOME ANJi SA VE FBEKiHT. We carry a complete stock of Apiarian Supplies. Our motto: Good goods and low prices. Illustrated catalogue for your name on a postal card. 23-lOdb R. B. LEAHY k CO., Higginsville, Mo. tyin respondint; to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. Eines & boIfs. Complete Oiittit, or En^ne Alone. The Best and Most Sub- stantial Engine Made, Fully guaranteed. Send for circular and price list. Mention this paper. MEDINA ENGINE CO., 3otfdb Medina, Ohio. FOR Folding Paper Boxes send to 21-8db A. O. CRAWFORD, S. Weymouth, Mass. SEND $1.25 TO THOMAS GEDYE, Kang- ley. 111., for a sample of his All-Metal Sep- arator, or $11. .50, per 1000, and be convinced that they ar<^ the cheapest and best out. At present I have t'lPm for combined crates and T supers only. Suppl dealers, please send for prices on large quaiiiicies, cut or uncut. Itfdb C t'lu responding to thl.s artveitisemeiit mention PiLKANlNf;s. Don't buy your Seeds or Plunti^ till yoii see my FREE 1890 Catalogue. I otl'er some- thing; tl^onderl'iil. Send lor It. F. H. jniLiLS, Thorn Hill, N. Y. SEEDS l-8db F. 1 APIARY FOR SALE. My apiary, consisting of 1.5 hives of Italian bees, 50 to 100 latest improved section cases, and numer- ous other fixtures. Send stamp for particulars. 1.2d S. A. FISHER, 15 Congress St., Boston, Mass. ECTIONS, %% PER 1000. Foundation, Alsike clover seed, and Japan- ese buckwheat, cheap as the cheapest. Special prices to dealers. Send for our FREE PRICE LIST. M. H. HUNT, Rell Branch, Mich._ ~ ' Pl('£|.se mpiitiop Qlejvnisus, Itfdb V 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CL'LTURE. S,! Cot?tents of this Number. Bees, Conliniiift " Winter. . 85 Bee-societies Affiliating — S9 Brood, Spreading 93 Costellow's Ceige 93 Covers for Hives... (Q. B.). 103 Dampness in Hives 91 Doolittle's Caging Process. 98 Escape, Tlie Dilibern 90 Frame, Plielps' 98 Oarden, Shape of 105 Grippe Ill Ground, To Level 101 Hives, Double and Single... 91 Honey in Paper Pails 99 Honey, Prize 87 Pine-tree Honey 89 Plants for Honey Alone 110 Prize Honey S7 Queen-cage, Morrison s 92 Rambler Raising Honey — ''') Dovetailed Hives, Sec- tions, Foundation, Ex- tractoi-s. Smokers, Veils, Crates, Feeders, Clover Seeds, etc. Imported Italian Queens. Queens and £ Bees. Sample copy of our Bee Journal, "The West- ' ern Bee - Keeper." and Latest Catalogue mailed Free to Bee-keepers. JOSEPH NYSEWANDEE, LES MOINES, IOWA. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Glkaninos. For Sale.— For cash, cheap, or trade for a good piece of land, from 50 to 200 colonies of Italian bees In the Quinby hive, and a few in Root's Simplicity. Too much work, with other business. Stfdb G. Harseim, Secor, Woodford Co., Ills. II^"Iu responding to this advertisement mention ci i. a\. ^OR THE SEASON OF 1890. Headquarters in the South. TWELFTH ANNUAL CATALOGUE NOW READY. A steam-factory exclusively for the manufacture of Bee-keepers' Supplies. ITALIAN QUEENS. Tested, ready in March. Untested, by April Ist. Contracts taken with dealers for the delivery of a certain number of queens per week, at special figures. FOUR -FRAME NUCLEUS, with pure Italian queen, containing S pounds of bees when secured, in April and May, 14.00; after, 25 cts. less. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaran- teed on all queens and nuclei. For more particulars, send for Twelfth Annual Catalogue. P. L. VIALLON, Bayou Coula, Iberville Parish, La. t^In responding to tliis ;i(lvvitiseriu'nt iiu-iitiiiii Gi.kanings. IT A nif T1 C^MPI'OYmENT. — AGENTS U II iWI V wanted everywhere, for the HOME II II III ll JOURNAL— a grand family paper mm W ATA JU at $1 a year. Bty cas/i premium>s. Sample Fkee. THOS. G. Nl!l"WMAN & BON, 923 & 925 West Madison Street, - CHICAGO, ILLS. "BONi.vvHTy uoiiudiu 4ii.>uias!i,i,5.\pT! spu o} auipuodsaj UljgJ NOW WE HAVE IT ! Bees made to hive themselves when they swarm. The simplest and most useful implement used in the apiary. Just the thing beekeepers have de- manded and felt the want of for years. Full par- ticulars. Address The American Apiculturist, W^KMIAilI, MASS. tS"In responding to tliis adveitisenictil miiition (ii.EA.viNns. One of the best located apiaries in Iowa, 150 Colonies, in Langstroth hives. Handsome two- story frame residence. Twenty acres land. All necessary out-buildings. Also fine flock White Wy- andottes. Two cows, nice span driving horses. Nev- er a failure of honey. White clover, basswood, gold- en-rod, buckwheat, etc. House nearly new, nicely decorated paper, a very pleasant home. Price $2500. C. A. SAYRE, 23tfdb Sargent, Floyd Co., Iowa. II^"ln responding to this advertisement mention CJi-Eanings. iPIARlIiTSUPPLIES CHEAPT BASSWOOD V-GROOVB SECTIONS, $2.75 to $3.75 PER M. SHIPPING-CASES VERT LOW. SEND FOR PRICES. COODELL & WOODWORTH MFC. CO., Stfdb Rock Falls, Illinois. t^ln responding to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. J. FORNCROOK & CO., MANUFACTURERS OF THE "BOSS" ONE-PIECE SECTIONS, Will furnish you the coming season, ONE-PIECE SECTIONS, sandpapered on both sides, as cheap as the cheapest, and better than the best. SW Write for prices. Watertown, Wis., Jan. 1, 1890. 3 5d :t5^1n responUinu' to Uu., advi-i iJMiiient nu'iitiun Gi.kaSinos. For Sale.— 10 colonies of Italian and hybrid bees in Simp, hives, mostly on wired frames. All in good condition, with plenty of stores. No foul brood ever in our county. Gustave Gross, 2tfdb Greenville, Bond Co. Ills. Eaton's Improved Bees and Queens. Send for free catalogue. Address FKANK A. EATOIV, Bluffton, Ohio. t^lu responding to this advertisement mention (;i.i;amnc.s. He Supple SugarBusI THIS IS A NEW BOOK BY AUTHOR OF THE BEE-KEEPER'S GlTinE, I\JURIOUS IN- SECTS or MICIIKIAN. 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 I'rot'. Cook's hap- piest style. It is -«PROFUSELY4 ILLUSTRATED.6<* And all the difficult points in regard to making the very best quality of Maple Syrup and Maple Su- gar are very fully explained. All recent inven- tions in apparatus, and methods of making this delicious product of the farm, are fully described. A. I. ROOT, ITIediiia, O. 84 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fet^. jidflEY i^dwm. CITY MARKETS. Philadelphia.— Ho7ic!/.— We must report a dull comb-honey market, and scarcely able to g-et more than 11(7(13 for fancy honey; but the extracted market is now improving some; we get 5?i for buckwheat, and 7 for baeswood, and may get 'A cent more before the month is out. We have made sale of all ours we had to sell, and we are sorry that we did not hold; but we could not tell how the market would be, on account of the weather. Beeswax, :i2@35. B. J. Walker, Jan. 33. 32 & 34 So. Water St., Philadelphia. New York.— Hojifj/.— Since the beginning of De- cember there has been very little demand for comb honey. However, we have managed to work off the largest part of our consignments, and our stock on hand is small now. If the weather remains cold we shall be able to dispose of the remainder at reasonable figures. There is a good demand for cheap grades of extracted honey and no stock of it. Jan. 33. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co., 123 Water St., New York. St. Louis.— Ho?iei/.— Cold weather has Improved the tone of the market; but there is no appreciable change in prices. We quote: Comb, white clover, 14@16; inferior, 13i4@]3. Extracted and strained, light color, 5i/2@6; dark, 5. Beeswax, in demand at 23. D. G.TuTT Grocer Co., Jan. 22. St. Louis, Mo. Kansas City.— Hoxci/.— Demand light and prices lower. Mb. sections, 12 to box. very fancy. 13. Good Mb. comb, 13@I2;2. Dark, 1-lb. comb, 8(SilO; 3-lb. white, 11@13; dark, 2-1 b., 8@10. Extracted, white, 601-1; dark, 5@6. Hamblin & Beahss, Jan. 21. Kansas City, Mo. Philadelphia.— Ho/ieiy.— Honey does not move with any degree of satisfaction in this market. Selling generally at 12(5,13 for No. 1. Beeswax, yellow is in strong demand, and wanted In any quantity at 34c for prime bright yellow. Jan. 23. Chas. E. Shoe.maker, Philadelphia, Pa. Alb.\ny.— iioncj/.— The demand for both comb and extracted honey has been quite brisk during the past week ; but prices have remained unchang- ed. Quotations same as in last issue. Jan. 21. C. McCuLLOCH & Co., ;339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. San Francisco.- Hoiiej/. — Extracted honey is quiet, and selling at ii@1'A, as to quality. Comb honey firm in lib. sections, I2(^nl3. Beeswax, quiet, 18@20. Schacht, Lbmock & Steiner. Jan. 13. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco. Cal. Kansas City.— Hoiici/.— The demand for honey is still light. We quote: White, lib. comb, VZ^i®l3; 2-lb., 11@13; amber, 1-lb., 11@13; 2-lb., 10@n. Ex- tracted, white, l®'ik ; amber, 5@6. Beeswax, 33. Clemons, Cloon & Co., Jan. 23. Kansas City, Mo. Boston.— ifoney.— Sections, 1-lb., 16; 31b8., 15. Extracted, 7@9. Beeswax,2S. Trade dull. Jan. 33. Blake & Ripley, .57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. Detroit.— ffo?iey.— Comb honey continues to be quoted at 13(rt>14c, with slow sales. E.vtracted, 7fr«8c. Beeswax,'Zi. M. H. Hunt, Jan. 32. Bell Branch, Mich. Get honey direct from the producer. Send for reduced prices of filled sections, pails, cans, etc. Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, la. For Sale.— 3000 lbs. of choice white-clover honey, well ripened, in (50 lb. cans, at $4.75 per can, boxed, f. o. b. No. 1 Spam'sb-needle honey, *4 50 per can of 611 lbs. 3-4d Jno. Neisel & Son, High Hill, Mo. Light Brahmas and Laced Wyandottes. Standard, high-scoring males, #1.50 and upward. Eggs from show birds $1.60 per clutch, after the 7th of April. " SiQEL F. Gross, Atwood 111. 3-4d SMALL - FRUIT PLANTS. All of the leading varieties at one-half the usual price. Send postal card for prices and description of my new black raspberry. EZRA G. SMITH. Mancliester, Out. Co., N. IT. (C^In re.spondintc to tliis adveiti.senient mention Gleanings. ^WTire Clotli. For door and window screens, tacking over hives and nuclei for shipping, making bee and queen cages, and a variety of purposes. We have the fol- lowing list of green and black wire cloth which is not e.xactly first class, but is practically as good for the purposes mentioned, and at prices much below the ordinary priee. You can )io doubt select from this list a piece to suit your needs. Price in full pieces, l^.i cts. per square foot. When we have to cut it, 3 cts. In case the piece you order may have been taken by some one else before your order comes, please say whether we shall send the nearest in size, or cut one the size ordered at 2 cts. per ft., or give a second or third choice. ^ n tK 4^ T1 0 fe iJ e«_; o o I Pieces less than 100 ft. long. These g* figures are the number of square ■'•~ \ feet in each piece. Multiply by (L,^ IX cents for the price of piece. 10 green 1 green 25 green 1 green 2 green 1 black 1 black 5 green 1 black 1 black 9 green 1 black 64 green 18 green 6 green 3 black 14 green 1 black 1 green 14 green 1 black S black 3 green 3 black 1 green 8 black 1 green 8 I 100 i 10 i 100 I 12 I 100 j 14 1 12 I 16 1 100 I 17 I 100 18 1 100 I 28 I 100 I 30 100 I 30 1 100 I 32 1 100 I 32 I 100 I .34 I 100 I 36 1 1(10 I 36 I 100 I 38 I 100 I 38 I 100 140 14 25 133 2 33 142 2.47 IW) 2.62 l.SO 2 62 16V 2.92 128 2.24 2(10 3.50 200 3.50 . 17 I 65, 65, 64, 63, 63, 63. 62, 54. 40, 33 - .46 I ' 44, green; price 77 cts. 150 sq. ft., green; price 82.62 110 sq. ft., black; price $1 92 140, lUO, 90, 40, 30. 20, 8, green. .50 I This is below reg. pr. of 1% c. '" 224, 224, 117, green ; 233, black. 133, 133, green; price 82.33 253, black; price 84 43 255, black; price $4.46 270, green; price 84.72 150, black: price 82-62 269, black; yirice 8*70 258, black; price 84 50 317, black; price $6.54 36(1. green; price $0.12 a] ROOT, Medina, Ohio. 4.08 4. 37 4 37 4.67 4.67 4-91 5.25 5.25 5,54 5 54 5.83 B 83 6 12 CONVENTION NOTICES. The Northeastern Michigan Bee-keepers' Association will hold its eighth annual meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1890, in the Council Rooms, in the Fire-Engine House, at Lapeei', Mich. First session begins at 10:30. Low rates at hotel. W. Z. Hutchinson, Sec'y. The sixth annual meeting of the Wisconsin State Bee-keep- eis' Association will be held in the capitol building, at Mad- ison, Wisconsin, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1890. .An intere«ting pro gramme has been provided, and prominent bee-keepers v " be present from this and other States. Dr. J. H. Vance, Sec, C. A. Hatch, Pres., Madison, Wis. Ithaca, Wi ill The 21st annual convention of the New York State Bee-keep- ers' Association will be held at the Court-house, Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 5, 6, 7. 1890. The following is the progiamme: First day. New Methods of Queen-rearing, by G. M. Doolit- tle. Miscellaneous topics. Evening session. Best Method of Working to Secure Reduc- ed Rates on Honey—discussion. Has it Paid Honey-producers to Buy Italian ami other Im- ported (Jueens! by Ira Barber. The New Races of Bees, by G. H. Knickerbocker. Second day, morning. How to Run several Out-apiaries foi' Comb Honey, in Coniiection with the Home Apiary, for the most Profit, l).y A. E. Manum. Betsinger's Long-tried System of Non-swarming— given to the public for the first (inie. by N. N. Betsinger. Discussion of special questions. Afternoon session. President's address. The Fraternity, the Honey-producer, Queen-raiser, Supply- dealer, and Editors; their Obligations one to Another, by Er- nest R. Root. Discussion— Is it .\dvisable to Introduce Laying Queens to Parent Colony, after having Cast a Swarm, or been nivide of its members, or fraction thereof, who may represent it at the Annual Con- vention of the International American Bee-Asso- ciation—all expenses of such Delegates to be borne by themselves or the local society, or both con- jointly, as they may provide. Such Delegates shall be entitled to vote, hold office, and take part in all the deliberations of the International Bee-Associa- tion, so GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. THE DIBBERN ESCAPE. A CORRECTION, AND FURTHER SUGGESTIONS. In your issue of January 1 you head my article as an ''improvement on Keese's " bee -escape, and, further on, follow it up with " Reese's horizontal escape." Now, I am not willing to admit that mine is simply an improvement. I claim the horizontal double-cone escape as an entirely original inven- tion of my own. Except the board, it is entirely unlike the old escape of Mr. R. Mr. Reese will not claim that he invented the double-cone horizontal escape, and would, perhaps, not have thought of his latest had I not sent him a diagram of mine. Now, what is his escape, after all, but a different form of my horizontal double-cone escape? In my private letter to him I stated, " I had failed to place the escape inside the board;" that is, up to that time I had not been able to do so satisfactorily to myself. Since then I have perfected my escape, and claim that my present escape is as far ahead of his lutest as my first was ahead of his old one. I ■will now point out a few objections I have to his supposed improvements on my escape. 1. It is complicated, and hard to make. ^. It cuts up the board badly; can not be remov- ed from the board, and can not be used for a honey- protector without boring additional holes. :j The board would have to be taken off, and tin nailed on both sides, every time it is exchanged from an escape to an inner cover, and vice verxn. 4. I have found that an escape with but a single outlet, for only one bee to pass at a time, is not siifticient when many bees are in the supers. When the escape-board is placed right under such supers, the bees become panic-stricken, something like people at a theattr when the cry of fire is raised, and the bees would be liable to become packed and wedged in the escape. It was for this reason that I used two of my single-outlet escapes. I have no quarrel to pick with my friend R°ese, from whom 1 have received some valuable sugges- tions, and to whom bee-keepers are indebted for the first practicable escape. Whenever he gets up a better escape, or a real improvement on mine, I will freely "acknowledge the corn." During the rtcent summer weather I made nu- merous experiments with my escape. One fine summer day 1 exposed a superful of partly filled sections, and allowed the bees to rob it for a time. When they had fairly got to swarming on it, I quickly put a board on it, with escapes up. It was very interesting to see the bees pouring out of the escapes, and the'frantlc elforts of others to get in. I tried all the different forms of my escape in this way, so I could form some kind of idea as to which was best. Again, I placed supers containing sec- tions, that had been extracted, on strong hives; and when the bees had got fairly at work I placed dift'erent patterns of the escape under them; and invariably the bees were all out of the supers in a couple of hours. All seemed to work well; but I noticed that the bees were more inclined to crowd and become wedged in the single-outlet escapee. Another point I discovered was, that, where the es- cape occupies the bee-space, some care is necessary in putting on the boards so as not to crush any bees directly under the escapes. To overcome thiSB objections I set to work to p3rEect my escape, aid aiT h ive it abjjt all that can be desired. Whan [ wish to do a thing, aad there are no tools suitable for doing it, I go to work and invent them. Now, I wanted to cut a round hole, four inches in diameter, out of the center of my escape-boards. I found my Clark bit would expand to only 3 inches. I went at it, and made an extra-flne cutter for it, and I can now cut out "cart-wheels " up to five inches in diameter. I cut out only four-inch holes, as that is as large as I need, and my escape-boards are only V inch thick. Now, when I have my four- inch piece cut out, 1 bore an inch hole through the center, and nail a piece of tin, half an inch larger, and with a hole in the center, to correspond to the one in the wooden piece on it. It can now be re- placed in the hole again, and it is just what I want 8S a honey protecor, or inside cover. I now take another piece of tin of the same size, and fasten an outlet escape, of star shape, on it, also a few pieces of tin near the edges, so as to hold the escapes ex- actly in the middle of the hole cut out of the board. The escapes are just % inch smaller all around than the holes, allowing enough room for bees to get out. I make the escapes so as to be shaped like a four- pointed star, as that very nearly fills the hole, and I find that, through four outlets, the bees can get out of the escapes faster than they can get in through the hole from the top. It will be seen that my es- cape now occupies the place cut out of the board, without any projections to get jammed or bees to get killed. More than this, it can be instantly tak- en out at the top, without removing the boatd at all, and the solid plug be put in, and the reverse. The board can also be reversed to match bee spaces in hive or supers, or it could be used without any bc^e-spaces at all. I have about Settled the question, that one center four-point escape is enough, and the best; but should it be found that two such es- capes are necessary, how easy it will be to clip out another hole and use two such escapes! Is there any objection to this cutting up the board? I think not; but I can see several decided advantages. In the first place, as I use these boards directly over the sections I can generally determine when a case is finished, by removing the plugs and looking in. How nice these holes will be in shipping bees, to tack a piece of wire cloth over! also to put a piece of carpet over, just before storing for winter, or to be used to feed through. lam now entirely satisfed with my escape; and if any man has any thing better, let him "trot it out." I do not see that any thing better can be de- sired. I do not think that bee-keepers in general realize the value of my invention. I trust, however, that none will allow the benefits 1 freely oft'er to " bee escaping" them the coming season. Milan, 111., Jan. ti. C. H. Dibbern. We styled yours an improvement on Reese's escape because it was an improve- ment ; that is, we meant it was a much bet- ter device. Tne horizontal feature of your escape, it is true, is, so far as we know, entire- ly your own invention. And Mr. Reese does not, if we understand correctly, claim any honors on it. When we put the heading, " Reese's horizontal escape," we meant by that, Reese's modification of your invention, and styled it Reese's in distinction from your original design. We have looked over the horizontal escape, and have come to the conclusion that the construction of yours is better after all. It is simpler, and easier to make. And, friend D., we all thank you. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE. 91 DOUBLE VS. SINGLE "WALL HIVES. THE ADVANTAGES OF THE FORMER, BOTH SUMMER AND WINTER. In determining which is the better, a double or a Bingle wall hive for practical results, we should consider not alone the winter problem. At the late International Convention, where the matter was fully discussed, it was not, nor can it be shown to be, that a properly constructed double-wall hive packed with suitable material will not winter bees as well as the single-wall hive in a good cellar. Though it was shown, I think, conclusively, that there is a small saving of stores by cellar wintering, I think it must also be conceded that it is, on the whole, the most economical system of wintering. Here, then, are two points conceded in favor of single-wall hives; but I propose to show that these are more than offset by the superior advantages of the double-wall hive in spring and summer. The saving of stores by cellar wintering is not over four pounds to the colony; and the saving in the cost of hives is not more than the value of four pounds of honey per year. Now we come to spring brooding; and my experience is, that there is a net saving of not less than ten pounds of stores to the colony by the use of the double-wall hive up to the first of June, in this locality; and I believe the sav- ing would be still greater at any point further north. If we calculate, then, from the first of No vember till the first of June, we have a saving of at least six pounds of stores in double-wall hives over the best possible showing in single-wall hives. But we will not stop here. There is another ad- vantage in double-wall hives that has not hereto- fore been recorded; and it is the chief considera- tion with me in deciding in favor of them. We can 7-aise one-third more brood and heet< in a double than in a single wall hive hy the first of Jane! We have the facts and figures to prove this point, and they will be given if desired. I will here simply allude to the fact that bees in protected hives in spring are stronger, and are able to gather stores, and to breast strong cold winds, when the bees from sin- gle-wall hives, being comparatively weak, fall to the ground, or become chilled on the flowers, and die. The cause of this state of things is undoubt- edly due to the greater labor required to keep the brood warm during the cool nights and days of April and May, in single-wall hives. Thus it will be seen, that the two points above conceded to the credit of the single-wall hive be- come a small matter when we compare the grand results that can be achieved with the double-wall hive in spring brooding, preparatory to securing a crop of honey. But I shall fall short of doing this subject justice, by not saying something upon the proper construction of double-wall hives and their winter and spring management. I know that many have failed with such hives, and I think I know why. I have said, and 1 desire to emphasize the fact, that a chaff hive, with damp packing, and damp walls and combs, is a poor place for bees. Indeed, it is far inferior to a single-wall hive in outdoor wintering, if it is allowed to get into such a condition; and I know that the ordinary manage- ment of these hives leads to more or less dampness, which is either death to the bees or there is a par- tial or complete failure in results. Double-wall hives, then, must be kept dry, and the packing must be thoroughly dry to begin with. Again, the packing must be quite porous or it will require to be of ten changed. Thus, fine sawdust, clover and oat chaff, that mat down close, are objectionable. For- est leaves, planer shavings Irom dry wood, and the excelsior sawdust obtained in sawing sections, are preferred, and from 3!^ to 3 inches of packing aliout the brood-chamber is enough. DAMPNESS IN HIVES. In preventing dampness I rely much upon proper ventilation, and practice two methods, both of which succeed well. The first is free bottom ven- tilation, and it seems best adapted to this locality. The second is upward ventilation in connection with a small entrance (3 inches by %). This latter system seems better adapted to points further north, though I am not sure it is. With free bottom ventilation there is more and purer air furnished to the bees, and they appear to be able to keep the hive as warm as by the other plan, as the follow- ing will show. About 50 miles due west of here are quite a num- ber of apiaries of from ten to fifty colonies of pure black bees in box hives, where for more than 50 years they have held their own, and where, up to this time, the frame hive and the modern system of bee-keeping have been unknown or ignored. What impressed me most was the fact that all of these hives, without exception, were set on four small flat stones, from K to 1 inch thick, and they were left so the year round. I inquired of one old and intelligent bee-keeper why he let so much air in at the bottom of his hives, and he replied that they could not winter their bees in any other way ! that the combs and hives, without the large openings at the bottom, would become dqmp, and the bees would die; that, as long as the hives and combs were dry, the bees were never injured by the cold ! I suppose I have seen this same fact stated in the bee-papers a hundred times, and yet it does not ap- pear that the mass of bee-keepers are profiting bjit. BEST MODES OF VENTILATION. It is now a well-known fact, that bees in winter, at intervals of three to five days, aiouse from their torpid condition, and feed. During the intervals they take no food until the sense of hunger again arouses them. This is an interrupted hibernation. I have thought that they often go as long as a week without food; but when they do rouse up they raise the temperature and warm up their stores before they can feed; and in the operation they set in motion active currents of air. Now, I have observed that bees can not properly ventilate a hive except from the bottom; and the experi- ments of Mr. Cornell have shown that free bottom ventilation can not be had through a horizontal en- trance of the usual size, without other openings in the bottom or other part of the hive. Bees then may, at their feeding-times, ventilate and dry out their hives in winter to some extent, where free bottom ventilation is provided for. The plan that I have tried, and which seems to answer every pur- pose, is to give a full entrance ( '« x 13 inches), and in the bottom of the winter-case, at the rear end of the brood-chamber, make five one-inch auger- holes, which are to be covered with tinned wire cloth. Upward ventilation is prevented as far as possible by the use of an inside cover for the brood- chamber, made of wood. The hive stands near the ground, and a few leaves are placed loosely be- neath to keep the bees from trying to get under the hive, when they can fly, where the auger-holes 92 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. are located. The hives are painted on the bottom, and the dampness of the ground does not affect the hive or beee. With the above arrangement the packing gets on- ly slightly damp, which is soon dried out by taking off the cover of the winter-case once in two or three weeks when the sun shines clear. If the packing gets quite damp over the brood chamber (and it often gets soon the cool days of spring), I throw it all out to dry on the cover, which is invert- ed on the ground. The sun is also allowed to shine full upon the inside cover of the brood-chamber. The effect of this treatment on the bees in the spring is very remarkable, and especially upon the laying of the queen and the rapid extension of the brood. The covers are usually taken off about 10 A. M., and returned at 4 p. m. Where upward ven- tilation is given, the entrance is closed to 2 inches by ■;'«, and no holes are made in the bottom of the hive. Over the brood-chamber is laid two thick- nesses of cheap cotton cloth, and four or Ave inches of packing. I prefer the cloth to lay flat on the frames without any cross-sticks for passageways. With this arrangement, after a few weeks of cold weather the surface of the packing will become quite wet, while it is warm (.50°) and dry beneath. I use mostly the excelsior sawdust on the brood- chamber, loose, as it can be handled almost as easi- ly as a cushion, and is readily dried out, while a cushion is wet. When ready for the sections it may be taken out and stored in barrels, for future use; but the packing around the first story is left in place, as a rule, all the year. A properly constructed double-wall hive is sim- ply a winter-case- for a single-wall hive. They should not be constructed all in one, as the packing, if it becomes damp, can not be removed to dry it out. My winter case is made of thin boards, ■"■2 thick by 20 inches long, nailed up and down to a frame at the top and bottom. The bottom and cov- er are also lined with the same thin stuff; and the whole, with the flat tin roof, weighs under 25 lbs. It is light, easy to handle, and very durable. After flvfe years' use I have yet to lose a colony in them. In summer we take most of the packing away, when they become excellent summer hives. In conclusion, allow me again to call the atten- sion of bee-keepers to the matter of bottom ventila- tion for winter hives. Dr. G. L. Tinker. New Philadelphia, O., Jan. 16. I think, doctor, I agree with you on al- most every point you make. At the recent convention in Lansing, Mich., quite a ma- jority recommended, with a good deal of emphasis, having the hives packed with chaff, or some equivalent, after they were set out in the spring, even where they were wintered indoors. A good many were quite decided on the point, a little to my surprise. Those who advocated single-walled hives, even after the bees were set outside in the spring, were very few ; and I am inclined to think the objection to chaff hives for sum- mer as well as winter has been mostly owing to the fact that the outside siding was not made so as to allow the packing to dry out. In my travels I have seen great numbers of chaff hives with the outside covering made of whole wide boards. I would not think of making a hive in that way any more than I would make a corn-crib out of boards in- stead of slats. A^entilation at the bottom seems to be finding much favor, both in the wintering repository as well as outside. I do not like loose outside boxes, principally because they are too much machinery, and it requires too much tinkering. The point you make in italics, that you can get a third more brood in a double-walled hive than in a single one, by the first of June, it seems to me pretty nearly settles the matter. If we need chaff packing on, as late as the first of June, and then require it again as early as September, why in the world should we dispense with it at all? MORKISON'S QUEEN-CAGE. PERFORATED ZINC AND THE CANDY METHOD COMBINED. I SEND by this mail a queen-cage which I have been using for two years past. I do not claim any originality for myself in this cage, but I have com- bined some ideas of others. I believe it is the best combined mailing and introducing cage yet devised. 1. It insures safe carriage through the mails, by its strength. 2. It has been examined and approved, both by the postoffice authorities of this country and Cana- da. 3. No other cage combines so many advantages in introducing the queen. You will notice that, when the cage containing the queen is pushed down between two combs, the bees have an oppor- tunity to become acquainted with her through the screen. A few hours afterward the tin piece can be quietly turned, and the bees now have access to 2 3 MORRISON'S MAILING AND INTRODUCING CAGE. the interior of the cage through the queenexclud- ing zinc piece. The queen will never be killed un- til the zinc is turned. At the end of 24 hours, after the bees have entered the cage turn the zinc and plug the hole with a little hard candy. This will prevent an attempt of the queen to go out of the cage for a few minutes after closing the hive, when, if not friendly, a guard at the entrance will admonish her to stay in. I also call your attention to the candy in the cage. That candy will be in as good order if kept in a dry room a year from this as now. It was made ac- cording to the formula I sent you some weeks since; the only materials in its composition being confectioner's sugar and honey, boiled as in mak- ing cream candy. With this cage and this candy I send queens to European countries without any more thought or care than to sections of our own country. In cold weather I wrap the cage, so as to close one end, with waxed paper. S. W. Morrison, M. D. Oxford, Pa., Dec. 16, 1889. Thanks, friend M. I have been studying on this matter of queen-cages for a couple of years back ; and I had already, before yours came to hand, directed my fancy to- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 93 ward the Benton, or a cage after the one you describe. On account of the splendid rec- ord of the former for mailing queens suc- cessfully long distances, I have rather favor- ed it. You very modestly, and with con- sistency, too, disclaim any originality for the invention in your cage. Looking back in Gleanings for iss.5, page 738, November, J find a very similar one described by C. W. Costellow, of Waterboro, Me., a cut of which I reproduce as it then appeared. Even he does not claim it to be wholly origi- nal with him. Such a disposition on the part of both is indeed refreshing in these days when apicultural priority in invention is so eagerly— yes, greedily— sought after. The cage is cheap, and very easily con- structed. On account of the liability of the block splitting in No. 3 of your cage, I be- lieve I should prefer the Costellow plan. There is one point you do not mention ; and that is, the facility with which queen-bees can be examined. Another point is, the ra- pidity with which such a cage can be gotten ready for the mails by slipping it into its wooden case. You have added a feature, which I believe you alone are using ; and that is, the use of perforated zinc. While the idea seems to be a good one, I should re- gard it as a little extra labor, and perhaps unnecessary. We introduce queene right along by the candy plan in our apiary. By the '"candy plan " I mean causing the bees to liberate the queen by gnawing through a plug of candy— the plug being of such a size that the queen will be liberated in from 3(j to 48 hours. With the very small percentage of loss we have had, I should hardly consid- er it of enough moment to go to the trovxble and expense of the perforated zinc. Now, if your cage would send queens by mail as successfully as the Benton, which I very much doubt, then I should consider it the very best cage ever invented ; but in the Benton cage, when the occupants are sub- jected to an extreme of temperature, as in going over the mountains, they can seek an inner and warmer apartment; and, again, when they come into a very warm climate they can enter a more open and better ven- tilated apartment. In one sense of the word, the Benton is climatic. It is this feature, I think, which gives the Benton such universal success. I will shortly de- scribe it in Gleanings. Ernest. Since receiving the first letter of descrip- tion, friend Morrison writes in regard to the priority matter in reply to ours. Men- tioning the Costellow cage, lie says : Dear Sir:— I had forgotten the illustration of Costellow's cage. I don't doubt that Costellow got his idea of the cage from my cage. Don't you re- member I sent you a queen in this cage in 18S8? I shipped over three hundred queens in it during 1888. The queen-excluder zinc was added to all cages used in 1889, and I think it an important ad- dition. So far as I have learned, Boomhower made the cages first, and E. Flory, of California (I have lost his address), suggested to me the use of the perforated zinc early in the season of 1888. Oxford, Pa., Dec 33. S. W. Morrison. Yes, we remember receiving the cage in 18SS, but Mr. Costellow sent his cage in 1S85. SPKEADING BKOOD IN THE SPRING. MRS. HARRISON TAKES BRO. DOOLITTLE TO TASK. I HAVE long wanted to pick a crow with Bro. Doo- little. Although it is pretty old and tough, I think I can still pull out the feathers, though I may have to tug pretty hard at the tail and wings. The old grudge is all about spreading brood. Somewhere about nine years ago, during the cold winters, I lost nearly all my bees, having the rem- nants of about sixteen colonies left. I had but one idea, and that was to build them up as soon as pos- sible; and with that end in view I read upon the subject, and finally chose to follow in Bro. Doollt- tle's wake as closely as possible. I followed his di- rections to the letter, and my bees were soon all dead; and I've always firmly believed that, if I had not meddled with them, they would have come through all right. I do not doubt but that Bro. Doolittle succeeds in this way; but he knows better than his readers, when the conditions will justify spreading. I saw something lately from his pen, with refer- ence to spreading brood (but it is not at hand just now), in which he says a week may be gained in this way. Now, there is one thing which ought to be taken into consideration more than it is; and that is, difference in climate. Some years we do not ap- pear to have any spring. Tt is cool until it is hot; we can wear winter clothes until we put on sum- mer wear. Now, if brood is spread, and there comes a cold windy day, which may occur as late as May, it will damage a colony even if it does not prove fatal to it. Still, cool weather, even down to freezing, might not be so hurtful as these winds, which penetrate to the very marrow of our bones, and soon exhaust the life of a divided brood-nest. I'll take back all I ever said about working with bees in the spring— better do it the fall before. If bees have plenty of stores, and are protected as much as is possible to do in the open air, against cold and piercing winds, it is safer, according to the light I now have, to let them manage their own do- mestic affairs until after fruit-bloom. Peoria, 111., Jan. 14. Mrs. L. Harrison. Mrs. H., I wish that both you and Mr. Doolittle had been present at the recent Michigan Convention. The question came up, and was discussed pretty thoroughly ; and, if I am correct, a vote was taken in re- gard to the matter ; and while one or two advocated spreading, the heavy producers, together with a good many others, were pretty vehemently against it, unless delay- ed, as you say, until after fruit-bloom or considerably later. I am sure that I have killed fair stocks by spreading the brood ; and I very greatly doubt whether we can help the bees very much by taking the mat- ter into our own hands. In the latter part of May, or in June, putting empty comb in the center of a strong colony will very likely assist the bees in starting an unusual amount of brood. We should remember, 94 GLEANINGS IN BEi) CULTURE. Feb. however, Mrs. II., that friend Doolittle is a very careful man. He does not trust much to hired help, but has his eye on every thing that is going on, and therefore he would succeed where the majority of people might not. EAMBLE NO. 20. KAISING honey; PEDDLING AT HOME, ETC. After a few days with our generous Scotch friends I began to feel so plethoric on flsh and wild gaine that a further Rainble was absolutely neces- sary ; and one beautiful morning we took passage on the steamer Horicon and made the entire trip of the lake, about 30 miles. The beauties of the lake must be seen to be appreciated, and the pen re- fuses to adequately describe the beautiful pietui-es that are constantly presented to the eye as we gracefully float over these historic waters. The Hawkeye was kept quite busy, and I have before me many souvenirs of the trip. From Baldwin, our landing-place, my trip continued by rail and stage, through Ticonderoga, and over battlefields of early days. The old fort is now crumbling, /--\ but well repays a visit by the tourist. "- Near by is the home of Joseph Cook, and we were contemplf.tlng the rear- ing of great men near where patriots fell, when we were dumped oflf the stage in the middle of the highway, and told to go straight ahead and we would find a boat to ferry us across Lake Champlain. I rambled out on a stone causeway, and saw a wheezing affair approaching, which appeared like some ancient settler's forlorn cabin adrift on the angry billows. It finally hauled itself in on a wire rope. The Hawkeye was leveled, and the captain dodged inside; and when T boarded his craft he wanted to know what I was up to with " that 'ere magnetical battery." While on the elegant Horicon we felt really aristo- cratic; and had we a mahogany cane and opera-glass, the Rambler might have been taken for a millionaire; but when we sat down on a coal-hod in the greasy engine-room of this crawfish affair, which had its head at the sides and a tail at each end, we felt as though we could shake hands with the next loose- jointed pauper we should chance to meet. After landing, an invigorating walk of a mile found us at the residence of J. H. Larrabee. It was extremely easy to find him, for everybody seemed to know the genial John. We found him just as busy as a bee, operating his Barnes saw, getting out crates in which to ship his honey. Though not as bountiful as usual, his fine comb honey measured up into the thousands of pounds, and a ready sale at fair prices encourages him to look forward with bright plans for the future. His honey-house is quite small; but having an out- apiary recently established, he proposes to move the small house on sleighs some time during the winter, and build in its place a large structure 26x30, and two stories high. Our friend John, in common with nearly all bee-keepers in this portion of "Ver- mont, uses the Bristol chaff hive, with ten L. frames. Our friends here do not believe in small brood-chambers; and we will guarantee that every hive in Bro. Larrabee's yard had 50 lbs. of honey with which to go through the winter. The crate, or clamp, for securing comb honey in this apiary struck us as a very convenient arrangement. Our Hawkeye gave a very good picture of it. The crate contains forty 1-lb. sections. The sections are sup- ported by slats nailed permanently across the bot- tom. Wood separators are used, and these slide loosely in grooves cut in the ends of the crate. A follower sawed thin at one edge, with the thin edge up, and a wedge to press down, the sections are all held firmly in the crate; and by removing the wedge and follower, any section can be readily re- moved. A bee-space can be allowed above or be- low, but we think in this apiary they are used with- out it. After showing us his many labor-saving imple- ments, the genial John said he would teach the Rambler how to raise comb honey. The Rambler, who is an extractor man, was immediately all at- tention. We sat down to a little table, "And," said, Bro. L., " I prefer to secure the honey in these teaching rambler how to "raise" comb honey. beautiful white four-piece Vermont poplar sec- tions. Let the honey match the wood in whiteness. Then, sir, while a great many short-sighted bee- keepers are afraid there will be too many honey- raisers, I do really desire to make more; and T stand upon the broad platform of educating all classes, rich and poor, to raise comb honey. Now, what is more tempting than a pound of this pearly whitness, with the aroma of an opening rose? You cut it into squares, and gently raise one of them on a fork; the jaw drops; the left eyelid quivers; the tongue advances, and, oh my ! the sensation when honey and taste meet! Why, Mr. Rambler, I have educated my neighbors to such an extent that rais- ing honey on a fork is obsolete. Some use a jack- knife, some a butcher-knife; one charming milliner uses a button-hook; another refined young beauty over on Cream Hill uses a toothpick; and as soon as I get Bro. Newman's honey almanac to operating, I 1890 GT.EANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 95 expect to call upon other Vermont apiaries to sup- ply the great industry springing up here for tbe raising of comb honey. And, Mr. Rambler, had I the amount of extracted honey that you have, I would see the commission men in Tophet before I'd send them a drop. Just educate your neighbors to raising it with a spoon." RAMBLER " RAISING " HONEY ON A SPOON. This phase of honey-raising by everybody with forks, spoons, etc., pleased the Rambler immense- ly. He started right off home on a dog-trot, got a flve-pound pail of honey and a few teaspoons, and, entering his native village, proceeded to give everybody a taste. We halted Sam and Jim, Polly and Jerusha and the children, for a taste of our honey. As a result, the remnant of our honey was soon all raised on spoons and buckwheat cakes. Now, we are also going to set that honey almanac to operating, and we expect to raise a regular " fewroar " in the home market. This is a fact thoroughly believed in by the Ramble^. THICK TOP-BAKS, AGAIN. THE EVIDENCE POURING IN; THEY PREVENT BRACE-COMBS, AND THAT, TOO, WITHOUT A HONEY-BOARD. The Bee-Keeper's Eeview for Jan. 10 is out, and a good number it is too. The special topic is wide and thick top-bars, and the prevention of brace-combs. The testimony collected in this issue very materialiy sub- stantiates the testimony that has been brought out in our own journal. The whole thing summed up in a single sentence stands about like this : To prevent brace-combs and to dispense with the honey-board, use top-bars I inch thick, 1 inch wide, and spaced accurately i'r, inch apart. A top-bar i inch wide, and bee-spaced apart, may largely if not entire- ly prevent brace-combs ; but the extra i inch added to the width, so far as I am able to gather, makes a sure thing of it. The testimony has been so convincing that Bro. Hutchinson says he is quite converted to thick bars. He says that, when Dr. Miller first intimated that the honey-board might be dispensed with, at the Northwestern Convention, in Chicago, it seemed to him ''perfectly preposterous.'' And " yet," he says, " who can read the discussions in the present number without deciding that, in all probability, the honey-board can be laid aside?'" And I must confess that I was very much surprised and pleased to note how favorable Bro. Heddon seemed dispos- ed to be toward the heavy bars (see leading article last issue). We must give our Dow- agiac friend credit for being progressive, even if the prospects are pretty bright for knocking out his slat honey-board. How pretty it will be for those whose hives are constructed like the Simplicity, and who can not very well use the honey-board between the extracting-supers, to be able to pull apart the top story from the lower one, without lifting the lower frames up en masse, simply by the use of thick bars ! And still another thing : There is no sagging with such frames. That feature alone is worth the expense of the change, even if we do not secure that other grand feature, the preven- tion of brace-combs ; and still again, Mr. Heddon says straighter and better combs are secured thereby. Is it going to knock out reversing too? Our whole apiary will be changed to thick top-bars, just as soon as the trial of a/ew justifies the introduction of more. Let me urge again : DonH try too many at once. After you have tested a few you can then act more intelligently ; and don't be in too much of a hurry to break up your honey-boards into kindling-wood. Ernest. SIZE OP TOP-BAKS. DR. MILLER TELLS HOW WE CAN ALL EXPERIMENT FOR OURSELVES WITHOUT GOING TO ANY PARTICULAR EXPENSE. T AM thankful for the amount of light thrown on this subject. It seems to be tolerably well estab- lished, that there have been quite a number of cases in which tbe size of the top-bar has effectual- ly prevented the building of brace-combs. Of course, it is understood that too large a bee-space is not allowed; and, indeed, one writer in Glean- ings claims that, if a bee-space of ia inch is allowed, the thickness or width of the top-bar is not materi- al. If all are right, then there are three ways in which we may succeed without a honey -board; viz.: By having a i^ inch space; by having a top- bar % inch thick, or thicker; or by having a top- bar I's inches wide. It is to be hoped there may be enough experimenting next season to settle more fully what is most effective. In the meantime it may do no harm to discuss some of the things to be thought of in making experiments. WHAT is the best SPACE BETWEEN TOP-BARS AND SECTIONS? I have always used f inch, and I suspect it is a little too much. Still, with the slat honey-board, the i space has worked well, generally. It is prob- able that 4 inch between top-bars and sections might prevent brace-combs, provided the top-bars were not more than | inch apart; but I fear it would be a difficult thing to maintain for several years a space exactly M inch. The shrinking or warping of lumber would interfere, and, moreover, my bees have a habit of putting propolis in all sorts 9(i GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. of places, at least at certain times of the year. Even with the i! space, I have sometimes had the entire space filled with propolis, and all my top- bars, I think, have propolis on top. With a J4inch space I should expect to have some top-bars and sections glued tog-ether. Still, this difiiculty may not be so great in other places. Let us bear In mind, that what will succeed in one case may not neces- sarily succeed in another; and it may be well not to decide too hastily. The thickness and width of the top-bar may be changed in a few hives for ex- periment, without changing any hives. Strips nail- ed on the sides of top-bars may increase the width, and in that we may find whether top-bars I's inches wide, with 14, inch between them, will answer the purpose. To change the thickness of the top-bar, either the hive must be changed, or the depth of the brood-comb. Let me suggest for consideration a plan for trying a few top-bars of increased depth. Take a piece of tin one inch wide, and as long as your brood-frame, and nail it on one side of the top-bar, letting the edge of the tin come flush with the top of the top-bar. Now nail a similar piece on the other side; and if your top-bars are g thick the tin will cover % inch of comb, making your top- bars practically one inch thick. If it is desirable at the same time to make the width of the top-bars % inch greater, wooden separator stuff ,V thick may be used instead of the tin. CLEATS FOR COVER-BOARDS. And now a word with Ernest. 1 don't want to appear quarrelsome, but I feel pretty sure that, after you have tried side by side a sufficient num- ber of the two kinds of cleats mentioned on page ^0, you will change your mind, and— your cleats. Ac- cording to my experience, the difference in conven- ience in handling the two kinds is sufficient to justify considerable trouble and expense in making a change. The only advantage you claim for the grooved cleat, if I am correct, is that it secures greater immunity from warping. You say, " A cover-board slid into a grooved cleat, and nailed, is aiiood deal less liable to warp than one simply de- pendent upon nails, I think." Let us see. What prevents warping? 1 suppose it is the strength of the cleat, and the firmness with which the cleat is held on the cover. I think you will readily admit, that a groove taken out of a cleat makes it weaker. The only question, then, is, does the groove hold the board more firmly than nails alone? Undoubt- edly it does a little, if the cleat is equally stiff, and if the thin place left by the groove does nut allow the cleat til split. About 8 per cent of my grooved cleats split before a nail was driven— a thing im- possible with the others. You say you had a cover like mine, and it warped. Was the cleat the same size as the grooved cleats? I have two or three hundred that have been in use several years, and I have had no trouble from warping. The nails hold the cleats firmly in place; and on account of the greater stift'ness and lesser liability to split, I think the plain cleats will allow less warping than those that are grooved. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111., Jan. 4. No, no, doctor, you do not appear quarrel- some. If you did so at times, 1 should know it was with the desire to get at the truth, rather than the desire to establish a point which you had previously put forth. I have talked with our man about grooved cleats, and I told him that eight per cent of yours split. He seemed very much aston- ished. He said he had nailed up something like a thousand cover-boards, and not one cleat had split, and yet the groove is just a snug fit over the end of the board. Now, it must be, doctor, that yon did not put the cleats on right. You can not drive it on, both ends at once, neither can you plow the end of the board, as it were, through the entire length of the cleat, beginning at one end. The proper way is to start the cleat at one end. If the board is a little warped, press on the bowing side, at the same time that you crowd the cleat down. If you put it on thus, I venture to say you will never have trouble. The cleat may be weakened a very small particle after the grooving ; but we calculate that it is more than ample to prevent warping, even then ; and I still think that such a cleat will hold a board truer than one simply nailed on the end. Another thing, the end of the board in a groove is better protected from the weather. A still more important consideration is, that the cover-boards for grooved cleats happen to be of just the right length to make a box to hold the inside furniture of five or ten hives, without crating, and this in the matter of saving freight is a consid- erable item. Were we to make a cover as you describe, it would spoil the unique ar- rangement of the bottom-board, and neces- sitate a large box around the inside furniture when they are shipped out. Ernest. THICK top-bars; no brace-combs or honey- boards. 1 notice in our last number of Gleanings that there is a good deal said about the width and thick- ness of the top-bars to our brood-frames. I notice, too, that some are getting a little sick of their hon- ey-boards and queen-excluders (at least it looks that way to me), and I have felt just that way for four years. Now, about the top-bars. I have used thick top bars for four seasons, and without honey- boards or queen-excluders, and I have yet to find any brood in my surplus combs, excepting about a dozen drone-cells in the bottom of one section. This was on a very strong swarm this season, from which I had taken nearlr all the drone comb. It is very seldom indeed that I find any brace or burr combs between the brood - frames and honey-crate, although my frames are only Ji inch wide, and spaced 1'/^ inches from center to center, leaving quite a space between the top-bars. Now, although I use this kind of frame, and have dis- carded honey-boards and queen-excluders entirely, and am not troubled much with brace-combs or brood in surplus cases, I really do not believe it makes any material difference whether the top-bars are one inch thick or half an inch, provided we have just the right space between them and our supers, and the bottom of our supers or crates are proper- ly constructed; but as I have never used any other thickness for top-bars than ?8, 1 am unable to say what their use might bring about. One thing I am sure of; and that is, that we very seldom find brace- combs unless the bees find room for them, either by the sagging of frames or the improper adjust- ment of fixtures. I have 58 swarms of bees in my care— 44 of my own, and 14 of my brother's, and 1890 GLJ^ANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 97 most of the frames look as clean on top as when they were put into the hive. Chester Olmsteau. E. Bloomfleld, N. Y., Jan. 8. From the testimony which we gather from others, I feel quite sure it is the thick- ness of your top-bars that has more to do with the prevention of brace-combs in your case than any nice adjustment of bee-spaces between the brood-nest and supers. Were you to change to top-bars + inch thick, you would, I am quite certain, be troubled with brace-combs. Bee-spaces alone, here, won't do it— at least, not in Medina. Read this: WIDE TOP-BARS, BUT ONLY ?« INCH, NOT PREVENT- ING BURR-COMBS. For more than 15 years I have used top bars one inch and I's inches wide, in frames spaced 17^ inch- es from center to center. The number of hives during this time has varied from 20 to 60. The thickness of the top-bars has usually been strong ^i inch, and the spaces at the ends and over the tops of the frames have usually been about I4 inch— sel- dom, if ever, more than (\. How about burr- combs? Well, this kind of top-bar doesn't always prevent them. I think that I am troubled much less with burr-combs than 1 should be if I used a |- wide top-bar; but once in a while I tind the supers fastened pretty solidly to the tops of the frames. 1 shall continue to use a wide top-bar, and shall also use a wood-zinc honey-board. R. M. Reynolds. E. Springfield, O., Jan. 9. Thanks, friend R. Your testimony helps very materially to substantiate the testimo- ny of others; viz., exira width alone is not sufficient. Extra width should be coupled with extra thickness, to prevent burr-combs. One other thing is important ; viz., the combs must be spaced accurately f,. of an inch ai)art. With accurate spacing the extra width may be dispensed with. E. R. R. THICK top-bars; no SAGGINO; calling FOR VOTES. I shall gladly welcome an increased thickness in top-bars of brood-frames. But I fear I is too thick, as that thickness removes the supers so far from the brood-nest. I want them thick enough not to sag, and I want the metal corners retained. I do not want an all-wood brood-frame on the place. My idea is, that }i or U would be thick enough for the metal-corner wired brood-frames. The frames I now get sag badly in spite of the wire, and leave too much room between the brood-frames and the supers. I want only J4 of an inch between the brood-frames and supers. I am not certain that an increased width of top-bars of brood-frames would be desirable; but if the majority of the bee-keepers vote for inch-wide top-bars I would fall into line and try them. But I want the other dimensions of the frames retained, so we can use them in the standard Simplicity and chaff hives now in use. You catch my idea by gluing or nailing a J4-inch top-piece on the top of the present standard brood- frame. You will then have a i4-inch top-bar, and all else the same. Then when we got them we could even up our other frames by gluing a J4-inch bar on top of our old }4-inch frames on hand, mak- ing all H-inch top-bars. I think the increase of the thickness of the top-bars of brood-frames to K inch is so desirable that you should adopt it as the standard without delay. The machinery for the metal corners I suppose could be set to accommo- date the /i -inch-thick top-bars, and still let the frames hang in the hives as they do now. As to in- creasing the width to one inch, 1 am not prepared to vote either way just now. By the way, how would it do to invite a vote of the readers of Gle.\nings as to width and thick- ness of top-bars of Simplicity or Laugstrotli brood- frame? I think, that, to prevent sagging alone would be argument enough to increase the thickness to i4 inch, aside from the theory of prevention of brace- combs. The increased cost would be trifling. I feel sure we can help the brace comb trouble by making the top-bars )i inch thick, and reducing the space between the brood-frames to g, the same as the half-depth wide frames are spaced, and allow- ing only X of an inch between the brood-frames and supers. Philo S. Dii.wohth. Bonney, Pa., Jan. 13. No, friend D., the extra width alone will not answer, if I read correctly the testimo- nials of others. See R. M. Reynolds' state- ment, just preceding, and note the foot-note. As to the extra thickness removing the brood too far away from the supers, see what James Ileddon has to say on this point, page 43. The old | -inch-thick top- bar, with the comb guide, separates the brood just as far away from the supers as the thick top-bars in question, without comb-guides. Besides, do we know posi- tively that this slight separation of brood and supers in the case mentioned is detri- mentalV — You are correct. Thick top-bars do away with the sagging troubles, even if they do nothing more. I second your mo- tion in calling for votes ; but those votes must come from those who have used either the thick or wide top-bars, or both. The votes of those who have used only the thin narrow ones will be of no value. Yes, we want the frames to be adapted to hives al- ready in use. Those we have already ad- vertised are such. Eknest. In addition to what Ernest has said, I wish to add, by no manner of means put any thing On the top of your top bars ; and do not do a*)?/ thing that will change the out- side dimensions of the regular frame. The top-bar can be made thicker almost as easily by slicing out comb, comb-guide, or both, on the under side, and bradding in a strip of wood of the desired thickness. Wired frames, if properly made, should not sag or change. However, as other things seem to demand a thicker top-bar, it may be, all things considered together, the cheapest and readiest method of any thing for preventing sagging. THICK TOP-BARS ; FURTHER FACTS, FROM H. ALLEY. I mail you to-day a L. frame, such as we have used for a good many years. I think you and all who use the Simplicity hives would like them much better than the narrow top-bar frame. The top- bar sent is ,V, narrow. It should be I'a inches wide, and '4 thick. We use 10 frames in a hive, Ula inches wide inside. For 8 frames, of course the brood- chamber must be reduced in width. Wenham, Mass., Jan. 4. H. Alley. The frame came duly to hand. Thanks. Is this the frame that you have used so many years, and does it invariably prevent 98 GLEANINGS JN BEE CULTURE. Feb. burr-combs V We should think that top- bars H in. wide, spaced in a 10-frame hive 14i in. wide, would be so close together as to be rather difficult to get hold of. THICK TOP-BARS AS AGAINST HONEY-BOARDS ; BEE-SPACES OB NOT. 1 am greatly interested in the thick top-bar brood-frame. Now, friend Root, if this will do away with the honey-board, so much the better. If they will, the frames should come up flush with the top of the hive, then the T tin should be just a bee- space; that is, the double part of it; then turn it up- side down. This makes a bee-space on the under side of the crate, and does away with the tin keep- ing the sections apart, which has been a great fault with the T tin. Now get up something to hold the tins in place upside down. What do you think of this scheme ? W. D. Soper. Jackson, Mich., Jan. 11. On account of putting on the cover, we should surely want a bee-space above the frames in the hive. If the frames came flush with the sides of the hive, there would always be trouble in adjusting the cover. It would kill bees, and make no end of trouble. We should prefer thin top bars with a bee-space fllled with burr-combs, rather than thick top-bars and no bee-space above them. Our section-holder in the Dovetailed hive obviates the objectionable upright in the T tin, and will also permit the use of open-side sections, and yet have the bee-space on top of the sections. DOOLITTIiE'S CAGING PROCESS OF FORMING NUCLEI. NOT SUCCESSFUL FOR INTRODUCING. Friend Root: Several years ago ^Mr. Doolittle gave us a plan for forming nuclei, which seemed new and original, and thereby excited my curiosity. I refer to the caging process. We remember the plan very well, and I need not give it here. I have never had much need to use it; but liking to ex- periment and try new ways I have resorted to it quite a number of times since it was brought out. Two things were claimed for it: That the bees would not return to the parent colony at all, and that it was a sure way of introducing a queen. Neither one of these has proven true in my experi- ence. At the time, Ernest made experiments tend- ing to show that a portion of the bees did return, but I do not recall seeing reports adverse to it as an introducing process. I will say, whenever I have tried it the bees have been allowed to thoroughly fill, have remained caged in the cellar from four to six hours, until greatly excited, before inserting the queen, after which they have stood over night, and were hived early in the morning. Frequently every thing has worked nicely, except that probably a few bees always went back; but at times the queen was not kindly received. Twice I have found the queen most viciously balled when I went to hive the bees in the morning; and in each instance she had to be caged for two days before they were reconciled to her. Once she was imme- diately balled when introduced into the cage, and a perfect deluge of smoke liberated her for only the time being. Last summer I received a Carniolan queen from Dr. Morrison; and not having a handy place to put her, I resorted to the Doolittle "infallible." In the morning the queen was dead. I do not know whether the bees killed her or not. This is the only time I have really lost a queen by this method; but the ones before mentioned probably would have been killed had I not caged them. In working this plan, instead of starting nuclei I usually desired to start a small colony. I have caged a rather large number of bees. I have wondered if such a num- ber would be as likely to be friendly toward a queen as would a smaller and more lonesome number. Newton, Iowa, Jan. 10. Wm. L. Drew. HANGING FRAMES AT FIXED DIS- TANCES FOR MOVING BEES. A VERY SIMPLE AND CHEAP WAY OF DOING IT. Mr. N. T. Phelps, a short time ago, asked if he should send a very cheap, sim- ple, effective distance - keeper for hang- ing frames, remarking that we had been selling said distance - keepers for several years. Having a curiosity to know what it was, we requested him to send a few sam- ple frames (or parts of them). We give his description below, with engravings, which we have had made from his samples : Mr. R(M)t:—AB you request me, in yours of the 6th inst., to send you an explanation of the distance- keeper that you have been selling for several years, I do so at this time, and so there will be a good un- derstanding of it. I send by this mail a reduced sample (No. 1) of the frame 1 use, showing how they are applied. The timber is the true dimension, only each piece is cut shorter, to make it more portable in the mails, and it also shows the point at which they are driven. They are first started with a hammer, and the driving is finished with a set, or punch, with a broad flat end, perhaps one inch by "g inch, with a slot cut across the face of the punch to the depth I wish the keepers to stand out. See Fig. 6. The sample is driven to space the frames 1 finches. To drive them, lay the frame on a flat] board, with the top-bar toward you. Drive one in the corner at J^ lA. PHELPS' FRAME SPACED WITH STAPLES. your left hand, then the one in the corner nearest your right hand, taking care that the long way of the keeper runs at right angles to the direction of the long way of the one first driven. Now turn the frame over ^by keeping the top-bar toward you, so that the two end-bars change places. You will now see that you need two holes in your board to let the two keepers already driven drop into, while you drive two more exactly as you did the first two. If you drive the first left-hand one with the long way in the direction of the long way of the top-bar, do this one so, and the right-hand one in the direction 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 99 of the long way of the side-bar. It is a very easy and quick job, and takes longer to tell it than it does to do it. These sample frames 1 have marked No. 1. My experience teaches me that they are all that is re- quired on any hanging frame. In the last of July and first of August, 188S, I moved 50 strong colonies, heavy with bees, brood, and honey, on a wagon, eight miles, over roads newly worked, and with some steep hills, and not a comb was misplaced or broken. After the season was over, I moved eleven back that were literally crowded with honey, with the same result. In the spring I moved the other 30 back, when they were as light in bees and honey as at any time, and no combs moved or were bro- SPACEB ADAPTED TO THE ALL-WOOD SIMP. FKAME. ken. No. 2 is one end of the top-bar of Simplicity frame made by you, showing how they can be used on that frame. No. 3 is another way of driving them, but I do not like that way as well as the first one. They can be put on the bottom corners in just the same way, if wanted there; but I know of no good reason for wanting them on any good hang- ing frame. No. 4 is a bottom corner of a Simplicity frame, showing how they can be used as a guide to pre- vent the crushing of bees. And if you wish to carry this " foolishness " still further, No. .5 will show how they can be employed on an invertible frame without projections— do away with all our metal strips and rabbets, and let it stand on its own bottom. All corners are to be ornamented alike. I think they would be a little better if they were made of No. 16 or 17 round steel wire, and perhaps '?. of an inch longer. N. T. Phelps. Kingsville, O., Dec. 9, 1889. The staple-spacers may not be entirely ,new ; but whether they are or not, the idea (or invention) has the elements of cheap- ness and simplicity to its fullest extent ; and it may not be so far from being practic- able either. It can be adapted to hives and frames already in use, even w hen the latter are filled with comb. Where bee culture is carried on to any considerable extent, a system of one or more out-apiaries is almost the inevitable result, and out - apiaries means vioving bees. The hanging frame not fastened, although bees can be moved to and from out-apiaries on it, necessitates careful driving and good roads. Our men during the past season, in moving bees, could drive no faster than a walk, and that with extreme caution in places. Witli a couple of expensive men. one a teamster and the other a practical bee-keeper, to say nothing of a valuable team, slow driving, all because the frames are hanging and not fixed, is expensive. To stop and stick up each frame in a load of o.5 colonies, simply for the sake of driving fast afterward, is just as expensive. What we want is frames always fixed, always ready for moving at a brisk drive, and yet sufficiently movable to be readily manipulated in the hive. Friend Phelps comes very near hitting it; and while it may not be the best arrangement for hanging frames, it comes very near it. Perhaps a still simpler plan would be, todrive wire staples, half an inch wide, into the wood- en rabbets, I inch apart, in such a way as to space each frame with a top-bar I inch wide, If inches from center to center. This would require fewer staples. The same idea in vari- ous bungling forms has been before suggest- ed : for instance, notching out the wooden rabbet. But the end-bars would become so stuck in these notches, by reason of propo- lis, as to be practically immovable ; but the wire staple would be almost entirely free from this objection, besides being cheaper. On the other hand, this w^ould make always a fixed distance of spacing. For wintering, it might be desirable to spread the combs. Again, the removal of subsequent combs would be just as difficult as the removal of the first. Phelps' arrangement would allow of wider sjiacing in winter, and after the first comb was out the rest could be remov- ed easier. Let's have suggestions ; and in the mean time, let's think it over. We don't want any thing that will increase the expense of the frames more than 10 cents per hive. If honey could be sold for 50 cents per pound at wholesale, we might tolerate some of the expensive frame-spacers. Eunest. RETAILING EXTRACTED HONEY IN PAPER PAILS. HOW ~'6(I0 LBS. WAS SOLD RIGHT AT HOME IN THIS WAY. Friend Root:— I wish to add my mite to (jues- tion No. 149. I send you by this mail a paper pail for extracted honey, that I think is just per- fection. After having used glass and tin, I find, by two years' trial, that I shall not use either again. Of course, one must wait until the honey granu- lates, and then they are just as handy as so many bricks. 1 have sold nearly all of my crop of 2til)0 pounds, and could sell more than as much again on my home market at 25 cts. per pail, wholesale. They look rather doubtfully at granulated honey at first; but after the first trial pail they usually come back after more, as my honey was ripened by tiering up, and is very thick and nice. They cost .fl5 00 per thousand at the factory, complete, like sample, except waxing the corners. This is not necessary if the honey is drawn into them just the last thing before it hardens. 100 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. I think if they were more widely known, the home markets would be greatly improved, as the packag-e adds nothing to the price of the honey per pound. This is the point with me, as with J. A. Green in his answer, where he says, " The less we have to pay for a package, the more honey we can sell put up in that package." Then, a case holding :H) pails or an even 50 pounds is a neat thing to set in a retailer's store, with the little tape ready to hook over a customer's finger. THE KEESE BEE-ESCAPE, AND HOW IT SAVES LABOR IN RIDDING BEES FROM EXTRACTING-COMB. T met I'rof. Cook at our Farmers' Institute, and surprised him very much by suggesting the use of the Reese bee-escape in taking off cases of extract- ing-combs as well as sections. Now, I can hardly believe that T am the only one who has made this use of the escape, as honey is honey, and why not one kind of a super as well as another. I put them on in the afternoon; and the next morning, before breakfast, I can have two or three days' work done (with the aid of a wheelbarrow) in carrjiug iti cases ready to extract. This is where ( he poel ry of bee-keeping comes in, as there are no frames to handle, no bees to brush off, no robbers, no stings, no loss of temper, etc., that are the usual accompaniments of the old way, especially in the fall. Sometimes on a warm summer night they would not be quite all down; but by taking out one of the side combs, then spreading the rest and leaving them one day longer, is quite sure for them all. We all owe Mr. Reese a debt of gratitude for the invention, for I don't think there is a better or easier way of getting honey free from bees, or one with as few faults. I know this has been described a number of times in Gleanings, but the reader can hardly realize what a good thing it is until it is tried, and made to work as well as it has with me. H. P. Langdon. East Constable, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1889. Very good, friend L. We have had the paper pails, such as you show us, for two or three years ; but our' customers do not take kindly to them. \'ery likely, however, it was our fault in not starting them right. ]}y some awkwardness, the tape handle to lift it by has been omitted in the engraving. I would buggest that your honey be first al- lowed to candy ; then melt it, and pour it into the pails. Honey once candied is more likely to candy again, and, if 1 am correct, it becomes harder next time. Ours did not get real hard, and the pails became daubed. —Your remarks in regard to Reese's bee- escape for extracting are certainly a very great item ; but your description is not ([uite clear. If you fasten the bees out of the upper story containing filled combs for half a day, or a day and a half, there must be quite a loss, especially where colonies are bringing in four or five pounds, or even more, per day. Where you speak of two or three days' work, I presume you mean two or three days' work in brushing of bees and handling combs in order to do this. You have no handling of the frames except to uncap and place them in the extractor.— Gettiug rid of robbers and stings is certain- ly a wonderful achievement. Why, the in- vention is a wonderful stride in the business of extracting. If the process has been de- scribed in Gleanings, for some reason I did not get hold of it before. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, ANOTHER GOOD TESTIMONIAL FOR STINGS AS A CURE FOR RHEUMATISM ; BUMBLE-BEE STINGS PREFERRED. I have seen the bee-sting cure for rheumatism discussed in Gleanings to a considerable extent, pro and con; and having had an experience of my own, I thought I would tell it. In 1887 and '88 I was severely afflicted with sciatic' rheumatism, and of course I had a great many cures recommended, and I read of many. Among them was the bee- sting cure. I was living in Texas at the time. I went to the famous hot springs in Arkansas, and spent a month there, and received some benefit. I then came to my old home in Ohio; my rheuma- tism still troubling me severely— so much so that I resorted to opium for relief; but remembering the bee-sting cure, I tried that with good results, as I am and have ever since been free of sciatica. 1 at- tributed it to bee-stings; but I want to say I did not confine myself to the honey-bee alone. 1 used the honey-bee, the wasp, yellow-jacket, hornet, and bumble-bee; and I must say, when they can be had I should prefer the latter, especially the smaller ones, as they will insert their medicated needle a dozen times or more quicker than you can say Jack Robinson. You can easily take them between your thumb and finger, and they will work their medi- cated instrument as fast as you can move your hand, and leave a redhot streak behind, and you will reali/.e as good if not better i-esults from the bumble-bee; and then we use that which is of but little benefit to us— at least not as much as the honey-bee. The only advantage of the honey-bee is. they can be had at any time of the year, and are always primed to do their work. I tried some the other night, when I felt rheumatic pain in my knee. My wife went out and got some that failed to get into the hive. She brought them in, and we warm- ed them a little and put them in a position to do their work; and I must say they did it with the rel- ish of a real live bee. I will say, the result was the same from any of the insects named. Maxville, O , Jan. 6. D. Henricks. And so, friend II., it is really true that bee-stiugs do give relief; and not only the stings of honey-bees, but of wasps, yellow- jackets, and hornets. May the Lord be praised for this testimony that is coming so thick and fast in regard to bee-stings as a remedial agent ! So bumble-bees sting re- peatedly, without losing their sting, do theyV if I had ever heard of it before, I had forgotten it. But it seems to me that their stock of " medicine" would run out sooner or later if they kept on in that style. No wonder you likened it to a " redhot streak." By the way, old friend, haven't you an unusual amount of grit, to sit still "and take bumble-bee stings after that fash- ion? l^ou should have had half a dozen schoolboys standing around to enjoy the fun. Who can say that honey - bees and bumble-bees were not intended by the great 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 101 Creator, to furnish pure unadulterated med- icine, right from nature's laboratory, al- ready furnished with an instrument, fash- ioned beyond any thing that human hands can make, to place the remedy right where the disease is located? SAN DIEGO CO., CAL. We copy the following from the San Diego Union, Jan. 5 : Although San Diego has by far the largest number of hives, the amount of honey produced is not pro- portionately as large as the output in a number of other counties. This is doubtless owing to the fact that the industry in this county is young as com- pared with that in other sections; but more satis- factory results maybe hoped for as keepers become more acquainted with the requirements and proper management of bees in this climate. The pastur- age for bees in the southern portion of the State is white, black, and button sage, alfalfa, alfllaree, button-bush, etc., while the honey crop in the northern sections is gathered principally from wild clover, yellow sage, holly, California lilac, incense cedar, and alfalfa. About two-flfths of the hives in California are of the Langstroth style, the remain- ing three-fifths being Harbison, Merriam, and American hives. It is (computed that two-flfths of the honey crop of the State was gathered from the various kinds of saee, one-flfth from alfalfa, and the remaining two-flfths from the various other kinds of wild bloom. A statistical table gives the number of bee-keepers in San Diego as 100; hives, 17,000 ; pounds of honey. 260,000. Total bee- keepers for the whole State of ( 'alifornia, 517; total hives, 64,630. Total honey, 1,092- 900. I am inclined to think the above is hardly complete ; for, judging from my visit, I think I could certainly have found more than 517 bee-keepers, without any trouble; for the State of Michigan, as re- ported in another column, has 4487 bee- keepers. A^ery likelv , however, there may not be more that .")17 in ( 'alifornia who num- ber their colonies by the hundred. THK STANLEY EXTRACTOR. I see you want reports from those using the Stan- ley extractor. I have used one for two seasons, and I like it very well. Last summer I extracted between 11,000 and 1~.000 pounds of honey with it. I think it would improve it if it had a gear on it. It takes a man to work it. It will not do for a woman. My bees did well. They paid better than the farm. I am a farmer as well as a bee-keeper. NOT IN FAVOR OF SKUNKS. I see in the last Gleanings that Mr. France is in favor of skunks around the house. I am not in favor of them. A year ago last summer I got up just at daylight, and found 37 nice chickens dead that a skunk had killed. Skunks will suck eggs, all they can find. Chas. Blackburn. Lamont, Iowa. Jan. 6. county killed their meat, and to-day there are thou- sands of pounds spoiled. My strawberry-bed is full of bloom, as in spring. Berries are as large as buckshot. Apple-leaves are as large as a quarter. I saw some green corn today in my garden, 10 inch- es high. Thermometer is 75° this evening; wind has blown from the south and southwest for three weeks. R. B. Williams. Winchester, Tenn., Jan. 7. EARLY SEASON IN NORTH CAROLINA. 1 write you an item of news from the old North State. Dec. ;'S my bees were coming in with loads of pollen; again on .January 4th until to-day, when they are coming in with their baskets full of pollen from the maple timber, which is in full bloom at this date. This is at least one month earlier than usual. I took a peep into my hives to-day, and found the (lueeos laying, and some brood started. So far this winter we have had but a few days of cold weather. Irish potatoes are up in the open ground, four inches; everything is putting on the appearance of spring. The honey crop of last year was light in this section, owing to continuous rains. We hope for a better honey season this year. The queen of my hive appreciates Glean- ings very highly. B. C. Griffith. Griffith, N. C, Jan. 7, 18<)0. STRAWBERRIES IN BLOOM; POLLEN FROM CEDAR; CORN UP, AND APPLE-TREES LEAVED OUT. The honey-flow was almost a failure until very late in the fall. All Italians secured enough from red clover to winter on. Blacks are dying out, or, rather, starving out, all over the county. I went into winter qual-ters with 140 two-story hives filled with bees and honey. All are in fine condition; and to-day they are bringing in pollen with a rush from the cedar. Last year the first pollen was gath- ered from the cedar Feb. 14th. We are having a re" markable winter— only one little freeze the middle of November. At least half of the farmers in this A SHRUB WHICH BLOOMED AND YIELDED POLLEN TO THE BEES IN MASSACHUSETTS DURING CHRISTMAS. I send a small branch of a hardy shrub now in bloom out of doors; and, strange to relate, 1 saw several of my Italian bees gathering pollen from the bloom to-day. Only think of it! a hardy shrub in full bloom in January, here in Massachusetts, within 25 miles of cultured Boston! It was in bloom Christmas day, and the bees worked over two hours on it that day. It will remain in bloom until April, as it did the same last winter; but 1 did not see any bees on it then. It is very fragrant, and can be noticed several feet away from the bush. It is a Japanese shrub, and is called Chap- man's honeysuckle. It is a symmetrical shrub, now about 5 feet high. I procured it a few years ago of an importer of novelties and rare plants. West Mansfield, Mass., Jan. B. W. O. Sweet. We believe, friend S., that the Japanese honysuckle has been discussed in our back volumes.— We, too, have been having a wonderful winter ; but at this date, Jan. 22, the weather has changed, and the thermom- eter is now only 5 degrees above zero. TO level the GUOUND OF AN APIARY. Next April I wish to plow, harrow, and roll the ground that m.\ 50 colonies of bees now stand on. Of course. I shall have to move the bees first. Now, when the bees are placed back on said ground can I place them to suit myself, or will the hives have to be placed on the same stand they occupied before plowingV Bee-keeper. Friend Hee-keeper, I scolded a little be- cause you did not send your name ; but your question may be worth something to others as well. You can put your hives in a different position if you choose, but th*^re will be much greater risk of loss. They mav settle down so as to divide the lost bees pretty fairly ; and. again, they may overrun certain cokmies, kill the queens, and have no end of fighting. I would fasten them all 102 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fei?. in the hives during the operation, choosing a day cool enough so they will not be likely to smother, and then get them all back into their proper places as quickly as possible, before letting them out. If you had told us where you live, we could judge better as to what the weather may be in April ; but, as a matter of course, they will fly before re- moving, and are pretty sure to immediately afterward. ^EP6R¥g ENceaR^eiN6. SIX YEARS OF SUCCESS IN BEE-KEEPING; A NET PROFIT OF $1684:. As this is a holiday 1 thought I would send along- to you a report of my six years' success in bees and honey, as the years of failure are to come as yet. Now, friend Root, what I have done in these years, I don't say everybody in this wide world can do. It would be an impossibility without the gifts and (lualiflcations. These gifts, in the first place, are love, then patience, and continual looking for the reward. I believe this is a special calling for the Lord's children, not so much for the money as for the pleasure in looking after and caring for one of the smallest of God's created insects for the sus- tenance of man in this last age of opposition to the truth as it is revealed in Christ Jesus. By legal calling I am a farmer and dairyman. I added one swarm of bees to this calling in 1884. From this I received 40 lbs. of honey, and increased to three colonies in the fall, at an expense of $13. In the spring of 188.5 I added two more colonies of Italians, which I increased to 19 in the fall, w th 500 lbs. of honey. Expenses were $38.00. In 1886 I began with 19 swarms, and increased to 43 in the fall, with 3(X)0 lbs. of honey. Expenses were $76 00. In 1887 I began with 19 swarms, having sold 20; three died; one queenless. I increased to ;>5 in the fall, with one ton of extracted honey. Expenses were $72.00. In 1888 I began the season with 30 colonies, having sold some of the increase. I increased to 43 in the fall, with 7.50 lbs. of extracted honey. Expenses for the seiison were $90.00. In 1889 I began with 40 colonies, from fine to medium, all in chaff hives, and increased to 70 in the fall, with 7200 lbs. of extracted honey. In summing up these six years, or seasons, of bees and honey. I find my books give a record thus: Total sum for outlays, cash, throwing work 'n, is $ 347. Total proceeds from bees and honey 1401. With 70 Stocks of bees valued at $9 00 per colony 630. Total $2031. Deduct outlays 347. Foi' anxiety and care of bees $1684. Townsend, Ont., Dec. 25. D. Jeffrey. Mind you, I say plants. You can love the berries too, if you choose ; but the main thing is to have a real genuine love and af- fection for the beautiful, bright, energetic little plant that God has given us. Such a love not only helps you to succeed, but it helps you to be happy, and to enjoy your work. Show me the man who has fallen in love with strawberries, and I want to get hold of his hand, and call him brother, and just so with honey-bees. 4300 LBS. FROM 50 COLONIES. I had ,50 colonies and one weak nucleus, spring count. I secured 4200 lbs. comb honey, as near as I can get at it, and I can come pretty near, for I shipped the greater part of It. I increased to 68 colonies and 10 nuclei. Scarcely any increase was allowed until after the honey harvest. Then I formed nuclei, and queened them with those cheap hybrids advertised in Gleanings, and they were nice and prolific. I got some from Connecticut, Arkansas, and Illinois. Two died in transit, which were replaced. Those men acted honorably. E. B. Morgan. Cleveland, Lucas Co., Iowa, Jan. 13, 1890. ]S[0¥Eg ^]^D QaERIEg. We solicit tor this department short items and questions of a practical nature; but all questions, if accompanied by oth- er matter, must be put upon a separate slip of paper with name and address. STATISTICS OF THE HONEY INDUSTRY IN MICHIGAN. We clip the following from the Saginaw Cnu?irr; The returns of supervisors show 4487 bee-keepers in the State, and 35,.513 colonies of bees in the spring of 1889. The honey product of 1888 was .5.59,803 pounds of comb and 97,600 pounds of extracted honey, with 7111 pounds of beeswax. Well done, friend J., not only as a bee- keeper, but as a man and a Christian, in recognizing and making use of the gifts be- stowed upon you by the great Father ; and I especially commend the point where you mention love and patience as a qualification for a bee - keeper. To succeed with bees you must love them ; and to succeed with strawberries you must love the plants. A HEAVY HONEY-DEW. There was a heavy honey-dew in this section of country about the middle of September, and then there was another one in December, lasting up to Christmas. It was just dripping from the pines, laurels, and ivies. Mrs. C. L. Penland. Lavinia, N. C, Jan. 6, 1890. POLLEN FROM SOFT MAPLES. To-day a large soft-maple at our back door is in full bloom, and neighbor Kloer's bees are just making things hum, gathering pollen and honey. What's the use of living in Florida? Terre Haute, Ind., Jan. 11. Chas. H. Phelps. THE MILDEST WINTER IN 13 YEARS. We are having beautiful weather, and bees are having fine flights, gathering pollen in full force from soft maple. We are having the mildest winter that has been for years. I have never known bees to work as early in the season as this since I have had any, and that is 13 yeais. Louis Werner. Edwardsville, Ills., Jan. 11, 1890. honey FROM THE MAPLE IN FLORID \. Our bees are doing wonders. They have filled the hives full of honey the last two weeks, actually crowding the queens for brood space. They are making ready for swarming, and are hatching drones in many of the colonies. This honey-flow is from the maple, which commenced to bloom about three weeks ago. J. Craycraft. St. Francis, Fla., Jan. 3. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE 108 POI>LEN IN lANUARY. Our bees are bringing in pollen from the alder to- day, one month earlier than I ever remember of their doing before. S. R. Neave. Hughes ville, Md., Jan. 5, 1890. NEW HONEY IN DECEMBER. We have May weather here in December. I could extract 5 gallons of new honey, for 1 have plenty of combs that are about ready to seal, that were per- fectly empty ten days ago. and a plenty of brood in all stages, from the egg to hatching. J. AV. Taylor. Ozan, Hempstead Co., Ark., Dec. '26. BEKS GATHERING POLLEN AND HONEY IN DECEMBER. My bees and my neighbor's have been gathering pollen and honey for the last week, Christmas not excepted. They are roaring in the maples to-day. I looked at a hive of mine yesterday, and found young bees and eggs plentiful. I should like to hear from some one further south on this question. I should like to hear from friend Root also, to hear what he thinks the result will be next spring. C. S. Hackworth. Oliver's Springs. Tenn., Dec. 27,1889. A GOOD QUESTION. Do bees always gather their entire load of honey or pollen Irom one kind of bloom? 1 have watt-hed them closely for two years, and have never seen the first bee go from one flower to another kind to finish. J. P. Ralston. Uniontown, Kan., Jan. 9. [I believe that bees usually confine themselves to one flower, but quite a number of exceptions have been reported. During a time of drouth, when the bees are hunting here and there to see what can be found to enable them to turn an honest penny, they certainly hover around and examine a great variety of flowers. When a bee is loading up, how- ever, as a rule It takes the same plant.] A question FOR DOOLITTLE. Mr. DooUttle's article, on not raising drones, is very fine indeed. But he does not tell us what to do when we take out the frame with a lot of drone- cells, and also lots of worker brood in the same comb. We don't want to hang such up to dry, do we? J. W. Smith. Moscow, Vt., Jan. 6, 1890. [Mr. Doolittle replies:] The only thing to do in this case is to cut out the drone brood and fit worker comb in its place, un- less you hiive weak colonies at such a time that the frame of brood— minus the drone— can be set into. The combs should be looked after in early spring, before there is much brood in them. Borodino, N. Y., Jan. 9. G. M. Doolittle. QUEEN-EXCLUDING SEPARATORS. Would not metal separators be better if perforated like the zinc you make? I think they would answer the same purpose, and be more convenient for the bees. F. E Thompson. Tiskilwa, Ills., Jan. 8, 1890. [There would be no particular advantage in sep- arators perforated so as to be queen-e.\cluding, over separators perforated with larger holes. Besides, the first cost would be too much. Comb honey does not sell at a price to warrant such expense in the supers. And, by the way, who is prepared to say that perforat'ons in separators are of any real advantage? We have made perforations of all sorts and sizes, for years past, and for a great many dif- ferent parties; but my impression is, one after an- other is dropping the perforations, and going back to plain wood or tin. Am 1 right, friends?) 0a^ QaEp;¥i6N-B@^, With Replies from our best Autliorities on Bees. All queries sent in for this department should be brietly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, ana marked, " For Our Question-Box." Question 1.53.— a. What sort of hive cover do yuv prefer— that is, should it fit upon the hive telescope fashion'^ b. What distance aliove the brood- frames ghut in our locality that is just about enough for the time being. Our nice ground is about HO rods long. Last season we found a strip on one side that was dry enough to work fairly by the first of April. We prepared it nicely, with great pains, then took our seeds to the field with the grain -drill, and sowed as follows : With .Vlaska peas first, we went up and back again. The same thing with American Wonder, and the same with Strat- agem. As a result, we had just enough Alaskas to su])ply the demand, at 40 cents a peck. Just as the boys began to say they would have to sell them cheaper, the Amer- ican Wonder was fit to pick ; and as the quality was so much better, they went off readily at the same price. When the American Wonders were gone, the Strata- gems came in ; and as these were fully as good as the American Wonder, and very much larger (less work' to shell them, you know), they also brought 40 cents, without trouble. Later sowings of Stratagems were made at proper intervals, and I may say we had peas from June until frost, and almost every kind of pea brought 40 cents a peck. This was because we did not have such a surplus as to at any time overstock the mar- ket. l>efore sowing our Alaskas with the grain-drill, perhaps I should mention that we put in a little patch by hand on a southern slope. These came in just before the long rows of Alaskas. Most of these sold for 50 cents a peck. Xow, at the same time we put in the three diflerent kinds of peas, we went through once with the grain- drill, with Corey's Early corn ; we then came back with Golden Wax beans ; then a piece was left for early cabbage. Next to the cabbage we put Early Ohio potatoes, most of them started in the greenhouse. This took about an acre of ground, and this acre was vacated almost at the same time, and was fitted for other crops all at once. Now, while we do all this we want to man- age to make also a certain rotation of crops ; that is, we do not want to have the same thing on the same ground year after year. It is said, however, that onions do just as well, or even better, on the same ground; and some one has said that lima beans do just as well year after year on the same plot. I am inclined to think this may be so, for we have a piece of clayey upland that always gives us a big crop of lima beans ; but if we try them on our rich creek-bottom land, we have lots of vines but very few pods that get ripe. Now in regard to looks. A garden looks very pretty made up of long rows of different kinds of vegetables ; and I think it looks enough better to have complete whole rows— no halves nor quar- ters When sowing with a grain-drill we put almost enough seed into the drill to go through ; then we keep careful watch, and put in a handful at a time, to make it hold out. A good full stand of any crop also pre- sents a pleasant appearance to the eye. The only way to secure this, that I know of, is to put your plants pretty thick, and thin out the surplus. This is a task, I know ; but we can, by running the drill empty on smooth hard ground, by repeated trials, set it to sow just enough and no more. In order to get on the ground to draw ma- nure, bring on the tools, and gather the crops, we need some permanent roads. I have many times decided that I would have a roadway clear around the outside of the ground. \t the ends of the ro\^s this road- way makes a nice place to turn around with the horse and cultivator. On the sides of the long strip you lose some ground ; but I am inclined to think that it pays. If the piece is large, you also want a road through the center. Then a road at right angles is also very convenient, and it helps to make the ground look tasty, as well as avoids the necessity of tramping down crops. But this crossroad is a nuisance when you come to cultivate. I know you can jerk up the cul- tivator as you come to the road, and then drop it as you get across ; but more or less dirt is pulled into the road. I have some- times had a man take a shovel and clear the road out alter every cultivating ; but this is 106 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. somewhat expensive. In the same way, after running the manure- spreader over the ground, I have gone to the expense of shoveling out the roadways. With straw- berries, raspberries, currants, etc., we have to meet the same thing. I have been so much pleased with the little sketch of the grounds of one of our seedsmen, that I asked him to loan the cut to me. Here it is. Well, friends, what do you think of it V Wouldn't almost anybody like to be a seeds- man if he could have a seed-house like that, with grounds and garden beyond ? The cut is the work of a professional horticultural engraver, Mr. A. 131anc. lie has wonderful taste in that direction. Perhaps on this ac- count this pretty picture is somewhat of an ideal one. We do not know how much ground Mr. Mills has laid out thus tastily ; but, judging from the human figures, covered wagon, and seed-house, there must be from one to two acres. I think I would go a looking tracts of run-down, deserted gar- dens. No climaie in the world will do it alone. It must have a live man to watch over it. I suppose the garden of Eden itself would have soon run down without Adam to take care of it. Now, reader, what is your plan for a gar- den in the spring of 1890"V Friend Mills has a very pretty greenhouse, just back of the seed-house, near the fence. If you haven't any other occupation to take up your spare time, I think you will enjoy just a little bit of a greenhouse— say as large as you can afford ; and then 1 am sure that you will en- joy your garden outside a great deal more if you carefully go over it, and plan it during winter evenings. Lay o& your ground on paper ; decide just how much of every thing you can dispose of safely ; estimate how much ground it will take to grow it ; figure closely how many seeds will be needed, and have every thing in readiness to go at it SEED-HOUSE AND GROUNDS HELONOING TO F. B. MILLS, THORN HILL, N. Y. couple of hundred miles to see a garden just like that in reality. It is very pretty, and it is worth a good deal of hard work to be able to produce any thing so handsome. We do not notice any weeds, neither are there any crops past their prime, waiting to be cleared up, nor any appearance of rubbish, heaps of weeds, brush, briers, cabbage-leaves, turnip - tops, nor any thing of the sort. The en- graver has usually an advantage over the photographer in this line of work. The camera takes every thing true to nature — rubbish and all, while the engraver can omit the objectionable features. Near .Vrlington I saw some gardens pretty nearly as perfect as the above ; and in California I saw orange- groves that were handsomer, more sym- metrical, and neater, than any picture ever put in any catalogue. In portions of Cali- fornia, however, there were many very sad- when the weather permits. Friend Mills has not got his pretty garden laid out in long rows, so as to be worked by horse power. If the seed-garden is purposely planned to raise seeds, perhaps he will not use a cultivator very much, although I think it would pay, unless the land is pretty ex- pensive. Most of his crop could be put in rows, so as to be cultivated with the help of a small horse, almost as well as in beds, as he has it. By the way, we recently pur- chased a pony, small in size, with very small feet, with the view of training him to draw a small cultivator in very narrow rows. His feet are so small that he would not damage a Wakefield cabbage, even if he should step on it. Blue Eyes stipulates, however, that he is to be used for cultivat- ing the garden, only when she does not need him to ride horseback. So you see there is 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 107 a prospect that "■ Billy '' will serve in two different capacities at the Home of the Hon- ey-bees. But Jesus called theni [the disciples] unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the gentiles exercise dominion over them, and that they that are great exercise authority upon them; but it shall not be so among you.— Matt. 30 : 25, 36. Most of you will remember that these words were spoken to the disciples just aft- er two of them had beeu begging for the highest places. It has been my theme at least once before ; but to-day I wish special- ly to call attention to the last clause of the text—" But it shall not be so among you," meaning that we who follow Christ must not — shall not, exercise dominion or au- thority upon others. If we happen to be blessed with wealth and authority, if we be Christ's followers we must be very careful indeed how we exercise that authority. There is to be no " lording " over his fel- lows, with the true Christian. I hardly need say what it is we are to do, for that has been my theme so often — '' Not to be ministered unto, but to minister." Just now, during the close of the 19th century, there has been considerable stir, a good deal of talk, and much has been writ- ten in regard to this standing evil (and I do consider it a standing evil), of permitting a few to domineer and to dictate, and even be harsh and cruel to those round about them, just because they happen to be in a place of authority — very often because they happen to have money, while those who wait upon them do not. Statesmen, and those versed in political economy, are discussing the mat- ter, and suggesting remedies. The labor- ing classes are also discussing the matter ; and instead of suggesting remedies they have been organizing strikes, in order that they may dictate and exercise dominion over the capitalists. I am not going to say here who is right or who is wrong. I think I will, however, finally say that, in some respects, I am glad there have been strikes. I do not mean by this, however, that the strikes are right, any more than I mean that the men who control the money have always been right, for there has been a wrong and a transgression on both sides. Some of you may take me up for using the words "has been." I say so, because I believe a better way is now coming to the surface ; and, if I am correct, these better ways are now in vogue, in adjusting differences, to a greater or lesser extent. May God hasten the time when all such differences shall be adjusted in a Christianlike way, and when no one, no matter what his position, or how great his wealth, shall so far forget himself as to be- gin to dictate and domineer over his daily comrades ! With this preface I propose to come down to our "homes," or, if you choose, to " ourselves and our neighbors." Are we, friends, guilty V While at Lansing, Mich., I was greatly interested in another convention, or insti- tute, as well as the bee-keepers' convention. It was a convention of the schoolteachers of the State of Michigan. I should say there were a thousand or more gathered at that one institute. Now, even though I am president of the school-board of Medina, I have not yet had time in my busy life to find out whether the State of Ohio holds a similar convention or not. I trust it does ; and I hope, too, that the young men and young women whose task it is to teach Ohio's children will compare favorably with the bright, keen, healthy, and (judging from their looks) pure-minded boys and girls, or, perhaps I should say, gentlemen an,d ladies, who met at Lansing. I was enabled to see more of them, because, like the bee-keepers, they had obtained special rates at the Hud- son House. There were so many school- teachers and bee-keepers that the hotel was literally packed. Some of us were nearly if not quite an hour in getting our dinner, and the house was full — waiting - rooms, halls, stairways — schoolteachers every- where. Mrs. Chaddock said, " Gleanings is a humanity paper." Its editors are, therefore, humanity men ; and at least one of them is greatly given to the study of hu- manity. I do not like to be called an eaves- dropper, but I have for years been in the habit of listening to the talk going on round about me, when traveling, that I may study, weigh, and measure humanity as we find it. At the Hudson House there was a constant buzz of talk. The teachers kept it up at the tables, and I am glad that they did. And, oh how I loved to hear them talk ! Of course, they used "good grammar." Many of them were young, and had not yet ac- quired a good command of language ; but their words were well used and carefully chosen; and, judging from their talk, the themes that filled their hearts were, oh so good and pure ! Boys and girls were mixed up together ; but there was no senseless flat- tery, nor any thing approaching flirtation going on. They seemed to be a steady, sober- minded class who felt the weight of the re- sponsibility resting upon them — the respon- sibility of training and caring for the chil- dren of the State of Michigan. They were not dull nor stupid. There was lots of fun going on, but it was pure, honest fu)i— fun that did not wound the feelings, nor reflect on anybody. The tables were crowded, and many of the friends had to wait a long while before they were served ; but I did not hear one word of ungentlemanly or un- ladylike reflection from any of the teachers. In putting up at first-class hotels I meet a certain class of individuals, to a greater or lesser extent, whom I have not yet learned to classify. I almost always meet them. They are not sociable ; in fact, they never see anybody at the table except the waiter. The waiter is, however, given pretty soon to understand that they are at home at the ta- ble of a hotel. I have sometimes thought they got waited on first. I do not exactly know how they manage it, either. Perhaps the waiters have learned to fear their dis- pleasure. The first word you hear from them is fault-finding with the waiter on ac- count of what is brought to them. Then the waiter is ordered to take the objectiona' 108 GLKANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. FkT5. ble tiling lijfhL hick and biino; soinotliiiijif l)Btter. Tlie comniMiid is often given in such a toni^ that it makes my hU)od boil. If tlie waiter is a colored man, he does not seem to niirid it very much. Sometimes he bows very low, and Ix'gs pardon. At many ol' our liotels, however, tliey use American women inst(!ad ol colored men. F say Amerh' in women, because I iiave felt, a good many limes, as if the great traveling public ni^ed lo be reminded that not only do the ro/cr.s' in this /arifl q/' ^i6er/// merit a cer- tain degree of respect, but it seems to me tiiat the women of our land, especially intel- ligent, ladylike women, ;ilao deserve a kind of resi)ec,t that they (h) not alwajs receive- - esjiecially if they happen to be waiters in a hotel. Well, at this crowded table sat one of these indivitluals I have been trying to describe. A whole tableful of teachers and bee-keepers were waiting to be served. There were not waiters enough in the estab- lisliment. I<]very one could see that. The waiters at Ihe Hudson House are all women. So f;ir as I coidd see, they were intelligent and ladylike women. They were dressed neatly, and behaved themselves, for all I coidd see, as well as the ladylike school- ma'ams. Some of them, doubtless, lacked education, but they were doing their level best. When 1 took my place at the table, this man of wealth and authority (I simply guessiMl he was) was being served. The overworked young woman had been helping us to our food for a good hour, about as fast as it is possible for even an expert to move. As she gave this individual his coffee, she hurriedly passed him the sugar-bowl, (Con- taining siu)wy lumps of loaf sugar. The bowl was only about a (piarter full ; but as it contained a good dozen or more cubes of sugar, there was ample for all his needs, aiul for all those near him. His lordship, however, evidently was not in the habit of having things that way. " Here ! "' said he, in a lordly way, as if speaking to a disobedient child, " take this sugar-bowl and till it up.'' Her haiuls were filled with different arti- (;les of food for others at the table. Her lace cdloied up at the rude and uncalled-for command, but only for a moment. She set her heavy load down, took the sugar-bowl to a table at some distance, filled it heaping full, and put it down near him. Slowly her face resumed its wonted pleasant kmk. and she soon apparently ft)rgot the blow. I say /)/()»), for it wax a blow. My fingers fairly itched to get hold of that piece of lath whieh I used when 1 made old ( 'harlie do his duty. I suppose it is wicked ; but every time I think of it. it seems as if I should like to give a good sum of money for the privilege of making that man srxiaVt for his needless cruelty. I know, dear friends, that it would not have mended matters at all. I know that it is not by Diujhl nor by ponier that these brutal men are to be made hum- ble and kind. It can be done ovhi by the spirit of (^hrist -lesus. And, oh how 1 do pray thai I may hunger niore after that spir- it, especially if it is ever my lot to deal or plead with such as he! If anybody has learned that a blow for a blow is not the way to make men better, / am sundy that one. As I was late at th(i table there was no par- ticular need of hurrying my meal ; for by the time I was through, nearly every one else was through also. Not only men were waiting at the entrance of the dining-room, but many lady teachers were also waiting ; great numbers of schoolraa'ams, fresh from their charges, and perhaps from country schools. May (iod bless the teachers of our jural districts ! Well, this waiter I have just been speaking of, noticed, as soon as I did, four pleasant-looking women waiting for a place. They had, perhaps, waited longer, as they perhaps preferred to sitto- gcither where they could chat and feel a lit- tle more- at home. I'retty soon four men got up, right across the table from me, and in a twinkling my heroine (1 call her so be- cause 1 can not think of any better word, and because she met the rude speech from that overbearing man in such a heroic way), with a pretty feminine wave of the hand, motioned these young teachers to come (piickly before somebody else crowded in. They caught her invitation, and came quickly. And now I want to tell yon of something that did my heart good. Writers of love- stories have sometimes tried to tell you of the power of a woman's smile. None of them yet, however, have ever done it half justice, to my notion. A woman's smile may Klart a man heavenward, and keep him iioin " shaped card) reads, " If you want to heat your rivals, and get on top, advertise in the • ." And the third one (on a" spades " card) reads, " If you would bury your com- petitors, advertise in the .'" I presume the above was sent out for fun, as a piece of pleasantry, and may be I am doing wrong to find fault with it; but I am afraid there is too much truth in it. I am afraid there are boys and girls both, who crave riches and diamonds, that they may make a display over their less fortunate brothers. And I am afraid, too, that there are those in business who really wish to beat a competitor and " get on top," as the card expresses it. Now, dear friends, and I want to speHk to the younger ones too, is it true that you want to get on top of your rivals? Where would they be? howji in the mud? And would you, that you might get a little higher, sink them deeper and deeper? Wouldn't //^rir anguish disturl) you at all? May God forbid that any such spirit should ever iind a lodging-place in any American, either niaii or imnian. And, finaj- ly, does any one wish to see his competitor buried? I sometimes get into a strife my- self, and I am very anxious to come out ahead ; but may the Lord help me that 1 may have enough of the Ohrist spirit in my heart — enough Christian sympathy, so I fan never have ain/ peace or pleasure while my rival is sujferiny because ol' misfortune, or even because he makes mistakes and blun- ders which I have been enabled to avoid. Oh let us hold fast to the words of the Mas- ter ! Let us hang them about our necks. Let them take the place of the diamonds that wealth can give. And may we have no comfort nor enjoyment in exercising do- minion or authority over those whom God has seen jit to place round about us. KKOM THK OTIIKK 8IDK OK THE FENCE. Friend Hoot: I admiro your Tobacco Column; but our friend In a rcccait ipsue Buys he isKliid there will be no tobacco stnokc in heaven. Do you think tobacco Ktnoke will keep us out? Our friend inti- mates he would not use it. Is there any thing in the ten commandments forbidding it? Our Savior said, " He that is without sin among you, let him cast the flr-t stone." Finally, would it not bo as well lo show a little more charity, one with another, and not so much of the Phaiisce's " God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are "V 8. R. Austin. Araityvllle, Long Island, Jan. 1'.), IH90. Friend A., there have been several criti- cisms in regard to that one letter in the Tobacco Column you allude to. I felt a little sorry nfter it came out, that it was al- lowed to pass. Still, a good many people think it was none too severe. Suppose we put it this way : Tobacco smoke i." exceed- ingly offensive to me ; and when I am out- doors on the sidewalk, and somebody .just ahead of me turns his head and pufi's a great lot of foul smoke in such a way that I can hardly get out of it, I can not well help feeling indignant ; and if others feel as I do, can we really blame them for longing for some place wheie, at least in the open air, we can have a little respite from such treatment? 'J'o such people, the hope, at least, of the joys of heaven will be in hav- ing perfect immunity from such smells or such treatment. Now. it may seem hard, and perhaps uncharitable, but I really can not believe that people who have so "little regard for the feelings of others as to push 110 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Feb. their offensive habits under our very noses "wili be tolerated in heaven. I knov^^ we all have our besetting sins. None of us are free from them ; but after that besetting sin has been held up to us, and we still per- sist in annoying and persecuting our fellows, we can not be followers of Christ unless we repent and reform. Perhaps we have been guilty of showing a Pharisaical spirit, and we thank you for so kindly giving us a caution ; and whether you use tobacco or not, my good brother, here is my hand in Christian fellowship and charity. I am glad to know that you admire the Tobacco Column as a whole. Gleanings is Bee Cultdre. Published Semi-Monthly. -fi^. I. I^OOT, BDITOH AND PUBLISHEK. lERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. only blossomed earlier than they were ever known to before, but they bore fruit that got ripe and is now in market. At the present writing, Jan. 27, we have had five days of fair wintry weather. At one time it was as cold as 5 degrees above zero; but to- day it is mild and muddy once more. For Ohl3l3iss Bates, See First Page of Beading Matter. lvi:EIDIiT-5^, IFEB- 1, IBQO. Wlien HE giveth quietness, J OB 34: 29. iho then run make trouhle?— We have to-day 9404 subscribers. A MISTAKE IN A NAME. Tbe celery described in our last, under the name of Incomparable Crimson, was, by a blunder of A. I. Root, tbe New Rose; that is, I described the New Rose, and by mistake got the wrong name for it. bee-stings for RHEUMATISM— APIUM VIRUS. We are pleased to notice that the Homeopathic Recorder for November 15 copies four of the most positive testimonials that have appeared in our pages. I should be exceedingly glad to know with what confidence our medical brethren regard the reports we have been giving. SPRAYING TO PREVENT THE CODLIN MOTH. On my way home from the Michigan convention I found that one of our Michigan bee-keepers has over 100 acres of apple-trees. They have used the spraying-machines with remarkable success. Dur- ing the past season the apples were all sprayed three times. The wagon that drew the liquid work- ed a force-pump. The result was, 3000 barrels of apples, almost without scar or blemish, that sold for $4500 in the orchard. The New York Arm that bought the apples furnished their own barrels. On page 92 friend Morrison alludes to a letter sent us, de.scribing candy for queen-cages, made by boiling the sugar and honey together. We can not find that any such letter ever reached us, or that we ever succeeded in combining sugar and honey in that way. We have written to friend M. to ex- plain more fully, for we regard it as something quite important. MORE ABOUT THE HONEY FROM PINE-TREES. Several communications have been sent us, not only in regard to bees working on the pines of Vir- ginia in the vicinity of Amherst and Danville, but reports are given of as high as 3000 lbs. from a single apiary, of the thickest, whitest, and best-flavored honey ever taken. Careful observers give it as their opinion that it is not an insect secretion at all. M. C. Wayland, M. D., Kochelle, V^a., can gWe fur- ther particlars. STRAWBERRIES IN .JANUARY. Strawberries have been for some days on the market in Cleveland, at 60 cents a qt. I am told that they came from Tenoegsee. The strawberries, not the ROCHESTER CONVENTION. Next in importance to the meetings of the N. A. B. K. A. are those of the New York State Bee-keep- ers' Association. This association was founded by Moses Quinby, and embraces within its ranks a very large number of our most prominent bee- keepers, some of whom enjoy world-wide reputa- tion. Their next meeting will be held in Rochester, at the court-house, Feb. 5, 6, 7. Owing to the ab- sence of A. 1. Root in Wisconsin at the same date, he can not be present; but Ernest expects to be on hand, if the grippe lets go of him sufficiently. Un- der the head of Conventions we give their pro- gramme in full. the glass sash that does not need handling. Three such sash are now over plant-beds, com- posed of strips of glass 2 inches wide and 18 inches long. The glass rests perfectly level. They kept the ground from freezing when it was 5 degrees above zero, and after a gentle rain last night the ground seems to be as thoroughly wetted as if no sash had been over it at all. During very severe weather, straw mats or wooden shutters can be placed over it as well as over common sash. We shall at once have more of them made and put in use. Perhaps I should add, that the bed is right over a single steam-pipe that runs under ground to our dwelling-house. We are having a large number of new names, but there are some few discontinuances. Allow us to remind the latter, that there are two or three mat- ters of j:reat moment that are just now being dis- cussed, and that they had better remain with us, and get the benefit of it. The importance of thick top bars, and the doing away with burr-combs and houey-boards, can not be overestimated. Having frames suitable for out-apiaries, for moving and shipping, is bound to come up this year, and we hope a solution of the problem may be reached. An initial article is already at hand on the subject —see page 99. Reversible and non-reversible ex- tractors have been and are to be discussed this year. raising plants fob honey alone. A letter is just at hand from a friend who wants enough Chapman honey-plants, flgwort, and spider- plant to plant an acre of each: and he was feeling very badly at the prospect of not being able to And enough tigwort to plant an acre. Of course, we told him that neitht'r he nor anybody else wanted to do 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. in any thing of the kind. The subject came up at the recent Michigan Convention, and T askol Prof. Cook whether, after the recent experiments made by the Agricultural College, of raising honey-plants by the acre, he would advise planting for honey alone. He replied at once that he would not. Now, friends, please do not waste any more money in this direction. If you want to raise honey-plants for your garden, a tlve-cent package is about all you need of any of them— at least, that is my opin- ion after having wasted a good deal of money in this direction. If the plant is also useful for some other purpose, that alteis the case entirely. WIRE STAPLES FOR FASTENING FRAMES AT FIXED DISTANCES. The article and illustration on page 99 reminds me that, something like twenty years ago, all of the Langstroth hives made at the factory in Cleveland had wire staples in the frames, to keep them from getting too close together or to the ends or sides of the hive. We regarded this arrangement at the time as a wonderful invention; but, strange to tell, almost every bee-keeper, myself among the num- ber, in a very short time went all over the hives, pulled out the staples, and threw them away. Our objection to them was, that they caught on the ends of the frame or sides of the hive when putting them in place and takiiig them out, causing bumps that irritated our hybrids, and s-et them to stinging when they might not have stung had it not been for the wire staples. Ernest suggests, however, at that time there were but few or no out-apiaries. This may make a difference, but I think it well to re- mind the boys of what their fathers did before some of them were hoi-n. ANOTHER OF THE WORtiD'S BENEFACTORS CALLED, Mr. E. N. Root, brother of our proof - reader, " W. P.," who so kindly took me around the city of New York when I visited Peter Henderson, gives UB the sad intelligence of the death of the great florist and market-gardener. We give it in his own words, as follows: Peter Henderson died of pneumonia to-day. May be A. I. R. would like to know it. He was 66. I saw him a few days ago, a big, kindly man, and he seem- ed to have strength to live 30 years yet. So they go ! New York, Jan. 17. E N. B. Perhaps no other one man who ever lived did more to make cultivating the soil popular than did Peter Henderson. His labor was not by any means given solely to building up the great business that takes his name, but it was out of a genuine love for his fellow-men. His books, " Gardening for Profit," " Gardening for Pleasure," etc., are written in such a happy, pleasant, good-natured style, that almost everybody becomes captivated by reading them; and thousands have, through his teachings, not only made tilling the soil profitable, but they have also found health, strength, and happiness, when doctors and medicines had proven to be utter fail- ures. America can justly feel proud of the work he has done, and the whole world has doubtless been made better and happier because he lived and labored for us. Peace to his ashes. »ia? comes out on time as usual, although its work- ers have been placed at a great disadvantage. For several hours to-day the Bee Jmdval office was entirely dfseried, and the door locked— one alt- er another left his post of duty, being unable to longer keep a perpendicular attitude. But we are hopeful that the worst is now passed, and that all will be at their post of duty again soon. A letter from our correspondent, G. M. Doolittle, informs us that he has been gradually coming down to being confined to the house, for six weeks, on ac- count of influenza and a catarrhal affection. Bro. Doolittle says he was throe days in writing his usu- al article which appears in this issue, on the sub- ject of wintering. The grippe has not thus far made a very serious Inroad in our office, and we are in hopes that we may escape it. A number of our employes in the manufactui-ing and packing departments, however, have not been so fortunate. P. S.— Shortly after Ernest dictated the above, he was taken suddenly, while in the office. As nearly as.I can make out, the "grim giant" took his first "grip "on him by the back of the neck. It soon doubled him up over the steam-pipes, and in an hour or two more he was at home in bed. During all his early years his dread malady was earache; but when I went over to see him, he said that, if he had the choice, he would take earache. After suf- fering keenly about 24 hours he sent for the family physician. You know the Root family do not be- lieve in sending for physicians for every trifling malady; but I wish to bear record, that the doctor gave him relief almost immediately; and, by the way, with the large experience most of our physi- cians have had in its treatment, I think they ought to be able now to say just what should or should not be done. Your old friend A. I. R. has not had a touch of it yet; but if it comes, he proposes to send for the doctor, and do exactly as that doctor says. gPECI^Ii pi0¥ICEg. With the view of determining the established price of Japanese buckwheat, 1 would ask all those having It for eale to say how much they have, and how much they will take for it. We may not be able to purchase, as we are already pretty heavily stocked; but when we know how much there is, we can advise better what price is best to put on it. By consulting the seed catalogues you will see they have fixed it at from $1..")0 to $2.00 per bushel, ntail. LA GRIPPE. This has taken serious hold of the friends in the office of the American Bee Journal. In the issue for Jan. 18, the following paragraph shows that the malady got a good " grip " on friend Newman and his oflice-helpeis; but somehow or other the Joio- HEMINGTON TYPE-WRITER FOR SALE. For the sake of uniformity in our office we have adopted the Remington No. 2 type-writer, and con- sequently have a No. 1 of that make for sale. It has been in use here for a number of years, and does \ery good work. It prints capitals only, 70 let- ters to the line. It has a hinged metallic cover. Specimens of the work done on it will be sent on application. We offer It for fSO.OO, packed ready for shipment. This includes a nice stand with hinged leaf, one drawer. It has figures, points, etc. second hand FOUNDATION-MILLS. We have the following second-hand foundation- machines to offer. They are not, of course, as good as new machines; but for those who make their own foundation, they will answer nicely. One Ill-inch foundation-mill at Mt. Vernon, Iowa; has been used some, but is in good condition. Will sell for $15 (X). One a inch foundation-mill here. This is one of the original mills made by Mr. Washburn, and is in good condition. It has a heavy wall, and is better adapted to making brood foundation than any oth- er grade. Will sell for $9.00. ilii GLEANINGS IN BEE CtJLI^URE. FHii. GRAND RAPIDS LETTUCE-SEED WANTED. Tell US how much you have, and what you will take for it. TIN COVERS, 6 CTS. PBH HIVE EXTRA. Owing to the advance in price of tin plate, and al- so an advance in the cost of pine lumber, we can not agree to furnish tin on the covers of Simplicity or Dovetailed hives at the regular price, instead of sending a clear board for cover, as we have some- times done. But for 5 els. extra for each cover, we will include a sheet of tin. The following para- graph is inserted in our catalogue, page 19, just before the list of lO-crates. There is no tin on the covers in ten crates No. 1, 2, 3, 4. and 5. Ten crates No. 10, 30, 30, 40, and 50 are jicst the same except that theij have tin on allthe covers, and the price is 5c. extra each cover, or $4.75 for No. 10, $5.50/0/- No. 30, $6 for No. 30, $7 each for Nos. 40 A .50. THICK TOP-BAR FRAMES. A number of readers have asked if these frames can be used in our regular hives without lowering the rabbet to make room for the extra thickness of the top-bar. To be sure, they can. The end of the top bar is rabbeted out thus: This forms a shoulder I 1 on to which the end-bar is nailed, and also reduces the thickness of the pro- jecting ends to the regular thickness, ■'8 of an inch. "~L ■70B LOT OF WIRE CLOTH. We call the attention of those interested, to our list of green and black wire cloth in our advertising columns. The list has not been published since last May. Within the past few days we have added over a ton more to the lot, so that we now have a lull assortment of widths. As we have by far the largest proportion of Stj inch width, we have de- cided to otfer this in full rolls of 316^., sq. feet, at $:5;)0 per roll, instead of $3.80, the regular price. This will be an inducement for you to take this width, if you can use it as well as any other. HENDERSON'S BUSH LIMA BEAN. There seems to be quite a division of opinion in regard to the value of this for a garden vegetable; but altogether I think it will be planted quite ex- tensively, notwithstanding the price asked by near- ly all the seedsmen; namely, $1.50 per quart. You will notice, also, there is a difference of opinion among the seedsmen. Our friend Maule stylr s it the greatest achievement of the century, in garden- "?°^ Oui" price, postpaid, is $1 15 per quart; but although we have several bushels it may be well to order soon, if you want them at the above pi-ice. WORLD TYPEWRITERS AT THE OLD PRICE. Since the World type-writer was taken by the present manairement, and the price advanced 35 per cent, and the exclusive sale given to agents, we have not sold very many. Desiring to close out the few we have on hand, we offer them at the old price; namely. $8.00 for single case, or those writ- ing all capitals, or .■513 for double ease, or those writing both capitals and small letters. As we have only a few on hand, and as we shall not be able to get any more by offering at above prices, you must be prompt in ordering if you would secure one. MORRISON'S CANDY FOR QUEEN-CAGES. Just as we go to press we get the following from friend Morrison in regard to the queen-cage candy mentioned on page 110. As it seems to be some- thing of much value, we give it a place here. It will also prove equally valuable for bee-candy for winter feeding. To make candy for qiu'en-cages, I take the best extracted honey I i-an get (I have usually used apple-blossom) to our eontectioner, and tell him to make it up into " cream candy " by boiling with sugar, usint; not a particle of glucose or water, and to be particular to avoid the least scorching in the work. II the candy should be too stiff, a little honey can be kneaded into It; if too thin, work in a little pulverized sugar, lean provision cages with this candy now for all the coming sum- mers use i and in the cages so prepared now, I can success- ully semi queens on journeys of 14 to 20 days, next September. 1 do not think it will be well for novices to attempt to make it, but rathei- to give these directions to an experienced maiiii- acturer, and pay him for what he has taken many days to learn. Before putting the candy into ray cages I pour into the space boiling wax, and immediately pour it out again, leaving the wood nicely covered. I have made my candy as al>ove;for three years past. S. AV. Morrison. Oxford, Pa , Jan. 26. NOVELTIES TESTED BY US IN 1889, AND PRONOUNC- ED WORTHY OF A PLACE IN OUR 1890 CAT- ALOGUE. We have added to our catalogue of seeds for 1890 the following vegetables as worthy of a place: Henderson's New Bush Lima Bean. Fottler's Brunswick Cabbage. New Rose Celery. Emerald Gem Melon. White Victoria Onion. Early Puritan Potato. Early Sugar Pumpkin. Chinese Rose Winter Radish. Giant Summer Crookneck Squash. Ignotum Tomato. Lorilland Tomato. Peach Tomato. These were all described In our condensed cata- logue, given In our last issue, except the following, which we describe here: Emerald Oem Melon.— This is a small one, say from IH to 3 lbs. The skin is of a deep emerald green, and the flesh is of a salmon color— very deli- cious. My way is to eat it with a spoon, scraping the melon clear down to the rind. Of course, they want to be well ripened. I believe I should call it the most delicious of all muskmelons. Price 10c per oz. ; $1.50 per pound. White Victoria Onion. — In my description in our last, I omitted to say that this onion, besides being valuable for bunch onions, when given room and proper culture grows to an Immense size. Single specimens last season reached the enormous size of 4 pounds. One-fourth ounce, SOc; oz., 65c; lb. $8.00. Oiant Summer Crookneck Squash. — This squash is as early as the ordinary crooknecks, and in every way equal; but are of such size that one squash will make a dinner, even when soft and tender; and one good thrifty plant will almost supply a family. Ounce, 15c; pound, $1.75. Peach Tomato. —These are quite early, look nice (can hardly be told from peaches), and sell well when put into new quart strawberry-boxes. We sold them last season at 5 cts. per quart. They never rot, and in quality are excelled by none. Small size is their only fault. Oz. 35c; lb. $3.00. Of course, the above are also all sold in .50 pkgs. BEES. South Florida, queens. Eight years' experience. I am better prepared than ever before to fill orders promptly, aud guar- antee satisfaction and safe arrival. Tested Italian queens, $1..50; untested, 7.5c, or $8.00 per dozen. I make a specialty of shipping in time for Northern fruit-bloom, four-frame (L. and S. wired) nuclei, full of bees and hatching brood, with queen, at $4.00. Ready to mail or ship, as climate permits. 3tfdb LUTHER W. GRAY, Orlando, Fla. ^^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. QUEENS! EARLY! QUEENS! Italian queens promptly shipped after April Ist. April I to June 1. After June 1. Tested queens $3 00 $1 75 Untested ICO 90 Three Untested 3 75 3 60 Two-frame Nucleus with Untested Queens after April 1st, $3.50. We use the Simp, frame and guar- antee safe arrival, etc. Circulars free. Make money orders payable at Clifton. Address 3d COLWiCK & CoLwiCK, Norse, Bosque Co., Texas. ^^In responding to this advertisement mention Glkanincs. POP CAI C —Bottom For Cash. See Exchange run OHUt. Column. H. L GRAHAM, 3 4d Letts, Louisa Co., Iowa. ALSIKE CLOVER, The time for sowing alsike seed is nearing. It is usually sown in the latter part of February and during March. We have a large stock of very nice seed, which we offer as follows: 18 cts. per lb.; by mail. 9 cts. extra; $3.00 per peek; $3.90 per V4 bush- el; $7.50 per bushel. In lots of 5 bushels or more, $7.00 per bushel. Bags are included in every case. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. 1890 (CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE]. lis $l.50 REVERSIBLE 8-FRAME LANCSTROTH HIVE. J. B.WlLi 0\, - - M AMSTJEJ^:, MICH. Wants or Exchange Department. DThis department is designed primarily to cover questions either not already answered in the A B C of Bee Culture (price in cloth 81.25), or, if incorporated in this work, are here dwelt upon more in detail on account of the importance of the question. While these answers arc of vital interest to the ABC scholars, they will doubtless be found, in many in- stances, to be of considerable value to the more advanced student. LForlack of space, the questiunCitself, instead of be ing directly stated, is omitted, the same beinti- implied in the answer. It is hoped that the class will first consult their textbook before sending in their questions. WANTED.— To exchange a Winchester rifle, re- peater, shoots 'Z'Z long; shoots ~3 times, for a second-liand foot-power Barnes saw, for hive- making. J. W. Croskey, Layland, Coshocton Co., O. WANTED.— To correspond with some one who would like to spend a season in a Colorado apiary. D. L. Tracy, 3d Alsike Apiary, Longmont, Boulder Co., Colo. WANTED.— To exchange tor land or stock mer- chandise, a first-class apiary, 17.') colonies. No better location. Crop, past season, 18,000 lbs. Bees need not be moved. Every thing complete, ready for business. Found. -machines, -t-horse-power, etc. Good trade direct with consumers. Give particu- lars for particulars. H. L Graham, 3-45 1 Letts, Louisa Co., la. WANTED —To exchange for comb or strained honey of good quality, one feed-grinder worth JlfSf) 00. Can be operated by an ordinary wind-mill, and warranted to do good work. Address American C.\rp Culture, Alliance, O. WANTED.— To exchange pedigreed Poland China pigs, for Italian bees, to be delivered in the spring. N. A. Kn.\pp, 3d Rochester, Lorain Co., O. WANTED.- Situation with some supply-dealer, apiarist, or honey-merchant, by an experi- enced apiarist. J. B. Henderson, 3d Honey's Point, Ohio Co., W. Va. WANTED.— Situation to take charge or work in an apiary in either of the following States: Teiuiessee, Virginia, Arkansas, Te.vas, Nebraska, Missouri. Understand the business in all its branches; also farming, or can do any kind of hon- orable work. Best of references given; 18 years with bees and farming. Address Bo.k ~.5, Gallup- vlUe. N. Y. 3d WANTED.— To exchange 1000 new bee-hives, all complete, for bees, or will furnish hives, sec- tions, and foundation for share of the honev, to parties living in Maryland, Virginia, or West Vir- ginia. Write for particulars to 3tfdb F. Danzenbaker, 1301 K. St., N. W., Washington, D. C. WANTED.— To exchange at a bargain, 40 or 80 acres of timber land, for bees. 3d .T. L. (OLE, Carlton Center, Barry Co., Mich. WANTED. Situation. Over ten years' experience with bees; also practical caponizer. Corres- pondence solicited. R. R. Cuvler. ^ d Rapidan, Culpeper Co , Va. WANTED.— To exchange a 3 horse-i>ower engine and boiler, for type-writer, or offers. 3 d W. S. Wright, Battle Creek, Mich. WANTED. To exchange raspberry and 'straw- berry plants, standard vsirieties, for extracted honey. 3d L. S. Rogers, Bowling Green, (>. WANTED.— To exchange bees in S. hive, or by the pound, for amateur photograph outfit, turn- ing-lathe, blacksmith's drill, gent's saddle, or offers, F. W. Stevens, 3-4d Moore's Hill, Dearborn Co., lad. W offers 3d ANTED.— To exchange a new Daisy incubator. Wm. J. Valentine, Hagerstown, Washington Co., Md. WANTED.— To exchange bees for supplies; also to rent or let an apiary, location good. If not let by March 1, 1 want a man for 1890. A. E. Woodward. 3 4d Grooms Corners, Sar. Co., N. V. WANTED. To exchange bees and queens, for Barnes saw. Novice extractor, honey-knife, and E.xcelsior printing-press with 5i4x9,'2-in. chase. 3-lld S. A. Shuck, Liverpool, Ills. WANTED. — Beehelp for 1890. One man with e.vperit'iice, and two desiring to learn the practical part of apiculture. Must be strictly tem- perate. State wages expected, and other particu- lars. 3 6db S. 1. Freeborn, Ithaca, Wis. WANTED.— To exchange for honey, photograph outfit, musical instruments, guns, etc , one 240egg self-regulating, one 50egg iion-regulatiDg incubator; one Monarch brooder, ~00 chicks; one brooder, 50 chicks. A bargain for some one. 3d J. T. Fletcher, Clarion, Pa. WANTflD.— To exchange Gregg, Souhegan, Early Ohio, and Tyler raspberiy-plants, Warfield, Bubach. Jessie, May King, and Hoffman strawberry- plants, A No. I plants, and true to name, for sec- tions, honey, beeswax, or pear-trees. Satisfaction guaranteed. E. T. Flanagan,' Belleville, Ills. 3-5-7d WANTED.— To exchange a few trios of White Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks, for founda- tion and 1-lb. sections. These are very fine stock. '.Jtfdb T. G. ASHMEAD, Williamson, N. Y. WANTED.- To exchange honey for beeswax. We will take beeswax in exchange for honey in any quantity. Will give three pounds for one. Write for particulars. Chas. Dadant & Son, IStfdb Hamilton, Hancock Co., 111. W ANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange 300 colonies o^ bees, in S. hives, for any thing useful on plantation, lifdb Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange young Italian queens for 1-lb. sections or foundation-mill. Queens ready to ship now, by first mail. I guarantee satis- faction. J. W. Taylor, 3 3-4 Ozan, Hempstead Co., Ark. WANTED. — I5y an experienced apiarist, a large apiary on shares; or would purchase, if little cash is required down. Address G., Box 33((. Williamson, N. Y. WANTED.— To correspond with parties having potatoes, apples, onions, cabbage, or honey, to sell or consign. All letters promptly answered. Earle Clickknger, 3-3d No. 119 South Fourth St., Columbus, O. WANTED ! ! ! I want a man to take charge of an apiary. F. D.Lacy, 3'.5db Nirvana, Lake Cb., Micli. WANTED.— Situation with bee-man, by a young man 25 years of age, four years' experience. 2d H. Dexter, Preston, Grant Co., Wis. WANTED.— To exchange Turner red-raspberry plants for strawberry-plants, peach-trees, or bee-supplies. Earle Cl.ickenger, 2 3d No. 119 South Fourth St.. Columbus, ( ). W ANTED.— To exchange 100 cherry trees for 30 warranted queens or 4000 dovetailed sections. 3d Jas. Hallenbeck, Altamont, Albany Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange choice Italian queens, Stanley Automatic Honey-Extractor, large size (new), Heddon hives, or full colonies of Italian bees, for a combined Barnes foot-power saw. 3tfdb E. D. Keeney, Arcade, Wyoming Co., N. Y. 114 GLEANINGS IN i3£E CULTUBE. EEfi. Our 1890 ' Catalogue is BETTEH THAN EVEK. A complete GnrcloiiCiuide.rull DON'T ixj to TiEa-sr the ''MIAMI," SEEDS VeKetiibIco, Flowors, BuU't necessary for the garrteu is mailed FKEE H' 1 who aiplv if they mention thio paper. li pri<'ew U»wer, quality hiuher. better (aeili- tiliioL' iiri|ir~ (Tomptly, generous treatment and over 40 vearK Sr( tl l-'ru-m <\iirrience enables us to please von. A. W.LIVINOSTON'S SONS.Box SrS.COLlTURUS.O. t^lii reapoiicling- to this advei ti^tiinrit mention Glfanings. SOXjX> XIV 3.&&&y .A-TViy ready to sell in 1890, all kinds of Bee-lieepers' Sup- plies, Bees, Queens, etc. Send your address and receive our circular. JNO. NEOEL. A: SON, 3tfdb High Hill, Mo. I3r\n resiioiidinsr to this advertisement mention Gi,kanin(:s. THE BEST LATE STRAWBERRY ON EARTH ! FINE LITHOGRAPH. HONEST TESTIMONIALS. ALSO OTHER VALUABLE VARIETIES, GENERAL NURSERY STOCK For sale. Send address for prices, description, etc. J. D. KRUSCHKE, BOX 824, PIQUA, O. 3 4d lt^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. SEEDS. Six pkts. of my choicest Flower Seeds, 10c. Beautiful catalog free. F. B. MILLS, Thorn Hill, N. Y. N*^ The Public Want ?Sr~^*^T5 -SEED - '«. Their seed fresh and true. Would they not be most likely to obtain such by buying directly from the gruwer? I can buyseed at hall \v]iat it costs me to raise it, but, could not sleep sound .-c;i3^ should I warrant seed of this class. For tlie same reason I make special effort to procure seed stock (directly from their originators. You will find in my new seed catalogue for 1890 (sent free), the usual extensive collection (with the prices of some kinds lower than last season) and the really new vegetables of good promise. You should be able to get from me, their introducer, good seed of Cory Corn, Miller Melon, Hubbard .Squash, All Seasons and Deep Head Cabbages and many oth^r valuable vegetables, which I havj introduced. JAMES J. H. GKEGOKY, Marbleliead, Mass. rr.Uhi.-u.lv ilion Ri.K. RERUM COGNOSCERE CAUSAS, To know tlic Cauities ol' Tbiitgft. is the key to Success in any industry. II you wisti to succeed in the Oee Uitsiuee>i«, you must read and become acquainted with the most Successful Methods of Bee-Man ajjement and Honey-Production. LANGSTROTH'S AVORK, REVISED BY DADANT, Contains the result of practical experience with Bees. It g-ives the Physiology of the Bee, with nu- merous Cliiotatioiis from the latest Scientific Writers, the Description of the best Hivei>«, Direc- tions for the Proper Management and Handing of Bees; the most Practical Metliods of Queen - Rearing, Swarniiitg (Natural and Artificial), with controlling methods: instructions on Estab- lishing Apiaries, Transferring, Shipping, Mailing, Feeding, Wintering; the best methods of producing Comb and Extracted Honey, the Handling and Harvesting of Honey, the Making of Comb Founda- tion, etc., etc. The instructions for the Rendering of Bees- wax are alone worth the price of the Book, to many bee-keepers who waste a part of their wax in rendering it. This book, "the most complete ever published," is shortly to be published in the French, Italian, and German Iianguages, by Practical European Apia- rists. It is highly recommended by all publishers of Bee-Literature in the Old World as well as in the New. Clotli Bindint:. .5.50 Pages, 199 Engravings, 19 Full-Page Plates. Gilt front and back. This book is an Ornament to any Library. Price: By Express, $1.85. By mail, prepaid, $2.00. Special prices to Dealers who wish to ad- vertise it in their circulars. l^^We also offer for Sale, 20,000 I.bs. of Honey, of our crop of 1889; 25 Tons of Comb Foundation, Smokers. Bee-Veils of Imported Ma- terial, etc. Send for Circular. Address 3tfdb CHAS. DADANT &. SON, Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illinois. t^Iii responding to this .-wlvei tiseim iil mention Gleanings. SEEDS 8ARDEN,FL0WER&FIELD. POTATOES, FKPIT TREES. l"i,ANTS iind VINKS, atlthe best kinds. lilK N'lCW ClIKKANT "CraniiuU," a fruit speciaH)/. Our Free C'utaloBue is a Novelty all should have, as it gives .Ircurate Descriptions and Fiiir rrlces, instead of hum- hast and exaggeration — too common. Send your address on a postal for it at once. FRANK KOKD & SON, RnTenna, Ohio. C^In responUini; to this aiivei tiseiiieiit mtiitioii GLKANINGS. Ho! Ye in Dixie Land! LEARN SOMETHING NEW Of Interest to You in my New 1890 Catalogue Enlarged, and prices reduced. It gives LOW SPECIAL FREIGHT RATES to many Southern points, especially to points in TEXAS. Southern Jiee-Keepers, Send for it NO W. J. M. JENKINS, - Wetumpka, Ala. ^^In respotuling to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Sugar Grove Thoroughbred-Poultry Farm. 60 Ply. Rooks, Wyaudottes, Langslians, Mottled Javas, and AVliite Ply. Rock. Cockerels, at $1.50 Each. A Few Ply. Rock and Wyandotte Pullets, 75c Eacli. ^Satisfaction Ouaranteed. W. H. SWIGART, - Lee Co., - DIXON. ILL. t^ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. SFND $1.25 TO THOmAS GEDYE, Kang- ley. 111., for a sample of his AU-Metnl Sep- arator, or $11 50 per 1000, and be convinced that they are the cheapest and best out. At present I have them for combined crates and T supers only. Supply-dealers, please send for prices on large quantities, cut or uncut. Itfdb 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE. lie Contents of this Number. Alfalta in Idaho 132 Alfalfa. Plowing Under UO Antomatic Swarming 133 Bee-hunting in 1857 129 Bees Fighting 140 Bees Neai' a Road 148 Bottom bars. Building to. . .129 Bottom-boards, Invertible . . 124 Braee-oomhs 126 Brantford Convention 134 Brood-nest, Size of..(Q. B.).140 Ohitties of Burma 127 Chinese Industrial School. .136 Chunk Honey, To Sell 137 Fi-ames, Mov'e, in France. ..147 Honey by Freight 147 Honey, Marketing 123 Honey-board in Swarm'g...l37 House-apiaries in 1890 132 Japanese Buckwheat 139 Madison Convention 145 Moving Bees 126 Nectar. Digest*?d 130 Nomenclature 133 Printing Your Name 139 Questions Answered 133 Sections, Oiien-side 139 Top-bai-s. Thick 126, 131 Top-bars, Wide 140 Vandeusen Frames 137 FOR PURE ITALIAN REES, POLAND- China Swine, White and Black Ferrets, White Kabbits, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, and Mallard Ducks. Address N. A. KNAPP, 4tfdb Rochester, .Lorain Co., Ohio* FIRST-CIiASS RROOD - FRAIflES cut to order, any size. Per 100, $1.00; 500, f4 75: 1000, $9.00. C. W. Vanhouten, Smithfleld, Ful. Co., 111. nraAIJ TDCCC Wholesale and Retail. ■'tBun I llCCO Send for prices. * fc»»WII 4.5cj E. s. JOHNSTON. Stockier, Delaware. For Sale.— For cash, cheap, or trade for a pood piece of land, from .50 to 200 colonies of Italian bees in the Quinby hive, and a few in Root's Simplicity. Too much work, with other business. 2tfdb G. Hakseim, Secor, Woodford Co., Ills. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. We are prepared to furnish bee-keepers with sup- plies promptly, and at greatl.v reduced rates. Es- timates gladly furnibhed, and correspondence so- licited. Our goods are unexcelled in quality and workmanship. Italian Queens aud Rees at a very low price. Send for large illustrated price list, free. Alloy's Queen and Drone Trap and Swarm Hiver always on hand. A. F. STAUFFER & CO.. .'Otfd Sterling, 111. (C^ln responding to this advertisement mention GLEANiNas. PDRETt1l1ANBEES& QUEENS. Full colonies and nuclei, per frame, 60c. Tested queens. f2.0U; after June 1, fl.oO. Untested queens, $1.00; after June 1, 7.5c. Remit by postofflce money order, registered letter, or draft on New York. For any other information, address C. AV. JONES & CO., 4 9db Rryaut Station, Maury Co., Tenn. (^"Iii responding to tlii.-^ I'Mt niL-ntiun Hi.EANlNGS. Carniolan Queens ^f° Bees a Specialty. The co-partnership of Andrews & Lockbart is now closed, and the senior partner (who has bred those queens and bees for six years) will breed queens and bees from imported mothers, in the season of 189J, and will sell, the 1st of June, untest- ed at $\.(X}; one-half dozen at $5.00; one dozen at $9.00. The tested, the 15th of June, $2.00; one-half dozen, 15ih of June, $10.00. Ail queens above the untested will be put into one class, and sold as tested at $2 00, of next year's breeding. I expect to have queens of last year's breeding, which I will sell on the 10th of May, tested, 12.50; one-half dozen, $12.00. Send for circular. l-6db .TOHN Andrews, Pattens Mills, Wash. Co., N. Y. lyin responding to this adverti.senient mention i;i i Boess The Canadian Bee Journal and Poultry Weekly is the best paper extant devoted to these specialties. 24 pages, WEEKLY, at $1.00 per year. Live, prac- tical, interesting. Nothing stale in its columns. Specimen copies free. Subscribers paying in ad- vance are entitled to two insertions of a five-line adv't (40 words) in the Exchange and Mart column. TEE D. A. JONES CO., BESTON, ONTABIO, OAN. Ei)iiii)es& Boilers. Complete Outfit, or Engine Alone. The Best and Most Sub- stantial Engine Made. Fully guaranteed. Send for circular and price list. Mention this paper. MEDINA ENGINE CO., sotfdb Medina, Ohio. Z.002S ZISRS! Ree-Keepers and Frult-Groivers, before you order your supplies for 1890, send for my^cata- logue and price list of Ree-Keepers' Supplies and Strawberry Plants. Twenty-flve approved varieties grown for this season's trade. Prices reasonable. Rees and Queens for sale; $1.00 queens a specialty. Address F. W. liAMM, 24-23db (Box lu6.) Soniervllle, Rutler Co., Olilo. 0*ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Light Brahmas and Laced Wyandottes. Standard, high-scoring males, $1.50 and upward. Eggs from show birds $1.50 per clutch, after the 7th of April. SiGEL F. Gross, Atwood 111. 3-4d FOR SiiZiEI One of the best located apiaries in Iowa, 150 Colonies, in Langstroth hives. Handsome two- story frame residence. Twenty acres land. All necessary out-buildings. Also fine flock White Wy- andottes. Two cows, nice span driving horses. Nev- er a failure of honey. White clover, basswood, gold- en-rod, buckwheat, etc. House nearly new, nicely decorated paper, a very pleasant home. Price S2500. C. A. SAYRE, 23tfdb Sargent, Floyd Co., lo^va. C^ln responding to this advertisement mention GLKANDJGa. For Sale.— 40 colonies of Italian and hybrid bees in Simp, hives, mostly on wired frames. All in good condition, with plenty of stores. No foul brood ever in our county. Gustave Gross, Stfdb Greenville, Bond Co. Ills. Eaton's Improved Bees and Queens. Send for ■ free catalogue. Address FRANK A. EATON, Rluffton, Ohio. C^lu responding to tliis advertisement mention OJLKARiNcis. He SuP'^Tlie Sup-Busl THIS IS A NEW BOOK BY AUTHOR OF THE BEE-KEEPEH'S GUIDE, INJURIOUS IN- SECTS OE MICHIGAN, 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 -*e PROFUSELY 4^ ILLUSTRATED, e^ And all the difficult points in regard to making the very best quality of Maple Syrup and Maple Su- gar are very fuU.v explained. All recent inven- tions in apparatus, and methods of making this delicious product of the farm, are fully described. f>ft.XOX:i 3S Crm.f lay AXail, 38 Cts. A. I. ROOT, - - nedina, O. 120 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Feb! KIND WORDS FROM OUR GUSTOMIIRS. I just opened Gleanings for Dec. ]5. Jt is a " daisy " number. Those pictures would make al- most anybody feel like going into the bee-business. O'Quinn, Tex., Dec. 23. J. C. Melcher. LEADER SHEARS. I like those Leader shears so well that I want my friends to have some like them. Please send me three pairs more. I. N. Pearson. Normandy, Tenn^ I received the 4 boxes yesterday. The hives are fine. I sold two of them before I got them togeth- er. I think I can sell several of them. I charge $4.00 for them complete. J. B. Cougill. McArthur, O., Dec. 19, 1889. DOVETAILED HIVES BEST AND SIMPLEST. The goods I ordered of you came all right. The Dovetailed hives are the simplest and he.st I ever saw. Willie Douglass. Lexington, Texas, Jan. 25. grand RAPIDS LETTUCE-PLANTS. Those lettuce plants ordered about a month ago came to hand verij promptly, and in the best of con- dition. Every plant grew, and many are now about 6 inches tall. S. F. Herman. Tuscaloosa, Ala.,. Dee. 31. OUR *13 00 SEWING-MACHINE AS GOOD AS A $50.00 MACHINE. We received the machine last Monday in good order. We are pleased with it, and glad to speak of you as an honest Christian man. My neighbors were here to look at the machine. They think it is as good as a fifty-dollar machine. Gehrton Sta., Pa., Jan. 23. De Forest Truax. OUR CHRISTMAS NUMBER. I drop you a few lines to thank you for those beautiful pictures of different apiaries, for there is a good lesson in every one of them, already ex- plained in Gleanings. The December 15th issue is the best Christmas present 1 ever received; and those goods I ordered came all in good shape. Thanks. Seth Nelson. Wistar, Pa., Jan. 1. gleanings as an ADVERTISING MEDIUM. Afr. Root:— Please say to the friends, that I re- ceived more communications in answer to myad't in Gleanings, Nov. 1, than I caa reply to. S. W. White, of Missouri, has taken the position as as- sistant in Rattlesnake apiary; Thomas H. Mills, of Sarnia, Canada, will take charge of my apiary No. 3. Cameron, Texas. E. Y. Terkal. Judge of Milam Co. WHAT AN artist THINKS OF OUR PICTURE GAL- LERY. I desire by these few lines to extend to you my most hearty thanks for the Picture Gallery, as per supplement. I appreciate it very much indeed; first, because it not only sugerests to us various ideas of bee-keepers, but it presents to us one of the first albums of apiaries, perhaps, published in the world, and not only so, but they are engravings of a high grade of excellence. Reinersville, O., Dec. 23. J. A. Golden, Artist. BUSINESS AND RELIGION. You seem to mix your religion in with your busi- ness. 1 like the mixture. Josh Billines said a man needed as much religion when he measured his onions as he did when he " hollered glory hallelu- yer!" I think he needs a little more. If there were a little religion mixed in all business transac- tions, it would be better for all parties concerned. I owe you a debt of gratitude for what I have learned from Gleanings and your ABC book. 1 am sorry 1 did not get hold of them years ago. I have a fine herd of cattle here; and if I succeed with the bees 1 shall have my old cotton plantation flowing with milk and honey, on a small scale. Bees gather honey very rapidly in the spring and early summer from white clover, poplar (or tulip) tree, and bas.swood. When these fail there is noth- ing for them to gather. T. N. Bedford. Fayette, Mius., Dec. 30. gleanings GROWING BETTER ; TOBACCO COLUMN. I believe Gleanings is growing better from year to year, and from month to month, and it comes to us away here in the Rocky Mountains so regularly that we always know in just what mail to look for it. 1 read it with great interest, particular- ly Our Homes; and your Tobacco Column is doing a great deal of good. I hope no criticism of your course will dampen your ardor in that line. 1 veri- ly believe that the remarks of Dr. Mason, at the In- ternational Convention, on hobby-riding, as re- ported by Ernest, resounded more to the glory of God than any tobacco-smoking ever indulged in by man. Mrs. Laura A. Nevins. Silver Cliff, Col., Dec 25. 1889. TWO HONEY QUEENS IN A BENTON CAGE TO CALIFORNIA. I received the two honey queens ordered from .^ou Oct. 22d. in the midst of a very rainy spell. They were only 8 dajs in transit, (jpo cage had one dead bef>; the other, none that I could see. The queens are lively, but \ had to wait till next day to introduce, on account of rain. I christened the queens "Medina" and "Alice." I caged Medina Oct. 23, on brood and honey, 24 hours after remov- ing queen. Oct. 25 I released her. Returning in an hour I found her "balled." and took her out. Oct. 26 I caged her in another hive, immediately after removing queen; released her Nov. ]. She is doing well. I had less trouble with Alice. I caged her the 24th, as soon as the other queen was removed, and released her the 26th. She has quite a show of progeny now, and they have certainly stored some honey this month in recently vacated brood cells. The weather here is extremely wet. I am specially pleased with the religious tone of Gleanings, and don't want to miss a single num- ber. I want to encourage you to persevere, as the Lord may lead, in your warfare airainst tobacco. Whittier, Cal., Dec. 24. Allen Barnett. KIND WORDS FROM A BROTHER IN TEXAS. Brother Roof .-—I love to read the pieces you write, under the head of Myself and My Neighbors. It is about the first thing I read, when Gleanings comes in with such a bright smiling face. I should just about as soon do without my breakfast as to fail to get Gleanings. You may wonder why I call you "brother." It is because Christ, in his in- finite love and mercy, has found me, a wanderer, and has been pleased to turn my steps heavenward. It has been about three months since I became a member of a church. I am now 40 years old. I have been afflicted a good deal, and have been near death's door several times, and it has always been a mystery to me why I was spared. But since I have become a Christian, and, as I hope and be- lieve, a better man. it seems plainer why I was spared; and if I could be the happy means of in- ducing some other mortal to come to Christ, then I should have lived to some purpose. And you, Bro. Root, in your writings in Gleanings, have exerted an influence for good, not only in my case, but I hope in many others; and may God spare you and yours many long years, to cast bread, as it were, upon the waters, that may return after many days. Crowley, Tex., Dec 14. W. A. Cartmell. SOME KIND WORDS FROM AUSTRALIA. In a price list of apiarian goods published by Walters & Co.. of Adelaide, Australia, we find the followinsrin regard to our A B C book and Glean- ings. The kind word-* are the more appreciated because they come unsolicited from our unknown friends in the southern part of the globe. " As a text-book, the A B C of Be^ Culture stands unrivaled, beinff a cyclopedia of 400 pages and 250 illustrations. It is arranered in alphabetical form, so that any subject it is desired to refer to may be quickly and readily found. This alone is a great recommenation." Of Gleanings they say: " Gleanings is one of the greatest helps in the apiary procurable, besides containing a lot of other useful matter on various home subjects. It is nice- ly printed on toned paper, and contains many illus- trations." 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 121 Wants or Exchange Department. TTTANTED.— To exchange 1000 new bee-hives, all VV complete, for bees, or will furnish hives, sec- tions, and toundation. for share of the honey, to parties living' in Maryland, Virginia, or West Vir- ginia. Write for particulars to F. Danzenbaker, 1301 K. St., N. W., Washington, D. C. WANTED.— To e.xchange for land or stock mer- chandise, aflrst-class apiary, 17.5 colonies. No better location. Crop, past season, 18,000 lbs. Bees need not be moved. Every thing complete, ready for business. Found. -machines, 4-hor8e-i)Ower. etc. Good trade direct with consumers. Give particu- lars for particulars. H. L. Graham, ^3-45» Letts, Loui.sa Co., la. WANTED —To exchange for comb or strained honey of good quality, one feed-grinder worth f 25 00. Can be operated by an ordinary wind-mill, And warranted to do good work. Address American Carp Culture, Alliance, O. WANTED.— To exchange bees in S. hive, or by the pound, for amateur photograph outfit, turn- ing-lathe, blacksmith's drill, gent's saddle, or offers. F. W. Stevens, 3-4d Moore's Hill, Dearborn Co., Ind. WANTED— To exchange bees for supplies; also to rent or let an apiary, location good. If not let by March 1, 1 want a man for 1890. A. E. Woodward. •3 4d Grooms Corners, Sar. Co., N. Y. WANTED. — To exchange bees and queens, for Barnes saw. Novice extractor, honey-knife, and Excelsior printing-press with o'/ixO'^'-iii. chase. ■3-lld S. A. Shuck, Liverpool, Ills. WANTED. — Beehelp for 1890. One man with experience, and two desiring to learn the practical part of apiculture. Must be strictly tem- perate. State wages exppcted, and other particu- lars. 3 6db S. 1. Freeborn, Ithaca, Wis. WANTED —To exchange Gregg, Souhegan, Early Ohio, and Tyler raspberry-plants, Wartield, Bubach, Jessie, May King, and Hoffman strawberry- plants, A No. 1 plants, and true to name, for sec- tions, honey, beeswax, or pear-trees. Satisfaction giiaranteed. E. T. Flanagan, Belleville, Ills. 3-5-7-d WANTED.— To exchange honey for beeswax. We will take beeswax in exchangefor honey in any quantity. Will give three pounds for one. Write for particulars. Chas. Dadant & Son, IStfdb Hamilton, Hancock Co., 111. WANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange 200 colonies of bees, in S. hives, for any thing useful on plantation. Itfdb Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange young Italian queens for 1-lb. sections or foundation-mill. Queens ready to ship now, by first mail. I guarantee satis- faction. J. W. Taylor, 3 3-4 Ozan, Hempstead Co., Ark. WANTED ! ! ! 1 want a man to take charge of an apiary. F. D. Lacy, 2-5db Nirvana, Lake Co., Midh. ANTED.— To exchange 40 acres of good farming land, for bees; also other property. A. P. Day, Newaygo, Mich. ANTED.— To exchange foundation, for beeswax. Sample on application. Avery's Island Apiary, Avery, La. WANTED.— Kansas land, 320 acres, first quality, improved, for a small place suitable for apiary or for other town property. Also books for bee- supplies. 4d Lock Box .545, Olathe, Kan. W W WANTED.— To exchange a nice white bull-terrier pup. grapevines, blackberry-plants, asparagus- plants, and a lot of carpenter's tools, for S. or L. hives in Hat, wired frames, foundation, or 3-frame nuclei. F. T. Weatherville. 4d Jonesvllle, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange from one to 1000 books, of new publication, for bees and apiarian fix- tures. F. D. Lacy, Nirvana, Lake Co., Mich. 4tfdb WANTED.— I want a small-size baling-press, for which I will exchange folding paper boxes, Italian bees, hives, extractors, or job printing. 4-.5d A. O. Crawford, S. Weymouth, Mass. WANTED.— To exchange nursery stock for shot- gun or lawn-mower. Geo. Gould, 4-56d Villa Ridge, Pulaski Co., 111. WANTED.- Foot-powercircular saw, Barnes com- plete preferred; must be cheap. F. H.Scott, 4d Gaylord, Otsego Co., Mich. WANTED —To exchange honey for L. Brahma or S. C. W. Leghorn hens. W. T. F. Petty & Son, 4d Pittsfleld, Pike Co., 111. WANTED.— Help. I wish to correspond with some young man who has had some experi- ence in modern bee-keeping, but who does not know it all. A suitable person, who is temperate, industrious, and has a liking for bee-keeping, can find a good situation as a helper. C. H. Dibbern, 4d Milan, 111. WANTED.— To exchange one Ply. Rock male and six female birds of thoroughbred stock— all in their second year— for comb foundation, Japanese buckwheat, or offer. F. Greiner, Naples, N. Y. 4d WANTED.— To exchange Ply. Rock. Langshan, and Wyandotte cockerels /or Wyandotte hens, thoroughbred. Correspondence solicited. 45d W. H. Swigart, Dixon, 111. WANTED.— To exchange a house and lot in Clif- ton, Kan., worth $650, encumbered with $2.50 mortgage, for 50 colonies Italian bees, and $100 worth of bee-hive stuff, all to be delivered at Otta- wa. Kan. For particulars write to J. R. Barnhard, Centropolis, Frank. Co., Kan. WANTED.— Situation. A young married man of 26 years, without children, wishes a situation with a good Christian bee-man, to work with bees, and do light farm work. A supply-dealer who makes his own supplies preferred, as I have had 10 years' experience with wood-working machinery. W. H. Dickinson, Deep River, Conn. WANTED.— To exchange |1 setting of eggs, from prize stock, your choice of 14 varieties, for bee-smoker. Bee-book wanted. List free. Ohio Poultry Y.^rds, Sherwood, O. WANTED.— To exchange the best style of brood- frame on earth, tor empty cards; also V- grooved sections at $2.50 per 1000, for empty cards. 4d J. B. Murray, Ada, O. GARNIOLAN QUEENS, Bred from ambrozic and Benton Imported 1889 Queens. Ctrettldv of Siij)2)lies | J. B. Kline's Apiary, Topeka, Kas. (itnl Oueens. t^In responflinK to this adv it mention Gleanings. THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS IN <;KOW■^(,i SITIALL. FRUITS, And Catalogue of Narieties, New and Old. 1 offer bargams in Plant and Garden seed Collections. 4d I. A. WooLL, Elsie, Mich. ([^■Iii responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. UNTESTED ITAIilAN QUEENS AT $1, and 4 frame nuclei at $3 .50, after May 1st. Send in orders now. 4-lOdb S. J. WAKEFIELD, Autreville, S. C. 122 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. REMOVED, from Coburg to RED OAK, IOWA, my entire factory for We have the largest steam-power shops In the West, exclusively used to make everything needed In the Apiary, of practical con- struction and at the lowest prices. Italian bees, queens, 13 styles of Hives; Sections, Honey-Extractors, Bee-Smokers, Feeders, Comb Wholesale and Retail. Foundation, and everything used by bee-keepers, always on hand. 40-page Illustrated catalogue free to all. 4tfdb Address E. KKETCHMEK, Red Oak. Iowa. tF"Ia responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. BEE SUPFLIES. m URPEESsi^psBESj it is possible to produce by constant, most critical care, and are WARRAXTEIJ, — ft-TV equal ami none l>etter. Handsomely illustrated CATAliOGtJE, with colored plates painted from nature, of RARE KOVELTIESot sterling merit, mailed FREE to any address. W. AT LEE BURPEE & CO., Philadelphia, Pa. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. TILLINCHAST'S NEW FLORAL ALBUM Is not a seed catalogue but a magnificent volume containing 270 Elegantly Colored Plates, making; tlie most Beautiful and Extensive rollectiou of Floral liltkograplis ever published. Tlie first copy cost over $2000.00. I will mail one copy for Intro- duction on receipt of 50 cents. ISAAC F. TILLINOHAST, La Plume, Pa. IC^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Choice Seed, $5.50 Per Bush. Silver Wyandotte and B. Leghorn eggs, 75c per 13, or $1.00 for 26. Stock unsurpassed. C. M. GOODSPEED, Tborn Hill, IV. Y. t^"In responding to tliis advevtisenuiit mention Gleanings. BEES FOR SALE COLONIES, NUCLEI, AND QUEENS, at living rates. Send for circular and price list to C. C. VAUGHN & CO., '''''"> Columbia, Tenii. 0"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. MUST SELL! 50 Colonies Italian Bees at $5.00 each, f. o. b.. in 8f rame L. hives, telescope caps. Most of the combs built on fdn. in wired frames. Thpse bees were very heavy in stores in the fall. Reasons: Can keep only about 25 colonies here in the city, and my business will not allow starting out-apiaries. Ship in April or May. ^V. E. VODER, 4tfdb Lewisbukgh, Union Co. Pa. ti^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT AT $1.20 PER BUSHELi. Eggs from pure-bred Partridge Co- chins, and S.C. Brown Leghorns Strawberry-plants. 4-5d C. B. Jacicson, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., Wis. SAVE FREIGHT. BUY TOUR SirPI'LIES NEAR HOME AND SA VE FREIUHT. We carry a complete stock of Apiarian Supplies. Our motto: Good goods and low prices. Illustrated catalogue for your name on a postal card. 33-lOdb R. B. LEAHY & CO., Higginsville, Mo. CF'In responding to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. SEEDS. Don't buy your seeds or plants till you see my FREE 1890 catalog T offer t-omething wonder- ful. Send for it. F. B. MILLS, Thorn Hill, N. Y. Japanese Buckwheat, (>0c Per Bush. Alsike clover seed, $7. CO per bush. No. 1 one-piece sections, $3.00 per M. Extra nice foundation, thin, 45c per lb. ; brood, 40c. Best bee- veil out, only 30c. All supplies cheap. Send for new list free. 23tfd -W. D. SOPER. Box 1473. Jackson. Mich. ^"In responding to tliis advertisement mention Oleaninos. $6.00 Will Buy in 1890, One of our Best Hives of Italian Bees with Tested Qaeen, or 5 for $'J.T.OtK In Simplicity or L. 10-frame hives; 250 colonies to 4-9db draw from. Address JiTo. A. Thobittoit, LmA, Adams Co., Illiitois. l^"In responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. $l.50 REVERSIBLE 8-FRAME LANCSTROTH HIVE. J. B. WILCOX, - - MANISTEE, MICH. tyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. BEEHIVES, SEGTIONS,ETC: WE make the best Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Sections, etc., in the world, and sell them the cheapest. We are offering our choicest white one- piece 4i4x4?4 sections, in lots of 500, at S3.50 per 1000. ^P~ Parties wanting more should write for spe- cial prices. No. 2 sections. $2 00 per 1000. Cata- logues free, but sent only when ordered. Itfdb C. B. LEWIS &. CO., Watertown. Wis. (:S"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanixos. ECTIONS, $3 PER iOOO. ' Foundation, Alsike clover seed, and Japan- ese buckwheat, cheap as the cheapest. Special prices to denlers Send for our FREE PRICE LIST. in. H. HUNT, Bell Braiicli, lUicIi. Please mention Gleanings. Itfdb For Perfect Draft, Simplicity, and Durability, BINGHAM Patent Smokers, and BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON UNCAPPING - KNIVES ARE WITHODT yUESTlOX THE BEST ON EARTH. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials. Itfdb BiNQHAM Si HETHERINGTON, Abronia, Mich. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Vol. XYIII. FEB. 15, 1890. No. 4. TERMS: »1.00 Per ANNUM, IN Advance;! T? c%4- r^Twl -i c^Tn n rl -i-m 1 Q ly Q 2_CopiesforM.90; 3for«2.75; SforM.OO; I -C'Ot'tt'C't't'O/t'fc/Ct' L fV J. O / O . J- PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY \A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO. 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- i ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be -' made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffice. Clubs to different postoffices, 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. MARKETING HONEY. VALUABLE HINTS THAT EVERY BEE-KEEPER SHOULD READ, BY J. A. BUCHANAN. In your issue for Jan. 1 you hare an article writ- ten by J. B. Colton. He wishes to know what is the most acceptable and economical package to use for retailing extracted honey, in large cities. If the honey is to be sold by city dealers, or even by the producer, the package must be charged to the ac- count of the purchaser of the honey; and to make it "acceptable and economical," the package must be worth all it costs the purchaser, else he will soon see that he is buying something valueless. Mr. C. says he has succeeded pretty well with the l!4-lb. glass pail. If these pails are so constructed as to be air-tight they might do; but why not use Ma- son's pint, as these hold IVz lbs., if you like this quantity; and as they are air-tight, the honey will not candy if put in them at nearly a boiling heat. This package, when bought in large lots by the bee-keeper, can be given to the purchaser of his honey at a reasonable price, and it is always worth as a fruit-jar what it has cost him. The use of tumblers, glass, or tin pails, for putting extracted honey on the market, will never do, unless strictly air-tight. In selling honey last fall I saw in the re- tail stores thousands of pounds of candied honey. From curiosity I often dropped in to see what the storekeepers had to say about the honey that had candied on their hands. Taking a jar or can of it in my hand 1 would say to the dealer, "What have you here? " Some would say that it was honey, but that it had candied; but the most of them would say, " I bought that stuff from a man who lives out in the country. He told me he had the bees, and raised his own honey; but from the appearance of it now, I think he raised most of it out of a sugar- barrel. What he brought in first was all right, and sold well, but the last lot is a fraud." I explained that the first bought was sold before cool weather came on; but that the last lot had simply candied, as it is so affected in the liquid form by a low temperature. I want to emphasize with some stress, that it will not do to use packages for extracted honey unless they are easily made air-tight, and the honey sealed up while hot. Mr. Colton suggests that the pails that might be re- turned to the groceryman could be refllled by him from a 60-lb. can. Not many grocers will be trou- bled with this business, and especially after the honey has candied in the large can. We bee-keepers must solve one problem more be- fore we consider ourselves masters of the situation. We must discover what treatment, or what may be added to liquid honey, that will retain it, when we desire it. In this form. Just so long as the honey we sell, either to grocers or consumers, candies on their hands, there will be complaints, and suspi- cion of its purity. Talk about educating the public to know that this candying propensity of honey is the only guarantee of its purity is all a waste of time. Better add something to the honey that will retain it in the liquid state, and have no talk about its " going back to sugar," and " sugar-fed bees." My elder son and I have canvassed many towns and small cities this season, selling honey; and our extensive experience in the business convinces us that there is still a growing mistrust and suspicion concerning the purity of honey, and that much of this distrust is created in the minds of the people because the nice clear honey they bought and liked so well had, as they say, "gone back to sugar." I have talked myself tired a thousand times, to convince the people that there is no such thing as manufactured honey now on the market, but it 124 GLE AIRINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Feb. scarcely pays to waste time in the effort to drive away suspicion. CAN WE MAKE MONEV, BUYING AND SELLING HONEY ? In Notes and Queries Mr. Nance wished you to tell him If he could make money by buying and selling honey. Repljing, laconically, you said: " Without knowing our man, I do not know how we could answer." There are but few good salesmen when it comes to selling honey. This is a product, the sale of which must be pushed. People do not generally volunteer to go to the bee-keeper to buy, unless the price is put very low, which often cre- ates a good run; but to sell at the highest price, it is necessary to go to the consumer with samples, get orders, then deliver, giving some days for prep- aration to meet the bill. No, it will not pay to buy honey to sell again if sold to grocerymen, as they will get about all the profits. If you are a good salesman, sharp and shrewd in business, and will look well to the de- tails, selling direct to consumers, you can do a good business. HOW TO DEFEAT, IN A LEGITIMATE WAY, FARMER BEE-KEEPERS WHO CUT PRICES. I have met a good many bee-keepers on the streets this season who were offering honey at low prices, but even then it seemed to sell slowly. I am naturally sympathetic, and take a good share of comfort in helping brother bee-keepers get rid of honey they are offering at ruinous prices. What I have to say on this subject will be an answer to a question put to me by friend Rambler in a letter to Gleanings some time ago, which was something like this: " As J. A. Buchanan has had much ex- perience in selling honey, will he tell us what course he pursues when he comes in competition with per- sons offering honey at low prices? " We resort to many expedients to defeat those simple-minded bee-keepers who exercise such poor judgment in selline- their honey so low as not to pay the cost of production. We generally aim to get the first honey of the season on the markets near us, establishing a good pr ce, which goes a good way toward governing ethers .n their sales; but when we do find person^ selling so low as to in- jure the markets we give them a lesson not soon forgotten. To illustrate: Last fall my son and I were solicit- ing orders for honey in one of our near towns, sell- ing extracted honey at the rate of 6!4 lbs. for $1.00, we furnishing screw-cap can for the same, and one- pound sections at '^3 cts., taking no orders for less than 5 lbs. We had not been working long before we found that there was a man just ahead of us selling two pounds of comb honey for 25 cts., and II lbs. of extracted for $1 00. This was more than we could stand, so we started for his wagon. Find- ing him I paid to him, " My friend, are you the man who is selling honey? " "Yes," said he; "come and look at it." I remarked that the honey was good, and asked him it he had been selling much. He said it was rather slow; that he thought of trying to sell out at the stores pretty soon. " Now, if you will put the price down pretty low," said I, " we will take it off your hands at once." We bought his little crop, paying 7 cts. for extracted and 11 for comb, in pound sections. He had 900 lbs., half comb and half extracted. Now, we went on that day and took orders for all that honey, clca7~- ing $70.00 on this lut! This paid us well enough for our great " sympathy " in this case. I will further say to Mr. Nance, that, from my ob- servation and knowledge of the business of buying and selling, if bee-keepers can not sell their own honey at good prices, it would not be worth while to try to deal at all in honey. By way of encouragement, I may say to those who may want employment, that we make it pay to handle honey. After selling our small crop this season, 6U0O pounds, my elder son (20 years old) and myself bought and sold 30,000 pounds, clearing $850. We did this work, too, in less than three months' time. We bought direct from producers, where honey was plentiful and cheap, and sold direct to consumers, thus benefiting those who were looking for an outlet for their large honey crop, and at the same time furnishing profitable employment to ourselves after we had no more to do at our own apiaries. Now, this is the kind of business that we "add to bee-keeping" to fill out the unoccupied time. It has been suggested, that I hurt my trade by describing my methods of selling honey; but I do not think I have ever lost any thing by trying to benefit my fellows. True, some bee-keepers have taken up my plans, and have appeared in competi- tion with me in my own markets; but for all this, my trade keeps growing in a satisfactory way. J. A. Buchanan. HoUiday's Cove, W. Va., Jan. 8. INVERTIBLE BOTTOM - BOARDS FOR THE CELLAR. DR. MILLER ARGUES IN FAVOR OF THEM. With no desire for controversy, but just because I believe the matter somewhat important— indeed, quite important— 1 want to say a word in reply to Ernest's remarks on page 51. i'ou say, Ernest, that Mr. Boardman winters successfully, and I don't. Now, it's j ust that difference between my wintering and his that makes me very much interested n this bottom-board. 1 suspect his bees do better be- cause there :8 never any difficulty about the air getting at the cluster easily; and if that were the only way to accomplish it, I wouldn't hesitate now to throw away all my bottom-boards and pile up my hives in the cellar, just like his. Suppose we look at one of his colonies in the cellar. The cluster hangs down below the bottom-bars; and if the usual bottom-board were there, the bees would be all over it, and perhaps filling the entrance, so that no air could enter, except such as might be strain- ed through these bees at the entrance. It looks reasonable that Mr. Board man's bees are better off with free access of air on all sides than they would be with this close bottom-board, and the usual en- trance of iX square inches, and that entrance filled with bees. But a board mis,'ht be directly under Mr. Boardman's cluster without doing any harm, so long as it did not touch the cluster, and I sus- pect the closing-upof three sides would make no material difference. Now, that is just exactly what I have with my deep bottom-board, only in some cases the cluster comes down and touches the board below, in which cases I think it would be bet- ter that the board be deeper. In no case has there ever been any inclination to cluster at the en- trance; and as it is now near the end of January, I think there will be none. The entrance is from 5 1890 GfLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 125 to 30 times as large as they have had in former win- ters; and my hope is, to have friend Board man's advantages without tlie attendant disadvantages. So far I am fully satistied; and as I look into each hive and see the nice clusters hanging down sur- rounded with abundance of air, I can not but feel I have made quite a gain. Now, If you please, Ernest, let me attend seria- tim to your objections. " More expensive." Yes; but five cents per hive will, I think, cover the extra expense, and 1 believe the advantage will pay it in a single winter. If it is valuable, we ought to be willing to pay for it. " A body adapted to such a bottom-board could not be used for a super." Certainly— all , you need is to put on the plane side of my bottom-board a ?8-inch strip at the back end and the two sides, just like your present bottom-board, and it will be all right for the Dovetailed hive. "Why not leave the bottom-board off entirely?" The bees will winter as well, possibly a very little better, with the bottom-boards off entirely; but I think that, when advantages and disalwood— yes, and I believe Capt. Hetherington— and R. L. Taylor, all of whom, I believe, winter bees successfully, use no bottom-boards, or, at least, raise the hive up so far from the bottom-board that it amounts practically to the same thing, has great weight with me in arguing in fa- vor of no bottom-boards. You say, friend M., that you suspect the closing of the three sides would make no material difference. Perhaps you are right. But Mr. Cutting asked me, when he visited my cellar, what temperature I tried to main- tain. I told him 45. He then remarked that he thought he could get better results by having it as low as 40 degrees in his cel- lar. Upon questioning I found that his hives had bottom-boards like yours. Now. it will be evident that the internal tempera- ture of the hive whose bottom is covered will be higher than that of a hive without a bottom-board. Hence, if hives have bot- tom-boards, the temperature must be kept lower in the cellar than in a cellar where hives have no bottom-boards ; and during very warm weather we all know that it is difficult to keep the temperature down so low as 40 . In regard to those screws, I know from experience that we can not always screw the bottom-board in the same place — that is, so the screw-holes of the bottom will match the screw holes in the hive ; and un- less we can make them match, we are al- ways having a whole lot of holes either in the bottom-board or in the hive ; and after a while it will be one big hole. I am quite sure that the loop which Rambler uses, or the double loop, to hold the cover and bot- tom, will stand more rough roads than will the loose hanging frames which you use, however well they may be stuck down with propolis and brace-combs. You say, that carrying in hives that are bottomless w'ill result in the loss of a con- siderable number of bees which will cling to the bottom. Yery true, under some cir- cumstances. But you know, doctor, that Mr. Boardman explained that the bottom- less hives should not be carried into the cel- lar unless the weather is moderately frosty, or cold enough to make the bees cluster up pretty tightly in the frames; that is, clear away from the bottom -board. We carried a few hives and found bees clinging to the bottoms. We waited till it got colder for the rest, and had no trouble. Now, doctor, I have argued in favor of the bottomless side of the question. Here is a letter which will sustain your side : REVERSIBLE BOTTOM-BOARD; ITS USE FOR CELLAR WINTERING, MOVING, ETC. Dr. Miller and others give us some good ideas of a space below the frames, but they do not seem to 126 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. describe all their advantages. I make themlnearly as described on page 60, by the doctor, only the sides are perforated with longitudinal slots H inch wide. These slots are covered with wire cloth. This is a decided help for moving. Now, the end which the doctor fastens with wire cloth, I fasten with a wooden end hinged so it will swing its entire width. Dr. Miller has trouble with the hives sliding around on the bottom -boards, and goes to the tedi- ous task of screwing them on. I have used the Vandeusen hooks extensively for ten years, and consider them indispensable in practical bee cul- ture. Every one is placed In the center of the side of the hive, and IX inches from the bottom. A screw to hook on the bottom-board is t*« inch from the top, so that they are perfect-fltting. In each corner of the bottom, drive a small wire nail nearly in, then cut off to within \a inch from the board; and as the hive is placed on the bottom-board the little spuds will pierce into the hive enough to hold all flrm, and I feel a great relief to think I have a hive with a bottom fastened so solid, and yet have it movable. Now a word about using this board for winter. I set the hives into the cellar, one on top of another, as you would cord up boxes, etc., with the movable end so I can easily get at them. Before the bees are stored in the cellar, each hive has a stiff paper spread upon the bottom-board, and the bees are closed in for the winter. How we enjoy moving the bees into the cellar and out again, and none of them allowed to come outside ! Three or four times during- the winter we take a basket to the bee-room, open the end, draw out the paper, shake all the dead bees and other refuse off into the basket, re- place the papers, and we are rid of all bad smell and the trouble of sweeping the dead bees from the cel- lar. And, besides, we save a great many bees which wander out of their comfortable quarters in carrying out the dead. The reason which caused me to invent this board or space was based upon two principles. Twelve years ago I swept up half a bushel of dead bees from the cellar bottom. They were left in a warm room about an hour, when, to my surprise, hun- dreds revived. I then came to the conclusion that many bees die which might live if they were con- fined in a way so they could not worry; and with me the plan works satisfactorily. The second principle depended upon the fact that, without any space save the ^i or % inch be- neath the frame, the dead bees would often accu- mulate between the combs several inches deep, oft- en mingling with t he cluster of live bees. In conclusion I will say, this space of IX inches beneath the frames for moving, and for accumula- tion of dead bees and other refuse material, and for confining them in winter, fills the bill for me. MOVING BEES. Before we move our bees into the cellar, we place upon each hive a wire screen; a frame is made of lath, and covered with a piece of wire cloth just the size of the hive. At each end are driven wire nails IVt inches apart, long enough to reach through ^8 or i\ inch into the frames. You will see that, when this screen is nailed to the top of the hive, every frame is fastened at once by the points of nails projecting through as described. Now in- vert the hive or set it on end, and have a strip k inch thick by an inch wide, with carpet-staples driven in so they will space the frames just right. Loosen the bottom-board; arrange the spacing- strip, hook on the bottom-board, and, if you are afraid the books will slip, drive a small wire nail just back of them, and they are ready to pile into your wagon, combs to go lengthwise or crosswise of the wagon, as best suits your convenience. Oswego, N. Y., Jan. 31. F. H. Cyrenios. Thanks, friend C. And I want to say to the others who criticised me pretty severely because I advocated fastening the bees in their hives while in the cellar, that the above shows that I am not the only one who does it successfully. m I m THICK TOP-BABS AND BBACE-COMBS. OLIVER FOSTER'S EXPERIENCE WITH 4000. Owing to ill health, and the care of three large apiaries and a good supply trade, I have not been able to read the bee-papers much, not to speak of writing for them, as I should like to do. But being confined to the house two or three days with the grippe, I have read the last two numbers of Glean- ings, and feel constrained to give my experience with thick top-bars and brace-combs. Last spring I had 4900 brood-frames, made like sample I mail you herewith; top-bars 's inch square. I would have made them !/„ inches wide, but for the influence of Bro. Heddon's articles, so strongly advocating top- bars just % inch wide. Ten of these frames are used in theL. hive, 14J4 inches wide inside, the same as the Simplicity. The spaces between the top-bars are th of an inch wide, or a little more than '/4 inch. I put nearly all the 4000 frames to practical test. I had a great deal of sealed honey deposited between and over these top- bars, not to speak of brace-combs, and bees not crowded either. I tell you, it makes work to cut out half a pound of honey and wax from between top bars before we can go through the brood-nest with any satisfaction. They were a little worse on the " regulation " top - bars, but not much. Our bees seemed to have a mania for brace-combs this season. Do they build them above the break-joint honey-board? Yes, and in every bee-space between supers above. The only object of the break-joint, as I see it, is to increase the bee-space distance between the brood and the sections. The same object can be secured by having these bee-spaces run straight up, if far enough, as by having them run zigzag, as with the break-joint honey-board; but we want it to be ?jee- space— not half an inch or more. I do not wish to criticise the break-joint honey- board— the best thing that has yet been perfected, nor its inventor, to whom we all owe very much for the invention; but if we can prevent brace-combs between and ovei' the top-harx, which I believe no one claims the break-joint honey-board will do, we shall make a great advance. From experience with 30 colonies the past season, 1 am satisfied that this can be do7ie. If not by reducing the space be- tween the deep top-bars to /g inch, we can do it by inserting a strip of perforated zinc at the bottom of this space. Cut the zinc % inch wide, and put one row of holes near one edge. Bend at right angles the long way, /t from this edge. Nail the wide side to the top-bar, so that the perforated part will close the bee-space between it and the adjoining top-bar 1890 GLEA^JINGS IN BEE CULTUEE 127 at the lower edge of the bars. Perhaps this will be unnecessary with the proper space between the top-bars, which, I think, is ,';; inch. I should like to ask friend Heddon how he har- monizes the three strong- points he makes on page 44; viz.: 1. Top-bars % inch wide; 2. 8 of these to 11 J4 inches; and, 3, " i"g is the best passageway for bees." If he makes the passageways ui he must make his top-bars /^ wider, or else space his frames that much closer; li'o is the right width for 1?8 spacing. Mt. Vernon, la., Jan. ~4. Oliver Foster. Your top-bars, according to the testimony received thus far, lack just one important feature to prevent brace-combs ; and that is, they are too narrow. If they had been ] ^ inches wide, or even a plump inch, as you intimate— at any rate, wide enough so that fu of an inch will be left between the bars, you would have had no brace-combs, if the overwhelming testimony thus far received is correct. We have watched quite closely the reports, and we find that, where there is i inch between the bars, more or less brace-comts are the result. In regard to those pieces of perforated zinc, there is another thing you had not thought of. They will .^.3:; the frames, and they would always be ready for moving bees. The objection to them would be, that they might, after a while, become stuck and daubed with propolis. Mr. Heddon may answer about the honey-boards. He will have to be ad- vocating wider top-bars now. By the way, when he gets those thick top-bars in his new hive, what will become of his comb space V Bars I inch thick, above and be- low, in these shallow frames, will leave the brood-combs only about 3 inches deep. In my opinion, there wouldn't be much brood- nest left. EUNEST. THE CHITTIES' EXTORTIONATE USURY. SOME OF THE EVILS AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF CHRISTIANITY. Mr. Root:— Gleanings has become a looked-for visitor to this land of the antipodes. The back numbers have been preserved, and I mean to have them bound and present them to the Sir Stamford Raffles Litirary of this city. Little is known of, but some interest is shown la, bee culture. In regard to the champagne-bottle and glasses in the fruit-picture, I wish to say that I bought the picture at the photographer's gallery, and had nothing to do with the arrangement, or I should certainly have left it out of the group. LP-TOl, ISSO.] To one unacquainted with oriental races, the most interesting feature of this great city is the vaii colored skins and costumes that meet the eye, and the widely differing tongues that greet the ear. All the European nations are represented —the English, Germans, and Dutch (or Hollanders), predominating. There are also natives of China, Malaya. Burma. India, Siam, Japan, Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Persia, Armenia, and the dispersed sons of Israel. Of the several Indian races repre- sented, one of the most interesting is the Hindu caste known as " Chitties," or money-lenders. I send you a photograph of two of these money- sharks. Lest some of your readers may think I am Indulg- ing in fiction, I will say that I relate only the sober, honest truth. There are hundreds of these fellows in the city, and their sole business is loaning money at ruinous, even fabulous, rates of interest. They are heathen indeed; but no more so in faith than in practice. Scanty, but neat in their dress; fat and well- favored, destitute of hair or beard, and striped with whitewash, they are striking characters in the ever moving drama of street life. Often rich, they are always penurious. They live crowded together like sheep, in houses that might be decent; but, to suit their manner of life, are made to appear more like badly kept barns than human habitations. Unclean in their habits, they do not seem to regard a double-distilled stench as any drawback to either health or happiness. I have passed some of their THE chitties, OR MONEY-LENDERS. houses in the native portion of the city, where goats and fowls moved freely in and out, and a stream of accumulated filth oozed its way slowly along the gutter just at their door. Nor are other oriental races more righteous in this respect than the Chitties. Indeed, the Chinese will excel them all, with this qualification— that a wealthy China- man lives well, and with at least moderate respect to cleanliness and decency. The Chitties are Hin- dus in religion, and this is indicated by their man- ner of dress, their shaven heads, and their business. Among the Hindus— there are many natives of India who are Mohammedans— the Chitties have the monopoly of the money-lending business. A Mohammedan would never patronize a Chitty, and a Chitty would no sooner deal with a Mohammedan. They purposely shave all hair from their heads, and beard from their faces. Their ancestors for many generations have done it, and their pos- terity will continue to do it for many generations more. It is a distinctive mark of their caste. Not 12:! GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feu. a hair is allowed to grow. They wear no turban or head gear of any kind, unless an umbrella can be so classed. They indulge in a few orna- ments, which ara generally very costly. They are often seen wearing a deeply engraved pure gold ball set on the outer lower lobe of the ear, a la mndc of our western belles. Sometimes a diamond sparkles in the gold. The deep yellow of the gold and the white light of the diamond present a rich and striking contrast to their dark skins. If they are very well-to-do they wear a similar ornament held in place ou the front side of the neck by a fine gold chain or a silk cord. Sometimes coatly rings adorn their fingers. The white streaks on their foreheads, arms, and breasts, are at once a caste-mark and a toilet requi- site. They are easily washed off, and are dally re- newed. Their sandals are of a pattern much worn in the Bast. Their entire suit, if a name so dignified may be applied to their abbreviated garb, costs lit- tle'more than a dollar and a half or two dollars. It may be said, that these fellows could with difficulty wear less. To the untutored American, the propo- sition seems more than true; but not a day passes that we do not see scores of municipal coolies hand- ling the pick in street repairs, that are, to all in- tents and purposes, naked. Most of them get twen- ty cents a day; and two or three yards of four-cent cotton or calico makes them a fine suit. It is wound once or twice around the loins, and extends from front to back. These poor fellows are better off here than they would be in India, for there their daily wages would not exceed eight or ten cents, and they would be very glad to get moderately reg- ular employment at that price. You can see from this that poverty is unknown in America. The poorest man in Ohio would be a nabob alongside the outcasts of India. Their diet is confined to cooked rice and a little curry made of the common- est vegetables, flsh, or the cheapest meat. No bread, no drinks, except water, no meat. Can I be believed, when I say that millions in India go to bed hungry every day, because they do not get enough of this severely simple fare to eat? I remember how ray heart ached when I first comprehended that these low castes of India have little or nothing but simple rice and curry to eat, from one year's end to another. These are the people our missionaries in India are trying to save, and they are beginning to come by the hundreds and thousands. Last year, in our North-India Mis- sion, fourteen hundred of these poor villagers were baptized, and as many more were denied this sacra- ment until they could be more perfectly taught. I hope the readers of Gleanings will think of the poverty of these people when they sit down to their heavily laden tables, and look at their well- fllled cellars and barns, and not withhold the tithe that belongs to God by right, and along with it give something to evangelize the heathen when the mis- sionary collection is taken; for all our home churches have such a collection. The Chitties are a difficult class to reach in India, and no effort is made to do It here. In Singapore there are a hundred thousand Chinamen, fifteen or twenty thousand Malays, and at least as many " Klings,"or low-caste natives of India. The Chitties can be counted with three figures. Our work here is mostly among the Chinese. The Chitty is without oul, or as near it as a heathen can be. One instance will suffice to illustrate their rapaci- ty wheu dealing with men in a helpless position. The pastor of our English congregation related the following almost incredible tale at the tea-table a few days ago: A poor man in the town fell sick, got in arrears with his rent, and was at last driven by his landlord to either pay up or vacate. He went to a Chitty to learn upon what terms he could borrow a hundred dollars, and this was the best bargain he could make: The Chitty said, " T will loan you a hundred dollars on these conditions: You write me jour note for a hundred dollars, to be paid in monthly in- stallments of ten dollars. I must charge you thirty dollars for the use of it, and I will deduct the inter- est and pay you seventy dollars down." The poor fellow was between the upper and nether millstone of a merciless heathen landlord and a more merciless heathen Chitty; and how could he escape being ground to powder? Will some of your readers tell me the rate per cent this man had to pay? It Is a puzzling problem that confuses most of the victims of these Shy locks. I make out that he paid no less than 12S^%. He receives $T0 for his .f ICO note. In one month he re- turns $10, and has f60 left. He has had the use of $70 one month. At the end of the second month he pays the Chitty $10 more, and has $M remaining. He has had $6.''> for two months. At the close of the third month he has $40 remaining, and has had the benefit of $70 for one month, .$65 lor two months, and $00 for three months. Follow this out, and you find his principal continues to decrease at a com- pound ratio, until, at the end of seven months, he has returned the $70 he borrowed, and still owes the $30 interest, so that he has had $40 lor seven months, or $28 for ten months, and pays $30 for the use of it! Compound interest with a vengeance! Nor is this an uncommon occurrence. The Arabs and Chinese are quite as unscrupu- lous; but as the former are landlords and the latter merchants, we hear less about it. Any man who knows not or fears not God, and is unrestrained by public opioion, would do the same. The unscrupu- lous stock gambler and speculator, the trust-maker, the bank defaulter, are what they are for the same reason that the Chitties are what ihcy are. The remedy for all of them is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which teaches, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Ralph W. Mitnson. Singapore, S. S., Nov. 25, 1889. Amen, Bro. Munson. Jesus Christ is the remedy, and the only remedy, for all sin and extortion in every form. In some places in California I witnessed a similar custom of extortion. It was only amon^ people, how- ever, who were in tight places, and where the money-lender had to take the risk of getting undesirable property on his hands. Those who were well-to-do had no difficulty in getting money at eight or ten per cent interest, or perhaps a little more than we have to pay here. I am deeply interested in these Chitties you tell us about; but I confess I can not quite understand why you say they are without souls. The love of money is, I am well aware, a hard thing to deal with ; but for all that, most human be- ings can be taught, sooner or later, that there is a better thing in this world than even money. 1890 glea:nings in bee culture. 129 GETTING BEES TO BUILD CLEAR DOW^N TO THE BOTTOM-BARS BY LEAVING AN EXTRA SPACE UNDER THEM. The thing I like best about Gleanings is the deep enthusiasm and love for the business your- self, and your j/ood will to all the bee-men, so that I have come to regard you as a personal friend; and I speak not only for myself, but for others who have expressed themselves similarly. The last time you were through here you had not much chance to get acquainted with the bee-keepers of Woodman. There was a good deal said at one time In the journal about full frames of comb, some advocat- ing reversible frames. Now, I don't believe in turning the cells upside down if it can be helped. I have about OtO frames of comb that are nearly all built down solid to the bottom-bar, and yet I never used foundation. The reason I assign for it is this: There is a space under the brood-frames, of about 3 inches in depth. Now, I think it is natural for bees, if left to themselves, not to build their combs clear donui to the bottom of a cavity; and where the frames reach nearly down to the bottom-board it will be natural for them to leave that space, unless crowded for room. Some hives have the bottom of the frames so near the bottom-board that they har- bor moths underneath; and it is more difficult for the bees and all concerned to keep them clean. One man in the last journal advocates giving a 2- inch space under the irames in winter, but reduc- ing the space in summer, as it is not so well to have it at that time of the 3 ear. Now, if there is any thing wrong about leaving that space at all times, I should like to know it. If the space is left, the bees will certainly build the comb down to the bot- tom-bar. They may not all be built solid the first year, but they will in time. If this is of any im- portance I can give the exact space under my frames. If the space is too great they will build burr-combs under the bars. Once in a while they will do it on mine, but not often. My uncle says he has observed, that, when bees visit the flowers, each individual bee will stick to some particular flower or species of flower. I have not noticed it myself; but if the thing is mentioned, there may be those who will observe. I have seen that, in gathering pollen, some bees will bring in one kind and some another, but I don't think I have seen different kinds of pollen on one bee. If it is as I have stated, it shows the wonderful adapta- bility of the wants of plants and animals to each other, as that would tend to the more certain fer- tilization of plants, and also prevent cross-breeding. I suppose it is well known, that Charles Darwin, in his experiments on the fertilization of plants, by confining, under glass frames, certain kinds that bees and other insects visit, discovered that, in some species, fertilization would not take place, so that, without the bees, some species would perish. Woodman, Wis., Jan. 38. J. MuRRAy. Thanks, friend M. Your kind letter re- calls mv pleasant two-hours' visit in your town. Your suggestion in regard to more space under the bottom-bars is a valuable one. One objection, however, is, I think, making bees extra trouble in getting from the bottom-board to the frames. With a space I of an inch they very often if not al- ways build little projections to climb up on. I do not know that I ever tried two inches in the summer season. When we first used Kings" American bee-hives there was a cross-bar in the middle of the frame, and no bottom-bar at all ; therefore the bees built the comb down as far as they wanted to, and stopped. I believe they usually stop somewhere at about two inches and the bottoms of the combs are very irregular. In fact, they were a good deal as we find them in box hives. It has before been men- tioned, that we can secure comb built clear to the bottom-bar by raising one frame a lit- tle higher than the rest. But I do not re- member that anybody has suggested raising all of the frames in order to secure this re- sult.— Your suggestion in regard to why bees should never mix pollen seems to be a reasonable one, and indicates, as you sug- gest, divine wisdom. BEE-HUNTING IN 1857. ALSO SOMETHING ABOUT BEARS AND THEIR HABITS. I HAVE a bee-book with your name to it, and I should like to know whether you realize much from the 4000 basswood-trees you set out in 1872. They must be quite large by this time. Last spring I had 4 swarms of bees. I got 350 lbs. of section honey, and have now 15 swarms. I hunted bees a little one season, years ago. I found eight swarms, summer and fall; the lightest weighed 25 lbs. ; the two heaviest, 200 lbs. apiece. I saved one swarm in a pine-tree. I cut it out of the top, and let it down with a rope. I kept them in the log, standing up. They did very well. In December, when the snow was si.x inches deep. I went hunting and came across a bear-track. I followed the track very cautiously for half a mile; then I discovered that the bear was a bee-hunter. He was climbing every tree that looked like a bee-tree. He went up twelve or fourteen trees, then turned down into the valley. The first tree he went up was a bee- tree. I went up on the ridge to the road, and marked the tree. Then I went back to the track, and, following about a mile, he went up on the ridge. He did not go up any more trees. I went up on the ridge where he had been sitting down, watching for me, which they will always do. Well,. then he went off on the jump, and I put for home. In a short time I took my neckyoke and two sap- pails, each holding 20 quarts. The tree was white oak, 30-inch stump, leaning in a bow, so the top nearly touched the ground. The bees went into the tree 30 feet up on the under side. They had a nice place. I cut the tree down. I cut in where the bees were, and took out the honey. I filled the two pails, went home, came back, got two more,, went home, then it was dark. In the morning I went back, took out two more, then I went and cut In three feet from the butt, and struck honey; and if I had cleaned out the butt I could have seen the honey. I left my pails, went home, got my horses and bob-sled. I had to go about six miles to the tree. The way I went first was two and a half miles. I took a large wash-tub. After I had got all the honey out of the tree into the tub, I put in one pail full, which was all I could get Into the tub. I must have had nearly 300 lbs. It was good honey, no empty comb. There are no such trees nowadays. 130 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Feb. There are too many bee-hunters now. That was in 185". The next spring I killed one old bear and two cubs. It was excellent meat. Nathan Culver. Ontario, Wis., Dec. 27, 1889. Friend C, nearly all of our 4000 basswood- trees are growing ; but as they were planted on a poiir worn-out piece of land, a good many of them have not made as much growth as we expected. Some of them are six inches through, and bt-ar quite a quanti- ty of blossoms ; but it takes a great many years to get a basswood orchard to bearing honey, especially when yon commence by planting trees. Better "adopt the plan I spoke of in the last issue.— It never occur- red to me before, ihat bears must climb one tree after another, to find one that contains honey. They must be very patient if they always hunt bees in that way. Your sketch of bee-hunting would almost give one the bee-hunting fever if there were many such trees nowadays. ^ I ^ DIGESTED NECTAR. CHAS. DADANT REVIEWS PROF. COOK'S ABTICIiE, PAGE 53. This term "digested," when applied to honey, lacks convenience and accuracy. The idea of diges- tion comes to the minds of us unlearned people with the thought of its whole process as we find it described in the Chambers' Encyclopedia: "Pre- hension of food, mastication, insalivation, degluti- tion, chyliflcation, defalcation, and absorption of the chyle." This definition of the word " diges- tion " is not confined to England, for we find, in the French Dictionnaire de Medicine, of Litlre and Ro- bin, " Digestion is the dissolution and liquefaction of the food, with absorption of the substances dis- solved and liquefied, followed by the dejection of the residues." Therefore the words, " digested nectar," if applied to honey, would prejudice some consumers rather than incite them to buy. Of course, a scientist may argue that, as the nec- tar undergoes a change in the first stomach of the bee, this change can be called digestion; for, when a druggist mixes several substances, with a view to obtaining a combination, he calls the process a di- gestion. But the stomach of a bee is not the labo- ratory of a drugstore. As to the inaccuracy of the term " digested," Prof. Cook himself proves it in his essay read at the In- ternational Bee-Keepers' Convention in Brantford, and in the discussion which followed {American Bee Journal, Dec. 28, page 832), where he says: " All honey is not equally reduced, not fully digested." It seems to me that, if something is half done, we are not accurate if we say that it is done. This difference in the modification of nectar in the first stomach of the bee can'not surprise us, not only because the nectar sometimes does not remain long in the stomach, but also on account of the dif- fereuce ia the relative quantities of cane sugar to be converted into glucose— some nectars having no glucose, while others have no cane sugar. Mr. DePlanta found in the nectar o( the Proiea mellife- ra 17.06 percent of glucose, and no cane sugar; while the nectar of the Hoya carnosa contained 4.99 per cent of glucose oaly, and 35.65 per cent of cane sugar (Bulletin Internationale d' Apiculture, Oct., 1888). Then the bees had no change to make for the first of these nectars. Would Prof. Cook consider it as already digested in the flower? The above experiments show, also, that Prof. C. is mistaken when he says, page .53 of Gleanings, that "nectar is cane sugar dissolved in water;" since the nectar of the Protea mellifera had glucose and no cane sugar. The causes of these differ- ences in the composition of nectars are fully ex- plained by Gaston Bonnier, who, indorsing the views of Claude Bernard, writes in his book. Lea JScctaircn: "There is always an accumulation of sugared substances in the flowers, near the ovaries. When these organs are completely developed, this accumulation of sugar decreases, and the propor- tion of saccharose (cane sugar) becomes relatively smaller, the saccharose being transformed into glucose under the action of an inverting ferment." It follows from the above, that a nectar just se- creted in a flower contains more cane sugar and less glucose, while another, which has remained for some time in the flower before being gathered by bees, has more glucose and less cane sugar. A great many substances can undergo, in their composition, a change analogous to the modifica- tion effected in the stomach of bees. For instance, starch, cooked and masticated, is converted into glucose by the saliva, and can be assimilated with- out further change, although the variation was ef- fected before the deglutition. L-The pulp of a green grape is of difficult diges- tion; but by ripening, it is converted into liquid grape sugar, which can be converted into wine. Both these liquids are readily assimilated by the intestines. If we leave a mixture of cane sugar and water exposed to the light, all the sugar will be convert- ed into glucose. Will Prof. Cook say that all these substances were digested? No, of course not. Yet he said, at the above convention, that " honey is di- gested, since it is in a condition to be assimilated without undergoing any change." This assertion is far from being correct; for I have seen people getting indigestion by eating hon- ey when the food of their last meal was not entire- ly digested. Had these people drank a glass of sugared water, or of wine, their digestion would not have been disturbed. Then honey is not so readily assimilated as our friend Cook supposes. Dyspeptics can not eat honey without increasing their distress. Furthermore, we see in Gleanings, page 63, that honey from lobelia, which is nauseous, is sometimes vomited. Is that honey digested, or ready for assimilation? Honey contains, besides glucose, several sub- stances which have to be converted in the true stomach of bees, by the gastric juice that it se- cretes. Then the digestion is far from being com- pleted in the honey-crop. In conclusion, I will say the professor had better abandon this unhappy term of " digested," and I think that a large majority of bee-keepers are with me to give him the same advice. Prof. Cook, in his essay, said that he questions whether any chemist can certainly determine whether or not honey is pure. I find in the Revue Internationale, of July, 1885, a new method of an- alysis by Fritz Eisner, of Leipzig. Eleven samples of pure honey were introduced, one after another, in a Wasserbein apparatus; and the conclusion of the analyses was, that, in every kind of pure honey the quantity of sugar of fruits, or inverted sugar. GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 131 deviating to the left, is always strong enough to counterbalance the deviation to the right, of the natural grape sugar; or, in a word, every pure hon- ey is eii her without action on the polarized light, or deviates slightly to the left, never to the right. These experiments were confirmed by others, in which from 5 to 20 per cent of manufactured glu- cose, after having been stored by bees in the combs, was mixed with pure honey, and which, every time, turned the light to the right. Chas. Dadant. Hamilton, 111., Jan 23. Thanks, friend D. While L do not pro- pose to take part in this discussion, there is one point on which I am prepared to give testimony. I often feel a little bit troubled on this point, when I see honey recommend- ed so vehemently for food and also for medi- cine. Of late years it is not very good food for me, and. generally speaking, rather poor medicine. I never could quite understand it, either. I am very fond of sweets, and can eat maple syrup for supper, with per- fect impunity ; yes, I can take two or three spoonfuls of granulated sugar in my hot lemonade, just before going to bed ; aud in- stead of disturbing my sleep, it does quite the contrary. Now, there is something about honey that is entirely different. If I eat honey at all it must be in the morning or at noon ; and even then it is quite apt to give me the headache. Whenever I eat it for supper there is trouble, and I have tried it hundreds of times. It is the worst arti- cle of food for me to digest that I have ever got hold of ; and I can not discover that there is very much difference in the kind of honey. While maple sugar or maple syrup Is harmless, honey is almost poison, if taken in the same quantities. My testimony would be, then, that honey is neither digest- ed, nor very easily digestible. Perhaps, however, this has no bearing on the ques- tion. I have seldom mentioned this matter, because others seem to be differently af- fected, and also because it did not seem very consistent for a honey-man, and the editor of a bee - journal, to be putting in •testimony against the use of honey. THICK TOP-BARS. MR. J. B. HALL MAKES A CORRECTION. Mr. Ernest R. Root:— Your postal, also copy of •Gleanings for Jan. 1, came duly to hand. Please accept my thanks. I am glad that you had such a good time at Brantford. But I think there was so much to be seen around the Falls that you must have become somewhat mixed in what you saw ■and heard in Brantford. An example on p. 17: In speaking of J. B. Hall you speak of his Scitch ac- cent. Allow me to whisper in your ear, that the •old fellow iiiver saw Scotland, and he does not know a particle of that blood in his veins. The nearest approach to his being Scotch is in the fact that his wife was the production of a match of a Dutch- Yankee woman and a Scotch-Canuck man, and I think the presence of that amount of Scotch blood in Hall's wife would not atfect his speech much. He came to North America in 1856, and settled in the largest and best part of it; namely, Canada; and at the time (I will say this for your benefit, as at that time you were not born), allow me to state, the great English-speaking peoples in North America, both south and north of that " big wall " you speak of, lived as happy neighbors, and traded with each other freely, your own people selling us all of the following goods: Cotton goods of all kinds; farm- ing implements; machinery of all kinds; ready- made clothing; hats, boots, salt, salt pork, cheese, etc., and you bought from us all of the following (that was A No. 1): Lumber, wood, grain of all kinds, with the exception of maize (corn), horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and all of our grand fish you wished, for the taking (although your men persist- ed in breaking our Sabbath laws), the product of the mine, iron, lead, copper, silver, gold, nickel, plumbago, phosphates, etc. In fact, your people used to buy all our raw products, and send them back to us after manufacturing. You were our "middlemen." This has all been changed by the madness of some of your politicians, who clamored that the reciprocity trade should be annulled, and that those insolent fellows at the north should be kept there to freeze. At this time, I, with most of my countrymen north of the " wall " you mention, felt hurt, and thought it a bad job for us; but it was a blessing in disguise; for Canada has progressed as she could not have done had the old state of trade continued, and the sixty millions of people south of the line managed the five millions north of the line. To return to p. 17: I would say that the frame I use has a top-bar 20U x 1 deep x 1 plump inch wide. I use 8 frames in my hive, 11^ inches wide. Thus you will see a bee-space 1% is maintained. In fact, all parts of the hive have this j\ space between, to do away with brace-combs in any part of the hive. It was no blunder or chance that made the space 1I5, but from experience and observation in han- dling bees. The last lot of Quinby frames I made was in 1881, number 3200. The top-bar was 20='.{ x 1 X 1 inch plump wide; end-bar, ll^i x 1 x >4 ; bottom- bar, 18 '<,.x''4xi4. I think you are a little hard on the old man, in attributing his doings about the apiary to accident and blundering; and I sincerely wish and hope that you will not make any worse blun- dering than I have done in frames and hives. J. B. Hall. Woodstock, Ont., Can., Jan. 30, 1890. Very good, friend Hall. If the fact of my mixing up Niagara Falls with thick top- bars caused me to report your statements so crookedly as to induce you to write for print (even by way of correction) I do not feel so very sorrj^, after all, as it takes more than money to induce you to write. And now our readers have a correct statement of the facts. The expression, " blundering on to a discovery," was rather unfortunate ; but as I understood you while talking with you between the sessions, you said that you at first did not intend to do away with brace-combs by adopting thick top-bars — your main idea being at first to do away with sagging; but the fact that this happy rt-siilt (no burr-combs) was brought about by careful experiment and not by "•acci- dent '' or mere " blundering,'" is more to your credit. I believe, friend Hall, you were the first to bring this important mat- ter into public notice ; for it seems that quite a number, after reading the report of your thick bars and no burr-combs, began experimenting ; and now you see they are 132 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. starting up everywhere, substantiating your statement made at Detroit. Bee-keepers owe you a vote of thanks, if not something more substantial. Mr. McKnight, as you doubtless have noticed, has corrected me in regard to the Scotch accent ; but there was something so pleasant (may I not say capti- vating V) in your conversation that I could not think of any thing better to dub it by than " Scotch accent.'' In regard to that " big wall," I think I had better not tackle it again. It is a dangerous subject over here, and people sometimes get to arguing pretty fiercely. But there are good people (just like ourselves) over in the province of Ontario that I should like to have annexed to the United States, though I am not so particular about Quebec. Ernest. ^ I ^ HOUSE APIARIES IN 1890, AS CONSIDERED BY .J. VANDERVORT. As we have an occasional inquiry in re- gard to house-apiaries, and as I have of late years rather discouraged investments in this direction, I thought best to write to our friend Vandervort (the one who makes the nice foundation-mills), to inquire if he still used and liked them. Below is his reply : Friend Boot:— I still use the house-apiary, and like it as well as ever. When I saw you last ] was keeping my home apiary in hives. I have since built a house at home, and use the house exclusive- ly. I do not recommend it for public use. Aside from two parties in this vicinity who use houses on my plan with good success, all others are a failure. It requires more skill to work a house than hives. The advantages that I claim for a house are, first, the control of temperature, which controls swarm- ing in a great measure, and starts them to working in boxes sooner, and a cool night or two does not drive them out of the boxes as it does in hives out- doors, which makes a great difference in the amount of honey they store, especially in a very cool season. Last, but not least, I can do the work for two colo- nies in the house easier than one out of doors. The objection to the house is, I lose more queens in mating, get more stings in handling, and lose more colonies in winter; but what are left breed up enough quicker in the spring to nearly compensate the loss. J. Vandervort. Laceyville, Pa., Jan. 24. Very good, friend V. I am not surprised to hear you say that all others are a failure, and that it requires more skill than to work hives. The point you make, however, of controlling temperature and swarming, and starting and keeping to work the bees in the boxes, is a big item ; and the final one, that you can do more work, is of more importance still. With ours we did not lose more queens than outdoors — I am in- clined to think not as many. Ernest says, however, that the boys did not succeed as well. But I feel sure that, with only three entrances on a side, and six or eight sides to the house, you can get along without losing queens. I agree with you in regard to stings. All bees I have ever handled certainly sting worse indoors than they do outdoors in the open air. We think that, with a house-apiary properly protected and kept in order, one can also work at any sea- son of the year, with less trouble from rob- bers. Friend H. S. Iloxie, of IloUoway, Mich., has just sent us quite an article for publication, in regard to the house- apiary he uses and likes. He uses ordinary hives placed back a little distance from the wall. A covered entranceway conducts the bees from the hives to the passageway through the wall. This passage from the hive to the wall can be easily uncovered ; and when opening the hive he uncovers this passage. This permits all the bees that get out of the hive to go into the entrance as if they were outdoors. He can even shake the bees from the combs in front of the entrance as he does outside ; and he says he has no trouble from bees getting into the house, on the floor, etc. There are so few house-apiaries at the present time that we have not thought best to give very much space to such communications. ALFALFA IN IDAHO AS A FODDER AND A HONEY-PLANT. Dear Sir:— I see that you have solicited contri- butions upon the subject of alfalfa (lucerne). We here in Boise Valley, Idaho, as also in adjacent valleys, are engaged largely in its production, con- sidering it the most paying crop that is produced upon the ranch. We invariably get three crops of excellent hay per season. Some cut four crops, or, rather, four times; but the majority believe that, to let it stand a little longer, and mature more, it makes a more nutritious feed, and is not so "washy," or laxative, as is the case when cut too green; hence the three cuttings will go as far, if not fur- ther, than four cuttings, and at a saving of labor. Alfalfa is naturally a little laxative; but when cut at the right time it is an excellent feed, and will yield here from five to eight tons of hay per acre, per season, besides a quantity of fine grazing late- in the fall. Sometimes one crop for hay is cut, and the second one is allowed to ripen for seed, and make from five to ten bushels per acre. It sells for $6.00 per bushel. It is fine, so far as I have learned, in all arid districts, where water can be got for irri- gation. It is a plant that will not stand much wa- ter—not nearly as much as the other clovers, and T believe that it does well in any sandy loam in any part of the country, and possibly in any deep loose soil. It is a plant that roots deep, and hence re- quires a deep loose soil, so it will hardly do any good on a clay or close soil. It improves for about three years; or, in other words, it takes about three years to get to its best yield; and it certainly is one- of the best, if not the best honey-producing plant in' existence. If the cutting of hay is properly man- aged it will give a forage for bees the entire season,, and it yields as fine a honey as does white clover. It certainly will revolutionize apiculture as wa* never known before. The bee-business is certain- ly taking a prominent hold here. There are at least half of the farmers in this large valley that are starting in the business, generally on a small scale as yet. The apiaries range from 5 to 135 colo- nies; but none are carrying it on in a scientific or even a systematic way. David L. Williams. Caldwell, Idaho, Dec. 31, 1889. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 133 Thanks, friend W. 1 am somewhat sur- prised that alfalfa has been so long pro- duced on vast tracts of land, without our having heard more in regard to it as a hon- ey-plant. It is true, something has been said occasionally for perhaps ten or fifteen years ; but when I made my visit to Cali- fornia a year ago I did not see nor hear of any great yields of honey from alfalfa ; neither had it been found on the markets, so far as I could learn. Any plant raised by farmers, that produces honey by the car- load, aside from the purpose for wliich it is cultivated, is well worthy of our attention. I should be very glad indeed for further re- ports, especially where it produces htmey by the ton. APICULTUEAIi NOMENCLATURE. B. m'knight argues in favor of the already ACCEPTED TERMS, AS DETERMINED BY COMMON CONSENT. Adverting to your issue of January 15, and to Dr. Miller's letter therein, anent apicultural no- menclature, I am led to reflect upon the imperfec- tion of all sublunary things with which man has to do— bee-keepers' terms not excepted. Some one has said, that " proper words in proper places is the true definition of style." According- to Dr. Miller, there is little style in bee-literature, for he hints at a misuse of words throughout. There can be no doubt that the doctor is a judge, and a good one too. Most assuredly, a gentleman who can write fifteen long letters on out-apiaries, without repeat- ing himself, is no mean authority on the proper use of terms. One would think such a one would be free from the use of inappropriate terms; but, if I mistake not, ho himself has given us some terms that will hardly bear criticism. Is he not the inventor of that inappropriate phrase, T super, or T-tin support? Is there any super in use that bears the slightest resemblance to the letter T? If so, I have not seen it; and a man's imagination must be vivid indeed that can see a resemblance between the tongued and flanged strips of tin used to support sections on a section crate to the aforesaid letter of the alphabet. The doctor is ex- ercised about the correctness of many of the terms we employ. His suspicions hover around such ■words as super, crate, case, clamp, hive, apiary, ■etc. I have always thought that "common con- sent " has much to do in establishing the meaning of words; and by common consent a definite mean- ing has been given to each of the terms quoted. The doctor singles out a few of the terms that make him feel most uncomfortable in their use, such as crate, case, apiary. He tells us Webster ■defines crate to be " a wickerwork structure used for packing crockery in; " but Webster is dead, and the crockery-crate is no longer exclusively made of wickerwork. Many of them are now made of strips of wood instead; still, they are called crates. So are many other things made of slats or strips of wood. We have section crates, egg-crates, berry and fruit crates, none of which are made of wicker- work— properly so called, but we understand and know what the terms mean. What incloses sec- tions while on the hive is not a box, for it is open above and below. By common consent it is called a crate. Let us be content with the term, for it would be difficult to find a more appropriate one. It is no misnomer to call the wooden or partially wooden bo.\ in which comb honey is sent to market a case, for the term case means, by common con- sent, an outer protective structure, and has a wide application, both as to shape and the material of which it is made. We have not only a section-case, but we have gun-case, book-case, spectacle-case, clock-case, watch-case— yes, " through the crystal case the figured hours are seen," somebody tells us. Even the outer wall of a building was called a case before Webster was born; for Addison tells us, "The case of the holy house is nobly designed." Let us be content, then, with case. I should be glad, it' space permitted, to go through the list and try to help the doctor out of his dilemma, and establish him in the belief that " it is better to bear the ills we have, than flee to those we know not of." I suppose your definition of an ap ary as " a place where bees are kept "will help to reconcile the doctor to a continuation of its use. I might as- sist you in this by citing the terms aviary, hennery, piggery, queenery, and grapery, as being appro- priate in their respective uses. He may retort, however, by saying, "If apiary means a place where bees are kept, then a cellar may be an apia- ry; so may a house, a barn, a clamp, or a shed, for bees are kept in all these places;" but common consent comes to our aid again, and restricts the meaning to the inclosure in which they are kept during their active life. The others are called their " winter quarters." R. McKntght. Owen Sound, Ont., Can., Jan. 21. AUTOMATIC SWARMING. G. M. DOOLITTLE EXPRESSES HIMSELF IN A HOPE- FUL WAY IN REGARD TO IT. The following questions have been sent in to me, with the request that I answer them through the columns of Gleanings. 1. "It is well known, that, when a hive is full of bees, so that they begin to think of 'lying out,' they will crowd into any empty space which may be about the hive, much sooner than they will go on the outside of the hive. Taking advantage of this fact, suppose that, as soon as the sections are filled with bees, they be- ing well at work, and before the swarming fever comes upon them, we bore a two or three inch hole in one side of the hive, and on the inside of the same put a piece of queen-excluding metal. Next, we will bore a corresponding hole of the same size in an empty hive, cover the same with the queen- excluding metal, and set this empty hive right up against the other, having the bees in it, so that the holes match, and then put a queen-cell in this emp- ty hive. Now the point I wish to know is, will there not, in time, be a new swarm of bees in that empty hive?" Well, now, this is a new thought, to me at least, and one in which I think there may a benefit arise to the bee-fraternity. That it will work just as it is given in the above question, I have my doubts; tor I believe, from what I know of having queens fer- tilized in the same hive having a layingqueen, that, when the young queen comes to take her first flight (if the bees ever cluster about the ct 11 so it hatches, and preserve hei' till this time), she would, upon returning, go into the main hive and destroy the reigning queen, which would be a loss rather 131 GLEANIJiGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. than a gain. But what is there to hinder our plac- ing an empty comb and one of brood in all stages into the empty hive, placing the comb of brood next the side having the hole in it, the empty comb next, and lastly a division-board? Now place in the queen-oell nearly ready to hatch, and I will war- rant the bees from the old hive to go through the queen-excluding metal, take care of the brood and cell, care for the queen just the same as if she were in an isolated hive or nucleus, when in due time she will become fertile and go to filling the combs in this hive with eggs. From all my experience in the past, in raising queens, as given in my book, in having them reared above queen-excluding metal by the thousand, and fertilized and laying by the score, in hives partitioned off by queen excluding division-boards, while the old queen was doing her full duty below, I am just as sure thai this plan would work as if I had tried it and proved the same. 2. " By using the plan which I have outlined above, will it not prevent the original hive from swarm- ing? If so, this will do away with some one to stay at home all the while to watch for swarms during the swarming season, besides proving a bonanza to those having out-apiaries which they wish to work for comb honey." Well, as I said before, I do not think it would work as the questioner gives it: but by using the suggestion given, as I have explained, I see no rea- son why it should not stop swarming entirely. As soon as the young queen gets to laying, or before, if the old colony is very strong, take more combs of brood from it and fill their place with frames of foundation or frames of comb, putting the brood, thus taken out, over in the hive having the young queen. Sections should now be placed over the part of the new hive where the brood and combs are, so that, in no case, the bees lack for room to store all the honey there is coming in; and I would have these sections, in every case, filled with foundation, so that the bees would have no excuse for any desire to swarm, by being loth to build comb. Occasionally, or as often as the out-apiary is visited, move more frames of brood over to the new hive, putting frames of foundation in the place of the frames taken each time till the new hive is full, always putting on sections as the bees seem to require. If I am correct in thinking that the above will do away with swarming, we shall have something of great advantage, at least to all those working out-apiaries. 3. " Will a colony thus managed make as much hon- ey as they would had they been kept in the old hive, and by some means not allowed to swarm?" If we had tha.t "xonu means" which would allow the bees to work with a will all summer long, with no desire to swarm, then I should say that they would produce more honey in the original hive, and with only one queen; but inasmuch as bees are, as a rule, determined to swarm, where worked for comb honey, it looks to me as it the above would give more honey than could be obtained either by letting them swarm, or so throwing them out of their normal condition by manipulation that swarming can be prevented. All cutting of queen- cells, caging of queens, etc., to prevent swarming, seems to put the colony in an abnormal condition, so that the work which they do while so placed seems to be done with a protest; hence it often hap- pens that the season is mostly consumed by the Jjees sulking the tinte away, instead Of their work- ing with a will; the result ot which is a small crop of honey, of a poor quality. If the above is of any benefit to any, they can thank Mr. H. Sawyer, of Burlington, Iowa, for the original thoughts in the matter, for it was he who asked the questions. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., Feb. 2. THE BRANTFORD INTEKNATIONAI. CONVENTION. A FORMAL INTRODUCTION TO ITS MEMBERS. You will remember, in my report of the International Convention, at lirantford, I said that I would introduce the members of the association to the readers of Glean- ings. In accordance with that promise^ with my very lowest bow, hat in hand, I present to you one by one the members of the International Bee-keepers' Association. I leave it to you to say if they are not an in- teresting lot of people. A goodly number of intelligent faces are among the lot — jes, lawyers, doctors, ministers, editors, states- men, presidents of bee-associations, and others of no mean calling, grace the lot. Had it not been for that "• big wall,'' I should probably have taken some views of the bee-keepers with my camera (which, you will remember, was in safe keeping in the custom-house office ;) but I don't know that lam so very sorry, after all, because the city photographer has given us a very much better picture than I could have taken. About the middle of one of the sessions we adjourned, in pursuance of the call of the artist, across the street, and stationed ourselves in front of the City Hall, in pret- ty much the attitude shown on the opposite page. One of the most difficult things in photography is to arrange a large group; but our artist succeeded admirably, we will all agree. The day was cloudy, and the light was soft and subdued. It is almost impossible to get a good outdoor group photo in the sunlight by the modern quick- working dry plates. The picture opposite is a very much re- duced reproduction of the original photo- graph ; but it shows sufficiently well the individuality of each of the bee-keepers. Tbis engraving, like all others of its class, must not be held closer to the eyes than 15 inches. As I look over many of the faces, pleasant memories are recalled, and the names that I could net remember are all brought back to me now. I can not refrain from pointing out in print a few of the faces. Well, there is Secretary R. F. Holtermann. No. 1. To him belongs very largely the credit of the success of the convention, both in numbeis and in enthiisiasm. It was he who had previously made arrangements with the photographer for this beautiful picture. Just back of him is our genial friend J. B. Hall, No. 20, of thick-top-bar fame. And there is R. L. Taylor, the lawyer and states- man. No. 21. I wonder what he is look- ing away up in the air for. Is he lining a beeV Geo. II. Ashby, No. 22, is considera- ble of a bee-keeper, and quite a fun-maker at conventions. No. 28 is our friend Martin 136 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. Emigh, a name quite familiar to Canadian bee-keepers. I had the pleasure of meeting him, I think, at the congress of bee-keepers in New Orleans. Mr. G. Sturgeon, No. 25, is the man who likes the A. 1. Root chaff hive, and does not want any thing better for wintering. And there is our old friend W. r. Clarke, No. 26, formerly editor of the American Bee-Journal, and now president of the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association. He has been long in the field, and is one of the veteran bee-keepers and writers. Yes, and there is the president of the American Bee- keepers' Association, Dr. A. B. Mason, No. 27, as sober as a deacon, but ready for a joke, I guess. It was with great pleasure that I renewed the acquaintance of F. H. Macpherson (No. 29), who is now practically editor-in chief of the Canadian Bee Journal, and manager of the supply department of theD. A. Jones Co. F. A. Gemmell, No. ao, is a briglit Canadian bee-keeper. It is he who, 1 believe, gave me such a friendly grip of the hand, and inquired after those Vandeusen metal corners. No. 2-1 is C. P. Dadaut, the secretary-elect of the Interna- tional Bee-keepers' Association. If there are any ones who know how to produce ex- tracted honey, or make the liuest founda- tion, they are our friends the Dadants. Mr. J. T. Calvert, No. 31, is business manager here at the Home of the Honey-bees. Prof. Cook, No. 14, looks as if he might be in a heated debate. His eyes and features have an intenseness not seen when he is more at repose. Like your humble servant, No. 33, he is evidently sitting in an uncomfortable position. No. 17 is Mr. Wm. Couse, who has very kindly furnished me the names of some of these faces. He is secretary of the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association. No. 61 shows the genial quiet face of our friend S. Cornell, who will be remembered by our readers by his scholarly articles which have appeared occasionally in our columns. No. 51 is R. McKnight, one of the prominent Canadian bee-keepers, and one who, like our friend Dr. Mason, has a particular tal- ent for getting up fine honey- exhibits. Dear me ! There are so many faces that I should like to speak of in particular that I must stop at once. All I can do now is to give you the list of bee-keepers as they were furnished me. 1. R. F. Holtermann. 2. C. McNally. 8. Mrs. C. P. Dadant. 4. Mrs. Martin Emigh. 5. Mrs. G. Sturgeon. 6. Mrs. Dr. Mason. 7. Mrs. John Yoder. 8. Mrs. F. H. Macpherson 9. Mrs. F. A. Gemmel. 10. Master Gemmel. 11. Mrs. J. T. Calvert. 12. Mrs. E. K. Root. 14. Prof. A. J. Cook. 16. R. L. Meade. 17. Wm. Couse. 18. A. Mclnnis. 19. Jas. Armstrong. 20. J. B. Hall. 21. R. L. Taylor. 22. G. H. Ashby. 23. Martin Emigh. 24. C. P. Dadant. 25. G. Sturgeon. 26. W. F. Clarke. 27. Dr. A. B. Mason. Wm. Hill. Mr. Schantz. G. W. Barber. A. E. Hoskel. R. McKnight. J. B. Aches. L. J. Mullock. Wm. Hislop. D. Anffuish. O. L. Hersohiser. Dr. A. E. Harvey. S. Cornell. Mr. Birkholder. N. Smith. M. B. Holmes. Charley Culver. T. Birkett. Master Birkett. J. B. Howell. J. A. Foster. G. Howard. C. Brown. John Newton. Jacob Alpaugh. A. Pickett. 38. John Yoder. 8.5. G. H. Morris. 29. F. H. Macpherson. 86. Arthur Lalng. 30. F. A. Gemmel. 87. Ira Burrows. 31. J. T. Calvert. 88. C. Flanders. 32. T. Ruddle. 89. J. R. Bellamy. ;33. E. R. Root. 90. R. H. Myers. 35. C. W. Culver. 91. J. Myers. 38. Wm. Goodyer. 94. Mr. Hamilton. 41. Mr. Schantz. 98. E. Schultz. 42. Ellas Mott. It is to be regretted that there were not more ladies present. President Mason said he took his wife along to keep him straight. I do not know whether bee-7nen are dispos- ed to depart very much from the rectilinear, in the absence of their wives or not ; but I do know that the more ladies there are pres- ent, the better the convention. Get the la- dies to attend, and the men will be sure to be on hand. Ernest. AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL CHINA. A LETTER FROM ONE OF OUR MEDINA BOYS. The following letter comes to hand from a young friend who was once a pupil in my Sunday-school class, and he afterward work- ed at different times in our establishment. Remembering our ways and methods of set- ting boys and girls at work here, he has formed a project of starting something simi- lar, with the view of securing education and skill in the mechanical arts at one and the same time. The- latter is also expected to assist in defraying the expenses of the pu- pils while getting an education. With this preface we will let " Harry '' tell his own story to the readers of Gleanings : Dear Mr. Root:— Some time ago I wrote you in re- gard to an industrial school, and I have since often wondered if you would feel that you could intro- duce the subject through the columns of Glean- ings, to its many readers. Why do I choose Gleanings? Well, it is because it is one of the few publications which particularly attract my atten- tion, from the decided Christian influence its main articles have; and feeling pretty sure of a hearty approval in the effort for such a school on the part of yourself. Our mission-school system is carried out in this way: At a center we have a high school and a the- ological school. Scholars are drawn from day- schools at the other stations of the mission, for these. We experience great difficulty in holding in our day-school those boys who have proved bright and attractive, as their parents can not afford to keep them in school after they reach an age at which they can be apprenticed out to a trade. Now, our thought is, to establish an industrial depart- ment in connection with our day school, in which these boys can spend half of their time learning a trade as well as obtaining an education, and, in a measure, partially supporting themselves. We can thus hold and instruct them until they are old enough to show their qualifications for further ad- vancement, selecting such as will be suitable for teachers, and giving them the benefit of the high school and seminary, by the aid of scholarships, which many Sabbath-schools are yearly providing for the support of one or more young men; and we are this year ordaining our first of the graduates as native pastors, for the native churches are call- ing for native pastors. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 137 This is, in rough, the plan we have in mind. We need, first, money for buildings. I think $500 would put up temporary buildings; but as we shall not have rent land, we should like $1000 for substantial buildings. Friends have loaned or given some car- penter tools, and we have an upright drill and small turning-lathe. What we are desirous of is a few wood-working machines, a blacksmith's and tin- ner's outat. These three are all we shall go into at present. If we can raise .flOOO for buildings we can add a printing-outfit, which will be at our di-posal, without doubt, as our mission has a large plant of this description which will he split if we can find accommodation for a portion of it. Now, then, dear friends, can and will you come to our assistance in this scheme, with which we are sure your heart is fully in accord, and thus help on the work of education in whicii we see a direct way of reaching many children? In the end many iieo- ple will receive the word of truth and life, which none of the foreign missionaries can ever hope to carry to the masses with any thing like the success the Christian natives will thus be able to do. On behalf of the mission, and Tientsin station in par- ticular, I beg to re main Yours very -uly, Tientsin, China. H. J. Bostwick. I may add, that our own Sunday-school subscribed .522.18; and as I had agreed to match whatever they raised, this made $44. 3b. Twenty dollars more were sub- scribed, making $B4.3ti, which we take plea- sure in forwarding to friend Harry this lOtli day of February, 18^0. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. THE VANDEUSEN METAL CORNERED FRAME THE THING DESIRED. I see that you will soon have the Vandeusen metal-corner reversible frames, to space 1 'a inches, ready. This is what I want. This last season I used your Simplicity hives under different manage- ments. I used part with the 10 frames. This gives a spacing of 1]^ inches, which is o'„ more than l%— too much. I used others with 11 frames. This gives a spacing of IIJ inches— ,'., less than li'e— too little— but gave me better combs and better results every way than the 10 frames, while I used still others with eight frames to the hive, spaced If inches, which gave me by far the best results of any. Thus I am led to the conclusion that an eight-frame hive, spaced 1% inches, is about right. I am thor- oughly convinced that a reversible frame is best. Concord Church, W. Va., Jan. 1. T. K. Massie. Friend M., when you get down to forti- eths of an inch, you are getting it pretty fine ; but we are very glad indeed to have the result of your repeated experiments. No doubt you are about right. perforated zinc honey-board in swarming ; a good suggestion. As swarming time will begin in the South in a few weeks, I thought to say to those who practice natural swarming, that the perforated zinc honey- board is the one thing needful. When two or more swarms cluster together, just take a hive with sol- id bottom, no entrance; lay the honey-boaid on top; shake the cluster on it. The bees will run down in- to the box, leaving queen and drones on top. The queen, in trying to get through the perforations,- will limp her back, thus raising the wings from her abdomen as if on purpose to be grasped and caged. Perhaps you may say the bees will not thus run in and leave iheir queens; but practically they do it every time. You see, I have hived something like a hundred swarms that way, without a single fail- ure. When j-our queens are all caged you can di- vide the cluster into as many swarms us you wish, letting a queen run in with each swarm in hiving. If the cluster is too large for one bo.\, use two or more boxes in catching the queens. If not ready to hive your bees at once, lay a queen on top of the box or boxes, wire cloth down, until ready to hive; or, better, drop her, cage and all, amonff the cluster. If the queens are taken en- tirely away, the bees will reman in the box from 1.5 minutes to two hours or more. If they have clustered, and failed to find their queen, and have gone back, thej- will break the cluster quicker at each successive swarming, until, after issuing two OFthree times, they will not cluster at all without a queen; but after a vain search they will return to the parent hive. E. S. Arwine. Los Berros, Cal., Jan. 18. I feel quite sure that you can get the queens in just the manner you mention, and the suggestion is doubtless quite valuable. HOW TO market chunk HONEY. There are various ways of disposing of chunk honey, and we have found the following to be a very good one. When we can not conveniently get the tin pans, such as Mr. Koot used to sell for that purpose, we buy the two-pound wooden butter- plates, such as grccerymen retail butter in, for which we pay 23 cents per 100. In these we lay a sheet of thin writing-paper. Bring the honey into a warm room some time before cutting, and cut it up with a sharp and v>izi: of hvood-nott do you prefer! Is it material whether the Jirouil-nest is cidiic- al or not? h. Oive your reasons hriclly for odoiMng the, hrood-nest you are usimj. a. 1 use a 10-frame Simplicity - Langstroth. b. Because the majority use it, and I am anxious to see a standard frame used by all. Louisiana. E. C. P. L. Viallon. Seven to eight of our frames in the spring; six afterward; not material, b. Experience. In the spring, give as many as the queen will fill; after- ward, as many as she will keep full. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. a. About 3000 cubic inches. For the purpose of a brood-nest alone, without any other consideration, I do not think the shape of the brood-nest is materi- «,1. b. Because I think it is about the right size, and because it suits me. Illinois. Mrs. L. Harrison. a. 13?4Xl3?£ inches inside the^frames; 8 frames to a hive. I think it is of less importance than some of us imagine, b. I could not do it. I presume it was a matter of accident with me at first, as it is ■with most bee-keepers. Ohio. N. W. H. R. BOARDMAN. Eight Langstroth frames. Twelve Gallup. New Heddon. I think the latter best for comb honey. The others are good also for comb honey, which I believe pays best here. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. a. About 1600 cubic inches, or nearly a foot cube, b. Because bees can be managed so as to secure the largest cash profit from such a brood-nest, id my opinion. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. a. Ten or more Langstroth frames. If I worked for comb honey I should prefer 8 or 10 such frames, b. The first reason is, because it was the one almost exclusively used in this locality when I came here, and I bought my first bees, on coming here, in such a hive. If I make any more they will be larger. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. a. Langstroth. I suspect cubical might be a little better for bees, but not for the bee-keeper. I adopt- ed it because Vandervort, the foundation-mill man, when he left Marengo, sold out his hives to me, and it is so nearly the Langstroth size I have never changed, although I may yet. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. a. An 8-frame Langstroth hive. Other things be- ing equal, I should prefer a round or cubical brood- nest as being the best shape to economize the heat of the bees; but the advantages are only slight, b. I prefer the shallow frame, on account of greater ease of manipulation. It makes the hive more spread out, and less likely to be upset; there is less oscillation of the combs in moving the hives about. California. S. W. R. Wilkin. a. One holding 13 Gallup frames. Probably bees would cluster to better advantage in a hive ap- proaching the cubic form; but a slight variation from this form, such as the Gallup or L. hives, have given satisfactory results in wintering, b. My rea- son, first, for using the Gallup hive, was, that I bought a lot of bees in them; and my reasons, last, are, that I have tried nothing that suits me as well. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. Freeborn. Seven Simplicity frames. I think the shape which this gives is better than the same space in cubical form would be. A small and nearly globu- lar nest in one end, in early spring, seems to be a little better located than it could be in a cubical hive; and expansion endwise is simpler than taking possession of new frames. Same of the winter nest, b. I grew into it in the course of work from year to year. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. a. 16M long by 13 V wide by 11 deep. I believe the nearer cubical the better, b. Because I prefer a short frame; and as 11 frames require the proper length of box to take on my clamps holding 1-lb. sections; and this brood-box seems to contain just about the proper amount of comb surface for the queen to fill with eggs and keep full by the time clover blooms here in this locality. Other localities might require larger or smaller brood-nests. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. a. I prefer a large single-story hive, allowing the bees themselves to size the brood-nest. This ap- plies, of course, to the production of extracted honey. It would be difficult to give brief reasons for my preference, and I do not think it necessary. 140 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. rEB" Such hives are not manufactured, and the tenden- cy of the entire bee-world is toward other styles of hives; but this doesn't prevent my using- such hives as have given me the best practical results. Cuba. O. O. POPPLETON. I use the Quinby standing frame, which is 10x1,5 inches, inside measure. It is equally perfect, whether you use one frame for nuclei or 16 side by side, as necessity may require. For boxing, I use 6 and 1; for extracting, .53; and for wintering, 6 and 7 combs. If I were obliged to adopt a fixed size of brood-nest I would use eight of those frames. I prefer this frame because I can adapt the size of the brood-nest to the strength of colony, to the dif- ferent seasons, and to all localities. Connecticut. S. W. L. C. Root. If the propagation of bees and wintering only werS my object, then I should prefer a cubical brood-nest, because their stores and cluster are more compact and comfortable, and the cluster can move gradually upward where it is warm, as their stores, surrounding them, become consumed. But as honey is my object, and as I know that bees can be wintered safely in a shallow frame, I prefer the Langstroth style of brood-chamber, because I know that I can produce a larger crop of honey, the larg- er the surface above the brood-chamber. Ohio. S. W. C. F. Mdth. a. The brood-nest of my hives usually contains either 12T6 or 2.553 cubic inches in the shape of either one or two brood-chambers ll'/axl^i inside, and 6 inches deep. It makes little or no difference to the bees whether the brood-nest is cubical or not; and it is much more advantageous to the bee- keeper to have it shallow, b. Because it gives a control over the management of the bees and the disposition of their stores which in other forms of hives is not possible, or can be gained only by nu- merous appliances and greatly increased manipula- tion. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. a. We prefer the large Quinby suspended frame (see our answer to No. 151). Our hives can accom- modate 11 of these frames, b. According to our experience, a comb longer horizontally is better than a square one, for the queen, in spring, is una- ble to lay her eggs in a regular disk. She wants to lay in circles; but, as the lower part of the disk covered with brood is cooler than its sides, the work- ers refuse to descend, and the disk is flattened at the bottom and enlarged at the sides, taking the form of a horizontal oval. Father Langstroth was, therefore, well prompted when he adopted the hor- izontal frame. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. We favor a large hive. Our Langstroth hives hold 8 frames. For comb honey we use just the 8 frames for a brood-nest; but for winter we give them two sets of eight combs — one set over ihe oth- er, with nothing between the upper and lower set. For extracting we prefer to use the L. frames, three stories high, 34 frames in all. We raise but little comb honey, and that at home. As our comb- honey colonies are worked with one set of 8 combs, we take another set of eight combs full of honey from a third story of a colony that is run for ex- tracted honey, and put it on the comb-honey colo- ny to winter it. Then they both have two sets of eight frames. But for (xtracling we prefer our" tall frame, w hich is 21 by i:! inches, 21 high, i:{ wide. In our shot-tower hives we use two sets of nine of those tall frames, one set above. The others get more honey per colony; winter better and swarm- less. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. We prefer a brood-nest that can be contracted or ' expanded. It is not material for the brood-nest to be of a cubical sbape. b. The shallow brood-cham- ber was adopted in our yard for the following rea- sons: They are easier to manipulate than any oth- er style; bees can be driven from an entire casein a few minutes, and the case be carried to the ex- tracting-room. The same can be returned without exposing combs to robbers, and bees are not excit- ed to anger as by the old brush-and-bust-'em meth- od. The shallow brood-nest is also just the thing for making artificial swarms. In fact, we can not- here enumerate half the advantages. New York. B. Rambler^ If the brood-nest is to be kept one size all the year round— that is, where contraction is not prac- ticed—the capacity of eight Langstroth frames is my preference, and I have used them in considera- ble quantities, varying from six to twenty-four. I do not tnink it a matter of much importance for wintering, what the shape of the brood-nest is. The theory that the queen will lay more eggs, and that the bees will winter better in a cubical or tall hive, is only a theory. It is not so at all. If any thing, it is just the reverse that is true. I have never had my bees winter so well in any hive as in very shallow, long, flat hives. Were I going to start an apiary now, and adhere to the suspended frame, not using my divisible brood-chamber, and not caring to have my hives and frames of any standard size, the same as others use, I would make an eight-frame hive taking a frame just 4,V inches longer than the standard Langstroth, and enough shallower to leave It the same capacity. Of course,, bees keep a little warmer in a shallow hive, because they will be closer to the top of it, not having a great open space above them to heat, and heat does not pass away sidewise or laterally as rapidly as it does upward. The bees move slowly in a lateral direction as they use up the stores. After all, it makes but little difference about safety in winter- ing, for bee-diarrhea is the sole cause of our winter losses, and the depth of the frame or hive does not cause bee-diarrhea. Still, the flat hive is the best. They are ever so much the best in which to store surplus honey, either comb or extracted, and such frames manipulate more easily. My reasons for adopting the new brood-nest I am now using with the small shallow frames, is, that I use two sets of frames to one brood-chamber; and with a horizon- tally divisible brood-chamber I get the advantage* of both deep and shallow hives. By interchanging the brood-sections, I get more surplus comb honey. I can keep the brood up to the surplus honey re- ceptacles all the time, and I do it with emotion, so- to speak. It is one of the correct theories that ia quick, safe, and easy to practice. That is the beauty of it. There are many correct theories which are practically false or worthless, you know. There are a dozen other reasons for preferring this divisible brood-chamber, but I must not take up any more room in this department. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 141 0ai^ pejiEg. Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.— Matt. 11 : 38. Perhaps no other verse in the Bible has been more npon peoples tongues, and often- €r quoted, than this simple little verse. In fact, I think I have used it for my text be- fore in these Home Papers. What I wish to consider novv^, however, is just this : Is the promise true ? Perhaps many of my good friends who love Christ Jesus may almost feel hurt to think 1 should ask such a ques- tion. Well, I have asked, just because I am inclined to think there has been, or is, a good deal of skepticism in regard to it. You will notice, that the conclusion promises rest; and when Jes^is promises rest, he means it, I assure you, in the fullest sense of the word. Why," then, do we go through life so loeary, and bearing burdens so heavy f I think it is because we refuse to accept the plain, simple invitation. A good many say that we shall have comparative rest ; that we need not expect to be free from the cares and responsibilities of life— at least, not in this world. Very likely this is true. Bat, my friend, suppose you have broken off from some sinful habit. Suppose, if you choose, you are a slave to tobacco. You feel that it is wrong, and you stop using it. You stop from a sense of duty, proposing to tight it out. Is there any thing in the Bi- ble that encourages you to believe that you have a right to expect that you can be de- livered from the dreadful hankering and longing for the accustomed stimulant V Why do I ask such a question V Because of the differences of opinion. Even our good friend who wrote the Tobacco Manual — one who has been fur years a faithful servant of Christ Jesus, is at least not quite settled in regard to the matter. And now I want to allow him to speak on this subject : ^ ARE WE TO EXPECT THAT ODD WILL, IN ANSWER TO PRAYER, DELIVER US AT ONCE FROM SIN- FDL HABITS? Bro. JJoot;— I want just a word with our good friend at Woodbura, 111., Mr. Muhleman, on a sin- gle phase of the tobacco question. Brother Muhle- man seems to carry the idea that any person can <5ontrol the desire for tobacco, whether acquired or inherited, or both, by asking help of God. T do not wish to enter into any controversy on the subject. It would be like entering again upon a controversy concerning the nature of " original sin." I simply want to say that I have thought over that phase of the subject for more than fifty years, with single and individual instances before my mind— in all not •exceeding, perhaps, a dozen or twenty. And then, on the other hand, I have met and talked with thousands who give the best of evidences of being •Christians, who tell me that the desire clings to them, and they have to fight it every day and hour. Some tell me that the desire for tobacco, even though they have not used it for years, on seeing •or smelling it, comes on them with almost irresisti- ble power— the Bible would express it, "Like an armed man." In considering this subject, I take into the ac- count the will power of man, its influence on hab- i ts, passions, and tastes. I also take into the ac- count the tendency of liquor, tobacco, and opium to destroy the will power— tobacco more than liq- uor, and opium more than either. Arranging these testimonies against each other, at least a huudred against one, I dare not take the testimoLy of the one, and reject the testimony of the hundred. Hence, in my manual on tobacco, also in my lec- tures and newspaper articles, I do not refer to what is often called the " Murphy doctrine," though I do not deny it, nor even ignore it. I wish I could see many more instances of it. Perhaps in the generations following, more will be witnessed. I have three sons in the ministry. If they reach the age I have attained, some of them may bear testimony on this subject, such as 1 have not been privileged to witness. N. A. Hunt. Dear brother, you do not know how ear- nestly I have pondered over this very mat- ter w^hich you bring up before us. I have been compelled to admit, that, while God did in some instances seem to give instant and perfect emancipation from sin in a special direction, at other times I have known good earnest faithful followers who seemed to be called upon to bear the con- sequences of their past sins in just the way you have mentioned. Paul besought the iSavior to remove the thorn ; but in answer he was given grace to bear it. When I gave you that talk about loving righteousness and hating iniquity, I had this thought in mind ; and my conclusion then was, that the rea- son why deliverance does not oftener come is because we still cherish a lingering love for clinging to the evil, and so the memory continually haunts us. We are like Lot's wife— prone to look back, and go over, in memory, the forbidden sin. Since then, however, I have had a new experience of my own that I wish to tell you about to-day. At different periods of my life I have had experience in being lifted at once from the miry clay to the solid rock of Christ Jesus ; and I am sorry to say that I have also had exj)erience long afterward, that convinced me that w^e must not be too sure that we are thoroughly emancipated. When I wrote that little paper in regard to the machinery of the universe, more than once the thought came into my mind of the special line of machinery manipulated by the prince of darkness, with the express design and plan of leading souls to ruin. There is some- thing fascinating in gazing into the crater of a volcano ; and this love of looking down, or, if you choose, going down, into the very jaws of death (and a horrible death too), has prompted men to let themselves down by ropes, in order to study the boiling and seething caldron of melted lava. The dis- position is very strong in my own heart to want to see and know, not only all about the workings of the slumbering fires of the interior of our own earth, but there is some- thing terribly fascinating to me along some lines of the machinery of Satan, even when good sense bids me turn my back and hast- en away. Something in my nature makes me inquisitive to know more about these dreadful dangers, even when I know that to look is sin, and to dally may be fatal. Some time ago a little speck of cloud be- gan to dim my spiritual enjoyment. I do 142 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Eek. not know that I can call it even a speck of cloud. Some days I thought there was not any cloud at all ; and at other times I felt sure there was one clearly visible. Even if I did not see it I felt that my faith was surely being dimmed just a little. I did not enjoy prayer all alone by myself as I usual- ly do. In a few days more it would be gone, and I smiled to think I had imagined tliat I was slipping back. But pretty soon I felt more sure than ever that this cloud was an indication of danger. Perhaps some may say, " Why, Bro. Root, that sounds a little bit ridiculous from our spiritual teacher. How could it happen that you, who have so frequently and vehemently proclaimed Christ Jesus as the Savior of the world, should so far forget to practice your own preaching as to omit to tane this matter to the feet of Jesus V '' And this obliges me to make another confession, still more humiliat- ing. When the cloud was new and strange, it oftentimes showed a sort of silver lining, and it changed about in unexpected ways so that I rather disliked to have it taken away. Another thing, when I prayed about it, it did not seem to make very much dif- ference. A young friend who was rescued from intemperance and intemperate habits went and got drunk one night after he had been to prayer -meeting. Yes, and in that very prayer-meeting he prayed that Gcd would keep him from his "besetting sin. When I found him in jail he told me that, although he had asked God to help him, he didn't help him a bit I Almost every one smiles on hearing this sad story. Why do they smile ? Well, I suppose that every one, almost, says in his heart, if not aloud, " He did not pray honestly. It was the prayer of a hypocrite. If he really meant it, why did he go from the prayer-meeting to a place where he could get intoxicating liq- uors, or where he would find companions who would furnish it ? "' Now, in view of the above, was it not use- less for me to pray when I was quite cer- tain that 1 should sin again, when tempta- tion came? Poor Albeit said that he had tried praying for God to help him. God alone knows the heart, and he alone knows whether Albert was really hungering and thirsting after righteousness when he ut- tered that prayer, or whether the hungering and thirsting was in the main for the for- bidden stimulant. Is it true, that, while we are conscious of this iniquity in our hearts, we had better stop prayiiierV Not so, my friend. By no manner of means stop praying or stop taking part in any religious services. Your old friend Uncle Amos has had some experi- ence in this line, and it was in the hope that it might be helpful to you that he is penning these lines to you to-day. My dear friend, if a little speck of cloud (sin produces clouds of many hues and kinds) has darkened your spiritual sight as it did mine, do not, byany manner of means, stay from prayer-meeting, or think of neglecting daily worship. If you can not pray, with your heart and soul in it, as you have sometimes done, pray with all the faith you can scrape up. Do not, under any circumstances, let Satan per- suade you that it is inconsistent to take the name of Christ Jesus on your lips. Most of you know what a great work the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor has done and is doing, over almost the face of the whole earth. Most of you also know of the " iron-clad pledge " that is a special fea- ture of this society. This pledge is, to be on hand and take part in some way or other (besides singing), at every regular meeting, unless absolutely prevented. There has been a good deal of fault found with this iron-clad pledge. A good many have be- come offended, and have withdrawn ; but those who take the pledge, and keep it, grov: and shine. The very fact that they have given a sacred promise to stand up "for the Master, week by week, proves to be a great wall of safety about them. The thought of this iron-clad pledge keeps them from doing a hundred thiugs they might do otherwise, just as the thought that you and J, my friend, by bowing our heads before the great God of the universe, and asking a blessing at the table, keeps us from doing many things that we might otherwise do. Well, I think that perhaps I had better con- fess to you that this little speck of cloud that I mentioned did make me feel once or twice as if I should like to be excused, at least for the time being, from family worship. I felt that, if I took up the service, it must be without very much heart in it. Wliy not go off by myself, and pray over my cold and fallen state? Well, I did not want to dO' that. I had not become so very bad or so very cold either ; for when the thought came into my mind of omitting family wor- ship just once, it frightened me. I do not know how it may be with the rest of human- ity ; but when A. I. Root voluntarily neg- lects or skips by his daily petitions to God the Father, he is lost. The bare thought of it makes me shudder. It frightens me. All the wealth the earth can give or furnish — all the attraction that this world has to offer, could not tempt me for one moment to think of living a life without pjayer. I have tried a life without prayer and with- out obligation to God. Nearly twenty years of the bpstpart of my life were ])assed in that state. I never want to go back to it again. Bad as I am and ha\'e been, cold and unfeel- ing as I yet am at times, I never want to live without the daily and hourly glimpse of' the approving smiles of my Savior. I did pray, or at least I prayed feebly, about this thorn in the flesh, but it did not make very much diffeienee. I began to fear that my spiritual enjo>ment was getting to be some- what of an old story. I presume it was Sa- tan that began to suggest that this new freak of mine had lasted quite a good many years, and that it was nothing particularly strange if I did begin to crave something new. The time was coming for another Home Paper. I have never written a Home Paper >et without a heart in it. Before the time comes, God gives me a message to car- ry to those who love his holy name and his holy word. A good many times I find, when it comes time to write those Home Papers,, there are several things to be fixed up or disposed of, David said, you know, " Cre- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 143 ate in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew .a right spirit within me ; then " (after that, mind you) " will I teach transgressors thy -way, and sinners shall be converted unto thee." He had learned, as I have, that no spiritual message can be carried to others until his own heart was made clean, and re- newed. A good many things began to as- sail me. When I went into our afternoon prayer-meeting only day before yesterday, a -good brother was speaking. His concluding sentence was something like this : He spoke of his comrades of earlier days. Some of them had gone to ruin, and some filled •drunkards' graves. Why? Just because they thought they were strong enough to dally with sin. They thought they would go just a little way, just for the fun of it. They did not propose any thing out of the way. They would get just a glimpse of these ■things that were talked so much about ; 'but the end was death. I thought of that little speck of cloud, and it made me shiver. The wind blew a bit of paper across my path. On that paper something was said about the grand char- acters and shining lights that all of a sud- den had tumbled and fallen. Men who were considered as strong pillars of integrity and purity, all at once shocked the community, and may be the whole nation, by something appalling. The writer said, however, that no great man had ever fallen suddenly. No such thing ever happens. The character that the world looked on as great, and be- yond reproach, was all the time worm-eaten. The little worm had commenced years ago. gnawing at his vitals. Perhaps he stood before the world fair to look upon for some time after he was only a hollow shell. Aft- er his fall, all the world could see that such was the case. Corruption and depravity be- gin slowly. It is at first only a little speck ; but it gets larger and larger. Then my im- agination pictured the effect on humanity, and the shock it would give those who had been reading his Home Papers, aud perhaps the dishonor that it would throw on the name of Christ Jesus, if A. I. Boot should, in his old age, say, get cold or indifferent, if nothing worse. " Lord, help thy poor stum- bling unworthy servant !" welled up from my lips. But still the cloud hung over my spiritual horizon. It was getting to be a part of me. It was with me when I closed my eyes in sleep, and it was plainly in sight when I awoke in the morning. Sometimes Satan tempted me by saying it was like Paul's thorn in the flesh, and that doubtless God intended it to stay there. But 1 knew better. We have it in the words of Holy Writ : " Let no man say, when he is tempt- ed, I am tempted of God.'' Why did I not go to some good spiritual friend of mine and ■ask him to pray for meV I was ashamed to do so ; for. from some strange inconsistency, if I had told the truth I should have been obliged to say that I was not sure that I wanted to be any different. Another thing troubled me : Whenever I looked at the whole matter as though it were one of my -"■ neighbors," I began to boil with indigna- tion, not at myself, but at my neigtibor. The thing that I would not have tolerated for a moment in a neighbor of mine was not any thing particular out of the way when it came to have a lodging-place in my own heart. And this thought troubled me a good many days. " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Sometimes in my own life I have prided myself on the fact that I came pretty near doing this. But just now the thought was — why, to tell the plain truth, a ridiculous absurdity. I could sit down very complacently so long as the cloud belonged to me ; but if it hung over somebody else — oh, yes ! that made all the difference in the world. A young friend, whom I was once ex- horting to come to Christ, said to me some- thing like this : " What shall a person do if he does not want to be any different?" I thought at the time that the expression exhibited a very depraved spirit ; but here was I near that very predicament. I had been praying for many days that God would help me to realize and comprehend the sin- fulness of sin. I have seen it stated some- where, that every sin is hideous in the sight of God. I thought if God would help me to see how hideous was this sin, in his sight, I should be freed from its continuance. At the time of my conversion I did get a brief glimpse of the Sinfulness of sin. I got, for the time being, a little insight into the way that God looks at sin, so that I could real- ize just a little how impossible it is for him to tolerate it. And just the contemplation of it for a little time caused me to bow my head in such shame that the tears wet the very ground where I sat. And after that, came deliverance. At present, however, although I seemed to be getting a better view than ever before of the way in which Satan makes inroads upon the human heart, and of the subtile way in which he leads people out of the straight and narrow path, it did not seem to make much difference. I feared that I was getting to be a hardened sinner. What shall be done with one who is weary and heavy laden, and yet is so stubborn and contrary— so inconsistent — that hf does not want rest? Some of you who have never had a hand-to-hand conflict with Satan may think this ridiculous. But I am impressed, that many among my read- ers know something about just such hard struggles as I have been telling you of. Why do I tell it ? Because I want to tell you as I sit here and dictate these words that I have found deliverance. It was on my mind last night when I went to bed ; and it was on my mind and conscience when I opened my eyes this morning. Not very long ago our seven-year-old boy Iluber got up in the morning out of sorts. He complained; and because his mamma did not let him have his own way he refused to eat his breakfast. His papa finally look- ed toward him. I knew he was having one of the same battles that I had fought, oh so many times ! "Why! is our boy a bad boy this morn- ing? " I looked him full in the face, and waited for his answer. Notwithstanding his fits of temper he is remarkably truthful. He look-' ed up at me ; but as there was no other hon- 141 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Feb; est course he nodded hiis head in assent that he was a bad boy. " But you want to be a good boy, don't you?" The sp( 11 seemed to be a pretty bad one this time, and 1 wondeied a little how he would answer. He considered the matter for awhile, but his face did not soften a par- ticle. After some deliberatinu he shook his head slijjhtly, but >et very perceptibly, in- dicatinfr that he did not even %oant to be good. His mother replied that he would be good if we would just give him a little time; and, sure enough, after sntlicient delibera- tion he picked up his knife and fork and looked up with a smile, as much as to say, " Now, papa, I want to be goud, and 1 ain good." Well, my case had this difference. It really seemed as if weeks and months were not going to be sufficient time for me to go back and express my readiness to obey — that is, in one particular direction. I had decided a dozen times to tell my wife, and ask her to pray for me— yes, just as I used to do years ago, when I was taking the first faltering steps from darkneps into light. The only difficulty in the way was, that she has 710W too much faith in her husband to believe that Jiny dnn-jer threatened. I did. however, muster up courage enough to say something like this : " Your husband is being hard pressed by Satan." She looked at me a little bit w^onderingly, and then replied : "What, this morning V " " No, not this morning particularly, but for quite a time past." She left the room, but did not say any thing more, and did not ask for any partic- ulars. I was rather glad she didn't. I ex- pected she would pray for me. I went out on the sidewalk ; and as I breathed the fresh air, something prompted me to speak aloud (it was before daylight had even ting- ed the east); and as no one in our neighbor- hood except myself gets up at this time of day, I knew I could tell my Savior aloud what 1 wished to say, without any danger of being heard. The prayer I breathed, as nearly as I can remember, was this : " O Lord, help thy servant in his helpless- ness." I can not now remember exactly the words I used to express the next thought. I know this, however : The request was in a shape I never put it before. It was more humble. My feeling was, that, so far as any thing I could do was concerned, it amounted to nothing, so was not worth mentioning. And it included, also, the thought that all the Christian character that had been built up in years past, and on which I prided myself so much, was of no account ; salvation could not come through A. I. Root at all, and that there was no use in depending upon him any longer. He himself was clay or dust of the earth. At times I may have felt a little proud of my past record. Perhaps I was inclined to fall back upon it sometimes. This disposition was all gone. In its place w^as a feeling that Christ Jesus, and he alone, without help on my part, was to dispel the cloud. Like Da- vid, I asked him to create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Since then I have tried to think of the words that I used. It was a simple sen- tence, but I presume I shall never be able to recall it. In an wslant I felt I was free. A. I. Hoot started down the sidewalk, but it was another man that entered the door of the factory. The A. I. Root that had a fan- cy for specks of cloud that had something curious about them had vanished. The A. I. Root who sits here dictating the^e words to you is the one who loves Christ Jesus and him alone. His image is fiist, and above all and over all; therefore deliverance — yes, emancipation, at least for the time being- has come. Therefore I can present to you, dear brother and dear sister, with a stronger faith than 1 have ever done it before, the text, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Just a week has passed since the above was written. JSI o glimpse of temptation has come in the line indicated. When Chris- tian, in Pilgrim's Prdgress, felt his burden tumble from his back and roll away, he looked at it in astonishment, and wondered how it was possible he had ever cared to lug it about so long. Just so do I look at the sin from which I had been delivered. When the lame man, in answer to Peter's invita- tion, rose up and walked, he doubtless look- ed in astonishment at the good stout limbs that were given him in exchange for the poor weak deformed ones. And so it is with me. I do not know how it comes about that such a change has been wrought in me. Like the blind man I can only say, " One thing I know : that, whereas I was blind, now I see." By quoting these words I do not mean to boast of being (even now) better than people in general, for I hope I am cured, at least for a time, of that atti- tude of heart. Neither do I at present just see what bearing this has on the tobacco question. It has, however, given me a won- derful faith in the matter. God can and does deliver in an instant from the gnawings and galling bondage of an evil appetite or an evil habit. An earnest study of his sacred word, and a grasping hold of the promises contained therein, can never come amiss ; and with the prayer that this little story may help some other one to find relief through Christ Jesus from the burdens im- posed by sin, I close. PjaiCB LISTS RECEIVED. Since our last issue we have received price lists of queens, bees, and apiaiian supplies in general. from the following par- ties, who will be Klaa to furnish them to applicants. Tnose marked with a star (*) also deal in fine poultry. J. Van Deusen & Sons. Sprout Brook, N. Y. E. Kretchnier, Red Oak, la. Jerry A. Roe, Union City, Ind. Leininger Bros., Douglas, O. J. W. Bittenbender, Kuo.wille, la. W. J. Row, tSreensljurs;-, Pa. I. R. Good, Vawter Park, Ind. F. A. Eaton. Bluftton, O. E. L. Pratt, Marlboro, Mass. J. D. Goodrich, East Hardwick, Vt. H. D. Davis & Co., Bradford. Vt. G. H. Kii'kpatrick, Portland, Ind. C. F. Rood, Romeo, Mich. 1896 GL.EANIAGS IN BEE (JULTUUE. 145 'THE WISCONSIN STATE BEE -KEEP- ERS' ASSOCIATION. TWO DAYS WITH THE WISCONSIN BEE-KEEPERS, HORTICULTURISTS, ETC. It was a little refreshing, as we came into the city of Madison by moonlight, to see the beautiful lake that borders the city pretty well sprinkled with what I at first took to be sail-boats. Somebody, however, very soon corrected me by telling me that they were ice b^ats. Now, when I under- take to describe ice-boats perhaps I shall "•put my foot in it " something as I did when I attempted to tell you about the tur- key buzzards of the South. The ice-boats skimmed over the frozen waters of the lake a good deal as you see forest-leaves chase over a frozen pond when driven by the wind. The boat has sails like any boat. It has two^xed runners, besides a third one which is not fixed, but which can be turned by the rudder. By turning this rudder and shifting the sails, they run back and forth, and all over the lake. They not only run against the wind (which problem, I presume, is not a very strange one to most of our readers); but with good smooth ice these ice-boats run even faster than the wind blows. Of •course, in running right square ahead of the wind, the boat can not go quite as fast as the wind goes, on account of friction ; but in running at an angle, the boat may, like the sails of a windmill, glide along a good deal faster than the velocity of the wind. The next day I was greatly pleased to see the lake dotted with schoolchildren. Some were skating, and some were running a sort of velocipede made to run on ice. But those that interested me most made ice-boats of tlicmselies. They held in their hands what seemed to be a very large kite. The lower part of the kite, where the tail is usually attached, rested on the ice, while the body of the kite was held by the skater. Well, by sliifting this kite, or sail, the skat- er could glide with incredible spe.d, exactly as the ice boat does. Unless he was ^xoeri- enced, however, he was very likely u ••glide" and "spin" on his back, and a good many of them seemed to be doing this. I suppose this only added to the fun. Per- haps these arrangements are in use else- where ; but I confess that the idea of skat- ing with a sail in your hands, so as to make the wind the propelling power, was a novel- ty to me. Perhaps some of the juveniles will " catch on " and put it in practice, pro- viding we have ice enough before spring comes. The bee-keepers' meeting was held during the convention week of the State Agricul- tural Society. Now, I do not know how customary it is for other States to hold joint conventions for a whole week at the capital of the State ; but to me it was a most wonder- ful thing, and likewise a grand thins. Your humble servant had the i)leasure of talking, not only with the noted bee - men of the :State, but also with the horticulturists, fruit-growers, cattle-men, and with the crreat minds and experts in every depart- ment of rural industry. After our bee- keepers' session was adjourned, somebody spoke of going over to the assembly-room, where addresses were being delivered on dairying. Now, I do not know much about cows, nor about the dairy business either; but 1 had quite a curiosity to be present at the dairymen's meeting. I wanted to look into the faces of the cattle-men, and I was curious to see whether they managed their conventions any thing in the same line we do ours. Several of the speakers reminded me a good deal of the talks that Terry has given us on horses and cattle. Prof. Henry, of the Experiment Station, stirred me mightily by an account of the investigations they were making in order to determine whether farmers were groping in the dark (as many bee-men have been doing, and are yet), or whether they were doing their level best with mind and muscle to make their occupation profitable. When the governor of the State however (Gov. Hoard), gave us a little talk, not only on keeping cows but on general farming,! felt glad that God had seen fit to give me a place to work in even one department of agricultural indus- try. It was afterward my privilege to have quite a little chat with Gov. Hoard and a good many other progressive thinkers and workers of the State. Now, even if I should not get much about bees in this issue, I want to give you a little sketch from the talk given us by Gov. Hoard. He said a good many of the dairymen had been work- ing in the dark. They kept thirty or forty cows, fed them intelligently, and made per- haps a very good use of the products of these cattle. Bit he told us that it was not until quite recently that they had been enabled to keep accurate records of the money value of the product from each cow. If the cows are fed about the same, it probably costs about as much to keep one cow as another. He had a lot of figures put on cloth, so it could be unrolled and held up before the audience. The cow at the top of the list produced $86.00 and some odd cents, in one year. The next one was perhaps between .^40.00 and $50.00, and so on down to $25.00, $10 00, $5.00, and finally nothing at all ; and that chart acLiially showed that eleven cows in the flock gave minus figures— thsit is, their whole product did not pay for the feed they ate, to say nothing of the time of caring for them. They were simply a bill of expense, and the dairyman would have been richer had he made somebody a present of the whole elev- en at the commencement of the season. The only trouble is to find out which cows pay and which don't. Now, the farmer who had this drove of cattle, without being told of this, would very likely have kept not only the same fiock year after year, but would have gone right on doing business in that way. Perhaps bee-men do not do as badly as this ; but in bees as well as other farming operations, time and money are wasted in just that way because we do not know what we are doing. AVry likely many farmers of the old-fogy style would say, " Well, sup- pose it is so ; we cant help it, and there is no other way." My friends, we can help it, and there is a way. VVe can not all set a chemist at work; but the bright wide- awake man who has a lead-pencil in his 146 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fek pocket, and uses it as friend Terry recom- mends, can pretty soon get these poor cows and other like stumbling-blocks out of the way. J. M. S uith, whom I have before men- tioned, was president of the association. It was not my good fortune to hear him speak very much ; but during the little social chat I had with him in the moi ning at the hotel, before other people were up, he told me that he wonderful currant-patch (see page 649, t889) of his actually averaged twelve quarts to each bush, or stool of bushes, if you choose. Said I : " Mr. Smith, those currants were of such extra size and beauty they no doubt netted you more than ordinary figures." " Yes," said he ; "I was a little surprised at the price I received for them. They averaged me ten cents a quart, right through." Just think of it, friends— $1 20 for each hill of currants ! There was certainly a quarter of an acre of them. He told me how many bushes there were, but I have forgot- ten. I should say they were planted six feet apart each way. At this rate there would be about lloO bushes per acre ; and $1.20 per bush would amount to the enor- mous sum of $1380. I remember, while look- ing at them he made a remark something like this : " Mr. Root, you asked me a while ago if the ground would not. in time, become ex- hausted, or run out, by being cropped at this tremendous rate year after year. Well, for an answer I want to tell you that the ground where these currant-bushes stand was the acre I commenced with thirty or forty years ago. It has never had any rest. It has been cropped season after season, just as close as the plants can stand. You observe we have onions between our young currants right over there. The men are now pulling the onions, and putting celery where the onions s ood. Thus we get cur- rants, onions, and celery, from the same ground during the same season. This one acre that has been used continuously longer than any of the rest of my ground, is per- haps the best land I have. Don't the cur- rants tell the story? " Please bear in mind, friends, that this statement was not made before any conven- tion or institute. Mr. Smith is an exceed- ingly modest man, and very likely he would not have mentioned it before the conven- tion at all. nor even to me, had I not asked him point blank in regard to the currants. At the time I looked at them it seemed to me that the sight of that little currant- orchard paid me for my trip to Green Bay, Wis. It paid me in this way: I saw with my own eyes what had actually been done. I have long had notions, as you know, in regard to the possibilities on the acres that lie spread out before us. I saw the bushes bending with currants ; I picked them with my own hands, and ate them, and came home with new enthusiasm. What was that care of land worth V Well, I did not think to ask ; but I call an acre of my best market-gardening ground worth a thousand dollars. Of course, land, to be worth such a sum, must be reasonably near a market. Now, we all admit that Mr. Smith is a great gardener. lie has perhaps done a lit- tle more in that line than any other man in Wisconsin, and possibly more than any oth- er man in the United States. But let me tell you, there were present at that horti- cultural convention hundreds of men — yes, comparatively young men, who had succeed- ed in a similar way. Every one who spoke was questioned after he had finished, and these questions drew out a good many facts that perhaps the speakers would not have felt like giving otherwise. A good many of them were bashful, and did not feel like making statements that would look like boasting. But very often their neighbors let out what they had been doing on single acres or small patches of ground. Their wives and daughters were there too, and a great many times it transpired that the wives or daughters were the real fruit- growers. During the most interesting part of the meeting. Thursday forenoon, some- body at my back startled me by announcing that A. I. Root, of Medina. O., was present, and that he could not only raise bees and honey, but that he had a story to tell about a peculiar way he had of raising strawber- ries. I confess I shook in my shoes a little at the thought of speaking to a great com- pany like those present, and especially a company so sharp and keen and wide-awake as they seemed to be. Their pleasant looks, however, and encouraging words, soon put me at ease, and I believe I did pretty well for me. A nice young lady near me was- busy with pencil and paper, taking down shorthand notes, including the questions and answers, and the good-natured banters and sallies of wit. She, too, gave me several en- couraging smiles ; and if my talk gets into- print, I may, perhaps, give it to you. Now, friends, I have not told you any thing about the convention of bee-keepers just yet, and I think I will reserve that un- til another issue. But I want to say a few words more in regard to these gatherings of rural people, and those who love rural in- dustries, at the great centers of our differ- ent States. I never until recently compre- hended the value of our great Statehouse buildings, to be found in each of our capi- tals. I confess that I have for years had a little bit of feeling that there was a great amount of money used in the construction of our Statehouses that many a poor man worked very hard to furnish. At Madison the State building seemed to be utilized in a way I had never dreamed of before. The immense pile of buildings was filled with people. They have an elevator like the one in Lansing, that runs by water. There * farmers came with their wives and daugh- ters and sons, and all were taking a holiday week in this great edifice. The array of fruit would have graced any State fair. Specimens of other thinars were in like man- ner spread out in the different rooms. Beauti- ful apartmente were furnished for institutes, conventions, and areneral addresses on every topic Then there were innumerable cosy private rooms, with all convenient 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 147 modern appliances fixed up with all the in- genuity that skill could devise, especially for the comfort of farmers and their chil- dren. Now, I am not very much given to visiting, but I did most thoroughly enjoy that visit. I did not find anybody who felt hurt or had a grievance to tell. The gener- al spirit seemed to be to help each other. And, oh my 1 how we did laugh in compar- ing notes to see how we had been uncon- sciously blundering in the dark ! It seemed as if we all caught hold and climbed higher up just by talking over our experiences and making comparisons. A great many times some unexplained fact in the experience of one brother would dovetail right in so as to let daylight into some dark corner in the ex- perience of another, and then a third one would clinch the nail by something that covered both points. You ought to have seen the countenance brighten, of some hard worker of the Experiment College, as some practical farmer gave him a valuable fact from experience, right where he had been searching for light. As an illustration : At our bee-convention we discussed pas- turage and overstocking. Perhaps very many of us supposed that no experiments had ever been made to settle definitely any thing; whereupon friend S. I. Freeborn brought forward a paper, furnishing an ar- ray of facts we had all long been wanting, and which have, perhaps, never been in print before. This paper will be found in our next issue. Now, friends, when you are inclined to stay away from farmers' institutes and such- like gatherings, and say that it will not pay you, and that you have no money to spare in that direction, remember that your old friend A. I. Root says you are making a great blunder. It it a sin to stay off by your- selves, and hold aloof from your fellow -men ; and it is a sin that will bring its own pun- ishment sooner or later. I know, for I nave tried by experience, just in the way Mark Twain said he knew it was a bad plan to tell lies — he knew it by experience. FROM OUR ABC CLASS. ALLEY TRAP ON THE HIVES THROUGH THE SEA- SON. C. B. C— The Alley trap can be used on the Sim- plicity and portico hives, and, in fact, on any of the hives we sell. We have sometimes left the trap on during- the entire honey season, but we were not satisfied with the result. You will find further par- ticulars under " Drones," in the ABC book. Gleahincs in Bee Cdltdre. Published Senii-JilontMy . BEES 28 FEET FROM THE HIGHWAY. O. B. H.— We would advise you to put your bees in the back yard, if you have one. A distance of 38 feet is rather too near the public highway; still, if it is inconvenient for you to move them yet, a section or two of nice honey {riven to the grum- bling neighbors will probably adjust matters for a while. Put a high board fence between them and the street, if you have not already done so. EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, lERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. !—•— « For Oln^Une Bates, See First Page of Beadi&g Matter. He hath delivered my soul In peace from the battle that was against me.— Psalm 55: 18. MOVABLE FRAMES IN FRANCE. Since the death of Mr. Hamet we find the follow- ing in his journal, in a department wherein a na- tional frame is discussed: and it shows most un- mistakably that truth is advancing, even in France: In France, the system of movable frames is far from being as widely diffused as it ought to be. This is the more remarkable, as it is in direct op- position to Mr. Hamet's ideas. A NEW BEE-JOURNAL. We are pleased to note the advent of Vol. I. No. 1 of the Apicullural Riimlnchau, published in the Ger- man language, at Weixelburg, Laibaoh, Austria. The pages are 9x13; it contains 14 pages, very coarse print. The presswork is admirable. The Observer also contains a horticultural and farming department. The managers are evidently gentle- men who are fully up to the times. FREIGHT VERSUS EXPRESS FOR HONEY, BERRIES, ETC. In the Ohio Farmer for Jan. 25, Samuel Raw tells how they shipped strawberries to Cincinnati during the past season, by freight. The express company charged 35 cents per 100 pounds, and persisted in dumping the berries just as they pleased, because they were in a hurry, as express companies usually are. The strawberry-growers submitted to 36 cents for a while; but when the express companies ad- vanced to 40, then 45, then 50, the berry-growers held an indignation meeting. Result: They clubbed to- gether, sent a man with the berries, by freight. The man who went with them made arrangements with the commission men to meet the trains and take the berries from the cars, with their own men. Of 3000 bushels shipped by freight, at a cost of only 14^ cents per 100, all came to hand in much better order, and almost as quickly. After they had got the above plan in operation, the express companies proposed to do it cheaper; but they were too late in the day. Now, does not the above remind some of us of a similar experience in shipping honey by ex- press? There is a good moral to it, any way. OUR PROOF-READER GIVES US SOME FIGURES. This number of Gleanings is printed on our new Campbell Oscillator press. As an example of what American presses will do, we might mention that the old press which we have just taken out of our pressroom, a Cottrell & Ba bcock, has printed about 239 numbers of Gleanings since November, 1878. This represents 1,833.000 copies, at an average of 8000 per month, although for a long time we have printed 10,000. As each copy requires about 5 ini " 148 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. pressions, it would require 9,160,000 revolutions of the cylinder to do that much presswork. In addi- tion to thi8 we may add all the work on our price list since then, which would be about as much more, and on the ABC book about half as much more, besides miscellaneous work of which we can take no account. And we deem it no small tribute to -Our workmen to say that the press is still good for many years yet, with the same kind of treatment. It seems like parting with an old faithful friend to have it go. But the demands of business are im- perative, and we were compelled to " Ring out the old, ring in the new." From Jan. 1, 1879, to Jan. 1, 1890, Gleanings con- tained 9004 pages, or 39 >^ pages for each number, ojii an average. The whole pile would weigh 329,000 jbs., and if placed end to end they would reach 390 miles. CANDIED honey; CUTTING DOWN PRICES, ETC/j DOn account of my absence in Wisconsin, I did not append my usual foot-note to the initial article in this number. We have, during the past winter, had difficulty in convincing some new customers in a tract a little south of us, that, because the honey became solid in cold weather, it was not necessarily spurious. Complaint came from dealer after .dealer. During warm weather they had a satis- factory trade; but when the honey candied on their hands, no explanation would pacify them. There has been such a large amount of discussion in regard to some method for keeping honey from candying that I feel a little backward about taking it up again. Where once a community or town gets to understand it, there is little trouble afterward. But it is a slow, laborious process, many times, teaching the people the facts in the matter. Visit- ing small bee-keepers, and engaging to take their honey off their hands before they can have a chance to offer it at half its market value, is the plan I have vehemently recommended for years past. I wish to commend most earnestly friend Buchanan's closing thought. Describing your methods of succeeding in business, attending con- ventions, helping those in the same line of business as yourself, etc., will never impoverish a man. The Bible says, " Give, and it shall be given unto you;" and every day, experience convinces us that the successful man is the one who helps his neighbors by timely hints, and not the one who wants five . dollars for communicating some " valuable secret." CAN BEES BE MADE TO SWARM AND HIVE THEM- SELVES ? This old question is taken up by friend Doolittle in this issue. Something like 3.5 years ago. H. A. King patented the American hive. The particular feature of the patent was a wheel on one side, for automatic swarming. A new hive was^to be placed against the old one, having the wheels turned so as to open communication. A book was put out, ex- plaining how to make the bees swarm themselves- A great many of us bought rights, and tried the swarming arrangement. Nobody ever followed it many seasons, however, so far as 1 know. Per- forated zinc was then, of course, unknown. In King's hive the opening was only 1!^ or 3 inches in diameter. Doolittle discusses a three-inch hole, or larger, covered with perforated zinc. I feel quite sure it can be made to work. If the opening is made at the proper time, enough bees will go through to care for the brood and to raise a queen. As the old hive becomes populous, more will prob- ably come through. It will, however, without ques- tion, interfere more or less with the amount of comb honey stored by the parent colony— perhaps not more, however, than if bees were loafing con- tinuously on the outside of the hive. A comb of brood should be put in, I think, at once, to draw the bees through; but I would not put in the queen- cell, nor give them a queen until three or four days later; and at a certain stage of proceedings I would close the communication between the two hives. Perhaps some one has done this already, or pretty nearly the same thing; if so, we should be glad to hear from him. THE OHIO STATE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. This association will meet in joint session with the Northeastern Ohio, Northwestern Pennsyl- vania, and Western New York Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Cleve- land, Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 19 and 20. The following is the programme: Wednesday, 9 A.M.— Convention called to order by the presi- dent. Reading the minutes of the last meeting. Receiving new members and paying annual dues, 50 cents. 10 A.M.— H. D. Cutting. 10: 50, recess. 11 : 00, appointment of committees. 11 : 30. Conventions. A. I. Root. 1 : 30 p.m.. Address by President H. R. Boardman. 2: 10. Reversing, Chalon Fowls. 2:50, recess. 3 : 00, Extracting. Which are more expeditious- reversing or non-reversing machines? Dr. A. B. Mason. 3:00, Question-box. 7: 00. Marketing Extracted Honey, Moore Bros. 7:55, recess. 8:06. The Production and Marketing of Comb Honey, M. E. Mason. Thursday . 9 a.m.— Bee Forage, S. F. Newman. 9: 40, Out-apia- ries, J. B. Hains. Recess. 10:20, Reports of committees and election of oftirers. 11:19. Cellar wintering, F. A. Eaton, fol- lowed by E. R. Root on Outdoor wintering. 1:30, Thick top- bars and honey-boards, E R. Root. 2:10, Perforated zinc for queen-rearing, "Dr. G. L. Tinker. Recess. 3:00, Rearing and shipping queens, Miss Dema Bennett. Unfinished business. All railroad lines running into Cleveland will sell tickets from any point in Ohio on the Central Traf- fic Association's plan. Tickets will be good for three days before and after the convention. Be sure that you buy a full-fare ticket to Cleveland, and get a certificate from the agent. The new Johnson House, 1:3-3 Superior Street, has reduced rates of $1.3.5 each single, or iSl.OO per day double, for those attending the convention. We urge all bee-keepers to bring along their wives. The rep- resentatives of the Home of the Honey-bees will probably be accompanied by their better halves. Dr. Miller has also been invited, and will doubtless be present. ADDITIONAL NAMES. Since the article in regard to the Brantford meet- ing was in type we have received the following ad- ditional names from Mr. R. McKnight, of Owen Sound, Ontario: 36. Andrew .Johnston. :}7. A. R. Fierheller. 43. William Hill, Sr. 45. Enos Rosburgh. .57. William Spedding. 96. M. B. Smith. 97. William Knowles. Ill .speaking of the picture, which we have repro- duced elsewhere in these columns, Mr. McKnight says: "I congratulate you on your enterprise in getting so excellent a copy as the one which you have reproduced and numbered." PANSY SEEDS FOR OUR READERS. We have quite a lot of packets of mixed pansy seeds, which are ordinarily sold at 35 cents a paper. We will present one of these to every one who sends a dollar for Gleanings after this date, and mentions pansy seeds as premium; or those who have already subscribed may have a packet for 10 cents. This seed is put up by friend F. B. Mills, Thorn Hill, N. Y., whose seed garden we pictured in our last issue. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 149 LITTLE PINE BOARDS AT A BARGAIN. We have constantly accumulating", strips- of clear pine, plump 3^4 laches wide, M inch thick, and 16 inches long-, wtiich we have no use for. If we were obliged to make them they would cost perhaps a cent apiece. As we have no special use for them we will sell them for ~5 cents a hundred while they last. Jn ordering- goods by freight you can have some of them put in if you choose. ALSIKE clover. We make the following reduction in the price of the above: One ounce, by mail, 5 cts.; one pound, by mail, postpaid, 25 cts. By express or freight, one pouna, 15 cts.; one peck, i?! iU; '^ bushel, $'6 60; bushel, S^T.tO. The above is lor seed carefully clean- ed with the best mill made for tlie purpose, run by power. Not a pound goes out without careful in- spection in regard to the seeds of weeds and dan- gerous plants. The above prices include bag for shipping. COLD-FRAME CABBAGE-PLANTS. We have perhaps the handsomest lot of these (friend March's Early .Jersey Waketleld stucfc seed) that we ever had at this season of the year. The seed was sown in September, and the plants have been frozen up solid over and over again, so they are thoroughly hardened. Price: 10 cents for 10; 75 cts. per lUO; $6 00 per lOiO. If wanted by mail, add 5 cts. for 10; 25 cts. for 100, extra, for postage. Seedling cabbage-plants from seeds sown in Janua- ry, 30 cts. per 100, or $1..')0 per 1000. If wanted by mail, add 10 cts. per 100. or 50 cts. per 1000 for post- age. Lettuce-plants at the same prices. For trans- planted plants, see our seed catalogue. THE NEW HOT-BED SASH MADE OF GLASS SLATS. At this date, Feb. 13, lettuce-plants, cabbage and cauliflower plants, have come up and are growiug beautifully under these sash, which have not been moved at o;i since the seeds were planted: neither has any covering been placed over the glass, al- though the thermometer has run down to 16 above zero. Ot course, the single steam-pipe about two feet below the surface of the bed has helped mate- rially to keep away the frost; but even if ((u7/i the use of a steam-pipe we can do away with the man- ipulation of sash in the month of February, I think it quite an invention. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. A great many offers of seed have been received, in quantities varying from ten bushels to several hundred. The prices wanted for ([uantities, run from 60 cts. to fl.50. The expense of transporta- tion, of course, accounts for a great part of the wide difference in prices. It seems pretty bard to sell our seed at less than what it cost cash r ght out; but until further notice our prices will be as follows: Trial packet, 4 ounces, by mail, postpaid, 5 cts.; one pound, by mail, postpaid, 15 cts.; one peck, ;55 cts.; f^' bush., 60c.: hush., $1.00. These prices include bag to ship it in. Ten or more bushels, pur- chaser paying for bags, 75 cts. Please note, we can not promise to hold to these prices except from one issue to another. The price is liable to advance by our next issue. Please also notice, that small quantities, say a peck or half a bushel, can't be sent any distance, either by maiUfreiijM, or express, without the transportation being more than the value of the buckwheat: and at the above low price it can not very well be sent by rxpreas, any way you can fix it, without the charges being more than its value; therefore your only plan is to order it by freight along with other goods. If you take several bushels, of course it can be shipped by it- self by freight. Remember, our need is carefully cleaned by one of the best power mills. 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 charpe, as below. We do this becnuse there is hai-dly value enouffh 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 tho"e who can not afford higher-priced ones. JIONEY (J6MJIN. CITY MARKETS. Albany.— Honey.— Since last issue we have re- ceived eighty cases of Vermont clover and 30 cases of New York buckwheat honey, and have sold about an equal quantity. There is no change to note in prices, and stock of line white honey is quite small. We look for a good demand for ex- tracted honej' all through this mouth. We quote comb honey: Clover. ]3@14; mixed, 10(513; buck- wheat, 9((7!lO; extracted, clover, 7(5*8; buckwheat, 6(57. C. McCdlloch & Co., Feb. 10. 33!) Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Columbus.— Hofic/y.— Market remains firm at 14(5 15 for choice stock. Dark and inierior grades meet with no sale. Extracted honey. Shippers, this kind of weather, should pack their honey carefully, as two-thirds of the shipments received come in bro- ken-down condition. Earle CncKE^GER, Feb. 10. Columbus, Ohio. San Francisco.— Honey.— Extracted honey sells from 6(<^HJ4. in a jobbing way, as to quality. Comb honey, from i'ZCivAi, as to quality. There is some demand for extracted honey for export. Schacht, Lemcke & Steiner. Feb. 4. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco, Cal. St. Louis.— Honey.— Market tame. Demand light. We quote: White clover, comb, 13(5il3}4 ; dark, 10®. 13. Extracted, light color, good flavor, 6,'-(55?4; medium bright, 5U ; dark, iH®^. D. G. TUTT Grocer Co., Feb. 10. St. Louis, Mo. New York.— HoHcy.— Honey is selling slowly in this market. Fancy goods almost closed out. Only second grades remain. Thurber, Whyland & Co., Feb. 10. New York. Detroit.— Ho?iC!/.— Comb honey is now quoted at IKoilSc; supply not very large, but sales are slow. Extracted, 7( , all who apply If they mention thin paper. I- With prieex lower, quality hicher, better facili- ties for lihinc orders promptly, generous treatment and ever 40 years Seed Farm experience enables us to please you. A.W.LlVINGSTON'S SONS.Box 2T8,COl,rMBr8.0. t^ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. SOXjX? XPT 188», .A.3VX3 ready to sell In 1890, all kinds of Bee-keepers' Sup- plies, Bees, Queens, etc. Send your address and receive our circular. JINO. IVKBEl. A: SON, .3tfdb Migh Hill, Mo. |^"ln responding to this advertisement mention (^lkaninus. DON'T "MIAMI/' THE BEST LATE STRAWBERRY ON EARTH! PINE LITHO&EAPH. HONEST TESTIMONIALS. ALSO OTHER VALUABLE VARIETIES, GENERAL NURSERY STOCK For sale. Send address for prices, description, etc. J. D. KRUSCHKE, BOX 824, PIQUA, O. 34d |t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. SEEDS. Six pkts. of my choicest Flower Seeds. 10c. Beautiful catalog- free. F. B. MILLS, Thorn Hill, N. 7. US' The Choice Novelties of 1890. -&» HERE IS A LIST THAT WILL GIVE SATISFACTION :-K.ed Cross Tomato-Resembles Livingston in form, solidity, color, etc., but is decidedly earlier. Ignotum Tomato—Round, solid and productive; both Rural New Yorker and Prof. Taft have a special good word for Ignotum. Orags ■Watermelon — A distinct variety, flesh salmon-color, quality and flavor peculiarly rich and sweet. Marblehead Early Slarrowfat- A remarkably strong grower, a tremendous cropper, and bears several pickings. Early Prize Pea— Cross between Tom Thumb and Advancer ; dwarf, early, and a splendicf cropper. The Favorite— A better Pea than either Abundance or Everbearing. Ford-Hook Squash— Dry, fine grained, sweet, hardy, prolific, l^'hite Prolific Marrow— A new English dwarf, wrinkled Pea, a wonderful cropper. O-iant Pascal Celery— Stalks extra large, solid, and a better keeper than other self-blanching varieties. Cylinder Wax Bean— The rust and blight-proof Wax Bean so long sought for. Coral Oem Pepper— With its hundreds of brilliant red pods, it is as brilliant as a gem. Blonde Block-Head I.,ettiice— A rich, golden-headed Cabbage, crisp and fine. 15 cts. per package; Ten for Sl.OO. An extra package to all naming this paper. Seed Catalogue free. aJLJO-EH ^EEPEI?S' fJEVIEW. Ttie December issue has 34 pages, a cut showing " The Home of the Review," also an accompanying article descrip'ive of "The Review, its Home, its Editor and his Family." This number shows more clearly, perhaps, the plan upon which the Review is conducted, than does any single number that has preceded it. In its advertising columns will be found the description of a plan whereby all who wish may secure the back numbers at a trifling cost. The special topic of this issue is. " What Will Best Combine With Bee-Keeping? aud What Shall Bee-Keepers do WintersV" This number will be gladly sent free to all who apply, and with it will be sent two other numbers. • Stfdb W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Mich. GET TAKE NOTICE ! BEFORE placing your Orders for SUPPI^IES, write for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sec- tions. Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Frames, Foun- dation, Smokers, etc. Address K. H. SCHmiDT & CO., 21-2Gdb NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co., WIS. ItS'In respondinir to tliis advti-tisement mention GLEANINGS. CflR QAI r —Bottom Fur Cash. See Exchange run OHLC Column. H.L.GRAHAM, 3 4d Letts, Louisa Co., Iowa. BEES i'OR Folding Paper Boxes send to ai-8db A. O. CRAWFORD, S. Weymouth, Mass. SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1, 1890, we will sell our No. 1 V- groove sections, in lots of 500, as follows: Less than ^00. $3.50 per 1000; 2000 to .5000, $3.00 per 10: )0. Write for special prices on larger quantities. No. 3 sec- tions at $3.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives, foundation, cases, etc. J. STAUFFER & SONS, J6-tfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind. I ^1 11 responding to tliis advertisement mention (Ileaning^ BEE KEEPERS Coming to Washington, D. C, w'lU find pleasant rooms and board (by day or week) at special rates. Batisfaction guaranteed. Central location. ' 1301 K. St., N. W. 3tfdb F. Danzenbaker. lyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. letfdb SEND for a free sample copy of the BEE JOURNAL — 16-page Weekly at $1 a year— the oldest, largest and cheapest Weekly bee-paper. Address BEE JOURNAL, Cliicago, 111. SEND $1.25 TO THOMAS GEDYE, Kang- ley. 111., for a sample of his All-Metnl Sep- arator, or $11 .50 per lOOJ. and be convinced that they are the cheapest and best out. At present I have them for combined crates and T supers only. Supply-dealers, please send for prices on large quantities, cut or uncut. Itfdb t^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. MUTH'S HONEY-EXTRACTOR, SQUA RE GI^ASS HONEY- JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY-SECTIONS, dec, &c. PERFECTION COIiD-BI B '^ ^^oiiltx-y A oixltry The Canadian Bee Journal and Poultry Weekly is the best paper extant devoted to these specialties. 24 pages, WEEKLY, at $1.00 per year. Live, prac- tical, interesting. Nothing stale in its columns. Specimen copies free. Subscribers paying in ad- vance are entitled to two insertions of a five-line adv't (40 words) in the Exchange and Mart column. TEX S. L. JOKES CO., BXETO», OHTASIO. CA». FOR THE SEASON OF 1890. Headquarters in the Soutla. TWELFTH ANNUAL CATALOGUE NOW READY. A steam-factory exclusively for the manufacture of Bee-keepers' Supplies. ITALIAN QUEENS. Tested, ready in March. Untested, by April Ist. Contracts taken with dealers for the delivery of a certain number of queens per week, at special figures. FOUR -FRAME NUCLEUS, with pure Italian queen, containing 3 pounds of bees when secured, in April and May, $4.00; after, 25 cts. less. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaran- teed on all queens and nuclei. For more particulars, send for Twelfth Annual Catalogue. P. L. VIALLON, Bayou Coula, Iberville Parish, La. (C^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. For Sale.— For cash, cheap, or trade for a good piece of land, from 50 to 200 colonies of Italian bees in the Quinby hive, and a few in Root's Simplicity. Too much work, with other business. 2tfdb G. Hakseim, Secor, Woodford Co., Ills. FOR Folding Paper Boxes send to 21-8db A. O. CRAWFORD, S. Weymouth, Mass. ' FOB. SAIiSI One of the best located apiaries in Iowa, 150 Colonies, in Langstroth hives. Handsome two- story frame residence. Twenty acres land. All necessary out-buildings. Also fine flock White Wy- andottes. Two cows, nice span driving horses. Nev- er a failure of honey. White clover, basswood, gold- en-rod, buckwheat, etc. House nearly new, nicely decorated paper, a very pleasant home. Price $2500. C. A. SAYRE, 23tfd Sargent, Floyd Co., low^a. t^In responding to this advertisement mention GLEANDJoa. "HANDLING BEES." Price 8 Cts. A chapter from "The Hive and Honey Bee, Re- vised," treating of taming and handling bees; just the thing for beginners. Circular, with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. 3ttdb CHAS. DAD ANT & SON, Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illinois. t^In respondinjr to this adv^-rtisenient mention GleaMNG.s. Eaton's Improved Bees and Queens. Send for free catalogue. Address FRANK A. EATON, Rluffton, Ohio. t;^ln respondinf? to tliis advertisement mention Gi.KANiNcis. He Siai^le Sugar-Bos( THIS IS A NEW BOOK BY AUTHOR OF THE BEE-KEEPER'S GUIDE, INJURIOUS IN- SECTS OE MICHIGAN, 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 -« PROFUSELY 4- ILLUSTRATED,e^ And all the difficult points in regard to making the very best quality of Maple Syrup and Maple Su- gar are very fully explained. All recent inven- tions in apparatus, and methods of making this delicious product of the farm, are fully described. f^fCXC^fli 33 Ots.} l3y aXail, 38 0«s. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. 156 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be Inserted under this head at one-naif our usual rates. All ad's intended for this department must not exceed 6 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-flde 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 for land or stock mer- chandise, a flrst-class apiary, 17.5 colonies. No better location. Crop, past season, 18,00U lbs. Bees need not be moved. Every thing complete, ready for business. Found.-machines, 4-hor8e-power, etc. Good trade direct with consumers. Give particu- lars for particulars. H. L. Graham, 3-45« Letts, Louisa Co., la. "TTTANTED.— To exchange 1000 new bee-hives, all VV complete, for bees, or will furnish hives, sec- tions, and foundation, lor share of the honey, to parties living in Maryland, Virginia, or West Vir- ginia. Write for particulars to F. Danzenbaker, 1301 K. St., N. W., Washington, D. C. WANTED.— To exchange Gregg, Souhegan, Early Ohio, and Tyler raspberry-plants, Wartield, Bubach. Jessie, May King, and Hoffman strawberry- plants, A No. 1 plants, and true to name, for sec- tions, honey, beeswax, or pear-trees. Satisfactioi* guaranteed. E. T. Flanagan, Belleville, Ills. 3-5-7-d WANTED. — To exchange bees and queens, for Barnes saw, Novice extractor, honey-knife, and Excelsior printing-press with ."i!4x9)^-in. chase. 3-lId S. A. Shuck, Liverpool, Ills. WANTED. — Bee-help for 1890. One man with experience, and two desiring to learn the practical part of apiculture. Must be strictly tem- perate. State wages expected, and other particu- lars. 3 6db S. I. Freeborn, Ithaca, Wis. WANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange ^00 colonies of bees, in S. hives, for any thing useful on plantation. Itfdb Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. W ANTED.— To exchange foundation, for beeswax. Sample on application. Avery's Island Apiary, Avery, La. WANTED ! ! ! I want a man to take charge of an apiary. F. D. Lacy, 3-5db Nirvana, Lake Co., Mich. WANTED.— To exchange from one to 1000 books, of new publication, for bees and apiarian fix- tures. F. D. Lacy, Nirvana, Lake Co., Mich. 4ifdb WANTED. — I want a small-size baling-press, for which I will exchange folding paper boxes, Italian bees, hives, extractors, or job printing. 4 .5d A. O. Crawford, S. Weymouth. Mas'*. WANTED.— To exchange nursery siock lor sDot- gun or lawn-mower. Geo. Gould, 4-56d Villa Ridge, Pulaski Co., 111. WANTED.— To exchange Ply. Rock, Langshan, and Wyandotte cockerels /o?- Wyandotte hens, thorou{)hbred. Correspondence solicited. 45d W. H. SwiGART, Dixon, 111. WANTED.— To exchange bees and queens for nursery stock, or will pay cash. C. E. Price, 5d Smithtown Branch, Suffolk Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange a 6-inch Pelham fdn.mill, in good order, one dipping-tank, one 10-inch planer saw, one lO-lnch rip-saw, one 10-inch cut-off saw; 8-inch bevel saw; one 6-inch rip-saw; one saw- mandrel, for tin sap-buckets, new or second hand. Post's Eureka spouts, or offers. F. W. Dean, 5d. New Milford, Pa. WANTED. — To exchange one Acme harrow, new, for Poland-China swine, either sex. or Shrop- shire ewes, or any thing I can use on the farm or in the apiary. Luther Purdy, Killbuck, O. .5tfdb. WANTED.— To exchange for supplies, or part payment for Barnes saw, one Twombly knit- ting-machine, with coarse plate; nearly new. 5d J. M. Moore, Holden, Mo. WANTED.— To exchange 3 breediuer-pens, one cockerel and 6 hens each. White P. Rocks, or White Wyandottes, A No. 1 stock; 3 pairs of premi- um birds, for full colonies of bees, to be shipped in April or the first of May. J. B. Mason, 5d Mechanic Falls, Me. WANTED.— To exchange one 5x8 photograph outfit for a foot-power saw, bicycle, apiarian supplies, or any thing useful on a farm. 5d P. M. Lockwood, Sand Lake, Kent Co., Mich. WANTED.— To exchange a quarter-plate camera, with stand, headrest, cartons, and chemicals, for small self-inking printing-press and tvpe. or of- fers. F. T. Hall, Lochiel, Dunn Co., Wis. WANTED.— To exchange thin fdn. or queen-re- strictors for honey. C. W. Dayton, 5d Bradford, Chick. Co., Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange Cuthbert raspberry- roots for beeswax, L. fdn., and Shaffer's Co- lossal raspberry-roots. M. Isbell, .5-7d Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y. W ANTED —To exchange empty Simp. L. combs at 10 cts. each, for wax or offers. 5tfdb Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange Turner and Cuthbert raspberry-plants for pure Italian queens, eggs for hatching, etc. E. R. Miller, .5-6-7d Garden City, Cas.s Co., Mo. WANTED.— To exchange 11 bound volumes of Gleanings, from 1878 to 1889, inclusive, for a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, or a copying- press or offers. w. S. Wright, 5d Battle Creek, Mich. WANTED.— To exchange comb honey and Jap- anese buckwheat for extracted honey and comb foundation. F.Wilcox, .5 6d Mauston, Juneau Co., Wis. FOR SALE— 6 colonies hj'brid bees in Root Dove- tailed hives at $400 per colony. Address 6-6d T. L. Thompson, Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa. 2SIMPl.IClT\r BEE-HIVES, 3 covers, 1 T super and .56 sections, in flat, $1.35. All kinds of hives and exiractord made to order. ,5-7d T. A. GuNN, TuUahoma, Tenn. SUPPI-IES! Send for circular— free. WALTER S. POUDER, 175 E. Walnut St., Indianapolis, Ind. Stfdb (Successor to F. L. Dougherty.) READY to Mail, tested Italian queens cheap, from imported mothers. Untested in season. Send for circular. Simon P. Roddy, Mechanicstown, Md. 5-7-9d J.E.Neyland,McLane,ErieCo.,Pa. BREEDER OK CHOICE RED CAPS AND ANDIGOLOES EGGS; $3 PER 15. Also Golden Wyandottes, White Plymouth Rock, Golden Spangled Hamburg. Black Hamburg eggs, $3 00 per 15. Ihave taken first prize wherever shown. t^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. «* f\ mm «1 EmPIiOVniENT.- AGENTS U II IVI L wanted everywhere, for the HOME nil III fl JOURNAL— a grand family paper MK W XiA JJ at $1 a year. Big cash premiums. Sample Free. THOS. Q. NEWMAN & SON, 246 East Madison Street, - - CHICAGO, ILLS. (^"In responding to this aent mention Glkanings. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 157 A New Discovery. The common-sense honey-extractor is strictly scientific, powerful, durable, handy, clean and rap- Id, and differs from all others, and is cheaper than the cheapest at slaughter prices. Circulars Free. 5d KEV. A. R. SEAMAN, New Cumberland, Hancock Co., W. Va. E^In responclingr to this advei-tisenient mention nLKAMxr.s. ALBINO AND ITALIAN QUEENS AND BEES FOR 1890. "''^^'O' ^ ^^ ^'^^ *"^^ ^^^ ^^® best. The reply, ^ ' • 'Albino, 1 !" Tf you ask why, I can only refer you to the many that cry, "Albi- no for T !" In my circular von can see why. Address S. VALINTINE, .5d Hajiierstown, Waslt. <'o., Md. si)o)idiny: to tlii.-i aiivertiseinent iiifiitioii GLKA>aNGS. SEEDS. Six pkts. of my choicest Flower Seeds. 10c. Beautiful catalog free. P. B. MILLS, Thorn Hill, N. Y. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. For ^he benefit of friends who have black or hybrid queens which they want to dispose of, we will insert notices free of chargre, as below. We do this becouse there is hardly value enough to these queens to pay for buying them up and keep- ing them in stock; and yet if is oftentimes quite an accommo- dation to those who can not afford higher-priced ones. 20 black queens for sale now at 50 cents each. W. T. Lyons, Decherd. Franklin Co., Tenn. Black queens, 3 for one dollar; also a few hybrids. 5tfdb H. <• 1 [z Hart, Avery P. O., Iberia Par., La. ^WTire Clotti- For door and window screens, tacking' over hives and nuclei for shipping, making- bee and queen cages, and a variety of purposes. We have the fol- lowing list of green and black wire cloth which is not exactly first class, but is practically as good for the purposes mentioned, and at prices MUCH below the ordinary price. You can no doubt select from this list a piece to suit your needs. Price in full pieces, p4 cts. per square foot. When we have to cut it, 3 cts. In case the piece you order may have been taken by some one else before your order comes, please say whether we shall send the nearest in size, or cut one the size ordered at 2 cts. per ft., or give a second or third choice. 10 green 1 green 25 green 1 green 2 green 1 black 1 black 5 green 1 black 1 black 9 green 1 lilaik 64 green 18 green 6 green ■3 black 14 green 1 black 1 green 14 green 1 black 8 black 3 green 3 black 1 green 8 black 1 green Pieces less than 100 ft. long. These figures are the number of square feet in each piece. Multiply by \% cents for the jirice of piece. 8 1 100 I 67 10 I 100 I 83 KiO 1 100 12 I 14 100 1 13:i 100 1 142 ._ 100 150 18 I 100 I 1.50 20 I 100 I 167 22 I 71 I 128 , 24 I 100 I 200 I 2t 1 100 200 26 I 100 1 217 I 28 I 100 1 233 I .30 I 100 "" I .30 I 100 1 32 I 100 32 I 100 100 2.10 250 267 267 283 300 300 , _ . . 317 I 38 I 100 I 317 I 40 I 100 I 333 I 40 100 3:i3 j 42 100 3.i0 I 44 I 100 I 367 A $1.17 I 65, 65, 64, 63. 63. 63, 62, 54 40, 33 1.46 I 1 75 I 44, green; price 77 cts. 25 I 2 33 2.47 2.62 2 62 2 92 2.24 3.50 1 3.50 I 3 50 I This is below reg. pr. of IX c. 4.08 1 224. 224, 117, green; 233, black. 4,37 I 1.50 sq. ft., green; price $2.62 110 .«q. ft. .black; price $1 92 140, 1(jO, 90, 40, 30, 20, 8, green. 4 37 4 67 4.67 4-91 5.25 5.25 5 54 133, 133, greeij; price 82 2.53, black; price S4 43 2.55 black; price $4.46 270, green; pri<-e S4.72 1.50, black; price $2.62 269. black; price IS4.70 2.58, black; price 84 .50 317, black; price $5.54 5 54 5.83 5 83 6 12 I .360, green; price $6.12 6.42 I I. ROOT, NIedina, Ohio. GUARANTEED FOUNDATION For Sale Cheap. Write tor prices. E. R. IUII.L.ER, 5 V 9d C»ardeii City, Cass Co, Mo. 16-pag^ circular of bee-keepers' supplies, etc. Also note prices of our choice strain of Italian bees. Cir- cular free. Address JNO. NEBEL. A: SON, .5tfdb High Hill, Mo. FOR SALE — PLANER. One second-hand Hoyt Bros, single surfacer. 26 in. Complete with countershaft, 2 sets of knives, $7J.OO. d B. H. WOOD &C0., Medina, Ohio. H.G. FRAME, NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA, Breeder of Italian and Carniolan Queens. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Price list free. 5tfdb Reference First National Bank. FIKST-CI.ASS BROOD - FRAMES cut to order, a/iy size. Per 100, $1.50; .500, $7 00; 1000, $13.50. C. W. Vanhouten, Smlthfield, Ful. Co., 111. if BEES EES EES Carniolan queens and bees a specialty. Seven years' experience with those bees satisfies me of their superiority. They are unexcelled in gentle- ness, hardiness, and proliflcness, as comb-builders and honey-gatherers. Write for circular and price list. Address A. X. ZiINDLEY, Mention Gleanings. Jordan, Indiana. Our 1890 Catalogue IS ItETTEB THAN EVEK. A com pi ete GardeiiGuide,full tical idea SEEDS VejietableK, Flower*, Bull's. necessary for the garden 1.^ mailed FKEE m , all who apply if they mention thi» paper. With prices lower, quality hicher, better facili- s for filiinc orders promptly, generous tre.itiiierit and oyer 40 years .'^ei'd Farm experience enables us to t.tia-e %ou. A.W.LiVINGSTON'S80N8,Box3?8,COLUMBU8,0. iW\n resiiondinjr to tliis advertisement mention GlkaNINGS. Bee-Keepers and Fruit-Ci rowers, before you order your supplies for l.'^9U, send for my cata- logue and price list of Bee-Keepers' Supplies and Strawberry Plants. Twenty-five approved varieties grown for this season's trade. Prices reasonable. Bees and Queens for sale; $1.00 queens a specialty. Address F. W. liAMM, 24-2.Sdb (Box 106 ) Sonierville, Butler Co., Oliio. I^In responding to this advertisement mention gleanings. Ho! Ye in Dixie Land! LEARN SOMETHING NEW Of Interest to You in my New 1890 Catalogue Enlarged, and prices reduced. It gives LOW SPECIAL FREIGHT RATES to many Southern points, especially to points in TEXAS. SoiiHifrii Jirt'- Keepers, Send for it NOW. J. M. JENKINS, - Wetumpka, Ala. t3f In respoiitlintr to thl.s iidverti> I'tit mention GI-eaninus. 158 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE. Mar. P0NEY CeMMN. CITT MARKETS. Albany.— Honey.— Stock continues to move off gradually; and from present Indications we shall not be obliged to carry any over during ttfe sum- mer. In fact, there is a growing demand for honey the year round. We quote clover. 12@14; mixed, 10@13; buckwheat, 8@10; extracted, light, 7@8; dark, 6@7. C. McCclloch & Co., Feb. 31. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Chicago.— How?/.— Trade in honey is not active, yet is selling fairly well in a one to Ave case way. Few dealers are buying over 60 lbs. at any one time. Prices range from 13@13c for best white in pound sections, and off color or other conditions at 10@11. Dark, 8@10. Extracted. 6(58, according to quality. Beeswax, fair yellow, 2.5. R. A. Burnett, Feb. 11. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, III. COLUMBUS.-Honey.— Market is about the same as at last report. Strictly first-class white clover brings 14@16c. Dark and inferior grades meet with no sale. Extracted honey, dull. Trade in general is dull. Earle Clickenger, Feb. 30. Columbus, Ohio. Cincinnati.— Ho?)ey.— There is a lively demand of late for extracted honey in glass jars, while de- mand from manufacturers is slow. Extracted hon- ey brings 5(a.8c on arrival. Comb honey. 13@15 for best white, in the jobbing way. Beriocdx, demand is good at 30@24 for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Feb. 14. Cincinnati, O. St. Louis.— Honey.— Choice white-clover honey in 1-lb. sections, small single-tier boxes. 12X®13. Bro- ken, dark comb honey, 9@11; extracted, white clo- ver, 6ix4f§)7, in cans. Southern and western ex- tracted, in barrels and cans, 5i4(a'6!4, choice, and 4%@5 for dark. Beeswaa;. as runs 33; selected, 26. Feb. 11. W. B. Westcott & Co., St. Louis, Mo. San Francisco.— Honey— Extracted honey, 6@6K ; firmer, and more demand. Comb honey, 1-lb. sec- tions, more demand— 11@14; 3-lb. sections are neg- lected; 8(§jl2. Beeswax, 1S@Z3. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STBINER. Feb. 14. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco, Cal. New yoRK.—Honey.— Honey market is quiet and unchanged. Beeswax, scarce; demand very good. We pay 26 for good average quality, delivered in New York. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co.. f Feb. 31. New York. St. Louis.— Honey.— Market very quiet. Prices unchanged. Beeswax scarce, and wanted at 23. J, D. G.Tutt Grocer Co., Feb. 33. St. Louis, Mo. Boston.— Honey.-We quote: Best 1-lb. comb honey, white, 16@16; best S-lbs., 14@15: extracted, 8@9. Sales slow. Blake & Ripley, Feb. 34. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. Detroit.— Roney. —Comb honey continues to be quoted at ]1@13; supply modei-ate. Extracted, 7@8. Be£.swax firm at 34@26. M. H. Hunt. Feb. 32. _^ell Branch, Mich. For Sale— .500 lbs. of nice comb honey in 1-lb. sections, 24-lb. cases, delivered free on board cars at Dixon, in good order, for 11^4 cts. per lb. Also .500 lbs. nice extracted honey in 60-lb. square cans, at 8 cts. Ezra Baer, Dixon, 111. THE BEST THING OUT FOR GETTING BEES c=u wm OUT OF SUPERS. ^^m The Dibbern Bee-Escape. Get a pattern, and be sure you have it just nyW. Now perfect. Tinned wire cloth, soldered on tin. Instantly removable. Sample cone by mail, 60c. Complete board, express, $1.00. 5-7 9d C. H. DIBBERN, Milan, 111. twin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. HlliTOH'S Improved Chaff Hive AND T SUPER. The pamphlet: " How I Pro- duce Comb Honey." Price 5 cts. Send for free illustrated price list of everything need- ed in the apiarv. CEO. E. HILTON, 6iodb Fremont, Mich. tSrin responding to tliis advertisement mention Glkanings. BASSWOOD TREES. Basswood-trees 1 to 3 feet high $ 1 50 per 100. " 1 " 3 " " 10 00 " 1000. " 3"5 " " 2 .50 " 100. " 3 " 6 " " 30 00 " 1000. 6-6d Address HENRY tVIRTH, Borodino, Onon. Co., N. Y. t^"In responding to this advei-tisement mention Gleanings, QUEENS! EARLY! QUEENS! Italian queens promptly shipped after March 15. Tested queen S2 00 | Untested SI 00 Three Untested Queens S2 75 Two-frame Nucleus with Untested Queens after April 1st. $3 50. We use the Simp, frame, and guar- antee safe arrival, etc. Circulars free. Make money orders payable at Clifton. Address 6tfdb CoLWiCK & CoLwiCK, Norse, Bosque Co., Texas. |^"In responding to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. Lnni/ Upppt 18 COI.ON1ES of Italian UUIi nt.nt ■ and Hybrid bees in good con- dition, for only $54.00. If you want a bargain write immediately to FBANIi HOU^ARD. 5d Fairfield, W^ayne Co., 111. CARNIOLAN QUEENS. We have just purchased all the tested Carniolan queens that John Andrews, of the late firm of An- drews & Lockhart. has now wintering in their 100 colonies. These queens are to produce no bees showing any yellow bands, and are to be shipped in May. Any one in need of a nice breeding queen early in the season should correspond with us; and any interested in these bees should read descrip- tion in our illustrated catalogue, sent free on appli- cation. Address THE BEE-KEEPERS' ADVANCE, 5-7d Mechanic Falls, Maine. {^■In respoudinc to f (-^ '> i^eiiuiit nu-iition rJi.KANINGS. SEEDPOTATOES. I offer the following choice varieties at the low price of $3.00 per bbl. of 165 lbs. : Early Ohio; Chas. Downing; Sunlit Star; Crown Jewel; Thorburn; Early Rose. All choice stock, my own raising. Compare this price with your seed catalogue. Send cash with order. This will appear only once. T. H. Kloeh, 420 Willow Street, Terre Haute, Ind. Cl?"ln responding to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. ZTAZiZAIT QI7ESZTS Is my sprcialty. For five years I have been per- fecting a strain of bees as honey-gatherers, unex- celled. I thiok I have something better to offer than the general queen-market affords. I have one stock that, without increase, gave me $34 cash from honey alone, in one season. If you are in need of queens, or wish to improve your stock, please let me supply you. I guarantee satisfaction. You may order now if you please, and pay when queens ar- rive. In May. Untested, each, $1.00; six, $4 50. W. H. LAWS, Lavaca. Sebastian Co.. Ark. ( '^\ 11 responding to this advertisement mention (Ileanings. cMnManIueensIndbees, Bred the coming season from Imported mothers, win be ready to send out the first of June. Send for free circular, to JOHN ANDREWS, Pattens lUllls, Wasli. Co., N. Y. (^"In responding to tliis advertisement mention GLKAjnuGS. Vol. XTIII. MAR. 1, 1890. No. 5. TERMS ;*1.00 Per ANNUM, IN ADVANCE;! Tp ,,-l- g^T-,! -! nln n rl -i -in 1 Q 'V Q 2Copiesfor»1.90i 3for«2.76;5forM.OO; I -C/Ol'Ct'C't't'OAfc't/M/ 0 ft ±OtO. 10 or more, 75 cte. each. Single num- i published semi-monthly by ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be 1 ^^''''\A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO. Clubs to different postoffices, not less than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the S. and Canadas. To all other coun- tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 I cts. per year extia. To all countries I NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. J U.' I tri cts RAMBLER VISITS SHOREHAM. PUTTING IN FOUNDATION. A FEW days previously to arousing the Rambler's enthusiasm about raising honey on forks and spoons, Bro. Larrabee drove us around among the bee-keepers of Shoreham and adjoining towns. Shoreham is noted for its blooded horses and sheep; and where so much pride is taken in improving stock, the farm and the buildings are, as a necessa- ry consequence, also improved. Many beautiful residences and commodious barns are found. So we find the Shoreham bee-keepers a progressive lot of men and women; for Shoreham has lady bee- keepers, as will be seen by further articles. saw. The honey-house (shown on the right) is 36x33 feet, and two stories in height. It is used for stor- ing the tons of honey; grading, crating, etc. ; also for putting together hives. Mr. B. purchases all material in the flat, and preparation for the sea- son is made during the winter. Of course, he uses the Bristol hive and clamps, and raises comb honey exclusively. The hives are neatly arranged in a pear-orchard; and during the past season his suc- cess has been much better than his Shoreham neighbors', showing that localities vary, even when only a few miles apart. He markets his own hon- ey by taking samples and going among the retail merchants and grocerymen in the eastern cities; and he claims that he saves the profit he would have to give a commission house. We could plainly see that he could readily sell honey, for he Is a portly, sedate, ministerial-looking man. We suppose it arises from his being deacon in the Congregational church. When he tells a man his honey is thus and so, the merchant believes it; and his belief is confirmed when the honey arrives, for only good honey is shipped. We noted a peculiarity about Mr. Blackmer which we have noted about other bee-men, and with men in other pursuits. He had adopted, and for sev- eral years used, the Bristol hive and clamp. Having good success with it there was no evident desire to change or even try any other hive or system V. V. BLACKMEK'8 APIARY AND HONEY-HOUSE. qj management. In fact, as he told V. V. Blackmer lives in the adjoining town of Or- me, he did not want any thing better, and.doesn't w^ell. He owns a large and fertile farm ; has sons believe there is any thing better, and will keep and daughters; an apiary of 130 colonies, and the right along raising comb honey in just that way as largest and finest honey-house the Rambler ever long as he lives. 160 GLEANII^GS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak. Among the appliances perature can be nicely this the very beet way will stick to it, probably of Vermont does to the pleasant visit and din Rambler went on their visit. in the honey-house was one quite novel, for putting- foundation into sections. The foundation was cut a suitable size, and put In by headng the edges. It was put upon the little stand A, with an edge against the sheet metal B. A lamp, adjusted so as to keep the edges at just the right temperature, was placed in front. You see, the tem- controlled. Mr. B. thinks to put in foundation, and , as tight as the whole State Kepublican party. After a ner, genial John and the way, both profited by their Rambler. PASTURAGE AND OVERSTOCKING. READ AT THE WISCONSIN STATE BEE-KEEPERS' AS- SOCIATION, FEBRUARY 5, 1890. I HAVE been booked to say something on this sub- ject. That it is a subject of very great Importance, all will admit— not so much to the keeper of a few colonies who may keep them for recreation or ex- periment, or to the farmer who may keep a few as he does hens, as one of many Items to swell the gross receipts. To such it is not of vital importance that they fully understand, or stock to its full ca- pacity the location they occupy, as they make but a small effort, and are at but little expense. They can stoically take what they get; and, not being de- pendent on their bees for a living, they can accept the results with composure. To the specialist it is different. If he embarks in apiarian pursuits exclusively, it stands him in hand to be well posted in all that relates to his field of operations. He can not afford to make mistakes, nor can he afford to share with others the field he occupies. He should have, if possible, an undi- vided field, with no bee-keeping neighbor nearer than five miles. If he expects to have out-apiaries he should have room to spread his yards from four to six miles apart. If already living in and owning such a place he is so far fortunate; if not, and bee- keeping is to be his spet-ialty, it will pay him to move even hundreds of miles, if neceesary, to find a place adapted to his wants. It will not pay to throw away good talents on a poor location. But some will say, " This involves too much, if I have to move to go into the bee-busJness, I will give it up." This Is the point exactly. Few will take the trou- ble. The result Is, there are but few specialists who make a big thing of the business. The larger part of the would-be bee-keepers, rather than take the necessary trouble to provide themselves with an unoccupied field, prefer to start In afield already partially or wTioUy stocked, with some kind of a vague notion in their minds that the bee-business Is an affair of luck anyway. They do not seem to grasp the fact that bee-forage is limited in all places, and that, It the limit is passed, the profits will cease to all concerned. HOW MANY COLONIES IN ONE PLACE. Here Is where doctors disagree. Mr. Heddon, a great light in apiculture, has declared that he has never found a man capable of shedding one ray of light on the subject. This is a sweeping assertion, and not very flattering to those who have written on the subject. I can not quite agree with Mr. Heddon, for I think I have received a few rays and a few pointers that are useful to me at least. To Illustrate, I will give a little of my experience. For ten years I have had an out-aplary five miles south, called the Sextonville apiary. I have kept from 125 to 300 colonies there, spring count, and for most of the time I have had an undivided field. It has been a good location for early pollen, clover, and basswood. As high as ~00 colonies would seem to get plenty of early pollen, and do fairly well on basswood and clover; but for fall flowers 201) was far too many. A less number in as good location made a far better average. For a few years past, other bee-yards have been started In the vicinity of this yard, making the number on the range about 300. The falling-ofl' in the amount per colony has been very apparent. Last year our receipts of basswood from the 200 col- onies was 13,(100 lbs. with 300 colonies in the field— an average of 66 pounds to the colony. We moved from the home yard. 100 colonies to basswood tim- ber. They gathered, in 17 days, 11,000 lbs., an aver- age of 110 lbs. each, or 45 lbs. per colony in favor of a location not overstocked. This is satisfactory evi- dence to me that the Sextonville location was over- stocked, and that the last ICO colonies added to the range lessened the average yield from 100 lbs. per colony to 65 lbs. This also shows the importance of understanding the resources of our location; for If a man can run 100 colonies with an average annual yield of 100 pounds per colony, and on adding 50 colonies more he finds his annual yield per colony TO pounds, he will get only 500 pounds of honey for the capital invested, and care of the 50 colonies, which would be very poor pay for the outlay. WHAT OUR BEE-MEN ARE DOING. It seems to be the aim of several of our most suc- cessful bee-keepers to keep from 75 to 125 colonies in a place. That locations vary greatly, all are aware. Some locations are as capable of sustaining 200 colonies as others would be 50. We will describe what we consider to be a good location for this country. 1. Near a creek or river bottom, where plenty of alder, willow, and soft paaple grow to afford early pollen, and near a good deal of pasture land con- taining much white clover, and near a large body of basswood timber; and if asters and other fall flow- ers grow thick in the bottoms, and wild raspberry on the hills, so much the better. If you have this kind of place, or can get it, stick to it as long as you can, for it will be a good place for bees. There are some such places in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but they are becoming rare. Where is the honey of the future coming from? White clover seems to promise the best of any one thing. It has many points In its favor. 1. The honey is of fine quality, and esteemed by a larger class than any other kind of honey. 2. It grows over a larger area of the United States than any other yielding plant, shrub, or tree. 3. Its area is still on the Increase, and like- ly to be for years to come. Basswood is a grand ti-ee, and yields a fine honey, not equaled, to my taste, by any thing in the way of honey, from hon- ey-dew to white sage. The sight of a large bass- wood forest in bloom, with the bees working on It, is reviving to the eyes of a bee-keeper; but, alas'. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 161 the glory of our haspwoorl forests is fast disappear- iDs-; and unless immediate steps are taken to pre- serve some that we have, and plant more, basswood honey will soon be at a premium. The white satre of California has been long and favorably known as a honey-plant of rare virtue, giving some of the lightest-colored honey in the Avorld; but, like our basswood, its area is getting to be limited. It is fast disappearing before the cattle, sheep, and plow. Alfalfa is coming to the front as a. honey-plant. Some enormous yields are reported from it. As it grows where people are obliged to irrigate, the bees are sure of good weather iu which to gather the harvest. In the foregoing I have mentioned only some of the most prominent honey-producing plants and trees. Time and space forbid a more extended list. Ithaca, Wis. S. I. Freeborn. CAN WE DISPENSE T^TITH HONEY- BOARDS? V TOP-BARS ; MELItiOT, ETC. I WAS very anxious to get light as to deep top- bars vs. brace-combs, and am getting it from many. For the same I am thankful. I think I have light enough to feel my way carefully, and I am not without hope that I may be one of the fortunate who can prevent brace-combs between top-bars. I am a little surprised at Bro. Heddon expressing such positive knowledge (I refer more particularly to his statements at the Chicago convention) that the slat honey-board can not be dispensed with. Either one of two things may render it advisable to lay aside the honey-board. The first is, that it should lose its efficiency. For a time it was entire- ly successful with me; but if it should continue to deteriorate as it has done, it will be worse than use- less. It is at least .possible that in time it may fail with others. Bro. Heddon's last article reveals the fact that he uses top-bars % inch deep. May that not account for his succeeding better than I, whose top-bars are only | deep? And if the top-bars make a difference, may they not possibly make so much difference that no honey-board shall be needed? That is, in the second place, it may be advisable to lay aside the honey-board, if top-bars can be so made and used as to prevent brace combs above them. A single case in which this has been done— and there have been several— overbalances a hun- dred assertions that It can not be done. Even if top-bars can be made to do nearly as well as honey- boards, top-bars alone are best, because of the time and the daubiness every time a brood-chamber is opened, and because the brace-combs between the top-bars and the honey-board probably involve a loss of dollars in honey. Now as to the practical question. Shall I throw honey-boards aside? Not yet, nor hastily. It would be no light matter to change all my top-bars; and although others may succeed, before I make any great change I must see whether I can be success- ful with a few hives. I recommend others to go elow. V TOP-BARS. There was a time when V-shaped top-bars had the advantage, that bees built straighter combs on them; but now that foundation is used in brood- frames, is there any advantage in having the lower edge of the top-bar beveled? It is said, that a top- bar 'a deep, beveled so that it is % thick at the edges, will not sag as a Hat | piece will. I have had no serious trouble with flat ^s top-bars sagging; still, the V projection would be stitter. But this V makes more wood; and would it not be better to have this additional wood in flat shape? A flat top- bar, ?s thick, would contain just as much wood as the beveled ?a bar spoken of above; and while it might not be quite as stiff it is not likely that any one would complain of a ?3 bar sagging. The V bar has, for a half-inch of its depth, cells ranging from nothing to full depth; while the flat bar allows brood to be raised in all its cells, giving more room for comb, for it must be remembered that the up- per part of the bevel can not be utilized; for bees will not make such very shallow cells. WILL MELILOT MAKE HAY? Friend Root, are you not a little hasty in your judgment of melilot, on page 56? You say, " I do not [believe that sweet clover is worth very much for pasture or for hay, in the Northern States. The matter was pretty thoroughly discussed through our columns some years ago. While cattle eat it at a certain stage of growth, to some extent, this stage goes by so soon that it has been generally voted not worth the trouble, as feed for stock." I know the matter was discussed, but has it ever had a fair trial? Has any one ever made a ton of meli- lot hay, and reported? or a hundred pounds? Has any one reported a case where melilot gi'ew in a pasture to which cattle had constant access without touching it? I think it is very uncommon to find sweet clover growing in pastures. I do not know of any such case, although I know of plenty grow- ing elsewhere. Between my home and the Wilson apiary sweet clover grows plentifully, and always stands untouched except for a distance of half a mile. Through that half-mile, Stewart's cows are driven to pasture every morning, and home again at night. The sides of the road are covered with grass, and some sweet clover has grown there for years, but it does not grow as high as red clover, being always, at all times of the summer, eaten down by the cows. True, it blossoms and seeds, but in a very lowly way, while just this side the pasture- gate it grows six or eight feet high. Does that not dispose of your " certain stage of growth," friend Root? And is it not possible that those same cows —and they are well-kept cows— would eat more of it if it were in their pasture? It is common to find grasses that grow well in the South, and succeed poorly in the North; but where they grow also in the North, are they not as valuable as in the South? In Mississippi, Prof. Tracy says, " As a hay-plant it is certainly one of our best." One day I offered my horse, just as he was brought out of a good pasture, some dried stalks of sweet clover that had been cut, I think, just before blossoming, and, to my surprise, he ate down leaves, stalks, and all. I have read that, for a long time, anthracite coal was worthless because no one knew how to burn it. Possibly we may yet learn to make melilot valuable for pasture and hay. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111., Jan. 'il. Friend M., some writer for Gleanings, a good many years ago, said sweet clover had been raised by the acre, and citred for hay, but that the plan was finally abandon- ed as unprofitable. As I have forgotten the name of the writer, I can not well turn to the article. I think he stated that it was introduced as a new forage plant, and raised 162 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. for a time on quite an extensive scale. Per- haps some of our readers can hunt up the communication, or give us facts in regard to hay by the ton, made from sweet clover, aside from the statement of Prof. Tracy. BIOGEAPHICAL. JAMES HEDDON AS A BEE-KEEPER, EDITOR, IN- VENTOR, AND POLITICIAN. In revising the A B C of Bee Culture we found a number of wood engravings in the biographical department, more or less im- perfect, and we decided that we would have all or nearly all of the subjects portrayed by the beautiful half-tone process, which, as our readers know by this time, is true to nature with all its beauties and imperfec- tions. A blemish on the features, or wrin- kles which sometimes seem to creep on the face rather sooner than they ought, are por- trayed with all the accuracy that sunlight and shade can eive. The wood engraving of our friend and correspondent, Mr. James Ileddon. was a fairly good one ; but the lat- ter gentleman — or at least his family — did not consider it natural. We accordingly asked him to sit for another picture, which he has done. The result we append below: .JAMES HEDDON. It is unnecessary here to give a biograph- ical sketch of our Dowagiac friend, as one has already been published in these col- umns (see page 440, 1886), and an abbreviat- ed sketch has stood through the last edition of our ABC book ; but while I am about it, I take pleasure in saying that Mr. 11. is not only a prominent and successful bee-keeper, but a man who occupies a prominent posi- tion in his own city. He says he has always entertained somewhat of a detestation for " politics." He has twice refused the nom- ination for representative of his county, in his State legislature, and once the nomina- tion for senator from two counties, and sev- eral times that of alderman in his own city. In 1867 he ran for the office of mayor, with- out the least possible show of election, as he viewed it, and that, too, against a personal friend, who was well liked by his fellow- citizens. Mr. Ileddon was elected. In March, 1887, lie assumed the editorship of the Dow- agiac Times, which paper he has conduct- ed ever since successfully. Although a Democrat, he believes in the principle of a protective tariff ; but he does not think that any line of manufactures needs it for any great length of time. The article which we print in this pres- ent issue — see page 165 — is quite charac- teristic of friend Ileddon as a writer. He has a happy vein of telling what he has to say. and he also has an unusual faculty of making every thing exceedingly plain and easy to be understood. Mr. Ileddon is more conspicuous in the bee-world as having invented a number of bee-keeping appliances. He is the inventor of the divisible brood-chamber. Whether Mr. Ileddon was the first one to conceive all its principles, I will not say. A num- ber of its features are old, but they have been combined, as he claims, into a new invention. One of friend H.'s peculiarities is that he is quite jealous of his inventions, and is very particular that no one else shall even hint that he (Mr. II.) does not enjoy the exclusive priority. It were better some- times, if he would exercise a little more charity. I do not believe bee-keepers are disposed to rob him of proper credit. Prom- inent among his inventions is what is known as the slat honey-board, which is now large- ly in use. He has also made some important improvements in shipping-crates. E. R. RHEUMATISM, AND THE CAUSE OF ALL SUCH KINDRED DISEASES. BEE-STINGS OF DOUBTFUL BENEFIT, AS CONSIDER- ED BY PIIOF. WEBSTER. I HAVE been noting the various articles on the bee-sting as a remedy for rheumatism. The thought has occurred to me that a few words on the cause and nature of the disease in question might assist in arriving at a correct conclusion, and defining the value of the aforesaid remedy. The disease of which we write presents itself in several forms; viz., inflammatory, sciatic, articular, lum- bago in the back, and gout; yet the cause is always the same— the presence of effete matter in the system, either uric acid or uric acid plus the soda of the system— urate of soda. The use of rich stim- ulating food, or excessive quantities of plainer foods, has so burdened the excretory organs that they are unable to do the work; and the next move in the economy of nature is to deposit this foreign matter where it will least affect the vital organs. Hence the muscles and joints become inflamed and diseased by these deposits, which must be ex- pelled before any permanent cure maybe expected, not only to get the acids out, but to prevent the formation of more. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 163 This condition is brought about by the use of im- proper and excessive quantities of food, as ^e have said; consequently these poisons are formed from the partially digested food. Now, to us the idea of putting a specific poison into the system to expel or neutralize another, seems simply a matter of ex- periment, and very uncertain in its results. I am much of the same opinion as yourself, Mr. Editor, that any poison, whether taken out of a bottle or the business end of a bee. is attended with only doubtful results, and would best be avoided as far as possible. Medical science is progressive at pres- ent. We see that those who combat disease most successfully use but little medicine, but, rather, employ means which assist nature in throwing off this effete matter, and, by a restricted diet, pre- vent its formation. Rheumatism which has not yet proceeded to the stage of hardening the deposits about the joints, is curable; but after the joints become enlarged and deformed, there is no process known by which it may be removed. We see that a plain diet, con- sisting largely of vegetables and grain, is best. The various combinations of baths, fomentations, elec- tricity, and galvanism, used in connection with mas- sage-oil baths, and the various movements, are eminently successful in the cure of all diseases where there is sufficient recuperative power to re- spond. Of recuperative power, says an eminent writer: "The resistance, active and passive, of the phys- ical system, to destructive agents, 16 wonderful. Huge wounds heal, leaving scars only. This is true of external and internal organs, including even the brain. A large part of a bone may be taken out, and the bone grow again; deadly poisons swal- lowed, and the various eliminating organs will throw them off, and destroy their power, often suc- ceeding fully. Millions of people transgress every law of nature, and still live out half their days because of the unceasing struggle of the law of recuperation to undo the mischief." Do we realize that this law of which the writer speaks is a law of God, and that we are accountable to him for every transgression? Ignorance is no excuse before the law in this case, and the penalty swifty follows; viz., sickness. Hygiene should be diligently studied by all who profess to be the people of God. It was intended by our heavenly Father that all should lead happy, healthful lives, and in his word he has given instructions. When Moses led out the children of Israel he was given the most perfect code of laws for the heating of all the diseases of his people, and God especially promised to bless all with health who followed his instructions. All who read Gleanings should study the laws of health. By so doing you will see what is the cause of so much 111 health. The poison of the sting may be a means of relief in some of the early stages of rheumatism; but If the cause of the effect coniinue, how can any permanent relief be looked for? W. A. Webster. Crystal Springs, Cal., Jan. ~3. No doubt you are correct, Prof. W.; but will you excuse me if 1 ask if the medical gentlemen agree to what you have told us ? As I went over your article, my mind went back to many points in my own experience, and that of others, strongly corroborating what you say, and not only in regard to rheumatism, but many other diseases. It may be true, that people sometimes are suf- fering because they eat too little ; but I am inclined to think that the cases are almost a thousnd to one where the trouble comes from eating too much, because it depends largely upon the amount and kind of work one is doing, as to how much food he should take. Notwithstanding this, it is very hard to explain how relief could have come so promptly and perfectly unless the sting of a bee has some wonderful effect upon the pain in rheumatism. Has not God in his wisdom provided antidotes and remedies, even after we have transgressed his laws ? "WIDE AND THICK TOP-BARS. STAPLES FOR SPACERS. About the time the Simplicity hive was introduc- ed, the idea was advanced that top-bars of brood- frames should be as light as possible, that brood and super apartments might have the least inter- vening space, thereby causing the bees to more readily enter and fill the supers. This theory has some plausibility so far as Inducing bees to enter and begin work in the supers; but if delayed from working above a day or two longer on account of extra intervening space between, the work goes on more rapidly after it has begun; and it is not nec- essary to explain to the practical bee-keeper why this is so. When I began to use the Simplicity hive, the top- bars of my frames were cut out very thin. Soon after being filled, their appearance reminded me of an old sway-backed horse. At that time, wide frames were used to hold the sections; and as these were being filled, the spaces between were evened up also, with strips of comb honey. This trouble was exasperating, haunting me even In my dreams. Becoming desperate I determined to tear off every top-bar 1 had and replace with others suffi- ciently heavy to hold up under a reasonable weight. This work I did in April during warm days, and with no particular annoyance to the bees. At that time I was using hives 16 inches wide, with 10 frames in the space, which was permitting too much space between frames. This was reduced by using a division-board at one side. With this new order of things, and only a \ bee-space between brood-frames and sections, little trouble from con- necting combs was experienced. Soon after this, more by accident than otherwise, I learned another fact which helped to convince me that width of brood-frames Is important in prevent- ing burr-combs between apartments. A gentleman who was about to move away from the farm he had sold, came to me to see if I would buy his bees, offering them at a low price. I did so without see- ing them. They were in double-walled L. hives; and when I brought them home and took off the honey -boards I found that the top- bars of the frames were so wide as to make it a tight 6(iueeze for Liecs to get between them; but as the honey season was about at hand, I did not then stop to cut them down, but at once placed '4 -inch-square sticks across the ends, and put a case of sections on each hive. In a few days bees were at work, rapid- ly filling up. As sooQ as pretty well filled with comb they were raised, and another case placed be- neath. After all were finished I was surprised to 164 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. find absolutely no connecting' combs above the brood-frames; and why? "No place to put them." Next. Now, I had better say, further, that these top-bars appeared to have been made from common lath planed down to what the builder of these hives thought to be about the thing', and were but little if any more than J4 inch thick; but on the under side of these wide bars were triangular comb- guides, fully J£ of an inch thick. Whether these heavy comb-guidos had any thing to do with the prevention of burr-combs, I am not able to decide positively; but I place more stress on the close spacing, and some on extra width of top-bars. I would have continued experimenting on this problem; but some years ago I went out of the production of comb honey, as I found I could pro- duce in my locality twice as much extracted, which is always sold at 15 cents per pound, making honey- raising in this way doubly profitable to me. FRAMES HELD AT FIXED DISTANCES. The use of staples in the manner illustrated and explained by Mr. Phelps, for the purpose of holding frames at fixed distances, is ingenious, simple, and inexpensive. I can not think that the use of frames at fixed distances will ever become general; and whenever any one begins to talk of a system for holding frames at fixed distances I begin to get uneasy. I suppose this feeling was engendered by the use, many years ago, of the close-fitting top- bars of the American hive, and from the temper- trying experience of extracting honey from some hives with their frames arranged at fixed distances by the use of staples and nails. I want a sharp knife for uncapping; and to see a staple or nail about a frame when I am slashing hurriedly a razor-sharp knife, starts my blood to crawling. I have a good deal of hauling to do every year, moving bees from one point to another; and when the frames look as though they might not stay in place, I fix them down by putting stout pieces of frame-stuff across each end of the frames, just over the rabbets; and by the use of two or three pretty good screws driven into the rabbets these pieces of wood can be pulled down tight enough to keep the frames in place. If thought necessary, staples might be put into these strips to keep the frames in place in moving bees; but, keep the staples out of the frames. The end-boards of the upper stories of my hives are rabbeted on both [top and bottom] inside edges, which arrangement permits the placing-in of the strip above alluded to, as well as permitting the en- amel cloth or quilts to go out over the ends of the frames. J. A. Buchanan. Holliday's Cove, W. Va., Feb. .3. You have made some good points, friend B., on the matter of the prevention of brace- combs ; and it is interesting to know that you have had experience these years in the same line. A multitude of testimonies coming now, establish the fact almost be- yond doubt that burr-combs can be dispens- ed with without a honey-board. With the latter we shall have them between the top- bars and the slats of the board. With wide top-bars there are absolutely no burrs, pro- viding the frames are spaced f^. inch apart, so that it is not only possible to dispense with a honey-board, but we have a great many less burr-combs. — The point you make in regard to staples interfering with the honey-knife for uncapping is well taken, and that alone would almost forbid its use among those producing extracted honey. But we can, friend B., drive these staples into the rabbets, and space the fiames apart that way, and yet do away with all hitching and interference with the honey-knife. If we have the top of the frames so that they can not shuck about, we shall not have very much trouble, ordinarily, from the bottoms knocking together. What we want is a staple i inch wide, driven into the rabbets at such distances as will space the frames just {\; inch apart. A quarter of an inch would be better than staples i%, because we need a little play on account of propolis ac- cumulations. With this close spacing we need accurate spacing ; and the staple will not only keep the frames fixed, but accu- rately spaced. Ordinary blind staples, which can be had at almost any of the hardware stores, will answer. E. R. In addition to the above, I would say that, come to think of it, it was these blind- staples in the way of the honey-knife that was largely instrumental in inducing my- self and others, nearly twenty years ago, to pull them out and throw them away. And, by the way, will not the Van Deusen metal corner be open to the same objection? Will friends Hawk and Hetherington tell us about this? TOP-BARS OF BHOOD-FRAMES. FRIEND DIBBERN'S EXPERIENCK. I HAVE been very much interested in the discus- sion of the wide thick top-bars for brood-frames. If the question is not yet ruled out, I wish to add my mite of information on this interesting subject. Some years ago I came to the conclusion that I must have a new hive, and somehow none of the standard hives suited me as a whole; so I went tO' work and planned a hive after my own ideas. I used tops and bottoms of my brood-frames 1 x 54 inch, and they have given very good satisfaction. I adopted this size more on account of strength, to prevent sagging, than as a preventive of burr- comb. As my frames are 1% from center to center, there is just ■;'« inch between combs. After reading- the Jan. 15th Gleanings I had about concluded I would order the next lot of hives with 1^^ wide x ^ thick top-bars: but after examining some five or six hives that have had bees in for the past two and three years, and finding almost no burr-comb at all,. I decided to leave the width at one inch, but make the bars M inch thick. Still, after examining the combs critically, and noting that the comb, where sealed up with honey, projects about ^ beyond the wood on either side, I have decided to make a part of my hives for next season with IJg-inch top-bars,, with 14 inch between combs. I shall then be able to reach an intelligent conclusion on this point. While a great deal has been written about the tops of frames, bee-spaces, and honey-boards, I am surprised that something has not been said about the hottom-bars. Are they " all right," and entirely unobjectionable? How about the space under the bottom-bars? and what about the width of the side bars? Some of my old L. hives have given me as much trouble from burr-comb at the side and bot- tom as at the top. I am aware that most of the trouble comes from faulty construction. But, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 165 what is correct, to obviate all this difficulty? 1 am not troubled in this respect in my new hive, but I know thiit manj' of the standard hives are not per- fect in these points. Now, while we are about it, let us overhaul the whole hive. What say the readers of Glean iNfis? C. H. Dibbern. iMilan, 111.. Feb. 3. Your testimony, friend Dibbern, is anoth- er drop in tbe bucket that establishes the value of wider and thick top-bars. On ac- count of the difficulty of getting lumber of odd thicknes.ses we decided to make top- bars J inch thick, as a good many seemed to prefer them so, but more particularly be- cause I lumber, after being rabbeted out, can be ripped up into bars one inch, Ij'ei or li. In regard to the bottom-bars and end- bars, we decided to use only ^ lumber, par- ticularly on account of cheapness. Were we to make them of the same width as the top- bar, we should have to charge considerably more per hundred for the frames. There noay be some advantage in having wide end- bars ; but we hardly think it is enough for the extra expense. However, we shall be glad to hear from our readers on this point. E. K. DEEP TOP-BARS. •JAMES HEDDON ARGUES IN FAVOR OF HONEY- BOARDS YET. Friend Root:— With pleasure I have been read- ing February 1st Gleanings. I see that our friends feel more and more positive that the deep top bars are g-oing, once and for all, to settle the brace-comb trouble. I have to laugh at their en- thusiasm over this new thing, as it seems to be to most of them, although it is so old a one to me. You will find that the depth of the top-bars has very much more to do with discouraging brace- combs than does the width of it. If I were bound to space my top-bars just /g apart, I would use them only Ji wide, and then put more combs into a hive. Don't you see, that, the more space you give a comb, the more apt the bees are to store honey just below the top-bar? Of course, you know that, where the top cells of the comb are used for honey instead of brood, brace-combs are much more apt to be built in between the top-bars and between their top surface and the receptacle or cover above. Let me tell you how you can arrange top-bars to prevent brace-combs with almost as much certain- ty as the break-joint honey-board will do; but you will not do it, because there are serious objections which you will see at a glance. Make your top-bars % or 'a of an inch deep be- fore the bevel begins, if you use a bevel. Place them just u-, apart, but do not have the top-bars more than '» wide. This will give you closer spac- ing of your combs from center to center, and that alone will help you materially. Now make section boxes just as wide as the distance of your top-bars from center to center, so there will be just as many openings between the sections as there are be- tween the top-bars in the hive. Now make these openings exactly break-joints with the openings between the brood frames, the same as the honey- board does, and you will have but few more brace- combs than you would have above the honey-board. But don't you know, friend Root, that no one wants to use such narrow sections? and that settles that; but, at the same time, it is a fact that that ar- rangement, and that only, will come very near to the delightful condition of affairs regarding brace- combs which is so anxiously hoped for without the use of the honey-board, by your enthusiastic cor- respondents in last issue. Let me now toll you what I believe I know is the best method, and I have a number of hives ar- ranged accordingly, which I have had in use for years. Use a top-bar U or % deep. Do not space them more than \% apart from center to center, and 11^ will do very well. Use the break-joint bee- space honey-board above them, and any kind of sections you prefer above that. Let your bee-space in the honey-board and in the top of the hive be- low the honey-board be ■-,; scant, or ,'!• Then you are safe against brace-combs above the honey- board. You will have much less below the honey- board; you will have a solid top-bar that will not sag; one in which bees will build nicer, straighter combs, when they are not compelled to build them so by the use of wires and full sheets of founda- tion. Please mark this article with a blue pencil, and put a book-mark in your file; and by and by, when the excitement of deep top-bars is all over and set- tled, take a vote and look back and see if what I here state is not just what will then be the prevail- ing sentiment. I think my locality is much like others, and my bees have much the same instincts. 1 have experimented years and years upon this point— yes, upon every part of it, that I find men- tioned in Gleanings. Honey-boards are a bless- ing which came to us long ago, and came to stay, multiply, and cover the earth. We have all had " la grippe " here, but no deaths in our little city of 3500. The open winter is espe- cially mild, and free from snow, in this locality. Bees are in perfect condition out of doors, and I am lucky enough to have over four-flfths of mine out. My 70 colonies in the cellar are apparently in very good condition, but I know they are not as strong as those outdoors. My son Will, who wrote you the article on paper packages for extracted honey some months ago, I suppose we shall lose from our family of bee-friends, as he is studying electrical science, and takes charge of our electric-light plant which is just now being completed in this city. Dowagiac, Mich., Feb. 10, 1890. James Heddon. You say you had to laugh at the enthusi- asm of the advocates of thick top-bars, be- cause the subject is such an old one to you. Please don't laugh just yet, Bro. 11.— at least not right away. In the progress of the times, good things like the honey-board, that have served their purpose well, are sometimes discarded for something better. It is really astonishing that so many have tried these heavy bars for so many years, and liked them, and these same people say, too, they never had any brace-combs, and, of course, have no need of a honey-board. Sf^ many testimonies are coming in to this effect that it will be impossible for us to publish them all, however valuable they may be ; but the few that we do give place to are a pretty fair sample of what we re- ceive. Heavy bars are not a new thing : they are only being brought to public no- tice. Yes, the closer the spacing the less burr-comb there will be. , But that will not 166 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. do it alone.— As you have brought up the matter of the break-joint feature in your honey-board, allow me to say (with no de- sire to provoke discussion) that I never could see that it made a bit of difference wheth- er the slats were break-joint or directly over the top-bars. Perhaps my experience has been limited. But Dr. Miller (and he is a very candid man) says he can not discover that there is any value in the break-joint. A very prominent bee-keeper of your State, with whom I had the pleasure of a couple of hours' conversation in regard to bees and bee-keeping, while we were on the subject of honey-boards told me that he had tried them with the slats both on the break-joint and continuous-passageway idea, but he was unable to detect any difference. 1 should be glad to give you his name, but perhaps he would object to my lugging him into print in this way. as he is a very good friend of yours. Dr. Tinker, in the Apiculturist (p. 18), goes even so far as to say that there are more burr-combs from the break-joint than there was from the direct-passageway plan. Now, we will admit that your honey- board has been a good thing— a, blessing, etc.; but it does not go more than half far enough. With thick and wider top-bars we can do away with burr-combs altogetlier, if scores of good witnesses are reliable ; but with the honey-board, one of the bee-spaces is entirely filled. While it is possible that the deep top-bar has stirred up an undue excite- ment, yet there is so much in it, evidently, that bee - keepers north and south are mightily pleased with it — yes, those who have tried them for several years. Your pre- diction, that your honey-board has " come to stay, multiply, and cover the earth," may come true ; but I must confess that I con- sider this a rather confident assertion for the future. E. B. BABY BEES IN WINTER. H. R. BOARDMAN EXAMINES HIS BEES. YESTERDAy was a pleasant day. The sun shone out clear and strong, and the mercury stood at 56° in the shade. I worked among the bees, opening hives and taking out combs for examination, with as much comfort as I should in June. Such a treat is really refreshing to me, whether the bees enjoy it or not. I had set several colonies out of the bee- house for examination, which I frequently do to determine just what is going on; also a few were left out on the summer stands so I might be able to compare results of the two ways of wintering. I examined eleven colonies— seven taken from the bee-house, and four that had been left out on the summer stands. Ten of the number had more or less brood. The queens were laying freely. In several colonies, young bees were emerging from the cells, and quite a sprinkling of young baby bees could be seen moving timidly about in the crowd. I have never seen the like before at this time of year. I have often found brood in a hive occasion- ally, as early as January, but not so general and in such abundance. I presume we may take this as an Indication of the general condition of the bees all over the country— at least, so far as the mild weather has prevailed. Those who insist that early breeding is followed by unfavorable results in wintering, please stand up and tell us what we may expect from this un- usual condition. For myself, I feel no alarm about it, if only there are sulBcient stores, as, of course, an extra amount of stores will be consumed. H. R. BOARDMAN. East Townsend, O., Feb. 1, 1889. Fnend B., why don't you tell us which wintered best of those you examined — those indoors or outV and how about the compar- ative consumption of stores during this ex- ceedingly mild winter? KBVERSIBLE EXTRACTORS. ANOTHER GOOD TESTIMONIAL FOR THE STANLEY. I SEE there is quite a little talk just now about extractors; and as the Stanley comes in for its share, both pro and con, I thought I would give my experience. I bought a four-frame Stanley in the spring of 1887, purely on the recommendation of Prof. A. J. Cook; and I will say right here, I have never regretted so doing. It is not a geared ma- chine, consequently it turns easily. In the month of July my 16-year-old sister will extract all the honey we can get to her. But when I do my fall extracting— that is, from my surplus combs, usual- ly about the first of September, then it requires a man to operate it, because the weather is cooler, and therefore it needs harder turning. The season of 1889 was the first honey season we have had since I bought the machine. My crop this year was a little over 10,000 lbs. I have never had a comb broken in the Stanley, nor do they be- come imbedded in the wire baskets so as to tear out when being lifted up. Friend Osborn speaks of the baskets on his be- coming tangled when reversing. I can work mine all day and never have them tangle once. When I first got mine, before I learned how to operate it, I made mine tangle, and I was quite vexed; so I went and got Stanley's letter and read it over again. He said, " When you want to reverse, slow down gradu- ally. Stop. Let the baskets swing past the center- shaft, then reverse. Do it in a somewhat slow and lazy manner." Every person who has ever taken hold of my Stanley to work it has always been in too great haste to reverse, and, as a result, some baskets are jerked off from their hooks, or they be- come tangled. I think some one mentioned that it was unhandy about putting in and taking combs out. I experience no difficulty in this respect. Perhaps it is owing to the frame I use. I use the Gallup. The operator picks up a comb by the cen- ter of the top-bar, with his right hand, and with hi& left swings the comb-basket to the outside of the extractor, then lowers the comb in. It is possible that the Stanley is not the best ex- tractor on the market, yet I have seen the IT. S. and the Novice, and several home-made machines, but I have not seen any that I would be willing to trade my Stanley for yet. CARRYING BEES OUT OF THE CELLAR. I see quite a good many of the brethren who practice cellar wintering advise putting the bees into the cellar without any bottom-board to the hives. I should like to have them tell me how they manage in the spring to keep the bees from get- ting in an uproar when being placed on their sum- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 167 mer stands. Do they hibernate so perfectly, and are handled so quietly, that they are not disturbed until the warm rays of old Sol arouse them to their surroundings? H. L. Rodse. Republic, la., Feb. 10. We are glad of the facts you furnisli in regard to the Stanley extractor. You do not say, however, whether yoii have used to any extent the Novice or any other extract- or. We do not anticipate there would be any trouble carrying hives without bottoms out of the cellar. However, we should like to hear from II. R. Boardman on this point. A HISTORY OF THE ITALIAN MONARCHY. CONTRIBUTED TO AND READ BY THE PENN COL- LEGE ORATORICAL ASSOCIATION AT OSKA- LOOSA, IOWA. One day, as I wandered among the people on my father's plantation, I observed a very busy group of Italians. Noticing the peculiarity of the work- ers, I became inquisitive and greatly intercated, and I have compiled this summary of their habits, life, and government. These busy workers have a queen to rule over them, to whom they yield implicit loyalty. Among these people the females perform all the produc- tive labor, while the others lounge around on the avenues and take it easy. These ladies are armed with deadly weapons; and should the work slacken, and famine threaten the community, tbey will use these weapons and destroy all the non-productive members of the community, old and young. Just let these so-called " lords of creation " trespass where they are not wanted, and they will speedily find these irritable ladies after them, and a quick retreat is their only safety. No strangers are permitted to cross the border of their domain without a formal introduction, and without being closely watched; for they will be quickly arrested, and perhaps killed, or left in a dying condition. Whole armies are put to flight, and the greatest warriors flee from their attack. Take heed to your standing, ye reputed heads of creation, lest the ladies trample your laurels un- der foot, and bring you wholly under their rule. The palace occupied by this empress queen is a very ingenious structure, having but one entrance. The apartments are numerous, and constructed with mathematical precision and skill— flnished off with admirable taste and beauty, decorated in hues of amber and gold. Many halls and corridors are found in this wonderful structure. The temperature is nearly uniform, and is pro- duced by natural and not by artificial heat. No dust is allowed to accumulate in their apartments, and their storerooms are mostly filled with the good things of the land. Her Majesty's subjects prepare three kinds of food— one for the royal princesses, another for the gentlemen, and the choicest for the ladies. Each member is entitled to a room until of age; and they are served in these rooms with food. The apartments are of difl'erent dimensions— the smallest for the ladles, the larger for the gentlemen, and the largest for the princess royal. When arrived at full age, the workers take them in charge; and after a ceremonious inspection they are set at liberty to work out their own destiny. The young princesses must leave the palace imme- diately, and establish a government elsewhere, or the queen regnant may abdicate, or else war will ensue, and end in the destruction of the princess. Sometimes the princess will collect an army and wage war against the queen, and fearful battles ensue, leaving the field covered with the dead and dying. The youths are always dressed in white till they are nearly of age, when they assume a dark dress, and ultimately they are arrayed in drab, ornament- ed with golden bands. This is a very imperfect sketch of one of the most interesting and suggestive works of creation, hith- erto battling man's ingenuity to find out in all its parts the why and the wherefore of this and that, leaving him to ponder over his finite powers and to realize the truth of the saying, "Thus far shalt thou go. and no further." Viola, la.. Jan. 29. Mrs. Athanissa Shaw. My good friend, you should suggest to Bellamy, the author of the new book that has been making such a stir, that a hive of bees will give him a precedent for the new state of affairs he has pictured so graphic- ally. ^ ^ MY EXPERIENCE MTITH CARNIOLANS. an adverse report as TO THEIR TEMPER AND HONEY-GATHERING QU VLITIES. I RECEIVED six Carnlolan queens, June 20, 1889, and introduced them successfully. The queens are very prolific. They wore Introduced to hives that were hardly strong enough to put on surplus boxes ; but by the time that buckwheat was in bloom they were the strongest hives that I had, so I expected great things from them. But I was greatly disap- pointed. The air castles which I had built began to tumble. 1 looked often for the honey which they did not bring in; but my expectations ran high. 1 could see that they were industrious from outside appearance, working in rainy weather when the Italians and blacks were in the hives. They were very gentle until I came to take off the surplus hon- ey. I knew the honey was there somewhere, for I knew that they could not work the way they did and do nothing. Well, I approached the hives with smoker, two-inch chisel, and veil. Of course, I knew there was no use for the veil, but I took it along from habit. Well, I gave the first hives a few puffs of smoke, then smoked them mostly out of the boxes; then I put the two-inch chisel under said case of boxes, and began prying. Well, after considerable hard work I got one end of the case up. The bees, about that time, became furious. Nothing would satisfy them but my making myself scarce. I took for the cellar, the place where I used to go when I began the business, and had a poor smoker. I got possession of the case after a while, but the honey was under the boxes in the shape of burr-combs. I at last succeeded in getting all of the cases off; but, what an appearance they presented! Those six hives had nearly as much brace-comb built as my 70 other hives. I got about two cases of buckwheat honey from the six. I got more than that from one hive of hybrids. I got most of my honey from buckwheat. The boxes presented a very uneven appearance. They would have from 9 to 13 ounces of honey in them, while my others would average about li^. I got rid of 168 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar the hooey by selling it at two cents less a pound by weig-ht, and taking trade for it. 1 think they are the ugliest bees I ever saw or had any thing to do with, out of the honey season. You can not look at their hive at that time but that they will come for you. G.J. Bkoadbent. Factoryville, Pa., Feb. 15. Your experience tallies very closely with a couple of queens we tested last season. Still, the majority of the Carniolan queens may be better. THE TVISCONSIN STATE BEE-KEEP- ERS' ASSOCIATION. HELD IN MADISON, WIS., FEB. 5, 1890. It has been for some years the custom of our Wisconsin friends to have a session of only one day. Another year, however, they propose to devote two days to it. Our friends will recognize many of the officers, from the mention I gave during my visit to Wisconsin last July. The president, C. A. Hatch, was unfortunately attacked by the grippe just as he arrived at Madison the evening before. He, however, stayed with us most of the time, although he looked so pale and sick that we all felt sorry for him. The president's address covered quite thor- oughly the whole ground of bee-keeping. One especial point he brought out was, BEES DEAD AND DYING AROUND ON THE GROUND DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE. Considerable discussion arose in regard to the matter of dead and dying bees that were found around the apiary during the opening of the white-clover bloom last June. This phenomenon seems to have appeared about the same time in a great number of apiaries, north, south, east, and west. Various sug- gestions were offered as to the cause ; but when we all got through, 1 believe the tes- timony was the strongest in the line that lack of food was the cause, and that they either came so near starvation as to crawl out of the hive in a helpless state, or that the brood had lacked food in some stage of its growth, so as to weaken the vitality of the young bees. Several of the friends thought this could not be possible ; but so much testimony was given of finding hives without a drop of honey, that it seemed to be the most reasonable explanation. I re- member that, some years ago, during the month of June, when our bees were rearing a tremendous sight of brood, I would often find hives in the morning without a cellful of honey to be found. Before night, how- ever, the combs would be apparently pretty well filled ; that is, more or less honey would be seen sparkling in nearly every empty cell. The quantity of brood was so large, howev- er, that it "was all consumed during the night ; and when morning came, again not a cellful could be found. CARNIOLANS. Rev. T. E. Turner read quite a lengthy ar- ticle in regard to the Carniolans. My im- pression was, some time before he got through, that he was giving them very much more credit than they deserved. When he wound up by claiming that they could be handled at all times and under all circum- stances, without veil or smoker, I felt sure that somebody would reply. The reply came from the vice-president, Rev. Mr. Winters. He narrated, in a comical way, the tremen- dous amount of trouble in the way of sting- ing he had with some Carniolans that came from the writer of the above article. Mr. Turner explained that the bees in question were not full-blood Carniolans, but only hy- brids. In reply to a question he said the hybrid Carniolans were the worst bees to sting we have. In his paper he admitted that more or less yellow bands were found among the Carniolans ; whereupon some- body asked how he could tell by the mark- ings which queens were pure and which were hybrid. lie replied that nobody could tell any thing about their purity by their markings. This created considerable mer- riment. On further questioning he said the only test was their temper; and I believe that this seems to be one of the most fatal objections to the Carniolans. Unless we import a queen for every hive in the apiary, we can have no assurance that our bees are pure. Our readers are perhaps aware that we have been testing Carniolans ever since they came to our country, and we never have been sufficiently well satisfied with any of them to think of offering them for sale. The greatest fault we have with them, how- ever, is that they are not good honey-gath- erers. See the preceding article. We were all very sorry to find that Mrs. W. J. Pickard, and also our good friend E. France, were both unable to be present. S. I. Freeborn's excellent paper on over- stocking will be found elsewhere in this issue. In regard to the social and humorous part of the convention, our friends in Wisconsin are not one whit behind those in Michigan and other States in good nature. Quite a few of the bee-men of Wisconsin are old- countrymen ; but their genial good nature and readiness to joke with each other put us all in the best of spirits very soon. Dr. Miller said he was not feeling very well when he came in ; but he laughed so hearti- ly that it shook out the headache and every thing else ; and even the parting twinges of the grippe that still clung to him had to give way and let go in the presence of so much merriment. I laughed so much sev- eral times that I really felt sore. It was certainly a pleasure to see and talk with, face to face, the three Franks who were judges of the honey-exhibit — Frank McNay, Frank Wilcox, and Frank Minnick. Our good friend Dr. J. W. Vance also, be- sides being secretary, contributed largely to the interest and profit of the occasion. F. L. Snyder, whom I have mentioned several times before, was also present ; but he did not get over his bashfulness so as to talk very much to us during the convention. Mr. B. Taylor, of Forestville, Minn., contributed a good deal to the meeting. He brought a model of his bee-hive, which he has had in use for 25 years or more. He calls it the "Handy" hive. Fully 25 years ago he formed the idea of having the surplus apartment exactly like the brood-apartment 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 169 — that is, so far as size and shape were con- cerned. Of course, the brood-combs would have to be made shallow in order that they might answer tolerably for holding the frames small enough for surplus. Accord- ingly he makes all stories of his hive so as to hold a frame only 4i inches deep. This depth was decided upon from the fact that fence-boards (j inches wide were always to be had, of pretty fair lumber, and at a com- paratively low price. The hive is made with beveled joints, to keep out wind ano rain, and to keep them in place, very much as I designed the Simplicity hive originally ; but his hives are (as mentioned) only about half the depth of the regular Simplicities. As he makes the hive square instead of oblong, the shallow frames contain from three to four pounds of comb honey. He has a spe- cial mode of manipulating them so as to get large yields of surplus comb honey, and, also, so as to manage artificial swarming in a very expeditious and certain manner. He winters in the cellar, and prefers only one story for wintering, even with combs only 4i inches deep. Before his explana- tions were given, a good many said he had been copying Ileddon's new hive ; but it transpired, however, that he had been using these hives by the hundreds for many years before Heddon"s patent, and so these charges were withdrawn. Mr. Taylor has been an extensive customer of ours for a good many years. When I asked him why he had nev- er given us a description of his hive for print, he said he had done that very thing, but for some reason or other '' we editors " had de- cided not to publish it. As he is located quite a distance from his railroad station, he does not make hives for sale ; his sole busi- ness is raising honey. SPREADING BEOOD. FRIEND DOOliITTLE REPLIES TO MRS. HARRISON. Well, surely Mrs. Harrison is having' a hard time in picking that old " crow " (see page 93 of Gleanings). It would naturally be supposed that Mrs. H. had lived long enough to know that "tough birds "pick more easily after immersing them in boiling water— water heated by strong arguments, backed up by years of practical experiments along the line under discussion, rather than giving them a bath in the cold water of one failing experiment. No, Mrs. H., you can never got out those wing and tail feathers in that way. The top of my shiny pate shows that the tenderer (feathers) hairs have been pulled out, but I shall protest most furiously against losing the rim of hair left around the out edges, let me assure you. Now, joking aside, I wish to thank my good Sister Harrison for bring- ing up this subject of " spreading brood in the spring," for it gives me a chance of saying a few words on the subject which I have wanted to say for some time, yet I saw no good opportunity for so doing. If in any article that I have ever written I have conveyed the impression that an indiscrimi- nate spreading of the brood would be of value, eith- er to the novice or the expert, I wish to take it all hack, for I never wished to convey any such idea. In some of my articles I have placed the time of commencing to spread the brood at about May Ist. This was done with the expectation that each one would use judgment, that judgment to be based up- on his locality, the condition of the bee's, and the ; advancement of the season. For Instance: One season, when the first day of May arrived, there was not a particle of brood in any of my hives to spread. For me to have tried to spread the brood at that time would have shown that I was devoid of common sense. Again, in 1878, when the first day of May arrived, all of my hives were filled with brood and bees, some colonies having eggs and lar- vae in the queen-cells preparatory to swarming. To have waited till the first of May before touching the bees, in such an early season as was that of 1878, would have shown that I was not " up and dressed " as I should have been. Once more: All the colo- nies in any apiary can not be treated alike. Take an ordinary year in this locality, the date being May 1st. In the first hive we open, we find a good- ly number of bees, say enough to cover seven combs on a frosty morning. We open the hive and find brood in only five combs. The center comb of the five has brood in it all along the bottom and side bars, as well as at the top. The two on either side of it are two-thirds filled, while the two outer frames have brood in each, to the amount of one- third of a frame full. Now, practical experience, covering a period of 17 years, has proved to me that a gain of two days in bees can be secured by revers- ing those combs of brood, or, in other words, plac- ing the middle combs, or those the fullest of brood, on the outside, and those from the outside, having the least brood in them, in the center. By this plan we have not really spread the brood, but we have placed it in such a shape that we have made an am- ple number of bees desire all the brood which they could care for; and the result is, that in about a week, or the next time we open that hive, we find those five frames all solid with brood— a state of things which would greatly delight any bee-keeper. We now put a comb of honey, having its sealing broken, in the center of these five filled combs of brood, which so stimulates the bees, when remov- ing it, that, should a cold night now occur,— yes, or two or three days of cold weather,— the bees will be so active that the required temperature is kept right up, and a gain of two or three days more is made. So we keep on with this colony till the hive is filled with bees and brood, one week, at least, earli- er than it otherwise would be; and when this week of bees comes at just the right f ime for the honey harvest, they will make all the difterence between a full crop of honey and half a crop, or, in extreme cases or short seasons, no crop at all. Have I not, then, received pay for ray trouble? The next hive I come to gives off a light buzzing sound, scattered down between two or three spaces of combs, thus showing that there are but few bees in that hive, for I do not know that I ever opened a very weak colony of bees without hearing this sound. I know that it is weak in bees from this, but am surprised to find that they have brood in three combs: and the wonder Is. that the bees have held that brood as well as they have. Now, should I treat this colony as I did the first, the veriest nov- ice, standing by, would say, " Doolittle, you have lost your reason." This colony has all of the brood crowded together, so that there is only just space enough between the combs for a single tier of bees to stand, similar to the contraction plan as recom- mended by Bro. J. E. Pond, and the bees are shut 170 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Mak. on these combs of brood and tucked up as warm as possible, so that they can hold this brood till it ma- tures. Here they are kept till they have these frames filled with brood clear down to the bottom corners, and till the bees begin to crowd out beyond the division-board, when it is time to treat this colo- ny the same as we did the first, and they should not be so treated one day earlier. From what Mrs. H. says about the " remnants " she practiced upon in try- ing the "Doolittle" plan, I think she will see why she did not succeed. Once more: In the spring of 1876, about the 15th of May, I went down to Bro. Betsinger's to borrow S300 to put with $600 which I had to build the house 1 now live in; for, after paying $600 for the land where was to be located my future home, the former .1600 was all of my eanhly possessions, except some household furniture. Upon arriving at B.'s I found him spreading brood and handling his bees as if it had been June, for the place where he then lived was a very sheltered one. When I came home and went out into my beeyard, here in "old cold Spafford," as this town is termed, and looked at my 46 remnants of colonies, only two of which had brood and bees enough in their hives to call colo- nies, I was thoroughly discouraged. I went to the house, sat down, put my elbows on my knees, and my head on my hands, and thought. Now, accord- ing to the verdict "of the heavy producers" at the Michigan Convention, lately held, my conclusions should have been, " Take $100 of the borrowed mon- ey and buy bees with it, not fussing with them or those you have; for what you should be after is, the greatest a^nount of money with the least ex'penditure of labor, for time is money." Instead of this, after a few minutes I said, " $900 is too small to build such a house as I warjt; 1 can not run in debt more; those bees must receive my very best care, give me a living, and help on building a better house than I now contemplate." 1 arose, went to work in ac- cordance with the above, gave them the attention they needed just when it was needed, according to my best judgment, and in the fall I had almost $1600 as my pay, they producing an average of a little over 106 pounds of comb honey per colony, spring count. This paid back the borrowed money, gave me a little to lay aside for a " rainy day," be- sides building a better house than I had first plan- ned, and putting into my life an ambition never be- fore enjoyed. The idea advanced by some of our brethren, re- garding the greatest amount of money with the least expenditure of labor, has a smattering of the thought that " bees work tor nothing and board themselves." The thought seems to be, that the same labor given to 200 colonies in producing .5000 pounds of honey is better than the same labor spent on 50 colonies to produce the same amount. This is an unprogressive idea, and one that should not be tolerated by any one who wishes to rise in the world. It is only on a par with the rule so oft- en adopted, of poorly working four acres of land to get the same results obtained by friends Root, Ter- ry, and the late Peter Henderson, from one acre. Why, Mr. Terry would not care for a hill of pota- toes as some of these do for their bees. He be- lieves in planting his potatoes in the right time, fertilizing and cultivating the ground and the plants in the right time, while the fighting of the beetles and their larva?, digging and caring for the crop, etc., are all alike thoroughly looked after. Because some one, or the multitude says, so much fussing is not in accordance with the greatest amount of money with the least expenditure of la- bor, does not affect Mr. T. or his progressive ideas in the least, for he proves to himself year by year that his is the course that an intelligent man should pursue, not only as far as dollars and cents are con- cerned, but in lifting mankind up out of the slip- shod way they have been in the habit of doing things, and putting an ambition in them which causes them to look away from self out toward a higher and nobler life, which contemplates a love for the beautiful and progressive, for mankind in general, and for the Creator of all which we enjoy, in particular. Just so regarding the pursuit of bee-keeping. Letting the bees " manage their own domestic affairs," as Mrs. H. proposes, is only ad- mitting that we are not capable of doing things at just the right time and in the right place, and has not an atom of soul stirring thought in it, or any thing which looks toward attaining in the future any achievement not obtained in the past. Breth- ren and sisters, don't let us settle down on any such ideas of non-progression, but, rather, let us say, " Nothing is impossible in this progressive age." Now, Mr. Editor, if you consider this article too fiery or too long, so arrange the articles which you publish that no one shall pour cold water on that " old tough crow " when they attempt to pick him again. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., Feb. 17. ADAPTING T SUPERS TO THE DOVE- TAILED HIVE. DR. MILLER GIVES US SOME WISE COUNSEL. The veterans who have been raising honey for years are pretty well settled as to the appliances they shall use. They have learned what suits them, or they have become so accustomed to what they have, that they think nothing else can be better. Even among them there is found more or less reaching out after something better, so that what may be accounted the best appliances to-day may be superseded in a few years by something quite difterent. This being the case, so much changing, so much difference of opinion among those who have settled upon what they think best, 1 do not wonder that the beginner may feel much distracted in trying to settle upon what fixtures he shall use. In the hope of helping such a little, I have under- taken to write this article. Now, Mr. Beginner, I must tell you plainly in the beginning, that I don't know all about what is the best for you to use; and if I thought any one else could, I would not trouble you with this talk. But I can talk a little about some general principles, and this may be of some use to you. My experi- ence has been mainly with comb honey, which will limit my suggestions somewhat to that side. You have dabbled a trifle in bee-keeping; have read the differing views of bee-keepers, and have formed some theories of your own, and one of the first things you are likely to do is to plan a hive and ap- purtenances thereto belonging, that embodies all the best principles, and that shall differ from all hives already made. Now for a first word of advice— do/t't. Won't take my advice? Know more than anybody else, and can get up something away ahead? All right; go 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 171 ahead ; and after you've kept bees for a year or so you'll not be so smart; and it may be time enough then to read the rest of this article. Now, after you've got through inventing the Great-Eure- ka-warranted - not-to-rip-ravel-nor-run-down-at-the- heel hive, let me advise you to commence with one of the hives already in use. It really does not make such an immense difference what kind of a hive you have, so far as the bees are concerned. They will store about the same amount of honey, wheth- er you shorten or lengthen your frame the hun- dredth part of an inch. But it does make a differ- ence whether your hives are all alikf^. nnd you will find it quite troublesome to change from one hive or frame to another. There are two things so gen- erally in use tHat they have become a kind of stan- dard. One is the frame IT's inches long and 9% deep, outside measure; the other is the one-pound section, 4,Vx4J4. I use a frame ^i longer and 'g shallower than the one I have mentioned. I don't know that it's either better or worse ; but I'd give quite a little if all my frames were of the standard size. Tn that case I should be more like others, and it is so much more convenient to be able to order goods of standard size that are always kept in stock. But having commenced with an odd size, each year that I increased the number of my hives made it harder for me to change. So, try to start so you will not want to change. If you settle on the frame and section, then every thing else must conform. As many of the readers of this journal may be in- fluenced by what has been said in its pages and in friend Root's price list, I will comment thereon. Much has been said in favor of chaff hives, and I don't blame friend Root for speaking so highly of them, because he has succeeded so well with them himself; and if I lived in Medina 1 suspect I should be a chaff-hive man ; but being where I think I can do better to winter in a cellar, I think I am not likely ever to care for any thing much different from the Langstroth hive. Most of the improve- ments made upon it at different times have been not improvements. The Simplicity is really a Lang- stroth, but some things about it are not liked by some as well as the old Langstroth. The new Dove- tailed hive is really a Simplicity, in my opinion; and in some things it goes back to the old hive. But I am afraid some may be misled to use with it the section-holder, who may afterward wish they had started with something else. It has been rec- ommended, and I think it likely that a very few, after trying it fairly side by side with the T super, may conclude they prefer the section-holder, but I think the great majority will prefer the T. It is true, that the sectioa-holder'just fits the Dovetailed hive, and presents a very pretty appearance; but it is also true, that the T super just fits the 414 section; and because the L. frame is best to use, and the 4ij section, I would use the best thing to hold each of them, and adapt the two to each other as best I could. The objection to the T super is, that it is shorter than the Dovetailed hive, and, when placed upon it, leaves a small space either at the front or back. But, following the lead of Adam Grimm, many think it very important to have just that space at the back end, so that the bees may easily keep the broodnest cool in hot days. If wanted closed, it is very easy to do so by placing a little stick over the opening, as I have done for years when I wanted it closed. I do think it is paying a very high price for the matter of looks to use the section-holder in place of the T super. Possibly it is because I am used to it; but the inequality in the lengths of hive and super does not offend my eye. Perhaps I may give some of the objections to the section-holder. The sections rest on a bottom strip which is light, and will pretty surely sag more or less. The bottoms of the sections will not generally cor- respond with the bottom-bar of the holder, and, as a consequence, bee-glue will be plentiful in the angles; and you may be sure that, wherever the sections do not fit down snug upon the bottom-bar, the bees will thrust bee-glue between. The holders make more weight to handle, and tin separators must be used. If it has a single advantage over the T super, I do not know it, with the single exception of its being the same length as the Dovetailed hive. I confess I don't like the idea of a section-holder and T super combinsd. I want the T super in its best form, and certainly that is not by making it an inch too long. And now 1 have done what I wanted— given some general hints, and especially warned beginners against adopting the section-holder without first giving it and the T super a fair trial. From the number who have used the T super— which is not always, but pretty often, a safe guide— you may judge something. Friend Root tells me that, for the Simplicity, of late, the T supers have outsold the wide frames three to one, and the section-hold- er is a modified wide frame without any top-bar— in my opinion, no better for being without the top-bar. The immense sale of Dovetailed hives makes me anxious that no one shall think that, just because the section-holder exactly tits the hive, he must use it in preference to something better. If you are very anxious to have the super the same length as the hive, then order the T super with one end filled in; then, if you wish, you can take out the filling and use it as a section-holder; and by putting one on top of another you can use the pair as a hive- body to hold brood-trnmes. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111., Feb. 22. I will explain to our readers, that, after the Ohio Convention adjourned. Dr. Miller, and Dr. Mason, of Toledo, were both invited to come down to our place and give their opinion in regard to a good many unsettled problems in bee culture coming before us during the opening of the season of IsflO. These two veterans met and conferred with the wise heads of our establishment ; and I tell you it made quite a pleasant little con- vention. We bad a session of two or three days, and the result of it was some marked improvements in many of our implements. The aim was to reduce expenses, and to confine ourselves, so far as possible, to the regular goods already in use. The Dove- tailed hive, ai the present time, is certainly more simple than the Simplicity, and justly deserves, I believe, being called the Sim- plicity hive at the present date. We are now shipping them by the carload, and our whole establishment is hardly equal to the demand. Very likely, five times as many are sold as of the old Simplicity, and per- haps the Simplicity had better be laid aside, although I confess there are some features about it that I dislike to see dropped. Mak- ing the bottom-board and cover one and the same thing can not well be managed with 172 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. the Dovetailed hive, or, at least, I myself do not think it advisable to try to do it ; and I agree With Dr. Miller, that the T super as he uses it is perhaps the simplest Surplus ar- rangement for the one-pound section that has ever been brought out— that is, it is more likely to please the masses. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, RIPENING HONEY IN HOUSES, ETC. When honey Is stored in houses built for that purpose, is the temperature allowed to go down to the freezing-point and below? Gleanings once told us that extracted honey should stand 34 hours before being sealed up. The plan works well. But when I wish to melt candied honey I should like to seal it while hot. How can I do this and not have it ooze out? It is quite sure to find its way out of the Mason cans unless it stands the 24 hours. Tell us about the strawberries, The Jersey Queen produces many strong plants. The Jessie is slow about sending out runners. Libbie Williams. Delavan, Wis., Feb. 13, 1890. Comb honey should not be allowed to get below freezing. If it does, however, jisual- ly no great amount of harm is done. Some- times the combs are cracked by a severe freeze ; and sometimes, if a damp spell fol- lows, dew collects over the cold surface of the capped honey. This may work through the capping so as to dilute the honey ; and if a warm spell follows, this sweetened wa- ter will sour enough to give the honey a bad flavor. Keeping comb honey at an even temperature remedies most of this. What Gt.eanings said about letting extracted honey stand had no reference to the preven- tion of candying. If you want to prevent candying you must heat it to about 130 de- grees, and then seal it up like fruit, while hot. Put up in this manner it will seldom candy, no matter how cold it gets, and, of course, there will be no oozing if the sealing is perfect. We have not had any trouble with the Mason fruit-cans when put up ex- actly as we can fruit. — My good friend, have you said just what you intended to say about the strawberries? With us the Jersey Queen is the slow grower, and the .Jessie is the one that produces so many and such excellent strong plants. In fact, we have decided to drop the Jersey Queen when we can get a better-growing plant that produces as large a berry. It is possible, however, that your locality and soil make this difference. THICK bars a success ; THE THEORY THAT BEES WITH THEM WILL NOT ENTER THE SECTIONS AS READILY, A FALLACY ; NO USE FOR HONEY-BOARDS. The use of thick top-bars has been a success with me. They have come to stay. I have them in all my yards, and will have no frame made now unless it has a thick top-bar. Five years ago I changed all my bees to a frame whose top-bar was 14 'a inches long, % wide, % thick, and 10 inches deep. I put 11 of these frames into a hive 16 inches wide, and I haven't been bothered with brace-combs and run- ning their cells all over the tops of the frames as they do when the top-bars are but | of an inch thick. 1 have had the queen go up into the sections biit once that I remember, and that time she laid in a lot of drone-cells, and the hive was contracted to only 8 frames, so I have no use for honey-boards; and by experiment I have had them carry their honey up over 10 or 13 inches of sealed honey to put it into the sections, and I couldn't see but that they stored it in the sections just as fast as the other colonies just as strong in bees whose sections were but two or three inches from the brood. So I have no faith in a Ja-inch top-bar putting the brood too far from the sections. C. M. Hicks. Fairview, Md., Feb. 10. THE BEE-ESCAPE FOR EXTRACTING; FURTHER PAR- TICULARS. I should have said (see page 100), that a case of empty combs should be put under the full one be- fore it is finished, or else at the time of putting on the escape; then, even if the bees are bringing in five or ten pounds per day, there is no loss whatev- er— not even as much as when smoke is used, and they are shaken from the combs, and are upset and confused for the rest of the day. I love the little bees, and am glad to use any plan that will do the work with so little smoke, for I think they deserve better treatment than they get from some smokers. H. P. Langdon. East Constable, N. Y., Feb. 13, 1890. FRAMES AT FIXED DISTANCES. Mr. Root:— You ask for suggestions for a plan to space frames at fixed distances. How will this do? Drive the points of 4-penny wire nails into the rab- bet, just the distance apart that you want your frames spaced from center to center. Then cut a slot in the end of the top-bar so as to bang as- shown by diagram below. ■ ! m\ Where a groove is cut in the top-bar for comb-- guides or starters there will be nothing to do but to drive in the nails, hang in the frames, and they will be fixed as substantially, I think, as will likely be needed under any thing like ordinary circumstan- ces. This plan is suggested for all-wood frames only. The points I would claim for this spacer are, that it is out of sight, out of the way, and, by hav- ing nails of just the right kind, it would cost almost nothing. E. R. Jeffress. Martin, Tenn., Feb. 11, 1890. Friend J., your suggestion is very ingen- ious indeed, especially the idea of taking advantage of the groove on the under side of the top-bar — that is, where that kind of top-bar is used, though with theordinary kind a machine could be made to cut a groove very rapidly in the under side of the pro- jection. This groove allows the frame end to shake, but holds it only at a fixed point of distance from its neighbors. For fifteen or twenty years past we have so many times 1890 GLEANINGS I;N^ BEE CULTURE. 173 (that is, a great part of the bee-keepers of the United States) decided that we could not tolerate frames at tixed distances, it seems a little singular that we should be coming gradually toward it at this late date. The point seems to be, that, if we can get rid of burr-combs, we must have frames at tixed distances. Now, the question is, Which is the greater evil— burr-combs or fixed distances? Of course, it is quite im- portant that these headless nails be driven exactly where they are wanted. In order to do this, I would have a metal spacer with holes II, or whatever distanc« is decided on, from center to center. Drive the nails through these holes down flush with the surface of the metal gauge ; slip off your gauge, and they are not only exactly spaced, but they reach up exactly far enough and no further. My advice would be, to try a hive or two, however, before you fix many in this way. WILSON'S $5.00 BONE-MILL, ONCE MOKE; A SUG- GESTION FOR DYSPEPTICS. Five years ago 1 bought one for crushing bone and shell for poultry, for which they are especially recommended. When it came, however, and seeing on the directions that also good graham flour can be made with them (we being great lovers of this delicious nerve and bone strengthening article of diet) we at once gave it a trial, and we are happy to say we found this claim fully authenticated. Find- ing it rather slow work, however, I procured the gearing of an old fanning-mill, attached it to the mill, and fixed it all on a suitable frame, by means of which gearing 1 gained nearly five revolutions of the mill to that of one of the hand, thus giving it a high speed. This mill we have been using ever since for mak- ing our graham flour, and it makes an article of its kind equal to any in the market. Whenever we de- sire a feaat of fresh graham gems, or a delicious dish of graham porridge, we simply grind a sufti- cient quantity of wheat needed for the time, which is generally done by the children. This not only gives us the chance of using only the most select wheat, but also the advantage of having always freshly ground flour, which is a very essential point in good graham flour and sweet graham gems, as this flour, unlike that of the white flour, loses its good sweet flavor by age, the same as corn meal does; and, aside from all this, our flour costs us not over half of what it is sold at in the market. I do believe— yea, I know it— that if the many dys- peptics of our land would resort to this kind of diet, and do their own (jiinding also, considerable less complaining of this kind would be the result, and much better health enjoyed. We always dry our sweet corn instead of canning it, and then before cooking it in milk we run it through the above-named mill and crack it, which greatly improves it. Please try it. Elkhart, Ind., Feb. 10, 1890. M. D. Wenger. THE IONOTUM tomato IN FLORIDA. Friend Root:— If you remember, last fall I got X lb. of Ignotum tomato seed of you; and I want to tell you how I like them. I have raised tomatoes in the South for the last 13 years, and, notwith- standing a six-months' drouth, they certainly are the greatest yielders, and the largest and finest, I ever saw South. My patch has advertised the Ig- notum far and wide, and are the surprise of all who see them. I am now shipping to New Tork. I find only one fault with them. While the seed was com- paratively pure, it was mixed with a small, very prolific red variety, and a large, round, smooth, bright yellow variety. It is also prolific. I think it will be an easy matter to get them pure, for a gen- uine Ignotum can be told by an intelligent grower before they bloom. It has very large leaves, and long leaf-stalks; is very heavy, stocky in growth, and has, when growing rapidly, a peculiar yellowish color in the center of the leaf-blades. Now try, friend Root, and have your next crop true, and I predict a great sale for the seed. G. W. Idner. Tillman, Fia., Jan. 33. Many thanks, friend I. Our Ignotum to- mato seed is all saved from choice speci- mens ; but we have never made any selec- tion in regard to the plants. We thank you for the suggestion, and will act on it this coming season. We had already noticed that the Ignotum has a different look from other tomatoes, but had not followed it out as you have, .^s several have reported a yellow Ignotum, it is doubtless a sport ; but I am inclined to think the small prolific red variety must have got in by mistake in sav- ing the seed, for we had such tomatoes in the same field with the Ignotum. Your sug- gestion reminds us that we bad better have our Ignotums in a field by themselves, and then make our selection <>f the plants from which to save seed. I shall be glad to know how the Ignotum bears shipping to New York. A SABBATH-DAY QUESTION. Do you consider it worse to sell honey on the Sabbath to your neighbors than to turn them away empty, providing, of course, they come and ask for it? What would you do in the case? Oakley, 111., Jan. 18. Frank Baker. Friend B., we have had exactly the same state of affairs here. If the honey were wanted for a case of sickness, hoarseness, or cold, or because it was recommended by the doctor, we would sell it on Sunday ; oth- erwise I would ask my neighbor or custom- er to please excuse me, and I would do it in the pleasantest way I could. I would tell him the honey should be sent him early Monday morning, and that he could pay me the first time it was convenient, rather than take the pay on Sunday. If I never got my pay at all, I should feel much bettej- than if I received it on Sunday. There might, however, be extenuating circumstances. If the simple act of handing over some money on Sunday woulrl save somebody from mak- ing a trip on purpose, of course I would re- ceive it. Some >ears ago a camp-meeting was held but a short distance from our place of business. Several came over from the meeting, and wanted to know if we would open our lunch-room and sell them some crackers and cheese. I considered the matter for a few minutes, and took a look at the applicants, but finally told them that I preferred not to open our place of business on Sunday. Had they been people who looked like worshipers, I would have free- ly given them the crackers and cheese, without pay ; but my decision was, that they were a lot of ungodly young men, even 174 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. if they did come from a camp-meeting. The trouble is, these things are apt to start a Precedent, and I should very much prefer to ave it reported that we had declined sell- ing honey on Sunday, rather than the other way. I think that, if it were a near neigh- bor, with whom we were on very familiar terms, I would give him the honey, and tell him that he could settle for it the next day ; but I don't think I should hunt up the scales to weigh it. Better make him a pres- ent of a couple of pounds of honey — far bet- ter—rather than in any way let down your custom of remembering the Sabbath day. WIDE TOP-BARS ; BEES GO INTO THE SUPERS JUST AS READILY WITH THE THICK BARS. Seeing there is somewhat of a discussion going on about wide top-bars and thick top-bars to pre- vent burr-combs, I thought I would give you my experience of the last three years. As I never used any top-bars '% thick, T shall have nothing to say on that score. The top-bars to my hives are one inch wide and !4 inch thick, spaced 1% inches from cen- ter to center. With young swarms there are no burr-combs. With old colonies there are plenty of them, and the queen would go into the super if not prevented. Three years ago I took friend Alley's advice and made my top-bars li^g wide and ;g thick, spaced just the same as above. I have no burr- combs from young or old colonies, nor does the queen go into the super. I can take off an extra super on a section super (where there is no honey- board), and the frames are all clean and nice— no burr-combs to stick them down. The bee-space over my top-bars is fi^ inch. I shall vote for wide and thick top-bars every time. I shall continue to use queen-excluding honey-boards for extracted honey. I do not have any trouble from the bees entering the supers over the thick top-bars, and I do not see but that they go up just as quickly over the 13 top-bar as they did over the half-inch-thick top-bar. There is one thing, however, that com- pensates us for our trouble; that is, we have no sagging frames in our brood-nest. The combs are true, and straight as a board. A. A. Byard. West Chesterfield, N. H., Feb. 8. Your last point, that bees go into the su- pers just as readily with the thick bars as with the thin ones, is valuable. Some of the friends (who probably had not tested the matter) thought it would make a differ- ence. THICK BARS ; QUEENS NOT ALWAYS GOING ABOVE THEM. Ernest asks, on page 20, " Are there not some who have tried extra thick top-bars of extra width?" etc. To this allow me to say: Fifteen years ago I adopted a frame made of material one inch wide, top-bars being ^i and some '« inch thick; and ever since, I have had in constant use about 150 hives with such bars. As far as preventing burr-combs on top of frames is concerned— supers always prop- erly adjusted— they have not proven satisfactory. It was not until 1885 and 1886, when I was in busi- ness in Virginia, each year handling about 200 colo- nies in L. and similar hives, having % x % top-bars, that I began to notice the greater amount of burr- combs on top of the frames in these hives. Mr. H. W. Bass, in Front Royal, Va., I think, will remem- ber the discussions we bad there on this subject at that time. However, I attributed the smaller amount of brace-comb to the greater width rather more than to the greater thickness of the top-bars; and I hold to that opinion to-day. My conclusion' seems to be upheld by observations made on a number of reversible-frame hives, having top-bara of ^8-inch thickness, and also on a number of other hives, which had the brood-combs crowded closer together. My bees in the first-named hives did not show any more of a desire to build burr-combs than in the hives having heavier bars. In the last- named hives the amount of brace-comb decreased in the same ratio as the space between the top-bars decreased. Summing up, I believe we can put it down as a rule, that " the less space between top- bars, the less burr-comb on top of frames; "but whether or not we can entirely dispense with Hed- don's slatted honey - board, further experiments must settle. Somewhat contradictory to Mr. C. G. Looft's ex- perience, I find that my queens will occasionally enter the supers, notwithstanding nearly all my hives have top-bars one inch wide by ?4 x \ inch thick. This, however, I do not consider any great damage, for a few sections with drone brood have a wonderful influence in starting a Inzy colony in the section-super, and I am glad whenever I find a few such. F. Greineb. Naples, N. Y., Feb. 1. In the first instances, if your top-bars had been spaced (\- of an inch apart, I feel quite sure you would have had no burr-combs. Thickness^ as well as close spacing, is im- portant. We tried, last summer, tozde top- bars spaced I inch apart, but only I inch thick, and we had some burr-comb, but much less than on the other hives. Your point, that a little brood in the sections acts as an incentive for entering the same, is good. E. R. COVER-BOARDS TO PREVENT WARPING. I am much interested in the various ideas, no- I tions, and devices brought forward by j your correspondents; and I would sug- I gest, for Dr. Miller's benefit, a cover with the ends of the board grooved out, and a good hard-wood cleat, with tongue, same thickness as the board. No doubt this has been thought of, and rejected for good reasons. Wm. H. Allen. Monroe, Mass., Feb. 8. Your cleat would be good ; but a groove wide enough to take in the whole end of the board would be better. '-0 K^n DO BEES WORK ALL NIGHT? Do bees work at night? Do they carry on comb- building, feeding brood, laying, etc.? lean find no reference to it except in the Dzierzon Theory, and in cases where they are fed just at night. ABC Scholar. Bees work all night whenever there is work to be done ; and there is always more or less to be done during almost every month in the year. Brood is fed all night as much as in the day time. Cells are pre- pared for the queen to lay in, and the queen goes on with egg-laying just the same. During the honey season, more comb is built during the night than at any other time, and both pollen and honey are taken from the cells where the workers deposit it during the day, leave it where wanted, prop- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUHE. 17-5 erly packed away and sealed over. Don't go to the books for things like this, but go to your hives and examine them by lamp- light. METAIi-CORNBRED FRAMES AT FIXED DISTANCES; ANOTHER IDEA. On page 99 you ask for suggestions in regard to spacing brood-frames; and after reading friend Phelps' article carefully I have decided to suggest an old idea of mine— one that I thought of almost a year ago, yet I did not use it, as 1 thought it would be hard to make. For example, take a metal-cor- nered frame and a piece of heavy tin or zinc. Cut the zinc ,'s inch wide, and long enough to reach from one side of your hive to the other, on the in- side (of course we shall need a strip of zinc at each end of the hive). Now cut notches in one edge of the zinc, I'g inch wide, and Vs inch deep. Cut the first one i inch from the end of the zinc strip, and the next Js inch from the first, and the next i4 inch from the second, and so on. Now place the arms of the metal corner in these notches, and the frames will not only be perfectly movable, but they will be spaced 1 % inches from center to center, thus. fertile eggs I got 168 chickens and raised 140 of them. Ed. W. Cole. Kenton, O., Feb. 5, 1890. u i_r" 'Lr VAN HOUTEN'S notched RABBET. I believe that those who are rushing after thick top-bars just now will soon have thick top-bars and honey-boards too. I have been convinced thoroughly, by practical experience, during this winter, that it will not do to shut bees in their hives while in the cellar. I tried confining them, and find it a good way to produce dysentery in a very short time. Smithfield, 111., Feb. 3. C. W. Vanhodten. I have thought of this same thing. The rabbets could be notched with a die ; but the trouble I fear is, that the metal corners would hop out of the notches over a rough road, in moving. AN EXTRACTOR RUN BY A STEAM-ENGINE. I have thought that 1 should have to buy me an extractor this season; but from what Bro. Osburn says, I am afraid to buy, for I can't stand it to buy a steam outfit this year. I should like to know how many colonies of bees he has. He must have a " right smart heap " of them. How often should we change queens? Hammond, Wis., Feb. 6. A. B. Bradford. Don't be troubled about Osborn's extract- or run by a steam-engine. He has charge of some seven or eight hundred colonies ; but it will be a good while before he gets the steam 24-frame extractor to going. — A. E. Manum and Captain Iletherington change queens as often as two years. The majority of honey-producers do not. The two bee-keepers mentioned are two of the most extensive bee-keepers in the country, however. BEES AND POULTRY. Eight years ago, when I was about 16 years of age, I started up with a few colonies of bees. I always made bees pay fairly well, but hardly as well for the money I had Invested as I could poul- try. One year ago a friend who keeps poultry for the money there is in it helped me to construct an Incubator. I knew nothing about running one, but I followed directions; and the first time, out of 300 SHIPPING BEES BY FREIGHT, WITH HOUSEHOLD GOODS. I have 40 swarms of bees, which I wish to ship about 200 miles. Shall I hire a car to put them in. together with some of my household furniturel' Now, how would you fix them for shipping? Can they be stacked up without being in danger of fall- ing? Is Missouri a good honey State? Which part is the best? Do you know any thing of Macon or Adair Coun- ties as honey-producers? W. H. Heath. Strawberry Point, Iowa, Feb. 6. Bees can be shipped with household goods, provided you put them on the car and take them ok yourself. They must be stacked up in such a way that the bumping of the car will not endanger tumbling them down. If the frames are not wired they should be parallel to the track ; and in either case they should be fastened. — The State of Missouri gives us some fair honey reports —not greater, however, than other States, on an average. We can not tell you which part is best, nor any thing about the coun- ties mentioned. Better write to the post- masters and ask for the address of those keeping bees. staple-spacers an old idea. staples for spacing frames have been in use by Mr. Benegar, of this place, since I came here, six years ago. How long he used them before that, I don't know. He makes hie own hives and frames (an odd size), and calls them Benegar's patent hive, the patent being on the staples; I don't think he has ever taken out his patent. Bees are swarming. Sara Sota, Fla., Feb. 5. S. C. Corwin. Thanks for the information. Whether patented or not they will be objectionable for uncapping with a keen uncapping-knife, and we have abandoned the idea. Staples in the rabbets would be better, and free from this objection. sealing honey to prevent candying, etc. J. A. Buchanan says jars or cans for extracted honey must be strictly air-tight. In the fall of 1888 I heated some honey in the way we can fruit. I put cold water in a boiler, and put Mason jars of honey in the boiler. We have one jar yet. It was not sealed air-tight. We used to open it and look at it. The one jar that we have yet is so clear that my name can be read on the label by holding it to the window, and it shows no disposition to candy. I have heated some thirty jars this last fall, of un- ripe honey, as the honey wanted to boil over on the shelves, etc., and since then the honey seems to be all right, but thin; but it won't canrty, and yet we had it in Ireezing weather. Will some one tell me how to use honey vinegar? I rinse the honey-vessels, when empty, with hot water. In that way I get plenty of nice strong vinegar. But if I use it for pickles, or such things, I think it doesn't taste well. Mrs. S. S. Kratz. Hatfield, Pa., Feb. 18. Mv good friend, it is hard accounting for all these strange things. If you had one jar that did not candy, I should say it was 176 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. an exception to the rule ; but when you say you have thirty jars of unripe honey that will not candy, even though unsealed, since you scalded the honey to make it thicker, I can not even suggest an explanation. As a usual thing, sealing up certainly helps to prevent candying, although honey some- times does not candy, even though left un- sealed. If, however, it once gets started to candying it will candy very rapidly.— In re- gard to honey vinegar for pickles, Dr. A. B. Mason, who is now at my elbow, says they never have any difficulty at all in making nice pickles of honey vinegar ; and all his neighbors get their vinegar from him just because it makes better pickles. BEE-FEVER AND THE ABC; ITALIANS AHEAD. About six years ago my husband took the bee- fever. He concluded he must have some bee-litera- ture and go at bee-keeping right; so for the first dose he took ttie A B C of Bee Culture. That di- gested, he wanted bees. He made some frame hives, and transferred our four " stands " into frame hives. Having success in this he sent to Dan White for a few nuclei of Italian bees ; worked them • up to full colonies, as per bee-books (having In the mean time procured Cook's Manual and Glean- ings), and got 75 lbs. of honey in 1-lb. sections from each, and that year was a poor honey season; but we saw at a glance that Italians worked when our blacks "didn't turn awheel." We lost all our bees last winter except four colonies. Two or three died with honey in the hives. Last spring we in- creased to 13, and had 350 lbs. of surplus honey In 1-lb. sections. We like Gleanings very much. A. E. Manum's talks are very instructive, also G. M. Doo- Uttle's and others'. Jessie G. Dickebson. Nioga, O., Feb. 10. bees making a raid on the pickers in a strawberry-patch. 'Tis a real pleasure to see bees coming and going on their errands all day long. Besides, we are once In a while treated to a "circus " gratis, as was the case in 1887. I had 23 strawberry-pickers who were much interested In seeing a swarm of vicious hybrids on the war-path. To make a long story short, the bees cleaned out the ranch, and the whole population in the vicinity were compelled to " hunt their holes" without the dignity or ceremony of leave-taking. The recollection of the scene is still green in my memory; and it is too ludicrous to be easily forgotten. E. D. Cox. Marquette, Mich., Feb. 8. Friend C, if your bees should prove to be an annoyance and a nuisance to people in your neighborhood, I am afraid the memory would follow me in another way than on the ludicrous side. I would look out that this does not happen very often, or there may be talk among your people about banishing bees and bee-keepers, that we have heard about in connection with the Bee-keepers' Union. sun shone on It. It stood at just 40°, and got no higher that day. They fiew till after three, when it stood at 36°— 4° above freezing. It froze in the shade all day. My yard slopes to the northwest, so the wind struck It fair. My thermometer is a good cheap metal one. It hangs 10 feet from the first hive. So you see you can't tell at what degree they will fly. My bees are nice Italians, from Root's and Doollttle's queens, in chaff and Simplicity hives, shaded with grapevines. Strange, but the bees in chaff hives commence flying first this winter; usu- ally the opposite of this has been true. Harpersfield, O., Jan. 28. Daniel Bishop. Friend B., you can not tell what the tem- perature is when the sun is shining. No doubt it was 40 in the shade ; but had your thermometer been directly in the sun, it would have indicated 60 or 70 , I feel pretty sure. If you want to test the matter fairly, choose a still cloudy day. ^EP0]^Tg ENC0n^^6IN6. 25 CENTS PER pound FOR 4000 POUNDS OP HONEY. I sold all my honey at retail in the Norristown market, at '25 cents per pound, just as it came off the hives, all in combs, one and two pound boxes, and about 200 pounds in five-pound boxes. I got about 4000 pounds of honey. J. W. Swartley. Norristown, Pa., Feb. 7. AT WHAT TEMPERATURE BEES MAY FLY. At twelve to-day it was clear, with a cold breeze from the west. It had been cloudy nearly all the forenoon. On going to my bee-yard I found all my bees flying furiously except three swarms. I have a thermometer hanging on the east side of a small round post, twenty feet south of my house. The NEW HONEY. To-day I replaced my best hive on the scales, from which it was removed on the 4th of December. It then weighed 76^4 lbs. The present weight is 80 lbs. Some other hives would have made a better record still, if they had been weighed. The season is very forward. Dewberries are as large as a shirt- button, but not ripe yet. H. Fitz Hart. Avery, La., Feb. 4, 1890. NO WINTER IN NORTHERN ARKANSAS. Thus far we have had no winter. Bees have been gathering pollen since Dec. 15. They have brood In all stages, and are in good condition; but I suspect springing them will be where the trouble will come. Gleanings and the Americari Bee Journal come regularly, and are prized highly by all who can af- ford to take the two. R. H. Guthrie. Powhatan, Ark., Feb. 10. 3500 LBS. OF HONEY FROM 33 COLONIES ; CHUNK HONEY. We started last spring with 33 colonies, and In- creased to 68. We took 3500 lbs. of honey, both ex- tracted and comb, all put up In jars and pails. I be- lieve you call it chunk honey. It was nearly all sold before cool weather, at 10 cents a pound. I don't use any sections. 1 think I can manage bet- ter against swarming with brood-frames when they raise brood in the upper story. I take it out and put it into a nucleus, and they get discouraged aft- er two or three times taking out. The most of our colonies swarmed only once, and soon did not swarm at all. A. R. Dioke. Hettlck, 111., Feb. 4. Friend D., you say you got 10 cents a pound for your chunk honey, and also that you do not use sections. Now, I think you are making a mistake. Had your honey been put into nice sections, and put on the market in your neat cases, it would have 1890 Gi.EAKi:NGS IN BEE CULTURE. 177 brought 15 or 18 cents. In fact, we paid 15 cents at wholesale during the past season for nice honey in sections. Honey that is broken out, or that can not be used other- wise, we get rid of in the way you mention, at from 10 to 12 cents a pound. We solicit for this department short items and questions of a practical nature; but all questions, if accompanied by oth- er matter, must be put upon a SEPARATE slip of paper with name and address. JAPANESE AHEAD FOR GRAIN AND HONEY. Japanese has yielded splendidly with us this sea- son, and for honey it is just as good if not better than the silverhull or brown. It averaged over 62 bushels to the acre. A. A. Genter. Springfield Center, N. Y., Feb. 1. plant gets, the more honry it seems to yield, and the quality improves too. C. E. Barber. Langford, Col., Feb. 4, 1890. Qm QaEgwieN-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 OurQuestion-Box." Question 15.5.— Jh your opinion, is a single-walled hive made of thric-inch duff, dovetailed at the corners, practicahle when the cover and bottom-honrd are made of one-inch liimher? If not, what wmdd he the ohjec- tions? INDICATION OP AGE IN yCEENS. How can you tell the age of your queens? St. Anthony, la., Jan. 30. W. R. Haslet. [The experienced bee-keeper will tell an old queen by her looks pretty accurately. The differ- ence, while not quite as apparent as in the human family, is plainly to be seen in much the same way. An old queen gets small in size, more or less dou- bled up, and in her movements seems to be decrep- it and feeble. Her wings, the luster of the cover- ing of her body, her feet and limbs, all exhibit indi- cations of age. Some bee-keepers indicate the age of a queen by the manner of clipping the wings. 1 UNIFORM TEMPERATURE IN CELLAR. Thermometer outside, 50° above zero, eight o'clock this morning. It has been thawing, and is misty and muddy. Thermometer in my bee-cellar regis- ters 48 above zero. I have not watched it this win- ter; but from the cellar this side of it, it probably has not varied more than two or three degrees one way or the other. V. W. Keeney. Shirland, 111., Feb. 4, 1890. Yes. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. THE NORTH VS. THE SOUTH FOR HONEY. Please let me know if bee culture succeeds as well in the South as in the North, especially East Tennessee, Northern Alabama, or Western Caro- linas. W. D. Tabler. Trilla, 111., Feb. 10. [Bee culture can be carried on as successfully. and perhaps more so, in the South, because there are no serious winter troubles to contend with; but the honey of the North, as a general rule, is of a finer quality, and, of course, commands a higher price.! WHICH WAY SHALL THE ENTRANCES FACE? Does it make any difference whether hives are faced south or west? I have mine faced west. Hegins. Pa., Feb. 8. J. H. Dunkelberger. [It does not make any real difference. We have our hives facing all points of the compass. We prefer, usually, to have the entrance face the east, so that the bees may have the benefit of the morn- ing sun. providing that bees may be able to identi- fy their homes without confusion. See Introduc- tion to A B C] THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF HONEY-BEARING ALFALFA. Bees are taking a boom here now. We have al- falfa here by the thousands of acres — that is, there are several places in three counties here where the bees could reach a thousand acres in a two-mile flight, and on one of these big farms the honey-flow lasts from June till September, almost the same one day as another; and the older the I should say It would be a bungling affair. Ohio. N. W. H. R. BOARDMAN. I never used any thing thicker than %, hence I can't say. Louisiana. E. C. P. L. Viallon. I don't know. I never had such a hive, neither do I want one. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. We prefer a %-inch wall all around, as we can pro- tect it in winter without having any incumbrance in summer. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. Yes, and it'is " practicable " to plow with a stick; but what Is the use, when there is a better way? Ohio. N. w. A. B. Mason. Yes. I should prefer It to half-inch for this cli- mate. Why not have the bottom and top as thick? and wouldn't a straw hive be lighter and better? New York. C. P. H. Elwood. I think such a hive would be undesirable; Ji lum- ber is as thick as is required. Such hives would be too heavy. I regard It very essential that hives be as light and easy to handle as possible. Connecticut. S. W. L. C. Root. Such a hive would be heavy and clumsy, and no better than one of inch lumber, to exclude cold; that is, with an open entrance and a one-inch bottom. Illinois. Mrs. L. Harrison. I don't think a hive made of three-inch lumber would be enough better to offset the great weight of the hive. I would rather use inch lumber and chaff' stuffing. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. I never saw hives made of such thick lumber. I should think they would be too heavy and cumber- some, and a useless waste of material, and no bet- ter than those made of inch lumber. Wisconsin. S. W. S. 1. Freeborn. In my opinion, no. Because size, weight, and cost of hive would be increased without correspond- ing benettts. Whatever advantages such a hive might possess can be secured easier and in a great- er measure by the use of double-walled hives pack- ed with suitable material. Cuba. O. O. PoppLETON. 178 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1. T should prefer it made of I lumber, with pack- ing' space of 3 inches between outer and inner case. 2. Too much lumber and too little protection. New York. C. G. M. Doolittlb. Why, yes, I suppose it is practicable, but I doubt if a three-inch wall would be any better than a one- inch. Still, it might be, but it would take no little experimenting to settle the matter. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. We should object to any style of hive being made of three-inch stuff, as the joints will be sure to open in time. I don't see that it makes much difference about the top and bottom board. Come to reconsid- er the question again, we don't see what the fellow Is driving at, any way. New York. E. Rambler. I should object to such a hive at all seasons, on account of the increased expense, weight, and bulk. It would be but very little better, for wintering out- doors without outside protection, than a hive with sides of I stuff. I should not want to winter bees in such hives without additional protection: and that given, I can see no advantage whatever in their use. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. No, sir; you will be sorry if you ever make thick- walled hives. We tried that on quite an extensive scale. We have also tried double-walled hives, and don't want any of them. Make the sides % inch, your ends Js inch, and your covers and bottoms fa inch; then your hive will be light, and it will not warp nor go to pieces as quick as your thicker ma- terial. Always have your packing-bqxes dark-col- ored for winter, and your hives light-colored for summer. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. If lumber is cheap, and you can afford so much of it, all right. Why not have the covers and bottoms of three-inch plank too? One feels better satisfied, after having "gone the whole hog," than when stopping half way. A chaff-packed wall of the same thickness is lighter and better, except the im- portant matter of durability. The most common ob- jection would be, " Too heavy to lug around." In my apiary practice, hives are carried around but little; and I think I could tolerate the plank hive. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. Why should the sides of a hive be made of three- inch stuff when the bottom is one inch? I can con- vince anybody that hives made of inch stuff will winter bees as well, if not better, in this latitude, than the best chaff hive made. Cause: A chaff hive is cellar-like, and its temperature is not much af- fected by the outside atmosphere all winter, while the mild rays of the sun in January, February, and March, have a most beneficent effect on the sides of a single-walled bee-hive. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MuTH. Ernest was greatly chagrined to discover, after the answers all came in, that the question reads "three-inch stuff" where it should have been '' three-eighths stnE.'''' In order to test single hives out of doors, we are now wintering several made only I inch. We have decided, however, to print the re- plies, inasmuch as plank hives have been many times suggested and several times put into actual use. They are a little better, so far as protection is concerned, than thin hives, but not enough to recommend them, and not nearly as good as a porous wall made of rather narrow strips of thin wood, with chaff or some similar porous material between. Our older readers will remember my experiments years ago with the hoop hive. This hive was made of thin narrow stuff so as to be something like a corn-crib. The slats were arranged, however, so as to shed rain. Bees wintered in them, and stored honey ; but the sections near the out- side wall could be worked in only when the weather was exceedingly warm. On this account, hives made of inch stuff gave bet- ter results. PYgELF ^ND MY ]S[EI6pB0«g. And the devil said unto him. If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. —Luke 4 : 3. While in Salt Lake City, one young friend who keeps bees, learning I was in the place, telephoned all the hotels to find out my whereabouts. After he found me I proposed we should go around and gather up the bee-friends, so we could have a little visit all together. Of course, A. I. Root would have something to say to these friends before leaving, that was not direct- ly connected with bee culture. I have told of my visit to friend Woodmansee's, who lived a little outside of the suburbs. Street- cars, however, ran within perhaps a quarter of a mile of his place. On our way home, at the terminus of the street-car line, while waiting until it should be time for the car to start, we were entertained by some boys who had gotten up a sort of amateur string- band. They had a violin, banjo, guitar, tri- angles, and cymbals. I am fond of music, and the performance of these boys out in the open air on that December night filled me with thanksgiving, and, I hope, with praise. I thanked the boys for their entertainment while we were waiting, and expressed my pleasure to the friends who were with me. The street-car conductor was one of our number. He was very affable and pleasant, but smiled with a look that seemed to me somewhat savoring of irony or sarcasm, as he gave us a little speech something like this : " Bovs," said he, " the music was very nice, and music is a good thing, especially when the performers are experts. But, my friends, let me tell you there is no music in this world so entrancing and so satisfying as the music of golden coins as they rattle in your own pocket." And then he patted the place where his pocket was, evidently pleas- ed at his pleasantry. I ventured to demur a little, but he replied again : " There is no getting around it, boys. You live until you are as old as I am, and go through the world and try all it has to offer, and you will decide with me. sooner or later, that the chink of gold throws every thing else into the shade." At our recent Ohio Convention, a fine- looking man, and one I should judge of much ability, came up and shook hands ; but it was evident from his manner that he 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 179 was not quite pleased with something. He said he had been a bee-keeper a good many years, and had taken Gleanings, and that he would like to say a little something to the members of the convention on the sub- ject of bee-keeping before we adjourned. The opportunity was given him, and he spoke. Nineteen years before that time he attended one of the first bee-keepers' con- ventions, held in Cleveland. Father C,Juin- by was present, Prof. Cook, myself, and quite a good number of others. R. C. Otis was there with an American hive. Friend Ilosmer, of Minnesota, was also present, and told his wonderful stories, and banter- ed the convention to " put up money,'' if they dared, against what he could do during the ensuing season*. There was a good deal of excitement, and the friend in ques- tion went home crazy on bee culture. He had followed it more or less during the whole nineteen years. But his golden dreams had not been realized. He was rather embittered toward editors and oth- ers who urged people to go into bee culture with the hope of getting rich. He also had some pretty keen and scathing remarks that seemed to be directed toward supply- deal- ere ; but perhaps he did not intend it so. There is much truth in the point he brought out, and our worthy president, friend Boardman, in his address, summed up at length a good many facts in the same line. A good many of us have been disappointed in bee-keeping. During these nineteen years, real facts have seemed to indicate that one must work for his money, and take his share of disaster and loss in apiculture as well as in all other industries. Before the convention closed, however, this friend came to me. During the convention I had replied briefly to his charges, and perhaps he felt a little more friendly toward us all ; but notwithstanding, he was not quite ready to give up his position. During our discus- sions, one friend mentioned the delicious aroma, or perfume, from sweet clover where it grows to perfection along the roadsides. Others spoke of the perfume from the white and the red clovers, alfalfa, apple-blossoms, etc. Well, this friend came to me dviring the recess, and said : " Friend Root, there is one perfume that none of you mentioned ; and it surpasses that from any honey-plant that ever grew. It is the perfume of a one-dollar bill."' To prove this he pulled one from his pocket. It was a crisp new one ; and as he waved it in his hand it rattled suggest- ively. Now, I am not certain whether he said that the said perfume was dearer to me, or whether he simply included all bee-men. But I think, that perhaps my face com- menced to color just a little. But when he added, that, notwithstanding the faults and failings of Gleanings, he wished me to take the dollar to keep it going, I was ready to take him cordially by the hand and enjoy his joke, so characteristic of what he had been saying. Now, then, what do you think of the proposition of the street-car conduct- * I Df^ed hardly say, nobody ever heard from Hos- mer afterward &a a bee-keeper. His apiary became run down and neglected. or and the one of the bee-keeper V Just as I was shaking hands, and taking leave of the friends in Salt Lake City, a flne-looking young fellow who had been with us that evening said to me, "' Bro. Root, that street- car conductor hit my case exactly. The greatest trouble I have in this world is a lack of money. I have never had enough of it yet, and I can not get away from the idea that money is of more importance than any thing else that this world has to offer. I know what you think about these things, but I thought I should like to tell you just where my temptation lies, and where my trials and difliculties center." The above may not have been exactly his words, but they express the sentiment as nearly as I can remember it. It was time for my train to start, if I remember correct- ly, so I did not have time to say very much with him about it. But I have often thought of it. My heart goes out in sympa- thy and love toward him. He was a nice- looking boy— young, bright, handsome, and good-natured looking ; but there seemed to be a vein of sadness over his otherwise fair exterior, and I presume he said truthfully, when he told me where his trouble lay. May Christ Jesus be with him, be near him, and teach him that there are better things — oh ! far, far better things — in this world than the " chink of gold in your own pocket," and that there are more beautiful perfumes to be found than those that come from the sight and rattle of crisp new dollar bills. Some of you may say that I do not know about these things. I am afraid that some of you think that dollar bills are so plenti- ful around me that I do not know what it is to be hard pressed for even one single dol- lar. Yes, I do know, dear friends. I have often been censured, and am still, for my economy. All of you know, where I have been among you, that I am by no means wasteful. I do not know but that some of my good friends who are well to do in this world are often a little pained to see me dressed so plainly. But I would far rather it would be so, than that any should be troubled because I dress so much better than they do. May God help me to remember those who are struggling with poverty and a scarcity of money. Perhaps some of you may wonder what connection our text has with the subject in question. The connec- tion is this, dear friends : The Savior of the world, who had all things at his command, when he came among us to live a human life refused and at once rejected the idea of performing a miracle that he might supply himself with needful food. He gave bread to five thousand when they were destitute, and produced the food by a miracle ; but during the whole record of his public life, full of miracles daily and perhaps hourly, no one is recorded where it was performed for self. He took his chances with the rest of hu- manity. Yes, more than that, he took his chances with that little band of followers. When they were hungry, thirsty, and fa- tigued, he was hungry, thirsty, and fatigued also. No one of them could ever say that he, because he was God, had food or drink or rest when they did not. In his anxiety 180 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. to do the will of the Father he often went hungry and weary. He went away into the wilderness to get seclusion and rest from his hard physical labor. But even there they followed him. He did not get impa- tient, nor did he turn them away. When weary in mind and body he still ministered imto them, and performed miracles when we know that it taxed his strength sorely, for he has told us so. Jesus was self-sacri- ficing. When we crave money in the way I have indicated, it is mostly a selfish crav- ing. I do not suppose that the street-car <;onductor had in mind at all— in fact, I doubt if he ever dreamed of such a thing as using this gold that chinked in his pocket, for the relief of his fellow-men. I judged from his looks that a great part of it would go toward giving indulgence to a sensual, selfish, and wicked appetite. Oh what a difference ! The thoughts of one were all selfish : the other, no self at all. Jesus pos- sessed the whole earth, in one sense, and in another he had absolutely nothing. We do not know that he ever had a cent of money that he could call his own. The possessions of the little band were carried in a bag by Judas. While Jesus had at his command legions of angels, he passed through the world helpless and alone. His little band of followers were, of course, ready to do his bidding ; but even they, when his enemies came, fled in dismay. Another point : Does the one who feels that money is the supreme thing to labor for in this world succeed in getting the satis- faction he expects? I am pretty sure that, as a rule, he does not. Does he succeed in getting riches? Again I am sure he is, usu- ally speaking, disappointed. That street- car conductor did not have much gold in his pocket to jingle ; and from what experience I have had in business, I think it doubtful whether he eK^er does have. He will be dis- appointed in the enjoyment he expects, and he will be disappointed in getting money ; and I hardly need intimate that he will ut- terly fail in getting that peace and happi- ness that money can not buy. The man who is constantly greedy for something to put into his own pocket, seldom becomes rich ; and still more rarely does he succeed in be- coming a valuable business man. Now, friends, I need not tell you there is a large class of people in our land who seem to be embittered against those who have money. There has been a great conflict be- tween labor and capital. I hope and trust and pray that a better spirit is coming. Like the false statements in regard to the adul- teration of honey, I feel certain that there ■have been false statements and false charges against the capitalists. A certain class of farmers have been hard and uncharitable toward the men who handle their grain and pay them for it. I agree, that there has been great wrong. The gamblers in grain, I regard as the worst kind of gamblers in the world. I do not believe in a lordly aris- tocracy, as you well know ; and yet I feel sure that many of us have been complaining •of evil where none existed. Nearly all the Sapers seem to be bitter against trusts, 'hey speak of the men who have them in charge as only a sort of legal highway rob- bers. This may be true in some cases, but I am surf that it is not in others. Last sea- son I watched and read a good deal on what has been called the *•* twine trust." Now, I feel pretty certain that no such thing exist- ed. Perhaps the men who had twine, who had been sharp enough to purchase largely, did contrive to make extraordinary profits. This happens in all kinds of business. But I do not believe there was a concerted ac- tion among the twine-sellers. Even sup- posing the price of certain kinds of articles does run up high ; isn't there a good side as well as a bad side to it? I do not know who raises the raw material for the twine, and I do not know much about the people who manufacture it into twine ; but this sudden demand and high price must certainly have benefited the producers. Just look here a minute at something closer still to our homes. A few days ago I found the boys had raised the price of onions from 20 cents to 40 cents a peck ; and by way of explana- tion they said that onions had" gone "away up." I looked at the quotations, and, sure enough, they were S?>.50 a barrel. Said I : " Why, what should make them run away up at this time of the year?" "Oh! they say," said Mr. Weed, "that they have started a trust, or corner, on on- ions ; that somebody is buying up all they can find at big prices, so as to get a corner on the market and make a big thing out of it." Just think of it ! Poor people are obliged to pay this awful price for onions, just be- cause some wealthy speculator has bought them all up and won't let the people have any unless they come to his terms. If they are going to make a corner on onions, and charge such extortionate prices, what won't they get hold of next? That is one side. Now let us look at the other. In another part of our town a neighbor raises garden-stuff as we do. One year ago he put 150 bushels of onions on his manure- heap, because no one would give him a cent for them. A few days ago he came and bought a lot of garden-seeds, looking quite happy and enthusiastic about gardening. He had sold all his onions at a big price, and had received money enough for them so he could buy his seeds and go on with his chosen industry, full of faith and thanks- giving. As he is a Christian man it was thanksgiving to God. But, dear friends, ought he not to be thankful for this trust (if there was one) that gave him such a lift in his business? Why, to be sure he should. Whenever any thing becomes scarce, so that the product is bought up at good prices, why, it helps people. And this state of affairs is going on every day. Our farm- ing friends lament terribly when wheat goes down to 70 cents a bushel. They say that farming does not pay, and that the farmer is the slave of everybody else ; and some of them say that all the world is holding the farmer's nose on the grindstone ; and when he gets mad, and says he won't stand it, the great world just laughs and feels tickled about it. Suppose, however, it is butter that we are talking about, and that, instead 1S90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 181 of going down, it goes up. Then the towns- people who are obliged to buy their butter and milk talk about the greediness of farm- ers, and of their want of conscience and scruple, and that thej- would just as soon '' see a body starve '' as not. Now. these speeches are all uncharitable — they are all wrong. They are not Christlike. They are not neighborly. And, oh how far, how very far, they are from the disposition shown in our little text ! The Savior, who had been forty days without food, and was suffering from hunger, turned away from Satan and his suggestion at once. " Get thee hence,'" he said, a little afterward. " I am in the hands of the great Father. He has provid- ed thus far, and I am going to wait on him now. If it is his will that I should bear hunger still longer, his will, not mine, be done. For this cause came I into the world, to suffer and to bear the burdens of human- ity, whom I love.'" Yesterday a friend wrote us, saying he had asked us repeatedly for a price list. The last time, he ordered a sample of our sections, and asked again for a price list. The sample of sections came promi)tly. but no price list. He thought the clerks were careless, and had neglected to send one. Tliey did send it, however, in the same mail the section went in ; but as he did not get it, he got provoked and sent his order to friend Falconer. I wrote back to him, saying that we were very sorry to lose his order on ac- count of the price list ; but inasmuch as what was our loss was friend F.'s gain, I did not feel so very bad about it after all ; and just as it occurred to me to put it in this way I felt happv about it. It is true, we lost quite a number of dollars— may be twenty or thirty crisp new dollar bills ; but I wish to say to the friend who talked about the perfume of the dollar bills, that I en- joyed the " perfume '" of the thought that friend Falconer had the order, even if we didn't, more than that of many crisp dollar bills. And this reminds me "that our boys have, during the few past months (almost without my knowing about it), been estab- lishing friendly relations with supply-deal- ers all over the land, to a greater extent than has ever been done before. We have not had any sleighing here, and. in fact, we have had nothing but deep mud for several months, and therefore no basswood has been brought in. When they discovered that the supply of sections was going to run short, they wrote to nearly all the supply-dealers in the United States. In comparing notes we found that many of them were in much the same situation as we are. The boys suggested, therefore, that we agree on uni- form prices, and not injure each other by cutting them down to a price that would not pay the cost of production, especially while the supply was going to be limited. Some rather objected to any agreement in regard to prices. Sooner or later, however, I believe all agreed. And now comes the pleasant part to me. If somebody in York State wants sections, he does not want to pay freight all the way from Medina. We hope to arrange with some one there to fill the order ; the same way with friend Jen- kins, in the South, with Xysewander in Iowa, and with some friend in Wisconsin. How about the quality of all these makes? Well, friends, we have bad samples from al- most all of them. Xot only single samples, but samples of thousands. And it is pleasant to notice that each one seems to be doing a little better than he ever did before. In fact, we at the Home of the Honey-bees will be in dan- ger of getting behind if we do not look out. Now, we want to do good work, friends— as good as anybody else does ; but I am sure I tell the truth when I say that it does not make me feel bad one bit to have the bee- friends say they get their sui)plies from some other supply-dealer. The thought to me that there is now no rivalry or jealousy among us is worth a thousand times more than the rustle of dollar bills. Do you ask if I do not believe in the old adage, that competition is the life of business? Yes, I do believe it. But I want to see the com- petition a kind and friendly one. I want to see on both sides the spirit of " in honor preferring one another," instead of the old- fashioned way of saying, " / make the best sections in the world, and at prices lower than any other live man dare mention.'" I do not know whether any supply-dealer ad- vertises like that nowadays or not. 1 trust not. Dear friends, the world is wide enough. There is plenty to do, and plenty of money for us if we are faithful and honest and true. Let us advertise our sections with all onr might by giving every customer nice work at reasonable prices, by promptness and fairness in dealing. Instead of wasting our money in spread-eagle advertisements, such as I "have given above, get up early and work late. Watch carefully, answer every letter promptly. Do not overlook a single request. Answer courteously and good- naturedly even questions that seem to be unnecessary. Above al],do?iOf be greedy. If the spirit gets possession of your heart, of wanting to rise above your neighbors or competitors, put it away. Say, " Get thee hence, Satan." Do not envy the rich. Do not, I pray you, fall into the terrible fault of worshiping money. It is pleasant to have money in the pocket; but the pleasantest use I have ever made of money was to pay debts with it. I love to have some in my pocket, to buy things of farmers. In fact, I enjoy this so much that I am afraid I sometimes pay more than I ought to. The boys say that I encourage farmers in run- ning after me, because I always give them more than their things are worth. Well, I am sure that this is a better way than not paying them enough. Shall we become im- poverished by so doing? Surely not— that is, within the bounds of reason. No man becomes poor by being fair and honest. Much has been said of the value of a good name ; but, dear friends. I am sure that the half has never been told. The aroma, or "perfume,'' or the "music "'in one's ear (express it as you choose) of feeling that he has won the confidence of his fellow-men, and established a good name, is worth to me, oh ! ever so much more than the sound of the chink of gold or the rustle of paper bills. A few days ago a lady who is a book 182 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. agent came to our place of business, and, not finding me, she went over to the house to see my wife. My friends told her that I would not buy the book ; but she declared that she was going to get me to look at it and give it a recommendation. She said she could sell a great many copies if she could just get A. I. Root's name attached to a recommendation of the book. Now, friends, why should my name help sell the book? I think she said she had the names of the ministers, but several people would not in- vest unless I also would recommend it. Now, please do not think I am boasting. I am only pointing a moral. The reason why my opinion was wanted and valued was be- cause I positively refuse to recommend things in that way.* There are only a few books and papers that we recommend in Gleanings. Why? Because I know how much you value my opinion ; and I feel as if it were almost a sacred matter to tell you what to buy. This good brother who spoke about the perfume of the dollar bill said to me, " Mr. Root, you can not sell me any of your T supers or perforated zinc or bee-es- capes, nor any of that sort of traps. There has been too much of this sort of business of advising us to buy this thing and that thing ; and as soon as we have put in all our hard earnings, then we are told to throw away these traps we have just bought, and buy the next thing, which is a good deal better.'' There is a moral here. While I think he put it too strongly, I am sure that we who publish journals should be careful. It is a serious matter to lumber our homes and our apiaries with things that may, after a little time, be discarded as useless for the pur- pose for which they were recommended. Let us strive to help our patrons and our neighbors, and not disgust them with some- thing that was devised thoughtlessly or with too much haste. Our boys here are perhaps somewhat like other boys, fond of new things, and many times enthusiastic over something that has just made its appear- ance. I am trying, however, to induce them to go slow, and to be careful in what they recommend ; and they agree with me in the spirit of the matter, for they too are striving to follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, who pleased not himself. And please remember the thought that comes so closely in line with that expressed in our text, when he was suffering his death-ago- nies on the cross; for at this time he was only a poor weak human being like our- selves—weak so far as physical suffering is concerned, for he suffered just as would you and I under such circumstances ; and then those bitter wicked men, with their hearts full of hatred, said to him. between his groans of anguish, " Others he saved ; him- self he can not save.'' And, dear friends, in one sense it was true. He could not save tiimself and come down from the cross, as they challenged him to do, and be consistent with the life of self-sacrifice he started out *Book-afrent8 often urge people to pay several •dollars for a book when the money ought to be used for debts long unpaid, for the very clothes they nvear. to live, and finished so completely by his death on the cross. He died for others ; and, dear friends, if you wish to get a glimpse of that happiness and peace, that enjoyment, that rapture, that is beyond the perfume of flowers, the charms of music, or any thing else that this world of ours can furnish, take up your cross and live for oth- ers, even as he did. Love money, if you choose ; work hard to get it ; but when it is yours, and in your pocket, instead of using it for the gratification of selfish appetites, learn to use it right, oh I beg of you, and beseech you ! for the good of others. Make others happy, and you will find joy upon earth, and, when life is finished, heaven be- yond. Gleamikcs in Bee Cdltdre. Published Semi- Monthly. to* <0« -S-. I. TIOOT, EDITOH AND PUBLISHEK, I«/EEIDI3iTJ»^, OHIO. TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. i—*-^ For Olnls'blng Bates, See First Fage of Seadisg Matter. 2s/L:ElTDXl^, n^vdZ^fl-I^- 1, 18SO. Lay not u|i for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and lUst doth corrupt, and where thieves break througli and steal.— Matt. 6:19. MORE NAMES. Since our last issue we have received the follow- ing additional names of those whose faces appear in the picture of the Brantford Convention: 15. Isaac Lundy; 47. Mr. Ballaeliiry; 73. B. Jackson. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. This journal for 1890 celebrates the new year in a new style of cover and make-up. One special fea- ture, and one that will be appreciated by its read- ers, is the department of Short Items, conducted by E. L. Pratt, M. A. Kelley, Dr. Tinker, and others. We congratulate friend Alley on the improvements. "nothing patented." In the last issue of the Canadian Bee Journal we find the following from "Observer:" I read all the advertisements in the .iournals, and I have noticed that the words " nothing patented" are left out of the last ones inserted by our friend A. I. Root. Is this to be taken as evidence that A. I. is receding from the strong position he has al- ways taken regarding patents? No, dear friends, A. I. Koot has not receded a single inch. In view, however, of the fact that some of the bee-friends have felt a little hurt be- cause of my words, " nothing patented," I decided to leave it off, on the principle that. " if meat mak- eth my brother to offend, I will eat no meat," etc. We have no patent on any thing we manufacture, and probably never shall have. We are doing well enough as it is. TWO BEE-PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATED. The Britiiih Be« Journal, a weekly, and the Bee- Keepers' Record, a monthly, celebrate the new year by consolidating with each other. The former is jjublished as a 16-page weekly, the size of the pages 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 183 being about the same as those of Gleanings. It is printed on better paper than formerly, and alto- gether the change is an improvement. The Bee- Keepers' Record is a 16-page monthly, with a tinted cover. Both journals are edited by Thomas Wil- liam Cowan and W. Broughton Carr. The former has more direct supervision of the weekly, and the latter of the monthly. The price of the Bee-Keep- ers' Record is 2 pence, and of the British Bee Journal one penny each, or respectively 60 cents and $1.00 per annum. A NEW DEPARTURE IN THE CANADIAN BEE JOUR- NAL. The publishers of this periodical, on and after March 1, propose to divide the Cayiadian Bee Journal and Poultry Weekly into two separate publications; namely, the Ca^iadian Bee Journal, and the Canadi- an Poultry Journal. The former will be issued on the Ist and 15th of each month, and the latter in the intervening weeks— on the 8th and 23d. The prices of the separate publications will be 76 cts. each per annum. This change is made to accommodate those who desire a distinctive bee-journal and a distinctive poultry-journal, and both will be pub- lished semi-monthly. On the whole, we think the change will be a good one, and we wish our Canadi- an brethren all manner of success. THICK TOP-BARS. We have received such a lot of correspondence on the value of thick top-bars as a preventive of brace-combs that we are unable to make use of all of it. In fact, there are some very valuable com- munications on the subject that we shall be obliged to reject. We deem it best that the discussion come to an end for the present. Perhaps we should say, that, among the very large number of testimo- nials we have received a majority of them unpub- lished for want of space— there has been scarcely one but that goes to prove most conclusively that thick top-bars are going to do away with many if not all of the troubles of brace-combs. We have had reports of top-bars only 'li inch square, but they accomplished the result only imperfectly. But where the top-bars have been fully 'a thick, 1 inch wide, and spaced about /„ apart, there have been no brace-combs. INGKRSOLL AND TOBACCO. I AM exceedingly surprised to notice by the New York World of Feb. 21, that Col. IngersoU defends tobacco, and even delivered an address at the close of the Cigar Manufacturers' Convention at Del- monico's. In his address he used these words: I use tobacco now, and defend its use against the moral advice of parsons and the physical advice of medical men. We can readily understand how he may excuse himself on the ground that he differs in opinion with the clergy; but we can not understand how he can offer any excuse for rejecting or defying the almost unanimous decision of the medical fraterni- ty. No better evidence of the low moral tone of the whole tobacco business can be produced, than that it employs IngersoU to defend it. To a care- ful observer, however, his whole speech on the above occasion was one of the finest pieces of irony and sarcasm ever read. MBS. COTTON'S CIRCULAR FOR 1890. This is quite an improvement over any circular and price list that has been sent out by Mrs. Cotton in any former year. There are no criticisms of the bee-journals or writers on bee culture. In fact, she does not find fault with anybody, so far as I can see. The things she offers for sale are, however, away above the prices usually charged for bees, hives, feeders, instruction-books, etc. She still of- fers drawings and illustrations for making her hive, for $4.00. She insists on feeding largely whenever the bees are not gathering honey, in order to in- duce them to put all the honey they gather into surplus boxes as far as possible; and there is no caution, that I can see, against feeding bees sugar, and calling it honey. She also says the feed used in her system costs only about 4 cents a pound. This, of course, is possible, where half or more of the feed is water. Equal quantities by weight of water and sugar does make a very good feed for stimulative feeding; yet it is hardly fair to say that the feed costs only 4 cents a pound, and that the honey brings four times that, or more. She says, in plain print, " If you do not receive just what you order, write me; for I warrant everything to reach the purchaser, and to be just as represented in this circular." This is promising a good deal, and I be- lieve Mrs. Cotton holds lo it much better than she did some years ago. I have taken this amount of space to notice Mrs. Cotton's circular, because a number of inquiries are sent in every year asking my opinion in regard to her "system" of bee cul- ture. FALSE STATEMENTS IN REGARD TO THE ADULTERA- TION OF CONFECTIONERY. It seems that it is not only in the honey business, but in the confectionery business as well, that sen- sational stories of a damaging character have been copied in regard to the fraud and corruption of the present century. All men are not cheats and liars; and it strikes me that the ones who maintain that they are, are the very chaps, and almost the only ones, who need putting in jail. The following was written by the editor of the New York Confectioner to the Scientific American: In the editorial notes in your issue of January 18 you refer to the use of terra alba in confectionery, and state that the Board of Trade Journal of Portland, Me., is authority for the assertion that 6000 tons of terra alba were recently imported througli this port for use in confectionery. I have before me the letter of the editor of that publication, in which he affirms that he had no authority for the statement, but that the ar- ticle was clipped from some other publication, and the credit left oft in the make-up by mistake. 1 have been unable to trace the statement about the terra alba to any reliable source, or to hud any truth in it. The other statement in your note, about the lozenges ship- ped to Sc. Louis over the South Snore Railroad, emanated from the National Druggist, and I have before me the letter of the editor of that ptiblication saying that the affair occur- red live or six years ago, before the National Confectioners' Association was organized. Believing the Scientific American to be a fair and honora- ble publication, that would not willingly do injur.v to an hon- orable calling. I write so that you may make such reparation as would be proper, to counteract the harm done by the pub- lication in your widely circulated journal; tor the cii'culation of such reports is an injury to the trade. There is no terra alba used now by any reputable manufac- turer of confectionery. The National Confectioners' Asso- ciation " offers a reward of one hundred dollars for evidence that will enable it to convict any person of adulterating con- fectionery with poisonous or injurious substances, the asso- ciation assuming the cost and responsibility of prosecuting the offender." The publisher of the New York Confectioner pledges himself to pay over an additional 8100 to the person who furnishes him with the evidence that will enable the Na- tional Association to effect a conviction, and several large manufacturers each offer $100 upon the same terms as the Confectioner. Hakry J. Shkllman. New York, Jan. 17, 1890. To the above, the editor of the Scientifi^^ Ame7-ican replies as follows: The above assurances that the adulteration of confection- ery with terra alba has practically ceased are very gratify- ing, and we have nnich pleasure in placing them before our readers. I confess that the above was a little surprise to me. I have for so many years heard that candy is general- ly adulterated with terra alba that I had come to sup- 184 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak. pose it was a fact; and I hereby humbly beg pardon of our friends who make our candies. lam very glad indeed to know that it was o«iy a newspaper slander. "HANL.L1NG BEES." This is the title of a little pamphlet by L. L. Langstroih, revised by Dadant. In short, it is a chapter taken from Langstroth on the Hoaey-bee. The price charged is only 8 cts. It i- a very good sample of the many good things from that standard work, published by Dadant & Son, Hamilton, 111. THE REPORT OF THE OHIO CONVENTION. This will appear in our next issue. Perhaps we might remark right here, that this was one of the best conventions Ohio ever had. During some of the sessions there were from eighty to ninety bee- keepers present. Dr. Mason said it compared very favorably in numbers and enthusiasm with the In- ternational held at Lansing. THE BOHEMIAN-OAT BUSINESS REVIVED. Different individuals from Oneida Co., N. Y., write us that the Bohemian-oat business has re- vived in that locality; and not only are many going into it. but even good men strenuously insist that it is an honest and legitimate business, to buy and sell oats at ;f 1.5.00 a bushel that can be bought of seedsmen for less than a dollar a bushel. As York State is one of the most progressive States in the CInion, and Oneida County (at least we supposed so) one of the most progressive counties, we are at a loss to understand how this can be. In our own State of Ohio, so many men were ruined, both spir- itually and financially, by this scheme of Satan, that our State passed a law for the protection of those who gave notes under the influence of these smooth-tongued agents. Their plan is to get hold of somebody who has had bad luck, and tell him that farming does not pay, in the regular honest fashion. They tell him that the only way to get rich is by getting the start of others by sharp prac- tices. Then they make It so plain that he can not possibly lose, under any circumstances, that the poor victim borrows money, may be by mortgaging his farm. Sometimes they have cheek enough to keep the thing going for a whole year— perhaps longer. But finally the men who have no real es- tate, no family connections (nor principle), " light out " and leave their comrades with debts and mortgages hanging over them, to take the conse- quences as best they can. gPECI^Ii ]S[0¥ICEg. "WANTED — SEED OF THE FIGWORT OR SIMPSON HONEY-PLANT. Can anybody furnish us seed of the figwort or Simpson honey-plant? If so, please send sample, and say what you want for it. PRICE OF .JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. We are selling the new Japanese buckwheat, till further notice, as follows: Trial packet, 4 ounces, by mail, postpaid, .")C.; one pound, by mail, postpaid, 15c.; one peck, 3.')C. ; '/i bushel, 60c.; bushel, $1.00. These prices include bag to ship It in. Ten or more bushels, purchaser paying tor bags, 75c. WHITE DUTCH CLOVER SEED REDUCED. We have secured over :.'0 bushels of very choice white-clover seed, at a price which makes it pos- sible for us to sell it at % of the old price. The seed comes from Wisconsin, where the honey-flow is so abundant almost every year. Price of the seed will be as follows: By freight or express, with other goods, IKc. perlb.; fS.OU per peck; $3.90 per half-bushel; $7.5(i per bushel, bag included. One pound, by mail, '^'7 cents. Present price of al*ike, the next in value as a honey-producer, is 25o. per lb , postpaid. By ex- press or freight. I'lc. per lb.; .$1.90 per peck; $3.60 per half-bushel; $7.''0 per bushel. OUR NEW SEED CATALOGUE. Our edition of this for the spring of 1890 is just out. It is not a very nice catalogue compared with many others, and it is so small there was not even room for pictures of the new vegetables; neither are the seeds which we otter hitter, probably, than those offered by many other seedsmen. It does, however, give the names of just a few of each variety, such as we have been best pleased with. Our seeds are probably as good as any, and our prices are quite low. We should be very glad to send it to any one who is interested. KUMERLE LIMA BEANS. Nobody seems to have succeeded in getting even a few for seed, during the unfavorable season of last summer, except ourselves, and we have now but little more than a pint. You remember we gave for the seed last year their weight in gold, or a little over .50 cts. a bean. Well, so many have been wanting one or two beans, just to try, that I find myself obliged to put some sort of price on them. If anybody cares to pay ;.*5 cts. a bean for the few I have, they can have them. But I hope there will not be many who want them at that price. It is not settled yet that they will mature in this climate. Hadn't you better wait, friends, until we give them a good test during the coming season? COMB FOUNDATION AND BEESWAX ADVANCED. We are compelled again to advance the price of comb foundation, because of the advance in bees- wax. This has been slowly increasing in price for two years past, with slight fluctuations. We have to pay now, oti an average. 4 to 5c. per lb. more for wax than we iiid two years ago. We dislike to raise prices, and hti ve been holding off, working on small- er .margins, hoping wax would go no higher; but ic [impossible longer to sustain catalogue prices. We will pay for average wax, delivered here, 3-lc. cash, 27 in trade, and the same will be sold at 30c. per lb. for average, and 35 for selected yellow. Price of all grades of comb foundation is advanced 5c. per pound, and the revised table is as follows, taking effect to-day : [Heavy Light Packed in neat boxes, with tis- brood brood sue paper between every i to 6 about? two sheets. i ft to lb ft to lb 1 to 10 lbs. per lb. 10 47 Thin surplV about 10 ft lb Extra thin about 12 ft lb CONVENTION NOTICES. The spring meeting of the Missouri State Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation will be held at Marshall, Saline Co., Mo., on Wednesday and Thursday, April 16 and 17, 1830. in the county cou it-room. Reduced rates at hotel, for bee-keepers, have been secnred. A cordial invitation is extended to bee-keepers everywhere to attend, and especially those of Missouri. Essays from promi- nent men are expected. J. W. Rouse, Sec'y. Santa Fe, Mo. The annual meeting of the Kent and Essex Bee-keepers' As- soci.ation will be held on Tuesday, March i:i. 1890. in Templars' Hall, Essex Centi r. Ont. U. C. Scott, Sec'y. Chiitham, Ont. PRICE LISTS RECEIVED. Since our last issue we have received price lists of queens, bees, and apiarian supplies in general, from the following par- ties, who will be glad to furnish them to applicants. Those marked with a star (*) also deal in tine poultry. H. fi. Frame, North Manchester, Ind. R. E. Smith, Tilbury Center, Ontario. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 185 jpeBj^cc© C0ii«W. •CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH VTK GIVE SMOKERS TO PERSONS WHO STOP USING TOBACCO. First, the candidate must be one of those who have given up tobacco in consequence of what he has seen and read in this department. Second, he promises to pay for the smoker should he ever resume the use of tobacco in any form, after receiving the smoker. Third, he must be a subscriber to •Gleanings. Any subscriber may. however, have smokers sent to neighbors or personal acquaintances whom he has 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- Dacco again, he (the subscriber) will pay for the smoker. The one who receives the smoker in tliis case need not be a sub- scriber to Gleanings, though we greatly prefer 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. Episcopacy, was sitting one afternoon this week at the Sturtevant House, when a newspaper man ad- dressed him: *' You are being mentioned as a future bishop, Doctor." " Bless your soul, young man, I'm ineligible." " Ineligible, Doctor?" " Yes. You see, I use tobacco. I both smoke and cliow. I would rather smoke than be a bishop." "Does smoking make jou ineligible?" " Well, the Conference is not going to elect any one who uses tobacco; and between the two, I lean to the cigar." May God continue to bless the General Conference in tlie future as he has in years past ; and may they never let up on tobacco, no matter whom it throws out. TOBACCO AGAIN, BUT PAVS FOR THE SMOKER. Three years ago I promised to lete Te.rt- liooh on the Siihject i>i the JEtuflish Ziungnage. Bee-veils of Imported Material, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. Send your address on a postal to 4tfdb HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO., ILLINOIS. t^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Chas. Dadant & Son, BEE KEEPERS Coming to Washington, D. C, will find pleasant rooms and board (by day or week) at special rates. Satisfaction guaranteed. Central location. 1301 K. St., N.W. 3tfdb F. Danzenbakeb. tyin responding to this advertisement mention Olkanino* SECTIONS and SUPPLIES CH£AP£RfiTHAN EVER. STRICTLY WHITE BASSWOOD V-GROOVE SEC- TIONS, SMOKERS, HONEY-CASES, BERRY-BOXES. AND A HOST OF OTHER GOODS. Send for free price list and catalogue. Address Gr. :^. tSc S. GO., Box 323. Goslieu, Elkliart Co., Ind. iSS'la responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. MUST SELL! 50 Colonies Italian Bees at $5.00 each, f. o. b., in 8-franie L. hives, telescope caps. Most of the combs built on fdn. in wired frames. These bees were very heavy in stores in the fall. Reasons: Can keep only about 35 colonies here in the city, and my business will not allow starting ont-apiaries. Ship in April or May. W^. E. YODER, 4tfdb Lewisburgh, Union Co., Pa. t^"ln respond insT to this advertisement mention Gleanings. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT AT $1.20 PER BUSHEIi. Eggs from pure-bred Partridge Co- chins, and S.C. Brown Leghorns. Strawberry-plants. 4-5d C. B. Jackson, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., Wis. SEESS. Don't buy yonr seeds or plants till you see my free 1890 catalog. I offer something wonder- ful. Send for it. F. B. MILLS, Thorn Hill, N. Y.f lira All TDCCC wholesale and Retail. rC.nijn InCbd send for prices. ■ *•»•*•■■ 4-5d E. S. JOHNSTON, StooWejr, Delaware. SECTIONS! SECTrONSlSECTTONS! On and after Feb. 1, ISiiO, we will sell our No. 1 V- groove sections, in lots of 500, as follows: Less than 2000, f3.50 per 1000; 2000 to 5000, $3.00 per 1000. Write for special prices on larger quantities. No. 3 sec- tions at $3.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives, foundation, cases, etc. J. STAUFFER & SONS, 16 tfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind. !. "Ill responding' to this advertisement mention GLKANING3. PATENT WIRED COMB FOUNDATION HAS NO SAG IN BROOD-FRAMFS. THIN FLAT . BOTTOM FOUNDATION Has No Flsli-bone in Snrplutii Honey. Being the cleanest is usually worked the quickest of any Foundation made. J. VAN DFUSFN & SONS, Sole Manufacturers, Sprout Brook, Montgomery Co., N. Y. Syin respondimr to this advertisement mention (ii.KANiNiis. $6.00 Will Buy in 1890, One of our Sest Hives of Italian Bees with Tested Queen, or 5 for $'J.'>.00. In Simplicity or L. 10-frame hives; 350 colonies to 4-9db draw from. Address Jno. a. Thornton, Liua, Adaus Co., Illinois. O^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. $l.50 REVERSIBLE 8-FRAiVIE LANGSTROTH HIVE. J. B. WIZCOX, - - MANISTEE, MICH. tyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. GOOD QUALITIES BEAUTIFUL BEES f»l .S'lr/ly?.""- are always profitable. If you want Bees and (Queens that combine beau- ty and good qualities to a marked dcorei\ write for circular giving low prices. No circulars sent out unless applied for. OHAS. D. BUVAIili, Spencerville, ITIont. Co., HHA. t3^In respondiner to tliis advertisement mention GLEANINGS. BEES AND HONEY The Dovetailed Stronffe^t, ISent aiu^. Cheapest BEE-II I VK f"r all purpo;. yb.niy to the Lariteat Bee-lllve Fac- tory In the World for sample copv ..f <;Ieaiiln|EH in Bee Culture (a$l illu.<:. criited semi-monthly), and a 44 p. in\i<- trated catalo;?ue of Itee-Keepern' Supplies. Our A It C of Bee Cul- ture is a cyclopedia of 400 pp., 6x10, ami 300 cuts. Price in cloth, $1.'.!5. tj' -ifi'iilinn this paper. A . I. ROOT , Medina, O. 1890 GLii^ANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 191 Contents of this Number. Alfalfa 218 Bee Brethren— Poem 195 Bee-eseapes 197 Bees, The Best 203 Boanlnian's Picture 213 Brood-frames Top of Hive 208 Buckwheat Crossing 206 Capri ng Queens 20:! Carniolans Bad 2Ifi Colonies Outdoors 209 Convention. Ohio State 2iri Double Top-bars 204 Ennmeled Sheets 215 Extraetors, Multiframe 2ii0 Ex tractors, Reversible 2i7 Feedincf Outdoors 201 Fixed Frames 189. 199 Foundation. Fastening 200 Gill's Hives 20? Honey for Dyspeptics 202 Honey-eaters Wanted 197 Honey, Shipping 218 Honey, Retailing 208 Increase by Dividing 207 Increase, to Pievent 213 L:ini;struth Hi ve in Ger'y.. 211 Markctinu- Honey 202,218 Miller's Fdn Fastener 2fl0 Pine-tree Honey 210 Ouilts or Enameled Cloths. .214 Report of Clev. Conyention.216 Reversing 217 Slii ppiug Honey 218 Swaniiing. Automatic 215 Top-bars, Width of 209 Top-bars. Thick 208 Top-bars. Double 204 Top-bars and Burr-combs... 208 Thick Bars 203,20.') Wells on Hilltops 19fi Wiring 198 Wisconsin Bee-keepers 207 Keepers' R 50-eent nnonthly that gives the efeam of apieultural litenatufe; points out errovs and fallaeious ideas; and gives, eaeh n^onth, the vieuis of leading bee-keepefs upon sotne special topic. Thfee sannples {pee. Send fop thenn, and leafn hotu to get the baek numbers cheaply. W. Z. flUTCHlNSOfl, Flint, ^aieh. |t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. For Perfect Draft, Simplicity, and Durability, BINGHAM PATENT SMOKERS, AND BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON UNCAPPING - KNIVES ARE WITHOUT QUESTION THE BEST ON EARTH. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials. itfdb Bingham & Hetheeinoton, Abronia, Mich. IC^In respondingto this advertl.seiiient mention Gi.kaninos. SEEDS. Six pkts. of my choicost Flower Seeds. 10c." Beautiful catalog free. F. B. MILLS. Thorn Hill, N. Y. FOR Folding Paper Boxes send to ai-8db A. O. CRAWFORD, S. Weymouth, Mass. B ^1-^* SAVE FREIGHT. BUT YOVR SVfPLIES NEAH IIOIHH AND SA VE FREHiHT. We carry a complete stock of Apiarian Supplies. Our motto: Good g-oods and low prices. Illustrated catalogue for your name on a postal card. :J3-10db R. B. LEAHY & CO., Higginsville, Mo. t^ln respondinif to this advertisement nmiuuii c.i.KA.MXfis. The Canadiao Bee Journal and Poultry Weekly is the best paper extant devoted to these specialties. 24 pages, WEEKLY, at $1.00 per year. Live, prac- tical, interesting. Nothing stale in its columns. Specimen copies free. Subscribers paying in ad- vance are entitled to two insertions of a five-line adv*tt40 words) in the Exchange and Mart column. THE S. A. JOHES CO.. BEETOIT. OHTABIO. CAH. FOR SALE— 6 colonies hybrid bee.s in Root Dove- tailed hives at $4 00 per colony. Address 6-6d T. L. Thompson, Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa. Tlie S'W AE.M - III VER Sent by mail, and the American Apiculturist one year, $1.50. Circulars and aamplc copies free. Address AMERICAN APICULTURIST, 5tfdb Wenham, Mass. t^"ln responding to this advei-tisement mention GLEANlNoa. PURIITAIMBEES & QUEENS. Full colonies and nuclei, per frnme, 60c. Tested queens, f'^. 00; after June 1, $1.50. Untested queens, $100; after June 1, Toe. Remit b.v postoffice money order, registered letter, or draft du New York. For any other information, address C. AV. JONES & CO.. 4-9db Bryant Station, Maiiry Co., Tenn. t^li. respondin!-' to tliN .■Hlveiti>eiiient mention Gleanings. Special prices to dealers. Send for our FREE PRICE LIST. ITI. H. HUNT, Bell Branch, ITIich. Please mention Gleanings. Itfdb t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. "HANDLING BEES." Price 8 Cts. A chapter from "The Hive and Honey Bee, Re- vised," treating of taming and handling bees; just the thing for beginners. Circular, with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. 5tfdb CHAS. OADANT A: «ON, Hamilton, Hancocli Co., Illinois* t^In responding to this adveiti.-enieiit mention GLEANINGS. Kji ton's Improved Beks and t^)UEENs. Send for free catalogue. Address FRANK A. EATON, :^13db Bluffton, Ohio. poMtlinK tt) this advei'tisement mention o CD3»- Wire Netting and Comb Foundation. Wire netting advanced nearly 20 per cent over prices on opposite page. Comb foundation 5c per lb. higher. See particulars in Special Notice column. A. Z. ROOT, Medina, 01a.io. 192 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under tliis head at one-iialf our usual rates. All ad's intended for tills 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 live 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 our reg- ular rates of 20 cts. a line will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. WANTED.— To hear from parties having potatoes, onions, and apples to sell. Onions especially wanted. Coiisig'nments solicited. Always ready to buy. Good rolerence given. 6d Earle Clickengeb, Columbus, O. WANTED.— To exchange 1000 new bee-hives, all complete, for bees, or wul furnish hives, sec- tions, and foundatif)n, for share of the honey, to parties living in Maryland, Virginia, or West Vir- ginia. Write for particulars to F. Danzenbaker, 3tfdb 1301 K. St., N. W., Washington, D. C. ANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. W W WANTED.— To exchange 300 colonies of bees, in S. hives, for any thing useful on plantation. Itfdb Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange foundation, for beeswax. Sample on application. 5tfdb Avery's Island Apiary, Avery, La. WANTED —To exchange fdn. (worker size) for hives and other apiarian supplies. In the flat. 6d W. O. Victor, Wharton, Wharton Co., Tex. ANTED.— To exchange nursery stock for shot- gun or lawn-mower. Geo. Gould. 4-56d Villa Ridge. Pulaski Co , 111. WANTED — To exchange one Acme harrow, new, for Poland-China swine, either sex. or Shrop- shire ewes, or any thing I can use on the farm or in the apiary. Luther Purdy, Killbuck. O. ■5tfdb. WANTED. — To exchange empty Simp. L. combs at 10 cts. each, for wa.\ or otters. 5ifdb Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange Turner and Cuthbert raspberry-plants for pure Italian queens, eggs for hatching, etc. E. R. Miller, ■5-6-7d Garden City, Cass Co., Mo. WANTED —To exchange comb honey and Jap- anese buckwheat for extracted honey and comb foundation. F. Wilcox, ■5-6d Mauston, Juneau Co., Wis, WANTED.— To exchange for supplies, or part payment for Barnes saw, one Twombly knit- ting-machine, with coarse plate; nearly new. 5d J. M. Moore, Holden, Mo. WANTED —To exchange 1 Belle City feed-cutter, (cost ^65 00 new), in good condition, also one power saw-table for making bee-hives, for straw- berry-plants or peach-trees, Earle Clickenger, 6d Columbus. O^ WANTED.— To exchange one Green's solar wax- extractor, new, lor an incubator or Italian queens. G. C. Hughes. (Jtfdb Pipestem, West Va. WANTED.— To exchange bees and queenp, in season, for incubator, fowls, or eggs. 6d Albert L. Martin, Leonardsburg, O. WANTED.— To exchange Monumental H x 12 self- inking lever power printing-press and outfit, cost $300, for a 3 or 4 H. P. boiler and engine. 6d J. T. Fletcher, Clarion, Pa. WANTED —To exchange a24-lnch achromatic tele- scope (value f 10.00) for small foundation-mill, worker size. L. L. Esenhower. 6d Reading, Pa. WANTED.- Black and hybrid queens. Geo. H. Grace, Perry, Iowa. WANTED.— Help on farm, and to care for 18 colo- nies of bees. State wages wanted by year or eight months. G. J. Gray, Dell, Ore. 6 7d WANTED —To exchange choice fruit-trees for bens, queens, and supplies. 6d J. B Alexander & Co., Hartford City, Ind. W ANTED.— To exchange thin fdn. for honey. .5d C. W. Dayton. Bradtord, la. W ANTED.— Situation as apiarist; .5 years' experi- ence; single; gnod workman in wood. 6d Chas. L. Hill, Dennison, O. WANTED. — A person of experience in bee- keep- log to take charge of an apiary of fifty colo- nies of Ilaliausfor half the profits. Swarming be- gins the first of April; honey season ciotes the first of June. J.B.Mitchell. 6-7d Hawkinsville, Ga. WANTED.— To exchange plants of Cal. wild flow- ers and ferns, specimens of woods, and miner- als, for strawberry and raspberry plants, back num- bers of bee-literature, and suppli^s. W. C. Aiken, Lock Box 2U, at. Helena, Cal. 6d WANTED.— To exchange one thrasher and clean- er, two-horse power, for bees— Italian prefer- red—or offer. L. A. Foster. 6d Rockdale, Chenango Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange job printing, garden and I ifarm seeds, plants, eggs for hatchirg. and oth- er articles, for bee-supplies or offers. Fi ee lists. 6-8d H. A. Hubbard, New Lisbon, Ots. Co., N. Y. WANTED— To exchange a complete photograph- ic outfit for a complete new improved Barnes foot-power saw. F. Shilling, 6d Jewel t, Harrison Co., O. WANTED.— To exchange as good S. C. Brown Leg- horns as can be found in the I'^. S.. or eggs from same, for supplies of any kind; or bees and queens. Robt. C. Smith, Swissvale, Alle. Co., Pa. WANTED.— To exchange an accordion, white Hol- land turkeys, and Rose Comb American Domi- nique Cockerels, tor a double-barreled breech-load- ing shot-gun, 33 or 38 caliber revolver, repeating rifle, or offer. Wm. Elwick, Decorah, la. 6d WANTED.— To exchange a handsome male Scotch collie for Italian bees. Robert Wallace, ed TurKey, Mon. Co , N. J. I "WiilTT YOTJ To send for illustrated catalogue of Albinos and Italian Queens and Beps for 1890. Address A. L.. K.IL.UOU' & BKO., Sheffield, 111. MURDER/ MURDER/ MURDER/ Yes, all high prices in bee-supplies murdered at R. B. Smith's Bee-hive factory. Tilbury Center, where you can buy all kinds of bee-supplies at rock-bottom figures. 300 swarms of bees lor sale. Bees by the pound or nucleus; Queens. Comb Foun- dation, Honey -Extractors, Smokers, and vhe Excel- sior H've — 30 years in use. Sfnd for our 8th annual price ll-t, now out. K. E. SMITH, Box 72. Tilbury Center, Out., Can. tSTln responding to tlU.-i aaverii.--eiiieiit mention (Sl.EANlNiss. KBwOrieaiisflpB for 1890 Orders are now taken for early Italian and Carniolan guaranteed Queens. Send lor price list of Best and Cheapest Apiarian Supplies offered. Address J. W. WINDER, 6tfdb 572 Magazine St., N. O., La. ty In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. FOR SAIiE. -ITALIAN BEES & HVKK^S at a very low price. Address 6tfd OTTO KLEINOW, JVo. ISO Military A.ve., Detroit, Mich. FOR EARLY ITALIAN QUEENS SEE W. H. LAWS' advertisement. Mar. 1. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 193 poNEY OeiiajiN. CITT MARKETS. Chicago.— Honey.— Comb honey is selling well at 13@13 for best grades. Receipts are fair for the season; bnt as it will sell slowly after this month, all having any to market here should forward it now. Dark combs are slower sale at 9@ 10: extract- ed dull, but pri(ips are about the same— 1)@,8. Beeswax, 25(5)27, and small offerings. R. A. Bdknett, Mar. 8. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Albany.— flonej/.— The demand is all that could be expected at this season of the year, and prices remain unchanged. We quote: Clover, 12@14; mixed, 10®1:J: buckwheat, S@10; extracted, light, 7@8; dark, 6@". C. McColloch & Co., Mar. 10. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Kansas City.— Ho>iry.— The demand for honey is improving a little, but no improvement in prices. We quote white 1 lb. sections at ll@il:i; 2-lb., l(J@ll. Fall, Mb., 9@10; 3-1 b. 8@9. Extracted, while, 7: dark, £@,6. lieeswar. 23. Mar. 7. Clemons. Cloon & Co.. Cor. Fourth and Walnut Sts., Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis —Ho?M?y.— We quote comb, 13H@13; dark, 10@l0i4: extracted, briight color, 5J4@5M; dark, 4><{§j.5. Beeswax, 24. for prime. D. G. TuTT Grocer Co., Mar. 10. St. Louis, Mo. Cincinnati.— Ho7ici/.— Demand for extracted hon- ey is good, especially from manufacturers, at 5@8 on arrival. There is a fair demand for comb honey at 13@15 for best white, in the jobbing way. Beeswax. — Demand is good, at 30@25 for good to choice yellow, on arrival. Chas. F. MuTH & Son, Mar. 7. Cincinnati, O. Kansas City.— Hodfy. —Demand is very light. Fancy 1-lb. comb, 13; good white, 12; dark, 8@10; 3- Ib. comb, white. 1U@11; dark. 8c. Extracted, white, 6@7; dark, 5@,.5,'..— Beeswax, 22. Hamblin & Bearss, Feb. 26. Kansas City, Mo. New Fork. — Honey. — Strained and extracted, dark, in demand, and there is no stock of it; sup- plies are sold immediately on arrival. We quote same at 5>^@6.!i, or at 72 to 78c per gallon. Of comb honey we have only a few small lots of fair and mixed grades left, which are selling slowly. We could place several hundred crates of strictly fancy white, in cartons, at about 13@15— Bits i/ax, 25; de- mand good. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co., Feb. 21. New York. Boston.— Honey.— We quote: Fancy 1-lb. comb honey at 16c. Any thing off grade eells considera- bly below this amount : 2-lh. combs, l.'ic for the best quality. E.xtracted, 7 '2(5*8/2'. No beeswax on hand. Blake & Ripley, Mar. 11. .57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. • San FRANCtsco.-HoHei/.— Honey in fair demand. Extracted, .5 'i-f(> 6 J4: comb honey, best, 12(«il4; ditto second quality, i^imW.—Bciswnx is scarce at Si^T' 22. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & StEINEK. Mar. 4. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco. Cal. CoLUMBUs.-Honr)/.— Honey still selling slowly at 14(3)1.5 for fancy white clover. Dark and inferior grades meet with no sales. Extracted honey, dull. Trade in general, quiet. Earle Clickenger, Mar. 8. Columbus, Ohio. MiLWAt^KEE.- ilo/iey.— The demand for honey is very good, and supply fair. Can now quote white 1-lb. sections, ]2(r/ 13, and if ab8olutel3' perfect some- times can obtain 14c; 2-lb. sections, white, 12(rtil2.!^ ; Mb., dark. 10(«jll; Mb., old, 8(59. Extracted, li bbl, and bbls., white, 7(g8; pails and tin, white. 8(5>,8,'2. Bbls. and .'i bbls., dark, 6(gj6/'^. Tteestcax, ;-2(g25. A. V. Bishop, March 13. Milwaukee, Wis. Detroit.— TToney.— Comb honey is selling slowly atl](rt'13c; stock not large. Extracted, 7(®8. Bees- war firm at 2.5c. M. H. Hunt, March 10. Bell Branch, Mich. For Sale.— 1200 lbs. extra - fine orange -bloom honev, in bbls. of 360 lbs., at 8c per lb., or in 60-lb. can, $5.00. Package free. This honey will give sat- isfaction every time. Model B. Hive Co., Pure Honey and Bee-Keepers' Supplies. W^Philadelphia, Pa. Wanted— Honey, both comb and extracted. For particulars, address O. H. Hy.\tt, Shenandoah, Page Co., Iowa. 16-page circular of bee-keepers' supplies, etc. Also note prices of our choice strain of Italian bees. Cir- cular tree. Address JNO. NEBEl, & SON, 5tfdb Hl^'h Hill, Mo. OW^IMtJ to rising prices of beeswax we now quote an Advance of 5 cts. on comb founda- tion over February prices, both wholesale and re- tail. Beeswax "Wanted in any quantity. 6-7 8d DADANT & SON, Hamilton, Hancock Co., 111. H.G. FRAME, NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA, Breeder of Italian and Carniolan Queens. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Price list free. 5tfdb Reference First National Bank. BEES 16tfdb SEND for a free sample copy of the BEE JOURNAL - 16-page Weekly at $1 a year— the oldest, largest and cheapest Weekly bee-paper. Address BEE JOURNAL., Oliltago, IIJ. BEES FOR SALE COLONIES, V i^ ^ NUCLEI, S^/^v AND QUEENS, >yf,y/#^ i\ living rates. Send for / -iy'V \ ., oircular and price list to / ,r'\lir-"">ita I C. C. VAUGHN & CO./'^ f ^ """> Columbia, Teun. |:^"In respondinfr to tliis adverti eiit mention Gleanings. Es-bablislied ISTS. SMITH & SMITH, Wholesale and Ketail Manufacturers of BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. KENTON, OHIO. Price Ijlst Free. Mention Oleanings. BEES. South Florida. QUEENS. Eight years' experience. I am better prepared than ever before to fill orders promptly, and guar- antee satisfaction and safe arrival. Tested Italian queens, f l.,5U; untested, 75c, or $8.00 per dozen. I make a specialty of shipping in time tor Northern fruit-bloom, four-frame (L. and S. wired) nuclei, full of bees and hatching brood, with queen, at $4.00. Ready to mail or ship, as climate permits. Stfdb LUTHER W. GRAY, Orlando, Fla. C-^rin responflinir to this .iilvi'iti-^fipi.-nt ini'ntion (;li:a.m;.'gs. SUPPLIES! Send for circular-free. WALTER S. POUDER, 175 E. Walnut St., Indianapolis, Ind. 5tfdb (Successor to P. L. Dougherty.) SECTIONS. $2.50 to $3.50 per ITl. Bee-Hiveiii and Fix- tures cheap. NOVELTY CO., 6tfdb Rock Falls, Illinois. IC^fln respondintr to tliis advertisement mention ni.F.AM.vi;^;. FOR SAl^E.- A few stocks of pure Ital'an bees in the L. portico hive, on 7 frames, at $5.50, or two stocks for $10 00. .••.•- C. G. FENN, tt-.'-';..^ 6d Washington, Litchfield Co., Conn, j 194 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak. 1884. TAR -HEEL AFIABIES 1889. After May 1st. 'SW' ' f,.^ / Warranted queens ^ ^**^ •* ^ ^^^^i^jjT '^1. I'ti"!" to Mar, j'<\ ">(); Virgin qii , .^ iii( , Bees. *1 per \ H) Nuclei, 7.ic per L 1 r a m e . 'I' h i n tounc3ation,5Ucper , lb sdertcd E.rlnh Ameiioan Altno Italun ,(,„y and Brcriliini Worker Bee Queens, S5. Sample of 4 and 5 Banded Bi i s, and Red Dront's, idc. Finest in the U. S. Price list fiee. SMALL ENGLISH YORKSHIKB PIGS ! "Duke of Goldshoro. No. HOI." Diicheps of Golds- boro. No. 1.523," "Lady Wayne. No. 1.5:39," heads my herd-pigs; $6paeh; %;11 per pair. K-V^d ABBOTT L. SWINSON, Goldsboro, N. C. t^In responding to this advertisement mention (vLKANingsi I am selling Cliafl* Hiveiii a\«'ay clofvn low. Send for my i»rl<'e list. 6d J. A. ROE, Union Hy, Ind. I^ln responding: to tliis advertisement me j LK ANING9. RARE! NOVEL! GOOD! CHEAP! A meritorious novelty, white as snow, flrst-rate eating, easily Rrown and kept, wonderfully produc- tive. Free enXalDQue has fuller description of it, and prices (low) of Novelties and standards in SEEDS and PLANTS, also QUEENS. Send 30c for .5 tubers of Stachys, as above; a root of the beautiful fra- grant Cinnamon Vine, which grows up rapidly each spring; a packet of Powell's, the most pro- ductive pole bean; of Honev, a choice sweet core; of Flower Sepds, over 100 varieties, mixed, and a small tuber of Pi)OTAtuck. a fine new early potato. All postpaid foi- only 3 ic. Five collections for Jsi.OO. CHRISTIAN WECKESSER, Marshallville, 0. Mention tliis p:ii)er. 6-7d STRAWBERRY-PLANTS. A No. 1 plants, true to name, from new ground. Jessie and Bubach, 7.5c per hundred, $5 00 per thou- sand. Crescent and Sharpless, .50c per hundred, $3 00 per thousand. J5y mail, add 20c per hundred for postage. F. S.'MfCL.l<;i,l,.\NI> A: BRO., 6d Box 379, New Brigliton, Pa. t^In responding to tltis advertisement mention Gleanings. t?^Ill li-^|»oiuilnt,-- to tins HlliTOjM'S Improved Chaff Hive AND T SUPER. The pamphlet: "HowT Pro- duce Comb Honev." Price 5 its. Send for free illustrated price list of everj^thing need- ed in the apiarv. CEO. E. HILTON. uiodrj Fremont, Mich, advertisement meniiun Wi.kaninos. BASSWOOD TREES. Basswood-trees 1 to 3 feet high $ 1 50 per 100. •• 1 " 3 " •• 10 00 " 1(100. " 3 " 5 " " 3 .50 " 100. '■ 3 " 5 " " .... 20 00 " 1000. -6d Address HENRY tVIRTH, Borodino, Onon. to., N. "V. l[^"ln responding.' to tliis ^Mlvertisenn-nt m.-ntion Olf.akings. QUEENS! EARLY! QUEENS! Italian queens promptly shipped after March 15. Tested queen «2 00 | Untested $1 CO Three Untested Queens $3 75 Two-frame Nucleus with Untested Queens after April Ist. $2.50. We use the Simp, frame, and guar- antee safe arrival, etc. Circulars free. Make money orders payable at Clifton. Address 5tfdb COLWiCK & COLWiCK, Norse, Bosque Co., Texas. t^In responding to tliis advertisement mention Gi.kanings. CARNIOLAN QUEENS AND BEES, Bred the coming' season from Imported mothers, will be r.jady to send out the first of .Tune. Send for free circular, to JOHN ANDREWS, 1 6db Pattens ITIills, Wasli. Co., N. Y. Il^"ln respon..inti in this advertisement mention GLEANINGS. BUSINESS. I will be prepared by April the 10th to ship un- tested queens bred from my fine strain of non- swarming Italians. These bees are gentle, prolific, and hue houey-gatherers. Satisfaction and safe arrival guaranteed. If by chance a queen should prove not good I will gladly replace her when noti- fied of the fact. R.B WILLIAMS, (5-7-8d Box 73. Winchester, Tenn. SPECIAL CHOPS. A magazine for advanced agriculturiste; 35 cts. per year; sample 7 cts. Also, Black Miuorcas, B. Leghorns, and S. Wyandottes; eggs of either, per setting, 75 cts. ; 26 at one time, !|f 1.00. 4-.50d C. M. GOODSPEED, Skaneateles, N. Y. CF'ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. BEAUTIFUL BEES GOOD QUALITIES are iilways pleas- ing to tl»e eye. always profitable. If you want Bees and Queens that combine beau- ty and good qualities to a m'(/7f(:(l (l'j//'(;(', write for circular giving low prices. No circulars sent out unless applied for. CHAS. 1>. I>IIA^ALL, 5tfdb Spencerville, ITlout. Co., Wld. C^ln responding to llus adverti-.eiiicnt mention Gi.k.anings. CONSIGNMENTS OF HONEY And BEESWAX solicited. Send samples, state particulars, and mark from where samples come, i, 6 7-8d HOGE «& PHIPPS, 264 ^Villougliby Ave, Brooklyn, N. Y. CARNIOLAN QUEENS AND BEES. I make this race of bees a specialty. Untested queens after June Ist, .Bl.OO each. Send for circular and price list to A. L,. 1.INDL.EY, fitfdb Jordan, Ind. ;5^ a.-^^-:* Vol. XVIII. 31AR. 15, 1890. No. 6. TERMS: «1.00 Per ANNl'M, IN ADVANCE; 1 T? i,+ f^Til n nln n rl -tin 1 Q 'Y 9 2Copies tor81.90; 3for$2.75; 5torM.OO; -C/O l/Ct't/t/t'O/t'C/tt/ LfO J. O i O 10 or more, 75 els. each. Single nuin- 1 ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs niav be , PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BT made at Club. ates. Above are all to J ^ f I^QQJ^ MEDINA, OHIO be sent to one postoffice. 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- j 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. " V7E BEE BRETHREN." BY REV. NoHMAN PLASS. Now you jes' turn to Genesis— The chapter I don't mind; But that don't make no difference, 'Cause some one else couldn't find The place like me, so when he did, Kememherin' he'd ferg-ot. He writ along' on top the page 'Bout " Alirdham and Lot " — Jes' look fer that, and read the page, And pretty soon you'll see How Abraham and Lot fell out 'Cause they could not agree. Tt wasn't iliem that quar'ld, tho', But 'twas their /(/;(ierced holes. This will let the wires down into the wood, out of the way. Friend Foster's frame- spacer is old ; but if we must space our frames, I think I should like it as well as any other spacer. Frieud Norton's device for spacing the top-bars is exceedingly in- genious. If the rabbets are cut by machin- ery it could be done at little expense. I think tliat only a test, however, can deter- mine whether we want the arrangement or not. FASTENING FOUNDATION IN SEC- TIONS. THE ARTHUR C. MILLER PERFECTION FOUNDA- TION-FASTENER. My attention has been so frequently called to worthless inventions by unpractical bee-keepers of limited experience, that I have naturally become very skeptical concerning most new devices. For this reason, it is an exceptional pleasure to be able, as in the present instance, to bring before your readers an invention which, I believe, possesses un- usual merit. In 1888, while in attendance at the Rhode Island State Fair, at Providence, my attention was direct- ed to a machine which Mr. Arthur C. Miller had in- vented for fastening comb foundation in sections. The machine was then in crude form; I may say it was only in process of construction ; and as I gave it but casual notice, I was not favorably impressed with it. In 1889 I was again called to Providence, and was entertained at Mr. Miller's home. I am sure I shall be pardoned if, just here, I diverge from my sub- ject to introduce my friend to your readers. The name of Miller seems to rank well in connection with our pursuit, and I predict its standard will not be lowered as this gentleman becomes better known. If the artist gives us a good cut of Mr. Miller, I am sure it will tell its own story. Mr. Miller was born in Providence, R. I., in 1F63. At the age of fourteen his father died, and, as he said to me, " left me to cut out my own way." In 1881 he took a position in the oldest and largest savings bank in Rhode Island, the Providence Insti- tute for Savings, where he has remained, being at present paying teller. He is a descendant of Roger Williams, which may account for his enthusiastic and determmed nature. He has an estimable wife and two bright children, a son and a daughter. He has kept bees for the- past ten years, having at times as many as fifty stocks. I found at his home nearly all the bee- keeping literature of the day, both American and foreign. ARTHUR C. MILLER.* Mr. Miller seems to possess a particular bent for investigation and invention, but at present I shall confine myself to that above mentioned. While on this latter visit my attention was again called to this new device. I found myself deeply interested in the advance Mr. Miller had made in his progress from his first crude machine to the al- most faultless one shown in the illustrations. In explaining it to me Mr. Mil- ler said: "This one crowning point of success in the ma- chine was gained by what I supposed was an error in me- chanical construction." Let us first consider the usual methods of fastening foundation in sections, and the conditions necessary for successful operation. What- ever the method employed may be, the wood to which the foundation is attached should be warm and the f qundation^of t and pliable. If wax is used for fastening thejfoundation, it must be applied when heated. Mr. Miller's machine con- sists of a frame which may be fastened to a board against the front of a bench, or to any perpendicular sur- face (see Fig. 1). At the top, and a little back from the front, a light metallic plate is arranged, and the frame holding the plate is connected to a lever near the floor, to be operated with the foot. Under this *Like all half-tone work, this is a natural like- ness.—Ed. MILLER'S FOUNDA- TION FASTENER. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 201 MANNER OF FASTENING THE FOUNDATION. plate a lamp with a wide flat chimney is so arrang- ed as to heat the plate to a proper temperature. At the top, and near the front of the frame, a form is made to hold the section in place. The foundation to be fastened is plac- ed in position as shown inFigr. 3; and by pressing the foot upon the treadle, the heated plate is carried under the base of the founda- tion, and w i t fa- drawn almost in- stantly, when the operation is com- plete. Now notice the perfection of this method. The hot plate warms the box, and melts the wax which adheres to the box, more perfectly than by any other method I have ever known. Skilled fingers will press the foundation slightly at the in- stant the hot plate melts it. I am sure any one of experience will at once see how perfectly it will be fastened at both sides, with the same clean wax of which the foundation is made. The hot plate so evens the edge of the foun- dation that it is equally well fastened at every point. I tested several of the foundations a few moments after being fastened, and I found I could pull it in pieces, but in no instance did it cleave from the box or tear off close to the base. It is ap- parent, that there is a great advantage in having the foundation fastened in the position in which it is to remain. With the various fasteners in com- mon use, it is necessary to bend the foundation to a right angle to bring it to its proper position. When Mr. Miller was out of practice he could easil.v fasten a foundation in a single box in five seconds from the time he took up the section until he put it down completed, and he did twenty in three minutes. I feel confident, that, with intelli- gent, accurate, and appreciative bee - keepers at least, this is to prove a most valuable invention. I may add, that Mr. Miller has in process of construc- tion a machine of similar design for fastening foundation in brood frames. L. C. Root. Stamford. Ct., Feb. 8. Friend R., we are exceedinpcly obliged to you for tlie pains you take in showing us the picture of friend Miller, and we are also in- debted to him; but I think it is no more than fair to mention that the idea of interposing a plate of metal, heated by a lamp, between the wood and the strip of foundation, was given us by a young Canadian, hrst at the National Bee Convention at Detroit, Dec, 18S7, and later at the New York State Convention held in Uiica. in January, ]8«8. At the latter place I paid him $o.0U for a sample machine, and brought it liome. Greatly to my surprise, our people could not make it work as rapidly as our ordinary ^foot-power machines. Alter spending a good deal of time on it, it was put away on a shelf, where it stands yet. When friend Cutting was here a few days ago, he said the plan was all right, but the machine was not made as it should have been. He has one, he said, of his own make, and it an- swers the purpose perfectly, and is ahead of any device. The machine made by our Canadian friend was worked by one hand, while the other held the foundation. MRS. AXTELL REPORTS ANOTHER LARGE CROP OF HONEY. 15,000 LBS. OF COMB honey; TAKING OFF SECTIONS, ETC. In an article in Gleanings of Jan. 1, I mentioned taking off the supers wittiout either the bee-hat or smoker, because the cool night before had driven nearly all the bees down out of the supers. The editor remarks, that, in leaving it on so long, it be- comes travel-stained by the bees. In this locality bees gather honey right up to cold nights; and often we get as much from our fall harvests of heart's-ease as we do from the June white clover, and sometimes we have it almost cold enough for frost, and then it will warm up, and the bees go to work again. Heart's-ease is not so easily killed by cold as some other flowers; and if it gets quite warm during the day, even after quite a cool night, they get some honey. They do not soil the combs much within a week or two, or even three, at that time of year, because, when cool, they go down into the brood-nest. 1 also remarked, that the little mosquito-bar tents that I tried last season, to get the bees out of the supers, did not work well. The editor thought it was because it was in cold weather, but it was in June that I tried them. I think it was because of the young bees being loth to leave the combs. It was about two hours after setting the tent over that I found they had not all left yet, and they had so spotted the sections that I had to use a sharp knife to scrape the spots out of the wood. One super of sections was badly soiled. I tried the tent once before in the fall, and the bees did not readily go out. The hole at the top was about ?£ of an inch across the top to work out of, and the tent was made as per Gleanings. REPORT. In the report of our season's work in Gleanings, Jan. ], I made mention that our crop of honey would be 1:5.000 or 14,000 lbs. We had to guess at some of it. Mr. Axtell is very careful not to guess too high. Since then we have disposed of the rest of it, or so nearly so that we know what we got. It weighs 15,(X10 lbs. and a little over, all comb honey except about 500 lbs. of extracted and a barrel, not counted, left to feed back in the spring. As we had a very short fall crop, bees did not flU up their brood-combs as they usually do. feeding OITTDOORS PREFERRED TO FEEDING IN THE HIVES. We equalized the honey last fall so that all would have enough to carry them through until late spring, we think, then we shall feed all out of doors, in one large trough, sorghum molasses, using only enough of the honey to get the bees to take up the molas- ses. First we have to use about two parts of honey to one of molasses; later on, ■^., molasses and }6 honey, and finally they will take the molasses with 202 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. but little or no honey in it. It has this advantage- it causes no robbing, and our own bees take it up so quickly that the neighbors" bees don't get much; and what they do get they will need, and it will do them good. I think many of the ways of feeding in the hives waste more than we lose in feeding out of doors, especially the butter-dish feeders and inverted tin cans, and the loss of heat to the bees, and loss of time in feeding. We have fed that way what we were obliged to feed for several years, and like it better than the other way mentioned. But we don't like to feed bees at all— rather they would keep enough of their own honey. Roseville, 111., Mar. 1. Mrs. L. C. Axtell. Thank you, Mrs. A. When 1 spoke of leaving the sections on until the weather was cool, I did not think of your fall honey. We are exceedingly glad lo hear of your good report last season ; but as you did not tell us how many colonies you have, we are at a loss to know what the general average per colony was. — I confess I never thought of getting bees to take sorghum before, by first starting them on some containing part honey ; but since you mention it, from what I know of the habits of bees 1 can readily understand how it would work. Outdoor feeding does certainly come nearer natural stores than any other way ; but with us it is very apt to start up quite an excitement, and get the neighbors' bees as well as our own in the habit of hanging around ; and our final decision was, as you say, that we preferred to dispense with feeding in any shape or manner, if it could be avoided. In your next, will you tell us how far off you placed the feedmg-trough— that is, how far from the hiv^sV THE BEST BEES FOK BUSINESS. HINTS ON MARKETING HONEY. While the pure Italian, the Carniolan, the Cypri- an, and the Syrio-Italian, each has its advocates, I maintain that the bee for business is to come ex- clusively from neither race nor necessarily from any cross of any two races; on the other hand, our coming bees may be the progeny of any queen, from the most esthetic " four-banded orange-color- ed Italian" to the lowest plebeian-bred black queen. Mr. A. says that, by many years of careful breed- ing, a wise selection of progenitors on both sides, observing every precaution necessary to the high- est development of a particular race or cross, he has obtained a generation of workers unequaled for their business qualiflcations. Mr. B. maintains that, while he believes in a judicious, scientific cul- tivation, he can not be convinced that any race of bees can be perfected as a whole, every bad quality being entirely eliminated; his observation and ex- perience proving satisfactoiily that, in every apia- ry, there are apt to be non-paying colonies. Do we not observe this same condition in all animal life? However carefully bred, individuals will have their weaknesses. Perfection will not come to the race in its entirety. Weaknesses will continually crop out. The horse, the mule, the cow, all domestic animals, are illu.strations of this philosophy. In my apiary of 6'J colonies I have a hybrid colo- ny that is worth any two Italian or Carniolan colo- nies in the yard, and I have as fine specimens of these races as can be found. The industry of this particular colony is so remarkable that they really seem to gather honey when there is none to be had in the neighborhood— at least they do so when all others are nearlj' at rest ; but when you go to cap- ture their " honeyed sweets," make discretion the better part of valor, and get your armor on ! I'p to the summer of 1888 I had a thoroughbred black colony that 1 would not have exchanged for any Syrio-Italians. I was able to breed a la Cook. This queen kept her colony strong in bees for five years, wintering always in a two-story L. hive as they stood on their summer stand, without any winter protection whatever. Last season she was superseded by a queen that I now intend to re- move on account of her weaknesses; hence I be- lieve that individual colonies of any race may be better than any race as a whole; that we can not breed out the bad qualities of any particular race and replace them by the good of all other races, any more than can we unite the individual good qualities of all races of men, forming one perfect man. In conclusion, I will say that, were 1 to select a few colonies from several apiaries of different races, my judgment should not be biased by race or color, but made wholly upon their " previous servitude." MARKETING EXTRACTED HONEY. Making a rough guess, I would say that I have had more extensive experience in selling the above commodity personally to and talking with retail grocers concerning it, then perhaps any other bee- keeper. My time not occupied in apiary or school- room is spent " on the road," traversing four States in part, talking "my lile out," nearly, on honey, with hundreds of grocers from village to city. I give you what I have gleaned below in conclusions, not occupying space in detailing my reasons, un- less you care for my views in another article. 1. Extracted houej' should neocr be sold in )cO(id- en packages. 3. The bulk of extracted honey in grocers' hands should be in Root's 60 lb cans with gates. 2. Candied extracted honey is sjJeable only when the dealer thoroughly understands it, and has the confidence of his customers. 4. Nothing should ever be added to destroy its tendency to candy. I can produce knock-down ar- guments to substantiate this. 5. Honey liable to candy should not be left with a grocer who doesn't understand this, can not ex- plain it, or knows not how to remedy it. 6. Only the very best honey that will not candy (isn't granulate better nomenclature?) should be put into sealed packages. 7. The great bulk of our honey must be sold with " no charge for package," directly or indirectly. HONEY FOR DYSPEPTICS. I have just noticed what Chas. Dadant says on page 130: "Dyspeptics can not eat honey without increasing their distress." I have customers who take it for dyspepsia, and I am in the habit of say- ing of well-ripened thick honey, " If this makes you sick, I'll pay the doctor's bill," recommending it for weak stomachs. I myself have a bad caeeof indi- gestion, and I eat honey in season three times a day, and lick my fingers between times. St. Albans, W. Va., Mar. 3. J. C. Capehart. Friend C, I think I pretty nearly agree 1890 (CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 203 with you in regard to bees for business. I once had a hybrid colony that built comb and stored honey right through a severe drouth when the otlier bees got scarcely an ounce, and hardly stirred a peg. The bees from this hybrid colony were Hying every day, as fast as they could put out and come back ; but when we went to their Iiive. they fought like tigers. Finally I got a theory into my head, that, the more lioney I took away from them, the harder they worked; and in order to demonstrate ttiis to my satisfaction, what do you think 1 did '? Why, it was like the last straw that broke the camels back. I crowded them so close that I found them one day all starved to death. I had neglected to look at them for some little time, thinking they would lind enough to live on any way. 1 always feel bad whenever I think of it. I consoled my- self at the time by thinking it was not very much matter, as they were so pesky ugly. With the outlook now before us. however, and the great things we are expecting to accomplish by bee-escapes, etc.. we might put such a strain of bees away off in the woods somewhere, and then take tlie honey away by lifting off tinished cases, without a bee to bother or hinder.— I hope it is a notion, that I can not eat honey of late years. If so, I am going to try hard to get over it. ^ I m' CAGING QUEENS, ETC. WRITING FOR PRINT OR FOR THE WASTE-BASKET. The following private note accompany- ing an article came to hand ; but as it con- tains one or two spicy hints, we take the liberty of making it a sort of prelude to our friend's article. Friend Root:— Don't think that I shall get mad if I don't see this little effort in print, as some have done, for I have learned better. Some eis'ht or ten years ago I used to conceive some ideas about how bees and " flxin's " ought to be, and would imag-ine how this great throbbing world was standing still, waiting till I could and would let my lisht sliine. I remember of sending you some of these (to me) master productions and you cut off all that amount- ed to anj' thing to me, and threw it into the waste- basket, and told me, as a friend lin need), that your grandfather or some one else had abandoned the same idea away back in the fifties. You see, this is " awful convincin' " to an aspiring writer, that " new ideas " are scarce. M. A. Gill. Viola. Wis., Feb. 20. The following is the article, and a valua- ble one it is too: C.A.GING QUEENS TO PREVENT SWARMIXG .\ND EX- CESSIVE BROOD-RE.\RI.\G WHEN NOT DE- SIRED. While thinking upon some of the important ques- tions that have been discussed in Gle.\nings in the past few months, I thought a few observations of my own might not come amiss. lam glad to see the subject of caging queens during the honey- flow receive some attention, for I consider it one of the sources which are to relieve us of so much in- cref.se at u time when we wish to control it at all hazards. I mean bee-keepers north of the 44th par- allel, who have struggled, so to speak, to get their bees in working shape for basswood, and know that what honey they do get must come in 1.5 days. Yes, we work the whole year, as a rule, for what we can get the first '^i) days of Ju'y. If this be the case, it is a self-evident fact that we don't want any swarm- ing during this time ; and more, we don't want the combs occupied with brood in the top story; and for my part I don't allow it in eitlur story from the 10th to the 1.5th of June, until basswood bloom is half passed, or, say, 10 days after basswood has opened. If my queens are caged I liberate them at this time; and if I have taken the queen away (and killed her if she does not come up to my standard, or given her to a nucleus, if she be a good one), I gauge that time to this event, and aim to have her laying from four to six days before basswood- closes. You will say, no doubt, that this would be an extravagant loss of young bees. But I tell you, while we are working for extracted honey during basswood, with a full supply of combs, that we have no use for any thing but honey-gatherers, and no use for any thing but young bees for the subse- quent month, as that is here our dry month for honey, and September, when we get our next flow; this gives us ample time to produce another crop of workers. I wish to mention here two queens that were caged on the 12th of July, and missed by some help I had on the 18th (when I ordered them liberated). These were found caged on the 18:h of November. Of course, all the bees were dead, and so was one queen; but the other was as lively as a cricket, and had two frames of brood 10 days later, when I put them into the cellar. The colony is still alive, but of course weak; but quite a goodly number of the old hybrid colony are still there, and, of course, they are eight months old. How is that for a hardy strain? A VALUABLE SUGGESTION ON THICK TOP-BARS. In regard to thick top bars, I will sav that I made 3D hives, six years ago, with top bars "a deep by one inch wide, and they were not spaced properly, be- ing only 8 frames in 12 inches; but the space above was "g. of an inch, and it prevented brace-combs to such an extent that inexperienced help spoke of it. I noticed another prominent feature that I have not heard mentioned in any of the comments; namely, the bees would build their combs clear down, and fasten them to the bottom-bar in the top- story, and that with only a small starter of founda- tion. This, you see, would leave the space between the frames intact, while in hives with "« top-bars, no more crowded than the others, the space be- tween the top and bottom set of frames would be built full, and the bee-space left between the combs and bottom-bars of the top-story frames. This last feature I consider the most valuable of all; for if it would prevent so much under such cir- cumstances, would it not be infallible with a prop- er adjustment of frames and spaces? I have no- ticed, too, that, where one or two of these frames are mixed through my other hives, that the effect is visible. Since I wrote from Tennessee about this section of Wisconsin, its large basswood forests, its sure crop, etc., I have received many scorings from lo- cal bee-men, and some that are not so local. But, I ask, what harm can come to us if this country is worked to its full ciipacity by specialists who would not, from self-interest, overstock the territorj'? What harm would it d ) if all our honey were gath- 201 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Mar. ered, and a honey market established right here? For my part, I don't want the " earth and all there is therein," and I would rather see it gathered and saved than wasted on the desert air. M. A. Gill.. Viola, Wis., Feb. 20. Friend Gill, you have indeed suggested some very valuable points ; namely, that caging queens not only prevents swarming, but it prevents excessive breeding just when we do not want it. We little realize, many of us, how much is consumed in brood-rearing ; and no doubt that, witli a large force of bees, all of them capable of bringing in honey, we might see considera- ble increase in the amount of honey over that where the queen is left at large in the hive. We trust our readers will give this caging process a thorough test during the coming sea>-on. Who knows but that it may be a solution of the problem how to prevent swarming V It will require skill to manage it rightly. — The point you make, that thick top-bars cause the comb to be built ciear to the bottom -bar, is a valuable one indeed, if true. I know that the objection has been made, that a heavy bar takes up valuable comb space. If what you say will prove true in the hands of other bee-keep- ers, thick top-bars do not interfere with the amount of comb to be built, but the con- trary.—Friend G., do not be afraid of the waste-basket. You know there is some- thing in getting up a name. E. R. DOUBLE-TOP-BAR FRAME. SOMETHING ELSE TO DO AWAY WITH BRACE- COMBS. A LITTLE over ten years ago I took the " bee-fe- ver," and I took it " bad." I did not own a bee at the time, and was a lad of only 18 years. What did I do? Go and buy a lot of bees? No. I went to reading and studying up the matter, and I said I would begin at least part way up the ladder; that is, I would not begin and spend my time in hope- less blunders. I therefore studied for a year, then purchased a hive of bees, only to find that I was on the first round of the ladder after all, for all my fine theories fell through when I came to handle them. But I will not take up space to give you the ups and downs of those ten years. My father be- ing a carpenter I had access to all the tools neces- sary for hive-making. I therefore got me up a hive combining the good points of all (at that time), as nearly as I could. This hive took the standard box, carried two half-supers on top; the brood- frames were of just the right depth to fill these two half-supers when I wished to run for extracted honey, so it made a very convenient hive; but in time I found there was something wrong about my pet hive. 1. I had, in the fall, to go through all of my colonies, and cut central holes through the combs, in order that the bees might find passage from one side of the hive to the other, without be- ing compelled to go around the outside end of the frame. U. Jn taking off my supers I was vexed at finding many of them stuck down to the top of the bi-ocd-frames by brace combs. These two objec- tions I was bound to overcome, and at last, two years ago, I remodeled my brood-frame so that it en- tirely overcame these two bad features. As the subject of thick top-bars is now before the bee-keepers of the world, I think it is time I sent in my testimony through Gleanings. My first ob- ject was to get a permanent bee-passage through the frame— one they would not close up as they did in case where I cut holes through the combs; and, recognizing the fact that heat rises, and that this passage must be in the warmest part of the hive, I simply put in an extra top-bar, just under the origi- nal top-bar, with just a bee-space between the two. This false top-bar just fitted the inside of the frame, and was held in place by nailing through at each end, and in the center a block one inch square (the thickness of the bee-space) is slipped in, and a wire nail passes down through both top-bars and this block, which holds the two as solid as if they were one piece. Width of top-bar is 3^8 'n.; depth. AMES' DOUBLE-TOP-BAR FRAME. including bee-space, 1 inch. As I have said, I have used this frame two years, and in that time I have never had a brace-comb built on top. nor have I had a loss of a single colony of bees wintered on these frames; and, better still, 1 have never had a queen get above when put on these frames. I consider them far ahead of a solid thick top-bar. If this is of any use to you or to the bee-keepers of the world, you are welcome to it. Hudson, Mich., Jan. 6. Irving H. Ames. Many thanks, friend Ames. It is quite possible that you have struck on to a good thing. If a double top-bar, such as you de- scribe, will do away with burr-combs as ef- fectually as thick bars, then surely the former will have the preference. It will be lighter, and answer as a Hiirs device in winter — that is, giving the bees a winter passageway, anci it would be just as cheap. Moreover, every bee-keeper, no matter how many combs he has, can put it to a practi- cal test by cutting out, say, one inch of comb immediate to and parallel with the top-bar, and inserting an extra bar, as shown in the engraving above. Where combs have perpendicular wires it might interfere, but there will be enough combs without such wires, so that every one can prove for himself whether it will be a suc- cess. In my hand is such a frame as you describe. It came in the mails, and I do not know from whom it came. If 1 can judge correctly from the propolis accumula- tions, it has been in use lor several years, for it looks like an old " residenter." I am not surprised that there should be no burr- combs above the top- bar proper; but there are actually no burr-combs built in the space between the upper and lower bar. As this double-top-bar frame contains the prin- ciple of the slat honey-boards, in conjunc- tion with ordinary brood-frames without the break-joint, I should naturally suppose that the intervening space would be filled with burr-comb ; but in the sample sent, none 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 205 such have been built. In the sample which I have, the bars are i inch thick, and i inch wide. In your letter, friend Ames, you say the width is U. Did you ever try only i, spaced IS? Some unknown friend, whose name I do not now recall, wrote some time ago that an additional top bar spaced i inch below the top-bar proper, in ordinary frames, would prevent the building of burr- combs. At any rate, another friend, Mr. M. M. Baldridge, has written in this wise : THICK TOP-BARS. NEW PLAN FOR MAKINO THEM : SHALLOW FRAMES VS. DEEP FRAMES ; WIRED FRAMES ; STARTERS VS. FDLL SHEETS IN SECTIONS. Friend Root:— I have read with interest what you and others have to say in GIjEANINGS on the sub- ject of thick and wide top-bars to brood-frames as a preventive of burr-combs, and a discourager of the queen's asoension to the surplus chamber. I think it will pay you and others to experiment extensive- ly in the direction of thick top-bars to brood- frames, because, if you gain nothing- by so doing- in the directions referred to, I think you will sooner or later discover that a shalbiw frame in your Dove- tailed hive will g-ive you better results than a deep one. If you make the top-bars an inch thick, more or less, it will certainly reduce the capacity of your brood-frames, which is on the road to shallow frames, and sooner or later you will g-et these — say, to one not more than 7 inches deep, inside measure. This is the depth I use, even in the standard L. hives, which gives me a two-inch space under the brood-frames. Now, you may think it will not do to have so much space under the frames in the brood-chamber because the bees will fill it with comb. But this is not my experience, for I seldom find any comb in this space when the bees are given ample accommodations "'n the surplus chamber. Besides, I find this two-inch space a splendid ar- rangement in the wintering of bees, whether out- doors or in repositories. I wish both you and your readers would try a few hives the coming season, with shallow frames, such as I use, and report. One advantage is, in case you accept my sugges- tion, you can give shallow frames a thorough trial without any special expense, simply by using new frames of the proper depth, or by reducing those already in use. But my main purpose at this time is to call your attention to my plan of making thick top-bars to brood-frames, and at the same time to secure the advantages of the slatted honey-board, and the twin bee-space that the board secures when made properly, and yet dispense entirely with the said honey-board. It is simply this: Make the top bar to the brood-frames three-fourths or seven-eighths of an inch thick by either of the following plans: 1. By using two flat strips, each -j'ii thick, and space them ,V inch apart the entire length— the top strip to be long enough to hang upon the rabbets, and the bottom one the exact length of the inside of the brood frames. The ^i-inch space between should be e.xact, and maybe secured by the use of three square blocks, each J4 inch thick, and the same width as the top and bottom strip. [Jse one at each end, and the third block in the center, and secure them in place with wire nails. Or, second, the top piece may be got out % or '« thick, perpen- dicularly, and the J^-lnch slot may be secured by means of circular saws. Now, friend Root, do you not see that the forego- ing secures a thick top-bar to the frames, and the twin bee-space at the same time, when a bee-space is used above the brood-frames? And yet we have got rid of the slatted honey-board! Besides this, we have secured a brood-frame whose top-bar will not sag, when full of brooder honey, and that will do away with tin supports and diagonal wires. I find in practice that six perpendicular wires simply. No. 30, are ample in standard L. or the shallow frames; and I would not have more, even if I could just as well as not. I can wire 300 brood-frames, 7^4 in. deep, outside measure, the depth I use, with a 1-lb. spool of No. 30 wire, and never have a sheet of foundation give way, even when large swarms are hived in hot weather upon a full set. Now, what more do we want in that direction? St. Charles, III., Jan. 14. M. M. Baldridge. I am glad to get your testimony, friend B., on tbis very interesting question. I am not so sure about the shallow frames. Per- haps there will be an advantage in making them only seven inches deep. If reversing should ever prove to be desirable, a double top - bar and a double bottom - bar would leave an ordinary L. frame only about 7 inches deep. The very great majority of bee-keepers prefer the standard L. frame ; and even if there were a slight advantage in making it shallower they would not change, for the reason that they would not be in line. While we are on reversing, has it not occurred to you that we could make a reversible frame on Heddon's plan, with double top-bar, very easily? Instead of making the two bars come in contact, as does Mr. Ileddon, make them come i inch apart. The frame could be easily reversed, and, whichever side up, there would be al- ways the double top-bar. As I have called for votes on the thick top-bar, I should also like to have short testimonies from those who may possibly have tried the double top- bar. E. R. I will add, that using an L. frame two inches shallower, especially for experiment, will not make much trouble in an apiary of L. frames. If the shallow frame were put between two ordinary frames, however, bees might build combs under the bottom-bar ; and if it should by accident be placed in an upper story, it would, without question, make trouble, because the bees will fill the space all up solid with honey. Our readers will remember that this rnatter of a two- inch space under the bottom-bars was given on page 129 by friend Murray. NO burr-combs. In regard to the thick top-bars, let me say: I have never used any other than Js x %, and had very lit- tle trouble with burr or brace comb between frames, and none at all above. Since I have seen the slatted break-joint honey-board, I make my top- bars one inch wide and Ji deep, and find this still better. Forty years ago in Germanj-, aad later in America, before frames were known, we used sec- tional hives 13 x 13 in. inside, and from 3 to 7 in. deep; and even in them we made frames with Jgx top-bars. I was astonished when I first saw your t inch top-bars. L. Hammerschmidt. Amana, la., Feb. 32. ^6 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. "WILL BUCKW^HEAT CROSS? PROF. COOK GIVES US HIS OPINION IN THE MATTER. EXTKACTOKS A FOUR-FRAME AHEAD OF A TWO-FRAME BY 3 TO 1. You ask if Japanese buckwheat will cross with the other varieties, if grown side by side. Surely there is every reason to expect such a result. The fact that the fertilization i.s not close, that the sta- mens and pistils do not mature at the same time, and all plant analogy, would arg-ue that such cross- ing is not only possible but exceedingly probable. I should not wish to have other buckwheat grown close beside my Japanese; for in such case I should surely expect deterioration. I know that nature is very curious in her behavior, often greeting us with the most unexpected surprises, so we should never be too certain of any special thing till we have actually demonstrated it, no matter how probable it may seem. I have just asked Dr. Beal if the above view is scientific orthodoxy. He re- plied quite emphatically in the affirmative. He said he should certainly expect buckwheat to cross, though actual experiment alone would make him absolutely positive. We can not reason from the cereals, or common grains, like wheat and oats, to buckwheat. The former are closely fertilized, and crossing is difficult and rare, while the latter is de- pendent upon insects for full fertilization; and we may thus conclude that close fertilization is not good for the plants, is not conducive to proliflcness, and so is not the rule. The practical conclusion is, that we should keep varieties of buckwheat sep- arated, or else we shall mix them, and lose the value which we possess in any superior variety. We will try to demonstrate this point the coming season. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Feb. 35. We referred the matter to Prof. Green al- so, who replies : Mr. Boot;— I am unable to give you any informa- tion concerning the crossing or mixing of buck- wheat, nor can I find any one who knows any thing about it. I will make further inquiries, and also undertake some experiments in that line, if noth- ing is learned from any one else. I judge from what Joseph Harris says in his catalogue, p. 13, that he thinks the varieties will cross; but he may have no positive knowledge on the subject. We had two varieties (one being Japanese) growing side by side, but no seed was saved. W. J. Green. Columbus, O.. Feb. 25. Well, now, friends, you may be right, but I can not understand how it is that buck- wheat will mix, and all these years have passed and we have never found it out. SilverhuU and the common have been grown side by side for perhaps 15 years, but I have never seen any thing that I should call a cross between the two. The differ- ence between the European silverhuli (a very small grain, light in color) and the Japanese (a very large grain, and color just opposite the other) is still greater ; and al- though we have had both for four or live years, none has ever reached us looking any thing like a cross between the two. We have also had several reports where the two were grown side by side in the same tield ; but in harvesling the crop, nobody spoke of seeing any thing that looked like a cross. We are willing, however, to await careful tests. I AM greatly interested in J. F. Mclntyre's re- versible extractor, and I should like very much to see it work. I am a '• doubting Thomas " in regard to reversible machines, simply because I have seen so many that were not practical. Still, I shall be very glad to learn of a good reversible extractor. I like the principle of friend Mclntyre's machine, however. I used a two-frame Novice extractor for over 15 years in Wisconsin. 1 was satisfied with it, and I really thought it far better than any four-frame ex- tractor made, and I could take the honey from the hives, and return the empty combs, and extract TOO to 800 lbs. a day. But since I came to California two years ago I have been convinced (against my will) that it pays to use a four-frame extractor. In Wisconsin I was single and had to do the ex- tracting alone; but now in California I have a wife, and she helps me extract. We can bring in the honey, uncap, extract, and return the empty combs, and extract a ton of honey in one day (10 hours), making a dift'erence of nearly three to one in favor of the four-frame machine. The above Is no guess- work but an actual test case. Now, a four-frame extractor is too heavy to be stopped quickly with ease and safety by the gear- ing, so we can qjieck the motion by the gearing with the right hand, and with the left hand apply the brake. OSS'-: pp o. I^m th of March, or as soon as drones are flying. My preferred method of dividing is to make nuclei; and when they have lay- 208 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. ing' queens, build them up with combs of hatching brood. As it is desirable to get early as many lay- ing queens as Increase is wanted, I always make enough more nuclei so that, after the usual propor- tion of queens is lost, there will be as many as 1 wish increase. For instance, I have about 350 stocks. I hope to have 400 by the first of May, or an increase of 150. To insure getting that number of laying queens I make about 180 nuclei. The nuclei which fail in getting queens are then united to some other. By the forcing process through which the bees have been put, it is easy to select the poor queens. These I kill, and the stock is divided up into as many nuclei as its strength permits of. It is from this source that most of my nuclei are made. Of course, I alwai's give them queen-cells which have been made in strong colonies. I shall raise my cells this year a la Doolittle. The first principle in divid- ing is, never to so weaken a stock having a prolific queen as to restrict the laying of that queen. By observing this rule, all stocks which had good queens in the spring will be overflowing with bees at the advent of the honey-season, May 1.5, while the nu- clei made in March and fore part of April will be ready for business by June Ist to 10th, and will do good work from then on to the close of the honey season, July 10th, generally. According to my ex- perience I make about one-fourth more honey by this way of managing than when bees are left to in- crease at their own sweet will. I have a suggestion to offer in answer to the question, " What shall the bee-man do to occupy his time during the winter?" It you live in Cali- fornia or the Gulf States, where it is imperative to be with one's bees only from March to August, why not start an apiary in Cuba, and run bees down there from November to March ? There being no severe winters to contend with in either country, to insure finding the bees on coming back it is only necessary to have plenty of honey in the hives. The man who tries this must not be handicapped with wife and bairns, as traveling expenses would swamp him. Wm. G. Hewes. Newhall, Cal., Jan. 28. RETAILING HONEY. HOW TO MAKE IT GO LIKE HOT CAKES. I WILL give my way of selling extracted honey. It may do some one some good who lives in towns large enough to sell honey. Knowing that Jack- son, a town of 29,000 inhabitants, has never con- sumed more than a very little extracted honey, for the reason it never has been put on the market in the right shape, and but a very little in any shape, I made up my mind to see what I could do in the line of selling. Having but little extracted honey of my own I thought I could help some other bee- keeper out with his honey. I put a little adver- tisement into the Exchange Department of Glean- ings, to exchange supplies for extracted honey. You may be sure this brought chances enough to get honey. As soon as any honey came I com- menced to buy two-quart pails. I got them for 65 cts. per dozen. I filled them, and started out. Well, you would be surprised to sf e them go. I found I could sell two to three dozen of these pails in two or three hours. I live on my farm four miles from the city. After doing my chores I would reach the city about 10 A. M.; then I would get sold^out^by 1 p. M. Then I would get more pails, and start home to fill them. I put iK lbs. of honey into the pail, which weighed i4 lb. This makes 5 lbs. I sell pail and honey for 50 cts. In this way I shall sell 8000 lbs. this winter in Jackson, and I haven't spent half the time in selling honey. This educates the people to eat honey. Some families bought four or five pails. When I am in town the people know me as the " honey-man," and run after me for more. The honey cost me about 8 cts. per lb. Any of you living in a city can dispose of your crop, and sell some for your brother bee-keepers this way. Al- ways use a large label, and be sure your honey is pure. Then it will go like hot cakes. Jackson, Mich., Feb. 10. W. D. Soper. I am glad to hear of the success you have made, friend S.; and judging from the quan- tity of tin pails we are selling, I think it quite likely that in many towns, especially where honey has been sold in that way, there is a great opening to the enterprising bee-keeper. ^ I ^ COMPABATIVE HESULTS WITH THICK AND THIN TOP-BARS. are bdrk-combs the result of improper top- bars? I wish to speak in favor of thick top-bars. I am at present using both. I started bee-keeping, about eight j'ears ago, with 'a -inch square top-bars (with one lower corner sawed nearly out to facili- tate fastening foundation); but having no real rea- son for using them made that way, I began making them shallow (two years ago), more, I suppose, to be like other progressive bee-keepers. Since I have them both in my bee-yard I could not account for brace-combs in some of my hives and not in others. If I put on a super with sections it was fast- ened tight with burr-combs; if I put on a honey- board under the super, the honey-board would be fastened just the same; but underneath the super it would be fairly free from burr-combs. As re- gards the hives that contained the thick top-bars, I can not recall one instance where burr-combs were troublesome when a proper bee-space was maintained, and I have used them with and with- out honey-boards. I think, also, that i's or Vi inch top-bars are not stiff enough without a comb-guide for heavy combs of brood and honey. Even if they bend but a trifle it affects the shape of the cells and injures the brood. The bees notice this sagging where we would not, and immediately set to work to strengthen the combs with brace and burr- combs. brood-frames flush with the top of the hive. I see that you find fault with brood-frames that come up flush with the top of the hive, on account of killing bees, etc. Why not have the bee-space on the under side of the cover formed by strips % inch square? I am using covers so made, and find I am not liable to mash half as many bees as when the bee-space is on the top of the hive, with the cover resting on a Jsi-inch (instead of a |-inch surface) edge of hive. Then, again, the quilt can be more neatly and quickly applied when the whole surface is level. Again, if the frames come flush with the top of the hive, we must have the bee-space on the bottom of the super admitting of the T tins being inverted; but I have for the last three years used 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 209 tins of this shape — >, as section-rests. You will find them strong: enough, and the sections can be placed close together at the bottom, admitting of a more successful use of double-slotted sections by not having the cracks between sections filled with propolis, and your sections standing S(iuare. When T tins arc nailed to the bottoms of the su- pers they have to be very accurately spaced. Not so with the ' — < shaped tin. They will also worlj just as well, if not better, on your bent staples, for hold- ing section-rests. They can be placed on the sta- ples without shaking off when moved about. I would suggest that Dr. Miller try a few in his su- pers. W. A. Chrysler. Chatham, Ont., Can., Feb. 3. We could make the cover bee-spaced as you mention ; but for various reasons it is cheaper and better to make the bottom- board bee-spaced. The majority of bee- keepers would be against you on this point. Thanks for your information on the matter of thick top-bars. ^ I ^ WIDTH OF TOP-BARS. MR. HEDDON ARGUES FOR NARROW TOP-BARS AND HONEY-BOARDS. Brother Oliver Foster's article on page 126, and some of your foot-notes, call me out again. In re- sponse to Bro. Foster's question In the closing par- agraph of his article, I think I stated in my former article, in connection with my declaration, which I now wish to repeat, that I would never under any circumstances make a top-bar more than 78 wide; that if I found any great advantage, after thorough trial, in placing top-bars just five-sixteenths of an inch apart, I would do so with the Ji bars by put- ting more frames in the same space. Well, I am impatiently waiting for time and experience to con- vince all you fellows that just all they will do with the wide and deep top-bars is to find out that they will lessen the amount of brace-combs built above them; that they are a good thing when made deep, but not Wider than ■'3. The deepness is the grand thing, as I wrote years ago. It makes the bars stiff, preventing sagging. It is in no way objectionable in a Langstroth hive, and, of course, it is worth something to lessen the quantity of brace-combs above them; but the great point of getting rid of brace combs below the surplus receptacles can nev- er be wholly accomplished in that way. The break- joint honey-board does it, and, after this little ex- citement is over, the break-joint honey-board will stay right where it is, doing that excellent service that nothing else can do. In another of your foot-notes, on page 129, where you say that you do not remember any one suggest- ing raising all the frames in order to secure the complete building of the comb clear to the bottom- bar, I will tell you that, whether any one has written about it or not, years ago Dr. Southard, of Kalamazoo, made comprehensive experiments, and reported the whole to me at the time. After all, it is more costly, and not nearly as complete a method of accomplishing the result as that of inverting. Ernest desires to know how I am going to use the thick top-bars with my new hive, with such shallow combs. Why, it would be very easy to make the cases enough deeper to give me the same comb depth that I now have, and make the bars thick; but I shall never do this. With those shallow cases, worked upon the alternating plan, the board is kept so closely to the bars, both top and bottom, that very few brace-combs are built. Another thing: I make the bars (which are just alike, top and bottom, as all are invertible) not only less than % thick, but i(s less than 'a wide, so as to have them just the width of the worker comb. This allows us to read- ily see right through every case, estimate honey, brood, and cut out queen-cells without the necessi- ty of moving the frames. When you once come to use the hives in large quantities, you would find that these little alterations so materially aid the new system of maniigement that they are worth very much more than any and all results which can be gained from deep top-bars. We have been all through the practice of both, on a large scale, year after year, and we are very sure that we know just how the matter is. If I thought I did not know, I should begin to wonder if I am sure of any thing, eveu my own existence. It is a splendid thing to have journals in which we can agitate these questions, cause our brother bee-keepers to think as they work, experiment as they go, all of which will certainly lead to great im- provements, and we shall all finally know what is best. James Heddon. Dowagiac, Mich., Feb., 1890. Yes, friend H., we are impatiently wait- ing for time and experience to convince us fellows. I wish the bees wouldn't be so long about telling, or, rather, letting us find out about all these good things. But, say ; if you space |-inch bars only {'p, inch apart, won't the bees object? Cheshire, and he is backed up by Dr. C. C. Miller, says the aver- age width of comb is jf of an inch thick. The surface of the comb, on the average, will be only ^\ inch apart. Xo, I would rather have top-bars an inch or l,'o, spaced {',. apart. The comb surface will then be re- spectively j^; and 1',; inch apart. These dis- tances are about right ; but i\; is a little close, is it noty Now, I am not saying that you can not space as close as this, but am only asking for information. With regard to your shallow brood-chambers, if you make them deeper to accommodate the deeper frame, you will have confusion, and your customers in ordering will get the two mix- ed.— Yes, sir, bee-journals are doing a splen- did thing in agitating these new things, and then afterward collecting and sifting the facts for their readers. E. R. COIiONIES OUTDOORS. A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF EARLY FLYING IN SPRING. Friend Root:— The present winter has led me to consider a question which, to me at least, is new. My bees wintered in clamps outside are often, I should judge, on the verge of flying out, yet re- main in the hive. Last week I had occasion to render a quantity of cappings and old comb, and it led me to wonder whether the smell of heated hon- ey and wax would, with the mildness of the weath- er, cause the bees to be restless, and perhaps injure them. Is it not probable that, when almost warm enough for the bees to tly out, the smell of melting wax and warm honey will disturb the bees in the hive? If this is the case we should be very cautious in the matter. Perh'js some of our bee-keepers can give us conclusive evidence here. 210 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. AlAU. COVERS, FLAT OR DEEP. I should just like to have a few words upon Ques- tion 153. 1 can not see how, all in all, any one can prefer a flat cover with only a bee-fpace above the bars. Some of the arguments in favor of a large cover are, that they act as a break against the sun in summer, and assist to keep the bees cool. I would even use a chaff cushion all summer for this purpose, and I know of some very successful bee- keepers who are doing this. Again, in spring, with a flat cover you have no chance to protect the bees from cold above unless you put supers on— a thing not desirable. In the fall, the same holds good. The only argument T can see in favor of a small lid is the cost, and the bulk in handling and storing away. The lids I value most are large sloping-roofed covers on eight-frame Langstroth hives; the covers are about 2 x 3 f t., made by nailing shingles on a framework, and with a piece of tin along the ridge at top. They cost lit- tle; they shade the hives very much, and press well down on a chaff cushion between them and the hive. The cushion is left on all summer. R. P. HOLTERMANN. Romney, Ont, Can., Feb. 24, 1890. It may be true, that the smell of melted wax and warm honey would cause the bees to fly earlier than they ought ; but with us we do not care much when the bees fly out, providing the weather is warm enough so they can. But in your locality the case would doubtless be different. 'I'hose bees that fly out during cold days are probably diseased, and their presence in the colony is not very desirable any way. — In regard to flat covers, we prefer them because they are cheaper, because they can be fitted on to the hive without killing the bees, no matter how much the hive edges are covered, by a sliding motion, and because a majority of our customers call for them, and because many of our very best and most extensive bee- keepers will use nothing else. Yes, there is something in having a chaff cushion over the brood nest for a protection ; but in your locality there will be greater need of it than in ours, probably. Another thing, if you have a cover that leaves more than a bee- space over the frames, burr-combs will be built up sometimes two inches above the brood-frames if thin top-bars are used. With flat covers they can not be built in more than I of an inch ; still, if the bee- keeper prefers to have the cushions he can nail the flat cover to his half-story body or section-super, and then he will have a '' deep cap," as some call them. E. R. PINE-TREE HONEY A SECRETION OF APHIDES. PROF. COOK GIVES US SOME LIGHT ON THE 8UB- ,JECT. Mr. A. I. Boot.— I have read several items in your journal about pine-tree honey. The time of year for this honey is the first of June, or there- about. But this has been an unusually warm fall and winter, so the insects that produce this honey have hatched out of season; so I think, and I be- lieve you and Prof. A. J. Cook will agree with me. If you were here and would go with me out to the pine woods you would soon be convinced of the fact as to where honey-dew comes from. These in- sects are so thick on the pine-trees that they resem- ble the shingles on a house; and if you will get them between you and the light, you can see the spray of nectar, just like small drops of rain; and the way bees gather it is not "just a little and quit." I will send you a box of the aphides, so I take them to be; and if they get to you all right, just warm them up to about 70' above zero, and see for yourself. Will these insects mature and come again in the spring, or at the usual time? Let us hear from Prof. Cook on this subject. Soddy, Tenn., Feb. 8. N. R. Hair. We sent the above to Prof. Cook, who re- plies : The aphides, or plant-lice sent by N. R. Hair, Sod- dy, Tenn., were a sorry sight when they arrived. Two or three syrphus-fly maggots, which were in- closed with them, had eaten them nearly all up. A few shrunken lice remained— enough for me to de- termine that they belonged to the genus Lachnus, the same that are figured in my last edition of Bee- Keeper's Guide, but not the same species. I am not surprised to know that these pine-lice secrete much nectar, and I should not be surprised if the honey from this were excellent. I have secured honey from a species of lachnus, on the larch, and from another on the spruce, which was really voy pleasant. You will remember, Mr. Editor, that some pine-lice from Oregon secreted enough nec- tar so that the leaves were fairly coated with su- gar. I wrote for the press an account of these Or- egon lice, specimens of which were on the sugar- coated twigs, whereupon Mr. Thomas Meehan called my statement in question. He said the pine it- self secreted sugar in Oregon. Tn the special case, I was sure of my ground. I infer that Mr. Meehan was in error, and that in every case it was the in- sects and not the tree that formed the sugar. It is not strange that the mistake — if mistake it be— was made. I have noticed the lower twigs and leaves of the larch to be fairly sprinkled with nec- tar from the larch-lice when no lice could be found except high up in the tree; and even there the lice were on the under side of the twigs, and would easily escape notice, especially as they mimicked in color the twigs on which they rested, almost per- fectly. Yet I have seen the drops of nectar falling like a shower from these lice, and lodging on the lower leaves. I have frequently set students to looking for the source of the nectar, and rarely would they discover it till told to look sharper and higher up. Mr. Hair is correct regarding the reason for the early appearance of these lice this year. The warm weather in Kentucky and Tennessee has hatched the eggs prematurely, and hence the early appear- ance of the lice. Only the other day I received specimens of the grain aphis from Tennessee. Very likely cold weather may yet check and even de- stroy outright these unseasonable lice. For by the aid of their insect-enemies— three were inclosed in the box— they may be wiped out as were the grain lice the past summer, even though cold does not use them up. The case is too complex to warrant prediction. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Feb. 11, 1889. I am inclined to think that friend Cook is right in the matter, and that, even though many have been unable to discover aphides, they are still there somewhere ; and the 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 211 keen earnest searcher after nature's truth will find them. Here is another short item from a friend, who seems to think it is not produced by the aid of insects. NECTAR FKOM PINE-TREES. I have noticed the pine honey for several years, but never so plentifully as this winter. During the latter part of December the pines on the mountains fairly roared with bees gathering this honey, which hung on the pine leaves in drops as large as a large dewdrop. It is very clear, and of good flavor. I have not taken any, but I suppose my bees gather- ed from five to ten pounds per hive. Had tiees been as strong as in summer, no doubt I should have had a good yield of honey. It seems to be mostly on short-kavtd or mountain pine, and I think it is an exudation, and not the product of an insect. Bees have been at work most of the time since Dec. 20 on pine honey-dew, alder, and red- maple bloom. J. A. Clements. Green Bush, Ga., Jan. 30, THE LANGSTROTH HIVE IN GERMANY. How and Why it has Lately Come into Pop- ularity. C. 1. H. GRAVENHORST'S OBSERV.4TIONS. Since the days of the late Mr. Samuel Wagner, I have watched the progress of bee-keeping in America. I remember with pleasure the time when Novice wrote his encouraging articles in the old American Bee Journal, telling us how he had found out something new in bee-keoping, and how he had then, in his enthusiasm, thrown up his cap toward the sky. It was a good old time, and much has since been done to advance bee-keeping, both in America and Germany, not to mention other countries. No doubt our American friends have learned something from their German brethren, particularly in regard to the tlicm-y of bee-keeping; but, on the other hand, the Germans have learned, also, from their friends in America. I have tried to effect this since I became acquainted with the American bee-papers. Of course, friend Root, you know that the (ier- mans did for a long while object to the Langstroth hive. They could not become used to the arrange- ment of the frames in it. Our German frames are nearly of the same size as the Langstroth frames, which are put into the hives having one long side toward top and bottom, while in the German hives the frames are put in with one short side toward the top and bottom. We were of the opinion that the bees must have their stores overhead, as in a hollow tree. But the American and other hives have proved that this is a mere theory. Another objection against the Langstroth hive was its movable cover. One would say, "If the Americans, putting their stocks in order in the fall for wintering, remove the sealed-down packings, there will be left openings, letting out the heat, and the bees will not winter well. More especially would the bees suffer by spring management, as the open- ings in the top of the hive would be the reason of your spring dwindling." I think, and other Ger- mans too, this is also mere theory ; at least, there are many means of avoiding bad wintering as well as spring dwindling. So far this should be the con- sequence of fall and spring management, and not that of had stores. Therefore I hope, friend Root, you will be glad to hear that the prejudice against the Langstroth hive is more and more disappear- ing in Germany, and that here and there it has be- come a favorite. I myself have beside my hives {BixjrusfurJpcr), some Langstroth hives, and am well pleased with them. If you could see my Lang- stroth hives, friend R., you would, of course, say, " Well, friend G., those are genuine Langstroth or Simplicity hives, tiered up and furnished with sec- tions, etc., just as in America." Certainly, friend R. I would say you are right, up to a certain point that I will explain to you, and one that has much to do with the fact that the Langstroth hive, here and there, has become a favorite in Germany. That the top-bars of my Langstroth frames have no shoulders, will be, so far as 1 know, not new to you. But you see on the front side, also on the back of evei'y hive, two rows of ear pins in notches— one row near the top, and one just above the entrance. These pins are wire nails that go from the outside to the inside of the hive, holding the frames in po- sition. Every frame requires four nails— two on the under side of the frame, to rest upon, and two above the top-bar, holding the frame down. These pins go through the wall of the hive, /„ of an inch from the edges, on top and bottom. They rest in V- shaped notches in every corner of a frame. These notches are V inch deep and 'i inch long, leaving, above and below the frames, a space of 's inch, if the frames are fastened in the hive. By this ar- rangement the frames stand in the right position from the wall, having a fast support. The nails do not allow the frames to move in the least, even if you turn the hive top side down, as the whole hive, as well as every frame, is i-eversible. In managing the hive you will first take away the cover-board. This has underneath it a space of ,V inch; then open the hive as you are accustomed to do, and you will at once seize with the right and left hand an ear- nail, one in front and one on the back, near the top of the hive, and pull ihem halfway out, but not more, so that you may get a frame without hindrance from the nails. The frame rests now on only the two pins on the bottom, and you may lift it out without trouble. But if you are anxious to destroy a queen-cell, etc., then you may pull out the four nails of the two adjacent frames, and then you have more space to get at a frame than you need. I hear you ask, friend Root, why I prefer this nail arrangement. Although I am sure to know some of the objections you will have to the nails. I hope you will not deny that the advantages of them are greater than the disadvantages. I answer your question, first by quoting Ernest in Glean- ings, page H9, Feb. 1: "Where bee culture is car- ried on to any considerable extent, a system of one or more out-apiaries is almost the inevitable result, and out-apiaries means moviiiohccs. The hanging frame not fastened, although bees oni he moved to and from out-apiaries on it, necessitates careful driving and good roads. Our men during the past season, in moving bees, could drive no faster than a walk, and that with extreme caution in places. With a couple of expensive men, one a teamster and the other a practical bee-keeper, to say nothing of a valuable team, slow driving, all because the frames are hanging and nnlfixtd, i» cxiicnsivc. To stop and stick up each frame in a load of 35 colo- nies, simply for the sake of driving fast afterward. 212 GLEANIIsGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak. is just as expensive. What we want is frames af- ways fixed, always ready for moving at a brisk drive, and yet sufficiently movable to be readily manipulated in the hive." Second: The hive as well as every frame is re- versible. You can turn the hive over, and manage your bees from below, if you like it, and this I value in the highest degree. After the honey sea- son is over, toward the fall, the bees have sealed down beautifully the top packing for the winter. Not to disturb their winter arrangements in the fall as well as in the spring, the hive is to be simply turned up. You lift out whatever frame you de- sire, and put in one or two division-boards, or ex- change this or that frame with such a one as has plenty of honey, and so on. Hereafter you turn your hive again, placing it on the bottom-board, and your bees have their arrangement just as they think it necessary for good wintering. Now comes the spring. I remember you said once in Glean- ings, it would be of great value, at times, to get a glimpse at the bottom of the hive. I think you have hit the nail on the head. If you turn the hive over, whatever is to be accomplished in that way, let the top-bars stand with one end towai-dyou; then you will see at a glance how many combs are occupied by the bees; how strong the colony is; and the weight of the hive tells you how it is with the stores. There will be no draft going through the hive from the entrance, as in the case of re- moving the top packing, and taking away all the heat of the hive. You need not be afraid of injur- ing a colony by taking a glimpse at the bottom of the hive, even when the weather is not warm; you need not even fear early spring management. Less than one minute is sufficient to ascertain how it stands with a colony, if you turn a hive over. As soon as the weather becomes favorable, say in swarming time, you may manage your bees from the top of the hive, except the swarms you have hived. At such times I fasten the top packing, as the swarms need the warmth, especially on cool days and nights, and turn the hive over; give five, six, or more frames, with strips or sheets of founda- tion, adjust the division-board, put in the swarm, and bring the hive to its right position on the bot- tom-board. Two or three days afterward I turn my hive bottom up, give a little smoke, and I see then what my swarm has done. If it has built crooked combs or drone combs, then I take a knife that has a sharp hook, one inch long, and a long handle, and cut away the drone comb or fix the crooked combs. In most of the cases that will do it; and if not, there is not any trouble in lifting out those frames with drone or crooked combs, so as to fix them in my hands. In nine cases out of ten it will not be nec- essary to do this. One who does not like turning a hive over does not know the advantages of it. I would rather give up bee-keeping than not be able to turn my hives over to handle them. I am sure, if some one has the inverting system put to the proof, he will soon like it: and if not, he may man- age his hives from above only. Friend Koot, I am sure you will not misunderstand my article. I have told you how and under what conditions the Langstroth hive has made friends in Germany. C. J. H. Gravenhorst. Wilsnack, Germany, Feb. 17. Many thanks, dear friend G., for your very kind letter. Yes, I remember well when I sailed my hat when so much honey had come, and I remember the time, too, when the hat went up into a tree and we had quite a little time in getting it down again. I am very glad indeed to know you are using a frame so near the universal Langstroth used in our country ; and your arrangement for reversible frames and re- vet sible hives is certainly exceedingly in- genious. Of all the models that have been sent us, I do not now think of one that ac- complishes the result more perfectly than does yours. There is one difficulty that sug- gests itself, which you have doubtless ob- viated in some way. This difficulty comes from Ernest. lie thinks if those nails move loosely enough to be handled by the fingers, in drawing hives to out-apiaries the nails would slip when we do not want them to, and let the frames down. Thumb- screws with a very coarse thread would stay at any point ; but they would be more expensive than nails, and slower to manipu- late. Yes, I have often thought of the ad- vantages of turning the hive over to remove the frames ; but I feel pretty certain that our American people would consider it too much bother and too much machinery. Lest some of our readers may not get hold of your idea, I will explain that you use the Langstroth frame, without any projections for the frame to hang on. I^ext, the end- bars to every frame have a Y-shaped notch cut in each end. The nails going through the end-board to the hive, reach through in- to these notches. In order to remove the frame, the upper nails must be pulled back suflicient to allow the frame to lift up. Per- haps some of our friends may think best to test a hive or two made in this way. BIOGRAPHICAL. H. R. BOARDMAN. In our last issue, page 152, 1 gave you a new portrait of James Ileddon. I take great pleasure now in presenting to our readers another half- tone portrait, which is also to appear in our A B C, of a no less prominent and no less distinguished bee- keeper — Mr. 11. K. Boardman, lately presi- dent of the Ohio State Bee-keepers' Associ- ation. Just before the said association was called to order, and while we were lament- ing that our president, on account of illness, probably would not be in attendance. Dr. Miller said, " Mr. Boardman has always im- pressed me as being a solid man." Several nodded a hearty assent. Dr. Mason among the number. Later, when Mr. Boardman had finished reading his essay, we were more impressed than ever with the truthfulness of Dr. Miller's opinion of him. It has been my pleasure, as you will remember, to make oiir friend a visit. I stopped with him some- thing over a day. I remember that the im- pression left with me was, that he was a very careful observer, slow in arriving at conclusions, and that, when he did come to one, he was pretty sure to be right. Some years ago we gave a portrait engrav- ing of "the man who always winters his bees," and that was the subject of this sketch. At that time, when everybody was 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 213 losing quite heavily, it seemed very remark- ble. At thie present time the wintering troubles do not seem to be so perplnxing. Whether our friends of the indoor prefer- ence have followed in the wake of Mr. B., or through their own investigations have adopted the same plan, and hence are suc- cessful, I can not say ; but certain it is, our friend was among the very first to be able to assert that he always wintered his bees. For a detail of his method see Gleanings, page 31 si, last year. As I have already hinted, Mr. Boardman is not much inclined to run after new things. If he is successful with what he has, he is content to let well enough alone. He uses a frame which is essentially square. I believe when he hrst adopted this he considered this as one of the reasons why he wintered successfully ; but latterly, he has not at- tached very much importance to the size or shape of the frame for successful wintering. H. R. BOARDMAN. Mr. Boardman runs a number of out-apia- ries, and I believe he keeps on an average some SOU or 400 colonies. lie produces comb honey almost exclusively, and that in wide frames three tiers deep. Instead of putting on a single tier of sections, and afterward raising it up and putting an empty one un- der it, on the tiering-up plan, he puts the three tiers on all at once, aggregating some .50 sections. Most bee-keepers think that that is too large a capacity for the bees to begin on, and keep to the proper tempera- ture for comb-building. Our friend admits, I believe, that there is something in this, but he argues that he saves a good deal of time and labor in putting on a full hive of sections at once and afterward removing the whole at one operation. Mr. Boardman's manner of contraction is peculiar, and, I believe, original with him- self, although others have advocated a sim- ilar practice. His hive is side opening, and, to force the bees to carry the honey above, he cuts out the combs in the brood-frames, leaving, perhaps, a third of the comb at the top. Honey coming in, the bees are obliged to carry it above. In the mean time, the queen's capacity for laying is restricted, and the swarming mania is kept down. Mr. B. does not write very extensively for the bee-journals, although he is a good talk- er, and full of ideas. He is prominent at conventions, and while he has the tloor he is careful and reserved in his statements. When I visited our friend 1 was surprised to note that he was considerable of a natu- ralist. He has a large collection of stuffed animals from all parts of the United States. I was once somewhat interested in taxider- my, enough to appreciate good work when I saw it. Mr. Boardman's specimens are lifelike, and seem to possess all the ease and grace that nature has so kindly endowed them with while breathing God's pure air. I am well aware that I have said some things in rather high praise of our friend ; but he is a man who will not be spoiled by praise. Mr. Boardman is one of Ohio's most prominent bee-keepers. Ernest. PREVENTION OF INCREASE. DOOLITTI.E SUGGESTS THREE METHODS OF SECUR- ING IT. Notwithstanding the articles which I "have g-iv- en lately, on keeping- bees from swarming by the manipulation of hives, etc., I am still requested to tell, in Gleanings, how increase can be prevented by some of the older plans which I have successful- ly used in the past. As the swarming season will soon be here, if it has not already begun in the South, owing to our very warm weather during the whole winter, perhaps 1 can do no better at this time than to comply with the request. The plan of preventing increase, which has given me the best satisfaction of any thing which I have ever employ- ed, is as follows: Early in the spring, before the bees get brood in more than three or four combs, shut each colony on to five combs by means of a division-board ; and if these combs can contain brood and honey in the proportion of three of the former to two of the lat- ter, they will be in just the condition I would have them, the two latter being nearly solid with honey. By thus being tilled with honey we are assured of two things: That thej' will not need our immediate attention for fear that they will get short of stores, and that brood-rearing will go on without interrup- tion, no matter what the weather may be, with so much honey in so small a brood-chamber; for, early in the spring, before honey comes in from the field, a large amount of honey is a great iacentive to brood-rearing. As the combs become filled with brood, combs of honey are set in the vacant space beyond the division-board, so that there will be no danger of the bees starving when the combs they occupy become so full of brood that there will be noplace for honey in them. If some of the colo- nies get their five frames full of brood before the others do, take a frame of hatching brood to the weaker, and give the stronger an empty comb, or 214 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. one of honey, taken from the weaker, and so on till all have their five frames absolutely tilled with brood. If you have been as successful as you should be, this point in the operation will arrive from two weeks to ten days before the honey harvest, you aiming to have it be thus from the start, just in ac- cordance with the location you occupy. When all are thus full of brood, go to hive No. 1 and look the frames over till you find the queen, when you will set the comb she is on outside of the hive, and car- ry the other four combs of brood, bees and all. to hive No. 2. You will now open this hive and spread apart the frames so as to set the combs you brought from No. 1 in each alternate space; for by so doing there will be no quarreling of bees; at least, I have never known them to fight, during a period of 16 years' practice. When j'ou have the combs thus arranged, the sur- plus arrangement is to be put on, and the hive closed. You will now go back to No. 1, put the frame having the queen on it back in the hive, and give them a frame having a strip of foundation ^ inch wide fastened to the center of the top bar for a comb guide, when you will adjust the division- board to suit the size of this little colony, and close the hive. If there is any honey coming in from the fields, which there generally is at this time, al- though the main flow has not commenced, you will find the nicest worker comb you ever saw in this last frame at the end of a week, and it will cost you less than you could get the same comb built from foundation. When this frame is filled with comb, take it out and put in another empty frame, and so on all summer; for the one comb the queen has will give bees enough to keep them in excellent or- der so that they will build worker comb all the time. In this way I secure all the combs I need In the apiary, and in the fall unite several of these lit- tle colonies together, or give them to some of the weakest of the other colonies I may chance to have. The colony in No. 2 soon has a hive full to over- flowing with bees, of just the right age to work in the harvest to the best advantage, and will roll up a pile of honey, I assure you. When they swarm they are to be treated the same a"* you always have treated the swarms, so that, should all swarm, you will have only the same number that you did in the spring, thus preventing increase. The ne.xt plan which I use is that of caging the queen upon the issue of the first swarm, and plac- ing her on top of the brood-frames or any other convenient place, and allowing the swarm to re- turn. Six days thereafter the hive is opened, all the queen-cells cut off, and the queen left where she was, for eight days more. At the end of this time the queen-cells are again taken out and the queen liberated, after which they seem to have no more desire to swarm that season. In cutting out the queen-cells I shake the bees off the combs each time, and in this way no cells need ever be missed. If this precaution is not taken, cells will often be missed, which will cause much trouble. While the queen is caged, the bees will store honey to a cer- tain extent in the brood-combs, in cells from which the young bees hatch; but when the queen is liber- ated this honey will be carried to the boxes, and I do not know that I have ever seen work progress faster in the sections that I have for the next week after the queen was returned to the bees. The last one of the plans is the one recommended by Prof. Cook; namely, when the first swarm of the season issues, it is hived in a separate hive, when the next one Is hived with the old colony from which the first one issued; the next is hived where the second came from, and so on to the end of the season, thus giving us only one increase. This plan works well with a short and rather poor season ; but when the season is long continued, many of the colonies first treated swarm again with me, thus making too much work. On the whole I much pre- fer the first plan. G. M. Dooi.ittle. Borodino, N. Y. SHALL WE USE QUILTS OR ENAMEL- ED CLOTHS? DR. MILLEIv HANDLES THE SUBJECT IN ALL ITS BEARINGS. I HAVE been quite interested in studying the an- swers to Question 152. The answers are about two to one against the use of enamel cloth, in the pro- duction of comb honey, under a flat cover, in a five-sixteenths space. On the other hand, about two to one are in favor of using the cloth in the same place for queen-rearing. Some are quite pos- itive that the cloth should be used in both cases, and some just as positive that it should be used in neither, while some think it should be used for queen-rearing but not for comb honey. I am not surprised at these different opinions, for at one time or another I think I have agreed with all, and I suspect that, with exactly the same thing in mind, the different respondents would have very little diflerence of opinion. When I first commenced using movable combs, aflat board with holes in it, called a honey-board, was placed over the top-bars, with a "i space be- tween and an outside cover above. A pretty solid mass of brace-combs and honey filled the space be- tween the top-bars and the honey-board, so that, every time the hive was opened, the honey-board had to be pried up, the jar thereof greatly irritating the bees and making a dauby mess. On closing the hive again it was difficult to keep from mashing bees between the brace-combs as well as at the edges. Those who never used exactly the same thing can hardly imagine what a boon was the sheet, or quilt, Invented by Robert Bickford, and I can readily excuse those who had been through my previous experience for being hard to convince that quilts could be dispensed with under any circum- stances. Please understand, that the quilt took the place of the solid honey-board, the same outside cover being used over either. The principal diffi- culty was the lack of durability, no substance be- ing found to answer well the purpose, through which the bees would not gnaw holes in a provok- ingly short space of time. In spite of this objection I think I should have continued to this day to use quilts had I continued to use the same kind of cov- ers. Those who object to quilts because harder to remove than flat boards, can, it seems to me, hardly speak from actual experience; or if they do, there must have been something wrong about their ex- perience. After I began to use Heddon and T supers, I noticed, in tiering up, that the upper su- per was not so free from propolis as those under it. After a time it occurred to me that the quilt was the cause of the trouble, for the bees were sure to put propolis upon the tops of the sections under the quilt, sometimes more than an eighth of an inch 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 215 in thickness. Sometimes a ridge of glue would ex- tend clean around the edge of the top-bar of the section, providing- the quilt lay flat upon it; but oftt'u it was plastered over any part of the top, depending upon how the quilt lay upon it. Re- luctantly I concluded to try whether I could dis- pense with the quilt over the sections, and had a few cleated covers made to fit the supers, with no thought of using any thing of the kind on the hives. The result was so satisfactory that I had covers enough made to supply all my colonies. I suppose, friend Root, 1 was just as strongly in favor of quilts as you, but I feel pretty certain that, after enough experience both ways, you would say you never want any quilt over a T super, even if you should continue to use them directly over brood-frames. You say. "The great reason why I prefer enameled- cloth sheets is, that the hive may be opened and closed without killing bees." In the case before us, with the five-sixteenths space over the sections, I'll agree to put on the board cover without killing a bee, and I'll do it in less time than you will put on the cloth and cover, if you don't kill any bees. You .see, there is no chance to kill any bees with the boai-d alone, except on the upper edge of the super rim, and you can put on one end of the cover and then plaj' it up and down a few times as you gradu- ally close it, and every bee will get out of the way. As you very properly say, " It takes time to replace the enameled cloth in such a manner that not a sin- gle bee can get above it." And then after you have taken time to accomplish this, if you promptly put on the cover you are quite likely to imprison some bees between the cloth and the tops of the sections. I know, for I have done it. You say, " It is worth a good deal to me to be able to pick up any cover from any hive in the apiary, without any snapping or prying." True; and it's worth no little to me, as I lie in bed at night, when the wind is blowing great guns, to know that my covers are all glued down, and that I'll not have to hustle around in the morning to cover up hives in the out-apiaries, which the wind has uncovered, letting in the drenching rain. You say, " The enameled cloth also prevents the bees from pushing up burr- combs above the tops of the frames." Why, Mr. Root, the--what are you talking about, any way? I have scraped ofl' pounds upon pounds of burr- combs that the bees had built over the brood-combs, pushing up the quilts to do so as much as half an inch and even an inch! In the case before us they could not do so, for there is only a flve-sixteenths space. For queen-rearing it is certainly nice to peel up a cloth; and yet if only a five-sixteenths space is to be allowed, I think ray answer is wrong, for I am quite sure a good many bees would be killed by the cloth. I certainly would want a larger space if using a cloth, unless, indeed, the possibly coming heavy top-bar prevents all brace-combs above the brood- frames, in which case I think I should dispense with cloths, even for queen-rearing. Marengo, 111., Feb. 1. C.C.Miller. Friend M., some of the quotations you make were expressions I made a good while ago— at least it seems a good \vhile as I read them just now. Another thing, my experi- ence was mainly with hives tor queen-rear- ing ; and in sending off nuclei we have been in the habit of taking pretty much all of tlie honey stored, about as fast as it comes — that is, as fast as it comes when the colonies are divided and subdivided whenever they get strong enough to bear it and preserve enough bees and brood to take care of the qiteen. Another thing, this matter of wide and thick top-bars seems to be tearing up everything; and I confess that I can not imagine how it is. that, when we did have great heavy wooden top-bars, fifteen or twenty years ago, nobody discovered that, if made of just the right dimensions, they would effectually do away with burr-combs —too wide and too thick, as it seems to me. Over them was just the kind of a honey- board you describe, on which to place the boxes. Now, this liouey-board, so far as I can remember, was just about a bee-space above the top-bars; and yet, whenever a honey-board was removed, there would be so many burr-combs filled with honey that one coiild scarcely see the top-bars at all. Having such a mass of honey and wax every time we wished to take out the frames was such a daub and a nuisance that I gladly welcomed the quilts, as they prevented it; and we used the enamel cloth for years after, with great satisfaction. We are now going back to almost where we were years ago. This is not only true of top-bars, but oth- er things, also, are swinging around in the same sort of way. Even the Peet cage, that has been of such benefit year after year, is to be laid aside, and something very inuch like our old-fashioned one substituted —at least, the boys are recommending some- thing of the sort ; but notwithstanding all this, we are making progress. Our imple- ments are becoming cheaper and simpler and cleaner. I think, however, it behooves us to go slow, and to be careful about throwing away some new things, and going back to old ones. A PROTEST. AUTOMATIC SWARMING AND CARNIOLANS. While Mr. Alley and others are disputing about the self-hiving arrangement, and Mr. Doolittle is giving advice concerning other arrangements for hiving the bees without having them («warm, 1 wish to protest against the whole arrangement as being unsatisfactory and entirely too expensive. None of the plans suggested can be made a success with- out an extra hive for every colony fif bees owned by the apiarist practicing such methods. Hundreds of bee-keepers have all the bees they want, and it is no more expense, and a good deal more satisfac- tory, to keep a good hand in each out-apiary than it is to have a couple of hundred dollars' worth of empty hives around, watching for just what we don't want— swarms. The most of these teachers are queen-breeders. They encourage the swarming impulse in their bi-eeding operations, and send their queens to all parts of the country, diffusing this swarming ma- nia wherever they go. Why not spend more time, thought, and energy, in jiroducing strains of tiees that are indisposed to swarm? la niy first experi- ence with bees, a noticeable feature was, that some colonies were predisposed to swarm, while others were Just as determined not to swarm. Our in- crease came from the swarms, while the greater 216 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. part of our honey came from colonies that did not swarm. Fifteen years of practical experience with bees has caused me to believe that, with proper care in breeding, the swarming disposition can be almost entirely done away with; and what is better, too, we can malje our increase when and where we want it, and oui' supers are not deserted just when we least desire it. On the .'ith of May, 1878, a fine swarm was cast from a colony in my apiary. Seven days later, young queens were piping in the old colony, indicating another swarm. I divided them to pre- vent their swarming. In July these three colonies each cast a swarm; and the one cast on the 6th of May cast a second swarm, malsing an increase of five from one. Other colonies did not swarm at all that season. BAD FOR CARKIOLANS. In May, 188!i, I procured an extra-fine Carniolan queen from prominent parties. I'his colony gave me more bother about swarming than a hundred colonies of Italians; for wlien the honey-fiow ceas- ed, the Italians quit swarming, but the Carniolans consumed tbeir stores in brood-rearing; and al- though they had swarmed during the honey-flow, they swarmed again at a time when there was not enough coming in to enatile th^im to build comb. Yet these breeders tell us Ihat they have no more trou- ble in controlling the swarming impulse of the Car- niolans than they do that of Italians. But if we read their instructions as to liow they manage their breeding-apiaries, we find that their breeding colo- nies are kept at a /V'oc/- heat, crowded and fed so as to have them swarm early and late and often, for the purpose of securing queen-cells under the "swarming impulse." Not only this, but a higher value is placed upon queens produced under this swarming impulse. Away with this nonsense! and away with your patented or unpatented device for hiving swarms or increasing the number of colo- nies! Give us queens from the nou - swarming strains. If properly reared they are just as pro- lific; they will live just as long; they are just as pretty, and are worth a hundred per cent more than your swarmers, because they will stay in the hives and keep the bees there during the honey- flow. S. A. Shuck. Liverpool, 111.. Feb. 30. Friend S., there is some truth in what you say ; but don't you step pretty hard upon the toes of some of our good friends V I have felt as if there were a good deal of ma- chinery to these automatic hiving-arrange- ments ; but then, there may be a good deal in it. Let us wait for the unbiased judg- ment of next season. Carniolans, — well, they do swarm excessively — at least they have been so reported a good many times. The last we tried swarmed, and stung like hornets. The first we tried swarmed like- wise, but they were not so cross. E. R. In addition to the above I wish to empha- size the point that friend Shuck has brought out. Even if automatic swarming should be a success, extra hives must be provided for each colony that is liable to swarm, and an extra swarming - machine also. Now, where a bee-keeper does not desire increase this will be quite an expense over the ordi- nary methods of having somebody look aft- er the apiary. THE OHIO STATE BEE-KEEPERS' CON- VEWTION AT CLEVELAND. BECOLIiECTlONS OF WHAT WAS SAID, AS REPOUT- ED BY ERNEST. As was previously announced, the con- vention assembled in Cleveland, in the council chamber of the City Hall. The room was large — in fact, nearly as large as the senate chambers in some of our State Capitols. While it was elegant as well as- commodious, it proved to be a little too large for the average speaker to be heard distinctly. In this connection let me say, that, from what conventions I have attend- ed in large halls or rooms. I am of the opin- ion that it would be better if we could have a smaller room — say one that would seat 100 persons for oitr State conventions and 200 or more for our International. There were about 75 bee-keepers i)resent at the morning session. The largest num- ber at any one time was something like 90. This number included some quite promi- nent bee-keepers, among them being Dr. C. C. Miller, Dv. A. B. Mason, H. R. Board- man, S. F. Newman, J. B. Ilains, O. .7. Ter- rell, Mr. Spitler, F. A. Eaton, Miss Dema Bennett, Dan White, Mr. II. F. Moore, Dr. G. L. Tinker, Chalon Fowls, Dr. H. Besse and others. Mr. Boardman, although not present at the opening of the meeting, came in a little later. We were previously in- formed that the president would probably not be in attendance, on account of ill health, and accordingly Dr. Miller, who had honor- ed us by his presence, was invited to act as chairman, which he did until the president arrived. Among the first subjects that came up was : THE PRODUCTION OF COMB AND EXTRACT- ED HONEY ; SHALL THE TWO BE PRO- DUCED TOGETHER V It was generally agreed that the two could be carried on successfully, but that it will depend upon the locality and the mar- ket as well as upon the man. II. F. Moore, of Cleveland, who has sold tons of honey in a wholesale and retail way. found that, where bee - keepers produced comb honey ^ there was less suspicion of the extracted hon- ey being adulterated. The question then turned upon the matter of preparation. If the beekeeper is prepared in advance to produce either comb or extracted honey, he should run for one or both, according to cir- cumstances. The question was then asked, ''What is the preparation?" Dr. Miller said. "Order your supplies early." " How early V " some one asked. I leplied, " About six months." But some of the old bee-keepers said that they want- ed their supplies before that time. The discussion finally turned upon ex- tracted honey. J. B. Ilains always extracts from light-colored combs. Dr. A. B. Ma- son did not believe that it made any differ- ence. O. J. Terrell never extracts from the brood-nest. Dr. Mason does, when he thinks he can do it safely. You know, when bee-keepers get to dis- cussing a thing at conventions, in spite of the president's efforts to keep them in one channel of thought they will sometimes J 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 217 switch off on to another question ; and, al- though regularly out of order, some most valuable points many times are brought out. 1 can not remember just how it came up ; but at any rate the question assumed some- what this form : " Are not the successful bee-keepers those who have their wives help them in the apiary'?" Prominent among the number, F. A. Eaton thought that wives are a necessary adjunct to an ordina- ry apiary ; in fact, lie said he could not get along in his apiary without the assistance of his better half. Dr. Mfison would not oblige his wife to work among the bees. Dr. Miller did not agree : it depended upon what they did. When the women-folks had not been in the apiary for two or three days, things got "awful disorderly.'' If they did not visit the shop every so often, things got into bad shape. When we come to the neat part, women are the best—" better than a horse." Dr. Mason urged that it was not nec- essary for bee-men to be slovenly — they may just as well keep things neat as not. Somehow or other, at this stage of pro- ceedings, somebody— I guess it was Dr. Ma- son—suggested that there were members present who had not paid their annual dues — 50 cents. He did not want anybody to come and " absorb '' without paying for it. Just then Dr. Miller said it was worth 50 cents to hear bee-men quarrel about their wives. Along about this stage of the proceedings we had the pleasure of having one of those bee-songs, the words of which were compos- ed by Eugene Secor, and the music by Dr. C. C. Miller, rendered by Dr. M. himself in his usual characteristic way. Again, I noted that the music had an effect in enliv- ening the subsequent discussion. REVERSING. This was next discussed by Chalon Fowls, of Oberlin. Mr. Fowls is one of the most enthusiastic bee-keepers. I well remember, that, when I was a student at Oberlin, he used to come and talk over some of his views on bee culture. He always had some hobby, and latterly it was reversing, and is yet. Mr. Fowls iu convention thought it paid him in dollars and cents to reverse ; he could get more brood, and consequently raise more bees in one brood- chamber, and have them ready for the season when he wanted them. "He also averred that he could, to a certain extent, prevent swarm- ing. He never allows the brood to hatch in the upper part of the frames. Just as soon as the lower part is sealed over he reverses, which causes the bees to carry up the hon- ey, and leave the cells empty for the queen to fill with eggs, which she does. As a re- sult, the young bees hatch out at the bot- tom of the frame, while the upper part is filled full with sealed or unsealed brood as the case may be. He did not think that re- versing killed the imago queens in capped queen-cells. That theory, he thought, was all nonsense. As to the matter of swarm- ing, it prevents it to a certain extent, for the reason that it gives the queen more room in which to lay. There is. perhaps, something in this statement. Mr. E. France once said in Gleanings, that, if the queen has all the room in which she can lay, and not be crowded, the bees will not be likely to swarm ; but to give her plenty, it is usually necessary, under ordinary circum- stances, to give her room in the upper and lower story ; but Mr. Fowls endeavors to give the queen all she needs in the lower story, by reversing. The next question was REVERSIBLE EXTRACTORS, BY DR. MASON. Although an extractor man, he had never tried reversing-machines. I believe he said he had seen one in use, and liked its opera- tion. Not having had practical experience himself, he read a number of extracts from Gleanings, from those wiio had used them. On the whole, the doctor liked re- versible extractors ; and, if I remember cor- rectly, he was going to purchase one for next season's use. Dan White said the trouble was not so much in the extracting as in getting combs uncapped. For him, a two- comb machine would do the work as fast as or faster than an assistant could uncap. Some way the convention got to arguing pretty earnestly on the theory of large and small extractors. All sorts of books, sticks, and whatever the one who had the floor could get his hands on were used as object- lessons to express their theories ; and finally they got to arguing fiercely as to whether a big grindstone would turn as easily or easier than a small one. I can not remember just what conclusion they arrived at ; but at any rate I remember that I was pretty well mix- ed up. I believe it would be a good idea if, instead of books and sticks, we could have the things themselves right in the conven- tion room, so that we might the better illus- trate our ideas. At the Ohio State Conven- tion I took along with me a part of a Van Deusen reversible frame that I might the better describe it. If there had been an ex- tractor at the Ohio State Convention, we could have put it right up on the desk for an object-lesson. I am putting in this last as a sort of parenthesis, for the future — not that I think that supply-dealers should car- ry their wares with them, to induce sales, but that bee-keepers themselves should take along with them, or cause to be sent, what- ever they propose to discuss in detail. We next listened to an essay from Mr. H. E. Boardman on the subject of BEE-KEEriN(;, FAST AND PRESENT. The president discussed some of the im- provements in bee-keeping appliances. He thought that hives and fixtures were about as perfect as we could get them. He did not think the hive, its size or shape, would increase the honey-crop. When he fi'St be- gan bee-keeping he thought that j| if he could master the wintering problem, suc- cess would be certain. He would then set out apiaries by the score, and start what he would call the Northern Ohio Honey Com- pany. By careful experimenting and ob- servation he finally mastered the wintering problem ; but a poor season would come on, and he would be no better off than before. Visions of the " Honey Company "' began to wane. For two or three years back he said 218 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar, he had been expecting and hoping for a good honey year ; but as each year went by and closed 'without seeing" Jii"^ hopes realized, he was hoping that tiext year would surely be a good season. lie did not know why, when formerly he had produced good crops of honey, he should fail now. lie attiibuted a part of the cutting-off of the nectar to using basswood in large quantities for sections. For some reason or other, clover had failed. He had had some expeiience with alfalfa, and he had had great hopns that something might be realized from this source ; and as he closed, it was evident that his paper had something of a discouraging outlook for bee- keepers. ALFALFA. This having been mentioned in Mr. Boardman's paper, it was discussed. Some argued that neither alfalfa nor sweet clover would grow in our soil very well ; and that the latter, cattle w^ould not eat. (^uite a number, however, testified that, under some circumstances, cattle would eat it. On the whole, a hopeful view was taken of the pos- sibilities that might be develojied f rom af- falfa and sweet clover in the way of a new source for nectar. Dr. Miller, in comment- ing on Mr. Boardman's ])aper, said that he, like Mr. Board man. had been waiting for a good season. The third year came, and he secured a good crop — some ]2,0U0 lbs. of comb honey, and he thought our friend Boardman would come across a good season yet, which would very largely make up for the reverses of the three preceding seasons. In fact, a good many testified that clover had, for two or three years past, seemingly failed, but had now begun to yield nectar as a whole, and they hoped that their old-time big crops would come again. II. F. Moore thought that bee keeping was no worse than a good many other rural pursuits ; they all have their poor and good seasons. Sometimes farmers have three bad seasons. THE (^)UESTI0N-150X was then introduced. The iirst question was, '' Shall we use sections filled or partly filled with foundation ? " It was answered by a vote. Twenty-five members voted for fiill sheets and nine for partly filled sheets, and the rest did not vote either way. The next question was. " Shall we advise our neighbors to embark in bee-keeping V " A good many spoke on this question, and many said no. '• Is it advisable to shut bees in their hives with wire cloth, in the cel- lar? " A. I.Kootsaid, " Yes, itcan be done." The general consensus of opinion was, that, although it could be done, it was not ad- visable— at least, not for beginners. Anoth- er question was, " Are honse-apiaries pref- erable to hives?" J. B. Ilains said, " Hives, alwavs."' No one demurred at this statement. The next question, "What is the best remedy for bee-stings ?'' brought out considerable discussion.' Dr. Mason recommended oil of cloves, even though it did ■•' come out of a bottle." Some one said, "Grin and bear it." Mr. Eaton called at- tention to the fact that the evident intent of the question was, what to do in cases of .se- vere stinging. iVlthough a strictly temper- ate man, he recommended whisky, and cited a case where it had undoubtedly saved a life. Mr. Phelps related another instance of what he thought was an equally serious case, but the individual lived through it. Some of the friends got to arguing pretty seriously. Dr. Mason said it is a well- known fact, that, when a j>erson is bitten by a rattlesnake, if he drinks a quantity of whisky it will not produce intoxication ; whereas the same person could not take half the quantity without the snakebite, and yet not be intoxicated, which he thought is an evidence that the liquor counteracts the effects of the poison. A.I. Boot then cited the fact that an eminent author, writing on the subject of venomous serpents, for the Century 3Iagazirie, made the statement that it is very doubtful wheth- er liquor has any effect. The discussion ran inetty liigh, when it became evident that the feelings of some might be hurt. It is safe to say, how^ever, that every one pres- ent was a teetotaller, so far as liquor is con- cerned. The next subject under discussion was MARKETING EXTRACTED HONEY, by H. F. Moore. He has sold both comb and extracted honey, in the wholesale and retail way. to the extent of many tons, and has probably had as much experience as any other man in the business. He first took nice samples of honey around to private houses, and in a gentlemanly way asked if he might have the privilege of bringing them around, at another day, a bottle or two of honey, naming the price. Usually he would secure an order. Pt)liteness and courtesy have a good deal to do in being able to dispose of honey in this way. If customers did not seem dispospd to pur- chase, he did not urge them. Latterly he has sold direct to grocerymen, putting the honey up in Muth jars, and covering the cork with a nice piece of tinfoil. Mr. Moore is working up a reputation for his honey, and grocerymen recognize that he always handles nice honey, put up in nice pack- ages. He has only recently begun to sell to grocerymen, and has sold already some- thing over 100 gross of Muth jars of honey. A reporter for a Cleveland daily paper got it down something over 100 bottles, and com- mented on it as a fact that it was a very large sale. I hope I have got it nearer right. Linscraped sections, such as are covered with propolis, are unsalable, said Mr. Moore. In regard to " extracted " honey, he did not like the name. , He prefers the word " clear" honey, the same as the Ger- mans use. He had experienced difficulties on all sides from the AViley falsehood. In many cases he had hard work in convincing them that his honey w^as honest honey. SniPriNG HONEY was another topic for discussion. Dr. Mil- ler was asked how he shipped that 12,000 lbs. of lioney whicli he sold for cash to an eastern firm. To make the combs of honey more secure, he fastened a small starter at the top and bottom of the sections. This insured the attachment of the comb to the top and bottom, and also to the sides. In 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 219 packing his honey in double-tier 24-11). cases, using a thin board between each tier, the cases were piled one above another, in such a way as not to fall down. Tlie sections, as a matter of course, were placed parallel witli the rails. Mr. Moore said he had received small shipments of comb honey badly brok- en down. The tiers of cases were piled one on top of another to the height of an ordi- nary man, and were piled by themselves. When the car was bumped into, the pile toppled over, and down went the honey. Mr. Moore urged another point, and that was: Do not put poor sections in the crate with good honey. You will lose more than you gain. We next listened to well-written essay on the subject of bee-forage, by 8. F. Newman. I wish to say right here, that this essay was one of the most scholarly that was ever pre- pared and read at a bee-convention. Mr. Newman introduced the subject by a very neat prelude about the bee-keeping of to- day and that of Mrgil's time, and said we had not made so vei-y much improvement since then ; in proof of which he cited some very beautiful translations from \'irgil — translations that were evidently his own. I have read A'irgil and one or two more of the Latin poets, and I think I can appreciate somewhat when I hear a good translation. If one of these had been rendered in the class-room, the professor would, I am sure, have given it a very '' tall " compliment. Coming more directly into tlie subject of bee-forage, Mr. Newman cited an instance where his bees at home were doing almost nothing, while those a few miles out w^ere working very heavily on peavine clover. From the latter apiary he produced a large crop of honey, and "had it on sale in the groceries. I have seen and tasted samples of it, and know it was fine, and that the crop was large. ^Ir. Newman recommend- ed that, when a basswood is cut down, we set out another. He would induce farmers to set out mammoth peavine clover and buck- wheat, and sweet clover along the creeks. It can be made to take the place of ragweed, if we think so. Mr. Newman, in his essay, made allusion to \'irgirs method of watering bees. This brought out the fact that one of the members — I think it was Dr. Bessie— soaks rotten wood in water, and places it accessible to bees. On the matter of alsike clover, all were not agreed as to its value to farmers. Mr. Eaton said that the farmers did not like it for stock, although others testified that their farmers do. While I am aoout it. I wish to say that that ingenious little story about artihcial eggs that would hatch chickens that had no feathers, originated with Mr. S. F. Newman. You will remember that it was copied through the press, north and south. His object was to counteract, by a jiiece of pleasantry, the manufactured-comb-honey yarn by bringing up another parallel case, so obviously ridiculous, preposterous, and impossible, the gullible public would begin to doubt whether artilicial eggs or comb honey were any thing more tiian a myth; and the story had a wonderful effect, al- though there are some old fogies who will continually persist in thinking that arti- licial eggs" have been made, so perfect that chickens would hatch from them without feathers. A good deal was said for and against sweet clover. As to alsike. some said their farmers w^ould not use it again, and others testified to the contrary. Come to sift the matter down, it seemed that a good deal depended upon the soil. Along about this stage of the proceedings, your humble servant introduced the sub- ject of thick top-bars. It will be unneces- sary to repeat the same here, as there has already been considerable said in regard ta the matter in these columns. In my paper I alluded to the fact that honey-boards might possibly be displaced entirely by heavy top-bars; and I was astonished to find how many of the bee-keepers of Ohio have never used honey-boards, and would not use them. A vote was then taken, and I think only about 20 per cent had used honey-boards, the rest either using heavier top-bars or else putting up with burr- comb attachments. OUT APIARIES. This subject was discussed by Mr. -I. IJ. Hains, of J>edford, O. lie did nut think it necessary to have an assistant to keep in attendance. lie ran for extracted honey ; and what little swarming there was, families were rewarded for the hiving by gifts of honey at various times. No attention was given to the bees until the swarming-time. Then he goes with the wagon and takes along as many empty combs as he can carry back in a load of others filled. AVhile in the apiary the tilled combs are takf^n out and replaced by the empty ones. He returns home and does all his extracting where he has conveniences. If there is any robbing to be done, it will take place under his supervision, and not in an out-apiary w^here members of the farmer's family might re- ceive a good deal of annoyance. To reduce swarming to a minimum he prevents the rearing of drone brood by every possible means. He gives thern plenty of shade and ample entrance. CELLAR WINTERING. This was discussed by Frank A. Eaton. After having tried the outdoor and indoor methods he prefers the latter, because it gives him a chance to use the best and the cheapest hives— the single-walled ones. A good many about him were unsuccessful in wintering. When he came to ascertain the cause he found the cellar was too Jight, and there were a good many ap])les and potatoes in the cellar, besides decaying vegetables. A cellar should be dark, and should have nothing but the bees, and, if practicable, they should be shut off by themselves. A vote was taken, and it was found that 17 wintered indoors and 32 out- do(us. The (^)uestion-I5ox Was here introduced. "What is the best vvay to get propolis off the handsV Some "ne suggested alcohol : others benzint-. '• Which are better— tight or loose bottoni-boardsV Dr. Miller prompt- 220 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. ly responded '' Yes. ■" Nobody disagreed. "Wliich are better — Italians or hybridsV" Frank A. Eaton thonglit that hybrids are better than Italians, because they are easier to keep pure. After a little unfinished business the con- vention adjourned to meet at Toledo, Dr. Mason being chosen president, and Miss Bennett being reelected secretary and treasurer. USING INTOXICATING LIQUOHS FOK RELIEF When Severely Stung by Bees or Bitten by Serpents. 18 THERE A POSSIBILITY OF A MISTAKE IN THE MATTER ? I SUPPOSE that most of you have heard the statement that has been handed down from generation to generation in regard to the use of whisky and other intoxicants in case of snake-bites, and also as a means of saving life when the sting of a bee or many bees produces dangerous symptoms. You are aware that I have many times express- ed a doubt in regard to the matter. In the Century for August, 1889, is an article from Mr. S. Weir Mitchell, a man who has de- voted a large part of his life to the investi- gation and study of poisonous serpents. One can hardly help deciding, after careful- ly reading the article, that the writer is as well prepared, or perhaps better, to give us the truth, than any other man living. I will make one or two extracts. Here is the first : The first effect of venom is to lessen suddenly the pressure under which the blood is kept while in the vessels. Death from this cause must be rare, as it is active for so short a time. Any alcoholic stimu- lus would at this period be useful; but, despite the popular creed, it is now pretty sure that many men have been killed by the alcohol given lo relieve them from the effects of snake-bite; and it is a mat- ter of record, that men dead drunk with whisky, and then bitten, have died of the bite. For the con- sequences to the blood and to the nerve-centers which follow an injection of venom, there is, so far as I am aware, no antidote; but as to this I do not at all despair, and see clearly that our way to find relief is not by stupid trials of this sort and that, but by competently learning- what we have to do. Moreover, we are in a position at present to say what not to do, and there is a large measure of gain in being able to dismiss to the limbo of the use- less a host of so-called antidotes. From the above we gather that people have been killed by mistaken kindness; that is, a tremendous dose of whisky killed the patient where the snake - bite alone would probably have done no serious harm. This very thing has occurred to me before. Please remember, dear friends, how many years it was the accepted custom to bleed a man for every ill that flesh is heir to. If he was suffering from lack of blood, they con- tinued to bleed him all the same ; and when the poor fellow died, the decision was, that even bleeding did not save him. The second extract is as follows : If the dose of venom be large, and the distance from help great, except the knife or cautery little is to be done that i^ of value. But it is well to bear in mind, that in this country a bite in the extremi- ties rarely causes death. Please notice from the above, that the serpent-bites in this country rarely produce death. Heavy doses of whisky do, however, often produce death. I myself witnessed the death of a little child who reached and took a teacup partly filled with common whisky, where it was carelessly left on a stand or table. Now, then, suppose a child has been stung so severely that there is ap- prehension that death may ensue : shall we give whisky enough to kill a well child, in our attempts to afford relief? You know it is popularly claimed, that, when one is bit- ten by a serpent, or stung severely by bees, he will bear enormous doses of whisky without even producing intoxication. Now, this may be true— at least, a good many physicians believe it to be true. But, dear friends, is it not possible that it is just as true, and no more so, than was the old doc- trine of blood-letting, when any thing ailed the patient? On our way to Mammoth Cave, the smallest and weakest horse in tL ot began to play out, I decided, from exhaustion, and nothing else. The colored stage-driver borrowed a knife from Ernest , and cut and lacerated the poor animal's mouth, till its blood be- spattered the muddy road ; then he pronounc- ed the cure complete, and drove on. During the operation the horse had rested enough so as to get breath , and th eref ore started u p with temporary improvement. The darkey de- clared that the blood-letting gave the horse new strength. Now, I do not mean to be stubborn or contrary; but, dear friends, please let us be sure we are not following in the footsteps of the darkey ; and, above all, let us remember that a single dose of whisky may consign almost any human being to a drunkard's grave, in spite of all that temper- ance workers and Christian exhorters can do to save him. The fact that the Youth's Companion has, in a recent number, strongly advocated the use of whisky in tremendous doses, in case of snake-bites, does not change my opinion in regard to the matter in the least. I think the writer has simply followed the popular opinion. Although he tells us considerable in regard to snake-bites, he has not given the subject such thorough and complete in- vestiaralion, by any manner of means, as has Mr. Mitchell in the Century. PHICE LISTS RECEIVED. We have just printed circulars for the following: parties: Levei-ing Brothers, Wiota, Cass Co., la. W. S. Ponder, Indianapolis, Ind. J. B. Kline, Topeka. Kan. S. W. Pilie, St. Charles, 111. Seeds, vegetables, and plants. J. P. Connell, Hillsboro, Texas. F. T. Hall, Lochiel, Wis. I. C. Horton & Bro., Muskegon, Mich. J. A. Thornton. Lima, 111. Otlier parties have sent us their circulars as follows; J. B. McCorniick, Fredericksburg, O. J. T. Wilson, Little Hickman, Ky. F. A. Snell, MillcilgevUI... HI. B. Davidson, U.xbridire, Out. J. W. K. Shaw & Co.. Loreauville, La. J. W. Buchanan & Bro., Eldora, la. C. M. Dixon, Parrish, 111. CONVENTION NOTICES. The spring meeting of the Missouri State Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation will be held at Marshall, Saline Co., Mo., on Wednesda.y and Thursday, April 16 and 17. 1890. in the county court-room. Reduced rates at hotel, for bee-keepers, have been secured. A cordial invitation is extended to bee-keepers everywhere to attend, and especially those of Missouri. Essays from promi- nent men are expected. J. W. RorSE, Sec'y. Santa Fe, Mo. 1890 GLEAN1^•GS IN BEE CULTURE. 221 0a^ QaEgwi6N-B@^, With Replies from our best Autiiorities 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 OurQuestion-Box." Question 156 —Is a dimhle-ivalled hive, with a dead- air spdce. ns good for irintrriinj as one of the same kind with this space filled irith cliaff. providing that a chaff cushion ur other absorbent be used above the brood-frames? Have you had any practical tests to lead you in deciding one way or the other? No. I learned this from others. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. Yes, a dcadair space Is the best of non-conduct- ors I have. Illinois. Mrs. L. Harrison. 1. No. 3. No; and I don't need any to know that much. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. We prefer a single-walled hive, yet we have chaff and double- walled hives in use. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. I prefer to use chaff, for the reason that I have never succeeded in getting a " dead-air " space. Wisconsin. S. W. Geo. Grimm. I should say better, provided you have the dead- air space. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boardman. I have tried both. I should prefer the chaff. Theory and practice both support this opinion. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. I never experimented with double-walled hives; but to guess at it, I think I should rather risk the chaff. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. Freeborn. I use straw, and prefer it to either a dead-air space or chaff. As each separate straw contains a dead air-space, I have hundreds of dead-air spaces instead of one. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. I've had no experience, but I suspect an actual dead-air space is better than chaff'. But in actual practice I doubt if walls are close enough to be air- tight, so I should prefer the chaff. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. I am not in favor of a fixed double-walled hive of any kind. Chaff packing that can be removed is much preferable. I have tested this matter very thoroughly. Connecticut. S. W. L. C. Root. I have hadbothkindsinmy roof apiary for the last 25 years, and still have some of both. There is, per- haps, no difference between them. But T am posi- tive in stating that my strongest colony in spring was never in a chaff hive. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MUTH. I never saw a hive with a dead-air space, neither do I believe anybody else ever did. Since it is nec- essary—in order to have a dead-air space — that every joint be perfectly air tight, this would require a glue joint at every joint. We have in an empty, well-corked, and sealed bottle, a dead-airspace; and to get it in a hive it must be as perfect as in the corked bottle; hence I would consider it safer to fill the space with chaff, as the chaff' itself assists in forming the dead-air space, or, in other words, many little dead-air spaces. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. I think not. Coarse packing-material in double- walled hives gives much less protection than does fine material; and as coarse material gives condi- tions nearer like those of a dead-airspace than does fine, I reason that a dead-air space would be still less satisfactory. I speak from a large experience with chaff hives. Cuba. O. O. Poppleton. I have had no practical experience in dead-air spaces. A deadair space might be effective if it were really a dead-air space; and can you make a really effective dead-air space in an ordinary wood- en hive exposed to all conditions of the atmosphcreV We doubt it. New York. E. Rambler. We have three or four hives that happened to get into the field without having the space filled with chaff. They have been in use three or four years. I don't know but they are just as good as those that are stuffed with chaff. But we prefer to put in the chaff. There are a great many people living in cold houses, and don't freeze to death; but that doesn't prove that it is better to live in a cold house. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. I am a charitable individual, but I sometimes feel tempted to "say things" about the brethren that keep talking about dead-air space in a hive. I should think it derogatory to my own wits if I should say that I had experimented with it much. Dead-air space in a hive is impracticable— summer suns are too hot, and cracks form too easily. If you have a double wall, pack it with something, of course. To be sure, a few boards set up around to break the force of a winter gale will help some; but what would be thought of the sanity of the individ- ual who would prefer to crouch behind a few boards when he might just as well be in a house? Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. Yes, sir, if your air space is absolutely tight. In our opinion, all chaff does is to perfect the work of the hive-maker. The chaff' that would fill the walls of a hive weighs almost nothing, leaving the dead air as the main filling, after all; but it chinks up little cracks so the space is a dead-air space, not filled with circulating atmospheric air. I prefer a more solid wall, however, made thicker, and filled with some more solid filling, and painted dark red, because the dark color has no tendency to radiate away the heat of the bees in stormy, cloudy weather; and when the sun shines, which is more of the time than many think, it furnishes heat which the bees get, and thus aids them in keeping up the necessary temperature. Yes, I have had lots of practical ex- perience in this line. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. If a space of perfectly dead air could be secured it would be theoretically as good a non-conductor as we could secure by any packing. Practically this is never secured, for the reason that, even if the air space is perfectly inclosed, as long as one Bide is warmer than the other, currents of air will circulate, carrying heat to the other side. Packing l>22 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak. of any kind breaks up these currents of air; and the more they are prevented, the more perfect the non-conducting power. Try the experiment with some of your honey-pails. Fill two pint pails with hot water. Put each of them, with a thermometer, into a two-quart pail, and these into eight-quart pails. In one, support the smaller pails by blocks, so as to form dead-air spaces, which may be made almost perfect by tying paper tightly over the tops. In the other, pack the space between the larger pails with chaff, shavings, or, better, with wool or feathers. Open at intervals, and compare the ther- mometers. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. A year or so ago, when we were renovat- ing our cliafl: hives by boiling them, we dis- covered that two of them bad never been packed with chaff in the sides. Both of these hives had wintered bees every year just as successfully as the other hives' hav- ing chaff packed in the side walls. The question that arose in my mind was, '• Wouldn't all the rest of the hives have wintered the bees just as well if the side walls had not been packed in chaff?" If such is the case, it would have saved a good deal of expense ; and to satisfy my curiosity I propounded the above question. It will be remembered that VV. T. Falconer has sent out for years his Falcon chaff hives, the side walls of which, if I am correct, are simply dead-air spaced, without chaff pack- ing. I feel pretty well satisfied, however, that a chaff cushion above the brood-nest is a good thing, whether the chaff in the side walls is necessary or not. Ekxest. 0aR P0ME?. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, be- cause thou hasi left thy first love.— Rev. 3:4. As it is out of the question to have a nap on /Sunday, just before dinner, on account of church services, I always take my nap just before going to church, say about ten o'clock or a little before; and I usually wake up about a quarter past ten, and then I am ready to go to church, bright, fresh, and vigorous, and no danger of getting drowsy. Well, the Sunday about which I propose to speak to-day was communion Simday. I did not think of it, however, un- til I came to take my place in church, and saw the table with its white spread. In a few moments more my attention was drawn from worldly matters by the reading of our good pastor. It was from the second chap- ter of the book of Revelation. He read as follows: I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience, and how thou canst not b^ar them which are evil; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my names's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. The very first words took a strong hold of me. It seemed as if the Savior had directed my good friend who was in the pulpit to read these words for my special benefit. They were exactly what I needed. Some- times when I am sorely discouraged and cast down I repeat to myself the little text, " Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness ;" and it gives me comfort ; for, no matter how bad 1 am, I believe I really and truly love righteous- ness. I am a diligent worker also ; and in some directions i believe I have a great amount of patience ; and I think, too, that I oftentimes bear a good deal and have pa- tience for Christ's sake. The concluding words, "■ Ilast laboied and hast not faint- ed," gave me comfort; but at the same time there was a foreboding in them that something else was coming. I knew that, on this special morning, I needed rebuke and reproof; and I just began to realize that my mind was full of a great lot of worldly matters that had no business there, especially on this continunion Sunday ; therefore when the pastor went on and read the next verse, which I have selected as my text, it came upon me in such a way as al- most to startle me : Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, be- cause thou hast left thj' first love. Then he read the fifth verse : Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fall- en, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy can- dlestick out of its place, except thou repent. I hope, dear readers, that you will get your Bibles and read the whole of this sec- ond chapter of Revelation. I wish now to digress a little to tell you just why these words took such a hold of me. The first verse of the chapter says, " Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write ;" and it was John who was directed to write these words. Our pastor explained to us that the word " angel '' might mean minister, so that John was simply to direct the pastor of this church at Ephesus to speak to his peo- ple in the way I have quoted. Our pastor was speaking these words to his people, and they were just the ones I needed. Had he looked me full in the face, and directed his whole talk to me, it seemed as,if it would have been most exceedingly appropriate for my case. Please let us go back to Our Homes for Feb. 15, where 1 spoke of something that had clouded my spiritual state. I told you, also, of an instantaneous and wonderful de- liverance. A week after that deliverance, I also wrote that, as yet, no trace of the cloud had darkened my spiritual vision. There m;iy be some among my readers who do not care to follow me in this matter of struggles against temptation. There may be some who think it childish. If so, I hope these friends will have charity while they skijt past what I have to say this morning, for I feel it to be my duty to go on, as I know from the letters I receive that there are others who are fighting manfully, and fighting inch by iixdi against temptation and Satan. I know, too, there are at least some who have become almost discouraged, be- cause they have fallen again and again. I think there are some, also, who, after having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, have, in the language of our text, left their first love, and strayed away into the bondage of sin, and into Satans snares. To such I want to speak to- day, because I be- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 228 lieve my experience may be helpful to you. Let me illustrate what I have in mind by some /((miliar exani'ple in the way of fight- ing temptation. Thirty years ago I was in the habit of tak- ing a glass of beer now and then, and per- haps I might as well say that I had become quite fond of lager beer. Nova', although it is certainly 25 years since I have tasted a drop, the old appetite comes back yet with astonishing power, once in a while. When I hear my German friends talk about their social glass of lager, a great many times I have said in my heart, ■' Oh, how I do wish it were not wicked to tell them that I love their favorite beverage too, and to ask to be one among them, and drink with them I'' In some respects I am ashamed of this con- fession, dear friends, but in others 1 am not. I love to get acquainted with the German people, and I want to bring them to the Savior that I have found, and 1 am glad to join in every thing that is innocent and harmless, in the line that Paul suggests when he says, " I am made all things to all men, that 1 might by all means save some." Well, now I want to tell you that, when I am alone in our great cities, Satan often whispers to me, '' Why shouldn't you have a glass of beer now? What harm would it do? There is not a soul here that knows you. and no one need know a thing about it. There is certainly no danger that you would ever drink more than is good for you." And while he is whispering these suggestions I look into the saloons with their attractive and inviting placards. At just such times I have said to myself, "• If there were nothing lorong about it I would give a loliole dollar for just one single glass of lager." Now, please do not understand that I have ever thought of doing such a thing. It would be wrong for me to waste a whole dollar in the purchase of any thing in the way of drink, as a beverage, that the world has ever fur- nished. The money that I call my own is not mine to use in any such foolish way. I know there are people who pay several dol- lars for a bottle of wine ; but I should be ill at ease with such a class. When such sug- gestions come (in some way they alwa>s seem to come most when I am in an un- known city, and among entire strangers) 1 have always, sooner or later, said, " Get thee behind me, Satan ;" but my tempera- ment is somewhat imaginative, as you may know, and I am afraid 1 do not rebuke Sa- tan soon, enough. It is this same old tempta- tion that I spoke of in regard to the ma- chinery of the universe. The study of the machinery employed by the evil one, some- how or other has something fascinating about it to me. Now in regard to the dan- ger that has been threatening me : He who has monev and property intrusted to his care usually meets temptations that other people do not have to meet. While in Cal- ifornia I saw some beautiful gardens be- longing to a man of wealth, and people would say to me, " Mr. paid $10,000 for that live acres of fruit, just as it stands now." David C. Cook gave $go/xjo for his California ranch ; and now he is investing ever so many thousand more to make it a little paradise here on earth. In another case an ideal orange-grove in full bearing presented such a beautiful sight that a man of capital paid $5000 for it, cash down, just that he might be able to say that such a thing of beauty was his own. Our business is getting to be, as you know, one of consid- erable magnitude. Single purchases of more than a thousand dollars are now comparative- ly common. Sometimes such a purchase is made by the demands of the business, when I hardly know any thing about it until 1 see the bill. It is all right and proper. The boys are beginning to exercise so much judgment and wisdom in managing these matters that I do not feel as anxious now as I used to in regard to them. In order to make our extractors all of one sheet of tin we were obliged to get our tin imported from the old country, and I had almost forgot- ten about it until the bill came through the mails, for over one thousand dollars. John had made the purchase, and had made it wisely. Our new printing - press, that is making us all happy, was purchased entire- ly by Ernest. I was not even introduced to the agent until the purchase was completed. I was busily occupied at the time, and I told Ernest that, as he had studied the mat- ter well, and had it all in hand, he should go ahead and make the purchase. Although the press was valued at $2500, we have every reason to think that he made a careful in- vestment. Now, in one sense this property is ours to do what we please with it ; in an- other, it is not. My way of putting it would be this : It belongs to Christ Jesus, the Lord and Master. We are stewards to hold and use it, and to invest it as best we can for his honor and glory. I think, dear friends, you all pretty nearly agree with me, only per- haps you might put it in another way, say like this : You, my friends and patrons, have intrusted me with your money. You have desired me to publish a good bee-jour- nal with a part of it ; with the other part you wish me to furnish implements and sup- plies for bee culture, and to look after the general good of our industry. You do not wish me to use the money that I thus accu- mulatp, for gambling or even for speculat- ing. I think that most of you would feel a little hurt, and may be you would feel like finding fault, if I should pay $10,000 for an orange-orchard in Califoriiia or Florida. Such an investment would not do you any good, and might do me much harm as I am at present situated. It would not be in harmony with my profession ; therefore my duty to myself and my duty to my fellow- men demands that I resist such temptations. In this light it would be foolish and wrong for me to pay a dollar for a glass of lager beer, even if there were no intemperance about it. But the worst obstacle in the way of the latter is the guilty conscience / should have after having done such a fool- ish thing. Suppose I should preach temper- ance and Christ Jesus while at home, and then when I am off alone in the night in some great city, yield to that old appetite, thinking no one would know it. For two or three weeks after my deliver- ance, as I told you in my Home Paper of 224 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Mak. February 15, no glimpse of that old tempta- tion came near. As the clays passed I be- gan gradually to forget about it, however ; and when I became so much absorbed in the great crowd of business that I began to forget or neglect daily prayer alone by my- self, before I knew it this old shadow began to creep slowly back ; and it came in the line, too, with what I have said in regard to giving a dollar for a glass of beer. Satan approached me one day, almost unawares, and began something in this way : " Mr. lioot, suppose you could, by money, pur- chase a fair and dear title to this ' cloud land ' that has been disturbing you.'' What I should have done at this point was to have said, " Get thee behind me, Satan. My business is here on earth, and not up in the clouds. I have nothing to do with investments in cloud land. Get thee hence !" That was not what I did, however. The subject had never presented itself in just that light before, and I fell to thinking of the orange-groves and the beautiful ranches that some of the rich men purchased in Cal- ifornia, and then, just for the fun of it, I began speculating as to just what amount I would be willing to pay, provided I could have just what I fancied, and in a way that would wrong no one. Satan was keen enough to make the most of his advantage, and he went on, in a very smooth and plaus- ible way, "• You would probably give a thou- sand dollars, without any hesitation, would you not, friend EootV Well, now, would you not give five thousand dollarsV And then he began explaining how it might all be managed without any thing derogatory to the character of the Christian. I do not know how many minutes I spent in building air castles in the clouds, in just this way. Perhaps it was not more than a second or two— no matter. The brief parley did me harm. Old temptations came trooping back in rainbow colors, and for a brief mo- ment I was ready to— to — what? Sell my " birthright " for a " mess of pottage"? No, thank God. not quite; for the old prayer, '' Lord, help," came to my aid. But I felt at once that my bright spiritual vision was dimmed, stained, and soiled by sin in con- templation. The brief glimpse that Satan held up haunted me. I once met in our county jail a man who had set his store on fire in order to get the insurance. Said he, '' Mr. Eoot, I first began planning as to how the thing might be done, without the remot- est idea in the world of doing such a thing. I kept saying to myself all along, ' I would not be guilty of such a thing for worlds ;' but yet there seemed to be a mysterious fas- cination in speculating upon and going over the ground, and planning on how it might be done so as to escape detection." The end was, that he set the building on fire. riease believe mp. friends, when 1 tell you that a great part of the crime that curses our land, and sends human souls into the bottomless pit. starts in just that way. I turned away from Satan, thinking that I had not been harmed, but I had. A fence, when it has been once broken down and re- paired, is rarely as good as it was before ; but I did not think very much about it un- til that communion Sunday. Now, friends, I have been emphatic and vehement in urg- ing you to attend church. I have urged again and again the importance of being united with some band of Christian people. Most of you have a good deal of faith in your old friend A. I. Eoot ; but I tell you, friends, it would not be a safe thing for me to stay away from church. When those searching words from God's holy book took hold of me, at first it seemed as if there was not any help for it. The best I could do would be to keep my mind on the sermon as well as I could, and go home without any spirit- ual blessing. I have attended church, and remained through the service in a dead, dull sort of way, without very much heart in it, and, as a result, went home in a low state spiritually, and may be went through the week with a dead kind of religion that was more a form than any thing with life or heart in it. On this particular morning I felt tired of the unceasing conflict. Then the words of the text came to me again — " Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee" Why? ''Because thou hast left thy first love." When the above struck me so forcibly, and kept ringing in my ears for some time afterward, 1 had no thought that the pastor was going to choose it for his text. He read the whole chapter, or the greater part of it, but I got hold of that one verse, or, rather, it got hold of me ; and when he announced it as his text 1 was startled, and it seemed again as though there were a providence in it. It seemed as if God had put it into his heart to read this chapter, and to preach from this text for my special benefit. You will notice that, while the words are a reproof and a rebuke, they are exceedingly kind. The dear Savior seemed to have in mind just what I had done for his cause in times past ; and he seemed to grieve, almost, as it were, because I had neglected him (my first love) and turned away for the things that Satan had produced and held up. In my earlier experience, one of mv favorite prayers when tempted was, " O Lord, may thine image take the place of these things ihat would lead me astray and do me harm. Help me to love righteousness and purity; and may thoughts of tlice crowd out and keep away all that is sinful and unholy." It seemed that morning as if Satan stood be- side me. It seemed as if he plead with me as he did with the Savior himself when he said, " All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them." With the thoughts of the text, and the earnest words of the pas- tor, came visions of reservoirs, water-pipes for irrigation, beautiful gardens; and a host of other things of a worldly character seem- ed crowding forward and insisting on a place in my thoughts. Then the commun- ion-table near by ! how could I partake in my present frame of mind ? I knew I was bad and wicked; but • notwithstanding the victories of the past, some way I felt dis- couraged and helpless. Satan whispered again, "What is the use of praying about being good when you know you do not want to be good ? " The matter was tangled up, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 225 and I could not understand it ; but I could fall back on my old brief prayer that had been breathed so naany times before — "• Lord, help I "" With bowed head, I prayed as I have seldom prayed before, almost during that whole sermon. At one time Christ Jesus seemed to be gainins; ground ; and then worldly matters (with that "■ cloud land,'' temptation, always surmounting the rest) seemed to get between me and my old and tried Redeemer. Before the sermon ended, however, Satan, with all his ma- chinery, began to retreat ; and even before victory had come, came the bright faith that it loould come if I kept on praying, and pleading the promises. Before communion the conflict was ended, and peace reigned in my soul. I was anchored, and at rest. Then the devil leaveth him, and. behold, angels came and ministered unto him.— Matt. 4:11. How about the cloud-land investment, for which, during the week, I had felt at one time almost willing to risk five thousand dol- lars y May the Lard be praised, I did not want it at all. I would not give even one copper for it, even had it possessed all the advantages Satan had pictured and held out to me. I could say honestly and truly, as a little child might say, " Xo, thank you, I have no use for any such property at all. I am happy and contented without it." Some of you may say, "• What is the use of making one's self miserable all this time by being deprived of this, that, and the other y If I wanted a glass of lager as badly as vou wanted it, I would drink it and done with it ; and if I wanted to invest five thou- sand dollars in something I took a notion to, if I had the money, I w^ould make the pur- chase. If people didn't like it, I would tell them it w^as r)iy business and not theirs.'''' Well, friends, there are people who do just that way. There are people, too, who for- get their religion ; forget the debt they owe their fellow-men, and, under temptation, set fire to buildings, or run off with other people's money that is intrusted to their care. There are people who sell themselves as Esau did, simply because Satan w'hispers it is worth the price. On the other hand, in the Bible there are promises to those who resist evil and cliug to the good. Here is one of them : He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the bonk of life, but T will confess his namj be- fore my Father, and before his angels. And here is another : And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him I will give power over the na- tions. Another still : To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. When I first united with Christian people I was a good deal prej udiced against forms, ceremonies, ordinances, etc. Communion was a sore trouble to me. It seemed to me as if it w^ere going through a formal cere- mony that had no particular significance in it. As years passed, however, I began to comprehend that it was a sacred duty — a sort of reminder — that in one sense it was to the Christian somewhat as the Fourth of July is to the descendants of the Revolu- tionary heroes. Slowly I began to feel that it was a serious and sacred matter to com- mune with Christians, and I began to be a little afraid of the communion season — or, rattier, if you choose, afraid of myself when communion Sunday came around.' Of late, whenever I see the table spread, it makes me think of David's little prayer : '' Create in me a clean heart, O God, "and renew a right spirit within me." 1 have never been absent a communion day — that is, when I am at home. I should be afraid to be ab- sent. Yes. I should be afraid to stay away from church if it were a possible thing for me to get there. I presume you know why. I am afraid I should backslide or slip back. I remember vividly what the old life was without a Redeemer, and I hope that, w^hat- ever shall happen through life, like Chris- tian in the Pilgrim's Progress (in the Slough of Despond) I may always be found strug- gling toward the further shore. The moral to this experience seems to be this: 'Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall ; " and let him that recognizes that he is a sinful creature, and prone to w^ander (whether it be in the line of tobacco, drink, profanity, or sin in any form), be regular in attendance at church services. Let him be careful how he neg- lects daily prayer alone by himself. I have felt all during this week as if I wanted to tell of my deliverance. The fragments of an old hymn that I learned at my mother's knee in childhood come floating back through the forty years or more since I first heard them. I can not find the hymn in the books now, but I think it commences some- thing like this : Come, saints and sinners, hear me tell The wonders of Immanuel; I'll point to his redeeming blood. And say, "Behold the Lamb of God." Another verse starts out : I wonder why old saints don't sing. And praise the Lord upon the wing. And make the heavenly arches ring With loud hosannas to our King. Another one, perhaps the last of all, con- tains these two lines: Then will I tell to all around What a dear Savior I have found. The last thought is the one I want to leave with you in closing : If you have no temptations to meet; if it is easy for you to love your neighbor and to fulfill the requirements of the gospel, you perhaps do not care especially for this Home Paper ; but if you have difficulties to meet ; if you have trials and temptations to fight against, then, my dear friends, let me tell you that there is no safety outside of the Rock Christ Jesus. Do not, I beg of you, think that following Christ is going to debar you from any true enjoyment that this world has to offer. Old age has no terrors for him who is anchored to the Rock Christ Jesus. Although I am now past fifty, I am sure that, never in my life — not even in my boy- hood— have I had the keen enjoyment and relish in every thing going on round about me that I have now. I love business and I 226 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Mar. love progress ; I love education ; I love nie- chanics and machinery ; I love gardens and greenhouses; I love churches and 1 love Sunday-schools ; I love Christian people as I never loved them before ; and I love you, dear friends, whom God in his inhnite liier- cy has seen fit to permit me to talk to, and to cheer and to encourage with these lines ; and I want to see you hold fast to the faith, and not faint. When our pastor read the words, "' Lest I come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of its place, excejit thou repent," it occurred to me at once that, if I should go on stepping back, I should lose my place among Christian peo- ple ; I should lose my privdege to speak in these Home Papers ; faith in Jesus Christ would be gone, and then I should have what Satan has to offer — that and nothing else, and he is always offeriug something that is not his to give. '" When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own : for he is a liar, and the father of it." JF0B^cc0 GmnW' CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE GIVE SMOKERS TO PERSONS WHO STOP USING TOBACCO. First, the candidate must be one of those who have given up tobacco in consequence of what he has seen and read in this department. Second, he promises to pay tor the smoker should he ever resume the use of tobacco in any form, after receiving tlie smoker. Third, he must be a subscril)er to Gleanings. Any subscriber may, however, liave smokers sent to neighbors or personal acquaintances whom he has 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 smoker in this case need not be a sub- scriber to Gleanings, though we greatly prefer 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. QUITTING ALL KINDS OF "MEANNESS." Will you allow me thank you for the great bless- ing which has come to me through your writings against the use Of tobacco? I have been chewing and smoking for at least 20 years. To quit seemed too much for me, although I had been wanting to do so for quite a while, and had made one or two attempts, hut could not get the consent of my mind fully, until at last I was convinced by you that a man can quit his '• meanness," and, as Sam .Tones puts it, " mi(,sf quit his meanness;" and when I un- derstood it I found it easy indeed to stop short; and I have not smoked or chewed one crumb of tobacco for about 13 weeks, and am hearty and healthy, weighing more than I ever did. Oh how many peo- ple there are, who want to be called "nice folks," who are using the cursed stuff! I was under its power for so long I thought I could not let it go; but it was all knocked out of me by one stroke; and when I am tempted I am now able to say, " No, thank you." Bro. R., don't take back what you have said against tobacco; and make no apology to any one using it; for, indeed, it is a great sin; and shall we be afraid to rebuke it? I shall not be afrflid. for T know the evils thereof. I have been reproving our two ministers here, who are users of tobacco. I talked to them kindly, in strong language, saying that the chewing and smoking of tobacco is a very mean, dirty, sinful habit. Bro. C. said it was recommended to him by a physician thirty years ago, and he had used it ever since. He knew it was a very dirty practice, yet could not see that it was a sni to use it, and did not think it was. Said I, "Very well, my good brother. I think you have not given the matter much thought. Let us look at it for a moment. We adults look to you for instruction by your practice as well as precept. Now, for our children what is the example you set? I tell my four little children (Oldest ten), that I quit smoking (as I never chewed before thern) because it was a sin, and that no good man or woman should use tobacco. Now, they think as we do— that the picachcr is a good man, as he prays for them in our home. Surely it can't be that he chews and smokes before them? Yes, he docs, and he ought to 'quit his meanness.' " A French chemist claims that he has traced the cause of many cases of poisoning from nicotine, absorbed from tobacco smoke in the meat-market; and he avers that no amount of cooking will de- stroy the poison. So we are not only killing our- selves by its use, but are liable to kill others as well. T. J. Anderson. Joseph's Mills, W. Va., Feb. .5, IbliO, Friend A., I am exceedingly glad to know that you have been delivered from the bondage of the tobacfco habit; bitt, dear brother, please let us be careful in our criti- cisms of others who have not seen fit to do as we have done. I am glad you did remon- strate with your minister; but let us careful- ly and prayerfully prepare ourselves for such a task, and be sure that we choose such words as will do the most good, and not do harm. There is only a very narrow line that sepa- rates between saying just enough and say- ing just a little too much. When we each and all commence in real earnest to " quit our meanness,"' then shall a great reform be ushered in. A DAUGHTER TAKES A PLEDGE FOR HER FATHER. My father's name is Alexander Carruthers. He has stopped the use of tobacco in all forms, for good. He has stopped from what he has read in Gleanings. Please send the price of your smo- ker; and if be ever uses tobacco he will pay you. Susie Carruthers. Osaca, Ont., Can., Jan. 27, 1890. May God bless you, Susie, for getting your father to take the pledge and for send- ing us his name. Most gladly do we pend the smoker, and may more of the daughters of our land take courage from what you have done, and go and do likewise. TOBACCO, AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MIND. I have two boys, almost young meu, who don't use tobacco in any form. I have had a fearful ex- perience with it. It affected my mind to that ex- tent that 1 was forced to quit my trade. I quit its use, but it took a long time to get over its evil ef- fects. I look upon you as a benefactor to the hu- man race; and may your life be spared beyond the ordinary length allotted to us. F. M. Jeffrey. Waynesvilie, 111.. Feb. 20, 1890. 1 am thankful for the Tobacco Column and the intiuence it is exerting for good in that direction. It seems to me that one of the greatest services of Christianity, properly applied, is to lift men and women out of every kind of uncleanness and bond- age to injurious physical habits, " so that, whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we shall do all to the glory of God." C. F. Parker. Mentone, Ala., Feb. 7. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 227 Gleanings in Bee Culture. Published Setni-Monthly . EDITOK AND PUBLISHER, i^^EODriNr-s-, OHIO. TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. •—♦— ! For Chbbise Sates, See First Page of Beading Matter. Anil one uf tlie t-klfi-s unswcied. sayintf unto ini-, What ai-( thfSf which areaiTayi-il in white lolies, and whcnrc lamr tlit'y : And 1 said unto him. Sir. thou knowi-st. And lir s.iiil ujito uu- These ai-e they whicli c.iuie out ot ^'leat I ijliulati..n, and liavt- washed their i-ol>es. and made tlieui wliite in the bhiod (d tlie Lamb.— Rev. 7 : 13, \i. AN APICULTLTRAL INSTITUTE. Our friends in Germany have struck upon quite a novel method of imparting a practical knowledge of apiculture. Beginning on the 8th of next April, and continuing 10 days, Prof. H. Strack, at Flacht, (lermany, assisted by several of the most eminent bee-men of that country, will hold what we might call a convention, in order to illustrate practically modern apiculture. The lectures will be fully il- lustrated by the use of about all the implements in bee culture which are mostly used to-day. We notice the name of C. J. H. Gravenhorst among the helpers of Prof. Strack. We are of the opinion that such an institute in this country would go far toward illuminating the minds of the " old fogies," and ditfusing more widely a general knowledge of our industry. SENDING ALFALFA FROM COLORADO TO NEW YORK CITY. We take the following from the Denver News: The shipment of a < arload of baled alfalfa from Rocky Ford to New York is a matter of no small import to Colorado. The freight is $18U, but even at this rate tbe alfalfa will cost but $19 a ton at New York as against $18 to $20 for timothy. The ship- ment is an experiment for the purpose of feeding milch cows, little being known practically of the value of alfalfa as a fodder food tor cows. It is al- so a fact that Messrs. Dye & Son, of Rocky Ford, last week shipped $10,0(10 worth of alfalfa seed to New York, a large amount of seed being produced about that town. Whether alfalfa can be as suc- cessfully grown in New York State as in Colorado is a question, since the plant is indigenous to high, dry climates. With a more favorable freight rate, however, the News is not afraid to guarantee that Colorado is able to produce all the alfalfa which New York may be able to consume, and if a trade of this kind can be opened and maintained it will be of the largest possible benefit to the farmers of our State. Such items are interesting to bee-men, because it indicates to what e.xtent alfalfa may ultimately be grown. "STEPPING HEAVENWARD." On my recent trip to Wisconsin I discovered, at my first place where I had to wait for a train, that I had not only mi.ssed taking along some reading- matter laid out for the purpose, but I had also for- gotten my eye-glasses. I soon replaced the latter, and looked into a bookstore to see if there was any thing there I wanted iu the way of reading. My first thought was, that I should not care for any thing they had. Pretty soon, however, conscience rebuked me for my selfishness; and then 1 said mentally, " Lord, what hast thou for thy servant to do during these coming two hours ? " Almost im- mediately, by way o! answer, as it seemed to me, my eye fell on a paper-covered book with the title atthe head of this. I rend the book years ago; and after our good friend Anna B. (i)uillin recommended it so highly I at once decided to read it again. Here was the opportunity. It was a good-sized book, fully as large as these pages, double column, close- ly written matter of 11".' pages, illustrated by toward a dozen appropriate pictures. When the bookseller said the price was 2j cents I mentally thanked God that somebody had thought fit to put the book in this cheap form for the great reading public. Be- fore the two hours were up I felt that the prayer was already answered. God had shown me how I could help and benefit you all by recommending and scattering widely this work. The publishers have sold me 100 copies for $15.00. I propose to furnish them to you at 18 cents each. Three cents will a little more than cover the cost of freight, wrapping up, mailing, etc. If wanted by mail, 23 cents each. Now, friends, after you have read the book, and been helped in your struggles on the way from earth to heaven, recommend it to your friends and neighbors— lend it right and left until the book is worn out. What more worthj' work can any hu- man being be engaged in than assisting his fellow- men in their struggles and trials in " stepping heavenward " ? APICULTURE AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION. A French journal published at Amiens, France, entitled Le Ruclier (Tlie Apiary), for February, comes to us devoted entirely to the display of api- cultural implements at the late Paris Exposition. The countries represented were Austrian Hungary, Belgium, Spain, United States, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Duchy of Luxemburg, Mexico, Rou- mania, Russia, and Switzerland. Concerning the display from the United States, we translate from the columns of Le Ruchcr the following, which, if coming from an American journal, would not look well; but under the circumstances we will try to' overcome our natural modesty and let our readers know what the friends in France think of us as bee- keepers and as manufacturers: The collective exposition of American bee-keep- ers, under the direction of Messrs. C. V. Riley and N. W. McLean, is the most important of all, and, at the same time, that which teaches the greatest les- son. The hives exhibited are, principally, master- pieces in combination and execution. Open them, and see if any thing is left to be desired; see what admirable joineryl how every thing fits together, and how easily it is taken apart! how smooth the wood is, and well planed! One stands confounded in the presence of this material made of wood. And note well that all the hives that go out of any one factory are scrupulouslj' like those shown at the exposition, for a great part of the pieces which compose them. If not all, are made by special ma- chines, as one might well suppose, working always in the same manner. There are in America im- mense factories for making hives and apicultural implements, which have in their work-rooms all kinds of machines, which can not he found in France, of which the daily output, astonishing to us, gives a vivid idea of the advanced state of apiculture in the United States. Thus, for exam- ple, the factory of Mr. A. I. Root, in Medina, O., not to mention others, contains machinery moved by a !ii-hnrse-power engine. It can mako daily from 3.),('00 to 50,0110 sections and lOOO hives, without countingan enormous (|uantity of other work. This establishment sends out daily a carload of goods, and in the busy season a carload and a half. Forty years ago bee culture did not exist in the United 228 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. states; but to-day it is far ahead of that in any other country. Ji must De mentioned, however, that this relatively rapid development is favored by the honey resources or the country, which are con- siderable. 1 must add. that the American exposi- tion is, so to spt^ak, a triumph for mo viable-frame apiculture, and that those bee-lieepers who did not visit the exposition lobt much. THE DOVtTAlLED CORNER. Mr. Francis Danzenbaker, of Washington, D. C, has just placed an order wiih us for lOOU of his Dual hives, the same being dovetailed at the corners. The hives take the crosswise L. frame, the upper story being telescopic, shutting down over the lower. Mr. Danzenbaker, it will be re- membered, is the one who first called our attention to the dovetailed corner, and in a small order he placed with us a year or so ago he demonstrated the possibility of making a neat and beautiful dove- tailed hive-joint. Mr. D.'s advertisement appears elsewhere, and we take pleasure in saying that he is fully competent to do all he agrees. He will leave us a few hives, to accommodate some of his customers who may prefer, on account of freight rates or otherwise, to order direct of us. gPECI/IIi ]\[0TICEg. H. A. MARCH'S JERSEY WAKEFIELD CABBAGE SEED. When we bought over ,"20 lbs. of stock seed of H. A. March, we thought we should have enough to supply our friends for at least two years. There has been, however, such a greatdemand for March's stock seed that we are already sold out, and the best that we can do for our friends is to give them March's ordinary Jersey Wakefield. As this, how- ever, is probably equal to any thing in thf market, we think no one will be disappointed. We have, however, still about 25 lbs. of March's Fottler's Brunsv/ick stock seed; and as the season is getting well along for the Wakefield, the above will prob- ably answer just as well, or better. In making your orders, please remember that the only stock seed we can now furnish of March's growing is Fottler's Brunswick. COMB FOUNDATION AND BEESWAX ADVANCED. We are compelled again to advance the price of comb foundation, because of the advance in bees- wax. This has been slowly increasing in price for two years past, with slight fiuctuations. We have to pay now, on an average. 4 to .5c. per lb. more for wax than we did two years ago. We dislike to raise prices, and have been holding off, working on small- er margins, hoping wax would go no higher; but it is impossible longer to sustain catalogue prices. We will pay for average wax, delivered here, 34c. cash, 27 in trade, and the same will be sold at 30c. per lb. for average, and 35 for selected yellow. Price of all grades of comb foundation is advanced 5c. per podnd, and the revised table is as follows^ taking effect March 1. Packpd in neat boxes, with tis sue paper between evei-y two sheets. 1 to 10 lbs. per lb 10 " 2.5 " '• 25 " 50 " " 60 "100 ■' " 100 "200 " " Heavy Light Thin brood brood surpl's 4 to 6 about7 about fttolblfttolb 10 ft lb 45 18 55 U 47 54 43 16 53 i-i 45 52 11 44 51 Extra thin about 12 ft lb NEW HONEY-EXTRACTORS READY. Last November we announced, in this column, a number of improvements, anticipated in the con- struction of our Novice Honey-Extractors. The improved machines are now ready for delivery. To repeat, the improvements are as follows: The honey-gate is increased in size from I'i inch bore to IX inch. The can is made entire (except bottom) of one sheet of IXX tin, instead of IX tin as formerly. The can is 2 inches deeper, allowing the revolving frame to be set lower; thus preventing honey from going over the top edge. The correct price, as given in our 189U catalogue, is $7.00 each for Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; *7.50 tor No. 6, and *8.0U for Nos. 7, 8, 9, and 10. With tiU lbs. room below, 50c extra. With luo lbs. i-oom below, $1.00 extra. Any of the numbers will be furnished with the upright gear, instead of the Novice, for ."jOc extra. THE VAN DEUSEN REVERSIBLE FRAME. On page 514, 1889, we described and illustrated the VanDeuseu metal-cornered frame, more to find out whether there was a demand for such a frame than any thing else. Since that time there has been con- siderable of an inquiry; and it is oaly within the last few days that we have been able to supply them. They are reversible and at fixed distances, and can be handled about as easily as the metal- cornered frames and more easily than the all-wood suspended frame on wood rabbets. In the opinion of your humble servant, Ernest, this is the best fixed frame he has yet seen. Allow me to say, as 1 have already said, do not be too enthusiastic, and purchase a large quantity. Try a few, to see wheth- er you like them. We can furnish the frames com- plete, with reversible corners, in the flat, at $3.60 per 100, or $22.50 per 1000; the same put up, per 100, $3.00. These frames have wide and thick bottom and top bars. The reversible corners themselves we will sell for 30 cts. per 100; in lots of 1000, less 105&; but to use them satistactorily they must be let into slots in the end-bar, and the wood part of the frame must be constructed specially tor them. These re- versible frames may be used in all Dovetailed hives — in fact, in all Langstroth hives having unbeveled edges, by nailing a piece of strap iron or tin on the bottom inside edge of the hive. By the use of L tins they may be used in the Simplicity. They are a standing and not a hanging frame. AIDS TO THE EYESIGHT. Since I have been obliged to use spectacles almost constantly while reading, I have taken special pains to test glasses of different values. And now while I have a pair of spectacles with gold bows that would ordinarily retail for eight or ten dollars, and a pair of the best eye-glasses that would sell for from five to eight dollars, after careful and repeated tests I am sure I can see just as uell with the eye-glasses that are to be seen on our ten-cent counter. Very likely it is owing somewhat to the fact that my eyes are good and strong, having no trouble except the ordinary elongation of the focus, from age. The matter that I have spoken of before often surprises me; namely, that spectacles are cheaper than lamj)- oil. In going to the greenhouse mornings 1 can see where the thermometer stands, in two ways. One is by lighting a match and bringing more light on the subject; and the other is by the use of my ten- cent eye-glasses. This, of course, occurs when it is almost light enough for me to see with the naked eye. A great many times, when reading your kind letters I find I have to do one of two things— light a lamp or get out my eye-glasses. By the aid of these cheap eye-glasses I can read just as easily as I ever did in my life. The princi- pal point, however, that I want, to make to-day is this: I can not find these cheap eye-glasses adver- tised «r7?yu?(C)e in our catalogues. They are nicely arranged in a neat little drawer made tor the pur- pose, divided off so as to have different ages by thempelves, and yet there they have stood for years, for au^iht 1 know, having a very limited safe, because nobody knows we have them. If you want a case to go with thtm we have seme very pretty leather ones for only five cents more; but I prefer to use mine without the case. 1 simply put one in a little pocket in every one of my coats. I'his little pocket is right above the large one on the right side. HUd is sometimes called the "railroad- ticket pocket." With an eye-glass in the pocket of each coat, I feel quite happy and independent. When any thing comes up suddenly anywhere, I can get my finger on them in a twinkling; and if they are lost lam only 10 cents "out of pocket." If wanted by mail, send 3 cts. extra for postage and packing. WIRE NETTING ADV.4NCED. We hereby cancel all prices made on wire netting previous to this date. The prices on the inside cover page of this number were printed before we were advised of the advance; hence they are null and void. New prices are as follows: On 2-in. No. 19 i 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 229 nettinp, 4 ft. -wide (the regular poultry size), add 75c per roll, wbich will make the price for less than 5 rolls, f-t.VSper roll; and for single rolls shipped from New York or Chicago, add ~5c for cartage; 6 to 10 rolls, $4 M per roll ; 10 to 20 rolls. $i.2r> per roll. The discount on the list prices, pages 2 and 3 of our net- ting catalogue, will be, for less than o rolls, tiSia per cent; 5 to 10 rolls. 70 per cent; 10 to 20 rolls, 70 and 5 per cent. On cottage fencing, paure 8 of the netting •catalogue, new discount is, for less than ."> rolls. 60 per cent: '> to 10 rolls, 62 ,'2 per cent; and 10 to 20 rolls, 6.5 ppr cent. No change in price of web fencing at present. The reasons for this advance are, briefly, as fol- lows: Wirp rods, from which the netting is made, were, till about 6 months ago. nearly all imported from Europe. Since then the price of wire rods has advanced so much that American rods are largely used, but at an increased cost to makers of netting, of about 40 per cent. Notwithstanding this in- creased cost of materials of 40 per cent, we advance the price of netting only from 15 to 20 per cent. We regret (for the sake of those who buy netting) to be obliged to advance prices; but there is this cheer- ing feature about it, that, instead of importing wire rods, we are using those produced by American workmen, and thus indirectly furnishing employ- ment to many hundreds of our fellow-citizens. Those who have a netting catalogue may have a new discount sheet on application. If we knew who you were we would mail you one any waj-. March 5, 1890. »OR SAliE.— World type-writer. Little used, $4 80. W. W. GULP, Pottstown, Pa. FOR SALE. A fine lot of spider, or Grayson Lily Bulbs, which I will sell. Small bulbs 25c, large ones 50c. Verv beautiful and fragrant, pure white. 1 also have 40 or .50 stands of mostly Italian bees for sale. Will sell Queens in April. Would exchange bees for registered Jersey heifer. S. G. WOOD, 4-9db Birmingham. Jeff. Co., Ala. McLane, - J. E. NEYLAND, - Erie Co, Pa. Breeder of choice Red Caps and Andigoloes eggs, $3.00 per 15. Golden Wyandotte's and White Plj- mouth Rock eggs, $2.00 ppr 15 "111 responding to this advei-tisement mention CIleanings. kllRE P. KOCK EGGS, $1.00 PER SET- TING OF 13. For Sale by I,. C. AXTEL.L., Roseville, 111. MUTH'S HONEY-EXTRACTOE,, SQUARE GL.ASS HONEY-JARS, TIN bu<;kets, bee-hives, HONEY-SE(rriONS, &c., &c. PERFECTION COIiD.BIioold & Co., Brantlord, Out.. f!an.; R. H. Schmidt & Co., New London. Wis.; J. Stauffer & Sons, Nappa- nee. Ind.; Berlin Fruit-Box Co., Berlin Heiehte, O.; E R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley. N. Y.; L.Hanssen, Davenport, la.; C. Theilman, Theilmanton. Minn.; G. K. Hubbard, Fort Wayne, Ind., and numerous other dealers. LANGSTROTH on the HONEY-BEE, 3Fi:e:-v isiEJU . The Book for Jie i ! ""In responding to tliis advertLsemeiit mention Gleaning 3, By the use of my im- proved spacer, an ordi- nary hanging frame hive is converted into a reversible or movable hive. A hive is quickly and correctly spaced, and the frames are held in their proper position, and will not be lifted _^ when removing the cov- '""~~ ~~ ^ " ^ ' er if they are fastened to it by brace-combs. A contracted hive is made movable or invert! ble. In adopting this, it requires no change in a hanging-frame hive. Price of Brood-Chamber and 8 frjimes $1.50 One Hive and 1 doz. extra spaces 100 In ordering state what frames you use, and give the width of your hive, inside. O-lldb .7. B. WILCOX. - - MANISTEE, MICH. tS"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. UNTESTED ITAIilAN QUEENS AT $1, and 4-frame nuclei at $3.50, after May 1st. Send in orders now. 4-lOdb S. J. WAKEFIELD. Autreville, S. C. i TAKE NOTICE ! BEFORE placing your Orders for SUPPIilES, write for prices on One-Piece Bass wood Sec- tions, Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Frames, Foun- dation, Smokers, etc. Address R. H. SCHIYIIDT &. CO., 21-20db NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co., WIS. t^ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. We are prepared to furnish bee-keepers with sup- plies promptly, and at greatly reduced rates. Es- timates gladly furnished, and correspondence so- licited. Our goods are unexcelled in quality and workmanship. Italian Queens and Bees at a very low price. Send for large illustrated price list, free. Alley's Queen and Drone Trap and Swarm Hiver always on hand. A. F. STAUFFER &. CO.. 20tfd Sterling, 111. ^ BEES AND HONEY Tl,r Dovetailed 8troneo!it, Hoot and Cheapest BKE-mvE f'T all purpos- es. I'lrases everybody. Sent! your .".J- (Ireiss to the Largcot rJee-IUve Fac- tory In the World for sample copy of Uleaiilnics in Bee Culture (a Jl illus- trated semi-monthly), and a 44 p. illus- iratcd catalogue of Itee-Keeperg' Supplleiu Our A B O of Bee Cul- ture is a cyclopedia of 400 pp., 6x10, and cuts. Price in cloth, $1. '25. (!:j' Mention paper. A . I. ROOT, Medina, O. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Contents of this Number. Alfalfa, Chewing: Heads.... 2n3 Alfalfa. Yield of 2.H Alfalfa Boomed Too Much. .241 Alley's Auto. Swarmer 241 Apiary of K L. Smith 243 Bee-stinR Keniedy 2.54 Bee-stiritr and Rheumatism. 2.i4 Bird. Florida Jay 253 Bottlinp Honey 247 Cagin^r Q. to Prevent Sw'f>r.2.J5 Comb Honey Broken Down.263 Cream-Hill A|iiary 215 Crops Under Glass 256 Dovetailed Cor L'sed 12 Y's.251 Dove'd H. Prep'd for Mov'gr.252 Dual Dovetailed Hive . 250 Extracted Honey. BottlinK 247 Extract's in Cold Weather. 242 Fixed Frames 253 Flag- of Comb Honey 246 Hauling, Fasten'g Cover and Bottom 249, £,12 Hod, Greenhouse 256 Honev-strainers 248 Honey, Poumls to Gallon.. .2.54 Increase. Artitici.il 240 Increase. To Redm-e 254 Manum's V.ication 242 Miirketintr Honej- at Home 242 Movinir Bees. Fast'g Cover and Bottom 2.52 Moving B. in Pas'nfjer Cars.'i51 Myself and Neighbors 25S Nomenclature 241 Old but not Useless 263 Outdoor Wintering 243 Pea-bugs 2.57 Peddling Honey 246 Rambler's Mishap 246 Red. White. Blue Apiary. . .245 Shipping ca^es, Small Size.. 239 Swarm-hivers, Automatic .244 Swarm'g.To Prevent by C'g.2.55 ! Tinfoil for Bottling 248 Transplanting-tubes 257 I Wintering, Outdoor 243 THE CANADIAN Bee Journal Edited hy D. A, Jones. 75c. Per Year. Poultry Journal Edited bu W. C.G.Peter. 75c. Per Year. These are published separately, alternate weeks, and are edited by live practical men, and contribut- ed to by the bestwriters. Both Journals are inter- esting, and are alike valuable to the expert and amateur. Sample copies free. Both Journals one year to one address $1. Until June 1st we will send either Journal on trial trip for 6 months for 25 cts. The D. A. Jones Co., Ld., Beef on, Onf. INDUSTRIAL HIVES. We manufacture hives with latest and best im- provements. Th'., liYMAN 11NVERTIBL.E and 4:Lpondiiljr to Litjt 237 HlIiTOJ^'S Improved Chaff Hive AND T SUPER. The pamphlet : " How T Pro- duce Comb Honey." Price 5 ts. Send for free illustrated price li-it of everything need- ed in the apiarv. CEO. E. HILTON. 5i0db Fremont, Mich. advertisfiiient nii'iiiioii (i1,k.vmn(;s. SAVE FUEIGHT. BUT rOVR SUPPLIES NEAR HOME AND SA VE FKEKiJIT. We carry a complete stock of Apiarian Supplies. Our motto: Good goods and low prices. Illustrated catalogue for your name on a postal card. 23-lOdb R. B. LEAHY & CO., Higginsville, Mo. tyin respondintr to lliis advel■ti^^elllt■llt iiitniioii ni.KA.viSfJS. BEE-HIVES, SECTIONS,ETC. w E make the best Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, - - Sectioiis, etc., in the world, and sell them the cheapest, we are offering our choicest white one- piece 414x414 sections, in lots of 500, at $3.50 per 1000. fW" Parties wanting more should write for spe- cial prices. No. 3 sections, $2.00 per 1000. Cata- logues free, but sent only when ordered. Itfdb C. B. LEWIS & CO., Watertown, Wis. (t^In responding to this advertisement mention OLSAMINQS. ECTIONS, %l PER iOOO. ■ Foundation, Alsike clover seed, and Japan- ese buckwheat, cheap as the cheapest. Special prices to dealers. Send for our FREE PRICE LIST. M. H. HUNT, Bell Branch, Midi. Please mention Gleanings. Itfdb ll:^F"ln responding to this advertisement mention GLEANINGS. Z.OOXI ZISH.S! Bee-Keepers and Friiii-Growers, before you order your supplies for IMiU, send tor my cata- logue and price list of Bee-Keeper^t' Supplies and Strawberry Plants. Twenty-flve approved varieties grown for this season's trade. Prices reasonable. Bees and Queens for sale; $1.00 queens a specialty. Address F. W. liAlTIWI, 34-33db (Box 106.) Somerville, Butler Co., Oliio. t:^"lii responding to this atlvertisenieiit laeiitiun i. ........ Ho! Ye in Dixie Land! LEARN SOMETHING NEW Of Interest to You in my New 1890 Catalogue Enlarged, and prices reduced. It gives LOW SPECIAL FREIGHT RATES to many Southern points, especially to points in TEXAS. Southrrn Jiee-Keepers, Send for it NOW. J. M. JENKINS, - Wetumpka, Ala. FOR PUKE ITALIAN BEKS, POL.AND- China Swine, Wliite and Black Ferrets, vvhjte Kahbits, Wtiite and Brown Leghorn ChicUe ns, and Mallard Duck^% Address N. A . KNAPP,_ -> itfdb Rocliester, liorain Co., OLio- I have a saw-mnndrel table, all complete, fitted for power, for iP-'u.Oi). The machine is all new, and the ta' le ia made of hard wood and oiled ; the man- drel has space for four groovers, has parallel traue-e figure four, cut off gaua-e, and beveling platform; one lO-in. rip-saw, cut off and grony-rs. 7d B. F. STOVER. Roscoe, Ohio. t^rin responding to tills advertisement mention Gleanings. 238 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE Apr ►il-BEST OIT EAB.TII-|J^ ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL, AND THE STAND- ARD IN EVRHr CI VI LIZ ED COUNTRY. Bingham & Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, six Sizas and Prices. Doctor Siijoker, 8)2 in , postpaid ...$2.(10 Conqueror " 3 " " ... 1.V5 Lar^e '• 2!4 "' " ••• 1-50 Extra (wide shield) 3 " " ... 1-35 Plain (narrow " ) 2 " " ...100 Little Wonder, 1^4 " " •■■ 65 Uncapping-Knife 115 Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledgeville, 111., March 8, 1890. Sirs :— Smokers received to-day. and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as 1 do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 12,189(1. Sirs:— The smoker I have has done irood service since 1883. Yours trul.v, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BiNSHAM & Hetheeihqton, Abronia, Mich. lyin respijiidiijg to this adveiti.-.eiiient mention CJLEANiNoa. FOK SAliE. -ITALIAN BGI^S & QUEENS at a very low price. Address 6tfd OTTO KLEINOW, No. 130 Military Ave., Detroit, Mich. I ARISE, TO ASK if you want any Bees or Queens this season. If so, drop a postal card for Doo- little's 1890 circular. Tested queens from $1.50 to $6.00, according to quality; bees from $5.00 to $7.00 per colo- ny. Don't fail to send your address, plainly written, for price list, to O. M. DOOIilTTIiE, Borodino, Onon Co., N. Y. o< CHOICE ITALIAN QUEEIMS.X> Tested, $1.50. Untested, $10). Tested quenns reared in ttie fall of '89, $1 50. These can hp mailed at once. MISSES S. & M BARNES, 7.12db Piketon, Ohio. J^"1ji res]ionilini^' to this ailvertisi-iiii'nt nifiiiiuri (ii.K.^NiNos. Holmes Co. Poultry Yards, J. M. Yoder, Prcp'r. Poultry and Eggs.— I breed and Fh^p the fol- lowing Pure Bred Stock and Eggs: L. Brahmas. B. P. Rocks, S. L. and White W.vandottt-s. B. B R. and Red Pile Games, S C. Brown. S. C. White and R C. White Leshorns. W. F. B. Spanish. S. S. Hamburgs, Golden, W. C. Black and W. C. White Polish. Ameri- can Dominiques, Black Minorcas. Bronze Turkeys. Pekin and Rouen Ducks. Eggs, $:i 00 per 15; $5.00 for 45, except Turkey Eggs. 3Jc each. 7d J. M. YODER, Nlillerstaurg, O. C^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. THE DUAL HIVE, AS SHOWN ABOVE, Contains 9 brood-frames and 42 lib. sections — in two tiers of supers, with one tier of sections and super in the flat, packed in the brood hive, with starters in the frames and sections; ready for bees; one perforated queen-bar. Vestibule swarmer. and the book, " Bee-key" $3.50. Two hives (with flat covers), each furnished as above, and one book for $6.00. One smoker (can be sent in the hives) extra, 50ct8. Bee-veils, with hives, 50 or 75 cts. extra. The book. Bee-key, teaches how to handle bees; how to control swarrdlng; how to prevent the build- ing of drone comb without using foundation; how to make more by raising comb honey than extract- ed; how to winter bees; cure dysentery, and pre- vent spring dwindling. For first orders, price 35c. For price of hives in flat, see Mar. 15 Gi^eaninos, page 229. Cash must accompany all orders. Send by reg- istered letter, P. O. monev order, or certified checks to order of F. DANZENB AKER, 1301 K St., N. \V. Washington, D. C. When more convenient, to A. I. R')Ot, Medina, O. C^In respond inn to this advertisement meiitii>u (ii.EANlNGS. 16-page circular of bee-keepers' supplies, etc. Also note prices of our choice strain of Ftalian heps. Cir- cular free. Address JNO. NEBEI^ & SON, 5tfdb High Hill, Mo. Keepers R 50-eent finonthly that gives the epearn of apieultupal literatupe; points out eppops and fallacious ideas; and gives, each month, the viecus of leading bee-keepeps upon some special topie. Thpee samples fpee. Send fop them, and leapn hotu to get the back nuwibeps cheaply. W. Z. JlUTCHlNSOfl, piint, IVIieh. MY22D ANNUAL CATALOGUE OP ITALIAN. CYPRIAN, and HOLY-LAND BEES, QUEENS, NUCLEI, COLONIES, and SUPPLIES; also EGGS FOR HATCHING, can ht^hal hv sending me your address. U. H. BROWN. Light Street. Ci>l. Co , Pa. URE P. BOCK EGGS, $1.00 PER SET- TING OF 13. For Sale by 6d li. €. AXTEIiL., Rosevllle, 111. ^^1% 9^=r^\^- Yol. XTJII. APR. 1, 1890. No. 7. TERMS:»1.00PKRANNrM,lN ADVANCE; I Tp,t+nJ\l-i oTn nrl n -in 1 S '7 ^ 2Copiesfor«1.90; 3toi$2.75; 5tor$4.00; JLo LU/U LLO fLt'Ll' ViL ± O t O PUBLISHED SEIU-MONTHLY BY .10 or more, 76 cts. each. Single num- l ber, 6 cts. Additions to clubs may be .' gl^tnftS'o^V^^cf^oETcr '^'^^^'^"J/?. /. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO \ Clubs to different postoffices. not less I than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, In the ) U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- j 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. SHIPPING-CASES-SMAIiL SIZE. OUR FRIEND C. F. MUTH STRONGLY ADVISES THEM. Shipping-cases for comb honey are a very im- portant item for the bee-keeper as well as for the dealer. The safe arrival of comb honey depends principally on the shipping-ca.ses; and, next to the quality of the honey, it is the case that makes the sale. We had very miiny shipments of comb honey this season, and, as in previous seasons, there vfere a variety of different-sized cases. We found inva- riably that the smallest cases were the safest in transit, and the first sold. If it were not for the mutal interests of shipper and consignee, the disap- pointment, and, often, the unpleasant feeling- cre- ated by the arrival of a lot of comb honey in bad -condition, should be cause enough to throw aside every case unfit for shipment. As in previous sea- sons, we had this winter also a number of large cases containing 48 1-lb. sections, and even 48 3 lb. sections, 45 to 60 lbs. net of comb honey in a case. It is too much. A heavy case is invariably set down heavily, and a jar to one side seems to break a whole row of combs. The 24-lb. section-cases are a great deal better, but they too are too large. By far the most practical, the safest in transit, and the most salable and the cheapest of all ship- ping-cases, are those containing 13 one-pound sec- tions. We shall hereafter offer none others for sale, and recommend only such to be used by our friends and shippers. As a great many lots of comb honey pass through our hands, our opportu- nity of becoming actjuainted with all kinds of packages is second to none; and our judgment as to the best package ought to be reliable. During the present winter we had, among perhaps a dozen, on- ly one shipment of comb honey, 13 sections in a case, arrive in bad condition, while almost every other shipment in large cases arrived more or less damaged. The damage in those small cases was not great, and could easily be seen, and the broken combs taken out and replaced by sound ones from another case. But nobody, unacquainted with it, can appreciate the job of overhauling a large lot of comb honey in large shipping-cases. One is at a loss to know what to do with the broken combs. So it is our candid and well-meant advice, that the large shipping-cases- -go. Chas. F. Muth & Son. Cincinnati, O., Mar. 17. There is a good point here, my friends- one that I have often thought of. If we put up any sort of goods in large quantities, in a single package, the danger of destruction is much greater. A whole colony of bees, with suflficient stores to last them over winter, is too heavy to ship safely, while half of the bees and half of the stores would stand transportation without trouble. Now, the same is true with shipping-cases. But I confess that I should say twelve 1-lb. sec- tions would be going to the other extreme. The only objection is, however, there are too many pieces to handle, and the carriers are apt to get cross. It is true, a man might take one in each hand ; but the aveiage railroad man would prefer carrying 50 lbs. at once rather than 12 or even 25. It seems to me that two 12-lb. cases side by side would work better. Again, how about pil- ing up 12-lb. cases y I have been told that much honey is damaged by being piled up in the car in such a way that it falls over or tumbles down. Your experience, however, in favor of the little cases is pretty hard to get around. I wonder somewhat that other honey-dealers and commission men have 210 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Arii. not emphasized this matter before. I have seen some very pretty cases in the large cities, made to hold 18 or 20 sections. ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. FRIEND DOOLITTLE GIVES THREE WAYS. A CORRESPONDENT wishes me to give in Glean- ings some of the different plans used in making swarms artificially, as it is termed. In complying with this request 1 will give the three plans which have proved the most satisfactory with me; but be- fore doing so I first wish to say, that, for this locali- ty, I prefer natural swarming to any plan of artifi- cial increase where only one swarm is allowed from each old colony, and where said swarm will issue in time to prepare both old and new colonies in good shape for the honey harvest. The first plan I will give of artificial increase is what is termed by some the " nucleus plan." To be of the most value the nucleus should be formed eighteen or twenty days before the honey harvest, by having enough bees in it to protect a frame two thirds full of brood, the larger part of which should hatch during the first four or five days, while said comb should contain some eggs just laid, is possible. Besides this frame of brood and bees, the nucleus should contain a frame hav- ing a pound or two of honey in it, the whole being set in a hive and confiaed by means of a division- board. The next day after making, a mature queen-cell should be given, or newly hatched queen introduced. In about ten days, if all proves favora- ble, the young queen will be laying, when I go to the hive from which I formed the nucleus, and se- lect a frame of brood, nearly all of which are gnaw- ing out of the cells, and add this to the nucleus, al. ways putting a frame of comb or comb foundation into the old colony to take the place of the one taken out, otherwise too much drone comb would be built; for colonies that are allowedto build comb under these conditions nearly always build drone comb. I now wait four or five days, when I go to the old colony and take out four frames of brood, from which all the bees are shaken as they were from the last-mentioned comb, when I carry them to the nucleus. I now fill out each hive with empty comb of foundation, and put on the surplus ar- rangement. By the above each colony Is made of about equal strength, and the brood is so taken out of the old hive that the colony does not have a de- sire to swarm. This old colony will have the most field-bees for the first week or so, but the other will soon make the stronger colony of the two. THE SECOND PLAN. My second plan is to make one colony from each old one, on the principle of division of bees instead of division of brood, as in the above case. In using this plaa we must have queen-cells nearly mature by the time our first colonies are preparing to swarm. Having such cells on hand, I go to a colony preparing to swarm, or one that has Its hive full of bees and brood, and move it to one side of the old location, so as to put a new hive in its place. If a hive is not full of brood and bees, do not touch it; for it is useless to try to increase bees till such is the case. I now look over the combs till I find the one having the queen on it, when I place said comb in the new hive. I next give them a frame having some honey in it, and then fill out the hive with empty comb or foundation, when about two-thirds of the bees in the old hive are shaken in front of the new hive and allowed to run in. After this I arrange the frames back in thejold hive, putting a division-board in place of the frames taken out, when the old hive is carried to a new location where I wish it to remain. After the bees thus removed have become reconciled to their queenless condi- tion I give them one of the nearly matured cells, or a virgin queen which will soon be laying. In this way I have secured my new swarm, controlled all after-swarming, and iniioduced my young queen, all to my liking and witu but little trouble. MY THIRD PLAN. This is one which I use on the weaker colonies, or those which do not get ready to swarm up to ten days before the honey harvest, when I proceed to make colonies from them as follows: A hive is fill- ed with frames of empty comb, and placed upon the stand of one of these colonies which have not swarmed, and all the boxes are taken off and placed thereon, then all the bees are shaken and brushed off their combs of brood and honey, in front of the hive, into which they will run as fast as shaken off. Thus I have a colony that is ready for the honey harvest, as they have the queen, bees, and partly filled boxes all in readincFS for work. Previous to this nuclei have been started, so 1 have plenty of laying queens to use as I need them. I next take all the combs of brood from which the bees were brushed, except one, arranging them in the hive the bees were shaken out of, and carry them to the stand of another colony which has not swarmed. I next take the comb of brood which was left out, go to one of the nuclei, take out the frame having the laying queen on it, and place the frame of brood in its place. Take the frame— bees, queen, and all — and set it in the place left vacant for it when ar- ranging the combs of brood. Now put on the box- es, and, having all complete, I move the colony to a new stand and set the prepared hive in its place. Thus I have a laying queen and enough of her own bees to protect her, together with a hive filled with combs of brood, and all the field-bees from the re- moved colony. The loss of bees to the removed colony stopfc the swarming impulse, and in about a week they have so regained their loss that they are ready for the boxes again. In this way I make one colony from two old ones, but have all in the beet possible condition to take advantage of the honey harvest. These plans all look toward a host of bees in time for the harvest, with no desire to swarm; and thus having them gives an assurance of a large crop of honey. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., Mar. 17. Old friend, it was rather pleasant, while reading the above, to feel that you and I agree exactly, at least in all essentials, in regard to the matter of artificialincrease ; and I do not know that I have any tiling to add, unless it would be to wait until the time for natural swarms, and let the most of them swarm naturally if they would. If they do not seem disposed to do so, then di- vide ; but as so much more honey is secured from those that do not swarm, uiiless 1 were especially anxious for increase I think I should say, as father Quinby (if I am cor- rect) once said : "• Those that swarm do well, but those that do not swarm at all do better.'''' The number of colonies in a given locality. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 241 however, should be considered. Where the field is good, and not enough to gather the product, the honey gathered unitedly by the old stock and the new may often exceed that from the colony that does not swarm at all. In this case it would be the other way : Those that do vot swarm do well, but those that do swarm do better. NOMENCIiATUHE, AGAIN. DR. MILIyER GETS TTS INTO MOKE TROUBLE. And now our friend '* over the border," on page 133, tries to soothe me into satisfaction with the e.x- isting- status of apicultural nomenclature. Perhaps I am unnecessarily exercised, but I will take at least a little space to reply to Mr. McKnight. I sup- pose I must plead guilty to being- " the inventor of that inappropriate phrase, T super." Mr. McKnight asks, " Is there any super in use that bears the slightest resemblance to the letter T ? " No : things are not always named from their resemblance to something else. The Langstroth hive is not so named on account of its resemblance to the good old man of that name, neither is it named movahlc- comb hive on account of any resemblance, but it has the latter name because of its contents, just as the T super is so named because it contains T tins; and I can hardly believe it takes as vivid an imagination as our friend thinks, to see a resemblance between the T tin and the letter T. Hold one upside down in your hand, friend McKnight, and look at the end of it. Isn't it a pretty plain letter T ? Why, the super just named itself. Friend McKnight, you say, " It is no misnomer to call the box in which comb honey is sent to market a case." I didn't say it was. I don't think it is. But is it true that "case" always means the thing to ship in, and "crate" the thing on the hive, as you seem to think ? That's just what I object to— the confusion in the matter, for I think your "case "is often called a "crate," and vice versa. Look in Heddon's book, "Success," and you will find in the index and in the body of the book, *' shipping crate" and "surplus case." Even so elegant a writer as Prof. Cook tells of " shipping crates" in his Manual, although he also talks of " crates " on the hive. If we discard altogether the word "crate," I think we may without difficulty settle on '■ super" and "shipping-case." and possi- bly the latter may simply be called "case." No, I am not reconciled to the definition of apiary as " a place where bees are kept," even with so good authority as the ABC; neither does it assist any to cite "the terms aviary, hennery," etc. An aviary is an aviary, even without a bird in it; but if you establish an out-apiary, can you say you have an apiary there before you have hauled your first colo- ny there, or after you have taken all awaj*? Friend Root, in that same ABC, under the head of " Foul Brood," you say, " Having had to treat nearly one-half of our apiary," etc. Now, do you mean you treated one-half of the" place where bees are kept"? Under "Wintering," you quote Mr. Langstroth as saying, " When my apiary was man- aged chietly for the sale of Italian queens." Was the "place" managed? When you say Mr. A has a larger apiary than Mr. B," do you mean Mr. A keeps his bees in a larger " place " ? Does not the size of an apiary depend upon the number of colo- nies rather than the number of square feet ? Please give us a definition for apiary that shall define the word as generally used. Rut the term that " exercises" me most is the name "International American Bee Association." It was adopted, I think, without discussion, and, as I thought, rather hastily. The name is too long, and sounds a good deal bigger than the society; and if shortened, as some suggest, into simply "International," the case is, if any thing, still worse. " International " suggests a union of a number of nations, and sounds altogether too "spread eagle." It seems to me that the old name, "North Ameri- can," is much better. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111. Now, look here, doctor; I am not going to reply very much, for 1 do not want to get into a muss about names. J^et me suggest, however, that '' apiary "" means the whole plant — bees, hives, and every thing else; but I still think it could be appropriately called apiary, even if every last bee should die in wintering. It will be an apiary as long as the things are left standing in just that predicament. If somebody should clear the hives all off, or stack them up in a heap, and set tire to them, then it would be an apiary no longer. As it is a subject, how- ever, of little importance, comparatively, I think we can drop it for the present. THE ALFALFA BOOM. . CAUTION TO THOSE WHO EXPECT TO LEAVE GOOD HONEY PASTURAGE AT HOME FOR ALFAL- FA FIELDS. Friend Raot:—! notice, from time to time, men- tion made in Gleanings of alfalfa; and so far the items have been such as to give one who is unac- quainted with the sections of country where alfal- fa is raised, the impression that it would be a bo- nanza to just get with a good big apiary In the midst of such pasturage. I can speak of California so far as alfalfa is concerned, from actual observa- tion, as I have made several trips here since 1875. I write as I do, more as a warninu, to have any who might anticipate leaving a good honey pasturage in the East, fully invcstUjate before taking much risk in the alfalfa boom. It seems to me, that, from what I have seen in Gleanings so far in re- gard to alfalfa, has savored a little bit of a desire to boom the localities in which the writers live, and get a little free advertising; but I know there may be exceptions. Now as to my views of this matter. 1. Alfalfa can not be successfully raised profitably, except in a warm climate, and, as a rule, it needs to be Irrigated. As a general thing it is raised in lo- calities where the onl]j vegetation is from irriga- tion, and, consequently, not much else grows which produces honey. 3. Alfalfa is ready to c\d about as soon as it is nicely in blossom; and especially where there are such large fields of it, they are anxious to get the first crop out of the way as soon as possible, so as to get the next, and so on to the next. I have noticed a great deal, and the above seems to be the rule. 3. If a crop is left for seed it is usually the third one; and at that season of the year there is no dew, and the weather is very hot and dry, and a hot north wind blows a good share of the time, so that I can't see very much show for the bees to 242 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. p-ather honey from alfalfa with any certainty, in Califoi-nia at least. I have talked the matter over a good deal with bee-men here, in different locali- ties, and they are of the same opinion— not but that alfalfa will and does produce nice honey, but it Is made into hay so soon, instead of honey; and that is not all. If you want to get where your system will soon be loaded with malaria, just go and live in a locality where they raise large fields of alfalfa, and irrigate them four or five times a year. Nordhoff, Cal., Mar. 13. C. A. Sayre. Friend S., I made a good many inquiries in regard to alfalfa while I was in Califor- nia, and the substance of the reports seemed to be very much as you give it. After I got home, however, and saw the statements that came from Arizona and Idaho, I felt a good deal disgusted to think that I had made such a lengthy trip and had not seen alfalfa honey at all. I am inclined to think the lo- cality makes the difference. I am surprised at what you say about malaria. I did not know that irrigation was ever carried to such an extent as to produce any thing of the kind, especially in hot and dry regions. MANUM TAKING A VACATION". A VISIT WITH K. L. SMITH. I HAVE noticed that vacations are very fashiona- ble; and wishing to be in fashion, I decided, after preparing my bees for their long winter's rest, to take a vacation and visit some of our Vermont bee- keepers of whom we hear but little through the pa- pers. Therefore, Nov. 1st I started out with my grip-sack in one hand and camera in the other; and by the aid of horse and steam power I soon landed in the town of Fairfax, where resides one of my dearest friends, Mr. C. C. Gillette, at whose home I very pleasantly and profitably spent several days. Although Mr. Gillette is not a bee-keeper, he is an interested reader of Gleanings. The next day after my arrival, Mr. G. kindly pro- posed to take -me to the apiary of Mr. K. L. Smith, which proposition I quickly accepted, and we were soon on the road, winding our way along the banks of the beautiful Lamoille River for about two miles, with old Mount Mansfield constantly staring us in the face; and as I was just fairly enjoying the beauties and pleasures of the drive, Mr. G. reined up to a pleasantly located home. As I alighted from the carriage, a gentleman about 60 years of age stepped out of what proved to be a tin-shop and honey-room, and greeted us very cordially as I ask- ed if this was Mr. K. L. Smith. The following con- versation took place : "Is this Mr. K. L. Smith?" "Yes, my name is Smith." "Well, sir, my name is Manum." "What! Manum the bee-man?" " Yes, sir, I keep a few bees; and as I was visit- ing friends so near you I thought I would call." " I am awful glad to see you. Walk right in here gentlemen. This is my honey-house and tin-shop," said Mr. S. "Then you are a tin-smith, a bee-smith, and a supply-smith, I conclude, Mr. Smith?" " Yes, I am a tin-smith by trade, and I work at it when not busy with the bees; and when buying my supplies I buy a few extra, to furnish those about me who keep only a few swarms of bees." "What are you doing here, Mr. S.? are you ex- tracting bug-juice?" " No; my bees did not get much of that this year. This is white honey." " 1 see you have the Novice extractor. Do you like it?" " Yes, very much. It seems to do the work very nicely." "Is it not rather late and cool to extract honey and do a good job?" "Yes, rather; but these are a few combs I drew out of the hives during the honey-flow, and held as a reserve to feed such colonies as might be short of winter stores, but as my bees all filled up nicely this fall, I am now extracting the honey from these reserve combs; and by keeping the room very warm, as you see it is, I have no difficulty in throw- ing the honey all out." " You do not feed much sugar for wintc r stores, I should judge," I asked. " No; I have never fed any sugar, as I have so far succeeded in securing honey enough for winter." "Do you find ready sale for your honey about home?" " Yes. I have never had any difficulty in selling all I get. This year I sell comb honey at 18 and ex- tracted at 15 cents per lb. 1 put up my extracted in .51b. pails; and my comb honey, which is in 1-lb. sections, is put up in these small show-cases. I leave a case of honey at each of our stores, within easy reach of me, with the understanding that my price is so and so, and that I am to take back what- ever is not sold. But I never have to take back any. There, you can see that these show-cases have a glass on one side, so as to show the honey to good advantage. The cover clos« s dfiwn tight, and is held down by a hook so no flies can get to the honey. This package seems to suit our merchants better than any other I have tried, as many will handle my honey now who would not before I used these cases." " Mr. Smith, I believe you are taking the right course to sell your honey. If more of us would adopt this method of working up a home trade we should hear less about our city markets being glut- ted with honey as they are some seasons. 1 had thought of this same method, but have never put it into practice; but I believe I will hereafter. How many colonies of bees have you, Mr. S.?" " I have 80 that I intend to winter." " How long have you kept bees?" " I commenced 16 years ago with a few box hives; and soon hearing of your Bristol I ordered one of you to try. I liked it so well that the next season I ordered 40 more and now I have 80. I also have a few Simplicity and Langstroth hives, but I like the Bristol better than either of the others, for I can winter my bees out of doors in them if I wish, which would not be safe in the single-walled hives; and, besides, the Bristol is so convenient in sum- meron Hccount of so much room in the cap; and it is not so necessary to set them in the shade." " Do you winter any of your bees indoors?" " Yes, all that are in single-wall hives." " Which do you prefer?" " Well, all things considered I prefer outdoor win- tering, as I get the earliest swarms from those win- tered on summer stands, and I also have less spring dwindling with those wintered outdoors." "Do you find the business profitable?" "Yes, My bees have paid me something every 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 243 year, some years more than others. Let us go out into the apiary." " Mr. Smith, you have a very pretty yard indeed. I see you have a high tight board fence on three sides, and a cedar hedge on the fourth side. Do you consider this high fence beneficial to the bees the year round? " " ^ee, I do. Before I built it I had much spring dwindling; but since I put up the fence 1 have but little, and the fence prevents the snow from drift- ing around and over the hives; and when we have a high wind, my hives are not blown over as they were when unprotected. And, again, as my hives can not be seen from the road, people driving past are not so afraid as they would be if they could see the hives. Therefore, taking all in all, I am well pleased with the fence." Said I, " I should like to make a picture of your apiary, if you have no objection." " How did he do it, pa? I didn't see him ; where is it?" " I suppose," said the father, "the picture is in that box sitting up there. Good-morning, Mr. Al- len," said Mr. Smith; " you are just a little too late to have your picture taken. Mr. Manum, this is Mr. H. A. Allen, of Milton, who is also a bee-keep- er." " Mr. Manum, I have heard so much of you that I feel quite well acquainted, and perhaps you will re- member that I have ordered queens of you several times; and I must say that I like your strain of dark Italians. In my opinion they are llie bees we want for business." " How many colonies have you, Mr. Allen?" I asked. '* I have 2.5, all in the Bristol hives." " Do either of you take Gleanings?" '> Yes," said Mr. Smith, " both of us, and I think K. L. SMITH S APIARY. "Certainly not. I should be pleased to have you do so." I replied, " Very well; then you may stand out here among the hives, and your little son just at your right, while your daughter stands a little way further, so as not to be in the shade of the trees. By the way, Mr. Smith, I have been told that you lost your wife some years ago, and that this 14 year- old daughter does all of your housework." " Yes, my daughter has done our work since her mother died, with what little assistance I am able to render her." " Mr. Smith, I can truly sympathize with you, as I buried my wife nearly a year ago. You are very fortunate indeed in having so capable a daughter to look after your housework. There, now, all re- main perfectly still, as I am going to expose the place. All ready! There, all is over." " Why, pa," said the boy, " has the man taken our picture so quick?" " Yes, my son, I suppose he has." it grows better and better every year. I don't see how Mr. Root can afford to publish it for f 1.00 per year, and give us two copies every month. Why! it is too cheap." " Well, gentlemen," I said, " I am glad to have met you. I shall now have to bid you good by, as Mr. Gillette has already waited for me a long time." " What do you ask for those pictures, if I should want any of them?" said Mr. S. " My price is .*3.00 for the first six, then 25 cents each." A. E. Manum. Bristol, Vt., Mar. 1. Thank you, friend M., for the compliment that you and your friends pay Gleanings ; and may 1 emphasize a httle moral right here? Tliere is a promise in the Bible to those wlio give good measure : " Give, and it shall be given" unto you ; good measure, shaken down, pressed together, and running over."' I do not mean by this that we shall give more tlian a just equivalent for the 244 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. proper price, especially for commodities that have a fixed price ; but I do mean that we shall most carefully avoid giving way to the temptation to scrimp, and to be small in deal. Wlien you receive a stated sum for a day's work, give a full honest day's work. Do not scrimp at the l)eginning nor at the end. If any thing, work a little longer than you bargain to do ; and rather than do too little, f^o to the other extreme, and do a little more than is expected of you. In oth- er words, give good measure. If you are publishing a journal, work hard to make it worth the money to every subscriber. In- stead of disappointing them because of short measure, give them a pleasant sur- prise now and then in good measure ; and in the end you will be pleasantly surprised by getting good measure back again ; for does not the Bible say in that same verse, for with the same niensure that ye mete ivithal, it shall be iiuasured to you again? Now, I confess that the above looks a little bit as if I wanted to boast ; but I assure you, friends, that I do not. There is a great and wonder- ful truth right here; and it is the truth I want you to look at— not A. I. lioot. AUTOMATIC SWARM-HIVEES. THE INVENTION AND PRACTICABILITY OF. I BELIEVE bee-keepers are always ready to be interested in and willing- to invest their money in any thing- that will lessen labor and enhance the profits of bee culture. Some time ago I gave a de- scription of an automatic swarm-hiver in the Amer- ican Bee Journal, and at the same time inserted ad- vertisements in nearly all the bee-publications. Since then 1 have received hundreds of calls for a full description and particulars of the swarmer. I mention this merely to show the interest bee-keep- ers take in any new device applied to bee-keeping. No. 1. No 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE SWARMER. The illustration represents the swarm hiver at- tached to two Bay State bee-hives. The entrance to this hive is 9;=^ inches long, or wide, and % of an inch high. The swarmer just fills the entrance. Now, if you examine the engraving you will see that the part through which the bees pass is nothing- more than a box made of light material, having- one side covered with perforated metal. Thus far the swarmer is constructed exactly like the lower sec- tion of the drone and queen trap. While the queen and drones pass into the drone-trap over the en- trance, the bees and queen, when a swarm issues, are compelled to pass out at the end of the swarm- er throug-h the metal tube into the empty hive. The same arrangement that prevents the drone and queen from getting out of the drone-trap is used In the swarmer to prevent the queen from returning to the home hive when a swarm issues. To better illustrate the working of the swarmer, we will suppose that hive No. 1 is the full colony, and that No. 2 is the empty hive, arranged to receive the bees in case a swarm issues. When a swarm comes off, the bees rush out pell-mell, and escape through any outlet handiest to them. Now, the experienced bee-keeper knows well that thousands of the bees, in order to escape from the hive, will be forced to pass through the tube at the end of the swarmer; and as the queen can escape in no other way, she, too, also finds it most convenient to pass through the tube; and when once in the tube she must move on to the next exit, which leaves her in the empty hive. There she must stay, as it is impossible for her to retrace her steps through the tube, as experience with the drone and queen trap has demonstrated. While the queen is looking about for a place through which she can pass to join the bees, the swarm is flying in all directions in search of her, and in the course of a few moments tlie bees begin to return to the home hive. Any one who has witnessed the return of a swarm of bees to a hive at swarming time has noticed that the bees return in great numbers and settle over a large area. They do not center at the entrance of the hive as they do when working and returning from the field. It is understood, of course, that the swarmer catches the queen when a swarm issues. The bees miss her: and when they return, thousands of them will alight on the swarmer at the entrance of the new hive, when they at once discover their (jueen and readily enter and settle down to work. If only one or two bees find the queen, they give the signal to the others, and in a few minutes all the swarm will have joined her, when they can be placed in another part of the apiary. If a second swarm is. desired, the arrangement should be set as in the first case. Bear in mind, that the empty hive should be placed as near the home hive as possible. The philosophy of this will be understood by all who keep bees. It is not necessary to attach a new hive to the swarmer to catch a swarm. A box so arranged that what few bees get into it while at work can easily escape, and so arranged, also, that the bees can get into it to join their queen when a swarm issues, will do as well as a hive. The bees can be trans- ferred to a hive at any time during the day. Later on I will illustrate this arrangement. TO WHOM BELONGS THE CREDIT OF THIS INVEN- TION ? Since the swarmer was described in one of the leading bee-papers, some half a dozen persons came out and claimed it as theirinvention. Everyone was free to acknowledge the fact, that, where I use perforated metal, tl^cy use screen wire; yet they claim my invention as their own. One man in Canada says he used the ?ame thing 20 years ago. I think he is somewhat mixed on his dates, consid- ering the fact that perforated metal was unknown to the bee-keepers of America till D. A. Jones brought it this country about ten years ago. Wenham, Mass., March 6, 1893. Henry Alley. Inasmuch as letters and models have been coming in in regard to non-swarmers, Ernest asked friend Alley to describe his inven- tion above ; and I wish to remind our 1890 GLEANI^'GS IN BEE CULTURE. 245 younger readers that tins whole matter of automatic swarming is old. Ever since father Quinby invented a qneen-yard, to- ward twenty years ago, automatic machin- ery for hiving swarms has been again and again brought up and described— yes, and patented. Some of the inventors declared that tiie niHchines worked beautifully, and I am inclined to think they sat and watched the hives, not go off in a hurry, as you did there? PEDDLING HONEY. a good article on the subject. I began with horse and buggy, going from house to house, and weighing out to each customer as I found sale for it. But that soon proved to be a slow and disagreeable business, as most customers would take only 3 or 4 pounds, and weighing out from the wagon with a spring balance was slow, uncertain, and a sticky, gummy business. I soon quit that, and began buying tin buckets that would easily hold ten pounds. I put that amount into each, and going to the merchants, the lawyers, doc- tors, and bankers, I would sell bucket and all, charging- only a trifle for the bucket. This way was a decided improvement, but still I lost something on the buckets, and occasionally I would find a man who wanted a less quantity; so to accommodate that class, and save the loss on buckets, I went to a tin-shop and bought quart tin fruit-cans and buck- ets by the dozen, getting them at reduced rates. The quart tins hold 3 pounds, and cost me 4 cents each. 1 would sell them filled with honey at 40 cents each. Ikept the quart tins back out of sight until I found a person who would not buy as much as a bucket of honey, and then I would present them, often making a sale with them where I had failed with a larger quantity. The gallon buckets cost me by the dozen 10 cents 1890 GLEAMIKGS IN BEE CULTURE. 247 each; the six-quart, 15 cents; and the eight-quart, 20 cents each, and I would weigh them out to iny customers as so much honey, and at the same price, 12'/4 cents per pound— that is, 10 pounds, bucket and all, at f 1.35. I quit going to the dwellings almost entirely, and canvassed only the business portion of the towns. Allow me to say right here, that I worked hard and made very little money. My expenses were over $3.00 per day, and I lived as economically as I could. At towns where I was known, no one asked me if what I was selling was pure honey; but when I got further away from home, people began to look me in the eye and ask if that was hcc honey. I would say In reply, " Taste and see for yourself." " Oh ! " they would say, " I am told that It is made now to imitate so closely, that only a chemical analysis will show the difference. Even comb honey is made and filled by machinery so perfectly to imitate the work of the bee as to defy detection only by an expert." This is the fruit of the " Wiley lie." I have found it more difficult to sell the comb than the extracted honey; in fact, I can sell three times as much of the extracted as I can of the comb honey, even at the same price. At Paducah, Ky., I sold at the same price, and the " strained " honey, as they called it, was taken in preference every time. If we can, by heating and sealing up the honey, keep it from granulating, it would help things mightily; but I am opposed to putting any thing into it to keep it in a liquid state. I want to say, and tell the truth, "There is Jiofhin;/ but pure hon- ey in it." May God help us. J. G. Nance. Gracey, Ky., Feb. 33, 1890. Friend N., we have had so many reports in favor of peddling honey that I am rather glad to get one like yours, for I am sure that a gi-eat many have tried it and become dis- couraged. "We have tried it at different times, and never made it pay expenses un- less our boys took garden-stuff, fruit, or something of that sort, in connection with it. When they began to talk about comb honey made by machinery, why did you not offer them some of our reward cards to set- tle the matter ? Ameu to your concluding sentence. May God help us, not only to prosper, but to be honest. Keeping honey constantly in a liquid state, without occa- sional melting, is a pretty hard matter to manage. ^ i«i 1 BOTTLING HONEY. FRIEND MOOKE GIVES US SOME VALUABI-E HINTS IN KEGARD TO HANDLING LIQUID HONEY FOR RETAIL. Putting extracted honey neatly and expeditiously into square gUss jars, together with coiking, label- ing, and tinfoiling the f^ame, may seom at tirst bifjht an f&f'y task, but is m ichlity qu tc diili< ult. In the fii St place, the novice will be likely to daub, danb, daub, from flist to last, unless great care is taken, and a pan of warm water and a cloth is kept handy to clean up stray bits of honey; for it is the experi- ence of the writer that honey has a greater apti- tude forgetting out of place than any oiher known article, and causes greater annoyance when out of place. One of the greatest aids to neatness is to spread newspapers on the floor at the particular places where honey is likely to be spilled, as be- tween the barrel and the melting-tank, and under the faucet of the can from which we are filling, and between the melting-tank and the can that receives the honey. Our experience has shown that it is preferable to melt honey out of barrels rather than to use tin cans, for the reason that the expense of the cans is saved, and that barrels are much safer to ship; also in melting the honey in cans (in our large boiler holding two 60 lb. cans), we find it somewhat diffi- cult to get the exact melting-point, and to deter- mine just when the honey must be removed to avoid discoloring or darkening it; for it may not be generally known that honey may be darkened ef- fectually by overheating, even though water be be- tween the honey and the fire. A solid chunk of 60 lbs. of crystallized honey is slow to melt. In our practice we first remove the head of the barrel, then set it as close as may be to the double boiler, and shovel out the chunks of can- died honey into the inner boiler until it is nearly full; then close up all as tight as possible, and sub- ject it to a boiling heat for about one hour. Now dip out into a tin can set conveniently near, and one that is fitted with a large IK-inch faucet or honey-gate, for removing the honey. This tin can must be elevated to a level with the upper edge of the boiler, so as to avoid spilling the honey; for this one thing we must keep in mind from beginning to end, that honey will spill and daub all over every thing if you give it half a chance. I believe a per- son may be driven in disgust from the bee-business as surely by daub, daub, daub, as by sting, sting, sting. When the honey is all melted and canned, we are ready to prepare the glass jars to receive it. These square glass jars seem particularly fitted for re- tailing by grocers on accouut of the varied sizes, being 3-lb.,l-lb., '^-Ib., and .5-oz. jars, retailing usu- ally for 40, 35, 15, and 10 cts. Here the range of prices suits every one, from the mother who wants only a little for a sicli child, to one who wishes a full meal for several persons. Also they are par- ticularly desirable and acceptable to grocerymen because they make neat shelf goods, do not daub, and require no weighing to sell. These jars pack well for shipping, and economize space. In prepar- ing the jars, first wash and reverse to drain, then take each jar and moisten one or three sides ac- cording to the size of your labels, and pass the jar to an assistant, who will stick on the gummed label easily and quickly. Gummed labels are far the best for convenience and expedition. After labeling, again reverse in a box so as to exclude dust, until needed; wash and label the entire lot of jars you need at once. This may seem an unimportant mat- ter; but if one docs not attend carefully to all the little (?) details, and invent labor-saving methods, he will be apt to find it intolerable drudgery. For instance, in rinsing the jars we dip a jar under wa- ter with one hand, while the other hand places one revei-sed to drip. Thus much valuable time is sav- ed. When ready to fill, place a tin can on its side at a convenient hei{?ht, with a slide honej'-gate attached. Have a box full of washed and labeled jars at your right hand, and an empty box at your left, to re- ceive the filled jars. With practice one can fill them with great exactness, and without spiiiing very much. After the jars are filled, drop a cork loosely 248 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Apr. on top of pacb, then take each in turn and press in the cork with the hand. A small lever-press can easily be made for this purpose, if it is found too severe on the hands. Tinfoijintr is next in order. Cut the foil in square pieces, so it will project beyond the bottle an inch on each side. Place the forefinger of the rip'ht hand on top of the tinfoil and bottle, to hold in place; with the left hand bring the two corners down so as to lap the necli of the bottle, and press the other, portion down smoothly over it. The tin- foil can he easily pres'^ed into position with the hands, and more dextrously and neatly than with any machinery. If you wish to make it very se- cure, moisten the neck of the jar with mucilage be- fore applying the tinfoil. Now as to the way we tinfoil: Well, we don't tinfoil. We take beeswax 3 parts, rrsn 7 partF, and tallow 1 part in 10. Heat and mix thoroughly. Dip in the filled and corked jar ?X tolia.; withdraw instantly, and drip. Set away a few minutes before packing. The mixture must be quite hot, or too much adheres to the bot- tle. This gives an air-tight covering of a beautiful yellow color, much like the honey within. Cleveland, O , Mar. 15. H. F. Moore. Friend M., one might know by reading your article that you have had large experi- ence in handling honey. 1 have sometimes wondered that other people said so little about the disagreeable feature in handling lionev which you empha'^ize so well. I have visited bee-houses that were so daubed and stuck up that I could hardly be induced to work ia them. Yes, we have had some- thing in our own factory nearly as bad ; but I think that most of the hands have learned what to expect when I find such a scene. I think likely [ do scold pretty hard when I see men setting their great boots into pud- dles of honey, and then go all through the rooms with the honey snapping and smack- ing at every step. I am very much obliged to you for the hint in regard to waxing the corks. We have tried several kinds of seal- ing-wax, but it did not seem to answer. If the mixture described is just what we want, we shall feel exceedingly obliged to you for the information. Friend Muth has just given us a hint in regard to getting corks into bottles, especially where they are pretty large. Boil them in water, and they will become so soft they can be forced into the bottles as if they were rubber. HONEY-STRA.INERS. FRIEND M'INTYRE TEt,l.,8 US HOW TREY STRAIN HONEY BY THE TON IN CALIFORNIA. Don't be alarmed at the heading. I mean strain- ers for straining extracted honey. Who has not been annoyed by a honey-strainer not working sat- isfactorily when in a hurry? yet no one writes about strainers. Sometimes California honey is so thick it is next to impossible to run it through cloth, or even wire cloth, without the strainer soon choking; consequently a great many devices have been invented to overcome the difficulty. I have visited many apiaries in this county, and did not find two strainers alike. Some have abandoned them altogether, and let the honey run directly from the extractor into the tank, and skim the tank every evening. Others have what might be called a settler; it is usually a tin box about 14 inch- es square and 13 inches deep, with a tin partition two inches from one side, and running from the top down to within an inch of the bottom of the can. A pipe runs from that side of the can near the top to the tank; the honey passes down under the partition and up the other side, and out the pipe; but the bees, larvfw. and bits of wax, remain on or near the top, and will not pass under the partition. This works well, and will not run over if the pipe is large enough. The reasons I do not use it are, because I must either set my extractor too high to work easily, or cut a hole in the honey-house floor to let the box down; then I don't like to have 80 pounds of honey standing in my strainer all the sea- son, especially when changing from one grade of honey to another; and it is some bother to get the honey strained that is left in the strainer. When friend Root was here he said he would like to illus- trate my strainer in Gleanings, so I will send drawings and description. Fig. Fig. m'intyre's honey-strainer. No. 1 is a tin box 1.5 x 18 in. inside, 6 inches deep, with a 3 inch pipe In one end, 2'/4 inches from the bottom. No. 3 is a box made of half-inch pine, 15 x 16 outside, 5 inches deep. The bottom is wirei cloth, 8 meshes to the inch. A piece V2 x 3 x 15 is nailed on one end at the top; a little block, % inch cube, is nailed on each bottom corner. No. 3 sits down in No. 1, the wire cloth being held Ji of an inch from the bottom of No. 1. As the outlet is 3X inches from the bottom, the wire cloth will be about IX inches below the surface of the honey. The honey passes down through the wire cloth, under the end of No. 3, that has the little board nailed on, up under the little board, and out of the pipe. This strainer stands on the floor of the honey house, and the pipe passes out through the wall to a V-ton tank outside. The extractor and capping-box stand up 6 inches from the floor, and both empty into the strainer. The strainer has never run over. You see it is a combination of the settling and straining principles. I skim off the bees, etc., once a day, be- cause I do not think it would be clean to leave them longer. I do not have to think about honey run- ning over for a week after commencing to extract, as that is about the time usually taken to fill the tank. I saw some parties extracting last season, where they let the honey run into a pail; and it was 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 249 amusing to see them jump when they would forget the pail a few minutes, for fear it would be running- over. They have sold their apiary to me since then. I presume the wear and tear of having to watch that pail, and work at the same time, was too much for them, so they sold out. We have had a yard of rain this winter, up to date, and consequently expect a good honey sea- eon. J. F. McIntyre. Fillmore, Cal., Jan. 27. Priend M., you have given us just exactly what I wanted in regard to arrangements for handling honey rapidly, as you do in California. I have tried running it into a pail, and I assure you I never want any more of it. I hope some of the friends in Wisconsin whom I visited will profit by your little bit of pleasantry. When I re- monstrated with them for running honey into a pail, ever so many objections were brought up against doing otherwise, such as havinsr to lift the honey in combs if you do not lift it in the pail. My friends, you do not need to do either. Every extracling- hoiise should have a basement. If you can not locate your honey-house on a side hill, I would make an artificial side hill, some- thing as farmers do with their bank barns. Wheel your combs of honey up an inclined plane to the upper room, where the extract- or is ; or, if you choose, have your honey- tank in H sort of cellar below the floor on which the extractor stands ; or have some equivalent arrangement so that j'our honey will run by gravity out of your way, and let it take its own time to strain and settle. The arrangement desciibed by friend M. seems to me to be about as good as any thing we can get. Our extractors are ar- ranged— especially the shorter ones — for running the honey directly into barrels. I feel quite satisfied, however, that a better way is to run it into a large tank first. Our cheap and simple arrangement of the cheese- cloth bag answers the purpose nicely so far as straining is concerned. The dead bees and bits of comb, etc., fall to the bottom of the bag, and the honey pushes its way through along the sides above the debris. Have several bags; and when one gets full of trash, set it away to drain while a new one is put in the bung of the barrel. If you are taking out honey in great quantities, a larger bag will be needed — possibly wire cloth will be required to give the requisite strength. I am inclined to think, however, that the honey will be clearer and nicer when strained through cheese cloth than through wire cloth. FASTENING HIVES TOGETHER FOR HAULING. some method of fastening bees in the hives, and fastening the parts of the hive together that is cheap, simple, reliable, and easily and quickly ap- plied and removed. I hope I may be pardoned for thinking my way better than any that has yet been given. Let me say, at the start, that I would rather move bees in hives with plain square joints, if prop- erly fastened together, than in any kind of hive in which the parts telescope together. In the square- joint hives, if there are any cracks that will let bees out they may be easily seen and stopped up, while in those with telescoping joints I have frequently found, after getting under way with a load of bees, that a crack that seemed tight allowed the bees free passage. Tour Dovetailed hive is nearly enough like mine for the same description of fastening appliances to apply to both. Into each edge of the bottom board, just below the middle of the hive, drive an 8-penny wire nail until there is about an eighth of an inch between the head and the wood. Drive two more into the cover to correspond. With these in every cover and bot- tom board, every hive in the yard is ready to be fastenedtogether securely at the rate of about half a minute to each hive. Make a loop of stout wire— 1 use steel bale wire. No. 14— so that it will just slip over the nail-heads from bottom-board to cover. The wire should be spliced with a "telegraph splice; " that is, the ends should not be twisted together, or returned on themselves, but each end should pass the other and then be twisted around it. Now take two sticks, two or three inches long, with the ends notched. Place these sticks between the wires on one side, and spread them apart until the wires are perfectly tight. If the wire is a little rusty, the sticks, or "keys," will hold better, though I have never known one to slip if properly arranged. FRIEND .1. A. r.KEEN TEr,r,S ITS HOW TO FIX THEM, SO IF YOU TIP THE WAOON OVER THE BEKS DON'T GET OUT. As the season is approaching when many bee- keepers, especially those running out-apiaries, will have considerable hauling of bees to do, it may be in order to add a few words to what has already been said on the subject. To any one running out-apiaries, or who expects to move his bees to some other locality to catch a honey-flow. It is of the greatest importance to have This makes a fastening that is entirely reliable for any ordinary handling or hauling, and by the use of a couple of nails or screws to hold the wires apart, or to keep the keys from slipping, will stand the roughest handling in shipping. Last fall I up- set with a load of bees I was hauling down a steep side-hill road, the wagon turning completely upside down, and piling the hives in a miscellaneous heap. No damage was done, except the splitting of the cleats to some of the cover-boards. The frames were at fixed distances, and not a comb was broken. Tn moving bees in hot weather, instrad of the regular cover I use a frame covered with wire cloth. This frame is made of strips 71 square, with a cross-bar in the middle, into which the nails are 50 GLEAM>sGS IN liEE CULTURE. Apr. driven. The wire cloth is tacked on top of tliis, leaving- a space between it and the frames. For the salie of safety, a thin strip is taclied on top all around, binding the wire cloth securely. It should be so that, when the cover is laid on top, the hive is closed as perfectly as if the wire-cloth screen were not there, and no straggling bees can collect on the wire cloth. If you have many bees to move, you can prepare them a day or more beforehand, without inconveniencing the bees, leaving only the entrances to be closed, the last thing. For closing the entrances, if wire cloth is used above there is nothing better than a plain square stick of wood, nailed or clamped over the entrance. In cooler weather, ventilation at the entrance is suflBcient. To make a block for closing the en- trance, take a stick of wood Ji square, and as long as the hive is wide. Recess one side % of an inch in depth, to within an inch of the ends. Now fold a strip of wire cloth in the middle, and tack it on the stick so that the folded edge is even with the projections at the ends. Nail this against the en- trance. I have used screw clamps to fasten them on the hive, and like them very much, as, with them, there are no nails, tacks, or screws to be driv- en or drawn in fastening bees in or releasing them. The principal objection is the expense— five cents each, though they could probably be bought cheap- er in quaMity. They ought to be among your counter goods. If you have but little hauling of bees to do, you may not care to have nails driven in all your covers and bottom-boards. In this case, take strips 1 x 2, and as long us your hive is wide, and drive the nails into the ends. Put one of these under the hive, and one over, apd fasten as before. DR. miller's reversible BOTTOM-BOARD. I have been greatly interested in the discussion of Dr. Miller's reversible bottom-board. I can see many advantages in its use, and would certainly adopt it but for these objections. 1. Cost; 2. A hive on ii is not so readily picked up and handled as on the ordinary bottom-board. This objection could be partially removed by cutting hand-holes in the side pieces, which would add slightly to the cost. 3. A stand, to keep it off the ground five or six inches, and at the same time keep bees from getting under it, will not hold it as securely, nor can it be removed therefrom as readily, as the or- dinary style. If my objections are not well founded, I hope their fallacy may be pointed out, as I should very much like to secure all their advantages. Dayton, 111., Feb. 22. J. A. Green. I am greatly interested in any thing that pertains to a cheap, simple, and reliable method of hauling bees ; and, as a matter of course, I have just read your article with considerable interest. Certainly you will be pardoned for thinking that your way is the best ; and, on the same grounds, I may be pardoned for thinking that my way is still better; for a description of which, see the department of Our Own Apiary, elsewhere. Briefly, my objections to your method of hauling bees are these : First, for conven- ience you drive four nails into the cover and bottom -board, and, of course, they will be sticking out during the summer, to catcli somebody's unfortunate pants. Second, while it is cheap it is not as cheap as the loops I have described elsewhere. Third, the whole tension of the wires is on two nails ; and while said nails may be able to hold all the necessary strain, there are times when I think they would not, although I must confess you have put them to a pretty severe test if your wagon was turned bot- tom upward. 1 should not want to have such a catastrophe with a Iractious colt. If you had had movable frames, as most bee- keepers use, oh my ! what a muss you would have had after arriving at your destination ! Yes, sir, I think we want frames that will stay where we put them when we move bees, and not " behave like a rattlebox," as R. L. Taylor very aptly put it at the Colum- bus International Convention. I believe I agree with you in what you say in regard to Dr. Miller's bottom-board. Without doubt, it has several good features ; but in my estimation they are overbalanced by some of its objections. Ernest. THE DUAL DOVETAILED HIVE. w'hat led to the adoption of the dovetail- ed, OR LOCK JOINT, CORNERS. Whether I am the originator of the lock-corner beehive or not, I am unable to say, as I so often find others doing the same thing that I am, all un- conscious of each other; but this I know: That I made the first one that I ever saw. It illustrates the common saying, " Where there is a will, there is a way." In my case it was a want with the will that made a way. Some men prefer horses, politics, or dogs. I have a fancy for bees. When a good friend of mine goes to Florida to look after his or- ange groves he takes a favorite dog for hunting. When I first went to Florida, in 1876, to be gone from my family several months, I went by steamer from Philadelphia via Savannah, that I might take with me a choice colony of Italian bees, unwilling to risk them in the care of any one. I kept them in my stateroom; but in spite of all that I could do to quiet them they kept up such a roaring as to be heard above the noise of the sea and the ship's ma- chinery, so as to alarm the passengers in the state- rooms on either side of me, who, happily, came to me to learn what was going on in my room. I ex- plained to them I was too deathly sick to hold my head up, without doing any thing. " What have you got in here, making such a hiss- ing noise? Are they snakes that we hear In our rooms?" I told them they were Italian bees. " Won't they get out and sting you to death, and drive us all into the sea? They must be real mad. Who ever heard bees make such a noise?" I had to explain that Italian bees never sting when properly used, and showed them that the hive was covered over with wire screen, so that they could get air, and water from a wet sponge. I begged of them to make no complaint to the cap- tain, and they graciously assented to let them re- main, as many people tolerate dogs in street-cars, who have no particular liking for them. In spite of all, three-fourths of the bees dk d on the trip (of a week); but what I saved cheered many a lonely hour. By Apr. 1 1 had built them up to two good colonies that I sold for $18.00. In my subsequent trips to 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 251 Florida by rail I could not take bees in the cars. I would not risk them by express, nor endure the miseries of seasickness again, so that I had none there until the winter of 1884, when I wanted to take some choice bees to Florida so much that I de- termined to do so, rules or no rules. My friends could take their dogs on the passenger trains, and these dogs were a great deal more likely to go mad and bite somebody than my bees were to get away from me to sting anybody. I cheerfully conform to reasonable rules, but I have small respect for prejudice. For myself, I would rather risk the stings of mad bees than the bite of a glad dog. What has this to do with the Dovetailed hive? It ■was the need of something light and strong, that would be safe to carry a colony of bees in, in one hand, into a passenger car. A heavy hive that it took both hands to carry would never get further than the platform. Twelve years ago I had a lot of nucleus hives made of stuff half-inch thick, with dovetailed corners, like four-piece section boxes, and glued together without nails, that are still good and strong. Thinking that hives made very thin and light would be warm enough for Florida, I had brood-hives made that weighed only 8 pounds. Eight of these were packed in my trunk, in the flat, with my clothes, and checked free, as others do :guns and camp outfits. Now for the bees: Passenger rules absolutely prohibited the carrying of lizards, toads, or bees, in the cars, that would disturb the nerves of timid travelers. I knew the alacrity with which the Pull- man porter would pull those precious bees if they only buzzed; but I entertained a hope that five dol- lars might find them a stand in the steward's pantry. Remembering the roaring racket of the bees on the flhip, with wire cloth over the top of the hive I took a dovetailed body, without bottom, covered it over with wire cloth, and nailed on three strips, half an Inch square, to keep it up from the floor, that they might have air from the bottom. I then caged three queens in separate pound sections, partly filled with honey, and set in combs partly filled with honey, and put in all the bees of three strong nuclei, making a good colony. I then nailed the cover on tight and fast, hoping to smother any complaints that I expected from too close confine- ment; next, to further deaden sound, and mask the affair from the vigilant eyes of men ever ready to bleed one for a dollar, if caught violating rules (I would rather have paid, but bees are prohibited), 1 wrapped the sides and top of the box in two coats of heavy paper, and fastened on straps to carry it, so that it might pass for a magic lantern, or any thing but a hive of live bees. Nothing succeeds like success. I secured a seat in the middle of the car, by my coat and valise, and waited in the cool air quietly outside until the train was ready to move, when I carried in my pets, trusting that the roaring of the train and the paper wrapping would prevent their being heard. A three-hours' run car- ried us (bees and me) from Wilmington, Del., to Washington, D. C, without a whimper. As they were so quiet, I carried them aside to investigate, to see whether they were yet alive. A breath blown in at the bottom l)rought the response, " We are all right; what's the matter with you?" After a few days we went on again to Jacksonville, Fla., and 150 miles south to I'anasoffkee, Fla., most of the way in Pullman cars, and the blessed bees be- haved so well that not a passenger knew that I had bees in my (bonnet) box, so carefully wrapped up with paper. It was :il days from the time they were placed in the box in Delaware until I released them in Flori- da, when they were evenly divided among the 1 hree queens. They commenced carrying in pollen the first hour. There were only 51 dead bees. One queen began laying the second day, and the other two the third day. My intention was to put heavy boxes around the nuclei, as the nights are very cool in Florida. For want of time to do better, I wrapped old newspapers around and over the boxes, to keep them warm, and they just boomed. They were on six frames, which the queens packed with eggs. I had 3 cases of 14 sections each, filled with choice orange honey by the middle of March. Using foundation had increased them to 7 colonies by May 10. I was so impressed with the value of a small brood-nest and paper covering that I tried the same on my bees in Delaware; and the following winter !% wrapped all brood-hives with several thicknesses of paper and set a larger hive over them to protect from the wind and rain, and I found it a perfect success where I lived, near Philadelphia, Pa. Every colony put up in paper has wintered successfully with me since I first began. It is safe, cheap, and free to all. I prefer it to chaff, which 1 had been using for 30 years. If the hive is small enough for the bees to fill it with the heat they generate, and a solid wood cover closed down absolutely air tight, as they prepare it for winter when left to them- selves, with several layers of paper wrapped smooth- ly around the outside of the brood-hive with a dou- ble quantity over the top, to retain the heat of the colony. Cover all over with tarred paper or oil cloth, or a larger hive to keep oft' cold winds and rain, and you can have the behefits of my method with any kind of hive. Keeping the outside dry and the inside warm, above the condensing point, with plenty of good sealed honey, bees will boom in time for the harvest. When you take the bees out of the cellar, wrap smoothly several layers of paper around, and twice as much on top of any brood- chamber of proper size, and cover it with any thing to keep off the rain, and you will have my mode of promoting spring breeding; but the paper must be dry; wet, it would be too cold. Not being a manu- facturer of hives, I have had to depend upon others to make them for me. After trying nine different planing-mills and a near-by hive-maker (to save freight), and standing over the job to have them made as nicely as a bee-hive should be, I became so utterly disgusted that I procured a patent on my hive, that I might say who should make it. In cor- respondence with Mr. A. I. Root a year and a half ago, I almost offered to give him the entire thing if he would make and sell it. He answered me very kindly, that he supposed he had it in his attic; and from the new notions that are coming to him al- most daily, it is no wonder that he thought so. I packed the complete model hive (that cost me $8.00 hand made) in my trunk, and brought it to the Home of the Honey-bees, and exposed it to the criticism of A. ]. Hoot, E. K. Root, J. T. Calvert, and .1. S. Warner— four as good judges of good bee-hive work as can be brought together. After looking over and discussing the strength of the locked cor- ners, and the feasibility of making it, Mr. E. R. Root asked what I called it. I had no name. As there had been so many hives with grand names, I dared not venture, lest it might have been used be- 252 glea:nings in bhie cultuke. Apr. fore. I asked him to supgest one. He answered, "As it is two hives in one, I should call it a dual hive," which so aptly describes it I gladly accepted the name, and I give Mr. E. K. Root the credit. Mr. A. I. Root agreed to make the hives for me. I gave him a trial order, and they were altogrthcf so much better than any that 1 have had made before, that I am now having lOCO hives made for myself, and can increase it If more are wanted. The lumber is good, and the work I know will be good, made by the very best of machinery by men skilled and trained to ap- preciate the nice fittings required to make a per- fect bee-hive. Mr. A. I. Root is responsible for that. I have two separate patents now granted, anoth- er pending, that give me the right to say who shall make it and know it is well made; and I am deter- mined to sell them in the flat so cheap that no one need wrong themselves or me by making a poor hive; and while they are strong enough to last a *life time, they are so light that they can be shipped 1000 miles for thn same freight tbat other hives can be sent 200, so as to have them all made in one place, and all alike. I will be responsible for this. Washington, D. C, Mar. 24. F. Danzenbaker. Friend D., we are glad to know that you have succeeded in carrying bees so well on the cars. Very likely the same preparation would enable ttiem to stand the long ship- ments we have tried to make to Australia and the Sandwich Islands. Are we to un- derstand that you gave them full ventila- tion all the time from the whole bottom? If so. I am rather at a loss to understand why they did not roar or buzz as they did in your former experiment. The use of paper to keep out frost in the spring, when bees are breeding very rapidly, is old. You will find a description of it in Gleanings some- thing like fifteen years ago. It was adopted by a great many at one time, and there was a good deal of enthusiasm about it ; but aft- er a while, quilts and enamel cloth took their place, and now our learned doctors (?) are talking of throwing even these aside and using only -a plain flat board over the brood-combs. May be it is all right ; but it reminds me every little while of what Josh Billings said : '' What is the use of knowing so much when so much that you know is not true?" Never mind. You succeeded in traveling with the bees for 21 days with only 51 dead ones out of a good-sized colony.— In regard to patents, if your motive in getting them is to be sure that all the hives that are used are accurately and properly made, I do not know but that it might be a pretty good thing. But we hope we shall never see you going around among the farmers, trying to sell " individual rights." CONDUCTED BY KRNEST R. ROOT. PREPARATIONS FOR HAULING BEES. It has been some time since I inserted this department. In tlie mean time a few have written, wanting to know why I drop- ped it. Why, bless you, I have not intend- ed to do so; but there have been so many good articles that I wanted to have inserted, I could hardly see how I could make room for it. There has been so much inquiry in regard to moving bees, how to prepare the hives, etc., that I feel constrained to tell some of mv experience, because the time is fast approaching when many of us will be moving our bees to out-apiaries. FASTENING THE TOP AND BOTTOM- BOARD FOR HAULING. Before telling you very much about our method I present to you forthwith an en- graving which will explain the method and modus operandi. DOVETAILED HIVE, PREPAKED BEADY FOR HAUL- ING BEES TO AN OLT-APIABY. To save time, we first cut twice as many lengths of iute twine, i inch in diameter, as we have hives to haul. These lengths will just reach around a Dovetailed hive trans- versely, and tie in a bow knot, in the direc- tion of the dotted line. Now, then, with a certain number of lengths thrown over the shoulder, we proceed to a hive, lift the front up. slip one lenglh uiider, dr»w it around the hive tight on the dotted lii"^, and tie it. The rear is looped in like mauner. Now, then, to stretch the twine taut we draw the tops of the loops toward each other, in such away that the cord that was at first perpen- dicular is now stretched to the hypothenuse. After having diawii them as far as you can with your fingers, we take a hammer and drive at the angle on both sides of the cover until the diagonal part of the cord begins to sing like a fiddle string. Now, the cord we use will hold, before breaking, about 200 lbs. With the hammer we can stretch the cord to the breaking-point if we so desire. I merely mention this to show what a tremen- dous pressure can be exerted. But we will not stretch it to a breaking-point, but only give it a tension of perhaps 100 lbs. on each diagonal of the cord, which would make a pressure of 400 lbs. on the cover and bottom against the body of the hive. Now. you might suppose that, after the cord is slipped from a perpendicular to a diagonal, it will have a tendency to resume the perpendicu- lar again ; but if you will try the experi- ment on the hive you will find that the fric- tion is fsreat enough to keep the cord at whatever diagonal you may drive it. While doctors Miller and Mason were here I show- ed them this method of fastening, and they both acknowledged its practicability and strengtli. Last fall we moved the bees in the bass- wood orchard home ; and before setting out with a team and platform spring wagon. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 253 "with a sort of hay-rack top, we took along with us the required u urn her of lengths of cord. My plan was simply to tie them transverbely on the hives on the dotted line as above. Atter having tied a few of them I saw that 1 could hardly make them tight enough. While I was thus engaged, Mr. War.l, our teamster, had struck upon a very ingenious plan of tightening them, and that was the method I have already described. I was very sorry that he discovered it be- fore I did. It worked so unique that I wanted to have the honor of it. The plan is doubtless old ; but then, you know there is a little fun in using a good thing your- self, even if the other fellow has the honor of first suggesting it. We haided, thus secured, more than 50 colonies. The bottom - board and cover would have stood ten times the amount of hard usHge we gave them. Without stop- ping to take the hive up by the hand-holes, we grabbed hold of the cleats of the cover so that you can see that the whole weight of the hive is held by the cords. If the cover- board has any tendency to warp, the cords will very speedily draw them down again tight, so as not to leave a peeping crack for the bees, to say nothing of the impossibility of srettina: out and stinging the horses. You will see elsewhere that J. A. Green describes another method for securing the cover and bottom. Our plan, I think, is cheaper and more secure. There is no ex- pense of wire, of V stretching strips, or danger of tearing clothing from nail-heads. Not a nail is used. For m jving in the fall or spring, it will not be necessary to use the wire-cloth screen, if the entrance is stopped with wire cloth. For summer moving, the screen can be secured with the bottom-board as above. For stopping the entrance we use a device similar to tliat described by Mr. Green. In the engraving, a narrow strip i inch thick and i wide, and of the length of the en- trance, is used. To this is nailed a strip of wire cloth folded double, to give it addition- al stiffness. I am indebted to Dr. Miller for this suggestion. A single thickness of wire cloth sometimes may be bent just enough to let bees out. It: is highly impor- tant that not a single bee escapes. Since writing the above. Mr. Chalon Fowls, of Oberlin, Ohio, an enthusiastic and prominent bee-keeper, has been visiting at the Home of the Honey-bees. He sa.\she would not have supposed it possible, from the description, that the method described above would hold the bottom and cover so securely. I took him out to my back yard, fastened a cover and bottom, and then ask- ed him to test the strength. He said he had supposed the loop would slip and become loose ; but he found that they stayed where they were put. FASTENIXC; FRAMES. On page 551, 1889, 1 described our spacing- strips for fastening movable frames. Next year I propose tryintr frames at fixed dis- tances, probably the Van Deusen. We have already tested them somewhat in our apia- ry, you will remember. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. THE FLORIDA .JAY-BIRD AN ENEMY OF BEES. Do you or any of your readers linow whether the Florida jay-bird, or "scrub jay," as some call it, is In the habit of eating' bees? I never saw them eat bees till this spring:. They come among the hives in the early morning, before sunrise, and seem to be sci-atching- and picking up bugs, worms, etc., and will run up to a hive and pick off the first bees that crawl out. 1 don't think they eat a great many bees. I dislike to kill them, for I have thought they were our best friends. They are not very numerous, but are very industrious; and, aside from eating bees, I don't think they do any harm, but a great deal of good in picking up bugs, worms, etc., in the garden and grove. J. H. Hill. Grove City, Fla.. Feb IT. If the Florida jay-bird is any thing like the king-bird described in the ABC book, you have good grounds for thinking that it consumes bees in Lhe same way. I would keep a careful watch if I were you, and let the result deci^. It has brought me something over if3J0. This will make over $5.00 per colony, besides the increase. If we count the in- crease it will make ir,0 per cent on the capital In- vested. Wm. Malone. Newborn, la., Feb. 8. alfalfa; 15 lbs. to the gallon. I have only 14 colonies of bees, l^it I have built them up from one colony. I have I >^<\ bees since 1886. Some of our best bee-keepers thought at that time that alfalfa did not secrete nectar in this climate. Our wild flowers here produce little or no honey. One year in particular my bees got very short of honey in June; but as soon as the alfalfa commenced to bloom I could see that the bees were putting in honey. Then the alfallawa cut, and immediately the bees were almost down to starva- tion again until it blossomed again in July. Then part of the field was left to go to seed; and they not only put in a bountiful supply for winter, but gave me a surplus of about 60 lbs. to the hive. This year 13 hives gave me a surplus of 108 gallons which weighed 15 Ihs. to the gallon. The honey is very thick, white, and of excellent flavor. It granulates very easily, even in the hives, if extracting is de- layed. My bees will fly over a field of freshly blos- somed alfalfa to get to some that is going to seed, and I sometimes think it has little nectar in it when it first blossoms. We have a field of 60 acres on our ranch, acd all our neighbors raise alfalfa also. Fort Collins, Col., Mar. 5. Mrs. J. Armstrong. Are vou not mistaken, my good friend? The thickest honey I ever heard of weighed V2 lbs. to the gallon, and then it would hard- ly run. To weigh 15 lbs. to the gallon it would be so thick, even in warm weather, that you would almost have to cut it with a knife. Either your scales were wrong, or else the honey was of greater f-pecific gravi- ty than any thing we have ever heard of before. 1890 glea^i:ngs im bee culture. 255 0a^ ^aEg3Fi0N-B6^, 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 qu.^stions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked. "For Our Question-Box." Question 157. — a. Haveyou practiced caging queens dining the JiDney-flmc, to pi event swai ming'l b. In ynnr opinion, did it ansiver the purpose? c. Do you think that the colony so experimented upon produced more honey/ d. If the caging of a queen is mit entire- ly »ati»fattiiry. do you feel warranted in testing it on a larger scale next ycarf No. Illinois. No. Cuba. a, b, c. No. Uliaois. N. W. I have never tried the plan. Illinois. N. C. Mrs. L. Harrison. O. O. POPPLETON. Dadant & Son. J. A. Green. I have often done it. Removed the queen. It is a good policy. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. a. Yes. b. No. c. No. d. I have tried it two or three times with unsatisfactory results, hence I will not give it any more trials. Louisiana. E. C. P. L. Viallon. Yes, years ago; but I am not sure but more hon- ey can be obtained by letting one swarm issue from each old colony. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. a. No. b. Certainly, c. Yes (?). d. My way of cag- ing was perfectly satisfactory, so I shall pursue the same course next year. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. a. Yes. b. Yes. c. Yes. d. We shall cage queens in the future to prevent swarming, and also to se- cure a larger surplus of honey. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. No, but I know some one who has. b. No. c. No. d. Caging the queen does not cure the swarming fever. Taking them out, does. New York.lC. P. H. Elwood. Yes, I have caged queens to increase the produc- tion of honey, but I am satisfied that the reverse is the result. It does not prevent swarming. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MuTH. a. Yes, sir. b. No, sir. c. No, sir, ee. d. With my present light and experience I do not wish to experiment further. I think there is a method ahead that will accomplish all we desire, with but little manipulation. New York. E. Rambler. a. Yes, caged them permanently by pinching off their heads, only when swarms issue, b. It did. c. I do. I shall practice this kind of caging to pre- vent swarming during the honey-flow and to secure young queens at the close of the season. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boardman. a, b. Yes. c. No. d. Yes, if necessity requires it. UnqueslionaVily, the colony that will produce the most surplus honey will be such as are so managed as to prevent .all. desire loi swaim, and at the same time have a prolific queen to keep the brood-nest well filled with brood. Connecticut. S. W. L. C. Root. This is one of the interesting plans which I have never tried. I feei a little suspicious that it might not work with me. My bees might build a good many queen-cells, and then devote themselves so assiduously to the cells as to forget about the honey business. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. a. No, but nearly the same thing. I have remov- ed them entirely from the hives. I have experi- mented in this way for a number of years, but am not satisfied as yet that it would be practical every year and in all localities, b. Yes, it prevented swarming, c. No. d. Yes, I shall continue to ex- periment on this line until victorious. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. a. Yes. b. Largely, c. No. d. Not unless I have to. Bees swarmed excessively last season ; and be- ing short of hives we resorted to caging queens, caging 100 or more. It may be best to do so if we can not control swarming any other way; but if we can control it otherwise, I prefer that the queen be left to perform her regular duties in the hive. Wisconsin. S. W. S. 1. Freeborn. a. Yes, hundreds of them. b. Yes. c. No and yes. If the colony had kept their queen laying right along without swarming they might have made- more honey; but if they swarmed, less. d. If I can't do any better I'll keep on caging. I like that better than swarming, but I hope some time to find a way to have the queen laying and yet not have the bees desire to swarm. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. a. No, sir; that is one of the things I should not have to practice in order to decide against. I feel sure that I know enough of the instincts and habits- of bees to know, without practice, that whoever adopts that method will surely discard it again. Space forbids going into details in regard to the reasons. You try it with not less than twenty col- onies until you are thoroughly satisfied one way or the other, and then report; and if you do not say that I am right 1 will present you a queen that will produce bees as good as any you ever saw, I trust. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. The above replies are about what I ex- pected. I have always been opposed, aa you may know, to keeping queens idle. In fact, I do not believe in shutting up any kind of animated nature, and keeping them from doing something useful. In our api- aries we never have a surplus of bees, be- cause we sell tliem by the pound ; therefore we should never want a queen shut up when she might be laying. Some excellent honey- producers, however, who do not want in- crease of stocks or increase of bees at cer- tain periods have thought they saved honey by preventing the production of useless swarms. Sometimes 1 have thought this might be possible. When visiting Dr. Mil- ler I found hives containing caged queens, and watched the whole matter with great interest. I presume he had more than a hundred caged when I was there, and he was for the lime quite favorable toward it ; but he says since that he does not like it. 256 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUllE. Apr. However, he decides to keep on caging if he can nut do any better. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. That ai't on which a thousand millions of men are dependent for their sustenance, and two hundred millions of men expend their daily toil, niu-tjje the most important of all— the p.irent and precursor of all other .arts. In every coiinti-y. then, and at every period, the investis'ation of the principles on which the rational (iriictice of this art is founded ought to have command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds. James F. W. Johnston. RAISING CROPS UNDER GLASS. The experience of the past winter lias convinced me more than ever before, that I, at least, must have some arrangement whereby the glass can be over our crops wiien it is needed, and at no other time. During the great abundance of rain that we have had for months past, and with the rain, as a matter of course, a temperature more or less above freezing, I would have the glass off the greater part of the time, especially with sucli hardy plants as beets, lettuce, cabbage, celery, corn salad, onions, etc. I want the direct rain, I want the di- rect sunshine, and I want the free air of heaven, whenever it can be hud without running the temperature too low. By this means we get rid of the green fly and all other insects ; we get rid of mold, fungus, and every thing of the sort ; and we have absolutely nothing to do with the plants atall, except to interpose the glass when the tem- perature gets too low. The great problem is, how to accomplish it with the least expense. I should at once decide on having my plant- beds on wheels, and push the beds all outside by appropriate machinery, were it not for the extra amoimt of ground needed. To avoid this extra space, 1 see no other way than to have the sashes hinged so they can be turn- ed up nearly to a perpendicular, to let in the sun and rain. None of the plants I have mentioned are injured at a temperature of 40. or, say, down to ;:!5, although the amount of growth is very small unless the tempera- ture is above 50 ; but 60 is better, and 70 still better, where we want them to grow rapidly. Tomato-plants, however, and oth- er forms of tropical vegetation, would want to go 10 or 20 degrees higher. This season, just as the green fly began to threaten to make us trouble, and just as we began to think of buying more tobacco to fumigate, all at once the little chaps began to turn red, and die ; and in a few days prettv much every insect had died off from the effects of this fungus, or parasite, or whatever it may be termed. They stick right on the lettuce leaves, and leave a little spot where they died in their tracks. But this mostly wash- ed off, and now our lettuce is growing un- hindered. Carrying dirt, manure, compost, etc., into greenhouses, where the paths are made nar- row for the sake of economy, has been a problem to us. When one of our large glass- es gets broken, I have sometimes suggested to the boys, that, before we mend it, we might shovel in a lot of dirt where it is need- ed. Where a ventilator is over a bed, rais- ng the ventilator affords a ready means of getting in soil. Below is a communication from a brother of W. J. Green, of our Ohio Experiment Station : A GREENHOtrSE HOD. When the greenhouse was built here at the sta- tion, no arranf^ements were made for carrying or wheeling- in the dirt except at the door, and per- haps none were needed, for each opening only makes another place to let in cold air. When we first filled the house last fall, for filling the be nches a commoQ bushel basket, carried on the shoulder, was used to carry all the dirt, the walks being such that a wheelbarrow could not be conveniently used ; but after wearing out the baskets, making our shoulders sore, and not improving our temper?, the idea came to us that a hod, on the plan of a brick- ruason's, would be a good thing, and so we went to work and made two that would hold about three pecks of dirt; and now, after having used them to carry in several loads of dirt, I can say that one maa can do with these hods .iust about the same as two men did with the baskets. The ease with which the hods can be put on the shoulder, and be carried, is surprising to any one who has been using a bas- ket. You might just as well ask a hod-carrier to carry his bricks up in a basket as to ask us to carry our dirt in with a basket now. I have been trying to invent a box-hod, so that, when potatoes and such truck are carried a distance, a box might be set on a hod, and be carried; but I have not suc- ceeded yet, and I will leave it to some genius to find out how far the hod principle is practicable. But I believe, as in our case of filling the benches of the greenhouse with dirt, it may be used in oth- er ways, for things must be carried on men's backs, and there is uo getting around it; so to find the way to do it, the least expenditure of strength is wise. Our hods are 5 inches at the bottom, 13 at the top, 13 deep, and 3 feet long, with a good-sized stick in the bottom. This we have found to be a good size, but may not be the best. E.C.Green. Columbus, O., Mar. 8. Well done, friend G. I have been study- ing on this same matter of an easy method of moving things ; and I do believe that, under many circiimstances, a light, properly made hod would be an excellent thing for the market-gardener. The potato-boxes are largely used for the same purpose, by plac- ing them on the shoulder ; but it is very hard work indeed for me to carry a potato- box full of potatoes ; whereas I could get under a hod and carry the same weight with comparative ease. I know, for I have tried it. When some of our boys complained that hod-carrying was very hard work, I have carried a few hods of brick up the lad- der, just to see how it went to put myself in their place. Notwithstanding the exceedingly favora- ble weather for the growth of all kinds of garden stuff, we find ourselves, this 28th day of March, short of almost every tiling in the way of vegetables and plants. Not- withstanding we have a larger area under glass than ever before, the demand is great- er than the supply. Our hot-bed sashes made of strips of glass answer excellently, and at the present time we find only one difficulty. When the Brahma chickens hap- pen to walk over the glass, the strips break ; the same with a dog, and I think likely a 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 257 large heavy cat would break through. This can be obviated, however, by having the strips shorter, and may be a little wider. In other respects they are a success. Beauti- ful lettuce, cabbages, caulillower, beets, and other plants, are growiug uuder sashes that have never been tDoved, and the tempera- ture lias been at different times down to five above zero. PEA BUGS, OR WEEVILS, INFESTING OUR WHITE HEANS ; HOAV SHALL WE GET RID OF THEM V I do not remember just how mauy years ago it was, perhaps not more than three or four, when some of the boys and girls told me that our beans were '' buggy."' Of course, everybody knows about peas; but buggy beans were something new at the time. Well, of late our beans have been getting buggier and bugeier, until during the pres- ent season we have several bushels that it would have been better to have boiled up and given to the chickens in the outset. Wheu v.e first began to find a few of them buggy they were carefully hand-picked, and the buggy ones were boiled for the chickens. Pretty soon the same lot were buggy again, and now they have been picked over three times; but we have little assurance that they will not continue to get buggy as long as they last. One of the women lemarkfd, when picking them over, that some one said at a meeting of the Summit County Ilorti- cultnral Society, that all beans planted after a certain date, she thought it was some time in June, would be in no danger of bugs ; and then I remembered that we had. during the past season, planted a lot of white beans so late that a good many told me thev would not ripen so as to become dry. They did, however (the greater part of them), and we had several bushels that were not buggy a bit. There has never been a bug among "them. This is one point that I wish friends Cook and Green, of their sep- arate agricultural colleges to enlighten us on. Another thing, can the live bugs, or weevil, do any harm to dry beans or peas? I suppose they can not, of course ; but some of our friends in the seed-room are inclined to insist thev can. I confess that I do not like to see the bugs flying around the room, neither do I like to see a lot of them in our bags ; but so far as I am acquainted with their natural history, I should say they can do no harm unless they are allowed to fly when the beans are in blossom. Very like- ly, should we plant buggy peas or beans, the crop would be buggy. Now, friend Cook, you know every thing about bugs — just tell us a little ab(uit this b^an-weevil, so that we may know how to light him ef- fectively. Ever since they pestered us we have been putting a little pyrethrum pow- der in tlie bags, and shaking them up. This kills the bugs — that is. all that are hatched out. Some of you may ask. "Why, Mr. Eoot, are you sending us buggy beans and peas to plant':"' No, my friend, we are not. Our seed peas are raised in localities where they do not have bugs ; and our beans will hereafter be raised so la'e in the season that the bugs will not trouble them — that is, if planting late will fix the matter. TRAKSPLANTING-TUBES. Last summer 1 had occasion to transplant some small evergreen-trees, raised from the Feed in a box. I made a transplantiiig-tube similar to those you have described in Gleanings, and tried water, as you recommend, to let the tube slip. It did not suit me, perhaps because the foil here is different from yours. At least, I thought that, for occasion- al use, with only one tube, it took too long time, and, in remo%'icg the tube, the soil— being loose and sandy— crumbled away from the roots of the plant. 1 then made another tube, which would fit easily inside the transplanting-tube. This inside tube has a flange, one-fourth inch wide, at each end, the flanges turning in toward the center. The outside tube (regular transplanting-tulie) may have a wire In the upper rim to stiffen it; or a narrow flange turning outward will answer the same purpose, and will, besides, serve as a handhold by which to lift the tube. Instead of either wire or flange, I simply put on a couple of ears near the upper end of the tube, and opposite each other. To use the tubes, I take up the plant, as usual, with the transplanting- tube (having the ears); set it in the hole previously made to receive the plant; replace the soil and pack it firmly around the tube. I now push the in- side tube over the plant and down into the trans- planting-tube until the lower flange rests on the surface of the soil surrounding the plant. Bearing down on the inside tube, I at the same time, with a finger in each ear of the transplanting-tube, lift the latter up. A few pats with the hand firm the sur- lace of the soil, and the job is done. I set the plant a little lower than the surrounding surface, so that a cavity the size of a wash-basin is left round the plant, into which cavity water is poured immedi- ately, and later when required. I keep the tubes in the pail of water, which I carry with me, to keep them clear of sand and grit. I used the same tubes with great satisfaction for transplanting tomato- plants. Where a number of transplanting-tubes of the same size are used, one inside tube will, of course, be sufficient for each operator. The idea is not new. I heard about it years ago in Los Angeles, where the implement was recommended for transplanting young fruit-trees from nursery-rows. I never saw the tubes there, but they were described to me as being made of sheet-iron, the size of a stovepipe or larger, and strong enough for a man to put his foot on the flange of ihe transplanting-tube, and, by his own weight, push it into the ground. 1 understood there was a patent on the apparatus; but if so it has probably expired before this time. In very mellow, firm soil, not liable to crumble or cave, a third tube, a trifle larger than the trans- planting-tube, might be used for making the hole to receive the plant. This would be desirable where plants stand close together, and where a dead plant has to be replaced by a live one, in order not to dis- turb the soil more than necessary. I made my tubes out of cans which I had on hand, and which happened to fit each other. The can for the inside tube had a hole cut in the top and bot- tom with a circular caii-opener, leaving the flanges one-fourth inch wide. The larger can, which was made with a loose cover, simply had the bottom melted off and the ears put on. This is o inches in diameter and 6 inches deep; but the size may be varied to suit circumstances and convenience. Wm. MUTH-RA8MU88KN. Independence, Cal., Feb. 1.5. 258 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Apr. Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.— Matt. 35 : 2.'). Friend Root:— In my lesson for the family wor- ship a few nights ago, I read the following: "To him that hath, more shall be given, but to him that hath not, it shall be taken away what little he hath." Is it really so, that God takes away every thing we have, just to make object-lessons of us, so as to fulfill the above words of our Savior? About a year ago we met with some heavy losses in busi- ness; and as one venture after another has failed, and one thing after another has had to be sold to pay some debt and keep the wolf from the door, it seems as if truly in our case the above words are being fulfilled. I could bear it myself; but when the good wife gets discouraged, and wishes she had married some one better able to support her, it is a little hard to bear. I am willing to work hard, ear- ly and late, to again get a foothold; but how can we keep up the courage of those that are near and dear to us? Thinking that perhaps you would have a good word for me (as you seem to for every one) is why I write. Dear friend, I am very much obliged to you indeed for tlie compliment you pay me in thinking that I may have a good word for you. May God give me grace and wisdom to answer you wisely. The text that you quote follows immediately after the one that has been through life one of my bright and shining texts. I suppose that our readers are well aware that it follows the parable of the talents, given in the 25th chapter of Matthew. The same thing is also substantially given in the 19th of Luke, although the details are a little different in the two accounts. The main thought and lesson to be gathered, as I understand it, is faithfulness in service, or, in other words, making a good use of that which is intrust- ed to our care The text that has given me so much comfort is in Matthew : " Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.'' In your lesson for family worship, you of •course read the whole parable of the tal- ents ; and in view of that, dear friend, I can hardly understand how you could interpret it as you do ; namely, that the Lord had taken away these things from you just to make an " object-lesson." I am afraid your faith is waning, dear brother. God never takes away any thing from us simply that the Scriptures may be fulfilled. Far from it ! On the contrary, we are told that God will withhold no good thing from those who love him. A few weeks ago at a farmers' institute, friend Terry, in one of his talks about poor, slipshod, heedless farming, made a remark that such cases verified the Scripture text, " Unto every one that hath shall be given ;" " but unto every one that hath not, shall be taken away that which he hath.'' Some one in the audience called out : " Mr. Terry, do you believe in that kind of doctrine?" His reply was, substantially : " Yes, my friends, I do ; that is, if you put it in this sense : The man who lets his manure heap lie out in the rain so that the drainings may go off into the highway will surely lose what little he has. You may say God will take it away from him, or, if you choose, you may say that in the ordina- ry course of events, or in the nature of things, his poor run-down farm, that is hardly worth taking as a gift, will go into other hands. On the other hand, he who takes proper care of his manure, and saves every particle, both liquid and solid, and handles it with economy, and judiciously applies it to the very places where it will do the most good, shall be prospered. God will give him abundance, to be added to what he already has. Or, to put it as before, in the course of events, or nature of things, he will continue to accumulate property to make his farm more valuable, and comfort and peace will be around him." If friend Terry is not satisfied with my version of his remarks, I hope he will state the matter himself. And now, dear brother, instead of its be- ing true that God takes away the things you mention, is it not just the reverse? You may think that I am hard and unkind ; but, dear friend, you have come to me, and I can not shirk responsibility. The physician or the surgeon who cures, oftentimes gives pain ; and I feel constrained to speak plain- ly, because others have written to me much as you have done, and thousands in our land are now complaining of their hard lot. Fore- most among them are the farmers whom friend Terry has been urging to better ways and to better work. Is it God who afflicts, and why does he afflict? You say you have met with some heavy losses in' business ; and a little further on you say, " One venture after another has failed." Now, dear brother, perhaps you did not mean to use that word " venture." I gather that you are a Christian— one who reads the Scriptures, and asks God to help day by day. If so, is it not possible that you have been depending on " ventures " rather than on the hard faithful work that you speak of further along? I do not be- lieve that Christian people have a right to make ventures. I say this, using the word in the sense of speculation. A great many of the so-called ventures are made by going in debt ; and oftentimes if we listen to old expeiienced business men they would say emphatically, " Let it alone. Don't go into any such speculation." I know a good many young business men are in the habit of doing their own thinking, and not con- sulting the veterans around them. I am sure, however, that it is wrong. A great many heartaches would be saved if our young business men would consult older heads before making ventures. In your re- spective churches you have old and success- ful business men. I never knew of a church that did not contain more or less such. Go and consult them. A great many times the pastors are in position to give wholesome counsel. The deacons of the church are al- most always capable of advising wisely. Of course, it is not absolutely necessary that you go to a member of the church ; but as a rule I have found professing Christians con- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 259 scientious. Now, my dear brethren, you need not smile with superior wisdom, for you will have to admit that I have had more business deal with all classes of people, scattered all over the world, than most of you ; yes, perhaps more experience in trust- ing prolessintf Curistians ami non-profess- ors than most business men in the world. With this experience before me, I advise you to go to some church-member in good standing. I can not think of a business man in all my acquaintance who would not pleasantly and good naturedly advise a young man. While I w^ite I have in mind a number of young men who started out in the world fairly, but who have become sour- ed and cross — perhaps have lost faith in hu- manity and faith in God, because their " ventures,'' as our friend terms them, have, one after another, turned out very much as described in that brief little letter above. I find I have unconsciously been talking to the writer as if he were a young man. May be it is a mistake; but 1 judge he is. If so, there is hope for him yet. Yes, there is hope for him any way, even though he be 80 or 90 years old, if he hold fast to the Scripture and take it as it reads, and not blame it for what he alone is to blame for. Of course, I know nothing about the cir- cumstances. I can not remember that I have ever heard of or from the writer until to-day ; but I feel safe in assuming that the reason why one " venture after another has failed, and one thing after another has had to be sold," is because he is guilty in some- thing the same way that the farmer was, whom friend Terry was speaking of— guilty in letting the manure and other things go to waste. Many a young man is diligent and industrious, and saves his money until he begins to think he is old enough to go into business. Then he begins making "• ven- tures." If one venture turns out bad, an- other one is pretty sure to present itself that looks all right. He makes haste to get out of the first one— may be sells unwisely at a sacrifice, so as to embark in the second. Then a third follows suit, and finally he be- gins to blame his friends ; may be censures his good wife, and finally complains of the words of Holy Scripture, that would lead him from darkness into light, if he would take it as it reads. " Thou hast been faith- ful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things." Just hold fast to that promise, dear friends, in trouble, and I as- sure you that the light of prosperity, and the light of God's love, will soon beam down upon you. Don't aspire to great things— that is. for the time being. Don't strive to do as others do. Live according to your means, and be diligent and faithful in the humdrum duties of every-day life. Do not get weary in well doing. At the present time there seems to be a great mania for speculation. Farmers be- come uneasy and dissatisfied, and Satan pretty soon finds some mischief for dissatis- fied ones. Will our farming friends please remember that it is not the farmers alone who are having a hard timeV In the letters that come to me daily I hear as much com- plaint of hard times, and of the difficulty of making an honest living, from those in towns and cities, and in the different ave- nues of trade, as from among farmers. Grocers say that profits are cut down so small that no one can live. Some of them complain of foreign competition, and want the products of their brothers across the ocean taxed, or a tariff put on the product of their industries. There are others who complain that the newspaper writers, or those who are employed by the state or gov- ernment, are the only ones who have an easy time. Please do not, dear friends, lis- ten to Satan's suggestions in this line of work. Could you see the piles of rejected manuscripts that lumber our desks daily, you would not think that writing for the press is an easy way of making a living. It is a very good and safe way, I admit, after you have mastered the business, and have learn- ed by hard experience and long study to be able to furnish something that commands good pay at sight. We must be faithful over a/€w things, before we can become rul- er over many things. Just now there are more people coming here begging for something to do than per- haps at any one time before. The warm winter and the bad state of the roads have been a clog to business, and this accounts, perhaps, somewhat for the condition of af- fairs. But as I turn them away, one after another, almost hourly, it really pains my heart to know that we are even now in need of competent help. How do I know, you may ask, but this very help that is offered might not be just what I need? I know l)y repeated trials and experience. Once in a while we get a jewel ; but as a rule, we get ninety-nine men who are not jewels before we get the hundredth. I do not wish to censure or blame these people, for they may have had experience in some kinds of work, but not in a line where we want them, and in most cases nothing but the drill of our own business makes them competent. We have quite a few now in our establishment who get a thousand dollars or more a year ; but they acquired their skill by years of ser- vice. A great many who come'to work for us complain if they can not have the highest wages after a few^ months'' experience ; and when I try to explain the matter pleasantly to them they become offended, and say hard things of me. I quote to them over and over again my favorite text, " lie that is faithful over a few things shall be made ruler over many things." But they re- ject it. and try to find a place somewhere else. Perhaps they go in business by them- selves, and then learn by sad experience that the things which I demanded, the world at large also demands, and that ''there is no excellence without great la- bor.'' In the same parable from which I have been quoting, there is mention of a poor fellow who received only one talent. Ilis lord very likely knew at the outset that one would be all that it would be wise to in- trust him with. In the end it turned out that he was not worthy of having charge of even one talent. He did absolutely nothing with it. Very likely he proposed doing 260 GLEANINGS IN HEE CULTURE. Apr. something to-morrow or " next week," and it was put off and allowed to lie just like the manure heap that friend Terry told us of, until, in the course of events, reckoning time came and he was asked to report. Of course, he felt cross, as slothful and lazy people always do. lie finally got up a poor feeble excuse for his wrong doing, and com- menced to put the blame on his lord. He says, " I knew thee that thou art a hard man,'' or, in other words, "■ I knew at the outset tiiat you would beat me in some way or other, and that there was no use in ex- pecting any thing like fair treatment, and so I just laid it away." It is the old, old story that we have had since the time of Adam. When God called him to account for his transgression he commenced first by blaming the woman and then the God who gave him being, while he hinifielf was the guilty one. Who can tell what might have been the result to the whole human race had Adam been manly when first called to ac- count? Now, then, dear friend, I have got almost through finding fault, and censuring one whom 1 really know nothing about. I wish, however, to take you to task once more for the expression you let drop in regard to your good wife. You say she " gets discour- aged, and wishes she had married some one better able to support her." Now, my dear brother, I am sure that a wrong spirit was in your heart when you penned those words. I have never known a woman who was not willing to bear and suffer for her husband's sake, even until forbearance seemed to every one to have ceased to be a virtue. I gather from the sentence that you have let drop, that you and your wife have had something approaching unkind and unpleas- ant words. I fear that Satan has been tempting you to censure each other. Please do not let such a thought get into your heart again. I think very likely your good wife is right and you are wrong. In fact, I al- most feel certain she has objected to your '' ventures " as you term them ; and I am quite inclined to think that, had you listen- ed to her, and followed her advice, all would have been well. Did you not exaggerate when you guessed that she had even once harbored the faintest wish that she had married some one else ? If you want my advice, it is this : Go to her and ask her for- giveness ; then, hand in hand, you two should kneel and ask God to forgive you both. Having done this, get up and grap- ple manfully with the duties of life. Work hard, early and late, as you suggest. But, O my friend ! do not indulge in ventures or speculations. Do faithfully and well w^hat your hand finds to do. If you have not work of your own that pays, go and work for some one else. Work that is done with the fear of God in the heart, can not fail to be appreciated. The little text you have quoted to me as a stumbling-block may yet be your bright and leading star. Read that parable over again, from beginning to end. Take the words of our Savior as he meant them, and let them be your help and prop in times of trial and adversity. Do not find iault with your wife ; do not find fault with your "neighbors ; " do not find fault with the great outside world ; do not find fault w ith the laws of our land ; and especially, dear brother, do not find fault with the Ho- ly Scriptures, the inspired word of God ; and above all, do not let Satan persuade you for a single instant that Jesus, who came in- to the world to save sinners, ever thought of taking away the things you hold dear, sim- ply for an object-lesson. " All things shall work together for good to those that love God." At the risk of saying something that may sound like finding fault with the good peo- ple whom I meet day by day, I want to give you a simple illustration of the reasons why people have trouble ; yes, I want to illus- trate exactly why the state of affairs de- scribed in our text comes about. Some months ago two good strong men came to me seeking employment. One of them had had trouble with his former employer, and I soon discovered why. The other one took hold so willingly and with such energy that I was a little puzzled to know why he should be out of a job at all. But ere many days passed I thought I knew why. In order to get our insurance down to a low rate, we have, by the advice of a company who make it their business to insure factories, been putting in some extensive improvements in the way of waterworks. After being fully equipped with the sprinklers described in another column, we were also desired to provide a stationary fire-engine, or steam- pump, communicating with four large fire- hydrants. These hydrants are situated far enough from the buildings so that they can be worked safely, even with the building on fire. They are to protect also the lumber- yard, the depot buildings, and any other outside influence that might communicate fire to our factories. To furnish water for these hydrants we were obliged to lay six- inch cast-iron pipes from the steam-pump to their vicinity. At one place these heavy iron pipes were to go down something like six feet under ground ; but by some mistake the trench was not dug on just the right line. The men who laid the pipes declared the trench must be filled up and a new one dug. As the ground was frozen, however, this would have been a laborious piece of work. I suggested that we cut out under the bank, so as to get the pipe in place with- out making a new trench. The objection was made, that the bank would cave down. I replied that it would not so long as the ground remained frozen. • - The two men were set at work at it, and by 11 o'clock they had it in nice shape for laving the pipe. As I examined the work I told them to be sure to get the pipe in place before they went to dinner, because, if the sun should come out it might thaw the bank so as to let it break down. They replied that they would be sure to do so. When I finished my nap before dinner, my first move was to see to the pipe-laying, as I no- ticed there was a break in the clouds, indi- cating that the sun might come out very soon. Let me ask you to look at the dia- gram on the next page, so as to understand the situation of affairs. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 261 WHY SO JIANY PEOPLE ARE OUT OF M'OllK. Pipe A was in place, and covered with dirt. Pipe B was ttie one that came under the bank ; and as 1 came in sight the men were carrying it to its pUice. One had hold of the pipe at 1) ; the other had hold of C. Fearing they would step on the bank where it would not bear much weight, I ran for a rope and was just in time to put it around C, giving one of the men the ends to hold. I stayed by him until I saw it lowered until it struck the end of A. Then 1 went awa>^ to attend to others who might need my direc- tion, and forgot about the pipe. As soon as I finished my dinner I went out to see if the pipe was all right. One of the men was on hand, and informed me that the bank had caved in. '•'• Well,'' I replied, "■ it does not matter much, if it did. We got the pipe in place just in time, didn't we V " He pulled off his hat, sf^ratched his head, and answered a little slowly, "Why, Mr. Koot, we did not get it quite in place." ""You didn't get it in place!'' said I. "Why, I stayed with you until I heard the end of the pipe strike the bell where it was to go in." " Yes, I know you did," said he ; " but be- fore we got it quite in place the whistle blew for noon, and we had to stop." I presume very likely my temper came up a little just then. " Why, Mr. , one minute more would have been ample time to have drawn the pipe back until the end would go into the bell ; and yet because the whistle blew, you two great men went away and left it right there ; and this, too, when you could plainly see that the sun was shining right on the frozen bank ; and the way it is thawing now must very soon have let it down." " Yes, I know ; but the other man would not stay any longer when the whistle blew, and I could not get the end in place alone, so it had to be left until after dinner.'' I went to the other man, and demanded of him why he went away, even if the whis- tle did blow. He said the^cs^ speaker was the one who went away tirst. I left them disputing as to who it was that first aban- doned the job when the whistle blew. Please notice, friends, that the rope was around at the point C. The man on the bank had an end in each hand. All he needed to do was to raise up until his comrade could draw D back two inches, and then push it into the bell. Had I been present, one minute of my time wuuld have saved a hard Imlf-daifs imrk in the mud. Thus it is : there is "no lack of miisde; but, O my friends ! there is a constant lack of men to superin'.cud — men who love their "?jeiV//<,^o(s" more than their "dinners." Now, inind you. the ability to superintend must be acquired. It is the re- sult of being"' faithful in lew things" for months and years. " He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations." The men both felt quite bad, and suggest- ed that they could tafce a crowbar and pry the pipe back enough to let it go in place. I showed them, however, that this could not be done, because a great quantity of dirt had fallen under the pipe at E. One reason why I did not want to dig a new trench was because a great heap of ashes lay over the bank that had ca\ed in. This heap of ash- es 1 wanted to spread over our giounds ; and now it had gone down with the bank, right over the pipe. I have read somtMhere of a man who was carrying a hod full of bricks to the top of a very tall ladder. When the signal for dinner sounded, he dropped the hod full of bricks, and hurried down the lad- der because it was "quitting time." The latter, of course, was an exaggeraiion ; but there is a grand moral in it nevertheless. Some people, when they work, study the in- terests of their employer, whether it is quit- ting time or not. There are others who seem to have very little care or legard for any thing beyond receiving pay every Sat- urday night. It pains me to write these words, dear friends ; and I am glad to be able to say that the operation ot lajing the cast-iron pipe, described above, is the worst case of the kind 1 remember in all my busi- ness experience, although we do, however.^ see it cropping out in little things almoi-t daily. Some of you may suggest that I should have required these men to dig up the pipe and put it in place on their ow n time. I thought of it, but I am very glad now that I did not do it. It has never been my custom to oblige a full-grown man to make good any loss unless he chooses to do so of his own accoid. My daily prayer is, that God may forgive my debts as I forgive my debtors; and had I not forgiven them it would have troubled me afterward. I will say this for them, that they seemed to feel very badly about it; and I tell you. that caved-in bank went out in a hurry. Before they got done with the pipe-laying, their clothes were pretty muddy ; and when quit- ting time came, one day after the ditch was^ finished 1 gave each of them half a dollar ex- tra, telling them to give it to their respective good wives, to make up for the trouble they would have in cleaning the mud fn m their husbands' clothes. I preferred to do this, that they might rest assured I had no grudge laid up against them, even though they did a verv foolish thing in leaving the pipe as they did. Now. then, friends, we are all working tor yortiehndy. We are ail working for the great wide "world ; we are all working for "our neighbors" in some sense or other. If the prevailing motive is .sf//. then shall the concluding words of our text be true : " But from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath." If, how- ever, your first and foremost and inspiring motive is to work for the interests of the great tcnrld instead of for self, and instead of "self for Christ's sake, then sliall the first part of our text be verified : " Unto every one which liath shall be given, and he shall have abundance.'''' 262 GLKAMNG8 IN BEE CULTURE Apr. Gleanikcs in Bee Culture, Published Senii-JU^onthlif. EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, lERMS: SI.OO PER YEAR, POSTPAID. For ClnVolns Sates, See First Fage of Beading Matter. Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever hatli, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not. from liim shall be taken even tliat which he seenieth to have.— Luke 8:18. The new and again enlarged edition, the 42d thousand, of the A B C of Bee Culture, will be out in a couple of weeks. BUSINESS IN THE OFFICE. We have not thought to mention it, but there are now five standard Remington type-writers that work constantly in our office, and other things to match. Two of them are in charge of men, and three in the charge of ladies; and I tell you, they make quite a clatter. May be the rest of you don't think of it, but I do; and as I read the mail that come into our ofBce, and that which goes out, I often thank God for our modern improvements. SELLING GLUCOSE FOR HONEY. Our enterprising friend T. H. Kloer, of Terre Haute, Ind., in ooQcert with the editor of the Ameri- can Bee Journal, have hunted up and thoroughly exposed "Albert Botsford Co.," in their work of putting a chunk of broken comb honey in a jar and filling it with glucose, labeling It " pure clover honeu-" We recommend that the whole matter be placed in the hands of the food commissioners of the State of Illinois, and let them deal with the culprits. When friend Newman called on them they only claimed it was "two-thirds honey," notwithstanding the label. They even had the audacity to try to sell some of it to the editor of the American Bee Journal. BRONZE MEDALS AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION. In the Agricultural Department of the Paris Ex- position we note that the following were awarded bronze medals for various exhibitions made. We do not dii«eover that any one in said department was awarded a gold medal, although there were several silver and gold medals awarded in other de- partments of agriculture. A. J Cnok, Lansine-, Michigan. G. W. Demaree, Christiansburg. Ky. W. T. Falconer, Jamestown, N. Y. G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, Ohio. A. C. Tyrrel, Madison, Neb James Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich. C. F. Muth & Son. Cincinnati, Ohio. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111. A. I. Root. Medina, Ohio. Jas. H. Van Deusen & Sons, Sprout Brook, N. Y. BROKEN-DOWN COMB HONEY; ^WHO WAS TO BLAME? THE REMEDY. We have just received a consignment of comb boney, consisting of ninety-four 34-lb. cases, only 8ix of which arrived in good condition. The rest were broken down. The honey was transferred once, and this transfer meant hauling by a dray- man. The shipper failed to put on caution labels, giving directions in regard to the handling of honey, both in a dray and in a car. The honey mi'(7/!< have been broken down just the same with the labels, but the probabilities are that it would have come through safer. We had to unpack all the case.s, pick out the pieces of comb, wipe off the drip, get them in wooden butter-dishes, and now they will have to be sold at a sacrifice. The cases had to be washed, and the now empty sections are piled up in front of the boiler arch. Railroad men are careless, but we must not blame them too se- verely when beekeepers themselves are largely re- sponsible for broken comb honey. At our State Convention at Cleveland, Dr Miller, in giving direc- tions for shipping, emphasized the importance of having a starter fastened to the top and bottom of the section before putting it in the hive. This in- sures the attachment of the comb, not only to the top but to the bottom. In putting in your founda- tion this spring, please bear this in mind, and save yourselves and consignee trouble and expense. Dr. Miller shipped 13,000 pounds of such honey last fall, and not a section was reported broken. The lead- ing article, by Chas. F. Muth, contains some valua- ble suggestion on shipping. THE GRINNELL AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS. The above apparatus for protection from fire is now put up through all of our various buildings. Pipes run along the ceiling overhead inosuch a way as to communicate with the sprinklers, so they are not more than 10 feet apart all through the premises from attic to cellar. As I write, the windmill up on the hill is very busily at work keeping the great tank replenished with water. Suitable pipes connect this tank with the sprinklers before mentioned. To-day our noon service was short- ened five minutes that we might witness the opera- tion of testing the sprinkler system. Mr. Blake, the foreman of the men who put the apparatus up, informed me that five minutes would be ample time to build the fire and let the apparatus extin- guish it. In one of our lower rooms which is paved with brick, a fire of shavings was started. When the flames began to roll up against the ceiling to such an extent as to make it begin to look danger- ous, a little explosion announced that the sprinkler had opened up. Then came a rush of air for about a minute, when the water promptly followed. The fire was very soon wetted down and extinguished; but the machine kept on throwing water until the spectators scattered in dismay, clambering up on boxes and back into corners. Not only was every portion of the floor wetted, but even the ceiling overhead. As soon as the electric alarms sounded the signal, the water was promptly turned off; but before it wound up, the floor was covered with wa- ter, and every thing within a circle of 35 or 30 feet was dripping and soaking wet. As these sprinklers are only ten feet apart, the effect of opening a great number of them would be to literally drench not only the floor and contents, but the ceiling as well. When the matter was first talked of, I gave, as an objection, that the machinery would become in time old and rusty, so it would not work. But, please bear in mind that the whole apparatus is bright, dry. clean, and new, and it remains so in- definitely until a fire or something else warms the sprinklers up to a lemperature of 160 degrees. The electrical alarms that give notice of the fire are three in number. One is in the engineer's room, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CrLTURE. 263 the second in the room wher-« the watchman stays, and the third is in our bedroom over at the house. These are for the purpose of giving us notice, not that the fire needs attention, but that the water must be looked after, and turned off when the fire is out. If nobody should be around to turn the water off, I suppose the contents of the great tank on the hill would be gradually sprinkled over the spot where the fire was. Further particulars of this wonderful apparatus may be had of B. W. Dawley, 115 Monroe St., Chicago, 111., Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Co. THINGS NOT NECESSARILY USELESS BECAUSE OLD. All sorts of devices are being sent to us as im- provements over the common accepted imple- ments. With almost hardly an exception these things are old; and It begins to seem as if it were impossible to invent something new in bee culture. But because a thing is old it does not necessarily signify that it is valueless; but in a great many cases the rule holds true. But things are changing a good deal. What we a few years ago deemed im- practicable and unnecessary— "too complicated and too much machinery "—quite possibly may be just the thing we need at the present time; or if not at present, in the near future. For instance: A few years ago a great majority of the bee keepers would not tolerate frames at fixed distances. At that time out-apiaries and moving bees had not be- gun to assume the importance that they do now; but it begins to look as if bee-keepers at large would generally demand a frame that will be held at certain distances apart, and .sfaj/ »o whether the hive is to sit upright or on its side ; whether it is to remain quietly on its stand, or be jolted over a rough road. It is true, that a good many valuable devices have been suggested in the past; but as the times were not ripe for them, they lay dormant until they were. Take, as an illustration, the thick top bar. It was suggested years ago, and now is coming into prom- inence. While Dr. A. B. Mason was here he told a little story that bears somewhat on the point. In or near Toledo, in the present gas-fleld, some old fellow, after be had dug his well to pretty nearly the required depth, discovered there was a hissing noise. As it was a little dark in the well he deter- mined to take a light down and investigate. He had no sooner got his candle down near that strange hissing noise than he was " fired "out of the well as from the mouth of a large cannon, and, strangely enough, he landed on the surface of the ground without injury. Neither he nor any one else stopped to reflect that it was natural gas, mixed with common air, in the right proportion to produce an explosion. The times were not ripe yet, and the superstitious people declared that the spirits held possession in the depths of the well. Without further investigation the owner filled the well up, burying one of the greatest treasures that has ever been given to mankind, and concealing for many years to come something that has blessed the world during the last two or three years in the form of natural gas. If superstition had not been rife, and the spirit of scientific investigation had prevailed, folks would have wanted to know what threw that fellow out of the well. The result would have been natural gas years ago, and the poor well-digger and his neighbors might have been immensely wealthy. Dr. Mason tells us that within the past year this old well has been resur- rected, and is now one of the profitable gas-wells, doing good service and blessing community. Just think how near many times we approach the discovery of a valuable idea; and yet, even after the thing is presented to our very eyes, we reject it until the ripe time has arrived. Let us not be dis- couraged, then, friends; even if things are old, may be they are good. The only sad thing about it is that, if we wish to patent the idea, we can not do it, that is all, because some fellow away back in the '60's illustrated and described that very thing, but the world did not see the point. E. SPRAYING FRUIT-TREES. As the season will soon be upon us, it may be well to consider this matter of damage to bees by unnecessary and useless spraying of fruit-trees when in blossom. The matter has been brought up so many times, and it has been so fully explained by our experiment stations that there is no collision at all between fruit-growers and honey-producers, it seems as if everybody should understand it. We will go over it again, however. It has been fully decided, by competent authority, that the proper time to spray is after the blossoms have fallen. Paris green or London purple must be deposited on the fruit itself; and this can not be done while it is covered by the petals of the blossoms. If done at the proper time as above, there can be no possible injury to the bees, nor to the people who eat the honey; in fact, I do not see how there could be any injury at all, unless somebody is stubborn, ugly, and wicked. In that case he should be dealt with by law, if nothing else will answer. Some of the periodicals devoted to gardening and fruit-growing have been very shortsighted in this matter; one es- pecially, indulged in someunkindretiections toward Prof. Cook, and intimated that the fruit interests were as of much importance as the honey interests ; whereas the publisher of any journal devoted to fruit or vegetables should certainly understand that there is no conflicting of interests at all. A correspondent says that, in a catalogue published by Chas. A. Green, editor of the Fruit Grower, oc- cur these words of instruction: '*A spray of very weak Paris green thrown over the foliage at blossoming time." One of our bee-men, Mr. N. T. Phelps, of Kingsville, Ohio, wrote a remonstrance, to which the editor replies: "On account of possible injury to bees, do not spray until the blossoms have begun to disappear." Now, this is good so far as it goes; but it inti- mates indirectly that there is need, in the interests of a crop of fruit, to spray the Idossoms. I think Editor Green wants shaking up a little. It seems to us that the editors of the agricultural papers should not only be thoroughly posted, but they should be vehement in setting people right on a matter that interests both parties— fruit-growers and bee-keepers. It is a serious matter to poison a neighbor's stock, but a thousand times more serious when you heedlessly go at something that may poi- son not only your neighbor, but the public at large. We need hardly hint that the bees are of benefit to the fruit-growers as well as to the bee-keepers. Please remember, friends, that at the joint conven- tion of the bee-keepers and fruit-growers of the great State of Michigan, the decision was that there were no conflicting interests of any account. This 261 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. meeting- was announced ahoad, and fruit-growers were utyfd to come forward and present their complaints where they had suffered from bees. We have at this date 9704 subscribers. gPECIJ^Ii pi0TICEg. THE KUMERLE I.IMA BEAN ONCE MORE. Since our last, I have discovered two individuals besides myself, who have raised these beans. They have, however, hud the same trouble in getting it to ripen that we had. This maybe owing to the pe- culiarly cold weather labt season at the time they were planted. We have suoceeded in buying a very few, and can therefore offer them for he each, in- stead of 25e a bean, to those who may care to try it. SOME MORE LiITTLE BOARDS FOR SALE CHEAP. The lot I spoke of in our editorial, p 149, Feb. 15, were all sola very quickly: but we have now about 5000 pieces, which our iriends may have until they are gone, for a cent apiece. We have generally used them for makuig chaff-packed diviMion-boards, but we have now too many for that purpose. They are 27 inches long, 3 wide, and i% thick, planed on one side— all clear pine. CLOVER SEED— ALSIKB AND WHITE DUTCH. Now is the time to sow it. We have a nice lot of ver.v choice seed, boih varieties. The price will be as follows: Wolte Dutch, 1 lb., 27 cts. by mail. By freight or express with other good'J. 18 cts. per lb.; $2.tHJ per peck; f3 90 per Yi bushel; .f7.50 per bushel, bag included. Present price of alsike, the next in value as a hon- e.v-producer. is 2.5 cts. per lb , postpaid. By express or freight. 1.') cts. per lb.; J^1.90 per peck; $3.60 per }i bushel; $7.00 per bushel. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. WHAT A SINGLE INSERTION OF A SMALL ADVER- TISEMENT WILL DO. Please take out the "ad.," or all the bee-men in the U. 8. will write to me. D. T. Tracv. Longmont, Col. KIND WORDS FUR OUR GARDEN SEEDS. We are more than pleased with the garden seed that you send out. There is at least one-third more seed in each package than we have been in the hab- it of getting for the same money. Please accept thanks for promptness. W. L. Cogqshall. West Graton, N. i'^.. Mar. 24. KIND WORD IN RhGARU TO PROMPTNESS. My seeds came to-day. I will admit you waste no time in tilling orders, yours being the first of three to reach me, although 1 sent the order to you two days later than the others. J. H. Snider. Salt Lake City, Utah, Mar. 22. KIND WORDS FOR MAKCH'S AMERICAN GROWN CAULIFLOWER SEEDS. I thank you for promptness in shipping, and will say I have some very nice-looking plants from the seeds. The cauliflower seeds beat any I ever had before. We usually sow much thicker than cab- bage, and get half its many plants; but every seed must have germinated. This is quite an item with expensive seeds. W. HiCKOx. tRockport, O., March 15, 1?90. SMITH'S PUMP FOR SI'KAYING FRUIT-TREES. The Smith pump is attracting attention here, owing to ih(^ fact that it can t)e used for so many different puiposes; and beuig so cheap and simple where it gets out of order, or broken, it can be thrown aside ond replaced by a new one. 1 have broUnn it to a tiew use by attaching Vj-inch hose and itTiproved spraying nozzle. It is well ariaptecl to sprajingemnlsions in nursery— especially citrus nurseries. With me it has proved quite eff'ective. Buras, La., Feb. 17. W. S. Roddick, ^ THE DOVETAILED HIVE A WONDER FOR CHEAP- NESS, AND ACCURA(;y OF WORK. I am well pleased with your Dovetailed hive and its fixtures. It is a wonder to me how you can send out so good a hive for the money. Every thing is so true that you can put thetn up without any trouble. The freight charges were onlv 82 cts., hut the duty was $2 2.5. 1 think your Dovetailed hive Is just what I want, for it is for an inside hive, as I use a double hive, and winter on summer stand. Wm. Garb-at. East Sherbrooke, Quebec, Can., Mar. 1. LOOK HERE ! Italians and Albinos, or their Cross. These bees are as fine as (^an be found in the coun- try, and will be sold as follows: MAY. .JUNE. JULY. AUG. to NOV. Untested, each.. $ 1.25 $1.25 $100 $ 75 $ 7.S }i doz. 5 .50 5.. 50 4. 50 4.00 4.00 " 1 doz. 10.00 9,50 9.00 8.00 8.00 Tested, each ... . 2.5!) 2.50 2 00 1 f,0 1.50 two 4 50 4.50 3 75 2 75 2 75. Select tested . . 3.00 3.00 2 50 2.00 2.00. I have taken C.S. Kildow in partnership, and we will fill all orders promptly. Send for ca'alogue. A. L. KILDOW & BKO., 7 9-11-13 15 17d Sheffield, 111. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Glba^'Cios. Pure Italian Queens. We will sell pure Italian queen bees. br< d from, pure mothers, bv April I. Tested, $1.0,1; untested,, 50c; two frame nuclei and tested queen, $2.00, or untested, $1 50. I. GOOD & STEWART BROS., Sparta, White Co., Tenn. I^In rc'sijoiuliiit; ti (Jlkanings. "WTire Clotli. For door and window screens, tacking over hives and nuclei for shipping, making bee and queen cages, and a variety of purposes. We have the fol- lowing list of green and black wire cloth which is not exactly first class, but is practically as good for the purposes mentioned, and at prices MUCH below the ordinary price. You can no doubt select from this list a piece to suit your needs. Price in full pieces, 1?4 cts. per square foot. When we have to cut it, 2 cts. Ill case the piece you order may have been taken by some one else before your order comes, please say whether we shall send the nearest ill size, or cut one the size ordered at 2 cts. per ft., or give a second or third choice. S t^ •1^ ^ srfon 12 mo KM) 1 7.") 1 11, green; price 77 cts. 1 Ki'een 14 12 14 26 2 Ki-efn 111 1110 i:ti 2 :W 1 blaik 17 100 142 2 47 1 black 18 10(1 l.M) 2.62 5 green 18 100 l.M) 2 62 1 black lill KM) 1117 2 92 150 sq. ft., green; price $2 62 110 sq. ft, black; pilee 81 92 1 black V>« 71 128 2 24 9 green 24 100 200 3.f.0 140, 11.0, 90, 40, 30, 20, 8, green. 1 black 24 100 2IM) 3.50 64 green 26 KM) 21V 3 M i This is )>elow reg. pr. of VX c. 18 green 28 IIH) 2 '8 4.08 224. 221, 117, green; 233, black. fi green HO Kill 2.-0 1..S7 3 black :w 100 2.MI 4 37 14 gri'en :v^ 100 2117 4 67 133, i:t3, green; price 82.33 2.'i:i, black; price SI 13 1 black :« KM) 2117 4.117 1 green :t4 100 288 4 91 2.')ri black; price *4 46 14 gi-cen :» KM) MM) fi.25 270 green ; price S4 72 1 black .■ill KM) :toi) R 25 1.50. black; price $2 62 K black :i8 100 817 5 51 269 black; price S4 70 :! green :w 100 1 .117 5 M 2.58. black; price »4 50 3 black 40 100 1 .■!:« 5 8.-! 317, black ; price r) M 1 green 40 KM) 1 .S'S 5 83 8 black 42 100 1 XM 6 12 350, green; price $6.12 1 green 11 100 ■Mi 6.42 A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 265 Ka ton's Improved SSEJCJTIOIW" C!.A.SSI. Bkkm AND tJuEKN'S. Send for free eataloffiie. Address FKANK A. EAT«»N, 2 13db Bliifftou, Olilo. Ijomliinjlo tills aclvertit^einent mention (ii,i:ANi.N< bu., 75 cts.: lbu.,$t.30; 3 bu., $2.20; 5 bu., f5.40, delivered free at R. R. or express offices. Money sent by P. O. order, reg. letter, express money order, or draft on N. Y. city at my risk, other- wlse not. Reference, Wm. Smyth, P. M.of Owego, and editor of the Owego Times. Address 7d G. B. Talcott, Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y. Orin nisrioiidinir to thN :ii|v ••'tii-iM. i.t mention Oi.kanings. 1890 ITALIAN QUEENS. 1890 r'Six young ijueens, warranted purely mated, for $5.00. Eniflish rabbits, $1.00 oer pair. Mammoth bronze turkey eggs, 35; 0 for $2 00. Send for circu- lar. J.T.Wilson, 7tfd Little Hickman, Ky. tSrin responditii; to this advertisenierit riiciilinn Olkanings. Look Here! Supplies Cheap Italian and Albino Queens and Bees; Cliatf and Simplicity and Nonpareil Hives. E-ictrnctors, Smokers. Foundation, Surplus Section k Boxes, Root's Perforated Zinc. Price List Frf-e. Write for One. ■■■■■"""'"■■•■'■ COMB FOUNDATION. By April 1.5th, I shall have 300 lbs. good fresh comb foundation for sale both brood and surijlus; and while as good as the best. I will sell a little below regular prices. Five years' experience m manu- facturing. For sample and price address D R Brubaker, 7d Maxwell, Story Co , Iowa. CPfJQ ! PTOE B!!ED P. BOCK. LT. BEAHMA, W. & L. W7- lUuO 1 ANDOTTE, and BLE. MINOECAS. $1 FOE 13; $1.75 FOE 26. 7-8-9d J. D. BEANDS, P. M„ Warrington, N. J. To Your Interest. Before ordering elsewhere write me for price of Strawberry I'lant.s. Will spare a few strong 3- frame nuclei on L. wired frames, Italian queen and all, $3.60. DAN WHITE, 7-8d New London, Huron Co., O. Plym. Rock. Wh. and Lac. Wyandott Eggs, $1 per setting. 7-9-lld T. G. Ashmead, Williamson, N. T. SPECIAIi NOTICE. A part of our goods was destroyed by fire March 13th, necessitating a short delay in filling orders. We have added more machinery, and by running day and night expect soon to ship with our usual promptness. A. F. Stadffer & Co., 7d Sterling, 111. SEND your address on postal card for my circu- lar of thoroughbred poultry. E. J. Kennedy, 7-8-9d Troy, Pa. Tested Italian Qaeeris, $l With nuclei, containing two or more pounds of bees on one, two, three, or four frames, at 75c per pound. Untested queens, 7.5c each. See March Gleanings. Ldther W. Gray, 7tfdb Orlando, Fla. Ci^ln resjiondinp to tills advertisement mention Gi.kaninhs. L. Wyandott -lESCa-CSrJS-W. Leghorn. Thirteen for $1.00. P. Brower, New Paris, Elkhart Co., Ind. APIARY FOR SALE At $5.00 per colony, also R. C. B. Leghorn eggs, $1.00 per 13; prize-winning stock. Address 7 8d S. F. Reed, W. Dorchester, N. H. ALSIKC CLOVER SEED. Retail and wholesale. Ask for price list. 7-8-9d E. S. Hl^DEMANN, Ashippun, Dodge Co., Wis. FOR SALiE:— 50 colonies of Italian hybrid bees in Simp, and Heddon hives. $3 to $5 per colony. FOR SALE:— A Given foundation pres, 3 dies. FOR SAliE:— A Young American Lightning- press chase, i'^xC. Particulars upon application. J. H. Martin. 7 8d Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y. EGGSIECGS!! EGGS I!! READER:— If you want eggs that produce thor- oughbred slock, choicest varieties, at Golden Rule prices, write now for my illustrated circulars, /rc6 to all. Tenth year. S. P. YODBR, 7 8d E. Lewistown, Mahoning Co., O. t^ln respondlnjr to this adveitisemcut meiilloii (JLKANlNQa. EXPERIMENT \»ITH ALFALFA. I will send 3 lbs. fresh seed postpaid for 30c. This will drill a plot 80 ft. square. I^arger amounts at same rate, while tny seed hists. Cnn sow up to June 15. 7d W. C. AiKEN, Lock Box 314, St. Helena, CaL Friends, if you want any Pnlanri.rhina PlflC please write to me and you rUIdllU-Ullllld rllj* will be surprised at my low prices and good quality of stock. N. A. KNAPP, Rochester, Lorain Co., O. 266 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. DADANT'S FOUNDATION Ib kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicag-o, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowaffiac, Mich.; O. G. Collier, Fairbury, Nebraska; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, Ohio; E. S. Armstrong-, Jerseyville, 111.; E. Kretchmer, Red Oak, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis. ; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wisconsin; J. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. "Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Freeburg-, Illinois; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1.517 Blake St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfgr. Co., Rock Fails, lU. ; E. 1.. Goold & Co., Brantl'ord, Out.. Can.; R. H. Schmidt & Co., New London. Wis.; J. Stauffer & Sons, Nappa- nee, Ind.; Berlin Fruit-Box Co., Berlin Heierhts, O. ; E R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley. N. Y.; L.Hanssen, Davenport, la. ; C. Theilman, Theilmanton. Minn.; G. K. Hubbard. Fort Wayne, Ind.; T. H. Strickler, Solomon City, Kan., and numerous other dealers. LANGSTROTH on the HONEY-BEE, The Hooli for Si-f/iriners, the Hlost Conijilete Te.rt- Sooh on the Subject in the English Ltinf/not/e. Bee-veils of Imported Material, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc.. free. Send your address on a K^*° Chas. Dadant & Son, HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO., ILLINOIS. lE^ln responding? to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. MUST SELL! 50 Colonies Italian Bees at i5.(0 each, f. o. b., in 8-frame L. hives, telescope caps. Most of the combs built on fdn. in wired frames. These bees were very heavy in stores in the fall. Reasons: Can keep only about 3.5 colonies here in the city, and my business will not allow starting ont-apiaries. Ship in April or May. W. E. VODER, 4tfdb Lewisbukgh, Union Co., Pa. IC^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. $6.00 Will Buy in 1890, One of our Best Hives of Italian Bees ivith Tested Queen, or 5 for $ii3.00. In Simplicity or L. 10-frame hives; 350 colonies to 4-9db draw from. Address J»o. A. Thobhtoit, Liua, Asaus Co., Illiitois. Il^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. UiVTESTED ITAliIAN QUEENS AT $1, and 4-frame nuclei at $3.50, after May Ist. Send in orders now. 4-lOdb S. J. WAKEFIELD, Autreville, S. C. Tlie SVr AS.M -HIV EH Sent by mail, and the American Apiculturist one year, $1.50. Circularf< and sample copies free. Address AMERICAN APICULTURIST, 5tfdb Wenham, Mass. It^"ln responding to this advertisement mention GLEANTNOe, 4-FRAME NUCLEI, Tested Queen, Brood, and plenty of Bees, Ita'ians. for $3..50. Imported queens, $4. W. A. SANDERS, Oak Bower. Hart Co., Ga. SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1, 1890, we will sell our No. 1 V- Sroove sections, in lots of .500, as follows: Less than 3000, $3.50 per 1000; 2000 to 5000, $3.00 per lOUO. Write for special prices on larp-er quantities. No. 3 sec- tions at $2.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives. foundation, cases, etc. J. STAUFFER 0 CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 271 Contents of this Number. Alaliam:i an 1 its I'lants -Bl Al'alfa r.iiul tioui fur 289 Alfalfa ill hlilK) '2.-8 AutomiitU- Sw 1 lining 290 Bi'f -esoa i if . W i i --li r a 280 Beei's alio, D.lilirrn's 281 Bees, Sun liiitii Imloors ....288 Bottom li'ds, w.tlii.ut. Ctfrr.280 Braces, D:staii.-c Apirt . ...2S9 Carryina; Bfes i utile .Vl|is ,'.'Sii Cellar. CuTvin:; Bee- to .. 2,>.t Clamps for Wiiiteriiic ".'■>') Comments on UleaiiinJcs 2i7 Combs, 111-shapen 283 Cuba 277 Double Top-bars 281 Dysentery. Soured Honey.. 289 KxiH-ess V. Freigbt 29'* Extractor Run by Steam. . 277 Fi.vea Dist in esVor Fram's.?SS Foundation Undipped 299 ■Gardenlnji. Outdoor 29t Hive-cart, Boardman's 278 Honey at a Picnic 292 Houej- for Dyspeptics. 290 Honey, etc., Sdlinjr 292 Honey, Selling on Sunday. .290 Hiiuey-liou-e. Size Hot Sjirlngs. Arkansas Ice. .•Vrlilicial Libels S.icking on Tin M uvim in i Va'ation Jl.i\ ill- L H.ves ( iii; :i|ii;ir,rs in Austria o.it ,i|iiar.i's. Horsey for I'e 1 llin^- ill tx-cart Vuec.i-bec-P.icm yuccns. Sii|ier.innuated *)tu'eiis Swarming K juicing in Iniquity S.'riinurc. yuotiiiir S, ■(■lions. 7 to th" Foot Sini|ilicit.v Cover Preferred Solar Wax-extractor Siircading Brood a Success. Sc|U ire Cans v. Barrels Supplies. Home-male Temperature. Regulating. Thick Top-bars, Against . . Toji-bars, Double, a Success Unsealed Brood v. Sivar'g.. Wintering, Dysentery in W.ntering in California .. Wintering on a Bush iMmii^MS^ ll!K4:t;ML#jfe!ftlI'J t^lii responding to lias .'lit IllentioM (il.KANlNGS. DON'T FIDDLE O Z FOUNDATION. H. L. GRAHAM, Letts, Iowa. G (t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. $6.00 Will Buy in 1890, One of' our Best lliven of Itiiliott liees witli Tested Queen, or 5 for $ii5.00. In Simplicity or L. 10-frame hives; 250 colouies to 4-9db draw from. Address JiTO. A. Thor^tto^, Lima, Adams Co., Illiitois. (^"In responditig to this advertisement mention Gleanings. 4^/t COLONIES ITALIAN BEES for sale in 6. Beeswax, none in market. Apr. 7. CL.EMON8. Cloon & Co.. Cor. Fourth and Walnut Sts.. Kansas City, Mo. Milwaukee. — Honey.— The demand for honey has been very good, and a fair trade enjoyed since last report. The supply continues fair, and we think will prove adequate to meet the demand. We can now quote white 1-lb. sections. ]2@,13; sometimes for exceptionally line, 14; medium quality, 11@13; 2-lb. sections, bard to sell. Dark. 9(ail0; extracted, white. 7@8; extracteJ dark, 6@6'2. Beesicax want- ed, 23@36. A. V. Bishop, Apr. 8. Milwaukee, Wis. Chicago.— -Hunt'j/.— Comb honey has sold well for the past 30 days, and there is very little now on the market. Prices have been 13 cts. for white comb in nice shape; 14 cts. fancy ; dark comb. 8@10 cts , and when in poor shape, not wanted. Extracted, 6@8, Beeswax, 'il&'ZS. R. A. Burnett, Apr. 8. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. St. Louis.— Hofifj/.— Market very quiet. We •quote choice white-clover comb, 13(5 13^. Inferior and darii, 9^,10. Extracted and strained, in bar- rels, choice white, 5>j;. Dark, 4)<@5. Same in cans, •choice white, 6(m8. Dark, 5@6>^. Prime yeilow beeswax, 25. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., Apr. 9. St. Louis, Mo. Boston.— Honey.— We quote our market at 16@17 ■cts. for fancy one-pound comb honey; very little in the market. Two pound, 15 cts. Extracted, 8@9 •cts. No beeswax on hand. Blake & Ripley, Apr. 9. .57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. Detroit.— Honey.— Comb honey is selling slowly at 10@13 cts. Extracted, 7(" 8 cts. Becs}cnx scarce At 26@27 cts. M. H. Hunt, March 24. Bell Branch, Mich. New York.— Honey.— Comb honey all sold; of ex- tracted, we have a small stock on hand; market quiet. Beeswax is in good demand at 3r)@27 cts. per lb. Stocks small. P. G. Strohmeyer & Co., Apr. 9. New York. Kansas City.— Ho/icy.— Our honey market is good. All shlprnents are closed out. We quote 1-lb. comb, white. 12@13; 2-lb.. white, 10®1I; l-lb, comb, dark, 8@10; 31b., dark, 8@9. Extracted, white. 6frft6!4. Dark, .5>^. Hamblin & Bearss, Apr. .■). Kansas City, Mo. Albany.— floncj/.— We are almost entirely out of both comb and extracted. No change in prices. ■Clover, 12@14. Mixed. 10(^12. Buckwheat, 8@10. Extracted, light, 8(§).9; dark, 6(5i7. C. McCULLOCH & Co., Apr. 9. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Cincinnati.— Houry— Demand is good for choice white comb honey at 12@1.5 cts. per lb. in the job- bing way. Dark comb honey sells very slow. Ex- tracted honey is in good demand at ')(?/i8 cts. on ar- rival. Our stock runs short. There is a good de- mand for beeswa.x' at 22(7/2.5 cts. for good to choice yellow on arrival. Chas. F. Mutf & Son, Apr. 9. Cincinnati, O. For Sale.— Extracted honey in 60 lb. cans, at 8 n (tI.KANINU.S. Italian Bees and Queens. Tested queen, $150; untested, $125. Bees per lb.. $1.00. Frame of brood, .50 cts. ; 3 frame nucleus, containing 2i4 lbs. of bees, 2 L frames of brood and tested queen, $4 .50. Queens reared from imported mother. Mismated queens, SO cts. each. Send card for price list. Mrs. A. M. Kneeland (fiee Taylor), 7-8d Box 77, Mulberry Grove, Bond Co., 111. t^^ln lespomiincr to this advertisement mention Gleanings. PURE ITALIAN BEES & QUEENS. Full colonies and nuclei, per frflme, 60c. Tested queens. 12 00; after June 1, $1.. 50. Untested queens, II 00; after June 1. 76c. Remit b.y postoffice money order, registered letter, or draft on New York. For any other information, address C. ^V. J+ riTil i qTi o rl l-n T ^ '7 ^ 2_Copiesfor81.90; 3forS2.75i SforM.OO; I J2jO OU/Ul/LO fl/tyUy l/fV J. O i tJ . PUBLISHED SEMIMONTHLY BY A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO. 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- I ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be ■' made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffice. J Clubs to different postofflces. not less than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- tries of the Universal Postal Union, 1ft cts. per year extra. To all countries NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra . TAKING A VACATION. VALUABLE HINTS FROM A. E. MANUM ON WINTER- ING; BURR-COMBS, BEE-HOUSES, ETC. Friend Boot;— Did you ever get left at a way station in a dark stormy night in a strange country, and alone? I have, and I will tell you how it hap- pened. For a year or more I had promised our friend J. H. Larrabee a visit; and having finally set the time I started out, Feb. 14, taking the train at our station. I arrived at Larrabee'e Point, a mere crossing, at 7 p. m.— 30 minutes late, having been carried past by the carelessness of the conductor, to whom I introduced myself in such a manner that I venture to say he will not very soon forget Manum the bee-man. He, however, soon felt it his duty to set me back on shore— we then being half way across Lake Champlain — which was done by the use of a hand-car. Arriving at the station, nothing could be found of my friend John, he hav- ing returned after seeing the train skip past with- out stopping. There I was in a strange country, in a dark rainy night, with no one near me except the conductor of the hand-car, of whom I inquired whether he knew Mr. John Larrabee, the bee-man. "Oh, yes! I know him well." "How far is it to his home?" " About two miles." "Are there any people near here where I can get a team?" "There is the nearest house away yonder, where you see the light, but they have no team." "Can you direct me to Mr. Larrabee's?" " Yes. Take this road north a short distance, and turn to the right; then to the left, and then to the right; and after you pass the schoolhouse, turn to the left, and it is the first house on the right." So after thanking the good man, Manum, the bee- man, drew a long breath, and, with a heavy grip- sack in one hand and camera and tripod in the oth- er, I started in a drenching rain, with about two inches of slippery clay mud under foot. You can better imagine how I enjoyed that walk than I can tell you. I will simply say it was glorious. After walking, seemingly, for several miles, 1 saw —as I supposed— the long-looked-for schoolhouse, and I was rejoicing at the prospect of soon having the privilege of laying off my wet and now heavy overcoat; but as I neared the object it proved to be a large haystack. So with all the courage imagina- ble I plodded on, to again and again experience the same disappointment of mistaking a ha> -stack for a schoolhouse. At last the looked-for schoolhouse was reached. So, after slipping and slewing in the mud a short distance further, I walked up to a very fine-looking farmhouse and knocked at the door, and it was opened by a very pleasant lady, in whose presence I at once felt at ease. Mr. Root, what a vast difference there is in the reception one receives, and the feelings one experi- ences, on entering a stranger's house! I have en- tered houses where I at once felt more like retreat- ing than advancing, while at others I have at once felt at home, and dreaded to depart; and this oc- casion proved to be one of the latter. Looking at me, Mrs. Larrabee exclaimed— for she proved to be John's mother—" Why, is this Mr. Manum?" "That was my name when I left home; but I hardly know now what to call myself." " Yes, mother, this is Mr. Manum," exclaimed young Walter, as he advanced with extended hand. " Where is John? He went to the station to meet you," exclaimed the good father, as he also advanc ed to welcome me. Shortly after, John came in and explained that the train, not stopping, he concluded 276 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. I had not come, so he drove to the postoflice after his mail, and so I missed him. After partaking of a hearty supper we retired to the parlor, where we had a very enjoyable bee-con- vention. T found that each member of the family was interested in John's bees, and that all read the various bee-journals, of which John is a subscriber as well as an able correspondent when he can be in- duced to put his thoughts on paper. I had not been in the parlor long before I saw ■evident traces of Rambler's visit at this country home of the honey-bee, and I was often impressed with the thought that our friend Rambler must be a very busy and industrious rambler indeed, judg- ing from the many photographic prints he left in that pleasant home. After discussing the new method of " raising honey on a fork," my friend John asked several questions as follows: " Mr. M., what is your opinion in regard to the bees wintering well this mild winter?" " Well," said I, " owing to the fact that our bees stored more or less honey-dew last fall, I think the mild winter, which has given them an opportunity to fly often, has been very favorable so far as dis- ease is concerned. My only fear is now that they will, owing to this warm weather, commence breed- ing too early, so that, if we should have an unfavor- able March and April, the bees will very likely suf- fer during the spring, owing to chilled brood which they would likely have. But should March and April be favorable they will come out strong and healthy during the spring." " Have you seen any signs of diarrhea among yours?" " No, not in the hives; but each time they have a fly they spot things pretty well. Hence I say the several flights they have had, 1 think, has saved them so far." " Do you find that your colonies have shrunk very much in bees?" " No, not as much as some years, owing, I think, to the fact that last fall they flew solate and worked so hard that the old bees nearly all died off before winter set in; and when I packed my bees I re- marked to my men that they appeared lighter in numbers than usual; but knowing that they were all young bees, hatched in August and September, I apprehended no trouble from that source. I feared honey-dew more than any thing else." " Do you find the entrances clogged very much?" " No, not as much as usual. I have been to all my apiaries twice this winter, to clear tne en- trances; but, owing to the facts above mentioned, they were very free from dead bees." Having now been reminded that it was past elev- en o'clock we adjourned until morning, when the convention was again opened in friend John's apiary. It being a bright warm morning, a few bees were flying. We opened several hives, to find that the bees were all in splendid condition, and wintering well, with no signs of diarrhea. " What are you going to do with this timber lying here, John?" I said. " I am going to put up a honey-house and shop, as you see the one I have is too small." " How large do you intend to build?" I again asked. " I have laid my plans for a building 18x;36." "Well, my friend," said I, "you will find that will be too small in a year or two, as you say you al- ready have the wood-shed and corn-house chambers full of bee-fixtures; and here your present building is also full; and when you come to move all of your stuff into the new building you will have it full on the start; so, what will you do in two or three years if you increase your colonies as you intend to do? Now, I have had some experience in building addi- tion after addition, and yet I am short of room; so let me advise you to build larger than you euer ex- pect to need, and even then you will soon be cramp- ed for room. You will find that a building 24 x 43 will suit you much better in the end than the size you mention." " I suppose, Mr. Manum. you have read the dis- cussions relative to burr-combs, and how to prevent them. Do you think that thick top-bars will pre- vent brace-combs?" " Well," I said, " it is so warm and pleasant, let us sit down here on this lumber, where we can en- joy the hum of the bees as well as the sun. In re- gard to brace-combs, I hardly think it necessary to adopt those thick clumsy top-bars to prevent them. First, they are too expensive to make; and, second- ly, they take up too much comb space in the hive. Let us figure. A Js-thick top-bar is J thicker than one % thick. This extra t takes up the space of 3i cells; and if the frame is 18 inches long, at .5 cells to the inch we find that we have 460 cells less in each frame, with a % top-bar, than with one %. Now, if we use 10 frames to the hive, we find that this extra I costs us 4.500 cells to each hive; and if we get 3 hatches from these extra cells, by the time bass- wood blooms we have 13,500 more bees in each hive than we should have with the thick top-bars, which means quite a little swarm of bees of themselves." " Yes, but how are you going to prevent brace- combs? that is the question. What is your practice and theory?" "I am coming to that now," I replied. "My practice and theory are very closely related in this matter. First, I make my top-bars one inch wide by TB thick, and space them Its from center to cen- ter. This close spacing has a tendency to prevent storing honey in the upper part of the combs, and induces brood-rearing clear up to the top-bar, so that, there not being any sealed honey below the top-bar, the bees do not seem to have any use for burr-combs immediately above or between the top- bars. Second, I tind there is a vast difference in strains or families of bees about building brace- combs. I have haJ colonies that seemed to delight in filling up every little space below the supers, while other colonies in the same apiary would rare- ly ever build any. I once had a colony that would ttll up the j-g space between the top-bars and supers, and between the edges of the top-bars, as fast as I could clear them out— or, at least, 1 would always find this space filled every time I went to them. So I commenced experimenting with this colony by trying every method I could think of to prevent burr-combs, but without success, until I used plen- ty of hard soap on the top-bars and bottom of the sections. Finally this colony swarmed; and as they left a few very nice queen-cells, I thought I would save them and raise a few queens from them for an experiment, to see if this trait of brace-comb build- ing would be transmitted to the progeny of these young queens. I succeeded in wintering si.v of these young queens, and, sure enough, I found that, as soon as the honey season opened, they were as bad as the old colony. Since then, when selecting queens for breeding, I am very careful about this 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 277 one particular trait of character, so that I am con- vinced that, with proper width of top-bars, and proper spacing and very careful breeding-, we can very much lessen the building of burr-combs, with- out using thick top-bars." "Mr. M., your explanation and experience are very interesting to me. Let us go in to dinner, as mother has just called." Dinner over, my friend John harnessed one of their many horses and took me across the lake — on the ice— to the thrifty town of Ticonderoga, N. Y., and thence to old Fort Ticonderoga; and after walking over the ground that Ethan Allen and his brave men did on that memorable morning, we re- turned to spend another pleasant evening in the home of the Larrabees. The next day being Sun- day, the time was very pleasantly spent in discuss- ing the different religious creeds, and the various theories and beliefs in regard to the life beyond. The next morning found us up bright and early, and at 7 a. m. Manum boarded the train to renew his acquaintance with the conductor who caused him such an unpleasant walk a few nights previous. But as the pleasant visit with the Larrabees had completely extinguished the Are within, I returned the gentleman's smile as he took me by the hand and oifered an apology for his blunder, which was accepted, and we were soon on friendly terms. Thus the matter ended pleasantly between conduct- or and traveler. A. E. Mandm. Bristol, Vt., Mar. 10. I read your articles, friend M., with a great deal of interest, and I have considered you sound on almost every thing you discuss. In the present article, however (if you will excuse a junior in years and experience), on the matter of brace-combs and thick top- bars, there is one place in which you appear to me to be a little lame in your argument. In brief, you say, because there are fewer cells to the frame, with thick top-bars, there- fore there are fewer bees to the hive. Now, friend Manum, you would not argue, that, because your frame — a crosswise L., or very nearly so— is only about f the size of the standard Langstroth, you would, for a like reason, secure only i of the bees that you would in a Langstroth, would youV It is not the size of the frame, nor the reduction in length and depth, that has so much to do with the number of bees, as the size of the hive. It is true, that a thick top-bar re- duces the number of cells to the Langstroth frame ; but, bless you, there is plenty of room in the surplus apartment, and there is where you want the extra amount of honey to go. A correspondent in the last issue made the statement that thick top-bars cause the combs to be built clear to the bot- tom-bar. With thin top-bars, the bees will usually leave a little space just above the bottom-l)ar. If our friend's statement is true, there are actually just as many cells with the thick top-bar frames as with the thin ones. You say you have a few burr- combs ; but. friend M., don't you want to do away with their building altogether? Ac- cording to the best authority, it takes from 5 to 8 lbs. of honey to make one of wax. A friend who sits by me, Mr. Francis Danzen- baker, says that, when he used the thin top- bars he scraped the combs off from 50 colo- nies. At the end of the season he found that each colony had built i-lh. of burr- combs, which would mean the consumption of from 3 to 5 lbs. of honey. Now, can't we manage, by having thick top-bars, to have this useless energy, waste of honey, and waste of time on the part of the apiarist, concentrated in the right direction? You are correct, if the testimony thus far receiv- ed is of any value, that close spacing does diminish burr-combs. Ernest. I think I should side with friend Manum in regard to thick top-bars. It is true, we can enlarge the hive; but even then we shall have the bees breeding, and keeping warm great heavy sticks, right in the center of the brood-nest. It seems to me it is like mixing wooden eggs with the good ones un- der a sitting hen, especially if the good ones are scattered all among the wooden ones. May I venture to suggest to friends Manum and Larrabee that such a way of spending the Sabbath is very commendable, provid- ing you attended church one or more times during the day, and had open Bibles before you when you discussed the various creeds. " He that doeth the will of the Father shall know of the doctrine." BEE-KEEPING IN CUBA. RUNNING EXTRACTORS BY STEAM-ENGINES, ETC. Friend Boot:— Our surplus season was a very short one this year, and our crop correspondingly short, for we secured only 53,000 lbs., which we con- sider not more than a two-thirds crop. The rea- son, we have had and are still having the most pro- tracted drouth I have ever seen in Cuba— only two small showers since October. We have had no bloom since January, to speak of. But I have un- bounded faith in Cuba that the rains will come, and the bloom with them; and in proof thereof I will say we are going right on with our increasing. I shall fill every hive on the place, and have ordered more. Had we had as many again bees as we did have, through the months of December and Janua- ry, we should have got nearly as much again honey. Mr. Root, I do not pretend to understand other people's business, but I know a little something of the honey resources of Cuba, and of thu manage- ment of bees to secure extracted honey. On page 175 of March Ist Gleanings you say, " Don't be troubled about Osburn's extractor run by a steam- engine; . . . but it will be a good while before he gets the steam 24- frame extractor to going." Well, now, friend Root, perhaps it will. I shall not try to put the engine and said extractor in this year, for I have made arrangements to pay for this property here, including 7 acres of land, bees, house, and all fixtures belonging thereto. I have just completed an addition to the house, 12 x 22, which makes our living-quarters very comfortable indeed. Wuen I wrote you iHst, I said we had extracted 15,000 lbs. with the Stanley extractor. That was so; but the next day I got a man to run the extractor, and in two hours he had it so badly crippled that the bas- kets would not revolve; and being in a great hurry I did not take the time to examine the machine, but set it out and put the old machine in, and threw out the rest of the crop, 38,000 lbs., making 53,000 lbs. altogether. After we were done extracting I ex- 278 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apk, amiued the Stanley; and the trouble was, the low- er collar on the upright shaft had become loosened, and that threw the baskets out of plumb, and they would not revolve. So you see it was a very slight thing after all. I will say for the Stanley, it is the best-made extractor I ever saw, and I have seen a good many; and I will say it is the most rapid ma- chine I ever saw. I shall try to get along with it for one more crop, but I have written to the manu- facturer for another gearing. I want the baskets to make 5 revolutions to the crank one, while the present one makes onlyl>^ to the crank one. But about the engine and SOframe machine, I don't give it up any more than you gave up the idea of putting ii larger engine in your factory, when you saw that the requirements of your business made it necessary. Everyman is supposed to understand his own business (or, at least, he should). It is hard for people in Ohio or any of the Northern States to understand the great difference in taking extracted honey here where we have the grandest honey-flow in the world for two months, or taking it where they can let the honey stay in the hives until the harvest is over. We quit extracting the l"th of February, and then extracted only twice in that month, on account of the drouth; but from Nov. 14 to Feb. IV, we extracted 14 times— that is, went over the apiary and took every thing clean. In Novem- ber we extracted twice; so you see, during Decem- ber and January we extracted 10 times over every hive. Well, now, do you see the necessity of hav- ing a large machine, and power to run it? Why don't you put in 40 or 50 one-horse engines to do the work of one in your factory? The receipts of our apiary, honey and wax, have been vrrij close to $3000, and we have hired only 4 days' work at $1..50 a day— Cuban paper, which in U. S. money would be about 60 cts. a day, or $3.40 for the whole; and this I know has been a poor year and a short crop. We sold our honey for a good price in Havana, and it was sought after by all buyers, and it ever will be so as long as it is correctly managed, for it is as fine honey as the world produces anywhere. Now, I think I should say something for the old Simplicity hive. You know we use the Simplicity— that is, in all the important features. The body of the hive is the same, only for a hive exclusively for extracting, we (that is, A. J. King and I) concluded to have the frame deeper and shorter than the regular L ; but otherwise it is the Simplicity. Now, what foMture I like about the hive above all others is the Cover. A man would have to pay me a big sum of money to get me to use a flat cover. Why? Because it is too much bother, and it takes too long. It kills too many bees, and is a nuisance where rap- id work is to be done. With the old Simplicity cov- er, if there is a quart of bees on top of the frames, slap the cover on, and very seldom a bee is mashed; then the cover is never stuck to the frames; in hot weather there is a dead-air space above the frames; and when you will find the front of a hive that has a flat cover, all covered with bees, you will find those in the Simplicity as cool as cucumbers. Why is there that difference? Simply because the bees in the flat-covered hive have every crack sealed up tight, and there is not the slightest chance for a circulation of air; while with the Simplicity cover the thing is impossible. They can not close every crack, because they can not get at them. I sit down here and look on with perfect indifference at the discussion going on about thick top bars and brace-combs, for neither of them bothers me at all. With the extracted honey, let them brace their combs if they want to. We extract every six or seven days anyhow; and what comb honey we pro- duce is produced in the Falcon hive, and every comb is as straight as can be; and if they build any brace-combs they are below the sections, and do no harm. The separator between the section and brood-frame prevents all that; and there being a wooden separator between every row of sections, there are no crooked combs. Every one can be cased for safe shipment. So, friend Root, if you will let me have my SJframe extractor, and engine to run it (1 have the best hives for extracted and comb honey), I shall be the happiest toad in the puddle. QUEENS. Perhaps there is not a place in the world where queens need changing oftener than they do here. In the first place, they lay so continuously that at two years of age not one in 'iO is fit to depend up- on for a strong colony. They so seldom mate with pure drones, that, unless they are as a whole rear- ed from pure imported mothers every two years, they run right back to the blacks. Hybrid bees are what we want, but from the first generation. A. W. OSBUBN, Punta Brava de Guataa, Cuba, Mar. 16. Friend O., the remark you quote was made by Ernest, who meant it as a little pleas- antry. The remarks that both of us made in regard to the matter were intended only as a caution to some young bee-keepers here in the States. I agree with you. that bee-keeping in Cuba is quite a different matter. I confess that I am a little surpris- ed to hear you say you want the baskets to make five revolutions to the crank one, es- pecially where you revolve four or more combs at once ; but, as you say, you know a great deal better what the demands of your business are than we do. 1 am glad to have you defend my old hobby, the old Simplici- ty covers ; but I confess I do not see why the bees do not run the combs up against the cover, if you use it without any enamel cloth or quilt over the combs. Your vivid de- scription makes me feel a longing to visit Cuba. But somebody told me, not long ago, that it rains there almost every day in the year — sunshine one hour and rain the next. But it seems tnat even Cuba has its occasional drouths. IMPROVEMENTS AND INVENTIONS FOR BEE-KEEPERS. boardman's new hive-cart. As the products of the apiary become cheaper, labor-saving implements and machines become more and more important. Among the important improvements and inventions for the benefit of bee-keepers is the hive-cart, an improvement not yet much in use or appreciated. Our artist, Mr. L. B. Gardner, of Collins, who gave us the nice picture of my apiary, illustrated in Gleanings a short time since, has now given us another very nice picture, showing my hive-cart as it is used in carrying in the bees in the fall to their winterquarters. In the background of the picture is also shownaglimpse of the mammoth solar waxex- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 279 tractor, with the front glass removed to show the better how it is constructed. The picture will give a much clearer idea of the construction and practical use of these improve- ments than volumes of words could do. A very important feature of the cart, and one I have not seen in any yet illustrated in the bee-papers, is, it combines a very excellent common-purpose cart with the hive carrier. By looking at the picture you will notice that, in lifting a colony of bees, it does not pick the hive square up, but first tips it forward, just as you would do in lifting it by hand, tipping it a little first to break it loose from the bottom-board. Colonies can be replaced as carefully and deftly upon the bottom-boards as by hand. If a bee comes out to reconnoiter, he seems to be a Utile astonished to find no one within half a rod of the hive. You see this will prove a bonanza to timid bee- keepers. A hive can be taken from the top of an- not many of the hives in use constructed with little or no regard to convenience in lilting and carrying, either by hand or by means of a carrier? Did it never occur to you that the style of a great maf^s of ihe hives now in use is a little antiquated in this re- spect—that this feature in the stjle of a modern hive has been overlooked or neglected? I am not disposed to (luarrel with others about the style of hive they use; but for me, a hive that is to be much lifted and carried must be cleated outside. But we must take things as we find them, and make the best we can of it. There are thou- sands who use cleated hives. To all such this cart is perfectly adapted, and with some little modifica- tion or improvement it may be adjusted to the car- rying of any style of hive in use; as, for instance, spring catches on the lifting bars ftr the hand- holes, and by means of rods connecting with the handle. A spring-scale attachment for the hive to rest upon with a registry dial above is a part of the BOARDMAN'S HIVE-CAhT AND SOLAR WAX-EXTRACTOR, Other hive, or be replaced. Besides lifting and carr>ing colonies, all of the heavy carrying in the apiary can be done with this cart, distributing hives, surplus cases, taking off surplus sections or comb for extracting. For carrying empty or light hives, six can be hung between the bars, and six placed on top, making 12 at a load. For moving lumber from one place to another, T found it to be very convenient. The lifting frame, or bars, are 8 feet long, 2 inches square; are clipped to the axle 3 feet from the lifting end, thus giving an easy leverage over the axle, for lifting. The wheels are 3 feet 9 inches apart. It is quite important that they be large, in order to run easily and smoothly. As this cart is made and adjusted expressly for my hives, I anticipate the most important criticism. As a general hive-carrier, it is not adapted to many of the hives in use. If I may be excused for the bold criticism, is it not rather the fault of the hives than the cart? Are original plan, so that every colony is weighed as they are carried into winter quarters. This hasn't materialized yet. One day in the latter part of November, about ;i o'clock p. m., I threw open the doors of the bee-house and commenced testing the merits of the new hive-cart. I wheeled the bees myself to the door, where an assistant lifted them from the cart and placed them in position inside. The weather was growing rapidly cold, but not yet freezing. The bees were very quiet, and not dis- posed to be offended at any slight provocation. They were unusually heavy, and many of the hives were filled with bees staug down to the bottom- board. I was astonished at the ease and rapidity with which I could pick up and wheel the heaviest colonies, doing it easily, if I chose, with but one hand, and at the same time so softly and gently that the bees were not disturbed. I had been rack- ing ray brain for some time in trying to devise some kind of spring which would take the jar otT 280 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Apr. the hives, but I was elated to find out that nothing of the kind was needed. I need not tell bee-keepers of any experience that it is no small matter to stoop and pick up a heavy colony of bees carefully from the ground. It is a much bigger job to thus stoop and pick up 100 colonies. You will pardon my enthusiasm, then, on learning how to dispense with all of this back-aching business. But some one has reminded me that my bee-yard is especially adapted to the use of such a cart, being graded with much care, even and smooth. I am not unmindful that this adds very much to the pleasure of this, as it does to all other work in the apiary. But special fitting of the yard for this pur- pose is only a matter of convenience and comfort, and not a necessity. I had quite a number of colo- nies outside the prepared yard, under a row of trees, where the ground was very rough. These were at a considerable distance from the bee-house, five or six rods, may be, to the furthest. Even these I wheeled in without the slighest inconven- ience. We worked very moderately, with no thought of hurrying; and when we were done I found we had been just two hours in putting 125 colonies into their winter quarters; and so much had I enjoyed the work that I was almost sorry when it was done. HANDLING COLONIES WITHOUT BOTTOM-BOARDS TO THE HIVE. It seems to be almost a "dark mystery " to some how bees can be handled in hives without bottom- toards, particularly in carrying them in and out of the wintering repository. I have used such a hive for many years; have carried them in and out many times, and have never experienced any diffi- culty in doing it, when done in the right way. There is a right way and a wrong way to do things, and I have observed that the right way is the best, always. Handling bees without bottoms to the hives depends very much upon doing it in the right way. I have been quite particular in the details of my experience in carrying in my bees, for the pur- pose of showing what can be done in handling colo- nies in the bottomless hives, to show that it is not necessary to fasten bees in their hives, and half smother them, as some do in carrying them into their winter quarters. THE RIGHT WAY. Every one who has handled bees much, knows very well how keenly sensitive they are to the con- ditions of the weather. This must not be forgotten in deciding upon the time of carrying the bees in or out. They should be carried in on a cool day, when the temperature is falling. If the colonies are very heavy, and they are clustered down on the bottom-board, raise such hives a little, and place blocks under them so the air may circulate under, and it will help them to get up where it is warmer, in a very short time. The temperature should be falling, for then the cluster within the hive is slow- ly contracting, and the bees are all preparing to take a nap, as it were, and are in the best condition to be carried in. When the weather is growing warm, even if it is quite cold, the cluster within is expanding, many of the bees are preparing to take a look outside, and will fly out on the slightest dis- turbance. Don't try to put them in at such a time. In putting out in the spring, of course there is not quite so good a chance of choosing a favorable time to do it. But if your bees should chance to Isecome hot and restless, don't do so foolish a thing as to get alarmed and throw open the doors of your bee-room, and attempt to put them out when it is still warmer outside. I have never known bees to receive any harm from becoming hot in the bee- room, above the loss of a few bees getting lost from their hives. It would only arouse those in the room still more, and make it diflBcult and unpleas- ant to put them out; and in the yard more or less confusion would ensue. When you have decided to put the bees out, do it if possible in the morning of a warm pleasant day, while it is yet cooler than the bee-room inside; but be sure that the bees are to have a warm time in which to take their flights. The cooler air outside quiets the bees as they are taken out, and keeps those inside from becoming restless until all can be put out; then flights will be taken in a moderate way, and no confusion en- sue. These precautions are more especially for those having many colonies. A few colonies could be handled at almost any time, without difficulty. East Townsend, O., Mar. 11. H. R. Boardman. Friend B., we can readily pardon your enthusiasm, especially since you give us one of the best and most practical articles we have had for a long while. Such a cart would, without question, be very helpful in many other operations in handling bees, es- pecially if the ground is smoothed up and slicked up as yours is. In my first direc- tions for hexagonal apiaries I advised hav- ing the ground as clean, level, and smooth, as an ordinary brickyard. So many, how- ever, remonstrated, saying that it was too much labor and expense, that 1 gradually gave it up somewhat. With a cart for mov- ing the hives and supplies, however, I think it would pay well to have the ground in just that way. With a scuffle-hoe, or something similar, the labor of keeping grass and weeds down is not great. Your remarks in regard to temperature, especially choosing a time when the thermometer is falling, is very important. I have before noticed the same thing, but I never thought to put it into print. However, I have not had nearly as much experience in housing bees as you have. Perhaps had I kept on using a bee- house I might have overcome some of the obstacles as you have. THE WRIGHT BEE-ESCAPE. AND WHAT EUGENE SECOR THINKS OP IT. This seems to be a time when bee-escapes are ex- ercising the apicultural mind. There's no telling how many sleepless nights our brethren with inven- tive brains have passed in orderto invent some new thing. Since the Reese escape and the Dibbern escape have appeared, doubtless many others have racked their brains to invent something in that line to im- mortalize themselves. I send you by to-day's mail the product of a gen- ius who did not rack his brain. He didn't have to. Geniuses never do. They do things because they can't help it. Now, if this "escape" isn't simplici- ty simplified, I should like to see one that is. Its inventor lives here, is one of our most enlightened and thorough-going bee-keepers, and a skillful man with tools, although he professes to be a farmer. He has rigged up a shop, by attaching a horse-pow" 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 281 er to a buzz-saw, where he turns out the neatest hives and fixtures to be found. But this is foreign to the subject. I only wanted to emphasize my as- sertion that he is a genius with tools. His name is W. W. Wright, of Forest City, Iowa. WRIGHT'S BEE-ESCAPE. You will notice that this escape Is very simple, and easily made. It can be made in the honey- board Itself, or in a separate block, and inserted in a square hole cut out for it. The strips of tin around the outside, and the tin buttons, are with the latter object in view. If made in the board they are not needed. His object also in making it in that form wa.s that a sample might be sent by mail cheaply. Eugene Secor. Forest City, la., Feb. '^2. Our friend Wright's escape will work, without doubt. Whether it would be bet- ter or cheaper than friend Dibbern's, it is hard to say ; but probably not as cheap. Perhaps this season in the apiary will throw a little light on the matter. If any one de- sires to test them they can be procured of Mr. Wright, as above. I will explain to our readers that the device is simply a square block, i in. thick. Four holes are bored at each corner, nearly through, and one in the center clear through. A passageway is cut to each hole (see dotted lines), and through each passageway is inserted a small Reese cone. The upper surface is covered with a piece of tin. The light shading shows the removable block, which is inserted in a square hole of a hive cover, and is held in filace by the tin buttons. The bees pass up hrough the central hole, through the cover and out. ^ I ^ BEE-ESCAPES AND BEE-ESCAPES. THE VERTICAL VERSUS THE PERPENDICULAR. Since the invention of my horizontal cone bee- escape, it was to be expected that many similar de- vices would be brought out, and claimed as original inventions. The crop is now maturing rapidly, and it caa almost be said that the " woods " are literally "full of 'em." Happily this matter is not hamper- ed by any patent rights, and the field is entirely free to all. Nor is it to be deplored that so many different devices are appearing. Bee-keepers want the very best means foi' doing every thing about the apiary in the best and most expeditious manner; and surely in the multitude of discussion or inven- tion is wisdom. Bee-escapes, as known at this time, consist of two kinds— the vertical cone, as invented by our friend Reese, of Winchester, Ky., and the horlnontal cone, as invented by myself. The vertical cone, or Reese, was thoroughly tested last season; and although it generally worked fairly well, it was found objection- able on account of strong colonies clustering, and building comb in the vacant space immediately un- der the escape-board. Great hatfuls of bees would also bang from the cones, and In some cases actual- ly build comb inside and around them. Mr. Reese has lately tried to overcome this by removing a section from the empty super under it, and letting the cone drop into the space thus made vacant. When it is considered, however, that it is seldom that we wish to take off a full super and place an empty one directly under it, the whole arrangement becomes bungling and impracticable. No pro- gressive bee-keeper would long remain satisfied with such methods. These difiiculties led me to the invention of my horizontal escape. It is plain to see that the objec- tions to the vertical-cone escapes are well nigh in- surmountable; and it is noticeable that all the new escapes are on the horizontal principle. It is true, as stated by Mr. Reese on page 197, that the hori- zontal-cone escapes have not been as thoroughly tested as could be desired. We know positively, however, from our experience with the Reese es- cape and other devices, that bees readily pass through any hole big enough for them to get through when cut off from the rest of the hive by means of a board. Now, bees can pass through my horizontal four-outlet escapes as readily as through the Reese; and the chances for any getting back are very much less. There are no bees so persis- tent as robbing bees; and I have demonstrated con- clusively that robbers can not go through the es- capes when suddenly placed on a hive upside down, when it is being robbed. I believe, too, that bees are much more persistent when carrying honey out of feeders or supers than they would be to re-enter such after escaping from them. I am entirely sat- isfied with my escape, and know it will do all I claim. It is also quite likely, that, like the queen- excluding honey-board, other uses will yet be found for it. those double top-bars. Oh, yes! I forgot, when writing on this subject before, that I, too, experimented with double top- bars. My main idea was to do away with the slatted honey-board, and, come to think of it. why I did not throw them aside I don't know. I made one hive with a frame having a double top-bar, just as de- scribed by friend Baldridge; also another hive with both double top and bottom bars, and a third hive with double top-bars, on the break-joint principle; that is, the openings were directly over the center of the f brood-combs, and, of course, there was no opening between top-bars. I hived bees in all of these hives in 1888, and no trace of burr-comb has ever appeared in any of them. My frames are only 7 inches deep, outside measure; but I made the one with both top and bottom bars double, 8 inches. As I did not like to reduce the comb 'space so much, I placed some six or eight small ;^'-inch pieces between the upper and lower bars, as I con- cluded that would answer the bees for brace-comb. The bees have wintered well in them, and, as stated before, I don't know why I did not adopt them. I thought at first that so many nooks and corners 282 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. TTould be objectionable, and make it more difficult to find queens. After two years' experience, how- ever, I do not find it any objection, and I think I see in the double top and bottom bars some advan- tages over the thick top-bars alone. Milan, 111., Mar. 31. C. H. Dibbern. Friend D., your invention of the horizontal bee-escape — that is, providing you are the original inventor in that line— is certainly a very important matter, and I think they are destined to take a prominent place among our implements of bee culture. Very likely, top-bars with an opening through the cen- ter will answer every purpose in keeping away burr-combs ; but are they not more machinery than the ordinary top bar? Of course they do not need spacing. The frames are held at fixed distances, and the bee-space is exactly right; but even with these advantages, is it worth while to start a new thing and go to the expense of mak- ing a top-bar with a vertical slot through the middle? SELF-KEGULATING TEMPERATURE. li. C. BOOT DESCRIBES A NEW INVENTION FOR RAISING PLANTS UNDER GLASS. My attention has recently been called to what seems to be one of the most valuable inventions of the day. Mr. Charles Barnard, an enthusiastic and prominent writer on agricultural and scientific top- ics, has invented and patented a system of regulat- ing- the temperature of greenhouses or other build- ings when a uniform degree of heat is desired. The patents cover the construction of the house, boiler, and process of heating, appliances for ven- tilation, etc. The greenhouse which I saw in opera- tion indicates a marvelous invention, some of the advantages of which I will endeavor to set forth. The walls of the house are made in sections, and of such material as to be impervious to heat and cold. Bach part is made complete, and can be set up by any person of ordinary mechanical ability. For heating, iron pipes are used, connected with an upright boiler designed especially for the purpose. The boiler and all the heating apparatus are in one corner of the house proper, so that the entire heat is utilized. Illuminating gas or kerosene may be used for fuel. If the latter, a suflBcient quantity to supply the burners for a given time is placed in a tank from which they are fed. The heater is so ar- ranged that no gas from the burning oil enters the room. A ventilator is constructed in the top, which is furnished with a device connected with the heat- er in such a way as to turn on the heat when the ventilator closes, and turn it off as the ventilator opens. This device will open and close the ventila- tor as the temperature varies. It can be gauged to hold the temperature at any desired degree. This ventilating apparatus dispenses with the raising and lowering of movable sash, as in the or- dinary greenhouse. One of the reasons for this even temperature is the fact that the fresh air is largely supplied through the ground. This uni- formity of temperature being secured, no care is necessary for days at a time, save in supplying the plants with water. So far I have considered these advantages as ap- plying to greenhouses only. Mr. Barnard proposes to adapt the system to hot-bed?, or a series of them. which will be of inestimable value to gardeners. I feel very certain that this new idea is to command the attention of bee-keepers, as it will be found of marked value to them. Every feature of the sys- tem commends itself to their thoughtful considera- tion. Its impervious walls, perfect system of ventila- tion, uniform temperature at any point, and, con- sequently, pure atmosphere, its form of construc- tion, which enables it to be taken down easily and quickly, and moved from place to place, all tend to make it available for wintering bees, holding and curing both box and extracted honey, storing sur- plus combs, and for many other purposes connect- ed with our pursuit. Really, I can not see why this principle, when properly applied, can not be adapt- ed to our poultry-houses, stables, public halls, school buildings, and even to our homes. Stamford, Conn., Apr. 2. L. C. Root. Friend R.. I am glad to know that our friend who loves to see things grow, Mr. Charles Barnard, has succeeded so well. Au- tomatic regulators for furnacts, as well as ventilators, are old ideas in regard to green- houses ; but I believe that very few of them have found much favor so far. I do not know how we should use it very much in bee culture, unless it were applied to the wintering repository; but friend Doolittle and others succeed with so little variation in temperature by means of their under- ground caves, it seems to me there is not much more to be desired. There is another thought in regard to plants : Inasmuch as nature furnishes a certain amount of varia- tion, I have begun to conclude that our greenhouses also should not have a temper- ature with too little variation. A'ery likely friend Barnard's arrangement may include all this. m I ^ RAMBLE NO. 23. UPS AND DOWNS OF A PEDDLER— ESPECIALLY THE DOWNS. One autumn day we were comparing notes with an aged neighbor about a weakness in our running gear. He said, that, by standing long on the feet, and lifting heavy articles, the " spine" of the legs becomes compressed and painful. We always sup- posed, as per Darwin and others, that the spine ended above the legs; but we always respect gray hairs, and took it for granted that this friend knew; and when he advised a long restful wagon ramble, we knew there was wisdom in his speech. We load- ed our wagon with things sweet and elevating, and turned our faces toward the east, in search of light and trade, and after an ardous forenoon's work we found ourselves many miles away, with the cash for one pound of honey, our spirits lacerated with several scoldings, etc. The people, male and fe- male, old and young, had nearly all taken an ex- cursion epidemic, and got themselves out of the country. The few left were angry at themselves and everybody else, because they were left. One specimen of the gentler sex snappishly informed us that our baking-powder (that's what we carry along with us that is elevating) wasn't worth a pin — " tain't fit to feed pigs with." " Why," says we, calmly and mildly, " of course it wouldn't be economy to feed it clear to pigs; but, give a little in its rations and it will have a tenden- cy to leaven." 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 283 "Yes," said she,"! knowed it would level him; it's pizen— pizen as a cohort." " Cohort!" says we. "Cohort I " said she. Says we to Nig, " Get up," and she went. We got Into a brown study for the next half-hour, and passed several homes before we solved the prob- lem. The dear woman had got her Scripture slight- ly mixed with that old but highly respected rat-poi- son, cobalt. We felt better, and concluded we would stop at the little brown hou^e behind the spruce-trees. No answer to our repeated knocks; but a sound from the back yard led us in that di- rection, and tlifre we found two cherubs in a bar- rel. "Well, my dears, what you doing in there? Where's the folks? " " Gone on scursion. Put us here to keep us out of mischief." We learned afterward that this mother regularly barreled her children when she left home. They were used to it, and evidently enjoyed it. Our journey for the day, with many more varied •experiences, finally came to an end at the resi- dence of Mr. Goodwin, on the Danby Mountains. Mr. G. is the owner of a large farm, and is also in- terested in the raising of sweets from throe thou- sand sugar-maples. His annual yield is hundreds of gallons of syrup, which adds much to the reve- nue of the farm. In the production of honey there is not much done in that line, that we could learn; but we should judge it to be one of those good places as yet unoccupied. The mountains on each side of the valley are of such height that the honey- flow from basswood must be greatly prolonged, as vegetation is seen to put forth green leaves fully ten days earlier at the foot of the mountains than it does at the summit. Buckwheat is also sown to ■& considerable extent, and goldenrod is abundant. cious manure-pit, which point, the Rambler is sor- ry to observe, many farmers are very careless about, hence the fertility of the soil is wasted around the barn. While riding behind the ox team we discussed and decided that it would be a capital rig with which to peddle maple products and honey. Of course, the peddler would have to go slow, and this would give people time to make up their minds to buy; besides, how attractive such a team would be in any of our cities! Let us not despise the bo- vine, is the conclusion arrived at by the Rambler, Friend R., when I first read your account of putting the children in the barrel to keep them out of mischief, I thought you were drawing on your imagination ; but a near neighbor assures me that this is no fiction. He says, that in his childhood it was a com- mon thing to " barrel " the children to save the bother of chasing after them. May the Lord be praised, a different state of affairs has come about in the matter of caring for children. Since you mention it, I think it quite likely that an ox team would be one of the tallest kinds of advertising for honey and maple syrup. These knowing chaps who talk so much about manufactured comb honey and adulterated maple syrup would vervlikelv have faith if oxen drew the rig, and the driver were to fix up to correspond with the "cattle." BEES THAT BUILD ILL-SHAPEN COMBS. ETC. PEDDLING HONEY WITH AN OX TEAM. The next morning, our friend, desiring us to see bis farm and sugar-orchard, attached the oxen to the family wagon, and himself, the Rambler, and two ladies, enjoyed a delightful ride. What beauti- ful scenery! what a docile team! what invigorat- ing air, and wh-vt smiling faces! The Rambler for- got all about the spine of his leg being affected, and laughed with the rest. Neighbor C. must be visited; and as we approached we saw him shading his eyes; then he called his wife to help him gaze, and they mutually made up their minds that a menagerie was coming to their mountain home. With a stentorian " Whoa, haw buck! " our friend landed us safely on the doorsteps. We found here one of those splendid Vermont barns. As the slope of the side hill was several miles, there was ample room for a grand work. The entrance was at the gable end; below were capacious bays, and a dou- ble tier of cow-stables; and behind them a capa- WHY DO THEY DO IT? AND SOME OTHER MATTERS. Having a few hours of leisure lately, I looked over Gleanings for 1889, and in doing so I ran across an item or two which I wish to notice a little. On page 133 is a short item about comb-building, in which the writer, Mr. J. A. Golden, tells of a colo- ny which built "nice, beautiful, thinly drawn comb " in the middle sections of a super, while the outside section^ "contained some of the heaviest and most ill-shaped comb" he ever saw, and he wanted to know why this was so. In your foot- notes, Mr. Editor, I notice that you think that the only solution to the mystery is, that the weather was cool when the latter combs were built, while the former were built In warmer weather, as well as their being immediately over the cluster where they would naturally receive more heat. Now, as far as my knowledge goes, bees do not attempt to work wax unless the temperature is right for the successful working of the same, and bees are capa- ble of making a right temperature just when and where they please, as I have often proved with my self-registering thermometer. A small cluster of bees can easily keep a temperature of from 93 to 95 degrees during a cold frosty night, as many nights' experiments testify, and that is plenty warm enough for wax-working. From past experence I should account for the " my-tery," as presented by Mr. Golden, in its being in the loss of the queen in that particular hive, and especially as none of his other colonies were noticed building such peculiar comb. If " cold ' had been the cause of the trouble, all of the colonies would have built thick irregular combs as well; but as it was this particular colony that did so, we must look for the trouble at this point. 284 GLEANINGS IN ]}EE CULTURE. Apr. Several years ago I had a colony of bees that were nicely at work in the sections, havinj? a part of them filled with comb, when, one day, in han- dling the frames below, I lost the queen from some unaccountable reason, and from that date till they got a laying queen they built the poorest and thick- est comb which I had ever seen at that time. Many of the sections had the comb in them " stub- bed " off at the sides and bottoms; some were not built more than half down when the cells were lengthened out, filled with honey, and sealed over, so that very much of the honey was unsalable. Since then, in trying to control swarming by cag- ing the queen I have had the same state of affairs, so that I am very positive that loss of queen was the cause of the whole trouble. In fact, I very oft- en perceive when a colony has lost its queen, by the looks of the comb which they are building in the sections, thus being able to remedy the matter, when I otherwise might not know it, or not till the colony was considerably injured. That not nearly as nice comb is built when a colony has no laying queen in the hive, is one of the reasons why I do not like the plan of taking away the queen in swarming time to prevent swarming. GOOD QUEENS. On page 423 I see it is thought that Doolittle is a little " off " in claiming that queens reared by what he terms "natural processes" are better than those reared by other methods, as put forth in my book. Now, I only wish to take space to say that I do not claim for the queens reared as I advise, any superi- ority because they are cradled in artificial cradles, or because these cradles are supplied with plenty of royal jelly into which the selected larvte are transferred, or any thing of that kind. No, noth- ing of the sort. These are only conveniences to pave the way for having the queens reared just when and where we wish them, by that good and inexpensive way of having them reared in the up- per stories of hives having a laying queen below. What I do claim as rupcrior is in the hringiny of the, colony into that condition where they will rear queens leisurely, and under the same conditions that they do in superseding their own queens with- out the interference of man, when, as all know, the very best of queens are reared. When this can be done, and that, too, without having a queenless colony as a loss on our hands, I think that even friend Root will concede it to be of advantage to do so. If any one does not wish to use the artificial cups (which friend Alley calls "fussy"), let him use the plan as given, minus the cups, royal jelly, etc., having the cells built in the old way, or a Ja Alley's plan, as he desires, and, my word for it, bet- ter queens will be reared than have been the most of those reared in the past. UNSEALED BROOD TO PREVENT SWARMING. On page 604 I read as follows: "Out of some 35 or 40 swarms which we have hived during the last few days, as nearly as we can make out some 7 or 8 of this number have actually left their frames of un- sealed larvae. While a frame of brood tends very greatly to hold the swarm, it is by no means infalli- ble." Now, after all I have said in the past on this subject, I do not know that any thing further will be tolerated from me; but I do feel so anxious that others shall not sustain a loss, as I have done, that I venture a few words more, especially as the swarming season is near at hand. I take the ground that brood is no preventive of pji'me swarms leaving their hives, but, rather, an incentive; and any person who should have 8 out of 40 swarms try to leave their hives after having brood given them, ought to so see it, it seems to me, instead of trying to bolster up that old fallacious idea. Any man who hived 40 swarms and had 8 of them leave the hive and run away, would be a great exception to the general rule, for past knowledge compels me to say that the average is not over 4 ';'■• where swarms leave an empty hive. Bees leave the hive for the express purpose of getting away from the brood, where they have the laying queen with them; and by placing brood in the hive they are put in, we bring about nearly the same conditions they swarm- ed out to be rid of. With after-swarms the case is different, as brood then is not objectionable, and helps build up a weak colony. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., Mar. 30. A^ery likely, friend D.. you are partly right in regardto these awkward combs. The reason why I gave my opinion, however, was, when I experimented largely with the thin loose hoop hive you may remember about, I found nice combs in the center sec- tions of the super, but thick and awkward ones toward the outside ; and right close to the hoops, where the bees couid look out and see the stars through the corncrib-like openings, the combs were thick, awkward, small, and finally none at all. AVhen the idea was first advanced of caging queens or removing them in order to increase the hon- ey yield, you may remember that I protest- ed strongly, saying the bees would stop work just as soon as the queen was taken away, or, at least, many colonies would do so. Well, it has transpired that they did not always stop work, for I saw them doing very good work at Dr. Miller's when the queen had been caged for a week or more, and then I concluded it made a difference whether the queen was caged in the hive or taken entirely away from it. Like your- self, I have so many times seen comb-build- ing slacken up at once on the removal of the queen, that I am sure her presence or absence has much to do with it. It is well known that queenless colonies usually build drone comb, and I have repeatedly seen the bees change from worker to drone comb when the queen was taken away. I wish Dr. Miller and others who practice caging queens when they are getting comb honey would tell us whether they have noticed such things as I have mentioned — namely, changing from worker to drone comb after caging the queen. In regard to getting good queens, it seems quite reasonable that queen-cells built and queens reared under the influence of the swarming fever would be better than those where the queen was taken out of the hive in order to get cells. In my experiments, however, theory did not seem to be sustained by practice; but Er- nest just now adds, that, in their recent ex- periments, they did get, he thinks, rather nicer queens reared under the swarming impulse. In regard to the last matter, un- sealed brood to prevent swarming, if you emphasize prime swarms, as you do above, I do not know but that we can pretty nearly agree with you ; but where we buy swarms brought in by farmers round about, and di- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE (TTLTURE. 285 vide up natural swarms to make nuclei, and with swarms containing virgin queens, I still say, give them a little unsealed brood to hold them ; and I am now satisfied that a very little unsealed brood would not do enough harm to take into account, even if given to a prime swarm. A whole comb of brood in all stages has sometimes seemed to have the effect you speak of ; but a comb containing eggs, with a few of the eggs just hatched into larva%has held bees so invaria- bly that I would use it under all circumstan- ces, if I could get hold of it. THE HOT SPRINGS OF ARKANSAS. WRITTEN BY MY YOUNGEST SISTER. Dear Brother Amos:— To see the springrs was my great wish on my arrival here; but, so far as I could learn, no one knew very much about them. The rocky steps leading^up the mountain from the ladies' bath-rooms first attracted my attention. The rooms and hotel are adjoining, under one cover, and the mountain and hotel are so close that we can go out from the third floor without much climb- ing, and find the hot iron pipes crossing and recross- ing each other on the mountain sides in alt direc- tions. Herman's rheumatism would not permit his go- ing, so I went alone. At one place I noticed the steam rising; and when I reached it I found it lock- ed, as are the tanks, and other springs also, out of eight. I think there are seventy-one springs, and they all belong to the government except one. A lady from Cedar Rapids, a guest at this house, offer- ed to go with me if T would do the "talking." So we went to the office of the superintendent of Hot Springs Reservation, and he kindly took the keys and went with us, first showing a large brick air- tight water-tank holding 30.000 gallons, and so per- fect that the water that runs in over night f'r use the following day loses less than one detfree in temperature, which is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the springs are covered with s one, and cemented. The water is convoyed from them through iron pipes to the government tanks and bathing-houses below, and now we are where I saw steam rising. The door is unlocked, and I can go in and inhale the vapor, and see and feel the hot water coming, right out from the rocks— beautiful rocks they are too. I a.sked the superintendent if he was not troubled with visitors; but he said I would be surprised to know how little the people seemed to care to see the springs. It reminds me of that scripture verse, " A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country." But I hope there are more here to ap- preciate these great, wonderful hot-water springs than I imagine; but I am told many have lived here for yearx who never went to see the springs. We have just been to another spring, about one block from the house, and the water heated my cup until I could not have held it had it not been for the handle, and 1 could not bear my hand in the water a moment, as it would burn. This spring is on the main street, and is free to the city. TUESDAY, 2()TH. Four ladies and myself have just been around and over Hot Springs Mountain (a spur of the Ozark Mountains), starting out south around by the United States Army and Navy Hospital, and com- ing in from the north -through " Happy Hollow Springs," a beautiful creek running along down the mountain path for about half a mile. I found a spring myself, and was clearing it out; but the la- dies said I was going crazy over it, and so I had to leave it. I put my arm away back in it. There was no heat at all about that one. I should think geolo- gists would find plenty to interest them here. I found two chameleons (at least, so I should cal[ them)— one drab, the color of the tree-bark, and the other green, from the moss it was on. I wish 1 could have you to walk and climb mountains with me. ARTIFICIAL ICE. March 3S.— We are just back from a long pleasant walk out to the Arctic Ice-works. The proprietor went around with us, and explained the process and showed us the cakes partly frozen, and let us see them when being taken out. I never saw natural ice that would equal the artificial in clearness. A piece weighing 150 lbs. would require about 36 hours to make. He showed us different grades; but what he called a fifth grade seemed to me much nicer than a great deal of the best at home that goes into our refrigerator. From your little sister, M. E. Holmes. Hot Springs, Ark., Mar. 24. I suppose that, as a matter of course, sis- ter Maitie, if the people round about the springs don't care to visit them, no one has thought of using this hot water for heating greenhouses, cold frames, etc. With na- ture's supply, and no necessity for cold- frames or even natural gas, not only could all the fruits and vegetation of the tropics be raised with very slight expense, but we could be independent of many of the vicis- situdes of weather that are such a trouble to us in cold climates. The fact that that great tank preserved the temperature with- in only one degree of heat suggested to me at once what a grand opening there was for a greenhouse. 1 suppose, of course, there is a great deal of hot water that goes off, do- ing nobody any particular good. Your de- scription of the apparatus for making ice, comes in very opportunely after our exceed- ingly mild winter. OUT-APIARIES IN AUSTRIA. A NOVEL METHOD OF CARRYING BEES UP THE ALPS, TO FIND LATER PASTURAGE. Friend Boot: -I send you with this the Jan. issue of the Leipziger Bienen Zeitung. You will notice the engraving illustrating the manner in which bees are carried further up into the Alps in Carin- thia. I was much struck by the lifelike picture, and thought possibly you would think it worthy a place in Gleanings. What do you think of the lady in the foreground? Doesn't she seem to bear her burden with mother-like patience ? Here is a translation: The Carinthian bee-keepers, to secure the highly prized honey of the Alps, carry, in midsummer, with much labor, their stocks of bees to the highest Alpine meadows. The cases are carried upon the back, in what are called "knaxen," and more than three of them are sometimes piled on ; and when we consider the weight of the cases, and the very difficult road, the burden seems possible for only the strongest men. One occasionally sees the en- 1890 GLEAxMNGS IX BEE crLTUlJE. 287 tire bee-kepping- guild of the Carinthian hig-h- mountain villages, laborious-ly threading their way along the nai row paths, climbing upward, as sliown in the cut. What bee-lieeper's heart is not stirred with enthusiasm in looljing at the picture, and see- ing the Canntulaas climbing up the cloudy moun- tains'!" The editor says that only the strongest man can carry three colonies; but It seems as if the lady had the largest load, does it not? Belleville, 111., Mar. .">. L. F. Dintelmann. We might add here, that Carinthia is in the southwestern part of Austria, bounding Italy on the northeast. It lies immediately north of Carniola, where the bees known as the '' Carniolans " are reared. Yes, friend D., we do think the picture worthy of a place in Gleanin<;s. Please accept our thanks for forwarding it. The picture reminds me vividly of my climbing mountains in California ; and if our people there have never used an apparatus like the above for lugging hives 1 trust they will take the hint. I should be very glad to know whether the picture was made from a photograph of an actual scene, or whether the artist supplied something from his im- agination. In the picture we see three women and three men. The woman in the foreground has the largest load of any. Is that the way they treat women-folks in Austria ? If so, I wish to make a loud pro- test. A'ery likely they enjoy the work, and prefer to do it rather than to wash dishes and keep house. If so, well and good. But why do all the w^omen-folks have arrange- ments for an extra package over the head V Supporting the burden directly over the head and shoulders so as to bring the center of the weight between the feet is no doitbt an ingenious idea ; and in carrying burdens up mountains I should think it would be valuable. In California I saw one apiary on a level height where it was impossible to get a horse or vehicle of any kind ; and it occurred to me that it must have been a tremendous task to get all the hives up there. By the way, haven't our Austrian friends been trespassing on Heddon's shal- low brood-frames ? Those packages look almost exactly like half-depth eight-frame hives. In order that the package may be light, and at the same time restrain the bees, each section seems to be wrapped in paper and tied with twine, something on the style of friend Danzenbaker's package that he took down to Elorida. By the way, will somebody tell us whether it is the mountain air and outdoor exercise that makes those women look so plump and healthy. If so, I think I should like to go and help. There is one thing, hoMever, that might trouble me : If the women-folks carried three pack- ages, and I should carry only two, I should feel ashamed of myself; and I am afraid that, if I were to undertake to carry three, and fail. I should be ashamed of myself still more. I wonder if they do not sit down and rest occasionally, and talk over matters; and are there springs in those rocky recesses? Is it possible that Gleanings has a sub- scriber in the neighborhood of these moun- tain apiaries V My curiosity is greatly ex- cited ; and. oh bow I should enjoy visiting these brotbus and sisters away off there. near the native home of the Italians and Carniolans I COMMENTS ON GLEANINGS. terky's picture of home ; the servant GtRI.S ; jotham's beep, by .iotham's wife. I AM not an enthusiastic bee-keeper, but Jotham would like to be. I should much rather write for the papers at the price paid for Wbittier's last poem. Some medium of exchange is what this house needs; and if I could see $100 a year, clear gain, aside from all expenses of time and money and neg- lect of other business, perhaps I might become an enthusiast on the sub.iect. I occasionally read Gleanings, and I feel pretty well acquainted with such Jriends of huinauity as A. I. Root, T. B. Terry, Dr. Miller, Anna B. Quillin, and the late Mrs. Chad- dock. As " Rose Park," in the Farm Journal, she was generally equal to the emergency; let it be the thrashers' "unexpected company," "milking the skittish heifer," or whatever it was, she never seemed to be so badly taught but that she could find some way out. Your splendid picture of the Brantford Conven- tion makes me wish to live in Medina instead of here, because there is one man in that place who advocates woman suffrage— no, advocates taking his wife to conventions, even if the happens to think she can't leave home. I like Mr. Terry's picture of home. It is not every one who has three rooms in the house to open for every-day use, but we can use what we have, and not keep one shut up the year round, never allow- ing the sun to enter for fear it will fade the carpet, till every thing in the room has a musty smell. If his children " go to the bad " it will not be for lack of pleasant home surroundings. All honor and praise to those lady teachers at the convention, who remembered Ihe law of kindness, and returned smiks and thanks for the thoughtful consideration of the table-giil at the Lansing hotel. Is it so much the position one occupies in life, as the manner in which that one discharges the duties of that position? If by force of circ\;mstances an estimable yourg lady is 4 ct. less in .501b. lots; 1 c. less in barrel lots of 300 lbs. The greater part of our stock comes in the two mid- dle grades, Nos. 2 and 3. We have a limited quanti- ty of syrup in 1-gallon cans, at $1.10 per gallon; or in 10-gallon lots at $1.00. IGNOTUM TOMATO SEED. There, we have gone and done it again, just as we did with the Japanese buckwheat. We have paid more for the tomato-seed than we shall in all probability ever get back. As we have 15 or 30 lbs. of Ignotum seed still remaining on our hands, and the season for planting in most localities is pretty nearly at an end, for the rest of the season the price will be reduced to 50 cents per ounce, or $6.00 per lb.; >* oz., 15 cents. Hundreds of testimonials seem to indicate that the world has never seen a better all-purpose tomato. KED R.\SPBERR1E9 AS A HONEV-FLANT. We have no idea that it will pay to raise red rasp- berries alone for honey, but we do think, notwith- standing, it would pay about as well to raise them for honey alone, as almost any other plant, and when we add to this that it usually pays well for its beautiful fruit, we may call it one of the most promising honey-plants. For immediate orders, before we commence cultivating them, we will fur- nish either the Turner or Cuthbert for $1 25 per 10;), which is just one-half our usual prices. They can be sent by mail at an addition of 35 cts. per 100. DOUBLE-TOP BROOD-FR.4MB8. Since the publication of the article on page 304, March Gleanings, a number have inquired the price of the double-top brood frame. We will furnish them for 30 cts per 100 more than our regular frames. They may be wired, metal cor- nered, or all wood. If you order them already put up, the price will be 50 cts. per 100 extra; in flat, 30 cts. per 100 extra. Where comb-guides are wanted, add 30 cts. extra per 100; but we would not advise the use of comb-guides with the double-top-bar frame. VEGETABLE-PLANTS. Our three greenhouses are now completely stock- ed, as close as the plants can stand, with cabbage, lettuce, celery, and tomato plants. A great part of the cabbage and lettuce is, however, now in the open air. Our boys and girls have got their ar- rangements so fixed that the plants are frequently in the mail-bags within one hour from the time thev were taken out of the erround. As fast as the letters are opened, the plant orders are put in a separate place for me to carry to the boys in the greenhouse. Thus you see they catch each train as it passes our establishment, within a few hours after the order reached us. We have a full supply of every thing except pepper-plants and cauliflow- er. These have acted kind o' contrary this soring, and we have none yet that I call fit to send out. been used almost none. It was made two or three years ago, and, of course, is not equal to a new mill made now, but a bargain at the price— $15.00. One 10-inch mill, f 11.00. This mill has been used considerably; was made a number of years ago. It will still make fair foundation where you make principally for your own use, and are not particu- lar about its being first class. It Is surely worth $11.00 to someone. We have a second-hand 10-inch dipping-tank, with 4 boards, that we will sell with either of the above for $1 00. One 13-inch Dunham mill. This was origi- nally used by Dadant & Son In making their heavy brood foundation. It has made about 300 lbs. since it left their hands (when it sold for $35 00), and it is still in fair condition; will sell for $20.00. SAWS THAT NEVER NEED FILLING. Ever since we first gave notice of the Star saws, some years ago, the blades of which were sold so cheap that a new one could be put in cheaper than to have a saw filed, there has been an immense trade in them. The Millers Falls Co. have recently got out the saw shown in the cut below, that takes a 14inch blade, and yet the price is only 50 cts.— saw, blade, and all. Extra blades cost a dollar a dozen; therefore, when your saw needs sharpen- ing it costs less than 10 cts. to have a bright new blade, ready for business. And this is not all. These Star saw-blades, by some special process, are given a higher temper than any thing else in the saw line. You can saw a board or a bone, saw off a gas-pipe or a gun-barrel, and all with the same saw. The first one I ever saw I carried down into our ma- chine shop, gave It to our machinist, and told him to see what it was worth. After a few minutes' trial he asked the price and handed out the money, without a word. The truth is. he had never seen any thing like it before, for sawing iron and steel. The one we picture is made a specialty, to be hung up in the kitchen; and I rather think, my friend, you can not make your wife a better present than to get her one of these saws, to hang up in her kitchen. If you behave yourself, may be she will lend it to you occasionally; but, be sure to bring it back when you are done with it. If you don't, there may be a family jar. If wanted by mail, the price will be 20c extra. Postage on blades, 10c per doz. Star butcher saws have been reduced in price. See page 43 of our latest price list. CONVENTION NOTICES. Tlie Capital Bee-keepers' Association will meet in the Super- visor's Room of the Court-house. Springfield. III. May 7. 1890, at 10 A.M. AH interested are invited. C. E. YocUM, Sec'y. A meeting of the Erie Co. N. Y.. Bee-keepers' Association will be held in Hamburg, N. Y., April 19, at 10 a.m. and 1 P.M. Mrs, Chas. Faville. Sec'y. PRICE LISTS RECEIVED, SECOND-HAND FOUNDATION MILLS. We have the following second-hand foundation mills to dispose of : One 10-inch mill for $15.00; has We have received jiriee lists of bees, queens, hives, etc., from the fnllowiiig parties: A. D. Ellingwood. Milan, N. H. C. H. Dibliern & Son, Milan, 111. A. Hunt. Gordon, Darke Co., O. C. F. Muth & Son, Cincinnati, O. F. A. Lorkhart & Co., Pattens Mills, N. Y. 1). Kauffnian, Needy, Oregon. F. A. Eaton, Bluff ton. Allen Co.. O. J. W. Clark. Clarksburg. Mo. G. B. & Katie Reploele, Centerville, la. Mrs. A. M. (Taylor) Kueeland, Mulberry Grove, 111. W. H. Bright. Mazeppa, Minn. Oceansiile Mill Co.. Oceanside, Cal. H. H. Brown, Light Street. Pa. E. T. Abbott, St. .loseph. Mo. W. S. Vanilruff, Waynesburg, Pa. W. W. Bliss, Duarte, Cal. .1. Van Deusen & Sons, Sprout Brook, N. Y. L. J. Tripp, Kalamazoo, Mich. We have also lust printed price lists for Nimshi Nuzum, of Bouthsville, W. Va.; M. D. Johnson, Webster, la.; A. L. Swin- son. Goldsboro, N. C: Wm. Hutchison, Benton, 111.; F. H. & B- H. Dewey, Westfleld, Mass. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE (TTLTURE. 301 I WISH TO SELL my entire ttock of Supplies, Bees, and Hives, to one piirchaser, or I will sell singly. Apiary, Mai- den, Mass. Send stamp for particulars. 8-9d S. A. Fisher, 15 Congress St., Boston, Mass. I^OXTGrHT azid SOXjX3. 6-7 8d HOCiE & PHIPPS, 364 WlUougliby Ave., Brooklyn, N. It. twin responding to this aUveitisenient mention Gleanings. 300 Swarms of Bees for Sale. 1000 Queens; 2000 pounds Bees; 500 Nuclei; 2000 Excelsior Hives; holds 8 Simplicity frames; 100,000 One-P.ece Sections; 2000 lbs. Comb Foundation, and every thing needed in the bee business, at rock-bottom prices. Send for our 8th annual price list of 1890. K. E. SMITH, Tilbury Center, Out., Can. (^■Inrespontlinir to this atlveitisenient mention Gleaninos. -^THE BRIGHTESTB^ Five-banded, golden Italian Bees and Queens, and the Reddest Drones. Ver.v gentle; very prolific; good honey-gathprers— working on red clover— and the ITIost Beautil'ul bees in existence! Took 1st premium at Michigan State Fair, in 1889. Refer- ence, as to purity of stock. Editor of Rn^iew. Sam- ple of bees, five cents. Untested queens, before June 15, $1.35; after June 16, $1.00. Tested (15 bands), $2.00; selected, tested (4 bands), S3.00; breeding queens (4 to 5 bands), $5 00. Virgin queens, -50 cts.; 5 for $3.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaran- teed. JACOB T. TIMPE, 8-l,5db Orand l.edge, Micli. t3'"In responding: to this advertisement mention Glkanings. BEES letfdb SEND for a free sample copy of the BEE JOURNAL — 16-page Weekly at $1 a year— the oldest, largest and cheapest Weekly bee-paper. Address BEE JOURNAL, Cbloago, III. UNTESTED ITALIAN QUEENS AT $1, and 4frame nuclei at $3 50, after May Ist. Send in orders now. 4-lOdb S. J. WAKEFIELD, Autreville, S. C. MUTH'S HOITEY - EXTEACTOB,, SQUARE GLASS HONEY-JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY - SECTIONS, &c., &c. PERFECTION COLD - BLAST SMOKERS. Apiily to CHAS. F. MVTH A- SON, Chicinnati, Ohio. P. S.— Send lO-cent stamp for "Practical Hints to Bee-keepers." ^^~ Mention Gleanings. Itfdb COMB FOUNDATION. I have just ptirchased two more foundation-ma- chines of A. I. Root, and am able now to make foun- dation of all kinds at the lowest price in the world. Send for sample or price, to 8d Jacob Wollersketm, Kaukauna, Wis. SEND to E. J. Shay. Thornton, Taylor Co., W. Va., for Simplicity Hives, Frames, etc., both in the flat and set up. 8d LOOK HERE, FRIENDS. If you are in any way in want of choice Italian or Albino bees, and wish to save money, do not fail to write yourname and address plainly on a postal, and get my prices for 1890. before purchasing. Address 8d W. J. HILLMAN, Green River, Vt. VIRGIN QUEENS. Pure Virgin queens at 50 cts. each, or 40 cts. each per 100. J. B. LaMontaguk, Winter Park, Fla. 8-9-10 Queens Ready to Mail now, and we guarantee safe arrival in any kind of weather. Italian queens, tested, f2 00; untested, $1 00; 3 untested, $:i.75. Send for dozen rates. Two- frame nuclei with untested queen, $3.50; $2t) 00 per dozen in April. Make money orders payable at Clifton. Send for price list to CoiiWiCK & COLwiCK, Norse, Bosque Co., Texas. ltiP"In responding to this adveitl.senieni mention Gi,kanini;s. ITUS For pure Italian bees and queens, and directions to Italianize common bees, address F. H.& E. H.Dewey, .55 Mechanic St., Westfleld, Mass. ITALIAN QUEENS AND BEES! The very best honey-gatherers. Untested queen, 80c; tested, $1.00; select, $1..50. Bees, $1 35 per lb. Satisfaction guaranteed. Send for pricp list. 8-10-13d C. M. Hicks, Fairview, Wash. Co., Md. THREE-FRAME NUCLEI, with queen, $3 25 each, or two for $4.00. Orders booked now for delivery after May 15. Safe arrival guaranteed. Frames, 12>4'x9Js. H. L. Fisher. 8 9-lOd Milford, Kosciusko Co., Ind. t^"ln responding to this artreitiseinent mention GLKANlNii--^ Cn COLONIES OF ITALIAN BEES for sale, wU in Langstroth hives, at $5.00 per colony. 8 9-lOd John Grant, Batavia, Clermont Co , Ohio. ITALIAN c. QUEENS - FOR «< 1890. Before you purchase, look to your interest and send for price list. LE ININGER B ROS.. 8tfdb Douglas, Putnam Co., Ohio. OLY - LAND QUEENS A SPECIALTY. Queens at all prices, to suit the times. GEO. D. RAUDENBUSH, 445 Chestnut St., Reading, Pa. H LET US HAVE FAIR PLAY, is all we ask. We know you will like our Carniolan bees, because we breed from Pure Imported Stock. Queens, $1.00 in June. Oive tliem a Fair Trial. Send for printed matte'' free. Safe arrival. Address E. L. PRATT, 8-lldb Pratt Bee-Farm, marlboro, Mass. t^Ii. respondinir v.> tlii> ^iilverii.^eiiifnt mention GLKANINGS. FORT WAYNE, IND. Ifvouarec\ r iit \ U I ^crapm., an i brenkinpot'combs; killing bee.s ^^ hen .--efiin. a li.iine to one .'-ule. or hnniring it in the hive; .sucgiiig at tlie hnttoin and setlinij' \v!ixeL.ANI> A: BKO., 8d Box 379, New Brij>Uton, Pa. It^"ln responding to this a. 00. In Simplicity or L. 10-frame hives; 3.50 colonies to 4-Odb draw from. Address Jno. a. Thoenton, Lima. Adams Co., Illinois. i'leasc mention this pa)ier. FOR SALE. A tine lot of spider, or Grnyson Lily Hulbs, which I will sell. Small bulbs 2.5c, larare ones 50o. Verv beautiful and frag-rant, pure white. 1 also have 40 or .50 stands of mostly Itniian riees for sale. Will sell Queens in April. Would cxchnnire bees for repi^tered Jersey heifer. S. G. WOOD, 4-9db RiRMiNonAM, Jeff. Co., Ala. P:ease mention this pajn'r. DADANT'S FOUNDATION Is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowajfiac, Mich.; O.G.Collier, Fairbury, Nebraska; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, Ohio; E. S. Armstrong, Jerseyville, 111.; E. Kretchmer, Red Oak, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wisconsin; .1. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Freeburg, Illinois; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1517 Blake St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111. ; E. Li. Goold & Co., Brantlord, Out.. Can.; R. H. Schmidt & Co., New London, Wis.; J. Stauffer & Sons, Nappa- nee. Ind.; Berlin Fruit-Box Co., Berlin Heiehts, O.; B. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, N. Y. ; L. Hanssen, Davenport, la. ; C. Theilman, Theilmanton. Minn.; G.K.Hubbard. Fort Wayne, Ind.: T. H. Strickler, Solomon City, Kan.; E. C. Eaglesfleld, Berlin, Wis., and numerous other dealers. LAN6STR0TH on the HONEY-BEE, Tlte, Booh for Jieijlti iters, the Most Complete Text- Booh on the SiJcet in the l^ufjlish Lanffuaye. Bee-veils of Imported IVIaterial, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. Send your address on a postal to qhas. Dadant & Son, HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO., ILLINOIS. tS"In responding to tills advertisement mention Gleanings. THREE-FRAME NUCLEI, with queen, $3 25 each, or two for $4.00. Orders booked now for delivery after May 15. Safe arrival guaranteed. Frames, ISiixO's- H. L. Fisher, 8 9-lOd Milford, Kosciusko Co., Ind. t^"In responding to this advertisement mei:tion blkanino.s. Cn COLONIES OF ITALIAN BEES for sale, J" in Langstroth hives, at $5.00 per colony. 8 9-lOd John Grant, Batavia, Clermont Co . Ohio. -FRAME NUCLEI, Tested Queen, Brood, and , plenty of Bees, Italians, for $3..50. Imported queens, $4. W. A. SANDEES, Oak Bower, Hart Co., Ga. TAKE NOTICE I BEFORE placing your Orders for SUPPLIES, write for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sec- tions, Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Frames, Foun- dation, Smokers, etc. Address K. H. SCHITIIDT & CO., 21-30db NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co., WIS. lyin responding to this advertisement mention (jLeanings, TESTED CARNIOLAN Ql EF.NS, $2.50 each: untested, .fl, or 6 for $5. Send for price list of Italian bees and queens, bred in my Nappanee apiary. 8tfdb I. R. Good, Vawter Park, Ind. VIRGIN QUEENS. Pure V'irffin queens at .50 cts. each, or 40 cts. each per 100. J. B. LaMontague, Winter Park, Fla. 8-9-10 NTESTED^I TALIAN QUEENS AT SI, and 4 frame nuclei at *3 .50, after May Ist. Send in orders now. ^ ^ 4-lOdb S. J. WAKEFIELD. Autreville. S. C. FOU SALE --BEES. Good colonies in shipping-ca^fs, with 9 Lang- stroth frames. luilians, S4..50. H.vbrids. $;3 50, de- livered at railroad station any time after May 1. 8tfdb MISS MABEL FENN, Tallma^lge, Ohio. (t^Inrespon.linir to this adverti mnt mention r; i.kanixgs. SECTIONS. $2.50 to $3.50 per :»I. Bee-Hivos and Fix- tures tlieap. NOVELTY CO., etfdb Rock Falls, Illinois. Please mention this puiu-r. 308 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our asual rates. All ad's Intended for this department must not exceed 6 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-fide 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 exchiinge a 6 x 9 self-inkinp press, with type, for a Barnes toot-power circular saw, and a 3-foot telescope, tor 4-inch foundation rolls, or offers. L. L. Bsenbower, Reading. Pa. WANTED.— To exchange bees and queens, for Barnes saw. Novice extractor, honey-knife, and Excelsior printing-press with .'iVixSJa-in. chase. 3-lld S. A. Shuck, Liverpool, Ills. WANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange «'00 colonies of bees, in S. hives, for any thing useful on plantation. Itfdb Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange foundation, for beeswax. Sample on application. 5tfdb Avery's Island Apiary, Avery, La. W ANTED.— To exchange empty Simp. L. combs at 10 cts. each, for wa.x or ciffers. 5tfdb Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange one Green's solar wax- extractor, new, for an incubator or Italian queens. G. C. Hughes. etfdb Pipestem, West Va. W ANTED, of wax. -To exchange 1 lb. of thin fdn. for 2 lbs. 7tfdb C. W. Dayton, Bradford, la. WANTED.- To exchange Ohio Valley wire and picket fence machines for bees and bee-sup- plies. Circulars free. .Tas. M. Mangold & Bro., Moundsville, Marshal) Co., W. Va. WANTED.— To exchange a general-utility hand- cart, good as new. Write for particulars. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn. 7tfdb WANTED.— To exchange 1.5 lo 20 colonies of bees, mostly bright Italians. In Heddon 8-frame L. hives, for salable bee-supplies, especially founda- tion or machinery for the same, or engine. Rob. RiECKEN, 261 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, Mich. WANTED.— To exchange one set buggy harness, worth $10 00, for Langstroth or Simplicity bee- hives. Jno. Grant, Batavia, Clermont Co., O. 8-9 lOd WANTED.— To exchange fruit-trees, strawberry, red-raspberry plants and sewing-machines, for bees and honey. E. Peterman, Waldo, Wis. 8-8d W ANTED.— To exchange comb foundation for beeswax. Samples on application. 8-lldb J. P. CoNNELL, Hillsboro, Texas. WANTED.— Hybrid Italian queens; will pay 20 cts. 9tfdb Geo. H. Grace, Perry, Iowa. WANTED.— 100 black and hybrid queens. 20 cts., for which I will exchange extracted honey at 7 cts. No cross desired, except Italian and black. If you have any to spare, oorrespond with 8 9d A. J. NoRRis, Cedar Falls, la. WANTED.— To exchange for sections, fdn , hon- ey, or offers, an American fruit-evaporator. No. 2: capacity. 10 to 12 bu. apples per day. For de- scription of evaporator, write to American Mfg. Co., Waynesboro, Pa. O. H. Hyatt. 9tfdb Shenandoah, la. WANTED.- To exchange Italian queens for hon- ey-extractor, either new or second hand. 9d H. G. Camp, Winona, Col. Co., O. WANTED.— To exchange milk-ehake, good as new; cost twenty dollars, for any thing useful in an apiary. J. F. Michael, 9d German, Darke Co., O. WANTED.— To exchange a 4-in. foundation-mill, good as new, for a 6 in. mill. 9d WiLBER G. Fish, Ithaca, N. Y. TIT ANTED.— A smart boy, 14 to 18 years of age, to Vt work in apiary; some previous experience necessary. W. D. Wright, Altamont,N. Y. 9d Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. Black queens, 3 for one dollar; also a few hybrids. 5tfdb H. Ki tz Hart, Avery P. O., Iberia Par., La. Wanted.— Hybrid Italian queens; will pay 20cts. 9tfdb Geo. H. Grace, Perry, Iowa. About .50 queens to mail in May and June; blacks, 25c; mismated Italian and Carniolans, 50c. E. F. Quigley, Unionville, Mo. Ten or twelve mismated queens; three for fl.OO. Send quick before I pinch otf their heads. A. L. KiLDOW & Bro., Sheffield, 111. Two black and 6 fine prolific hybrid queens for sale. Any one sending 2.5c each, and ready-provi- sioned cage, can have them in May. T. K. Massie, Concord Church, Mercer Co., V. Wa. Sixteen black queens at 2oc each; ready now. W. P. W. Duke, Nettleborough, Clarke Co., Ala. Forty black and hybrid queens at 40c each. W. Styan & Son, San Mateo, Cal. About 20 hybrid queens from pure mothers, at 40 cts. each. Purchasers need not send money until they receive the queens, as my stock might be ex- hausted. B F. Cathey, Cabot, Lonoke Co., Ark. Can furnish good hybrid queens from first-class stock the entire season, for .50c each. Also have 4 black queens, will ship for $1.00, or 3.5c each. J. C. King, Fort Deposit, Lowndes Co., Ala. 30 COLONIES BEES FOR SALE In new 8-frame L. hives, at $3.00 per colony. H. C. GILSON, - BURR OAK, - MICHIGAN. In writing advertisers please mention this paper. ^8THE BRIGHTESXe^ Five-banded, golden Italian Bees and Queens, and the Keddcfct Drones. Very gentle; very prolific; good honey-gatherers— working on red clover— and the ITIobt Beaiitil ul bees in existence! Took 1st premium at Michigan State Fair, in 1889. Refer- ence, as to purity of stock. Editor of Review. Sam- ple of bees, five cents. Untested queens, before June 15, $1.25; after June 15, $1.00. Tested (3 bands), $2.00; selected, tested (4 bands), S3. 00; breeding queens (4 to 5 bands), $5 00. Virgin queens, .50 cts.; 5 for $2.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaran- teed. JACOB T. TIMPE, 8 1.5db Grand L.edgc, IVIlcIi. C^Iii responding to tlii.s advertisement mention Glkanings. LET US HAVE FAIR PLAY, is all we ask. We know you will like our Carniolan bees, because we breed from i Pure Imported Stock. Queens. $1.00 in June. Give tlieni a Fair Trial. Send for printed matter free. Safe arrival. Address E. Li. PKATT, 8-Ildb Pratt Bee-Farm, Marlboro, Mass. tyir. resiwiidinpr to tliis advertisement mention GleaningSw 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 300 JI6NEY (J0MMN. CITT MARKETS. Albany.— Honej/- — We have a very few cases of clover in stock. Buckwheat, all sold. Extracted now selling- rather slow. Prices unchanpred from last quotations C. McCdlloch & Co.. Apr. 21. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. New York.— HoHcy.— No change in the honey market. Price low, with little demand. Market pretty well cleaned up. Thurber, Whyland & Co., Apr. 19. New York. Detroit.— Hojiey.— Comb honey is selling at 10@13; e.xtracted, 7@8. Brcsirax, firm at 27. M. H. Hunt, April 19. Bell Branch, Mich. St. Louis.— lIo)ifty.— We quote a quiet market. Choice white-clover, comb, 13(t' U; dark comb, 9@10; extracted, cans, 6(5' 8; choice bright, In barrels, 5(s>'yk; dark, 4y@.5. Prime becsicaa;, 27. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., Apr. 21. St. Louis, Mo. New York.— Honejy.— Honey in the comb, all sold. Extracted is in fair demand. We quote: 6@,8, ac- cording to quality. Southern, 75@8U, and Cuban, 78@80 per gallon. Beeswax is very scarce; domestic, 26rn;27; Cuban, light, 28(r» 29. Dark, 2r)@26. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co., Apr. 18. New York. Boston.— Honey.— Market well cleaned up on all fancy one-pound comb honey. Market strong at 10 cts. A little two-pound honey on hand, selling at 1.5 cts. Extracted, 8 to 9. No heeswax on hand. Nothing off grade in any way can be sold here. Blake & Ripley, Apr. 19. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass Kansas City.— Ho«ey.— Market cleaned up on comb honey; demand good. We quote white, 1-lb. comb, 14; dark, lib. comb, 10@12; white, 2-lb. comb, 13; dark, 2-lb., 10@11; exti'acted very slow sale; .5@7. Beeswax, none in market. Apr. 25. Clemons, Cloon & Co., Cor. Fourth and Walnut Sts., Kansas City, Mo. San Francisco.— ifoney.— Honey quiet, in antici- pation of the new crop. Quote, 554 @ 6i4. Comb honey, lOf^'U. Beeswax, 22@24. BCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER. Apr. 21. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco, Cal. For Sale- Honey. Good grade. Correspondence solicited. W. A. & E. E. Montgomery, Pickens, Holmes Co., Miss. PRICE LISTS RECEIVED. Wf have received circulars from the following i)rtrtief J. H. M. McCook, 78 Barclay St.. New York. John Nebel & .Son, High Hill, Mo. Printed here. E. D. Keeney. .\rcade, N. Y. J. L Parent, Birchton, N. Y. .). K. Barnhard, Ottawa, Kan. ALL KixDS o/' jiii: hj - K K t: 1' i: u s' SWfLIJiS MANll'A.CTVJ{£:i} AT MLJDVCEI} J'lilC'ES. The Poplar Four - Piece Sections a Specialty. PRICE LIST FREE ON APPLICATION. ADDKESS TO DKAKK: A; Si?IITH, 9 lOd Iti-istul, Veriiioiit. (Successors to A. E. Manum.) twin responding to this adveitisemunt mention Gleanings EES EES EES -%«. Carniolan queens and hees a specialty. Seven years' experience wiih those liees satisfies me of their superiority. They are unexcelled in g-entle- ness. hardiness, and proliacness, as comb-builders and honey-gatherers.i.. Write for circular and price list. Address cz^ A. L. LIXULliY, Mention Gleanings. ~Z} >Torjnm. thg beautiful fragrant <'in- iiaiiiuii Vine, which grows up rapidly, and early covers an arbor or trellis; a pkt. ot PinveU's,, the most productive and excellent pole bean ever introduced; of Honey Sweet Corn; and 10 eyes of either Foraker or Fearnaujiht (choice new) pota- toes, all lor only 15«-. Tbis liberal otCei- because of a surplus, and as an inducement for a trial or- der, entitling' you to free catalog'. Order at once, and 1 will send an extra pkt. Show this offer. Ten collections for $1.'?5 CHRISTIAN WECKESSER, Marshallville, Ohio. 9J Please mention this paper. HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH. FACTORY OF BEE-HIVES, ETC. From now on T will sell my 4-frame nuclei, with Italian queen, at f3. 75. In lots of 5, at $3.50 each. Untested queens, at $!t.tO per dozen in June; $8.00 per dozen in July. Satisfaction and safe arrival guaranteei. Twelfth annual catalogue. 9tfdb P. li. V1AL.LON, Bayou Goula, Ija. Please mention this paper. Carniolan Queens. Send for Descviptive Circnhtr to DK. S. \V. MORRISON, Oxford, Pa. 9ttdb Please mention this paper. Uncapping Knife 11') Look Here! Supplies Cheap Italian and Albino gueens and Bees; Chaff and Simplicity and Nonpareil Hives. Extractors, Smokers, Foundation, Surplus Section Boxes, Root's Perforated Zinc. Price List Free. Write for One. A. A. BYAED, WEST CHESTEEFIELD, CHESHIEE CO., H. H. t^"ln responding to this advei-tisenient mention Gleanings. CPOO I rUEE BEED P. EOCE. LT. BEAHMA, W. & L. WT- LUuO I ANDOTTE, and BLE. MINOEOAS, $1 FOE 13; $1.75 FOE 26. 7-8-9d J. D. BEANDS, P. M,, Warrington, N. J. Senc promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledgeville, 111., March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day. and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as 1 do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. SnelIj. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 13,1890. Sirs:— The smoker I have has done srood service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BiHasAM Si HETHEEmQTON, Atronia, Mich. lyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. FOR SAIif:. -ITALIAN BEES & QUEENS at a very low price. Address 6tfdb OTTO KZ,EINOW, No, liiO Militdry Ave., Detroit, Mich. (S^ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. GOOD QUALITIES »< CHOICE ITALIAN QUEENS.X Tested, fl..50. Untested, $103. Tested queens reared in the fall of '89, *1.50. These can be mailed at once. MISSES S. & M. BARNES, 7-13db Piketon, Ohio. CF"In responding to this advertisement mention Ulkanings. H.G. FRAME, NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA, Breeder of Italian and Carniolan Queens. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Price list free. 5tfdb Reference First National Bank. l^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. BEAUTIFUL BEES fnl to^tl^eV/^'^^" are always profitable. If you want Bees and Queens that combine beau- ty and good qualities to a mnrkcd dcyrcc, write for circular givine low prices. No circulars sent out unl«ss applied for. CHAS. D. UUVALl., 5tfdb Spencerville, ITIout. Co., Md. t^In responding to tills advertisement mention Gleanings. I WISH TO SELL my entire stock of Supplies, Bees, and Hive.s. to one purchaser, or I will sell singly. Apiary, Mai- den, Mass. Send stamp for particulars. 8 9d S. A. Fisher, 15 Congress St , Boston, Mass. t:'^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleantngs. 3E3GrGriS. Pure Spangled Wyaiidottes, 13 for 75 cts. I will tell HOW TO PLATE KNIVES, for f 1.00, Or cggs and plating for i^lM. Mrs. Sam'i. Jack, 8d Richmond Center, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. tyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. IOC COLONIES ITALIAN BEES AT BOTTOM ■ uu PRICES. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn. 7tfdb 1890 ITALIAN^UEENS^^^^R^g^ lUUU j,Qj^ BUSINESS. Each, n.QO. Six, $i.b(). Order now, pav when queens arrive. 7d W. H. LAWS, Lavaca, Sebastian Co , Ark. t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. BEE-HIVES, SEGTIONS,ETG. WE make the best Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Sections, etc., in the world, and sell them the cheapest. We are offering our choicest white one- piece 41^x414 sections, in lots of 500, at f 3.50 per 1000. ^~ Parties wanting more should write for spe- cial prices. No. 3 sections, $3.00 per 1000. Cata- logues free, but sent only when ordered. Itfdb C. B. LEWIS & CO., Watertown, Wis. tS"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK EGGS, $1.00 per 13. L. C. Axtell, Roseville, III. Stfdb 1890 ITALIAN QUEENS. 1890 Six young queens, warranted purely mated, for $5.00. English rabbits, $1.00 per pair. Mammoth bronze turkey eggs, 35c each; 9 for $3 00. Send for circular. 7tfd J. T. WILSON. Mention this paper. Little Hickman, Ky. STJPPIiIES! Send for circular-free. WALTER S. POUDER, 175 E. Walnut St., Indianapolis, Ind. 5tfdb (Successor to F. L. Dougherty.) t^"In responding to this advertisement mention lii.KWi^ ■ mm A Itirn EMPLOYMENT. — AGENTS U II iVI L' wanted everywhere, for the HOME nil HI ■ 1 JOURNAL— a grand family paper IJI w ITJL U at $1 a year. Big cash premiums. Sample Free. THOS. G. NEWMAN & SON, 346 East Madison Street, - - CHICAGO, ILLS. t^"In responding to this advertise mention Glkanings. FOR PURE ITALIAN BEES, POLAND- China Swine, White and Black Ferrets, White Rabbits, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, and Mallard Ducks. Address N. A.KNAPP,. 4tfdb Rochester, liorain Co., Ohio- ILSrin responding tu tliis udveriifenient nientiuii Ijlka.mnhs. j COMB FOUNDATION. I have just purchased two more toundation-m£- chines of A. I. Root, and am able now to make foui.- dation of all kinds at the lowest price in the world. ' Send for sample or price, to 8d Jacob Wollerskeim, Kaukauna, \\ is. tyin responding to this advertisement mention GLKANiNGii. SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1, ISOd, we wiU sell our No. 1 V- groove sections, in lots of 500. as follows: Less than 3000, $3.50 per 1000; 3000 to 5000, $3.00 per 1000. Write for special prices on lai-ger quantities. No. 3 sec- tions at $3.IX) per 1000. Send for price list on hives, foundation, cases, ere. „^_,«, J. STAUFFER A: SONS, 16 tfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind. l^ln responding to this advertisement mention (Jleaningj. 312 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. IF \OV AKE IN WANT OF BEES or BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES, Send lor our New Catalogue. 9tfdb OLIVER HOOVER & CO., Mention this paper. Snydertown, Pa. I ft^T I The old prices on Bee-Hives, and new I 11^ I ' ones found. Send for circular— free. ■■*'*' ■ ■ Li. J. TRIPP, Kalamazoo, Micli. 9tfdb PIt'ase mention this p;\]>(-r. Italian Bees and Queens. Tested queens, $1.50; untested, $1.00. Bees, per lb., $1.00. Frame of brood, 50c; 3-frame nucleus, containing- 2'/i lbs. bees, 2 L. frames of brood, and tested queen, $4.50. Queens reared from imported mothers. Send for price list. Mrs. a. M. Kneeland {nee Taylor), 9-lOd Box 77, Mulberry Grove, Bond Co., 111. Please mention this pajjer. PUKE lIOlTf E - GKO^VN GERMAN MILLET SEED. Sacks included at $1.10 per bushel. All kinds of Bee Supplies on hand. T. A. Gl/NN, Mention this paper. Tullnliouta, Tenn. SEND to E. J. Shay. Thornton, Taylor Co., W. Va., for Simplicity Hives, Frames, etc., both in the flat and set up. 8d cn COLONIES OF ITALIAN and HYBRID BEES "^ for sale at $3 53 per colony, in shipping--boxes, L. frames. Also egg-s from W. Wyandottes, W. Mi- norcas, and Pekin Ducks. Eg-gs, .jl.OO per 13. 9-10-lld M. H. Fairbanks, Homer, N. Y. Please mention this papor. FOR SALE-- ENGINE and BOILER. A five -horse-power upright eng-ine and boiler, with both injector and pump, whistle, blower, glass oilers, and every part complete, in perfect working- order, and nearly new; cost $385.00, will sell for $150.00. A. C. Fassett, Watson, Mich. Please mention this pajier. PLYMOUTH ROCKS, White and S. Laced Wyan- 1 dotte eggs, $1 00 per setting, in exchange for foundation, sections, Jan. buckwheat, or offers. T. G. ASH MEAD. Williamson. N. Y. In writing advertisers please mention this paper. LOOK ^ '^^1'^" Queens, 20c to $1. kVVI% ■ Tested, $1; untested, 50c; virgins, 20c Safely delivered by F. C. Morrow, Wallaceburg.Ark. Please mention this pajjer. Japanese Buctwheat. froL"-AgiJot°Apr'ii''"'' That Hundred-Dollar Queen. $1 will purchase a daughter of this wonderful queen. Descriptive circular free. Address 9tfdb AM. APICULTURIST, Wenham, Mass. Please mention this paper. TESTED ITAIilAN QUEENS, $2. Untested, from imported mother, $1. Bees, per lb., .$1.00. Hybrids, 70c. Nuclei, 35c per frame. Address 9d J. J. HARDY, Lavonia, Ga. ITALIAN QUEENS FOR I890. Tested. $1.00; untested, 7.5c. White Mallard Duck eggs, 75c per doz. Brown S. C. Leghorn eggs, 75c per 13. C. C. KIUKMAN. 9d Redallia, Pitt Co., N. C. Please mention this paper. Please give me your or- | Two - frame nucleus, ders, and try my fine yel- jwith queen, in June, $3. low Italian queens; arevpTested queen, $1.50; un- from imported stock, /Ivtested, $1.00. 8tfdb well known to my cus- . Mrs. Oliver Cole, tomers. Send for circular I Sherburne, Che. Co., N.Y. CS"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. t^Xn responding to thi; May improved Chaff Hive AND T SUPER. The pamphlet: "How T Pro- duce Comb Honey." Price 5 cts. Send for free illustrated price list of everything need- ed in the apiarv. CEO. E. HILTON. 5iodb Frennont, Mich. advertisement mention Oi.ka.n'Ings, SAVE rE,EiaHT. BVY i'OUR SVPrLIES NEAR IIOME AND SA VE FREIOUT. We carry a complete stock of Apiarian Supplies. Our motto: Good goods and low prices. Illustrated catalogue for your name on a postal card. 33-lOdb R. B. LEAHY & CO., Higginsville, Mo. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gi.kanings. SECTIONS, $3 PER 1000. Foundation, Alsike -^clover seed, and Japan- ese buckwheat, cheap as the cheapest. Special prices to dealers. Send for our FREE PRICE LIST. ITI. H. HUNT, Bell Braueh, Mich. Please mention Gleanings. Itfdb Eaton's Itnproved Bees and Queens. Send for free catalogue. Address FKANK A. EATON, rM3db BIiiflTton, Ohio. iding to this advertisement mention Glkamncs. THE CANADIANi> Bee Journal Poultry Journal Eiliffd hij I). A. Jones. Edited hij W.C.O.J'eter. 75c. Per Year. 75c. Per Year. These are pub'ished separately, alternate weeks, and are edited by live practical men, and contribut- ed to by the best writers. Both Journals are inter- esting, and are alike valuable to the expert and amateur. Sample copies free. Both Journals one year to one address $1. Until June 1st we will send either Journal on trial trip for 6 months for 35 cts. The D. A. Jones Co., Ld., Beef on, Ont. ftS"Please mention Gi.kaninos. 6-lldb FORT WAYNE, IND. If yon are ever anno\ e<1 bv the "scripinp; and breaking of combs; killing bees when setting a frame to one yebstei-. Painesville, O A M.Coe,C..H Ridge. O W.PeuT,. (fariettsville.O B Wells. Kostuiia.O. .. Mrs. O. D. NeHvomb C. McClave. New London, O. . . . G. V. L. Mellinger. Canton, O.. C. H. Coon. New Lyme, O H. Besse, Delau-:uv O A.R. Munn M.u- Wai b:;.': i.' C. Fowls, ub.ihn.O F A. Eat..n, lilutlton, O N. Case, Onangeville, O S- J- I^rrell, N. RidgeviUe, C. fe' h- ?.l"'f<^''' N'?w Philad'a... N. T. Phelps. Kingsville, O i^. Difany. Norton. O JJ. F. Sapp, Ravenna, O h. N. Pond, Independence, O. . . L. Grant, Jr.. Chardon, O A. Rickenbacher. Gahana, O... J. Funk, Beach City, O C. A. Newtun. Ravenna, O W. L. l),,Kin, Burton, O I;. Camiilxll, stcubenville J. Bogii*'. E. Ojweli. O. F. A. Kinnear. Lindenville.'O !' & F- Twitrhell. Andover, O.... Mrs W. Wade. Warrensv'e. Pa. h. M. Jones. Padanaiam, O Mary McAfee. Solon, O W. Irwin, Columbus Grove, O, ;T- ,^?,°?,^^''' Cinal Fulton, O... C. W. Smith. N. Benton. O H. A. Boanlmaii. Weston, C... H.Hast,nt;s. K..„f„„,0 C. L. fTn-.iilie!(l.S,,merville, O. K.B.Wundn-au\. Somerset. C J. M. Pieiscjn, Tippecanoe City J. W. Bayard, Athens, O C. Berkey, Savannah. O J. W. Chalker, Mantua Sta., O. G. P. Kime, Evanshurg, Pa C. O. Hale, Ira. N. Y Mrs. N. Marks, Newburgh. O. . . N. A. Knapp, Rochester, O J. C. Bowman. N. Lima, O L. G. Reed, Kent, O O. A. Cory, Fiaiikfort, O D. K. Guaff, Milan, O Mrs. M. George. Bowling Green Mrs. M. H. McPherson Allen Bartow, Milan, O W. Ballantine. Mansfield, O J. H. Beei y. Ravenna, O H. J. Gifford. Greenwich, O ^tO a r ^" 200 1000 100 !iOO 1 1500 200 100 1000 S!0O 500 400 1'5 15U0 300 10 LangstroUi. L. Double Wall. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Own Make. Langstroth. Langstroth. 1!^ Story. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langsti-oth. L.. New Heddon. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. American. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Nonpareil. Various kinds. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Frame 9^x14. Langstrotli. King. Langstroth. L. and Kinnear. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. American. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. iTriuniph. Langstroth. jLangstroth. 10 Langstroth. 30 : Langstroth. 20 American. Langstroth. Langstroth. jLangstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Langstroth. Royall Dbl. Wall L. Am. Frame. Poppleton. Langstroth. Langstroth. L., Imp. Mitchell. Langstroth. Old Shlfles 25 Own Make. 'Langstroth. How Prepared for Winter in the Fall of 1888. In cellar, with quilt on; no bottom-board or.cover Leaves on top; newspapers at side. 50 in cellar; 73 in chaff hives. Cliafl' hive. Outside. Packed in chaff. Chaff hive. Half in Simplicity, half in one-story chaff. Chaff hive. Chart' and Simplicity; out doors and in. Chaff hive. Chaff hive. Chaff' hive. Chart' hive. Chaff hive. Falcon chaff' hive. Half in Root's chart', half in cellar in Simiilicity. Part in cellar, part on summer stand. Root's chaff hive. Root's chart' hive. Packed on summer stands. Nearly all in cellar; loss due to starvation in May. Double-walled hive. Falcon chart' on summer stand. Chaff and Simplicity. Simplicity hive, in cellar. Ten packed witli outside shells on sum. st'ds; 8cell Top off, in cellar. Chaff packed. Chart' hive. Chaff hive, outdoors. Simplicity. Half in cellar, half out; lost 7 from bee-diarrhea. Packed in chaff, on summer stands. In bee liouse. Simplicity and chaff, on summer stands. Simplicity, on summer stands. Chaff hive. Outdoors. In cellar. Packed outside. Falcon chaff hive. Outside. Paclved in chaff. Packed in chaff, and chaff' hive. Packed in chart'. Outdoors. Outdoors. Outdoors. Packed with leaves, cutdooi-s. Root's chaff hive. Chaff hive. In cellar. Packed in clover chaff. Chaff packed. Chaff hive. Part in Simplicity, part in chaff. On summer stand. On summer stand. Simplicity, packed in chaff, on summer stands. Simplicity, on summer stands. Outdoors. Root's chaff hive. Chaff hive. Simplicity hive. Outdoors. Simplicity, with chart' cushions. Chaff hive. Simplicity hive. Simplicity hive, in cellar. Packed in chaff. Packed in chaff. Chaff hive. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE (^tltuRE. 321 CRATING AND MARKETING HONEY. VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS FROM ONE OF LARGE EXPERIENCE. In regard to shipping-cases for comb honey, I be- lieve the size, 24 to 33 lbs., to be the very best, all things considered. In fact, some honey was crated in stiff crates of six cases of Vi lbs. each, making a total weight of 80 lbs. or so, and I never had any honpy ship better. The crate was open all around, and the cases glassed, so the railroad men could see what they were handling. One great danger to small cases is, that they will be piled up; and when other freight supporting them is removed, down they go. Your humble servant had about 600 lbs. of beautiful honey entirely ruined this last year in just that way. The honey was in l~-lb. cases, and not one-sixth of it came unbrolien, lam convinc- ed that a rather showy and very plain label, six by six, of such size as to be conspicuous, will be a valu- able aid to safety in shipping. I think the great thing to aim at is to have as large bottom area as possible, compared with the weight of the case, and there should never be two tiers of sections. When any in the upper tier are broken, they daub the ones below. Of course, any one who is thoughtful will put heavy paper between. Another great aid to neatness would be to put heavy paper in the bottom of the cases in such a way as to come up a little around the sides to pre- vent the honey running out of the cracks of the case and smearing every thing. I have sometimes seen paper tacked on the outside, but this is un- sightly. I can sympathize with friend Nance thoroughly when he speaks of people asking him whether his was bee honey. Why, this very day an old and very intelligent-looking gentleman asked me if this hon- ey I was selling was genuine. It was broken honey on butter-plates. "Why," said I, "lam surprised at your asking me such a question." " Oh : " said he, " that is just as easy as making hens' eggs, and they are doing that every day." When I meet these people I have now one way with them. I get them into bee-talk; and if they know a little about bees, so much the better; and then by the time I am done with them they are con- vinced that I am selling pure honey, whatever any one else may do. And that is, after all, the main point. Of course, my private estimate of the aver- age intelligence of such as the foregoing is not very high ; but it would not do to let them know t hat. 1 have found, time and again, that traveling men de- light in repeating or originating lies about our bus- iness, about which, in point of fact, they knew ab- solutely nothing. One in particular in Logansport, last summer, told me that the firm he traveled for (Franklin McVeagle & Co., Chicago), made and sold lots of manufactured honey, and especially comb complete. I wrote them, giving his name, and they in their reply branded him as a liar, and said they sold pure honey, in comb and out of comb. In regard to shipping comb honey, after having thipped thousands of pounds in all sizes of cases, and at all times of year, I would never advise any one to ship comb honey in less than car lots when it must be transferred. That settles the matter for me. The risk is too great. It is like running your own risk against Are and not insuring in some good company. Any one accustomed to handling honey could almost give the disposition and character of any person on inspection of honey he had shipped to market. How often do we find cases faced with beautiful white sections; and inner rows composed wholly or partly of culls— dark, half-filled combs! In fact, honey in pasteboard cartons is not very popu- lar among our merchants, owing in part, no doubt, to the temptation to put in a few poor boxes where no one can see them. That's all right for once, if you have no conscience; but be sure you don't put any name or address on your shipping-boxes so they can remember who you are. Honesty is the best possible policy, whether in packing honey or elsewhere. I have in my mind's eye just now as fine a lot of white clover honey as one would wish to see, which is in oneof our commission houses here await- ing a buyer. Why does it not sell? I'll tell you. It is in 5t)-lb. cases of U-lh. sections, and nearly half of the sections are loosened out of the frames. This is caused largely by the extreme size of the cases and the avarice of the shipper, who put in many sections that were imperfectly fastened at the bottom and sides. Far better give the poor sections away at home than to send them along to market to spoil the condition and sale of a lot of good ones. Another great mistake that our bee - keepers make is to use the unfinished sections of last year in the hive this year, having in them the candied honey that was kept over. We have done so to our sorrow, and have handled lots of honey that be- came candied before being sold, for this reason. Always put the unfilled sections that contain a lit- tle honey in the extractor, and throw out the honey that is in them. Ten or twelve sections at a time can be easily put into the extractor, to expedite matters. H. F. Mooke. Cleveland, O., Apr. 4. {To hi: continued ) Friend M., your suggestion in regard to a thick paper, with the edges turned up in the bottom of the case, so as to hold the honey instead of letting it run out and daub every thing and everybody, it seems to me is a very wise suggestion. I never want to see any more such stickiness as I have seen twice during the past year, with broken comb honey. THE VAN DEUSEN CORNER. inventing new hives. Friend Root:— I do not think the Van Deusen met- al corners would interfere with the honey-knife in uncapping, to any great extent. The new corners do not project quite ill of an inch from the side of' the frame, and are beyond the sweep of the knife unless it happens to slip. But this is only " think so" on my part, for I produce no extracted honey, and have never uncapped a comb in a frame hav- ing these corners. They could not possibly inter- fere so much as would your tacks, for they project less than half as far, and are situated more remote- ly on the corners than tacks can be placed. Of course, you abandoned the plan of spacing frames with tacks a good many years a^o. So did the rest of us who handled frames very much. It is one of the early symptoms of the bee-fever. The first bad symptom is to invent a new hive, this usually appearing with the victim's first colony of bees. When this colony casts a swarm or two, and the owner finds that, in placing the newly hived 322 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May Bwarm on its stand, the frames slipped over to one side and the bees fastened them all together with a mass of new combs.^he spaces all the rest of his frames, for a year or two, with tacks. Then he finds that, when he lifts a comb, the tacks scrape the combs and catch on the top-bar; and when he tries to return the comb they scrape and catch again, andjthe^rame refuses to go to its place with- out lots of .{coaxing. He then concludes thoy are more in the way than a wheelbarrow on a dark night, so he pulls them out and throws them away. The tack stage rarely lasts beyond the second or third year ofj experience. THICK TOP-BARS AND HONEY-BOARDS. I have been an interested spectator of the Glean- ings symposium on the thick top-bar and the hon- ey-board. Tt may be that thick top-bars closely spaced will prevent brace-combs above the frames; but even if that be true, I think it safe to predict that the honey-board will be retained by a large majority^of bee-keepers. Those who produce ex- tracted honey, and believe in confining the queen to the lower story, will keep it; and the comb-hon- ey men who believe in contraction (and their name is legion) can not get along without it. The shal- low frame in some form is the coming frame, and that necessitates the use of the excluder. The bee- keeper with a shallow fixed frame cares but little for the burr-combs under the excluder, for he can make nearly all the necessary observations by standing the brood-chamber on end, and investigat- ing without removing the honey-board. In comb- honey production contraction is the key to success, and the excluder alone makes contraction possible. Audubon, la , Mar. 13. Z. T. Hawk. If excluding queens from the supers is all the use we would have for a honey-board, why not dispense with the slats, and use in- stead a plain sheet of zinc large enough to cover the hive V This would be very much cheaper. We sell thousands of sheets like this to large honey-producers, who desire to keep the queen below, but who never used a slatted honey-board. CALIFORNIA. THE LAST THREE YEARS OF FAILURE OF THE HONEY CROP. The remarkable failure of the honey crop in California for the last three years has get the best minds in the business to thinking whether it is worth while to keep their means invested in a call- ing so uncertain and precarious. In seven years we have had only two seasons in which bees paid. It is true, that in both those years, 1884 and 1886, they paid as nothing else could pay, as no other legitimate business is likely to pay. They increas- ed 400 per cent, and produced honey which brought 400 per cent on the capital invested. In other words, the owner's capital was multiplied four times, and his apiary four times as large. In 1888 and '89 there was plenty of rain— an abundance of It. But it was all heaped up like a hill— all in a pile. To make a good honey season here we must not only have plenty of rain through our winter season, but it must rain several times after the black sage comes into bloom— that is, throughout March and most of April. We are just now at the turning-point (latter part of March) where the rain may cease and make a poor season, or continue for a month and make a first-rate crop of honey. Who can tell? FRAMES AT FIXED DISTANCES. In March 1st Gleanings you ask, "Which is the greater evil— burr-combs or fixed distances ?" I would answer, fixed distances— yes, a thousand times greater. Why, it destroys at one fell blow the most vital principle of the Langstroth movable frame! Why not go back to the Harbison hive? It had this principle of frames set on nails, forty years ago, together with other machinery to make frames as difficult to get out as possible. Staples or nails, it is the same thing. Drive a headless nail through the frame, and then let the bees fill it all over and under with bee-glue, and you would have to have a crowbar, a pick-ax, and ia wild " Ingin " to handle that hive. No, no! Let the brace-combs come. If their absence is to be bought at such a price, let the burr-combs roll in— but spare, oh spare the movable frame ! Don't think that I love these burr-combs — no, no! I do not yearn for them, I do not pet them in the daytime, nor howl after them in my sleep at night. I could part with them without a sigh, a tear, or a groan ; but, part with them at such a cost as this? Never, never. The bees are just preparing to swarm. All na- ture has put on its most bewitching harness. The black sage is coming out in its holiday attire— has thrown its banner to the breeze as the unrivaled honey-plant of California, and rivaled only in the world by the white clover. Many bee-keepers are sure of a big season. They are already figuring out the way they will invest their money. Don't you think we had better wait until we see if we get three or four more good rains? J. P. Isr.^el. Olivenhain, San Diego Co., Cal., Mar. 30. The old Harbison fixed frame is some- thing that none of the Eastern bee-keepers would tolerate. Of all fixed frames this is the worst to handle, I should say, from what I have seen of cuts and description ; and if the riddance of burr-combs meant the use of such a frame, I would heartily agree with you. But all fixed frames are not equally difficult of manipulation. If I am any judge, the Van Deusen fixed stand- ing frames are about as easily handled as any suspended frame. Propolis can not gum them together, and, of course, a screw- driver and cold-chisel are not needed to pick them apart ; and they are always ready for moving to out-apiaries or ehipping. The Heddon closed-end frame, with the thumb- screw, is not so difficult to manipulate as many might imagine. I scarcely ever find beginners who space their frames properly, and then they want to know why the bees build their combs so crookedly. Fixed guides would remedy this. After all, fixed or standing frames may not receive a very hearty recognition at the hands of practical bee-keepers ; but a wonderful amount of in- terest from those who use suspended frames is being manifested. In regard to burr- combs and fixed distances, you are laboring under a slight misapprehension. Fixed dis- tances are not a necessity for the riddance of burr-combs, but only assist toward that end. J. B. Hall, who has no burr-combs, uses, if I am correct, suspended Quinby frames without fixed distance-spacers. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 323 FROM THE LAND OP THE PHARAOHS. UEES AND UEE-KEEPINO IN E(!YPT. When Israel and his children had done eating the corn they had brought from Egypt, they decided to go down again, and they took with them a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. Spices, balm, and myrrh, seem to have been an article of commerce between the Holy Land and Egypt, as we see the Ishmaelites carrying it down with them to Egypt, on their camels. The balm of Gilead has disappeared long since; honey is still to be had, although it never was so plentiful in this country as to need to be exported by the natives. The treacle, or "dibs," manufactured by the Moham- medans out of theirgrapes, mostly about Hebron, in the very place where Joshua and Caleb cut down a cluster of grapes, still forms an article of commerce, although later on we read in the projihet Ezekiel that Tyre imported honey also from Israel. The best Palestine wine is made out of the grapes of Hebron ; but the Mohammedans, whom their law forbids the handling and drinking of wine, make treacle out of their grapes. This is carried in he-goat skins into Egypt, just in the same manner they used to do it in this unchangeable place 4(100 years ago. The bottle which Hagar took, filled with water; the bottle of milk out of which Jael gave Sisera drink; the bottle of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, in which she took wine; the bottle of wine which Saul met, carried by a man near Bethel; also the bottle men- tioned by the prophet Jeremiah (13: 13), were made, very likely, in the same way, if not in the very same place, as the best are now manufactured out of good he-goat skins at Hebron, and used for the transportation of oil, butter, honey, and treacle, and on a great scale for carrying water from the well or fountain to the houses, the mouth being tied with a string, as all the bottle is soft. Spices also, and myrrh, are brought from Mesopotamia. Nuts and almonds are not so abundant now, but in their stead dry fruits are greatly exported, such as raisins and figs, which plants have ever been abun- dant here, as Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even unto Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. The way to go down to Egypt on camels is still practiced by the Bedouins, the very descendants of those Ishmaelites; but the way by sea is a good deal shorter and safer, as their " hand is against every man." The land of Egypt still receives a great deal of honey, mostly imported, as I thought, from the Grecian Archipelago and Asia Minor. I thought very little of the apiculture of the country when I entered the city of Alexandria in December last. This is a very commercial town, and the omni- buses, carriages, and all ways of locomotion, driv- ing up and down the streets, and the railway whistle, once more struck my ear. I felt nearer to civiliza- tion again. In the markets, every thing is properly arranged. You know in our town of Jaffa the streets are hardly ever swept, and there is no want of display of goods. The natives know noth- ing, and do not care that the goods be properly put before the public. I went out for a stroll into the country, to see what vegetation was there for bees and animals. Across the Mahmondie Canal, on which the bales of cotton coming from the country are conducted on ships to Alexandria, dragged by four or five men, the fellahin of Egypt have built some mud villages. At the Khedive's Garden of Nuzha (enjoyment), the fellah village of the same name was built. I was delighted to hear of a man having bees. I went to him, filled with prejudice which I had received from some travelers to the etfeot that the Egyptian fellah would under no circumstances talk about bees, or let his bees be seen. I was presented to a man owning bees, and immediately the man brought a ladder of six or seven steps, put it against his house, and preceded me to the apiary, which was on the house-top, consisting of 23 hives of different shapes, irregularly made of mud of the Nile, and one in a cement-barrel. He even offered me some for sale at S4 OD each, which, after consid- erable bargaining, he would let me have at $3.50 each. They were placed horizontally on each other. In four rows, and besmeared with mire out of the canal, which altogether secures them against the occasional rains and warm sun during the long and fearfully hot summer (or sun) months. The owner seemed to know a few principal items of the bees, as the existence of a duke (queen), drones, and worker bees, or females; that in a favorable year honey is taken twice by the bee-master coming from Alexandria. He had read of bees, and, as he said, could not judge how much honey was to be taken, and how much left. The bee-master dis- charges his duty conscientiously. When a swarm issues he puts it into an empty clay or mud cylin- der, and leaves it till the harvesting season, which is about February or March, as near as I could make out, partly from clover and partly from broad beans. There is a second harvest about the month of August, and which he thought is principally from the trees in the immense Koyal Gardens. Very likely they yield some honey, but more likely the locust-trees by which the road is shaded give him that same crop. The way this man kept his bees, harvested, swarmed, and built his cylinders, was very much like the average bee-keepers in Palestine; and when I say the average, I thinkitis asinevery other coun- try and with every other pursuit, that the greatest number pursue their callingcarelessly.lt is all left to Allah (God) and luck, meanwhile not moving a finger toward luck. They are the laziest set of people you ever saw, smoking or sleeping whenever they have a chance, and this "chance" often presents itself. In general they draw back from any innovation on what " my forefathers did. I will stick to their ex- ample; they knew well what they were about." I did not find this first apiary and the description of the owner in accordance with what an Austrian bee-keeper, who recently had traveled about the Orient, described them to be. As he talks German only, he could not find out e.vactly their way of bee- keeping. He even says, "Not a single interpreter could be found that could translate the word bcc in Arabic;" but I found no difficulty in finding this apiary above described, and I met with no draw- back at all. The man never expected to be paid for his information. The said traveler paid !¥3.00 to whoever would let him know of the existence of an apiary, and it was not until the fifth day that he took hold of a bee; and with this trophy and the $3.00 bucksheeeh he found some miserable-looking apiaries, half ruined, and the others going to ruin before long. Now, it is very common that such passers-by, in a strange country, give their opin- ions as facts, and utterly change the face of a 324 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May country, doubtless without thinking themselves to be utterly wrong. A little bit encouraged by the apiary at "Enjoy- ment," near Alexandria, I took a walk into the country near Cairo, to see the ruins of the apiaries described, and with fear of being as inhospitably received as our traveler. I went to the village, try- ing every possible way to have at least a look at the apiaries. As our traveler could see a hive only aft- er giving a good bucksheesh, and would be told nothing of the interior of the hive, could buy none, and was even warned to draw back, his conclusions were thus: "Bee-keeping in Egypt is going to ruin." The village of Gizeh has the same empty hives; but every one readily gave me information, saying that bees were to be found only further out in the country; that if I could take a donkey-driver, the general way of traveling round about Cairo and other towns in Egypt, he would show me what I wished for, provided I paid the regular fare for the donkey. We immediately agreed, and on donkey- back I rode out into the beautiful clover - fields which are irrigated by the waters of the Nile, and once a year by the overflow of the Nile, toward the middle of August. What I saw 1 will relate at an- other time. Ph. Baldenspergeb. Jaffa, Syria, Feb. 11. To he continued. SHALLO"W HIVES. MORE ABOUT THAT SHALLOW WISCONSIN HIVE THAT HAS BEEN IN USE SO LONG. Friend Root: — In mentioning my hive at the Wisconsin Bee-keepers' Convention at Madison, you say it "has a rabbeted top, similar to my Sim- plicity hive, to keep out wind and rain." I want to explain that the rabbet in my hive is not made to keep out wind and rain, but to always keep just a bee-space between the frames of two or more hives when tiered up on top of each other. I now have a hive of the first lot of 50 that I ever made. 1 made them in 1865. The frames had a full bee- space, both above and below them, just as an or- dinary one-story hive should have; but when I set two or more of them on top of each other there was a space of ^4 inch between the top and bottom of the two sets of frames, and I invented the rabbeted sides of the top and bottom of my hives to correct this fault, and I have used it on all hives since the year 1866, when I first used the above rabbet. The only change I ever made in my hives was in mak- ing the frames deeper, and in this respect I have tried various depths, from 414 to 9 inches. But of whatever depth, I used them in pairs. In your original Simplicity you had the same difficulty, and met it by making the top of your frames with- out a bee-space over them; and in making- your new Dovetailed hive I see j'ou have met the same ditBculty by making the frames even with the bot- tom of the hive, and making a bee-space under them by nailing strips on the bottom-board. Now, in my plan th3re is always a bee-space at top and bottom, with a plain cover ana plain smooth bottom-board; and yet when two or more hives are set on top of each other the necessary beespace between them is maintained; and I consider it the best thing for the purpose yet in use. If you think it of interest, I will send you one of my hives that I made in 1865, and one as I make them no.v. Mr. I. Ingmondson, of Leroy, Minn., removed his bees from Langstroth hives to them in 1866 or '67. He is dead, but I am making research as to what became of his hives and bees. When I invented my hive I was using Langstroth hives. I was agent for his patent in this county, and have never regretted changing hives, although I do not think them indis- pensable to successful bee keeping. I first thought the closed-end frames a big thing, because they are reversible; but I did not like them after a fair trial, and I don't think reversing pays for the trouble. Forestville, Minn., Mar. 18. Barnett Taylor. Friend T., I beg your pardon for intimat- ing that the rabbet between your upper and lower stories was made to keep out wind and rain. Since you suggest it, I remember now, that, in devising the Simplicity hive, this beveled shoulder was decided on more for securing the bee-spaces you mention, than to keep out the wind and rain. It does seem as though the average bee-keeper would never be satisfied with closed-end frames or closed top-bars. ALFALFA A HONEY-PLANT IN UTAH. BEE-HUNTING ; BRUIN, AND HOW HE GOT HIS SHARE. Being an interested reader of Gleanings, also an amateur bee-keeper, I thought I would pen you a line. I noticed an article in Gleanings from D. L. Williams, of Idaho, on the subject of lucerne, or alfalfa. What he says on the subject would ap- ply to this locality as well, as it is raised here ex- tensively, averaging from three to eight tons per acre, also growing seed in paying quantities. I be- lieve it produces more honey where it is necessary to irrigate it. We usually irrigate six times through the season, getting three crops of hay. There are thousands of acres raised in this county alone, and it is raised extensively all over the terri- tory. That and sweet clover are our main honey- plants. The bees work on it from about .luoe first to the middle of October. My two brothers and myself own a sawmill in one of the canyons east of Provo. We had some excit- ing experience in bee-hunting last summer. First, we found a large number of bees at work in the lit- tle spring which supplies us with water that would do A. I. Root good to imbibe on a warm summer day. One afternoon we quit work earlier than usu- al, and followed one of the lines that led up the mountain, and in a short time we had located three bee-trees, one of which was in a large black fir, about four feet through. Next on the programme was an advance on the peaceful inhabitants of the trees. Armed with axes, pails, tubs, smudge, etc., we scored an easy victory, carrying off for spoils (on the double quick) a heavy load of bee-stings. It would have done you good to see us taking steps down the mountain, utterly regardless of any thing but the wild desire to get away from that tree. We finally manufactured veils, and with some misgiv- ings returned to the tree, where we found the bees all quiet. We hived them in good style, putting in all the brood-combs, and getting about 100 lbs. of good honey. We next proceeded to convey the spoils, together with the stings we carried in our hands, faces and hair, to the mill. I have cut quite a number of bee-trees, but I never saw one equal to this one in ]the stinging line. About sundown one 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTrRE. 325 of the boys went back for the bees, but he found his possession disputed by a large grizzly bear. He did not dispute long, however, evidently thinking discretion the better part of valor. He strolled back, hat in band, making the best time on record. Some of the boys said you might have used his eyes to hang your hat on when he arrived. We returned next morning, but found that Bruin had recklessly strewn things in every direction, having evidently taken some of the remedy so highly recommended for rheumatism. E. M. Whiting. Springville, Utah Co., Utah, Mar. :!. Thanks for your facts in regard to the al- falfa in Utah. If the bees do so well in trees, I would by all means start an apiary ; but I want to tell you that, if you expect to prosper as a bee keeper, you will have to ■come to some sort of understanding with that grizzly bear. If he has had a good din- ner of honey once, he will not forget it, you may be sure. BOTTOM STARTERS IN SECTIONS FOR SAFE SHIPPING. DK. MILLER CALLS OUR ATTENTION TO AN EX- CEEDINGLY IMPORTANT MATTER. The more completely a section of honey is filled out at top, sides, and bottom, the better it looks; and for shipping, it is quite essential that the at- tachments at tbe sides, and especially at the bot- tom, be good. For several years I have secured this by putting in a starter at both top and bottom of the section. When the comb of honey is fasten- ed just as securely on the bottom-bar of the sec- tion as on the top, you have about all you can get, so far as the section is concerned, to secure you against breakage in transportation. When a single starter is put in a section, and fastened only at the top, the beo3 often make no fastening at the bot- tom, and very little at the side. To make such sec- tions carry more safely, some have made a prac- tice of separating them in the shipping-cage by pieces of heavy manilla paper, much in the same way as sections are separated in a super, only the manilla paper extends from top to bottom of the section. The idea is, that if one section breaks out it topples over against its neighbor, and, like a row of bricks, the row of sections clear across the ship- ping-case is broken out. The manilla paper pre- vents this, so that one section breaking out does not affect its neighbor. Another device has been, to invert the section when about half finished, when the bees make sure to secure both top and bottom— a good plan, but too much work to invert each section singly, and not satisfactory otherwise. Still another way is advocated; that is, to use open-sided sections, so as to induce the bees to fasten the combs better. D.tferent advantages have been claimed at different times for these open- sided sections, and I am a little skeptical whether any one of the advantages claimed has ever held good. When I first heard of open-sided sections— I am not sure whether any thing was said about them in print then— I had a good deal of faith in them, and whittled out the sides of a hundred, with a jack-knife. The chief advantage then claimed, was, that with such sections separators were not needed. I was disappointed in this; and, indeed, in my limited trial I did not succeed in finding that they had any advantage. I have seen specimens of open-sided sections in which the honey was beauti- fully filled out clear down to the bottom at both sides; but I have seen it just as beautifully filled out in common sections, and with a single starter at that. But even if the bees should do better work at filling out a certain kind of section, I still think I should want a bottom starter in each sec- tion, to make snrr that the comb is built out and fastened just as well at the bottom as at the top. I have experimented considerably to find out the best width for a bottom starter. If too large a starter is used it topples over; and if too small, the bees are prelty sure to gnaw it down. I succeeded, however, in using bottom starters an inch wide or deep, and contemplated trying them larger. But later I found some of these had fallen over, and I settled down on ^S, of an inch as large enough. This, with aS^ii-inch starter at top, fills the section except a small space between the two, which the bees have no difficulty in filling up. I have been asked whether a bad-looking section is not made if the top and bottom starters do not meet pretty nearly in the same plane. Not at all. I have seen the top starter swing to one side, and the bottom starter bend over to the other side, so that there lacked half or three-quarters of an inch of being a perpendicular line from one to the other, and the bees seemed to finish them promptly; and when finished, you could not see the slightest imperfec- tion. It takes no more foundation to fill a section with two starters than with one, the only difference being the time taken to put in the extra starter, making an extra expense of one or two cents on a hundred pounds, and sometimes saving a good many cents in shipping. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111., Mar. 13. Friend JSI., our experience in buying hon- ey shipped in to us during the past two years has prepared us to indorse most em- phatically the point you make. We are glad, also, to have your testimony in regard to the open-side sections, even if it does not favor them. One thing is certain: Our or- ders for sections made with open sides are getting to be few and far between. REARING AND SHIPPING QUEENS. READ AT THE VERMONT STATE BEE KEEPERS' CON- VENTION, BY A. E. MAN0M. The queenbee, whose beauty and capability we can scarcely comprehend, is the most important member in a colony of bees; and as she is the moth- er of every bee in the colony, upon her depends the prosperity of the colony and the success of the apiarist. The attempt to give every detail incident- al to queen rearing, in a single essay, meets with an obstacle. lOither we must abridge until the charm is lost entirely, or, if we would specify and portray, many essays would be necessary ere the subject is exhausted. For a number of years I have reared queens for sale— not that the business has proved very remu- nerative, but because I love it. There is no part of bee culture that is so fascinating to me as that of queen-rearing. There is a charm about it that stimulates my enthusiasm from the beginning to the end of the season. The careful breeder commences in early spring 326 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May by watching- his queens and studying the desirable qualities of each one selected the previous year for breeders; and this watching and selecting contin- ues throughout the entire season; and If the desire of the apiarist is to improve his stock from year to year, much 'care and judgment should be exercised in making selections. The simple fact that a queen's workers all have three bright yellow bands does not, in my estimation, qualify her as u desirable breeding queen. This one mark, however, is, I fear, too often the only one sought for by many bee-keepers as a sure mark of excellence. In selecting a queen for breeding, I not only want her to produce workers that show three yel- low bands— dark yellow or light brown preferred— but they must be workers that have a large robust body, with large wings covering the entire abdo- men. I like to see bees with large broad abdomens, well rounded out, and full down to the extremity, rather than to see bees with slim delicate forms. I also want bees that are good honey-gatherers, good comb-builders, and that are not inclined to brace- comb building, and that are little inclined to swarm- ing; that are quiet, and adhere well to the combs when being handled; and. withal. I want bees that will withstand our severe northern climate. To produce a strain of bees with all these desira- ble qualities is not an easy matter. It requires yeai-s of watching and selecting, working first for one desirable point and then for another. But if we could have full control of tho mating of our queens we could then improve our bees much more readily than now. As it is, we must test our queens at least two seasons to ascertain whether their daughters will produce workers that meet our wants. When we get such a queen we have one that is very desirable for breeding purposes. I have often had queens that I had watched dur- ing the season, and in the fall registered them as "good," and in the spring following I would dis- card them for breeding purposes, owing to some defect in their wintering or springing. Therefore we should make every effort possible to place the honey-bee higher up on the scale of perfection; not only that we ourselves may reap the reward of our labors, but that those who come after us may be benefited thereby. The person who undertakes queen-rearing as a specialty should be po.ssessed of a very patient and persevering nature, as the business is complicated, and is accompanied with many reverses and disap- pointments. Were I to designate who should breed queens as a specialty, I should say at once the ladies, becauf e they, with their delicate, womanly tenderness and gentle natures, are better adapted to this light and interesting work than are the men. Queen-rearing- is a business that requires close attention and much study. First, we must prepare our bees for cell-building and watch their construc- tion from first to last, and prune out all inferior cells; and when completed, and of proper maturity, they are to be removed, and either given to nuclei where the young queens will hatch, or transferred to the nursery, where tliey will as readily hatch as in a nucleus or in a colony of bees. These cells should be removed and transferred at the proper period of maturitj-, or disappointment and loss will be the result. I have found that the best time to transfer queen-cells from the builders to the nursery is when they have reached the 13th day from the egg. I have successfully tracsferred.them at eight and nine days; but unless the weather is favorable, and great care is taken in transferring, failure is liable to follow. After the cells are introduced into the nursery they are placed in a strong colony of bees that are run for extracted hcney by setting the nursery in the upper .story in place of an extracting comb. This colony may have a laying queen, which may have perfect liberty,. to occupy the upper story if she wishes. Together with this nursery filled with completed cells I^have set by the side of it combs with cell-caps and cells ready to be capped, where they were completed the same as though they had been given to a queenless colony. I have managed in this way without the use of excluding honey- boards. Yetil would advise the use of excluders for this work, and I would also advise the placing of a card of hatching brood near the nursery in or- der to hold ;the hive bees in the upper story cold nights, as otherwise the cells or young queens might [suffer from [a low temperature. It is also advisable, durirg a dearth of hcney, to feed the young queens as they hatch in the nursery. But if honey is coming in plentifully, the bees will feed the young queens, no matter how many there are. All will be cared for. In rearing queens^for sale, as well as for my own use, I aim Jto breed ?from my very best mothers, such as have given me the best results the previous year. I believe we should rear queens -with as much care and judgment as in breedingfarm stock. Although in our ignorance we can but dimly com- prehend the wonders in nature, yet we should make every effort to progress. Notwithstanding I rear queens for sale, I would advise all who can to raise their own queens as much as possible, rather than buy them, as there is a time in every well-managed apiary when queen-cells are plentiful; and by se- lecting from the best colonies, the bee-keeper can, with very little labor or experience, rear his supply of queens, and at the same time experience much pleasure in so doing. But to rear queens on a large scale is another thing altogether, as it requires a large amount of fixtures, and no little experience, to keep a supply of queens on hand, which is nec- essary to make it a success. SBIPPINO QUELNS. I have found that the best time to ship queens long distances is when they have been laying not longer than five days. Such queens will endure transportation much better than those a little older. But if kept until after a certain period, when they are somewhat reduced in size, they can then be shipped with safety. Queens one or two years old are liable to get injured inti-ansitif shipped when full of eggs, lecause'of their being tumbled about in tte mail-bag, and also byleingso suddenly de- prived of the opportunity to lay eggs; and surely this of itself must be very injurious. I have oftentimes selected what I believed to be extra good'^^queecs, to be sent to some person who ordered queens to breed from, and which were from necessity sent when in this delicate condi- tion, a few^ of which would be reported as worth- less; fcr, after being introduced, they would lay but a few eggs and then die, causing both the buy- er and sellerjmuch disappointment and vexation. I have decided that, in the future, I will use my own judgment as to the proper time to thip valua- ble queens. Therefore my advice lo ail bujeis is, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE crLTURE. 327 order early, and allow the shipper to decide when to ship. In conclusion I would say, let us climb up higher and ac(iuaint ourselves more thoroug'hly]with the laws of nature, and take advanced lessons in the college of the universe; and what we do not know now we may know later on. Therefore let us reach out for the truth, and hold fast to it. Yes, buy it with our own exertions; then we shall know its worth; and while here in council let us learn from each other such lessons as will aid and assist us in solving some of the mysteries of bee culture. Bristol, Vt., Mar. 11. A. E. Manum. HORIZONTAL VS. PERPENDICULAR W^IRING. FRIEND HILTON INDORSES ERNEST. When I read the foot-notes to friend Foster's ar- ticle, I said, " Good for Ernest." With all due rev- erence and esteem for our friend and benefactor A. I. Root, I do like to see a boy step out of his father's well-beaten path. This, Ernest has done in declaring for horizontal wiring. Of course, he thinks he is right. Here I admire him again. The plan as represented in friend Foster's frame has always seemed to me like " excessive wiring;" and ten years ago I adopted the horizontal plan, and have always wired in that way. I think three wires are better than two, but I have hundreds of frames wired with only two wires; and if numbers add to testimony, 1 can give you the names of at least 3') within a radius of 25 miles of here who wire in the same way. I certainly think it has advantages over the per- pendicular wires. 1 think we all agree that foun- dation should be well fastened at the top; but in cases where it was not well fastened at the top, and with perpendicular wiring, it has slipped down the wires in hiving full swarms on full frames of foun- dation. This has never occurred with me with hor- izontal wiring, even with two wires; and as for combs '"bowing out," I do not know what you mean; but this I do know: I have 1000 frames wired with two horizontal wires filled with foundation, and drawn into combs; and if any one will show me 1000 better combs on perpendicular wires, I will make him a present of mine. Yet I would recom- mend three wires equal distances apart. I believe that 25 per cent of the combs I have on perpendicu- lar wires, and the tin bar in the center, are imper- fect. Either they are beveled off to the tin or they are not attached. Those who are in favor of " pop- holes " through the combs would be delighted with them. I don't want them. I think if I could not hold my frames together without, I should prefer a piece of wood just like the end-bar to the tin bar. HOW TO wire. Almost every one has his own way of piercing or drilling the holes through the frames; but after this is done and the frame is put together, lay it fiat on the bench and drive a ?s wire nail near the upper left-hand hole, and one near the lower right- hand hole. Have your one-pound spool of No. .SO tinned wire secured in some way so that it will not snarl, yet unwind readily. Now thread the wire through the two left-hand holes back through the center holes, and up through the two left-hand holes, just enough to wind around the partly dri%'- en wire nail. Now drive the nail down, thus secur- ing one end of the wire. Now place the upper end of the frame against a large nail driven into the bench; with the left hand, hold the frame securely against the nail; and with the right hand draw the wires until you spring the end-bars a little; and if you know how to play on a three string dulcimer, it is in tune. It seems reasonable to me that this arrangement throws the weight on the end-bars, and prevents the top bars from gagging. I shall read with interest the replies to your ques- tion, asking for facts from those who have used wires horizontally. The above are tacts, as observed by me. Geo. E. Hilton. Fremont, Mich., Mar. 22. And I say, friend H., " Good for Hilton." Yes, I heartily a^ree witli you in your thought, that every boy, sooner or later, should have convictions and opinions of his own. A boy who is a complete echo of his father, in every respect, would not be worth very much ; and when your testimony comes in to back up Ernest, I am almost ready to abandon my position, and own up. But, how about the following letter from another friend? Bead that. HORIZONTAL WIRING PREFERRED. TIN BARS not ALWAYS OB.JECTIONABLE, ETC. I WISH to indorse what Ernest said in regard to horizontal wires, on page 199. If he will refer to Gleanings, 1888, page 685, he will find my wiring- device described, which, if used, will do away with the use of pliers to draw the wires taut. When drawn taut, the wires cut into the wood so that none of them are exactly horizontal. Dr. Mason's objec- tion does not hold good with my manner of wiring, which is described in Gleanings, page 33, 1888. Perhaps with a heavy top-bar the diagonal wires and the tin bar are not needed; but with the com- mon frame I should rather use them. I have ex- perienced no difficulty by the bees not covering the tin bar. Not only do they cover it with full-length cells, but they raise brood above them. To make sure about this I have just been to the honey-room to examine the combs. I have frames wired in several different ways in use, and I get the best combs with my manner of wiring— three horizontal wires, and the diagonal wires and tin bar. The latter are put in after the foundation is put in. I wish no perpendicular wires. When burr-combs are scraped off I often break the wires which show above the top-bar. Perhaps, as A. I. Root says, they could be let down into the wood; but I am afraid that it would not always work just right. I see that the bee-keepers intend to do away with burr-combs. I sincerely hope that they may. I have used the slatted honey-board extensively, and I can not see that the break joint does away with the burr-combs any more than those made of slats of odd width, although the first season that I used them I thought they would. By the way, I believe one season's success with a hive-fixture does not fully establish its usefulness. It seems to me that any spacing attachment to the frames, whether of wood or metal, is objec- tionable, on account of extracting. I believe that staples driven into the brood-nest end are about the simplest spacer we can get; but, do we want frames at fixed distances when not hauling thciny I sup- 328 Gi.EANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE. May pose that each one must settle this for himself. At present I am sure that /do not. I have used hives with l}i inches for each frame almost entirely in the past, and I am entirely satis- fied that 1?8 in. is the proper distance from center to center for brood-frames. In the extracting su- per I wish I'/^-inch spaciQg-. With the hive 1 use, the difference of spacing- Is easily obtained, and is no objection. I hope to hear from others in regard to wiring, as that has been somewhat of a hobby with me. CHAFF PACKING AND DEAD-AIR SPACES. I was much interested in the answers to Question No. 156. It is a question which I have spent con- siderable time discussing, and experimenting on. I have hives packed with six inches of chaflf, and many packed with four inches; also some with only two inches ; and I am firmly convinced that two inch- es of chaflf packing around the brood-nest is a great plenty. Allow me to modestly state, that I have lost only one colony of bees in wintering, in all my beekeeping experience. That colony died this winter. I have two hives that have only an inch dead-air space around the brood-nest. The hive is made of good material, and well made. I have wintered bees year after year in those hives, and they have come through strong in numbers and stores. They have never failed to give me a fair yield of surplus honey. Now, I do not give the hives the whole credit; but I am certain that no packing is needed if onr or both walls of the hive are close jointed. It seems to me that the same principle applies to hives that ap- plies to houses. However, I shall still pack with chaff or straw, because my hive material is narrow; but in future I shall use only two inches of packing. I use the Hilton chaflf hive, and winter outdoors. Fremont, Mich., Mar. 2il. Wm. B. Gould. Friend G., I am very glad to have you put in a good word for tin bars. I know the bees do sometimes leave them uncovered ; but during a good flow of honey we succeed, usually, in getting bees to rear brood right over them, as you mention ; notwithstand- ing, I should be glad to get along without them if we can. I feel sure that the hori- zontal wires would do nicely with tin bars, as you suggest; but I am not so certain that the horizontal wires alone are going to answer. See the letter below, from another friend, on this matter. WIRING FRAMES. IN FAVOR OF THE PERPENDCDLAR PLAN. I HAVE just read with a great amount of interest Mr. Foster's method of wiring frames, a^d also your remarks thereon; and if you can find space for a few lines, I should like to add my experience also. To begin with, I am a great admirer of wired frames, notwithstanding all I continually read re- garding the " useless and needless expense " of so doing. It is possible, however, as I have not used any quantity of unwired combs, that I have acquir- ed a clumsy fashion of handling such, that occa- sionally causes accidents, which do not take place with wired frames, that I can not be induced to go slow enough to prevent, and therefore mj' adhesion to something substantial. Well, I have tried all systems in order to make the labor and expense as little as possible; and for vertical wiring I now prefer, and will use no other than eightwiresfor the standard Langstroth frame. I also use a wire upright, to prevent the bowing-up of the bottom-bar (I don't like the tin bars for the reason you give); and as I use a % top-bar I see no use for the two diagonal wires. My preference for the eight wires is because I have no trouble with wavy combs; and when I imbed a sheet of founda- tion in such a frame, I know I shall have no further trouble with it. Often, after having wired until I was tired, I would sit down and think that no other plan would woi-k as well; and you can therefore imagine what a relief it appeared to me when I noticed in the Re- vised Langstroth that the horizontal plan was a success with them. Accordingly I lost no time in preparing several hundred frames for the past sea- son's use; but instead of putting in only three wires I put in four, thinking that, if three were good, four might be better, and might prevent any bulging or curling of the combs, should there be any tendency in that direction, as I must con- fess I was a little afraid there might be. The wir- ing was perfectly done, and all were as taut as a flddle-string, and, as with all other things that pleased me, I hurried away to show my good wife, whereupon she remarked, "Why, Frank, that looks ever so much nicer, and I think it can be done with half the labor and expense; and if you wilt wire, give this plan a trial at once, for it does seem as though it would work nicely." Now for the re- sult. I confess I could scarcely wait for the first swarm to come oflf, so it could be hived on the new frames; and when it did come, the progress was eagerly watched. I found things went on swimmingly with the upper half of the sheet of foundation; but a slight curve would appear between the second and third wire; while between the third and fourth, the bowing was not only quite perceptible, but alto- gether too much so for me, and, worst of all, the space between the fourth wire and the bottom-bar bore evidence that the foundation was bound to take a trip to the top-bar, so badly was it curved in an upper direction. This one example did not, however, discourage me; but after hiving about a dozen more swarms 1 concluded some other plan would have to be followed, and I therefore resorted to my old method ; but wishing to use these frames, I placed them in the surplus apartment, and found less trouble than when hiving bees directly on them, but still sufficient curving to cause me to dispense with that method until I had received more light on the subject. Now, friends, can you offer any solution to this difficulty with me? The foundation was made by a practical man, on a Given press, and the hives were all protected by shade-boards, a la Heddon. Would the result have been different had the foundation been made on a Root or Dunham machine? or do you think I made a mistake in putting in four wires, instead of three? Any suggestions will be thankfully received through Gleanings. Stratford, Ont., Apr. 15. F. A. Gemmell. Friend G., we can not solve your difficulty^ any more than to suggest that the Given foundation may have had something to do with it. We know this, that foundation with good high walls did not trouble nearly 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 329 as much by saggiug when we used founda- tion without any wires at all ; and I believe that foundation made on the Given press seldom has as high and perfect side walls as we now sret by the use of rolls. I tried hor- izontal wires years ago, but had something of the same experience you have had. I de- cided they were not what we wanted. With a heavy top-bar, however, and a wire to support them midway, attached to the top- bar, they may answer all right. IN FAVOR OF HORIZONTAL, WIRING OF FRAMES. I have just read friend Foster's article, on page 193, March 15th, in reg-ard to wiring frames; also Ernest's and your foot-notes to the same. I wish to say I ag-ree with Ernest exactly in regard to wiring frames. If I remember correctly, friend Vander- vort, the foundation-mill man, when I visited him six years ago this spring, was wiring all of his frames horizontally, using four wires to each frame. His frames are nine inches deep. For five years all frames in which 1 have used foundation have been wired horizontally; and after five years' experience I could not be induced to wire upright. It is too much work, and the tin bars are a nuisance. My top-bars do not sag, and the horizontal wires hold the combs straight and true in the frames. T have hundreds of such frames in use, and they give perfect satisfaction. Friend Root, when you get your mind set you stick " like a dog to a root;" and it seems hard to get you out of a rut without taking a wheel off. Where the foundation is light, running 7 to 8 feet to the pound, it needs four wires; with foundation running 5 feet to the pound, 3 wires are plenty. Geo. A. Wright. Glenwood, Fa., March :.'3. ^'ery good, friend Wright ; but I have read the above carefully twice over to see if you said any thing about the size of your frame. I am well aware that horizontal wires answer nicely for a frame like the (rallup, or even the American or ^Vdair ; but my experiments with horizontal wires in the L. frame indicated that the stretch was too long unless there were a support of some kind in the middle. Ten or fifteen years ago a good many of the friends of GLEANiN(is threatened to give it up unless I could get over changing my mind so often, and recommending something else. In view of this you pay me a very great com- pliment. The fact is, I have seen many troubles come from being in haste to change to something else. wiring FRAMES WITH STAPLES AND HOOKS. I think there is altogether too much fussing in Mr. Foster's method of wiring frames with thick top-bars (Gleanings, Mar. 15, page 198), so I pro- pose to tell you how I do it. Instead of boring holes in the top-bars I drive double-pointed tacks in the under side, just where the holes would come. The tacks are driven down pretty close, leaving just about room enough for the wire to pass through. After the frame is all wired, and the tin bar sprung in place, the tacks are driven down close, drawing the wire still tighter. Care should be taken that the wire is in the center before the tacks are driven down close. The diagonal wires, after passing through a hole in the upper end of the end-bars, are looped over wire nails driven in the end-bar, and returned through the hole; then proceed as in wiring an ordinary frame, passing the wire through the first tack, down through the bot- tom-tar, then up through the next tack, etc., until the frame is completed. Theo. Jennings. Port Chester, N. Y., Mar. 24. We have tried the double-pointed tacks to a limited extent. It is true, that, after threading the wires and drawing moderate- ly light, you can stretch the wires taut by driving the staples further into the wood, and this certainly is a nice feature; but it takes a good deal of time to properly space and drive the staples ; and piercing the wood is vastly quicker, and, of course, cheaper. We can thread holes in nearly the same time it takes to thread staples. If I did not use pierced bars I should use wire nails, which, after being driven into wood, are bent with round-nosed pliers into the form of a hook. The wire, instead of be- ing passed through holes, is sinjply caught on to the hooks. They can then be stretch- ed by driving the nails further into the wood. Dr. Miller wires all his frames thus. RAMBLE NO. 24. A VISIT TO THE WESTCOTTS; ANOTHER NOON SER- VICE IN A FACTORY. A FEW of those quiet bee-keepers who are never seen in print reside in Fair Haven, Vt. Mr. Proc- tor, of this place, made quite a business of raising queens, making foundation, and producing honey. His health failing, he advertised his bees for sale at auction in the spring of 1889; and though the Ram- bler did not attend the sale he learned afterward that the auction method was a failure. Only a few colonies were sold, at ^i 00 each, thus proving that, even in Vermont, bees in good chaff hives are not in as much demand, and have not the certain value, that is attached to other farm stock. The person engaged most extensively in honey production is E. L. Westcott. At the time of our call he had over 150 colonies in two apiaries, all in Bristol hives, or a modification of them. His locali- ty is good for raising a fine quality of both comb and extracted honey. Much honey is sold in the home market. The slate industry fills the town with a class of laborers who are free to spend some of their earnings for the sweets of the bee-hive. We find such a class of people better to deal with, and larger purchasers, than the wealthy people. They will buy the cheaper grades of honey, and consume more of it. The senior Westcott is an ex- tensive farmer, and has had a varied experience. The dairy business had been tried, and, after being tied, as it were, to a cow's tail several years, he sold this kind of stock and purchased sheep. Scab, foot- rot, dogs, and cheap wool, caused another change; and at the time of our visit, horses, both fast and slow, were being bred. His pet colt was valued at *500. Others, we supposed, were getting along to greater value. Experience and sensible methods are employed in his farm operations. Agricultural journals are of little value. The Cultivator had been taken thirty years; and the only idea of value learned in all that time was how to break up a sit- ting hen. Put a chestnut-burr in the nest, and it is 330 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May a sure remedy. Tbe hen dislikes to sit on it; and when she gets uneasy, the burr goes with her, and she becomes so disgusted with this sort of egg that she gives up sitting. Our stop was short but very pleasant with the Westcotts. THE HOFFMAN FIXED FKAME. SOME OF ITS ADVANTAGES IN POINT OF CONVEN- IENCE; A GOOD THING. THE BLACKSMITH WHO OWNS THE RICHES OF THIS WORLD AND THE AVORLD BEYOND. After leaving them we met an old friend, who, many years ago, wielded the blacksmith's hammer in our native town. He is now a resident of Troy, N. Y., and has accumulated a fortune of several hundred thousand dollars, in the collar and shirt business. Meeting him was like meeting the breezes of sweet perfume from the sunny land. " Why, no, friend Kamblor," said he, " 1 never ex- pect to die. All who believe in the Lord Jesus will not die. There will be only a change of existence. We shall only be called up higher." This man is not only ready to testify to the light within and to the hope beyond, at all times, but conducts his large business upon a Christian basis. His large factory, employing over one hundred people, of both sexes, is open to the influences of the gospel. A noonday prayer-meeting is held, and occasionally an evange- list is called in to speak to his people. He is inter- ested in the welfare of all who work for him, from the best to the most humble; and it is needless to say that there are no strikes nor discontent in that establishment; and from what I have learned of him in Troy, Mr. Justus Miller, who started life an humble blacksmith, is universally respected by the good people of Troy. That there may be more such business men is the earnest wish of the Kamblek. Friend II., it is rather pleasant to know that you have visited that great collar fac- tory in Troy, N. Y. A niece of mine mar- ried a " runner " for this establishment ; and as they recently paid us a visit I hap- pened to know something about what you have been telling us. Surely, " godliness is profitable to all things." I am sorry to add. however, that, allhuiigh the relative of whom 1 have been speaking commands a salary of several thousand dollars, and at the same time speaks with pride of the great business his employer has built up on such principles, he has not seen fit to put his trust in the " Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." As 1 have had considerable experience with dif- ferent styles of brood-frames, and in moving bees during the past ten years, perhaps you would like my opinion in regard to the frame I use. After using the ordinary style, and the closed end, and modifications of each, for some years, I finally set- tled down on the Hoffman frame, and discarded all others. This compelled me to lay aside about 20OO frames which I had in use, and I have never re- gretted doing so, having yet to find a frame that suits me as well as the Hoffman. I prefer it for the following reasons: It is as firmly held as a closed- end frame, and yet is more easily manipulated. We can pick up and handle two, three, or four of them at a time, without jamming or bruising them in the least, and move any number of them to any part of the hive at one movement as easily as one. To illustrate: If we wish to take out a frame from the center of the hive, push a blunt knife down beside the frame wanted, and shove all the frames over a little at one movement; then we can lift out our frame with ease, instead of moving each frame a little. One great point with these frames is. that, owing to their partly closed top and thick top-bars, but very little brace-comb is built above them ; this is a great convenience. They are more easily covered with a quilt to keep the bees from going above. No bees can get into the rabbet to glue the frames down. They are as easily separated as the ordina- ry frame. They are always perfectly and accurate- THE HOFFMAN FRAME. ly adjusted. We never have to go over the frames to space them right when we are ready to close the hive. We can pick up the hive at any time, and carry it about in any shape or position, and the frames will never move, swing, or rub against each other. It possesses all the good qualities of the closed-end frame, combined with the advantages of the hanging. To work nicely you can use a di- vision-board or follower, which is removed first to give room to manipulate the frames— ten frames and the division-board nicely filling the Simplicity body; but we manipulate them nicely without this division-board. Practical working will show many more advan- tages and good features of this style of frame. Oneida, N. Y., Jan. 10. Edavard B. Beebee. You make a big point for the IlofOman frame, friend B., regarding the facility with which all of them can be shoved over at once to give room for the central or any other one. All fixed frames possess this feature to a certain extent, but not as per- fectly. With ordinary hanging frames it is usually necessary to finger (i. e., space back) 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULXrKE. 331 •TL^ n H-^ r" nearly all the frames in the hive in the honey season, to get room to properly re- move the central one ; then after they are all put back, each one must be spaced over again. 1 have just one fault to And with it ; and that is, its expense. In thinking the matter over, I find we can retain all the ad- vantages you name for it, and yet cheapen it by nearly a half. If the end bars have projections there is no need that the top-bar have siraihir jutting points. The top-bar in the Hoffman, as illustrated above, costs nearly as much as the rest of the frame. Make the top-bar I inch wide and g inch thick, and the end-bars with a recess as at A. This should be ^ inch wide by t inch deep. The top-bar then passes through A, and a wire nail, as C, driven through holds it secure. B B is recessed out, and this makes the narrow part A inch wide. The broad part is 1ft inches wide, scant. We now have a frame with a top- bar and bottom-bar of |-inch stuff, and only the end- bars of wider lumber. But, how about burr- combs? We can use a thick bar if we choose, just as easily as not ; or, what seems to me would be better, a double top -bar, as was illustrated on page 201. The Hoffman frame, made as I have said, with double- bar, ought not to cost more than $2.00 per 100; or, without the extra bar, $1.75 in the flat. I omitted to say, that this frame should be used on tin rabbets, to be used to the best advantage. Now, while this frame may seem to be the thing, don't go and order a whole lot of them without first trying eight or ten hives of them at first, if you like them. It is possible there may be some serious objection to them, so let's go slow. But, hold I Here is another friend who is very enthusiastic over them : E. R. THE HOFFMAN FRAME. I use a hive that resembles your new Dovetailed hive in principles and some features, same dimen- sions, 8 Langstroth ^frames. From experience I know that the new hive would suit me better than any I have seen, and 1 have at least seen and ex- amined closely every hive that has been before the public, with the exception of Mr. Heddon's new hive, composed of shallow cases. There seems to be but one feature lacking in the Dovetailed hive; and that is, a frame suited to the business for which this hive was designed; viz., convenience In handling and shipping, and adaptability to out- apiaries where the hives have to be moved from place to place frequently. As I said before, I have handled many hives of bees during the past 12 years, in all kinds of hives, and with all conceiva- ble kinds of frames and fixtures. Of all I have seen, none ever suited me quite as well as the Hoffman- Langstroth frame, introduced to the public by Mr. .1. H. Nellis, in Der-Kecpir's Ercluniue. Vol. I., No. 3, Mar., 1879. This frame I have had in use from that date to the present time, and am more than pleased with it, and think it embraces more desirable ])oint8 than anything else I have ever seen. I find in the use f this frame ver}- little trouble from brace-combs. a point which I see is under discussion— never any thing of that description unless the space above brood-combs was more than % inch space. The top- bar of the frame is about 's inch thick. Now, friend Root, I have no ax to grind; but 1 would suggest that you try a few frames; and if they don't suit, why, let them go along with other discarded traps. I never have found any thing so convenient for handling a full colony of bees as this frame, in looking for queens and handling combs. The most that can be said against this frame is the expense. For moving bees from place to place, and have them bear rough handling, they are simply perfect. I use them with plain wood rabbets. Adin Stone. Vienna, N. Y., Feb. 8. Is there any one else among our readers who has tried these frames? rURNITURE NAILS AS DISTANCE- KEEPERS. FURTHER SnOGESTIONS FROM N. T. PHELPS. You have put your thumb on communications in regard to thick top-bars, and I expect in the next issue of Gleanings to see that you have put your other thumb on distance-keepers. There are, how- ever, many suggestions that might still be made in regard to distance-keepers that will be of use to some portion of your readers. If thick top-bars and accurate spacing are to be used to prevent brace-combs, some sort of distance-keeper is nec- essary. It will take several kinds to please all, just the same as it does with every thing else. Some will like your castings best; some, staples in the top-bar; others, staples in the rabbet, and so on. Now, I could not tolerate staples in the rabbets, be- cause 1 fre(iuently, in spacing frames, shove or slide half a dozen or more along on the rabbets, to the position they are to occupy. In looking over combs I replace them in the side of the hive toward me; and when the furthermost one is looked at I shove all back into their place at one push. Every one has his mode of management, and so will see some objection to any keeper. Those working for comb honey will find some distance-keeper especially convenient, and careful extracted-honey produc- ers will not be very much afraid of a little metal on the extreme corners of their frames. There are some who do so much more business than the rest of us, and do it with such a rush, that any kind of projection, especially a metal one, will be objec- tionable on their extracting-frames. In order that all may choose a distance-keeper to suit themselves, the writer would like to suggest a cheap article that can be used, a sample of which 1 forward with this article. Thry can be bought for at least $1.75 per 1000 at retail, making them cost about seven-tenths of a cent per frame. This, I should think, would be cheap enough to satisfy nearly all; and if they are placed at the extreme end of the top-bar, it looks as though it would make a pretty good "careless man's" distance- keepir. With the thick top-bar, and the keeper placed at the extreme end of the bar, please ob- .servc the di.'^tance from it to any honey to be un- capped. These are well adapted to the thick top-bars that are plump one inch wide, and are to be spaced ex- actly five-sixteenths of an inch apart. I'hey will be 332 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May excellent to use where one wishes to try a few thick bars by reinforcing- some of the ordinary bars already in use, with strips of veneering. They can be used on all four of the corners, when they will cost about l/„ cents per frame. They are called "furniture nails," and are No. 9. Be sure to get No. 9, if you wish to space tlve-sixteenths of an inch apart. Other numbers will space slightly closer. I want to ask Dr. Miller to try a few of them on his PHELPS BRASS SPACERS. veneer-reinforced frames, and tell us how he likes them for moving bees. They can be pushed in by making a wooden punch with a concave end, and need not be struck so as to jar the combs at all. Small wire nails to fasten on the veneer can be pushed in in the same way, and no driving or jar- ring of the frames. If the uncapping-knife should strike these brass heads it would not injure it much, and it would have to hit pretty close to the frame to catch on to the nail at all; so the danger of dulling the knife is small. In closing I wish to say that there is no patent on it, and all criticisms will be taken as a matter of course, and I shall not pose as a martyr if somebody happens to have thought of them before I did. Kingsville, O., March 10. N. T. Phelps. Here is what C. C. Miller says of them, who writes to us after receiving samples, accompanied with a letter from friend Phelps : I must say that these furniture nails of Mr. Phelps strike me veru favorably. Have your cast- ings any advantage over them except the single one that they make a fixed distance from center to center of top-bar while these nails make a fixed distance betueen frames? After all, the latter is what we want. These can be more easily applied to frames in use. In fact, you don't need to shake the bees off. In reply to friend Miller's question I would say that the A'an Deusen have the advantage of being reversible and a little more stable. The round smooth heads of the furniture nails would be liable to slip by each other when pressure is exerted. In point of cheapness, the brass nails can hard- ly be beat, unless by the staple first sug- gested by Mr. P. on page 98. Yes, both of his arrangements can be used on frames al- ready in use. No, it is not even necessary to shake the bees off. The round-headed nails could be easily driven home with a kind of wooden pliers that might easily be extemporized for the purpose, and thus do away with all jarring from pounding. Aft- er all, it is hard to say whether any or all of these spaces will be accepted by bee-keepers. But there is a growing demand for fixed distances ; and with the arrangements that have been suggested we can all experiment and decide for ourselves this summer. While I am about it I might say that the thick top-bars which we are making are like B, shown in the cut, without the spacers, the end-bar being nailed on as shown. F is a reduced figure of the nails. The heads are of polished brass. C shows how thev come in contact. E. R. FIXED DISTANCES. THE NEED OF THEM, ETC. Last year there were several parties who wanted me to look over their bees. I found them in every conceivable shape— some in Langstroth hives, spaces cut in hives for frames to rest in, some with slots cut at fixed distances, some in home-made hives, with no spacing. I found, in some hives, frames touching each other; others, two inches apart. One man with seven swarms had not a sin- gle straight comb in the hives that could be spaced. Under such circumstances it would be impossible to handle successfully, or to space up combs the proper width, or to put such frames in hives that are spaced. On page 173 of Gleanings (frames affixed dis- tances), I have tried that plan without success. The article on p. 199 is just as bad, as they both hold frames at fixed distances in the hive. My experi- ence is, that all spacing must be on the frames. The article on page 98 illustrates my plan exactly, such as I use in my hives, and some of my neigh- bors have taken up the same plan My frames are all spaced with staples which are driven ia exactly like the engraving on page 28, leaving the staples just J^ of an inch out of the wood; and in addition to this, at the center of the bottom-bar, I nail on a small block, >/ in. thick, ''8 wide, and one inch long. This gives the exact width from center to center, 1 'b or l/,„ and exactly X inch between frames. As you will perceive, they can be spaced any width that is needed to suit the notion of some; i. e., that bees want more space in winter, but can not be closed together less than the required space, and no bees can be jammed in closing the frames. By placing a dummy-board at one side, and keying up, the hive can be turned completely over without moving a frame or injuring a bee. The additional cost to each hive is two cents. D. Noble. Clintonville, Wis., Mar. 31. Quite possibly you are right, friend N., in saying that we want the spacers attach- ed to the frames and not to the rabbets. In buying up bees last sjiring 1 noticed just the kind of spacing you describe. If beginners need spacers, and many veterans are either using fixed frames or desire them, it is time we were giving the matter thoughtful con- sideration. I am glad to hear that you like the staple. Do you find that they interfere seriously with the uncapping-knife V 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 333 APPENDIX TO THE A B (J OF BEE Cl'LTUHE. For the 42d Thousand. Again I have called upon oni- friend and corresi)ondent, Dr. ('. V. Miller, of Marengo, 111., to review this edition, just before the final form goes to press. It is to be observed, that he has commented on some things in the body of the work, and suggested some of the later developments which have come up since some of the forms were printed. These latter, though promising much, should be put in tlie appendix because they have not been sufficiently tested to warrant giving them such i)rominence and indorsement as the body of the work gives to devices and methods that have been most thoroughly tested. I have also made some additions. His matter will appear in solid type, while mine will be. as usual, like tliis. The doc- tor begins as follows : PAGE 4.— AFTER-SWAKMING. Perhaps it is not best to leave entirely out of sight the old-fashioned way of returning all swarms that issue when no more swarms are desired. It is a troublesome, but entire- ly effecti;al way, if persisted in, and was practiced with box hives bef(n-e the advent of the movable comb. All that is necessary is to put the swarm back into the parent hive as often as it issues ; and when only one young queen is left alive in the hive, the swarming will cease. Sometimes putting back an after-swarm once is all that is nec- essary. PACfE 12.— AXTS. There is a kind of large black ant that may be specially mentioned. These ants are troublesome, and sometimes even dan- gerous. They burrow in the wood of bot- tom-boards ; and I have seen a bottom- board that looked sound on the exterior, so thoroughly riddled by these pests that a very little touch would make it crumble. Think what a time you might have, if such a bot- tom-board should crumble while being haul- ed on a wagon I PAGE IH.— APIARY. One objection to any apiary made sym- metrical in form, no matter how beautiful in appearance, is, that the bees do not so readily And their liomes when they have no distinctive landmarks. On this account some think it well to plant trees, if none are al- ready growing; and a studied irregularity in their positions — copying after Nature's planting — makes each spot in the apiary different from every other spot, so that no bee need have any difficulty in going with unerring certainty straight to its own home. A natural linden grove is a fine site for an apiary. Instead of being placed in the cen- ter of the apiary, workshops are nowadays generally placed to one side. One reason for this IS, that it is not always convenient for a team of horses to be driven into the center of an apiary to reach the shop. I'AGK 20.— jroA'lXO WHOLE APJAKIES XOHTII- WARD. Within the past few years some progress has been made in this matter, and it now seems that these who have had sufficient ex- perience may successfully bring bees from the South to" the North in time to profit by the clover and basswood. Byron Walker, of Cai)ac, Mich., can not successfully winter Ins bees, on account of unwholesome food gathered in his locality, and he has made a practice of buying up bees in the sprnig in the South, and" transporting them bv rail to the North. PAGE 26.— ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. Since the increase of out-apiaries, advan- tage has been taken of the fact that, when a frame of brood and bees is taken a consider- able distance, tlie bees will stay wherever they are put. Suppose you have a hive full of combs, each comb having a queen-cell, as explained already. If this hive be taken to an out-apiary, each comb with its queen-cell and adhering bees may be put into a sepa- rate hive, the hive then filled with frames of foundation ; and, if done early enough in an extra good season, each nucleus thus formed will grow into a good colony during the course ot the season, with no further care than to see that it hiis succeeded in getting a laying queen. It is better, however, to take alcmg, at the time of hauling away, a second hive full of brood and bees, but with no queen or queen-cells, and give to each nucleus one of these combs with adhering bees. Then you have a fair chance of suc- cess in any ordinary season. For those who use large hives, and work for extracted honey, there is a very simjile way to double the number of colonies, whicli has worked well in the hands of some. When the time comes for surplus storing, put a queen-excluder on the hive, and on this i)ut a second stoiT filled with frames of fouiuhi- tion, or, better still, eniptv comb, then a third story also filled in the same way, ex- cept that you jilace in the third story one or two comb"s of- brood taken from the lower storv, together with the adhering bees. 334 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May Some yoiuio- brood and eggs sliould be in the comb or combs of brood i)liiced above. ]}e sure that the queen is left in tlie lower sto- ry. Let there be an entrance in the upper story, not necessarily very large. In about three weeks a young (jueen will be laying above, and at the close of the harvest this upper story will contain a strong colony, which may be put into a separate hive, and race-combs tlie honey- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTriiE 335 hoard may Ite on the upper side, there will always be found plenty of them between the honey-board and the toji-bars, if the to))- bars are not right. It is among the possibil- ities, that some device for keeping combs at tixed distances may come in vogue. PAGE 69.— MEKTIMG OBJECTIONS TO THE T SUPEK. Those who are advocates of tlie T super, meet two of the three objections in this way : If a T tin be put between the sections at the top, directly over those below, it is obvious that the spaces between each two rows of sections will be tilled up, avoiding the large dei)osit of propolis sometimes made between the sections, and at the same time holding the sections perfectly square. This, however, will leave on the tops of the sections a line of propolis at the edge of each llange of the T tins, and this is worse in appearance than the same amount of pro- polis at the corners of the sections. A bet- ter and cheaper way is to use, in place of the T tin on top, a small wood separator about i inch wide, and as long as the T tm. To the charge that it is not easy to make the outside and central rows of sections change places so as to get the outside ones tinished up, the reply is made, tliat, when the central sections are finished, they should not be moved to the ontside rows, but taken out of the super, and that, when all but a few outside ones are finished, the super should be emptied and the mifinished ones put back. PAGE 71.— GETTING BEES OUT OK SEC- TIONS ; CAUTION. Until yon have had some experience, per- haps your safest plan is, never to set a su- per of honey by the hive. Sometimes it may be safe to let it stand there all day when the bees have more than they can do on the flowers ; but, again, all at once it may start the bees to robbing, and demoral- ize them generally. PAGE 74.— EMPTYING T SUPERS. The machine for taking sections out of T su; honey, and you will probably have enough , for bait. pA(;e 76.— separators. Experience says, " Never use tin separa- tors loose, as in T supers ; and never use wood separators where they are to be nailed on, as on a wide frame. The objectionable curling of wood separators occurs only where they are nailed on, when shrinking and swelling makes them curl. Where placed loose between sections, as in the T super, the tin separator troubles by bending endwise, while the stiff grain of the wood prevents this, and, not being nailed, the wood separator can shrink and swell with- out curling, even if very thin. Averythiu wood separator will not last many years, be- cause the bees will gnaw it ; but since they are made now so cheaply that it is economy to throw away the old glued ones and buy new each year, it may turn out that even as thin as 30 to the inch may be preferred. It is a fact, that a very thin separator is much tougher in proportion to its thickness than a thick one, because the grain of the wood does not break in slicing very thin. PAGE 7S.— narrow sections. One bee-keeper protests vehemently against saying any thing to encourage be- ginners in trying a variety of sections. He at one time, as an experiment, used sections of live dift'erent widths, and says no one who has not tried it can imauine the result- ing annovance. The beginner is jiretty safe to'adopt the one kind that liuds favor with the majority of experienced bee-keepers. PA(;E loS. r SUPERS ON DO\E'rAII.ED IIIVKS. It was at hrst thought tiiat it would be somewhat objectionable to use on the Dove- tailed hive a T super shorter than the hive. P>ut it is found that they have been tlius 386 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May used for years ; and the question is even raised whether there is not an advantage in it. In verj- hot weather, when bees hang out at the entrance in clusters, if the super be shorter tlian the hive, so as to allow a space of i inch at the back end for ventila- tion between the hive and super, the tees in such a hive will not be found hanging out. A curious thing is, that the bees nev- er use this ventilating space as an entrance. If desired, this space can be closed by lay- ing upon it a little pine stick, or the stick can be nailed upon the super by any one who prefers never to have the space open. Whether it be desirable or not to have the super shorter than the hive, the advocate of the T super says : " There are two things settled upon as standard— the L. frame and the -4i section. Both of these I must have, and I must have the best thing to hold each ; and if they are not exactly of the same length, I'll adapt them to each other the easiest way I can. I have used T supers by the hundred, shorter than the hive, with no difficulty, and just for the matter of looks I do not propose to be satisfied with any infe- rior surplus arrangement in place of what I believe to be the best at present known, the T super.'' PAGE 274.— PREVENTION OF SWARMING. As mentioned in Dool ttle's comment No. SO, Hetherington, Elwood, and some others, have practiced caging or removing the queen during the honey harvest. Of course, no swarm will issue regularly without a queen in the hive; and if no cells are allow- ed to hatch, the i)revention is accomplished. When the harvest has commenced, bef' re giving the bees a ctiance to swarm, the er, who tried it in 1889, pronounced it the "poetry of extracting.'' ALFALFA, OR LUCERNE (Medicago sativa). At the i)rcs8nt writing. May, 1890, there is considerable dilTerencc of opinion in regard to this plant, especially in refer- ence to its adaptaliility to the average soils of the different States. In the great deserts of the West, California, Arizona, Idaho, and wherever irrigation is depended upon to raise crops, alfalfa is the great honey-plant — perhaps one of the greatest in the world — certainly the greatest for artificial pasturage. In the Great American Desert, where the w^eather is always favorable for the flight of bees, and where alfalfa is grown in fields of thousands of acres, the bee-keeper can hard- ly ask for any thing more. The iirigation needed to grow it for forage, makes the criip almost certain. As it is cut many times during the season, there is an almost constant yield of honey in the range of the bees' flight. We Jiave reports already of not only honey by tlie ton but honey by the carload; and the quality is probably equal to any thing that the world has ever pro- duced from any other source. In fact, it resembles so much a fine article of white- clover honey that it will probably sell in almost any market as clover honey, which, in fact, it is, as alfalfa is a species of clover. Tlie cuts are copied from Y. 11. Ilallock & Sons' (of Queens, N. Y.), seed catalogue for 1890. The large one, giving the size of the root, the way in which it grows deep in the soil, is probably exaggerated, although such plants may have l)een grown in the loose sandy si)ils of the desert. AVe have tested the plant on a small scale on our own grounds, but gave it up, as it did not seem to bear honey with us. Yery likely, however, it is because tlie amount ])lanted was too small, and may be because other sources furnislied si> much honey at the same time, that the bees did not notice it. It wintered over without any trouble, and gave a considerable amount of foliage. In digging a cellar for one oi' our new build- ings, a bed of it was torn up ; but we found the roots down three or four feet in the soil. We have tried since, and it stands our win- ters here in Ohio without any trouble. We gather the following in regard to its cultiva- tion, from a little pamphlet published by Ilallock & Sons, 1889 : It is better sown in drills, and cultivated, unless the land is ALFALFA. OK LUC'EltXK, IN AVUK'H THE ROOT ( (iROl'XD, SEEK1N(; quite free from other line couQiiinn. It can broadcast, the same a our locality it should hi or at least a sufllcient ti may get root enough to (nit by the frost, especi SIIOWIXCJ THE WAV iOES DEEI' IN THE FOR MOISTURE. seeds, and is in very . however, le sown s other clovers. In sown in the spring, me before fall so it stand being thrown ally if the grouixl is 33S GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. May clayey. After it gets a good start it can be cut every four or tive weeks. It should be put on rich hind, well drained. It will not stand too much water. This is indicated by its i)reference for tlie desert wastes in ALFALFA BL003I AND FOLIACiK. the rainless regions. Some writers tell us that there should be a depth of soil above the rock, ten or tifteen feet, and some go even so far as to claim that the roots will go down in search of moisture as much as twenty feet. If sown early, and a good stand obtained, it may be cut the first year. The second year it yields two cuttings, and afterward three and four cuttings, in a sea- son. It has been grown successfully in Wisconsin, but no rei)ort has been made of honey obtained from it there. It yields from three to five tons per acre, and some rejjorts go as high as eight or ten tons. It gives from three to five cuttings to the season, and, under favorable circum- stances, even six or seven have been made. For drill jdanting, 10 or 12 lbs. of seed per acre is sufficient. For broadcast, however, 15 or 20 lbs. is better. For the best hay it should be cut when blooming commences. If raised by bee-keepers, however, they will prefer to leave it until the bees have made a pretty good crop of honey from the bloom. The liay is said to be better, however, when cut about as soon as it is in full bloom. All kinds of stock, even i)Oultry, take to it with avidity at first sight. For soiling purposes it is probably imetiualed, especially if cut and wilted two or tliree hours in the hot sun. Thus a supply may be kept for morn- ing, noon, and night feeding. Working an- imals will get along with very little grain when su])plied in this way with alfalfa. IS'othing gives better results for milch cows. Pigs, lambs, and colts, are very fond of it, and thrive when so fed. It may be grazed moderately, but heavy close grazing will de- stroy it. Properly managed, it will yield lioney crops for 40 years. We are told that there are heavy fields of it in South Ameri- ca that have been growing continuously for centuries. It has been tested by the States more or less for perhaps 50 years past. From the fact, however, that it has been mostly abandoned, except in the great West, I am inclined to think it will not come into gen- eral favor unless under very favorable con- ditiinis, or because it yields honey as well as hay. Some writers claim that the amount of rain we have here would be fatal to it during the majority of seasons. Others say, how- ever, that the rain will do no harm, provid- ing the land is thoroughly imderdrained. It is quite certain, I believe, that great quan- tities of seed have been sold l)y seedsmen at enormous prices, because of exaggerated accounts given in the seed catalogues— that is, exaggerated in regard to the great dei)th to which the root grows in ordinary soils, and also in regard to its adaptability to all localities. At tjie ])resent writing, the seed is worth witli us about $7.5!) per bushel ; but we see it advertised in the Pacific States as low as three or four dollars a bushel. Tlie price of the seed will, however, probably be very soon equalized, to the advantage of both parties. In rainless regions, where ir- rigation is depended upon, there is none of the difficulty in growing it perfectly that we have here. On this account it has been sr.g- gested that alfalfa hay may sometimes be shipped from the Great American Desert to ('luca2,o, and i)ossibly other jioints, cheaper than hay of equal (juality can be ])ro(luce(l in regions where rain is plentiful. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 339 FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. PAINTING SHIPPING-CASES ; SCRAPING SECTIONS. Is it customary or advisable to paint shipping- cases? If BO, what color? If I could get careful boys or girls to scrape sec- tions ready for market— those who would not stick the knife or their fingers into the cappings, how much per hundred would it be worth, including dinner and supper, say half board? I had eleven colonies, spring count, and increas- ed to 33. I took 900 lbs. of extracted and .oOO lbs. of comb honey; that would be 127'4 lbs. per colony, and I had left from 30 to 40 lbs. in each hive. Durango, la.. Mar. 3. J. M. Woodhouse. Of late years, friend W., it has not been deemed best to paint our shipping-cases at all, and I believe they are seldom returned. Cases made of clean new lumber look better, as a rule, than the painted ones ; and if there should be any daubing, it shows worse on the surface of the white paint than on clean wood. — We could not well suggest a price per 100 for scraping sections, especial- ly when the labor may be much more in some cases than in others. THAT PI.NE-TKEE HONEY. My bees made more honey in December and Jan- uary last, than they did in August and September. The oldest inhabitants have never seen any thing of the kind. The honey-dew has drip]>ed from the pine trees like rain falling. The leaves under the trees ha%'e been perfectly coated with the honey- dew. Walking in ihem, they would stick together in piles. From what I have seen myself, and what others have told me. thousands of tons of honey- dew have fallen. If the days had been longer, and all warm, so the bees could have got out early and late, they would certainly have made more honey than they ever did for me in the spring. Some of my strongest colonies filled the second story with fine honey. J.D.Cooper. Traveler's Rest, S. C, Feb. 5. THE .JAMAICA EXPOSITION. Would you allow me space in your valued paper to call the attention of supply-dealers to an exhibi- tion which Is to be held in this city in January, 1891, and at which a special pavilion is to be set apart for the exhibition of bees working, and bee-keeping appliances? As the exhibition will be held in the middle of our honey season, and as the management hope to attract many visitors, not only from Europe and the United States and Canada, but also from the other West Indian Islands, and from Central and South America, it would appear to be a capital op- portunity for showing up modern bee keeping ap- pliances in this part of the world. The Jamaica Bee-Keepers' Association have been asked by the exhibition commissioners to work up the bee-keeping department ; and should any of your readers be desirous of sending an exhibit of appliances they will be happy to supply bees for any hives, etc., which it might be desirod to show working, and to do all in their power to show off the goods to the best advantage. If any reader desiring further information on the subject will communicate with me 1 shall be happy to procure and forward copies of the regulations- and forms of application for space (a sample of which I send you for information), and any other particulars they may require. Applications for space must be sent in not later than July 1, 1890. C. O. Maonan. Kingston, Jamaica, W. I., Mar. 13. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS CONCERNING OREGON A9 A BEE-COUNTRY. Some time ago, I hear, my name appeared in Gleanings; and, of course, coming from Oregon it was read with interest. So far, so good; but that little article (I don't remember what it could have been) has gotten me into trouble. I have received 18 letters of inquiry (from brother bee-keepers, I presume), in different States. That's all right too. But some of them are outrageous. Not one of them contained even a stamp for reply. One of the writers (and I hope he will see this), after ask- ing 23 questions as to whether he could make a liv- ing, etc., and get the best land for nothing, had the " gall " to ask me to get him a situation at good wages, as he bad a large family, and itnsicer hy re- hirn mnil. How's that for " heaping coals of fire " on my poor head? Now, Bro. Koot, I am ready, and always was, to do all I can to further the interest of any one; but it is out of reason to abuse privileges. We are civilized out here— no Indians (wild). My business keeps me very close, and 1 rarely get time to tend my bees as they should be; so if all inquir- ing brothers will write to the Immigration Bureau, Ash St.. Portland, Ore , they will get all the printed information they want (but no situations). Spring has fairly opened, and bees are loaded with pollen. Yesterday they literally choked the entrances in their mad scramble to get in and un- load. No losses the past winter, although I hear of some through the country. E. J. Ladd. Portland, Ore., Mar. 18. alfalfa hay overestimated. I tried raising alfalfa on clay land near Syracuse, N. Y., some years since. It was a failure. It seems to be best adapted to irrigated sections. In Den- ver, alfalfa Js worth about half the price of timo- thy. Many liverymen prefer other hay. New York men are not foolish enough to ship alfalfa from Colorado the second time at any freight rate like $180 per car. In my opinion it is an overesti- mated hay. Cows and horses eat it readily, and rich milk in large quantities is produced from it. The seed shipped from Rocky Ford, I think, goes to Europe, and not for seeding in New York. Broomfleld, Colo., Mar. 25. J. T. Clapp. alfalfa for particular localities. I have received a number of Inquiries from differ- ent sources, asking if I thought it would grow in particular localities. I can say but little more than I have already said, that I think it will grow in any sandy loam or any loose deep soil. It is not liable to winter-kill unless water stands on it. I think it will grow well in any latitude, provided the soil is suitable, and 1 would advise any who desire to raise it to give it a trial, at least on a small scale, irre- spective of climate or latitude. You will doubtless be pleased with the result. D. L. Williams. Caldwell, Idaho, Mar. 38. covers for hives. Tell Dr. Miller to try a cover for his hives, made by nailing a piece 'a .\ IK in. on the ends. Let one 340 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May projection be up and the other down; and every time he takes it off, just turn it upside down for a while, and old Sol seems by and by to let it alone. I have used them thus a long time, and I like them well. You see there are four ways to put them on, which ought to suit people who love to reverse. D. McKenzie. Camp Parapet, N. O., La., Apr. 9, 1890. We can use our covers for the Dovetailed hive in the same way. It is true, old Sol melts down the bits of burr-combs, but it makes both sides of the cover unsightly. SPACING OF BROOD-FRAMES. Is there any need of spacing our brood-frames further apart than the bees ordinarily leave them when they fill and cap them with honey or brood? If there is an advantage, please state what it is. TWO COLONIES IN THE SAME HIVE. Is there any serious objection to having two full colonies of bees in the same hive, separated by a close-fltting division-board, and having their re- spective entrances in opposite directions? Dallas, Tex., Feb. 20. C. J. Weatherford. For winter we have spaced our frames in chaff hives further apart. We are not sure that it is necessary, however. Eor cellar wintering, and at all other times, wider spacing is unnecessary. There is no seri- ous objection to having two colonies in the same hive, as you state, but some advan- tage in point of heat. Why such hives are not more generally adopted is because they are larger and more cumbersome, and are not as well adapted for hauling. bees DYING ON THE GROUND ; STARVATION NOT THE CAUSE. I see by the report on page 168, Mar. 1, that the Wisconsin bee-keepers made up their minds that lack of stores was the reason of their bees dying on the ground in June. I had 55 stocks on my yard last spring, and there was not a hive short of stores from the time bees began to fly in the spring until they stopped flying in the fall, and have not been since. I lost only one stock in wintering, and that was my fault. They did not die from lack of stores. In the midst of the white-clover harvest, when they were storing honey as fast as at any time during the season, there were days when the ground was full of bees crawling around. You could scrape dead bees up in the paths— lots of them. I should think there would be bees enough on the ground to make a couple of good swarms. There always seemed to be more of them when the sun came out hot after a day's rain. I have had one hive affected that way all winter. I have noticed it every time the bees could fly. They were flying yesterday, and I noticed quite a number of bees on the ground in front of the hive. Bees have been able to fly here every two or three weeks all winter, and some- times two or three times, a week. I thought the trouble was one form of the nameless bee-disease. I have had that among my bees, and have noticed that bees in the same hive are not all affected alike by it. Some of them seem to dry up, and get black and shiny— look as it they were only skin and bones, and others swtUupand look like bees that have been long confined to the hives by cold weather; but both^have the same nervous twitching of the wings, and motion of the head. There were but two or three days when there were so very many bees on the ground, and that was always after a rain; but for nearly two weeks they were afl'ected in that way. I hope some cure can be found for the trouble. DEAD-AIR vs. PACKED HIVES. In last Gleanings the answers in regard to va- cant space or chaff packing interested me. I think Mr. J. A. Green's reasons are correct. I never tried hives with no packing, but I have several with seven thicknesses of heavy building paper around them, with a '4-inch space between the sheets. Bottoms and sides are covered alike. The bottom and side sheets have joints, so as to prevent circulation of air as much as possible. The bees in the chaff and sawdust packed hives always winter better than in those covered with paper. The winter has been easy on the bees here, but it looks now as if the spring were going to be hard enough to make up for it. It snows almost every day, and the nights are quite cold. 1 saw one load of pollen come in yesterday. E. D. Howell. New Hampton, N. Y., Apr. 1. Friend II., we are much obliged to you for letting us know that there is something about bees dying around the hives in June that we did not ''know" all about. We thank you, too, for letting us know that a dead-air space made with building-paper is not as good as chaff. Our house-apiary was built thus with much pains and at large expense, that it might be absolutely imper- vious to frost. We succeeded in this ; but it is damp and cold, and I should very much rather have a house made with narrow strips of wood inclosing sawdust— that is, for almost any kind of work, unless you want a damp cellar for roots, potatoes, etc. A PECULIAR season IN NAPA CO., CAL. This has been a very peculiar season In our locali- ty, and some have called it quite phenominal. Sev- enty-two inches of rain has fallen thus far, and we have even had six little snowstorms in the coast range of mountains— one of eleven inches. Bees are in fair condition at this altitude, 1750 ft.; but the little fellows have had a very lonesome time of it. I notice some wild black bees flying to-day, and I picked up several dead ones from off a snowdrift recently. The manzanita has nearly finished blos- soming, and has yielded little honey on account of the wet. The willows are out now, and a number of wild flowers, which a little later will number al- most a thousand and one— figuratively. There are only five bee-keepers in the whole of this county of Napa, with a total of less than 200 hives of Italians. St. Helena, Cal., Feb. 25. Will C. Aiken. CORRECTION ON THE OHIO CONVENTION. It seems that I was unfortunate in making my- self understood at the convention, for I was re- ported in the Ohio Farmc}- as saying that I had 40 swarms from reversible frames, when the 40 swarms mentioned were hived on reversible frames five years ago, and, of course, came out of hives with non-reversible frames, as it was the first year that I used reversible frames. In answer to a question, I said that I had about 3J swarms the past season, which did not contradict the claims made in ray paper, as stated in tbe Farmer. And now comes Gleanings, with j-our report that I did not think reversing killed the imago queen, when, in fact, I think in docs, unless they are nearly 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE (^ULTURE. 341 ready to hatch. Now, the fault was not j ours, but mine, because of my own stupidity. You see, I un- derstood you to asli about brood; and as some of the friends had l)antered me iibout making the " baby bees " sick by inverting their cradles, 1 laughingly told you it was all nonsense. Oberlin, Ohio, Mar. U'l. Chalon Fowls. A LOW YIELD PEl! DAY. I send you a clipping taken from March 15th No. of Farm (ind Home. Now, don't you think there is a mistake somewhere? for during the best honey season the best day gave a gain of only :3?4 lbs. I had bees do better than that on fall bloom. Last season one colony I weighed gave me Ti.") lbs. in :J0 days; the best day was (>}< lbs. : and to think that a colony during white clover and basswood gained only V'o lbs. in June and July— it would not half winter them. Had you not better investigate it a little, and, if wrong, have it changed? Perhaps some poor fellow may have just started in the busi- ness, and may see that article, and live in a place where sugar is high, and could not afford to keep bees at that rate, and go out of the business. Here is the clipping: An interesting: trial of the industry of bees has just been made at the Rliode Island Experiment Station, bv placing a hive on soales and frequrntlv recordine its weight. Begin- ning'with June 11. on wliirli date no gain was made, the in- crease fluctuated from in.tliini;' to 2^ lbs. perdav. During July the greatest increase during any 21 hours was 2', lbs. per day. This was a hive of fair strength, and the weighing wa.s done between 4 and 5 A, Ji.. bef.ire the bees left the hive. There were 211 days during which a decided gain was noticed, six in which no gain nor loss took i»Iace, and 18 days of loss. The gam was 22)^, and the loss 15 lbs., leaving a balance of 7}^ lbs. Watson, Mich., Mar. 21. A. C. Fassett. You are right, friend F. The locality must have been very poor or the colony very weak, to give so small a result as re- ported by the Experiment Station. We have several times had 10 lbs. gathered in a single day from white clover. EXTRA SPACE UNDER BROOD-FRAMES; REVERSING. Some writers claim an advantage in wintering bees by having a large space under the frames. Would not this advantage work equally well by having a space of ,'+ or 1 inch or more under the frames summer and wintrr? Is it injurious to a frame of brood to reverse or turn upside down in any stage? What kind of flour is best for feeding bees in the spring? Subscriber. The claim is made as you say. Experi- ment this summer will decide whether it would be an advantage or not. We never could see that it hurt the brood to turn it upside down. It may sometimes kill larvae in queen-cells. We use rye flour. You may have to start them with a little syrup in order to get them to take it. Nat- ural pollen comes in so soon with us that we have lately given no meal.— See page 12u in regard to a large amount of space under the comb. 4RE bees in A CELLAR UNHEALTHFUL? ETC. 1. Would wintering bees in a cellirunder the house make the living-room unhealthful on account of the exhalations from the hives? 3. Do you think chaff hives for wintering out of doors would be cheaper in the end than single-wall- ed hives put close together and protected by leaves, chaff, or some such substance? ;!. Are the flat covers a sufficient protection to the hives from the weather? 4. In using supers, would not the white-clover honey be put into the brood chamber first, and the inferior honey later on in the supers? If so, would there be an advantage in using an upper story? Daniel J. Naftel. Goderich, Ont., Can., Feb. 1. 1. No, if the cellar is ventilated occasion- ally by opening a door or window at night, and if the dead bees on the cellar tloor are not allowed to accumulate in too great numbers. 2. Chaff hives would be cheaper in the end. 3. They are. Most bee-keepers prefer them. 4. If stores are scarce, the white honey, when it did come, would go into the brood- chamber first. Bees will be pretty apt, es- pecially the Italians, to fill brood-chamber first, no matter what the honey is ; after that they will go into the supers if the colo- ny is strong enough, and there is a good flow of nectar. As a general rule, there will, or ought to be, enough inferior honey in the brood-nest to cause the first white honey to go above. NUCLEI FROM STRONG COLONIES IN THE SPRING ; A QUESTION. When the colonies become rousing strong in the fore part of May, will it lessen the number of pounds of honey in June and July, if I take a cou- ple of frames with adhering bees to start a nucle- us from each hive, and put frames in their place, filled with foundation? C. Reynolds. Fremont, O , Feb. 28. Friend I^,it will most assiu'edly lessen the honey yield if you take brood or bees from any"hive at any time, especially in the fore part of the season. Where brood-rear- ing is stopped, or brood is taken away just before the honey season closes, you may, by reducing the number of consumers, save a little honey. It has also been recommend- ed to prevent swarming, by taking away brood and bees, for this will be a kind of artificial swarming. ALF.A.LFA ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER BOTTOM. Kinsley is about a mile from the Arkansas River, and the river-bottom is from 3 to 7 miles wide. On this bottom there can be good water found any- where at a depth of from 8 to 12 ft. (sweet water). The farmers here are beginning to sow alfalfa clo- ver very extensively. The history of alfalfa is, that the root u-ill go down 30 ft. if the soil is so that it can penetrate it; and such is the nature of the soil here. Once there, it is good for 20 years, and once you have a good stand you can cut two or three crops a year, and two and three tons per acre. When alfalfa is in bloom, and you drive alongside of a patch, and the wind comes over it, its fragrance is very strong and sweet. Kinsley, Kan , Feb. 13. Franklin Spiegle. THE MOSS BACKED COUNTRY ; OR, BEES AND ] BASSWOOD. I have never yet seen a word in Gleanings from up here in the moss-backed country. Perhaps you have never heard of such a place. It is a new country yet, comparatively, for the oldest settlers have to look back only about from Id to 15 years when it was a wilderness. Ours is a manufactur- ing town, where the timber is worked up into but- ter-plates, broom-handles, lumber, etc. There are 342 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May quite a good many in the bee-business here, and are doing very well, it being a heavily timbered country. We have a good deal of basswood, white clover, and red raspberry, the latter growing spon- taneously in all open places. I had 15 colonies last spring, and now have 40, all wintering well. My nephew extracted 18l0 lbs. from 20 colonies, so you see they do something here. I want to state how we winter bees here, and then you can put the whole thing into the waste-basket if you think best. We dig a hole, or pit, in the ground, and board it up and cover with boards and then dirt, leaving no ventilation whatever. That is the way 1 have win- tered my bees the past two years. I use no tobac- <30, so I shall have to go down into my pocket for those two smokers we need. It it^ our turn to " smile " now. Instead of mud we have hfidapleridid sleighing all winter. Mancelona, Mich., Mar. IT. E. Chapman. Friend C, your bees will probably winter very nicely in your sandy soil, even if you make no provision for ventilation. I sup- pose I am correct in thinking the soil is sandy and porous in that section of Michi- gan where you live. BEES AND SAP. For what purpose do bees use the sap of trees? I notice them using water out of holes in trees that seems to be stale, and mixed with sap. Is it one of the necessary ingredients in the preparation of food for larvae, or do the old bees use it to aid di- gestion? G. D. MiMS. Falfa, S. C, Feb. 17. Friend M., you evidently have never read our little book, '' Menybanks and his Neigh- bor," or you would not inquire why bees use sap. It furnishes them both water and sugar ; and did maple sap come at a time when the weather is favorable for the bees to fly, it would probably be one of the great- est aids to brood-rearing. Bees do seem to prefer, at times, stale, "foul, and stagnant water ; and I do not know that any good explanation has been given. Possibly they take it because they need water, and do not stop to notice whether it is clean or not, very much as common fowls will often drink water which is leached from a ma- nure-heap, possibly because they are too lazy or too stupid to go where better water can be had. GOOD OR BAD LOCK ; A STORY WITH A MORAL. Some eight years ago I invested $64 03 in eight swarms of black native bees. Within three years I was without bees or honey, every pound of the lat- ter I got having cost me over 75 cents, saying noth- ing about my time and bother. Before I bought those bees I thought I knew all aboutkeepingthem. After my cash and bees were gone, and all I had to show for them was a lot of empty hives and old combs, I came to the conclusion that all is not gold that glitters, even in bee keeping. I made kindling- wood of the hives, wax of the combs, and came to this conclusion on two things: First, that I would go a little slower next time; second, that the next bees I got should not cost me any thing, only the time Id find them and the hives to put them in. Last winter being quite mild, a good many bees lived ovor ia the woods; and being a practical bee- hunter (if not a bee-keeperl I have hunted bees nearly every year for twenty years. I found five swarms in the timber, in April. Some one was good enough to steal one of them before I got around to take them up and transfer to tiives. I took up the other four, however, and I got last season from the four, spring count, ~(0 lbs. ct comb honey and about the same of extracted, or lOO lbs. per colony, spring count. I have now 10 swarms in the cellar, the increase from last season, which at present, March 31, are in good shape. L. J. Clark. Wiscoy, Minn., Mar. 31. Friend C, your bad luck was the result of investing heavily in bees to commence with, liut whj^ you should make kindling- wood of the hives, and wax of the combs ? Wouldn't your hives and combs come in nicely now with the rational start you have made V A bee-keeper's sad home. Ji/-. Z?oot;— As my husband is a bee-keeper and a reader of your valuable paper, I take these few sad moments to write to you. We have met with a sad loss. Death has entered our home and taken our pet, our little baby. Just one month ago to- day she closed her sweet blue eyes; and as she loved so well to look at " papa's paper " I thought I would send you the following lines: OUR two-year old little ELLA. Fold the little waxen fingers Softly o'er her snowy breast; Death has claimed our little darling- Little Ella's now at rest. Place within her hand sweet flowers, Broken from the parent stem- Fitting emblem of our treasure- God has claimed our rarest gem. Dearer far to us than riches- Aye, how dear we ne'er could tell, Till stern Death, with icy fingers, Seized the one we loved so well. Sweet blue eyes are closed for ever; Busy hands for ever still; Lisping tongue for ever silent I Naught on earth her place can fill. Hushed is now her childish laughter; How we miss her gentle tread! While our home, so sad and dreary, Seems to echo, " Ella 's dead!" She 's not dead, but only sleeping; Christ himself has told us so; We vainly try to cease our weeping, But our hearts are filled with woe; Filled with sorrow, for the parting Was so sudden it might seem That our fancy still were smarting From a restless, troubled dream. Strew her tiny mound with flowers- Flowers that were our darling's prize; May their fragrance wide be wafted Till the Savior bids her rise. Woodstock, Kan , April 18. Mrs. F. W. Rogers. Hold fast to the Savior's promises, dear brother and sister ; and if the loved one who has gone before you should be the means of lixing your hearts heavenward, and helping you to better meet the tempta- tions and allurements of the sin of the world, then her little life was not in vain. Most folks know something of such trials, and you have our sympathy. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 343 MANUM NOT INTERESTED IN SUPPI.IES. Frinid Rout :— It seems that many of your readers think I am in the supply-business. I judge so from the many letters I am daily receiving from parties who are in want of supplies, and who make espe- cial inquiry about the Bristol hive, asking for my price list, etc. I wish to state right here, that I am 7iot in the supply-business, nor interested in it in any way; hence my article in January Gleanings, describing the Bristol hive, was a purely unselfish motive, except that I like to see a good thing put forward for the good of all. My successors in the supply-business are Messrs. Drake & Smith, of this place, whose advertisement can be found in this number of Gleanings. BEES wintered WELL. Again my bees have wintered well on their sum- mer stands. My loss up to date is 18 colonies out of «364, being less than 3' . You will remember, that last fall I was a little uneasy over the prospect, owing to the fact that my bees had stored so much poor fall honey and honey-dew. But, thanks to an -open winter and the Bristol hive for my success In ■wintering. In order to make this report full and complete I should say that I have several light ■colonies that will probably dwindle out unless we have a favorable spring. A. E. Mandm. Bristol, Vt., Apr. 1.5. With Replies from our best Autliorities 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 OurQuestion-Box." Question 1.59— o. How often is it necessary, in yuur experience, to visit an apiary run for the produc- tion of comb honey f ik For the production of extract- ed honey, would it be necessary to make the visits often- er, and how of ten? a. Once in ten days. b. About once a week. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. I am in mine everyday. I know nothing of out- apiaries personally. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. a. About ouee a week in the busiest time. b. -.\bout the same, I think. New York. C. p. H. Elwood. I have not had experience with out-apiaries; but I doubt whether any rigid rule can be followed suc- cessfully. Cuba. O. O. Poppleton. a. Often enough to look after swarms and see the colonies have the right amount of surplus room. b. Not as often. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. a. Every day during the honey season and swarm- ing time, b. No. When run for extracted honey, .twice or three times a week will answer. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. We visit our apiaries twice a month during March and April; about three times in May; about four times in June and July, and more or less often dur- ing the other months till the bees are prepared for winter. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. a. I like to get to each apiary every four to six days in the busy time. b. Ask Dadant or France. 1 should guess once a week. Illinois. N. C.C.Miller. I have no out-apiary, and can not answer from experience. If I had one, and it behaved like my home apiary, it would badly need som(^ one at hand most of the time. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hastv. I find that one has to be continually in his apiary during the honey-flow, either for comb or extracted honey, unless it is composed of only a few colonies. Louisiana. E. C. P. L. Viallon. b. We keep from 200 to 400 hives in each apiary, and think it necessary to have some one present in the apiary about alt the time from April to August. California. S. W. R. Wilkin. It has been my practice to visit out-apiaries once each week, both when boxing or extracting. Much better results will be reached when you can have constant supervision of the apiary. Connecticut. S. W. L. C. Root. In the busy season, once a week, I should say. I have had no experience. Of course, the hives would have to be watched unless queen entrance- guards were used. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. a. That depends altogether upon the season and the honey-flow. b. If. a large hive is used with a full set of frames in second ^tory, it would not be necessary to visit as often as if run for comb honey. Illinois. N. W.C. Mrs. L. Harrison. a. That varies so much that no rule can be laid down. When you have some one to hive the swarms on the premises, a visit from the apiarist, during the honey season, every three to eight days, say, will be sufficient. Wisconsin. S. W. Geo. Grimm. a. That would depend much on the honey-flow and swarming impulse, and how you manage them when you made your visits, b. In a large apiary, in the swarming and honey season we find it neces- sary to visit them daily. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. Freeborn. Your visits to your apiary should be determined by the season and not by "made-up" rules. If your own experience does not tell you when to ex- amine your bees, your chances are poor for a full crop of honey, and for yourself to ever become a good bee-keeper. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MUTH. I have had but little experience with out-apiaries run for comb honey. A small one got along very well with visits at intervals of about a week during the producing season. For extracted honey the visits need not be so frecjuent. I have run out- apiaries for extracted honey, visiting them only Ave or six times during the season. Illinois. N. C. J.A.Green. That depends on the kind of help you have. If you have poor helpers you will find it to your ad- vantage to make such visits as fretiucnily as possi- ble. With reliable help, apiaries might be run through the season without seeing them. b. I should think not, especially with abundance of sur- 344 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May plus combs. Much depends upon the methods em- ployed. Ohio. N. W. H. K. BOARDMAN. I should think about as often as to visit one run for extracted honey, and that is once a week from the first of May until in July. I pauge my visits by indications in the home yard. If honey comes rap- idly, surplus cases must be ready, and must be put on, even if the visits have to be oftener than once a week. Our visits average about once in ten days. New York. E. Rambler. Oh gracious! Everything depends upon the sys- tem of running out-apiaries which you adopt, es- pecially in the production of comb honey. My plan is to keep a good man in an apiary, said apiary con- taining bees enough to keep him busy and be worthy of his hire. In the production of extracted honey I have always done the same way, but I am by no means sure but that out-apiaries might be run at a greater profit by locking them up and visiting them occasionally. Every thing depends upon the style of hive you use, and consequently what manipulation and general system of manage- ment. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. The above seems to be pretty well answer- ed, without any thing additional from my- self. Enend lleddon, however, hits a point that I think should be considered. He says his plan is to keep a good man in the apiary. Now, the point is to get a good man. I have had men in the apiary who did so many things that were*a direct damage, that I should much prefer having the bees under lock and key, so as to keep them from be- ing tinkered to death. We should be slow, however, in finding fault, especially when many of us have our own selves several times done harm by this same unseasonable tinkering. When the house -apiary first came out it was especially recommended because it might be locked up, to keep the bees and honey safe when located away from the home of the owner. \mE^ ^PD QlIERIEg. We solicit for this department short items and questions of a practical nature; but all questions, if accompanied by oth- er matter, must be put upon a SEPARATE slip of paper with name and address. KILLING OCT ALFALFA. I read in the Denver Field and Farm two instances where alfalfa was plowed under and the ground seeded to wheat, and a crop of wheat and a crop of alfalfa seed were harvested the same season. Silver Cliff, Col., Feb. 37. M. Nevins. PROF. COOK'S SUCCESS IN MAKING MAPLE SUGAR IN THE SPRING OF 1890. I lost all my sugar-apparatus, house and all, by fire. I bought new, and have nearly paid for all in this one year. A. J. Cook. Lansing, Mich., April, 1890. What is the best way to fertilize a queen by any special drone? Roland Lindsay. Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. IT. [There is no best way— it can not be done. Keep only drones at large of good selected stock, and you will get good bees.l CLIPPING OR A QUEEN-TRAP. What plan would you advise — clipping the queeu's wing, or using the queen-traps during my absence? J. N. Smith. Harvey Cedars, N. J. [Clip the queen's wing. The traps are a hin- drance if kept on the hive all summer.] DO BEES swarm WITHOUT A QUEEN ? I got into an argument as to whether bees will swarm without a queen or queen-cells. I want your opinion on that question. L. I. Morris. Snowville, O., Feb. 28. [Bees will seldom if ever swarm without a queen of some kind.] THE little busy BEE. How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining minute I And sometimes, too, he has his fun; But, friend, don't you begin it. Cleveland, O., Mar. 6. R. V. Murray. [Mr. Murray is our special artist for Gleanings. He has lately come into possession of some bees, and v(ouch!)es from experience.] WILL BEKS WORK IN THE LIGHT ? Is light injurious in any way to the welfare of bees? I have a 10-frame glass hive. Kennonsburg, Ohio, April 7. J. B. Williams. [Friend W., bees do not seem to fancy working in the full light of day, as a rule. They may be ac- customed to it, however, so that they go right along without any apparent hindrance. We see this in observatory hives placed before windows.] PROPER SPACE BETWEEN END-BAR AND HIVE. With J^-inch end-bars, is there any danger of propolizing when clearance between end-bar of brood-frame and hive is oniy ^i inch, or how close can the end-bar come and be safe from propolizing'?' St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 20. A. C. Allen. [One-eighth of an inch is hardly enough. Bees will fasten it with propolis. Five-sixteenths or % is as close as you can space; in fact, a bee-space is the best.] TOO CLOSE SPACING. I have been using Simplicity hive, 8 frames, spac-- ed IV2 inches. I want to try thick top-bars, 1 inch wide, spaced /o. Would you use 9 frames per hive, or is that too near together to have bees winter well outdoors? BuRDETT Hall. Chittenango, N. Y., April 2. [Use 8 frames spaced 1?8 inches from center to- center. Closer spacing would not be advisable.] BEE-STINGS NOT A CURE FOR RHEUMATISM. I must let you know that I am on the sick-list with that dreadful disease, rheumatism. For three weeks 1 have been suffering terribly, but I am on the mend, though slow. I hope I shall be all right again. It comes very easily, but it is hard to get rid of. Bee-stings are a very poor remedy. They- might help some people, but are no good for me. Edwardsville, 111., Mar. 17. Louis Werner. ANOTHER USE FOR FEEDERS AS HILL DEVICES. Please tell your readers that two Simplicity bee- feeders, turned bottom side up across the brood- frames, will give as good results as a more costly- device for packing bees for winter. C. A. Dean. Meshoppen, Pa., Mar. 1. [Yes, sir, they will work all right. When we fed up our apiary with two wooden butter-dishes we turned the latter upside down over the center of the brood-nest, after they were empty, on some of the hives. They work just as well as the Hill de- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 345 vices; and as they are very much cheaper they would be preferable.] HOUSE-APIARIES— SEE PAGE 133. . I was somewhat astonished on reading J. Vander- -vort's statement. What a difference it makes how a house-apiary is built and managed! I have lost no queens yet by mating. I get scarcely a sting, unless I pinch them. They winter better, because better protected than they could be outdoors. I think the difference must be, I use hives and he does not. I would not take a house-aplary as a gift, and use it that way, with stationary hives. Holloway, Mich., Feb. 17. H. S. Hoxie. From 90 colonies, spring count, to 130; lOliO lbs. of comb and 7000 of extracted honey. Wharton, Texas, Mar. 8. W. O. Victor. tracting the brood-nest to five or six combs during clover and basswood harvest. M. L. Poteet. St. Joseph. Mo., Mar. 20^ NO I.OSS IN winter. Our bees went into winter quarters with plenty of honey, and came through the winter in fine condi- tion, not losing any out of 100. They carried in pol- len April 3, for the first time I have seen them this year, and there has been sealed brood in nearly all we have looked at. Our bees did not do very well last season, owing to lack of honey to keep up brood-rearing at the right time (June). We secur- ed only about 700 lbs. of comb, and extracted from 70 colonies. C. W. Bosworth. Ford, O., April 5. During 1889 we secured, from 7.5 colonies, .5357 lbs. of comb honey— an average per colony of 7l?g lbs. John & James Cowe. Goodland, Mich., Apr. 19, 1890. from 33 TO 86, AND 4000 LBS. OF HONEY. My honey crop last season was 4000 lbs.— 3000 comb and 1000 extracted, from 36 colon'es, spring count, and increased to 83. J. E. Hand. Abbott, la., Mar. 3L NEVER LOST IN CHAFF HIVES. I have 40 colonies of bees in excellent condition. 1 sold 3000 lbs. of honey last season, from 39 colo- nies—3.500 lbs. comb, .51 0 extracted. I have winter- ed on summer stands in your chaff hives for four winters, and have not lost a colony. Atwood, 111., Apr. 4. J. S. Marshall. 1300 LBS. FROM 15 COLONIES. From 15 hives in the spring my bees increased to 74, and I took 1200 pounds of section honey. I am wintering them in sheds with hay packed around them. They were all doing nicely the first of this week. They had a good fly, and carried in some pollen. E. M. Anderson. Maryville, Mo., Feb. 27. $500 PER year from the bees, besides the IN- COME FROM the farm. May 1st found us with about 80 swarms, good and toad. Wc had at one time 135 swarms, but doubled back to 98, which we put into the cellar the last of November. We took off 5100 lbs. in sections, and extracted 1000 lbs. The last three seasons we have averaged about $500 from them. We have a small farm in the edge of the timber. We have at this • lERMS: SI.OO PER YEAR, POSTPAIl !■ » •! for Clublise Sates, See First Fage of Heading Matter. ^./dllEIDIIISr-S^, 1^^.^J^ 1, , IBQO. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.— Matt. 5:«. We have at this date 9841 subscribers. those of our friends who are so stubborn and con- trary as to refuse to fall into line and use such bee supplies as other people do. If you start out with the fixed purpose of mailing your own sup- plies, you may get along very well to a certain ex- tent; but sooner or later there will come a time when you will want to exchange, swap, buy, or sell, and then you are not only in a bad predica- ment, but you intiict damage and injury on those with whom you have deal. Now, we have expen- sive automatic machinery, arranged to make work of a certain size. The machine is buzzing away day after day on regular goods, doing the work with accuracy and beauty. When we are behind on orders, as we are at present, to have some one send in an order requiring that this complicated and expensive machine be pulled to pieces, and changed for something else, while others are wait- ing for nvular goods, really seems preposterous. Every time the machine is changed there is a lia- bility of inaccuracy in the adjustment when put back to its proper work; and with our factory of thirty or forty new hands that have been crowded into the service, the chances for mistakes are ever so much greater. These new hands could run the machine right along on its regular legitimate work; but to stop it and adapt it to something else that no one else ever heard of, requires not only an old hand, but an expensive one. After the odd-sized stuff is made up, boxed up, and sent off, it Is not uncommon to hear that the things were not made as wanted, or perhaps not as ordered. A great part of the time these things of odd dimensions are ordered by somebody who does not know even his A B C's in bee culture. In the present state of pro- gress, business should follow in beaten paths and regular channels. In the fall of the year, when we have not much to do, we are quite willing to make rat-traps and perpetual motion, if any of you want to foot the bill; but we can not stop our irgM- lai- work to attend to such things now. The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that moves the world. DEATH OF THE INTRODUCER OF THE CHAPMAN HONEY-PLANT. We have received the following notice from the friends of Mr. Chapman: Died at his home in Versailles, Catt. Co., N. Y., April 8th, 189:), Capt. H. Chapman, aged 80 years. Mr. Ch.apman has been widely known as a hortioulturist, but in later years he has giv- en mueh of his time ti> the lulture of bees, and was the first to introduce to tln' public the celebrated Chapman honey -plant. He was an early pioneer in the town where he has livccl for half a century, anil his loss will be deeply felt, for he was a man of sterling integrity. I shall always remember my pleasant visit at the home of our good friend Chapman. While he was not doing very much then in the line of market- gardening, his tools and facilities for the work con- vinced us all that he had been one of the moving spirits in this line of work. He was quite an en- thusiast, also, with bees, especially after he took so much pains to develop the plant that bears his name. Probably no other plant has been cultivated exclusively for the honey it bears, to the same ex- tent as this one on Mr. Chapman's own grounds. STARTING OUT WITH ODD-SIZED FRAMES, HIVES, SECTIONS, ETC. With our pi-esent rush of business and great number of orders on hand for regular-sized goods, we must decline for the present making any thing odd-sized. While we are sorry to do this, we are at the same time glad to give a whole:?ome lesson to SAD NEWS FROM G. B. LEWIS & CO. )IR. Root:— We beg leave to inform you that our factory and office were burned to the ground Saturday last at about z tli Theeauseof the fire is unknown. We were running at the time. We have already rented another factorv ami will be prepared to fill orders for sections very soon. We \v"uia advise you, however, not to wait for us to supply yiL^Ve were out of 1 15 16. and had to make them ^^^ '!;> l'\^" about ready to shin, but were yet in shop, and all binned, vve shSucommence rJbuilding at once, and will build about three times our former capacity. G. a. IjEW is iv \^u. Watertown, Wis., .Apr. 21. The above is sad in a good many ways. As our friends win gain from the above, a carload of sec- tions was finished, ready to ship us, and they had our order for still another carload. We sincerely hope that they may be able to start up again with very little delay, not only because it will throw a great mass of orders upon us when we are already overburdened, but because of the disappointment It will probably cause to many of the bee-friends in getting their supplies-another illustration of the importance of sending your orders early, and hav- ing your stuff ready before it is time to use it. We presume likely that our Wisconsin friends were not rigged as we are with automatic sprinklers; but wouldn't their loss and trouble at the present crisis have paid for the sprinkling attachments a good many times over? Surely water should be cheap and handy in a place named TT«ff/town. I hope our friends will excuse this poor pun, for we sympathize with them most fully in their mishap. Perhaps their well-known prompt habits will enable 354 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May them to hold their trade, and we are sure they will very soon be in better shape than ever before to furnish the world with beehives and section boxes. LATER. We wrote you that you might take out our advertisement; but we now t^ay, leave it in; and if you will kindly say, when you notiee our loss, that we have leased another place, and, with assistance of outside shops, will, we think l)e able to fill our orders in a few days, we shall feel obliged. We think we shall be able to fill your orders also, but we do not ask you to wait; and. in fait, we want all customers who have orders with us to order them canceled If they feel they will be delay- ed too long. ' G. B. Lewis & Uo. Watertown, Wis., April 23. In addition to the above we earnestly entreat the customers of G. B. Lewis & Co. not to withdraw their orders, but to help our friends out of their trouble by letting them fill them as soon as they can. Should you ask for your money back, and then send it to us with our present mass of orders be- fore us, it will probably delay you longer than to let them remain where they are. We are very glad to see our friends getting on their feet again so rapidly after their great loss. The following comes from the Falconer Manu- facturing Co. : Mr. Root:— We are very sorry to hear of the loss of Messrs. G. B. Lewis & Co., and your letter was the first intimation that we had of their misfortune. We are likewise sorry that the sections they were loading for you were burned also. We notice that ye mention this paper. 360 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 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 6 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 Ave 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 for sale can not be inserted under this head. For sucn our reg- ular rates of 20 cts. a line will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. WANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange 200 colonies of bees, in S. hives, for any thing useful on plantation. Itfdb Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange empty Simp. L. combs at lU cts. each, for wax or offers. 5tfdb Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange one Green's solar wax- extractor, new, for an incubator or Italian queens. G. C. Hughes. 6tfdb Pipestem, West Va. W ANTED, of wax. -To exchange 1 lb. of thin fdn. for 3 lbs. Ttfdb C. W. Dayton, Bradford, la. WANTED.— To exchange one set buggy harness, worth $10.00, for Langstroth or Simplicity bee- hives. Jno. Grant, Batavla, Clermont Co., O. 8-9-lOd WANTED.— To exchange comb foundation for beeswax. Samples on application. 8-lldb J. P. Connell, Hillsboro, Texas. WANTED.— To exchange for sections, fdn., hon- ey, or offers, an American fruit-evaporator, No. 3; capacity, 10 to 13 bu. apples per day. For de- scription of evaporator, write to American Mfg. Co., Waynesboro, Pa. O. H. Hyatt, 9tfdb Shenandoah, la. WANTED.— To exchange an improved Excelsior incubator, 300 esg^ size, used only two months, for Italian bees. G. N. Doty, Clyde, Mich. 10-lld PLY. Rocks, White and Laced Wyandotte eggs, in exchange for foundation, sections, Japanese buckwheat, or offers. T. G. Ashmead, Williamson, Wayne Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange Simplicity hives; also registered Jersey bull calf, for any thing use- ful on farm. W. J. Keays, Buffalo, N. Y. WANTED.— An assistant in the apiary; single man preferred. A good chance to learn the business. Write, stating particulars. Ezra Baer, Dixon, Lee Co., 111. W ANTED.— To exchange fruit-trees for 35 lbs. of bees, with untested queens. Send prices. Jas. Hallfnbeck, Altamont, N. Y. WANTED.— To excbaoge one garden wheel-hoe complete, good as new, called Planet Jr.. for one Green's solar wax-extractor that is in qood re- pair. James G. Hall. Wyanet, Bureau Co , 111. WANTED.— To exchange automatic handle lathe, for pony planer. W.H. Parker, Newcastle, Jeff. Co., Ala. WANTED.— To exchange a good improved farm of 160 acres. Crops on the ground. Every thing ready for business, for apiary or supply business or both. Iowa or Wisconsin preferred. Particulars for particulars. lOd Matthew Dodds, Sauk Center, Minn. WANTED —To exchana-e warranted Italian queens, raised from Root's imported queens. What have you to offer? J. H. Garrison, lOd 6336 New Manchester Road, St. Louis, Mo. WANTED.— To exchange 23 Simplicity hives and T supers. Make an offer. lOd F. H. McFarland, St. Albans. Vt. WANTED. — Young man with some experience to help in the work of an apiary. Must be of temperate habits. E.M.Johnson, Mentor, O. WANTED.— Bees in exchange for supplies or cash. Must be cheap. F. C. Erkel, Le Sueur, Minn. WANTED.— 3000 lbs. of beef tallow. Address A. P. Sharps, Exeter, Luzerne Co., Pa. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. I still have several mismated Italian queens ready to mail at once, for 40c each. S. H. COLWiCK, Norse, Bosque Co., Texas, During swarming season, mismated Italian queens for sale. Those producing worker bees, part of which are black, 3Uc each. Those producing work- ers all with yellow markings, 50c. J. C. Wheeler, Piano, Kendall Co., 111. Tennoismated queens, young, 35c each; 3 for $1. W. W. Kdlp, Pottstown, Mont. Co., Pa. Si.x; mismated Italian queens, 35c each; 3 for $1. Chas. McClave, New London, Ohio. -^THE BRKSHXESXe^ Five-banded, golden Italian Bees and Queens, and the Reddest Drones. Very gentle; very prolific; good honey-gatherers- working on red clover— and the ITIost Beaiitil'ul bees in existence! Took 1st premium at Michigan State Fair, in 1889. Refer- ence, as to purity of stock. Editor of Review. Sam- ple of bees, five cents. Untested queens, before June 1.5, $1.35; after June 1.5, $1.00. Tested (at least 3 bands), $3.00; selected, tested (4 bands). $3.00; breeding queens (4 to 5 bands), $5.00. Virgin queens, .50 cts.; 5 for $3.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. JACOB T. TIMPE, 8 1.5db Grand Ledge, Midi. C^ln responding to tills advertisement mention Gleanings. That Hundred-Dollar Queen. $1 will purchase a daughter of this wonderful queen. Descriptive circular free. Address 9tfdb AM. APICULTDRIST, Wenham, Mass. Please mention this jiaper. ''HANDLING BEES." Price 8 Cts. A chapter from "The Hive and Honey Bee, Re- vised," treating of taming and handling bees; just the thing for beginners. Circular, with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. 5tfdb CHAS. DAJDAN'r &. SON, Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illinois. t^In responding to this adv^itisemeiit mention Gleanings. Pure Italian Queens. We will sell pure Italian queen bees, bred from pure mothers, by April 1. Tested, .tl.(«); untet-ted, 50c; two frame nuclei and lesied queen, $3.00, or untested, $1 50. I. GOOD & STEWART BROS., Sparta, White Co., Tenn. IG^Iii respondinsr to mis advertlseineiit iiitniioii Gleanings. Ho! Ye in Dixie Land! LEARN SOMETHING NEW Of Interest to You in my New 1890 Catalogue Enlarged, and prices reduced. It gives LOW SPECIAL FREIGHT RATES to many Southern points, especially to points in TEXAS. Southern liee-Keepers, Send for it NOW. J. M. JENKINS, - Wetumpka, Ala. Please mention this faper. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 361 P0NEY CBMJIN. CITT MARKETS. Cincinnati.— floHiy.— Demand is good for all kinds of extracted honey at ")@.8 on arrival. Comb honey sells slowly at 1U@14 in the jobbing- way. No choice white on the market. There is a good de mand for beeswax at ^2(r"36 on arrival for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, May 1. Cincinnati, O. Milwaukee.— Ho/icy.— The demand for honey i not very urgent these days, and the supply seems; to be ample for all demands. We can quote best white, lib. sections. i;5@14. Medium quality, IKT^IS. Common and old, 9S'1U. Extracted, white, bbls. and half bbls., 7(S8. Extracted. dark, bbls. and half-bbls., 6®654. Beeswax wanted, 35®26. A. V. Bishop, May 11. Milwaukee, Wis. St. Louis.— H(»)Ky.— We are entirely sold out of old crop, extracted and strained, and are now prepared to enter the new season with renewed vigor and clean hands. We find the market fairly active at unchanged quotations. Prime beeswax in demand, and scarce at 26. D. G. TuTT Grocer Co., May 9. St. Louis, Mo. Chicago.- Horif!/.— The best grades of white comb are taken soon after arrival at 13(5'14; but the dark and mixed are slow at about 10. Extracted meets with but a limited sale at 6(" 8 for best grades, of the different kinds. Beeswax is scarce, and yel- low brings 27; dark, 23. K.A.Burnett, May 8. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. New York.— Hojiey.— Honey unchanged; market very quiet. Cuban strained. 79 cts. per gallon. Beeswax very scarce, and higher. We offer light yellow Cuban at 29; dark and gray, 27 cts. cash. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co., May 8. New York. Kansas City.— Hoocj/.— Our honey market is cleaned up; no comb or extracted for sale. We look tor new honey within 30 days. Hamblin «& Bearss, May 9. Kansas City, Mo. Albany.— Honey.— We have received 57 cases since last issue. Market is quiet, with prices un- changed. Clover, 12@U: buckwheat, 9@10. Ex tracted, light, 7@8; dark, 6. C. McCulloch & Co., May 10. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Detroit.— Wojiei/.— Best white-comb honey. 13; dark, as low as 10. Extracted, 7(g'8. Becsivax, 26(5:28. M. H. Hunt, May 9. Bell Branch, Mich. St. Louis.— Hojicy. —Honey slow; season well over; white clover, comb. 12'4; fair. 10; extracted honey in cans, good stock, b!i(qS'/t; bbls., 5&.oK- Beeswax, prime, 28. W. B. Westcott & Co., May .5. St. Louis. Mo. 200 LBS. BEES. SO Xt^>li^>xi. <^i;Leoxi.s» AFTER MAY 24 AT $1M. S. C. PERRY, Portland, Ionia Co., Mich. 10-H-12U Please mention this paper. LOOK ^ GOLDEN ^ ITALIANS k Wl% ■ T^jje rest of 189;") at prices as fol- lows: untested, 50c; tested, $1. Select tested, $1 50. Frame brood and bees, $1.00. All from imported mothers or select stock. W. M. VICKERY, Hartwell, Hart Co., Ga. In writing to advertisers please mention tliis p.aper. U apaneSe dUCK Wlieat u^ m."weYBBIOHT, New pans, ini. 2Sert test. It. queens, f 1.60 each; 5 test., 85c each. All '89 hatch. W. W. KULP, Pottstown, Pa. "PERSONAL. Ji,^^'^ meets the notice * — ■■-■ ■...r^w^i.wi...-^ Of Harry L. Johnson, come home at once; or of any one to whom his where- abouts 13 known, please write at once to Mrs. E S Burnham, Medina, Ohio, and any trouble will be cheerfully recompensed. SECTIONS Sections smooth on both sides, V or nearly square groove, dovetailed ends, or to nail, at $3.00 per lOdO. ,„^,^^ B. W.\L,KEK & CO., lOtfdb Capac, St. Clair Co., inicli. tyir. respondingr to this udverti.^ement mention GLKANlNGi Knickerbocker BerTaS .^ENI) FOR CIRCULAR t CALENDAR FOR I890 TO GEO- H. KlTICKERBOCIIEn, Box 41. Pine Plains, Diitcbess Co.,N. V. Mention Glkaning: To the Bee- Keepers -t. Of the Northwest, 'T -*• 4- We would say that we are up with orders, and we can do more than we are doing at present. We have a large supply of hives on hand, and would like a part of your orders. Try us and we will give you satisfaction. We also have about 1(10 bushels of Japanese buckwheat, and while it lasts we will sell for 80 cts. per bushel. Send for price list. F. T. HALL, Lochiel, Dunn Co., Wis. In writing adverti.sers please mention this paper. HFTEt^ JlIAWaTHfl. HO T ye gleaners after knowledge In the field of apiculture. Stop a moment, please, and read this, Stop and read this advertisement. Send and get my creamy Monthly, (1 will send three samples gratis) It contains the vi ews of leading Ree-men on some special topic ; Points out errors ; makes you ponder. And abandon wrong ideas. I f you'd march with those who "get there," Send your stamps to "Hutch the hustler" — Fifty cents per annum only ; Twelve Reviews for only fifty. Address Bee-Keepers- Review, W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Ed. & Prop. Flint, Mich. I5^In responding- to tli CHEAP BEES! READY TO SHIP NOW. Three lbs. bees and queen, or 3 frames of brood, covered with bees and queen, $1.5 1 each. Good Italians, L. or S. frame. Safe arrival guaranteed. G. W. GATES, Bartlett, Shelby Co., Tenn. t^lii responding; t(» this jidverti ('lit nu'iition Glkanings. S2.50 FULL COLONY. $2.50 Ten Colonlc«i of Bees, $25.00. Particulars by JNO. (". CAPEHAKT, St. Albans, Kanawha Co , W. Va. I'.ease mention this pajier. 362 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May The Bristol Hive, AND AIiZ, KINDS Or JiEE - KJJEriJRS' SlTPrLIES MANVIACTIRED AT JtJ'JDUC'EJ) J'UICES. The Poplar Four - Piece Sections a Specialty. PRICE LIST FREE ON APPLICATION. .ADDRESS TO DRAKE A: SMITH, 910(1 Bristol, Vermont. (Successors to A. E. Wanum.i |t^"In responding to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. HEDDON'S 1890 CIRCULAR NOV^ READY. ADDRESS JAMES HEDDON, DOWAGIAC, MICH. Please mention Gleanings. Rheumatism ^^ Bees. No doubt the best bees for curiner rheumatism are pure-bred Italians that prove to be good work- ers and work on red clover. We have such if you want grood stock to work with and to secure you plenty of honey. Tested queens in May, - f I. .TO; in June. - $1.25 Unt'd " " " - - l.fiO;;3for - - 3 50 " June, - 75; 3 for - 3.00 For wholesale prices, nuclei, lbs. of boes, and all kinds of bee-supplie?, write for our 16 p. circular. 9tfdb JNO. NEBEL. A: SON, Higli Hill, Mo. Mention this paper. SPECIAL CHOPS. A magazine for advanced agriculturists; 3:) cts. per year; sample 7 cts. Also, Black Minorcas, B. Leghorns, and S. Wyandottes; eggs of either, per setting, 7.) cts. ; 26 at one time, $l.uo. 4-50d C. M. tiOOO-SPEEn, Skancateles, N. V. t^I" ivsivcmdiii^totliisadveitiseiiu'iir n.. . Japiiiese Buckwheat, 75c Per Bush. Alsike clover seed. S7.C0 per bush. No. 1 one-piece sections, $3.00 per M. Extra nice foundation, thin, 50c per lb. ; brood, 45c Uest bee-veil out, only 30c. All supplies cheap. Send for new list free. 33tfd W. D. SOPER. Box 1473. Jackson. Mich. IC^ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. BEAUTIFUL BEES r." ire always pleas- to ilie eye. GOOD QUALITIES "^^ "^"^Toruab.e. If you want Bees and Queens that combine beau- ty and good qualities to a mrofecd dc(/»cc, write for circular giving low prices. No eircnlars sent out unless applied for. CHAS. D. DUVAl.1., 5tfdb Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md. t^ln responding to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH. FACTORY OF BEE-HIVES, ETC. From now on I will sell my4-frame nuclei, with Italian queen, at $3.75. In lots of 5, at $3.50 each. Untested queens, at $0.(0 per dozen in June; $8.00 per dozen in July. Satisfaction and safe arrival guaranteed. Twelfth annual catalogue. Ottdb P. li. VIAL.LON, Bayou Goula,Iia. Please mention this paper. Carniolan Queens. Send for Descviptiff Circular to DR. S. TV. MORRISON, Oxford, Pa. 9tfdb Ple.ase mention this paper. s mATTmsrt AUTOMATIC 1 VU i JJ SWARM CONTROLLER Price 60t'. For particulars, send for circular. LEMUEL Stout, 1215 Market St., Philadelphia. Please mention this jiaper. E. W. PITZER, Hillsdale, Iowa, Has the finest of Bronze Turkey eggs for sale at $3.00 per 10. Langshan and P. Rock eggs at $1.50 peris. Stock unexcelled. Safe arrival guaranteed. 9 lOd Please mention this paper. Bee-Keepers' Supplies. WHY SEND LONG DISTANCES ? SEND NAME ON POSTAL CARD FOR MY NEW PRICE LIST TO C. p. BISH, Grove City, Mercer Co., Pennsyl'a. Eortnerljj of St. Joe Stn., Ihitltv Co., I'a. ESTABLISHED IN 1SS4. 9tfdb Ple.Tse mention this paper. ITALIAN QUEENS AND BEES! The very best honey-gatherers. Untested queen, 80c; tested, $L00; select, $1..50. Bees. $1.25 per lb. Satisfaction guaranteed. Send for price list. 8-10-13d C. M. Hicks, Fairview, Wash. Co., Md. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. H OliY - LAND QUEENS A SPECIALTY. Queens at all prices, to suit the times. GEO. D. RAUDENBUSH, 445 Chestnut St., Reading, Pa. FOR SAIiE. - ITALIAN BEES & QUEENS at a very low price. Address 6tfdb OTTO KEEINOW. No. 130 Mllitnry Ave., Detroit, Mich, Ityin responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. CHOICE ITALIAN QUEENS. 80 Cts. EACH ; 3 for $3. J . C. KING, Ft. Deposit, Ala. o< CHOICE ITALIAN QUEENS.>o Tested. $L.50. Untested, $1 0). Tested queens reared in tbe fall of '8t), $1.50. Tfipse ciin he mailed at once. MISSES S.&M B.\RNES. 7-12db P.keton, Ohio. C^In responding to this advertisement niiii.iuii (iLKANlNGS. MUTH^S HONEY - EXTEAGTOE, SQUARE GLASS HONEY-JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIAES, HONEY- SECTIONS, A:e., Ac. PERFECTION COLD - BLAST SMOKERS. Apply to cuts. E. MUTll & SON, Cittclnnatl, Ohio. P. S.— Send 10-cent stamp for "Practical Hints to Bee-keepers." l^^Mention OUanivo^. Itfdb 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 363 Bee-Keeping for Profit IS THE TITLE OF Dr. Tinker's New Hand - Book. It gives his l\e*v System of the management of bees complete, tellinj^ how to get the l-.irgest yields of comb and extracted honey, and make the indus- try of beo-lieepiner a profitable one. The claim is made that our old methods and appliances are of such a nature that it does not pay oven the expert bee-ke°per to keep l>ees except in very favorable localities. The New IJook tells why these failures occur and how to prevent them, giving the general principles fssentisl to a profitaVile system. The work should be in the hands of every progressive apiarier. It i? well illustrated, and will be sent to any address postpaid for :.'.5 cts. Please remit by postal note. j\ddre,es DR. G. L. TINKER, New Philadelphia, Ohio. Please mention this pai^er. lOtfclb OIIEENS.— Fine home-bred Italians, and import- ed, from Waldensian Valley. Circular free. lO-ll-lM Christian Weckesser, Marshallville, O. LOOK! FOR CASH.— Italian queens in May and June. One untested, 80c; i^ doz., $4 r)0; per doz., f8 50; one tested queen, f^'.OO; per }i doz., $10. OU; per doz., $18 01. Guarantee safe arrival. Address D. E. Alderman, Clinton, Sampson Co., N. C. l^"In responding to this .itivertisement mention Gleanings. Three-frame nuclei with Italian queen from imported mother, f2.50 each. Satisfaction guaranteed. M. W. Shepherd, Rochester, O. In writing to advertisers please mention this papei-. 10 14db BIG S-FRAME NUCIiEI, AlITH QUEEN from imported Italian mother, for .f3.50. Full colonies low. Thirty Rose Comb Leghorn eggs for $1X0 Safe Ehipment guaranteed. 10-1113d G. W. GILLET, Wellington, Ohio. t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings, ►5BEST"^OinEARTI3C4^ ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL, AND THE STAND- ARD IN EVERF CIVILIZED COUNTRY. Bingham & Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Prices. Doctor Smoker, 3>2' in, postpaid ...$3.C0 Conqueror " 3 " '• ... 1.7.5 Large " 2(4 " " ... 1..50 Extra (wide shield) 2 " " ... 1.2.5 Plain (narrow " )3 " " ... 100 Little Wonder, \U " " ... 65 Uncapping Knife 1.15 '\!! Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledgeville, 111., March 8, IS'.IO. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day, and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as I do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very trulj-, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 13,1890. Sirs:— The Rmoker I have has done good service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel, Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BmaHAM & Hetheeinoton, Ahronia, Mich. tJS'ln responding to tliis advertisement mention Glea.nings. Al| THERE! One untested Italian queen, 75c; "" three for *.3.0i); tested, SI 50. One untested Carniolan queen, fl.OO; three for $3.50; tested, f3. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Send for price list. Reference— First National Bank. lOtfdb H. G. FRAME, North Manchester, Ind. Please mention this jiaper. a responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Look Here! Supplies Cheap Italian and Albino Queens and Bees; Chaff and Simplicity and Nonpareil Hives. Extractors, Smokers, Foundation, Surplus Section Boxes, Root's Perforated Zinc. Price List Free. Write for One. L. A. BYAED, WEST OHESTEEPIELD, CHESHIEE CO., N. H. tyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. lOK COLONIES ITALIAN REES AT BOTTOM I Ct«l PRICES. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn. 7tfdb BEE-HIVES, SEGTIONS,ETG. IITE make the best Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, ''"' Sections, etc., in the world, and sell them the cheapest. We are offering our choicest white one- piece 414x414 sections, in lots of 500, at $3.50 per 1000. ^^ Parties wanting more should write for 'spe- cial prices. No. 3 sections, 13.00 per 1000. Cata- logues free, but sent only when ordered. Itfdb C. B. LEWIS &, CO., Watertown, Wis. tS"Iii res]>ondini4: to this advertisement mention Glkakings. RARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK EGGS, $1.00 per 13. L. C. Axtell, Roseville, HI. 8tfdb HOM EMPLOYMENT. — AGENTS wanted everywhere, for the HOME JOURNAL— a grand family paper at %\ a year. Biq cash jjrcmiumfi. Sample Free. THOS. G. NE"WMAN & SOW, 316 East Madison Street, - - CHICAGO, ILLS. CSrin respondinf; to this adveitisemeiii mention Gleanlvus. FOR PURE ITALIAN REES, POLAND- China Swine, White and Black Ferrets, White Habbits, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, and Mallard Ducks. Address N. A. KNAPP. Itfdb Rochester, Lorain Co., Ohio* C_s?'ln responding to tins advertiseni meniiiin (Ji.k.v.mncs COMB FOUNDATION. I have just purchased two more foundation-ma- chines of A. I. Root, and am able now to make foun- dation of all kinds at the lowest price in the world. Send for sample or price, to Sd .Jacob Wollerskeim, Kaukauna, Wis. t^In responding to this advei'tisement mention Gleanings. SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1, 1890, we will sell our No. 1 V- groove sections, in lots of .500, as follows: Less than 3000, *:i..5ll per 1000; 3000to 5000, $;i.iX) per 1000. Write for special prices on larger quantities. No. 3 sec- tions at $3.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives, foundation, ca.ses, etc. J. STAUFFER & SONS, letfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappaiiec, Ind. I yin resi)ondin(f to tills advertisement menticjn (Ji.KA.viNGi 36-1 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. QUEENS IK BENTON CAGES DURING MIDWINTER. I received two Italian queens, as ordered. They are in good shape. H. M. Peters. Fall Brook, Cal., Feb. 3, 1893. Iteceived the oroods ordered of you, in good time and shape. I am well pleased with them. The ( "lark's starter machine is a good one; does its work to perfection. Chas. Elliott. Richfield Center, O., April 15. OUR GARDEN SEEDS. The seeds I received from you were good, and I had the nicest garden around here, and that is the reason my neighbors called on me to get their seeds from you for them. Henry Willing. Chesaning, Mich., April 3. OUR 10-CENT NOSE GLASSES. The specs are just right. I can read better with them than a pair I paid one fifty for. The pros- pects are good for a honey-flow. I have had 14 swarms so far. Weather is cold and cloudy. Bees am putting in some honey. G. W. Lechler. Newhall. Cal., Apr. 20. FROM MEXICO; $85 DUTY AND FREIGHT. The goods shipped to order of J. M. Cupp, Jan. 10, arrived in good condition. Duty and freight on same, $85.00. I am well pleased with them. My bees are gathering honey in large quantities from a wild shrub which grows here. 1 have had one swarm already. J.J.Johnson. Monterey, Mexico, March 1. The bees I purchased from you in 1883 were the prettiest I ever saw, and their working qualities can not be excelled. I get more honey per colony than any other bee-keeper in our county, although my bees have been more or less hybridized. Our season is about a month ahead, and the bees are working finely now. M. N. RiCB. Bamburg, S. C, Mar. 1. THE DOVETAILED HIVE. I have been nailing up some of those Dovetailed hives to-day; and I would just say to those who want something nice in the way of hives, that they will not be disappointed if they buy the Dovetailed. I find a great saving in freight by having hives shipped as box stuff. Freight on 820 lbs. was $3.(M. Goods came in perfect order. L. H. Robey. WorthingtOD, W. Va. IGNOTUM SPLENDID. The Ignotum tomatoes you sent me last year were splendid, only the first rotted badly. The Dwarf Champion was fine, and did not rot at all. 1 had 5 swarms of bees last spring; increased to 10, and got 500 lbs. of surplus. Bees all wintered well last winter. J. Knight. Elsie, Mich., May_3^ Gleanings, I couldn't do without. It touches a chord that no other periodical has ever done, and has helped me to do my duty as a moral man with greater zeal than any thing else. I wouldn't do without it for twice the amount it costs. It is not only a good bee-journal, but a Christian teacher. I pray God to be with you in your endeavors. West, Tex., Apr. 31^ P. T. Southard. BEES RECEIVED IN GOOD ORDER. We received the bees on the 26th. They came all right, and in very good shape, some eight or ten bees dead, which, of course, would be expected. We opened them up and examined them, and saw the queen. She seemed to be happy in their new home, and all have gone to work, and are working bravely. I am in hopes to build up my other colo- nies and Italinize them in a measure. I received a card from you, stating there was $1.00 due me from discount. I read over your circular hurriedly, and did not notice your discount rates, so I am $1.00 ahead. I thank you for the honorable way in which you do business; and, finally, that is the only true way to do, to make it successful and profitable, and merit the esteem of your patrons; and that has ever been my motto through life, to deal honestly, honorably, and justly with all men. Fairbury, 111., Apr. 28. JAS. H. Odell. THE CLARK SMOKER; BEES SWARMING IN CALI- FORNIA. I received one of your latest improved Clark smokers, and have given it a good trial. I don't see where there can pogtiibly be any more room for im- provement. Bees are in the midst of swarming here, and are gathering honey quite rapidly from the blue sage. I have a very nice apiary here. I commenced with i:!0 stands. I hope you will make up your mind to visit California again in the near future, and not be in such a rush, and be sure to come to Nordhoff. C. A. Sayre. Nordhoff,Cal., April 0. THE ELEVATING TENDENCY OF BEE CULTURE, ETC. Gleanings has been a welcome, profitable paper at our house for several years. Its high moral tone, not only for apiculture, horticulture, and ag- riculture, but for " ajiti-cussedjiess," as Josh Bill- ings terms it, in general, and cleanliness and godli- ness in particular, make it such. Its temperance and anti-tobacco columns have also been very great sources of gratification. I have practiced medi- cine 33 years, and went through the war as a sur- geon, and never smoked a cigar, chewed tobacco, nor tasted ardent spirits in my life. I want to say. however, that I reject nothing, as a medicine, placed in our hands by our all-wise Father. " If a man die, shall he live again ? " If a person keeps and cares for bees, and observes their won- derful works and habits, can he be an infidel? I am satisfied that, if Col. IngersoU could be induced to keep and care for bees, the prayers of his father for his conversion would be answered within 13 months. When I am " heavy laden " I go and lie down in the shade by our bees. A few minutes "settles it," and, as by inspiration, I sing, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." I keep bees for pleasure, and not for profit, but get both. Winchester, Ind., Mar. 31. R. Bosworth. FORT WAYNE, IND. If you are ev er annoyed by the scrapinR anil bre.ikinf; of combs; kiUing bees when setting a frame to one side, or hanging it in the hn e, saggmg at the bottom and getting waxed last; shak- ing about when moving a hive; in short, if you dislike to pry and wrench your frames, break combs, and kill bees while handling them, you will be pleased with this hive. VERY CONVENIENT. AGENTS WANTED. |C For "1st Principles in Bee Culture." It tells how to Divide, Transfer. Introduce'Queens, Feed, Unite, Stop Robbing, &c» Money returned upon return of book, if you are not satisfied Please mention Gleanings. 8-13db SEND for a free sample copy of the BEE JOURNAL — 16-page Weekly at $1 a year— the oldest, largest and cheapest Weekly bee-paper. Address DEE JOURNAL, Chicago, 111. BEES letfdb Please mention this paper. ZiOOXS ZXSRBI Bee-Keepers and Frult-Growers, before you order your supplies for 1S90, send for my cata- logue and price list of Bee-Keepers' Supplies and Strawrberry Plants. Twenty-five approved varieties grown for this season's trade. Prices reasonable. Bees and Queens for sale; $1.00 queens a specialty. Address F. W. IiAlTlM, 34-33db (Box 106.) Somerville, Butler Co., Oliio. Please mention this paper. Vol. XTIII. MAY 15, 1890. No. 10. TERMS ; 81.00 Per ANNUM, IN ADVANCE -,1 TT'c'/zTf 7i ZV o 7j /7/7 7* TO 1 S '7 ^ ^ Clubs to different postoffices, NOT LESS 2Copiesfoi?1.90; 3for$2.75; 5for$4.00; | MJO LUiU Vl/O ft/t>LV Lll' J- O I O . \ than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- j. publi.shed semi-monthly bt ' " " """" '^"'~-^— "'- "" "*"•"- ber, 6 cts. Additions to clubs may be '\A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO be sent to one postoffice. 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. FROM THE3 LAND OF THE PHARAOHS. THE PYRAMIDS AND THE SPHINX. Continued from last issue. We were drawing near to the largest monuments existing. Although we read and see illustrations of the Pyramids, still it was bewildering, that first sight of those mighty and imposing Pyramids of Gizeh. We visited the greatest of them, built by King Khufu (Cheops of the Greeks), of the 4th Dy- nasty. It is said that this king employed 100,000 workmen, building daily during the space of 30 years, and it cost 1000 talents of silver, or $1,877,000. It is now 141':j meters high, or about 463 feet. We crawled up and down the high and narrow passages in the interior, conducted by the Bedouins, who are constantly lurking about the place on purpose to guide the visitors. It would be a very difficult task to do without them. The room in which the mum- my was laid is covered by great blocks of granite, from 30 to 40 feet long, and 5 to 6 feet square, lying horizontally on top. We visited the great Sphinx of Harmakhas, 33 meters high and 30 in length. The face is somewhat ruined, owing to the fact that the Mamelukes tried their cannon-balls at it. Close beside is the ruined temple of the Sphinx, built of alabaster and granite. THE WINDING BRIDGE AND THE ELEVATED ROADS IN THE VICINITY OF THE NILE. We were driving on a long, winding, and elevated road, and landed at a village all surrounded by mud and palm-trees. During the months of the submersion of the Nile, all the fcllahin (the farmers of Egypt) go to Cairo by boats, as being the cheap- est way; and in winter and spring they follow the winding bridge-roads, as they call them. An apiary of about 60 hives, laid horizontally above each oth- er in rows of 10, was the first we saw. They were far more regularly built than the ones at Alexan- dria. The female inhabitants only were present, and readily told us every thing they knew about bees and bee-keeping— more freely than our Pales- tine fellahin would. They showed me their imple- ments, much like those of Palestine. They direct- ed me to another village, a few miles away, where I might better satisfy my curiosity. A MOHAMMEDAN BEE-KEEPER. We soon were on the main winding-bridge road again. After two hours' donkey -back drive we came to Menshiet-el-Bakari, surrounded by a broad ditch of water; but beyond this were endless fields of (white?) clover. They told me it had white blossoms. I knocked at the door of the designated bee-keeper, an old man, a stout Egyptian, 55 years of age, in a long gown of shirting, barefooted, and a small white cap covering the crown of his sheared head. He came forth, shook hands with me, and began : " Peace be unto you." My answer, " And to you be peace," was followed by introducing myself to him as an inquisitive bee-keeper coming from the Holy Land, or Land of Damascus, whereupon he bade me welcome. A mat was spread on the floor in front of the most imposing apiary I had ever seenof the kind. Wo squatted down. I explained to him the intention of my visit, and away we went, chatting, as if we had been old friends. The Hugh Mustapha seemed very communicative; and having handed me a tiny cup of coffee and drank one himself, the usual compliments were exchanged. " Please God it may always be so " (the presenting of coffee). He replied, "Please God it may be dou- ble health to you." He began : " By the life of the most mighty God and the prayer of Mohammed, I 'm going to tell you every item, and all the truth," and bade me write down 366 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May every word, " so that, when you'll be back to the land of Damascus you may apply this most ration- al bee-keeping amongst the ignorant people there." The front view showed the most beautiful, regu- lar, and well-kept apiary 1 ever beheld in all Syria, Palestine, or Egypt. The apiary consisted of 600 hives, lying in 0 rows of 100, horizontally above each other. About the middle of January the bee-master opens all the hives from the back side, and, with a lighted smoker in hand, throwing gentle puffs of smoke into each hive, listens for the wooing of the queen. He then, if any queen-cells are visible, cuts them off the edges of the comb. He does this in view of the swarms. By this method he seldom has more than one swarm per hive, for he dreads a multiplicity of swarms— a great nuisance to the parent hive, besides being themselves very weak. He says he has only the trouble of swarming them, and finally of finding them destroyed by the wax- moth or hornets. When this business of cutting cells is all done, the hives are again stopped from front and rear. About two months after, he again visits the hives to take the honey, which he expects to find full as long as the clover-fields are in blos- som, and the bees visiting them eagerly. In places where cotton grows, two honey-harvests can be had, and he gets an average of 8 lbs. per hive. The clover remains in blossom during four months, or till about the middle of May, at which time the drone massacre begins, as the bees don't like them crawling over the nice honey-combs, soil- ing them. He leaves in every hive five combs of brood and honey, so that they have a good start to refill their hives. New swarms are treated the same. He takes off the old hives five combs, with brood and honey, and sets them in the hive. To take the swarm, the combs are fixed in the new hive by means of sticks, 8 inches long, and having a branch in the center, of about an inch in length. ' I On this branch A B the comb is hung. The in- ! side diameter of the hive being just 8 inches in diameter, this kind of movable system is easily fastened in. A MODERN TLOATING APIARY ON THE NILE. In years gone by, when he was able to undergo more hardships, as soon as the honey-flow in his place was over he used to take the hives, stopping the entrances, load every sixteen hives on a camel, and take them (by night) to the Nile, someSX hours' walk, where they were put on a boat, and taken up or down the river to a place where plenty of honey- producing flowers were still in bloom. The boat is anchored at Its destination, and marked. As soon as the honey-flow begins it is indicated by the sink- ing of the boat. As soon as the mark has gone one meter below the surface, he knows the hives to be full; and after cutting out the honey he examines the boat anew. If this ingenious balance indicates a continuation, he remains in the place; but if, on the contrary, such a place is looked for as having flowers, or if none are to be found, the product is sold in Cairo on the return trip. AN EGYPTIAN BEE SMOKER. The smokers are only bovine cakes, made from half a-eating-cattle manure, as all other manure from broad beans and clover is a nuisance to the bees, and communicates a bad smell to the honey. Each smoker is 8 inches long, and is lighted at the top, and is to be kept by blowing continually. I told him of the improved Bingham and Clark smokers: but to all my observations he would not listen, he having arrived at a degree of knowledge not to be surpassed by anybody else, and as being the owner of 1100 hives in three apiaries, the most considera- ble of which was the one before which we were joy- fully talking and listening by turns about the blessings of apiculture. It consisted of 600 hives, as above-mentioned. He had 300 or 300 hives in his out-apiaries, and, besides, took charge of all the apiaries in the vicinity, sharing all the income (swarms included) on halves. He told me there is none to equal him in knowledge; and all bee- keepers from far and wide have acknowledged his superiority, the same coming to ask him questions. He went""orrdescribing his ways and manner, and as it wa8_now half-past eleven,_and being Friday, ithe muezzin (the caller for prayersj^reminded them of their duties. Ph. S. Baldensperger. g; Jaffa, March 5, 1890. Eriend B.,we congratulate you on the happy way in which you have recounted to us your exceedingly interesting account of your visit to one of the bee - keepers of Egypt. I am surprised that you say noth- ing abDut the vindictiveness of the Egyptian bee. Those brought to our country some years ago were so terrible to sting that the whole race was soon stamped out of exist- ence. And so it is indeed true, that there is a man living who has formerly made it his business to run a floating apiary on the Nile. Why, our good friend Perrine should make a visit to Egypt on purpose to learn how, and then come back and revive his steamboat apiary. It seems to me that those camels must have been exceedingly docile to submit to carrying 16 hives of bees. I wonder if they have as much trouble in moving bees with camels as we do with horses and wagons, supposing the bees chance to get out of their hive. And, again, these clay or crockery hives, one would think, would be rather fragile for a camel's back, or for loading on to boats. Never mind, even if our friend would not listen to any thing you had to tell him about Clark and Bingbam smokers. With his 1100 hives, his out-apiaries, his floating bee - palaces, and camels, he certainly is entitled to con- siderable respect. Who knows but that he may visit us some time in the future? What a grand thing it would be to have such a chap to attend a bee-keepers' convention ! The very self-conceit that he has so strong- ly emphasized is one of the results of stay- ing at home. Now, may be this last re- mark strikes a clip at some of you. Well, I do not care very much if it does. Staying at home, when carried to excess, dwarfs and impoverishes both body and mind. FEEDING BEES, ETC. SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY DOOLITTLE. A CORRESPONDENT wishes me to answer, through Gleanings, the following questions: "What is the best method of feeding bees, andzwhen and what shall I feed to stimulate brood-rearing?" I sup- pose that, of course, our correspondent knows that stimulative feeding is for the purpose of arousing the bees to greater activity, and for greater resulst 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 367 in brood-rearing; hence when daily feeding- is re- sorted to, but little should be fed to each colony, which, as a rule, should be given just at night, or near sundown, so as to prev^ent robbing and de- moralization. There are different ways of giving this feed, such as feeders of various kinds kept by all dealers in supplies; by tipping the hive up a lit- tle in front when a tight bottom-board is used, and pouring the feed in at the entrance, or in at the top over the bees, and by filling the combs with feed, and setting one such comb in the hive every few days. When plenty of empty combs are at hand, I prefer the latter plan, and do not know but that it stimulates the bees to as great extent as by any other way ; the reason why 1 prefer it, being that it is much less work. To fill the combs with the feed, lay one flat down in a wash-tub, wash-boiler, or something of the kind having deep sides, so as to prevent the feed spattering about the room, when with a quart dipper, whose bottom has previously been punched full of small holes (punching from the inside out), the feed is dipped and held up about a foot over the comb, so as to fall in fine streams in- to the cells, thus driving out the air, and filling each cell full. Now turn the comb over, and fill the other side, when it is to be hung up to drain a little while, after which it is ready to be placed in the hive the same as a frame of honey. If a person has but few colonies, and likes to work at them, daily stimulative feeding is only a pleasure; but with hundreds of colonies it is very laborious, and is considered by many to be only a waste of time, es- pecially when the colony has plenty of honey in the hive. The feed to be used at this time of year is made by dissolving two pounds of granulated sugar in one pound of boiling water, and it is ready to feed as soon rs it is cool enough not to burn the bees. TWO QUEENS WITH A SWARM. Next he asks: "Do bees ever have two queens? Last summer I hived a swarm that had two queens, and my neighbor tells me that there were two swarms." The first, or prime swarm, never has more than one queen with it unless the old queen has been killed by some accident, for the old queen always goes with this swarm, leaving maturing queen-cells in the old hive, from which, when hatch- ed, the young queens lead out all after-swarms. The only exception to this is where the old queen is lost, as hinted at above, near the swarming season, when several queen cells will be formed so that young queens may lead out what appears to be the prime swarm, the same as they do after-swarms; but such swarms can hardly be called prime swarms. About eight days after the first swarm has issued, the first young queen will be hatched, as a rule; but if after-swarming is considered best In the economy of the hive, the young queens are kept in their cells, and fed through an aperture in the royal cell, by a little knot of bees, say a dozen or two. If swarming is not considered " economy by the bees," then all the other queen-cells are torn down and the young queens destroyed, so that the first hatched is the only queen in the hive. If the cells are protected as above, the first-hatched queen seems to get in a rage and utter shrill notes at in- tervals, called " piping," which our questioner has doubtless heard. This is kept up for two or more days, when the second swarm, or first of the after- swarms, issues. The queens kept back in the cells are growing in age the same as the one which is out, and 80 it often happens that, during the hurry and bustle of swarming, the knots of bees leave the queen-cells, when these young queens hastily finish biting the covers off their cells, and go out with the swarm, in which case there are two or more queens with a swarm, so that you were probably right and your neighbor wrong. WHICH Vi'AY SHOULD HIVES FACE ? fie next asks: "Should a hive face north or south?" All bee-keepers agree, I believe, that hives should never face north of an east-and-west line, and the majority favor a south-easterly direc- tion—at least, that is miy preference. The reason for this is, that the sun entices the bees out to work earlier in the day, while a northern exposure keeps them in later; and in winter, where wintered on the summer stands, it is almost sure to result in the loss of the colony, from our rigorous north winds blowing in at the entrance, and the confine- ment of the bees, caused by the entrance being in the shade on mild sunshiny days. The only colo- nies I ever tred to winter facing the north died be- fore spring. SHADE FOR HIVES. The last question asked is, " Is it best to have a roof over the hives, or have them under a shade- tree for shade?" Some of our best beekeepers use a shade-board made of lath, or light lumber, to shade the hives during the summer months; but if the locality is at all windy, a weight of some kind must be used on them to keep the wind from blow- ing them away. Years ago I used a 15 or 20 pound stone to keep these shade-boards on, and consider- ed them necessary at that time; but as it had to be lifted every time the hive was manipulated, it soon became so laborious that I could not follow it. Shade-trees (not very dense) are always good; but after all kinds of shade have been tried by myself, I now prefer to paint the hives white and let them stand in the sun. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., May 3. Eriend D., I should hardly agree with you in regard to the danger in having hives face to the north. In arranging our hives in the hexagonal apiary, a great number of them faced northward ; but we have not noticed any particular difference, unless it was during the cold and chilly winds in the spring of the year. I believe I pretty near- ly agree with you in regard to painting a hive white, and leaving it in the sun. EXTKACTORS FOR CALIFORNIA. ,1. F. M'INTYRE DECLARES IN FAVOR OK THE RE- VERSIBLE PRINCIPLE. Frie/dZ JfooL-— I take it for granted that you feel the same with regard to extractors that you do with regard to Italian bees and other races. You say you could sell one race as well as another, and want to know the truth. 1 do not know the state of bee-keeping in the east, but in this county it is almost entirely in the hands of specialists. If you will turn to page V34, 188!l, you will see all the bee- keepers in this county, with the number of bees each has. A few years ago there were three times as many bee-keepers, and several of the smaller ones on the list have sold out since that report was made. I have bought Jepson out, just below me on the list. You see he had 75 colonies and a Novice 368 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May M INTYBE S TWO- COMB REVERSIBLE EXTRACTOR. extractor. I have every thing now except the extractor, which is still ying on the ground where his apiary was. Now, I do not mean to insinuate that the Novice extractor was the cause of his fail- ure. I only want to show you where the small bee- keeper and the small extractor are going. A TWO-COMB REVERSIBLE GEAR. It saves time and combs to have a reversible ex- tractor, and it saves time and temper to have all the baskets reverse at once, without hitting each other. I have such a high opinion of the reversible baskets that I would use them, even in a two-comb extractor. I Ifti [I * would have the axle attach- |) -, '^ ed to the frame above and below, but not run clear through, and place the bas- kets so close together that they would just pass each other by turning one at a time, like this. I think the above extract- or would be a good one for a man to take with him to extract a small out-apiary, and bring it home in the evening; but we don't do that way in California. All our out-apiarles are large, and we have a com- plete outfit at each apiary, and a man to take charge of each one for the seaso|^ Sometimes he must have an assistant; and it would never do to give them a poor extractor, or one that would break down; they might get lazy, and lay the blame on the extractor. Although much thought has been spent on some arrangement to turn all the baskets at once, the basket itself is the greatest invention, and I should like to know very much who invented it, for I owe him a debt of gratitude. The reversing principle illustrated on page 841 has several advantages over the Stanley. It is easier to put the combs in and take them out; the baskets never hit each other, and you don't need any experience to reverse it. If you don't want to reverse it with the crank, you can key the frame fast to the axle, and leave the cog- wheel in the center loose, when, by turning one basket, all will turn. I have no uge for a brake. I uncap two combs while the extractor is stopping. If you ever make a four-comb reversible, try the one on page 841; and if the workmanship is as good as the principle, I know you will be pleased with it. Any one is wel- come to make and advertise them; and if some one doesn't, I shall say it was for lack of a patent. Baker & Barnard, Ventura, Cal., made several ; but they had no facilities for making them, and the workmanship was poor. They made enough, how- ever, to show that the principle was all right. Fillmore, Cal., Mar. 31. J. F. McIntybe. Friend M., Ernest had an engraving made of the inside of a two-comb reversible ex- tractor before I knew any thing about it, and he did it without knowing that we once made extractors on this very principle — namely, without any center-shaft. I think they were abandoned because they cost quite a little more, and at that time most of the people were ordering and using a cheap- er extractor. It would be hard to say who invented the comb - basket. I think our German brother Mehring used wire cloth for supporting combs first in extractors; and as soon as reversing the combs inside of the extracting-can came up, there was no other way but to make a basket to hold the comb, with wire cloth on each side. The idea illustrated above A. e., of omitting the center-shaft, is very old. It was described if not illustrated as much as 15 years ago. To be sure, friend M., we want the best ex- tractor in the world, no matter where it comes from ; but I think it very likely true that large apiaries, such as you have in Cal- ifornia, necessitate larger machines for ex- tracting than are ordinarily used in moder- ate-sized apiaries about here. BROODING STICKS OR AIR. DR. MILLER CONSIDERS THE MATTER. I AM glad, friend Root, that you and Ernest don't always agree. It sometimes gives us a chance to see both sides more fairly. I hope you will always let your disagreements, more or less, come out in print. I'm " ferninst " you in the triangular contro- versy on page 277. Don't you think you're a little unfair in your illustration— just a wee bit, you know? You are calling the top-bars " right in the center of the brood-nest." and they are not in the brood-nest at all. True, the bees in harvest time must keep every thing warm to the top of the supers; but at that time it doesn't cost much. Evenif it should cost something to keep the extra lumber warm, what does that lumber take the place of? You know well enough, that, with nearly all of us, it is a choice between slat honey-boards and thick top-bars that is now under consideration. Now, which is easier to keep warm— a piece of wood or a piece of air of the same size? In either case there is the same distance between the brood- combs and the sections— the same space to keep warm--but the wood is easier kept warm than the air, for the air is such slippery stuff that, just as the bees get it warmed up, away it slides, and a fresh piece of wind must be warmed by the bees, So, you see, if brooding " sticks " is bad, brooding wind is worse; and please tell us what you would have in place of the thick top-bar. But I think Ernest is astray in his claim that " thick top-bars cause the combs to be built clear to the bottom-bar." I can't find the correspon- dence to which he refers; but were not the combs in question raised over other combs? I can hardly imagine how the bottom-bar can be affected by a top-bar several inches above it. REVERSIBLE BOTTOM-BOARDS. If combs will be built down to bottom-bars by means of extra space beneath, and if that extra space can be maintained without detriment all the year round, we shall owe friend Murray a vote of thanks. That will allow me to discard my reversi- ble bottom-board, at the same time retaining all its advantages. I may say to friend Gretn, that, al- though his objections are not great compared with v/hsitlthink are the advantages, yet 1 am not as well pleased as I expected to be with the reversible bottom board. The reversing is too troublesome. If, however, I can't have the deep space in summer, I shall continue to reverse. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 369 CLEATS FOR HIVES. I'm glad to Bee H. R. Boardman have the hardi- hood to eay a word in favor of them. IE I adopt Dovetailed hives, my Dovetailed hives will have cleats at front and back, I thinli. HANDLING HIVES WITHOUT BOTTOM-BOARDS. By reading Bro. Boardraan's excellent article on page 380 I see the reason why he can handle them and I can't. He has deeper frames (I know that by reading the picture), and he waits till colder weath- er. As I don't want deeper hives, and don't want to wait till cold weather drives my bees off the bot- tom-boards, I think I shall never again leave them to be lifted off the board at time of carrying in. In- deed, I doubt whether I shall ever again carry a hive into the cellar without having the bottom fast. COMB-BUILDING WITH CAGED QUEENS. On page 281, friend Root, you ask whether I have noticed " changing from worker to drone comb aft- er caging the queen." No, I don't think I ever no- ticed any difference. But then, how could I? The only comb they build is in the supers, the brood- frames being full, and every section is filled full of worker foundation. Yet it is quite possible that bees do not build comb so freely without a queen. I do not know whether there is any difference be- tween caging the queen and taking her entirely away. The bees will nearly always build queen- cells with a caged queen, just as much as if no queen were in the hive; and I doubt whether bet- ter queens can be started in any other way. You see, the bees don't get frantic about being queen- less, but gradually conclude that the queen lays so poorly that she must be superseded. Marengo, 111., April 19. C. C. Miller. Very likely you are nearly right, doctor, in regard to brooding sticks, but I should prefer to have as few sticks, or as little air either, between the brood-nest and the sec- tions as we can get along with. I am in- clined to think that friend Murray is right about having more si)ace under the combs. I do not think it would be found objection- able, either winter or summer. AVill those who have tried it please give us their expe- rience V — Now. look here, old friend, if you insist on having cleats on the back and front of your hives to handle them by. you can not get them so closely together. Why don't the hand-holes answer every purpose as well as the cleat? Is it not because you have always used the cleats, and have got used to them?— In regard to comb-building with caged queens, while it may be true that they will not build comb as well, is it not also probably true that they do not gather honey with the same energy? Where the queen is taken entirely away, I can hardly believe that honey-storing will go on with the same rapidity. FRANCE'S SHOT-TO\7EK BEE-HIVE. FULL PAX.TICULARS OF HOW TO MAKK, ETC. As I have so many letters asking for dimensions to make my shot-tower bee-hives, I will try, with the aid of some pictures, to give directions so any- body can make them. But first let me say this hive is to be worked for extracted honey on y, and to be wintered outdoors on the summer stand, with very little or no increase. The hive when complete will hold four very large colonies of bees. Each division will be 13>^X13',4 inches inside, and 3 feet ejt' inches high above the bottom-board; will hold two sets of 9 frames, one set above the other, as shown in Fig. 1. Make the bottom 33 inches square. That will give room for a 2-inch lining all round, and one inch for partitions. You can see by the figures how the hive is made. All the lumber not wide enough to make any part of the hive must be tongued and grooved together. One partition should be 33 inches wide, and 3 feet 6^2 inches high. Nail this across the bottom, in the center; match the partition lumber. We now want two narrow partitions to put the other way. Be sure to set the partitions up square with the bottom, and break joints with the narrow and wide partitions. AVhen the partitions are in, make the stationary sides. They will be 16 inches wide, and long enough to reach from the bottom of the bot- tom-board to the top of the partition. Nail this on to the left-hand corner as seen in the cut, to the end of the partition and to the bottom of the hive, and leave half of the ends of the partition uncover- ed to form a rabbet for the movable sides to rest in. The sides will be better if made with two boards matched than it would be made from one piece 16 inches wide. Fig. 3. F,g. 1. FRANCE'S SHOT-TOWER HIVE. In Fig. 3 you see the cover is held up by a cleat 2 inches wide around the hive, half of which is fas- tened to the stationary side, the other half to the movable sides, and half an inch below the top of the siding. This holds the side-pieces togeth- er when the side contains more than one board. There is a four-inch strip up and down the left cor- ner. That is put on to form a rabbet for the other side of the movable sides, and should project be- yond the side just the thickness of the lumber of the door or movable side. In Fig. 1, entrances are shown. Those bottom holes explain themselves. The other two holes are I'a inches, with a half-inch hole at the left of the large hole. Those two large holes are covered with a button in winter, leaving the small one open, as shown in the lower one. In the summer we leave the entire hole open, as shown by the upper one. There is a little alighting-board just below the out- entrances. It is better to make those entrance- holes and put on the upper cleat before the side is nailed on. After the stationary sides are on we put a two-inch lining on the inside of the stationary sides. You see the edge of one of those linings at A, Fig. 1. Take strips of lumber one inch thick and 1S4 wide; nail in a strip to the side in front, up and down, even with the side, and another back in the corner, and a short piece between them at the bot- 370 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May torn. This bottom-piece must have a passage cut out of the bottom of the piece for a bee-passage. We line upon the inside with half inch lumber. If the lumber is dry, put it from front to rear. About those bee-passages, or entrances, through the lining: We want for each hole a block I'i inch- es thick, about three or four inches square. Bore a l!4-inch hole through it; put those blocks in be- tween the side and the lining, to correspond with the holes through the side, and nail through the lining to hold them in place. Fill in between the outside of the hive and inside lining with some kind of packing. We use chaff, well packed in, as we are putting in the lining. Put a piece IV2 inches on top of the chaff, so the lining will be even with the top of the hive. Wenail a 11^-inch strip across the open side. Let it reach half across the partition at the left-hand end. This piece is for a tie to hold the side from springing off. We want two loose cushions, shown at B, Fig. 3. Make them 13;4 inches wide, and half as long as the distance from the bottom of the hive up to the top, 80 they will just slip in under the tie. They will be about Sl.V inches long, 3 inches thick, one side boarded up with half-inch lumber. The other side is covered with cloth. Eight-ounce duck is what we use. Fill them with chaff. On the lower cush- ion. Fig. 2, B, there are two strips, ?« of an inch, nailed (on the board side of the cushion) to secure a passageway for the bees between the cushion and the outside of the comb. Put the cushions in with the board side nest to the bees. The movable sides are made in two pieces, cleated at each end. The lower one rests on a cleat that is nailed on the bot- tom-board, and beveled a little outward to carry ofif any water that gets into the joint. It is held in place by buttons. The upper half-side rests on the lower one, and has a two-inch cleat across the top, and halved on to the cleats that are on the stationa- ry sides. This cleat helps to hold up the cover. There is a pair of buttons near the top of this door to hold it in place. Fig. 3, H, standing on the ground is one of the honey-boards cleated at each end, made just large enough to cover one of the divi- sions, when it reaches half way across the parti- tions. They are laid on loose. Be sure that they lie down tight, so no bees can go under them from one division to another. Those two holes in the board are for a feeder to be set over them, in case we want to feed. We keep the holes covered with wire cloth, when not wanted for feeding. The lower set of frames stands on the bottom of the hive— see Fig. 1. The upper set stands on top of the lower set. We cut strips of perforated zinc 3 inches wide. These we place, one on each side of the lower combs, for the upper frames to stand on. Hanging on the hive. Fig. 2, is an empty frame, top end down. They are of pine, ''^Xh The bot- toms of the side pieces are cut off on a slant, so the frame stands on a point. The top ends are left square. The frames should be 20:'8 inches long. The top-bar is cut 13% inches long from point to point, and projects beyond the sidebars (engrav- ing is not strictly correct), and are cut off on a slant of I of an inch. The bottom and middle bais are 115i inches long, cut Fquare. Put the bottom-bar up about an inch from the point of the side-bar, and the middle bar up more than half way. The top-bar is nailed on to the ends of the side-bars. Kach end of top-bar should extend % of an inch be- yond the sides. To keep the frames apart the proper distance, we drive into the back side of the frames four common three-penny nails— two in the top-bar, one near each end, and a nail in each of the side bars about four or five inches up from the bottom. Drive them in so far that the width of the frame and what sticks out of the nail will be VA inches. In use, set in the first frame with nails back against the back of the hive, and each frame after. The nails will do the spacing. The hive will hold nine frames and the movable cushion. For a cover (see Fig. 2) we use a board under the eaves, 7 inches wide, the gable board 13 inches at the peak. By reference to the engraving you will see that the cover is in two pieces, and hinged with heavy four-inch strap-iron hinges to hold the two halves together. We put in between the gables two four inch strips— one on each side of the peak un- der the roof-boards; nail through the gables into the ends of them. This makes three thicknesses at the ridge, so it will not sag in the middle. When the roof is all done and the hinges on, we next saw the gable-end boards in two in the middle. The two half-roofs are now held together only by the hinges, so that, in working with the bees, we don't have to take the cover off, but turn one half over on to the other half; then we can work two colonies, after which we can reverse the cover, and work the oth- er two. In the winter we fill the top chamber with straw or chaff cushions, but we leave the honey- boards on, putting the filling above the honey- boards. For a stand to set the hive on we use good strong stakes, three feet long, of good durable timber. We sharpen the ends and drive them into the ground nearly the whole length, so as to leave five inches out. This forms a square of 30 inches. We then drive a fifth stake in the center, after which we level all with a good spirit-level. Nail two four- inch strips of inch lumber across the top of the stakes, 30 inches long, and a short piece on the middle stake; see that the stand is level and out of wind. Then set on the hive. Don't let the ends of the strips stick out beyond the hive. They will take water under, and rot the bottom of the hive. On top of the hive are two of our smokers. Platteville, Wis., April, 189). E. France. No doubt many of the friends think the shot-tower hive a complicated matter, and some will ask why it is better than an ordi- nary hive. Perhaps it is not any better for the majority of bee-keepers, but it is cer- tainly larger. The hive is so big, in fact, that the bees never get out of stores, rarely get weak in numbers, and they have so much room they seldom swarm. All these things lit it eminently for au out-apiaiy, when it is not to be looked at, perhaps, for weeks at a time. Now, I may have got it wrong ; but if I am correct, friend F. some- times takee a barrel of honey from one of these hives at a single visit. In fact, the hive is so well arranged to take care of it- self, that a great deal of the time all he has to do with them is to go and get his barrel of honey whenever the bees have gathered the barrel full. Remember, each comb is toward 14x20 inches square, and there are 72 of these great combs in each hive. Now, if these combs should average 5 pounds each, vou have your barrel full, and more too. But please do not go and make a great lot of 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 371 them to start with. Make one hive and see how you like it. Then make more if you want to. You need not use combs of the dimensions given above, unless you choose. In fact, friend France has a great many hives using the ordinary Langstroth comb instead of the above. In this case he has 80 in the hive instead of 72. Of course, each hive must have four queens. The whole thing is really the tenement hive that was discussed so much perhaps ten or more years ago. THE WORLD'S FAIR. DK. MASON MAKIS AND CALLS FOR SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THE EXHIBIT OF BEE-KEEPERS. I HAVE received several iaquiries Irom readers of Gleanings iu reg'ard to an apiarian department at the World's Fair la 1893, and have promised to keep the readers of the bee-journals posted, in so far as I can in regard to the matter. Nothing is yet known as to the plan upon which matters will be conducted; but I have been corres- ponding-with the committee at Chicago, and have been assured that, when the time arrives to lay plans, our specialty will be properly recognized and provided for. Each State is to have two members on the board of managers. The Ohio members were appointed by the governor three or four days since, and one of them is a resident of Toledo. I saw him the same day he received his appointment, and had a " cbat " with him about our desires, and he promised to do all he could for us. While the managers are getting ready for busi- ness, we as bee-keepers ought to mature our plans and be ready to submit them when called for; and that they may be as complete as possible, I sug- gest that all interested in the success of the api- arian department, whether intending to be exhib- itors or not, send me such suggestions as to them may seem appropriate. We all have more or less in- terest in the success of the enterprise, and no one person is likely to make the best possible plans; but if each will contribute a share we shall not fail in making a grand display — one that shall be a cred- it to us, and a great public educator. It seems to me that we ought to improve to the fullest extent the opportunity thus presented to us, to show the world something of the magnitude of our industry; and that, notwithstanding the mis- representations and frauds practiced on an " unsus- pecting public." bee-keeping is an honorable pur- suit, and bee-keepers honorable business people. It is much to be desired that the honey-exhibit be grouped all in one place, and supplies near by in another group, each State and foreign exhibit to be by itself, and cared for by a superintendent who will assign space to exhibitors, and receive and care for such things as are to be placed on exhibi- tion, and not accompanied by the exhibitor. These superintendents should be named by the State bee- keepers' society and confirmed and paid by the State, and should be such men or women as are fitted for the place. I shall try to have an apiary established on the grounds, the colonies to be in all styles of hives, from the old hollow log up to the most improved styles in use; and near by the apiary a plat of hon- ey-plants in full bloom can be made an added at- traction. Such honey-plants as will bear potting could be placed profusely among the honey-exhib- its, adding very much to their attractiveness. Such plants as can not be potted can be pressed and mounted, and used in the decoration of the dis- plays. I should like to see such from all parts of the world. I will help by giving the needed in- structions to all desiring to aid in the work, but I hope all will bear in mind that I'm doing this work "free gratis for nothing," and will not fail to " in- close stamp " in all cases where a reply is needed. There is lots of work ahead, and I hope each will lend a "helping hand," and send on suggestions, and not wait a year or two, for plans and arrange- ments will probably be largely made within a few months; and if I should need to meet with the managers of the fair in Chicago in a few weeks or months, I shall want to knosv the minds and wishes of those interested, and be prepared to present matters in the best way. So, send on the sugges- tions. One party has already written that he will make a display of the finest bees the world can produce, and will work to that end from now on. Send on the suggestions; for "f 'm to take the lead In the matter I shall ,iust b your servant to carry out your wishes. A. B. Mason. Auburndale, O., MUj , ItOJ. 'WIRING FRAMES. A NOVEL AND PRACTICAL METHOD. I HAVE just been timing my boy wire Lang- stroth frames my improved way, and it's such an improvement on the old way that a biief descrip- tion may benefit some of your many readers. Much has of late appeared in bee-periodicals upon the subject, and many able beekeepers think it does not pay, for the reason a novice can not do it; that it must be done by skilled labor, and that costs money. My boy has just wired 10 frames in 15 min- utes, while I held the watch, which would be equivalent to 400 per day. Not a very difficult job, is it? I had W. T. Falconer make me a lot of frames — sides, ends, and bottom-pieces, -'e inch thick, comb-guide left out; ?8-inch blind-staples are driv- en into the end-piece, the top one being 'o of an inch from the top, and the bottom one X inch from the bottom-bar. A small wire nail held in the blind-staple when driving in makes them all uni- form in depth. Now put the frame together and fasten it in a clamp, see cut, having the inside of E. D. KEKNEY'S NEW WAY OF WIRING FRAMES. the frame open space. Now measure off from your coil of wire (not spoo's, for that kinks and bothers) 2J/2 times the length of your arm, or from your nose to the ends of your fingers (noses vary some), and this will be within a few inches of the required length. Now put one end uii through No. 1 staple, down through No. 2, up through No. 3. down 372 GLEANINGS IN BEE CUJ^TURE. May through No. 4, and fasten. Now draw the wire tight from 4 to 3, back to '' and 1, at each staple pulling the wire up or down to fasten it and keep it tense. Now take the other end of the wire and run it over the wire at No. 5, and to No. 3 staple; draw until the wire has the angle shown in cut. Give the wire a little pull up or down, to fasten; then pass to No. 3, thence under the wire at No. 6, and back to staple No. 1, and fasten. You now have a frame whose whole weight is held by the end in- stead of top bars, which does away with all sagging top-bars. With foundation cut the exact size of in- side of frames, fastened well on these wires, there has never been with me an iota of sag. In fasten- ing I use melted beeswax with brush to tack the foundation edges to the frame, that it might be exactly in the center, top, bottom, and ends, when done. This way has given me several thousand frames of comb, as even and true as so many boards, and I have yet to see the first top-bar sag. I have tried the same thing with the rajular thick- ness of L. or S. frame, and found them too light; but % thick, all the way round, is just right. Arcade, N. Y. B. D. Keeney. Our friend's letter came some time ago. When 1 first read it I did not think much of the plan ; but when I examined it a little more closely, I became convinced that it was a good thing — yes, the best method of wiring that has ever been proposed, in my humble judgment ; and this opinion is shar- ed by the others of the establishment — A. I. Root included. The frame is very securely and thoroughly wired, and yet without the least particle of bowing of top or bottom bars, or even end-bars. The whole thing is held by four staples, or, preferably, hooked nails. The plan is exceedingly ingenious ; and whether friend K. was the first to sug- gest it or not, he deserves the thanks of bee-keepers for demonstrating its ] 'ractica- bility, and for calling our attention to the matter. The great point of superiority in this method of wiring is, that the strain comes at the four corners— points at which there is the greatest strength in the frame. The weight is taken entirely off the top -bar. Theoretically there can be no sagging, be- cause the points of the wires, -"i and 6, are so firmly braced in such a position in the comb that the center is securely supported, and, as far as practice is concerned, ob- serve that Mr. K. says that his method has given him " several thousand combs, as even and true as so many boards." " And," he adds further, " I have yet to see the first top-bar sag." This is remarkable, as he uses them only f inch thick. Besides this it combines the advantages of the horizon- tal and perpendicular wiring. Unlike the plain horizontal wiring it can not bow out, as has been spoken of by some of our cor- respondents ; and, unlike the perpendicular wires, it does not pull down the top-bar. Mr. K. says that his little boy can wire at the rate of 40 an hour. With the perpen- dicular plan we have been using, our ex- perts think they do very well if they get 25 an hour. If our friend will excuse me, I want to make what I deem an improvement on his plan. Instead of using staples, which are liable to pull out, as I have found by experience, use U-inch wire nails driven through from the outside. They will then project inside an inch. With round-nose pliers form a hook on the end. It will be evident that it will be much more rapid to wire on hooks than to thread through staples. Our friend has to retrace his wiring at one end of the frame. To avoid all retracing, and to make all wiring sustain the founda- tion, and to overcome the inconvenience of one long wire kinking, use two wires, both of which will be very nearly the same length. Commence wiring at i,then pass to 2, 3, and 4 successively. At the latter point, fasten ; start with the other wire from point 3 ; pass over wire 5, hooks 4 and 1, thence under the wire at 6, and back again to 2, and fasten. I have tried friend K.'s plan and the one just outlined, and find that I can not only wire a great deal faster, but a great deal neater and better, and at the same time avoid all retracing. My nails stick out far enough so that the perpendic- ular wires on the side help support the foun- dation against the end -bar. With such a frame we have two perpendiculars and eight diagonals. We avoid the bowing or sagging of any of the bars, and can dispense, best of all, with that naughty folded tin bar. It is not even necessary to have the frames pierced. The plan can be applied to any frame, with thin or thick top-bars, or double top-bars. There may be some objections to the plan, which I have not yet seen. Within the next few days we shall test it thoroughly in our apiary. If you do not see the advan- tage of this method of wiring, take four li-inch wire nails, and wire in the man- ner I have described above. If you do not feel enthusiastic over it after looking at the nice work, and the rigidity, I shall miss my guess. Ernp:st. In addition to what Ernest has said, I want to call more special attention to the perpendicular wires parallel with the end- bars. When we first commenced wiring frames we had a space of perhaps 2 inches between the last up-and-down wire and the end-bar. Very soon they told us there must be an up-and-down wire within half an inch of the end-bar of the frame, or else the sheets of wax would swing around, away from the wood. With the H-inch wire nails it is an easy matter to make these up-and- down wires just i inch from the end-bar. THE BEAN-^WEEVIL. A SERIOUS DANGER THAT THREATENS BEANGROW- ERS AND BEAN-CONSUMERS. I HAVE a letter from C. F. Parker, Chattanooga, Tenn., in which he incloses beans infested with the bean-weevil— Bro7ic?ii(S obsvletvs. He requests me to describe the life-history of this beetle, in Glean- ings; to state where the eggs are laid, and to give, if possible, some cure for the evil. Mr. P. remarks that lima— in fact, all kinds of btans- are subject to attack. This little beetle is hardly more than 3 mm. (,'5 inch) long, and has a beak, hence the name weevil. All weevils have a more or less prominent snout. The back looks yellowish gray, from the hairs that 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 373 densely cover it. On the wing-covers are longitudi- nal stripes of darker, lighter color alternating with each other. These bands are separated by a nar- row black line of punctures, which looks very much like a seam on a garment. There are ten of these bands on each wing-cover. The head and thorax are quite uniformly yellowish gray over the entire surface. The eyes are black. The antenna^ are brown at the base and at tip. These horn-like or- gans slightly enlarge toward the end. The enlarged club is black, except the last joint, which is brown. Beneath, the color is gray, with a tendency to brown, which is marked at the tip of the abdomen and the outer half of the legs. The wing-covers appear short- ened, and the abdomen is truncated, or cut off at the end. It docs not run to a point, as seen in most beetles. This beetle passes the winter in the beans. Like most weevils it comes forth some time before it can lay its eggs. It may often be seen flying as we plant or sow our beans, yet waits till the pods are formed before it lays its eggs, when it lays several, often, opposite each bean. The eggs hatch, and the footless, maggot-like grubs, feed upon the rich sub- stance of the beans. They usually leave the germ, so that the bean, though hollowed out by the in- sects, may grow if planted. In the beans the grubs grow and mature unless eaten by man or beast: and, snugly packed in the tunnel which they have formed by their own food-taking, they pass the winter, and the round of life is completed. We see that these beetles much resemble the pea weevil, except that the latter are much larger, and but one weevil is found in a single pea. HOW TO FIGHT THEM. Bisulphide of carbon, one of the best and most powerful of insecticides, is the best remedy for these pests of the gardener. la Northern New York the growers of peas and beans have special houses in which to use this liquid in killing the weevils. D. M. Ferry & Co., of Detroit, use tight boxes or casks for the same purpose. The beans are put into the box or barrel; some of the liquid— a little goes a long way — is poured in and all closely covered, with an oil cloth or buffalo robe. The liq- uid volatilizes; and as it is much heavier than air it penetrates to every insect and kills all. The only caution to be observed is to be careful of flre. The vaporis very iaflammablo, and, when mixed with air, very explosive; so in using, all flre, like alighted cigar or a lighted match, must be kept away till ventilation disperses the vapors. As the vapor is very odorous, it is easy to know when danger is past. If no odor is observed, no danger need be feared. This bisulphide of carbon is much used. It is a solvent of rubber, and so is used in shoe- shops to patch boots. Itismueh used to extract oils from seeds; and on the western prairies it is used by the farmers to destroy the prairie-dogs. A cotton ball saturated with it is thrown into the hole, and the latter stopped air-tight by use of earth. I have used it, as before explained in Gleanings, to kill ants. There has been much discusf'ion as to whether beans and peas hollowed out by weevils would sprout 8nd grow. The truth is, that some will and some will not. It is certainly true, that all would do better if sound; but some varieties will germi- nate and make a fair growth, even if eaten by the weevils, while other varieties will utterly fail if they have been tunneled by the insects. So here is another case of the shield. Our impression will depend upon the side seen. If one has grown cer- tain varieties, he knows that buggy peas are ruined for planting; another planted a different variety, and is just as sure that the exact reverse is true. After writing the foregoiag, Prof. Cook writes again, which we append below: Well, friend Root, this is curious. I have just looked over Gleanings for April 1, p. 257, and note your request to write up the bean-weevil, after I have sent you an article with its illustration. I do not need to tell you that life keeps getting busier. With my large regular classes— two lectures a day —laboratory work, experiment station, museum, correspondence, and reading, I find little time, at least for mischief . Thus it is that Gleanings did not receive attention till this morning. The late D. B. Walsh said that a good way to save wormy apples is to make cider of them. A noted horticulturalist of Wisconsin said he did not mind the second brood of cabbage-worms— the ones that tunnel away into the bead. "'Cause why?" says he: "I use the cabbages for saurr kraut." So there is a way to prevent damage from bean and pea weevils that I did not mention; that is, to eat the vegetables while green. This method gives a dou- ble advantage: It saves the beans and gives us a mixed diet. You are quite right in your suggestion. As I state in my article, most weevils come before the vegetables, fruit, or grain, which they attack, so they await its appearance; but they are not likely to remain long after the nidus for the eggs comes to hand. The plum curculio is usually gone before July; so the pea and bean weevils attack only the early beans and peas, and the late sown are gener- ally free. If all were sown late, the escape would not come. The danger of late-sown beans not ma- turing makes this remedy less practical. You are also quite right in your suggestion that the insects will not harm the mature beans. They have done all direct damage when they leave the hollowed-out beans. Their further mischief is wholly prospective, and can take effect only upon the green vegetables— the pods where they lay their eggs. I will send you our Experimental Station Bul- letin No. 58, which gives quite fully the method of killing such insects by use of bisulphide of car- bon. This bulletin describes ail our important in- secticides, and tells how, when, and where to use them. A. J.Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., April 8. Your remedy, friend C, I think will an- swer our purpose. We have been killing the bugs, as fast as they got out of the beans, with Persian insect-powder ; but I did not know that any thing could be used to kill theni before they get out. We have picked our beans over, again and again, un- til the labor seemed to be more than they were worth. I then told the women to look at them every day, for a couple of weeks, and see if the bugs continued to come out; so, picking beans over by hand is hardly a practical remedy. Neither would it do to 374 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May sell such beans for table use ; and if they are unfit to plant, we might as well boil them for the pigs and chickens. Our only safeguard, for the present. I suppose, would be to plant them late. Is it not a little strange that weevils in beans have never been known until within a very few years past'? Can you tell us about how much bi- sulphide of carbon will be required for, say, a bushel of beans? BUGGY PEAS AND BEANS. When I was a small boy, 35 or 40 years ago, my father used to sow a few peas about the tenth of June, so they would not be buggy, and he could have them to cook dry. He raised only black-eyed marrowfats, and sowed broadcast. By sowing late, the bugs, or weevils, rather, were out of the way before the peas were advanced far enough for them to deposit their eggs. T sow several kinds of peas, and invariably find the earlier ones most infested by beetles. I had one season's experience with the bean-weevil when I lived in New Jersey, and 1 had plenty of them. They look some alike, but are evidently quite different. In peas we generally find but one, and the germ is seldom destrojed, so buggy peas may be planted with the assurance that they will grow with right conditions. The beans frequently had five or six weevils in them. They were not as large as the pea-weevil, but perhaps they did not get enough to eat to make them as large. Late-planted peas are unseasonable. They do not grow or bear as well, and are very liable to mildew. Late-planted beans do better, as they like to grow in the warmest weather. I frequently plant them away up here in New Hampshire the first of July, and get a crop. I never saw a bean-weevil in this State. J. L. Hubbard. Walpole, N. H., Apr. V. ARBANGEMENT OF HIVES. FRIEND HATCH CONSIDERS THE MATTER. To facilitate operations in the apiary there is no system of arranging hives that equals straight i-ows. Other plans may be more picturesque; and to him who wants to make a big show, the other plans give abetter chance; but for the man who keeps bees for the pay thera is in it, it gives points of advan- tage over any other plan of arrangement. When examining them in a casual manner after setting out in the spring for indications of robbing, loss of queen, as indicated by signs well known to all practical bee-keepers, how much easier it is to walk along the row and examine each entrance and dooryard in regular course than to go from one hive to another, and then not know when you are through ! And in swarming time, how much easier to watch for swarms when they are all arranged so you can, at one or two inspections, taking but a glance for each row, determine whether a swarm is coming out or not! and how much easier to find where a swarm came from, if one has come out and alighted while you were at dinner! In taking off and putting on supers, the advan- tages are more apparent. Well I remember the backings, turnings, and twistings I had to go through with in trying to get the wheelbarrow close to some hive when I used to arrange my hives hap-hazard, trying to get each at least six feet away from any other, and facing a different way from its immediate neighbor; but with all my care in trying to dodge hives, one would now and then get a " tunk " from some unexpected corner of the wheelbarrow, and I would have to get the penalty in sharp reminders to be more careful next time. The advantages of the straight-row system may be summed up in — compactness, requiring less room for a given number; ease of accessibility, and best arrangement for inspection. The old plan of putting hives in straight rows with fixed distances, and all facing one way, has its objections, which are apparent to any on-j ac- quainted with the habits of bees, and are not nec- essary to give here. I have been using, for two years, a plan that, so far, has developed no defects, and I am indebted to that excellent little book of Dr. Miller's, "A Year Among the Bees," for part of it; i. e., the arrange- ment in pairs, which is quite an advantage; but I do not like his plan of placing the entrances all one way; and I like each hive to stand on its own sup- port, independent of any other, and I want that stand smaller than the hive, so that, in working close to the hive, there is not so much danger of hitting the stand with the toe of one's boot, to jar the bees. The objection to facing the hives all one way is, that, while you are working at one hive, you are right in the line of flight of the next row inthe rear of the one you are working with. The follow- ing diagram shows a better arrangement, as two years' experience has proven. 6 feet. 10 feet. 6 feet. n«- □* ^a €J □« □^ a ■a □' '□ □^ a HATCH'S ARRANGEMENT OF HIVES. The squares are for hives, with a star to indicate entrances. Hives are to face east and west alter- nately, in rows; alleys between entrances, 6 feet; alleys between hives, at backs, 10 feet, which is the work alley, the one to run the wheelbarrow in, and to travel back and forth in. You will observe that, while you are in this alley, you are 10 to 15 feet away from the face of any hive, and therefore the bees in their outward flight are far above your head, where they will not annoy you nor you them. If you wish to see the difference this makes, jou have but to step over into the other alley, and stand a few minutes, to be convinced. As to mixing of bees, and queens mistaking hives, although your hives may be as much alike as two peas you will see, by referring to the hives marked A and B, that a bee or queen, to find a hive in just the same position as her own, has to go across two alleys, and 30 feet away— a mistake she is not likely to make, the location al^ne determining her home. In fact, there has been less trouble from bees and queens mistaliing hives with this than the old hap- hazard arrangement. I think a fair trial will con- vince any one of its merits. C. A. Hatch. Ithaca, Wis., Mar. 11. Your article, friend Hatch, is timely and to the point. I have been studying on this 18HU GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 375 matter of arranging hives in the apiary, for some time. 1 have never lilied the hex- agonal arrangement in onr home yard, with grapevines. 1 thought they were too close; and so when we got down to the basswood apiary we put the hives 12 feet apart, all facing one way, each hive in the shade of a basswood-tree. Much to my surprise I found it took a good deal of time in running from one hive to another. I then came to the conclusion that we wanted them closer together. Accordingly, this spring when we set our bees out of the cellar I arranged the hives in groups of four— hives 12 inoJhes apart, and the growps 6 feet apart. The first group was made like A, the next like J3, and so on, each one differing from the other. On the next row we start with C just opposite A. By this arrangement you will see that the entrances were facing in all directions, so the bees could not mistake where they lived. I thought it was very unique, and so I was quite sanguine I should like it But after I had worked among the bees as so arranged, I became very much disgusted. I could not sit down to work at a hive anywhere without en- countering the tlight of bees, especially when I took a positoin at A, at groups 15 and C. The bees, seeing some great object DD DD D ■□D in the midst of their groups, would stop, hesitate, buzz around, and fill the air. This Is, to a certain extent, true when working over one hive ; but it is four times as bad when the entrances of the four hives are close together. Group A does very well. But if all were like this it would offer no dissim- ilar arrangement for the bees. I have been trying to think of some better arrangement, and your plan strikes me as the best of any thing I have yet seen. When our out-apia- ry is set out for this season I propose ar- ranging it on just that plan exactly. The fact that it is similar to Dr. Miller's ar- rangement, and the fact that you are one of the most extensive bee - keepers of your State, and that you like it, is much iii its favor. The plan of avoiding the flight of bees, in going about with wheelbarrows and such like, is capital. There is one thing which you have omitted to mention ; and that is, the facility with which a lawn- mower can be run among hives that are parallel and square, instead of liap-hazard, or on the hexagonal plan. In our hexago- nal apiary it is very inconvenient to run a lawn-mower around among the hives, be- cause one hive comes directly in the pass- ageway of the next row. We were obliged to run it zigzag; and we found, several times, that we had thereby given a hive an unlucky '' tunk," as you so happily express it. With your arrangement a lawn-mower could be run straight along, clear through the rows, without any zigzag about it. On three sides you would not encounter any entrance. At night the entrance sides should be mown down, when the bees are not flying. Perhaps a good many apiarists do not think it necessary to keep the grass down with a lawn-mower. Of all things I do hate, it is to wade through wet grass, when the dew has been heavy the night previous, in making visitations to the hives. It is only a couple of hours' work a week to run a lawn-mower through a whole apiary of, say, 75 or lUO colonies ; and, aside from the neat and orderly appearance, it pays in other ways, for it keeps the bottoms of the trowsers dry. and makes it necessary to wear only rubbers We should be glad to get suggestions from our correspondents, e. u. In addition to the above, permit me to say that, in most of the California apiaries, they have come to the same conclusion with friend Hatch ; that is, having narrow alleys set apart for a pathway or thoroughfare for the bees. The operator is not supposed to go into these narrow alleys at all. As near- ly as I can lemember. (i" feet was perhaps the width of these; then a broader alley, say 10 or 12 feet, was left for the operator. Ot course, he can cross from one broad alley to another, if he chooses ; but his general work is to be done in the broad alley; and in opening hives and working with them, the narrow alleys are not to be occupied. The bees seem to recognize this narrow al- ley as their own allotted highway; and when they are working heavily the narrow alleys are literally full of buzzing bees, while the broad ones are comparatively free. These double rows of hives with a double alley between them, may center, like the spokes of a wheel, toward the door of the honey-house. I would suggest to fiiend Hatch that his hives mav be in straight rows, and still be on the hexagonal plan ; and this plan gives each hive a greater amount of space than we can get in any other way. CRATING AND MARKETING HONEY. Continued from last iasue. I HARDLY know whether this fact should be more emphasized or not; at all events, hardly any one likes candied comb honey whether they understand its nature or not, and people who don't understand this crystallizing- property of honey say instantly, "Oh! that is manufactured honey, isn't it?" or another fays. " That is some eujrar you have put in." These friends compare the retail price of hon- ey, 18 and 20 cts , with the price of sugar, 7 and S cts , and think there is an immense profit to us in turn- ing sugar thus into honey. Of course, they don't know, nor can we very well explain, ihat the whole- sale price of honey in barrels is about the same as good sugar, thus making it out of the question to adulterate honey profitably. Glucose makes an unpalatable mi.xture, and can't be counted. Uijiht here, while speaking of the price of honey. I wish to call some of our dear brethren to account for selling honey so cheaply. One brother sold •;'.i-lb. glass tumblers tor $1.00 per dozen in Toledo. The tumblers cost, any way, 30 cts. per dozen, whoUsale, leaving a Utile lefs than 8 ctF. per lb. for 376 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May the honey, put up in small receptacles. Another of our beekeepiug' friends has been putting up pint Masons (holding IK lbs.) for 20 cts. each, by the dozen. If he gets his jars for 6 cts. each by the gross he is lucky, leaving 14 cts. forl'/^-lbs. of honey, and labor of filling, etc. Now, we have disposed of nearly 39,000 lbs. of honey in the past two years, and the bulk of it has been sold at 18 to 30 cts. per lb., and we charge extra for the glass jars. We have sold honey thus in Cleveland, Canton, Akron, Mas- sillon, Newark, Zanesville, Columbus, Findlay, Tif- fin, and several other Ohio towns, and in Logans- port, Lafayette. Ft. Wayne, and Indianapolis, in Hoosierdom. The above is our uniform experi- ence. It is next to impossible to find a lot of comb hon- ey that has no pollen in some of the cells. In some way I can not explain, this is an attraction for the moth, and many a disgusting task I have had of cleaning them out of a lot of nice comb honey. To avoid this, sulphur them, of course; but just when to do this with most profit to all concerned, I know not. Perhaps some brother who has had experi- ence in this particular line will kindly inform us. One thing in regard to the general appearance and quality of honey. Let our beekeeping friends remember that grocers as a rule will have nice, neat-looking white honey or have none at all. What kind of appearance do you suppose honey presents with all the bee-glue on it, as when re- moved from the hive? In several instances I have seen comb honey that had been shipped to market in the very cases that held it on the hive, with all the unsightly bee-glue adhering. Why, such a thing is as much behind the advanced spirit of the times as the stage coach or the wooden plow. Let us all remember that beauty and neatness are prime requisites for succets in any line of goods we present to the public. People living in our cities have the importance of this matter impressed on them at every hand, and here competition is swift in inventing new and artistic effects. Our farmer friends must bear in mind that this is the class of people who approve or condemn their methods, and use no charity in so doing, but adopt the rigid rule of comparison. Once for all, let me say, send no dark honey to our city markets. Practically, no one wants it; and you can make more money out of it by feeding in spring to your bees or marketing to private families through the country. The only way to fight these infamous lies, in cir- culation about the bee-business, is for each one of us to write articles for our home, county, and local papers, where our word is taken as authority. The persistence and scope of these misstatements, no one can fully realize who has never sold honey in the cities and away from home. There would be 100,000 lbs. more honey eaten per year if all who like honey had confidence in what is offered them. An eminent financier has said, " Confidence is the life of trade," and this is eminently so in the bee and honey business. My brother said once, "If any one ever ate any good honey, and had the slightest suspicion that we sold it, he will buy more, without question." H. F. Moore. Cleveland, O., Apr. 4. Friend M.. you do not mention our re- ward cards for these people, but I suppose you have them. I am glad of your caution in regard to unfinished sections of the pre- vious year. This has been quite thorough- ly discussed in our conventions, but a great many don't seem to get hold of the whole of it. i am sure the old honey, section and all, had better be thrown away, unless every particle can be cleaned out of the cells by the bees, so as to leave nothing that can start the new honey to candying. Throw- ing honey out by means of the extractor will not answer. It must be given to the bees to clean off afterward. Our experience with dark honey has been just about what you say. Nobody wants it at all. ^ I ^ A HOME-MADE EXTRACTOR. ITS MERITS AND DEMERITS. I INCLOSE with this a photograph of my extract- or. It is composed of eight pieces, all of which, or a substitute for mostof ihem, are generally obtainable by what I call an amateur bee- keeper; for instance, a hickory sapling, a few boards nailed to- gether, and the cor- ners cut off, take the place of the wheel; and with '/2inch lum- ber a box might be made to take the place of the can, or the can might be made from two old five - gallon square honey-cans. For my device I took a long stout pole. The wheel I used was the front wheel of a light wagon. I cut the pole down to 7 feet, the height adapted to my cellar. la the bottom of the pole I drove an iron plug 54 inch in diameter, allow- ing it to extend about J^ inches outside. I then bored a l,V-inch hole through a piece of hard wood, long enough to be nailed on two joists overhead. I then bored a % hole in a piece of hard wood, one inch thick and a foot long. I drop a piece of thick tin into this to form a resting-place for the spindle; and having got the pole plumb, I screwed this to the floor. I then put the pole through the wheel, the inside of the hub toward the bottom of the pole, and placed it in position. I next bored a hole 4 inches from the bottom, stuck the end of a ten-foot sash cord through it, knotted it, and attached a 3- inch ring to the other, and wound the cord around it to try how would work (see cut). The rest will be evident from the cut. We will suppose a friend should call to see me during a honey season, and I should like to give him a taste of honey, none in the house. Well, such is my disposition that, if I had a regular ex- tractor stored away, I would get it down to extract a single frame, to stand treat. Nearly the contents of a 3-lb. frame would stick to it, and a nice job to clean it, while the other can would not waste 3 ounces Hnticy could be cleaned with a quart of water, and dried in less than half an hour. Philadelphia, March 8. S. Stout. Friend S., the arrangement vou give is substantially very old. The '' Rapid " hon- ey-extractor, in the British Bee Journal, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 377 some years ago, was on the same plan. While you can extract honey with such an arrangement, especially if you have a few hives, it is not only a very laborious way, but very fatiguing, where very much of it is to be done. It is true, that the honey is thrown into a single tin can, and nowhere else ; but a single tin can can be used in any ordinary extractor, where you wish to extract only one comb, or, say, two combs. or more The objection is, that it forms what is called a revolving-can extractor. The honey swings around with the comb, instead of being thrown out against a sta- tionary can ; and as soon as you swing very much honey in this way you will f\nd it very laborious. Every comb "that is emptied will necessitate stopping and pouring honey out of the can or cans. I would suggest that, if you are going to use such a machine, in- stead of a wagon-wheel and hickory sapling, you use simply alight iron or steel rod, with some kind of metal wheel not weighing over a jiound. GEORGIA FOR BEES. AN A B C SCHOLAR'S EXPERIENCE. One of my brothers has been kct^ping lees ia this county for over six years, but he has never made beekeeping' a specialty. He commenced with only 13 colonies of the golden -banded Ital- ians, and Increased to 35 colonies, and sold 1335 worth of honey from them the first year. But as he has been engaged in farming and merchandiz- ing ever since, he has not given them very much at- tention. I believe this to be the best country for bees in the South, as we have a large number of honey- producing fiowers in bloom here every month in the year, from January until November; and they are no trouble to winter. Our winters are never cold enough lo stop our bees from work. They usually commence to gath- er pollen in January, and never cease till Decem- ber. The honey season commences about the first of April, and we take off surplus until the 15th of July. Our honey-producing plants and trees are the yellow jessamine, pround-huckleberry, gall- berry, persimmon, magnolia, bay, poplar, and horsemint, and a large number of others whose names are unknown to me. Over two-thirds of our honey is made from the gallberry-bush, which com- mences to bloom about the 20th of April, and con- tinues in bloom until the middle of June. Our apiary is situated in the center of a gall berry-for- est, out in the country, three miles from Sasser, in " A populous solitude of bees and birds. And fairy formed and many-colored things." And while the gallberries are in bloom the bees work from daylight until dark. It is in full bioom now, and it is a pretty sight to see how busy the lit- tle creatures are. OAt,l>BERRY HONEY. This i3 the prettiest I ever saw. It is well flavor- ed, very thick, and as translucent as the classic product of Hymettup. I took .53 pounds of as pret- ty sealed gallberry honey from an upper story yes- terday as I ever saw, and I could easily extract 25 lbs. from any hive in our apiary. It is all this year's honey too. I expect to commence extract- ing in a week. Mr. Root. I am one of your ABC boys, and will let you hear from me again soon. Walter L. Anthony. Sasser, Terrell Co., Ga., May 6. We have had of late some inquiry in re- gard to Georgia as a bee country. The above will* doubtless give the information needed. HONEY-CIDER VINEGAR, ETC. PUTTING refuse HONEY INTO THE VINEGAR -BAR- REL, ETC. Dear Gleanings:— Your pages fall under the eyes of multitude s of people, embracing many shades of thought, and representing a gi-eat variety of inter- ests. Though the chief interest centers in the busy bee, your readers are treated to other sources of vital interest to society, and to individuals. There really appears to be a great big Gleanings family who are all trying to help each other. The question, " What business shall we connect with apiarian management?" Is a prolific one, and has had much interesting discussion in your pages. I entered the Gleanings family in 1S87, wilhSO colonies; and however fascinating be the occupa- tion, I need not even hint to any of those who re- cord their honey gains in tons, how very essential a thing it is to us who would like to be bee men, to have a side show occupation until the big honey business would materialize. In 1888 I moved my apiary from Indianapolis to North Vernon, Jennings Co., and to this city in 1889. Through these years and changes our honey product has slightly exceeded a liberal supply on my own table. My great lack of success has come from the ravages of that loathsome disease, foul brood. My stocks have decreased to U colonies, '•spring count." I have just made a purchase of a fine old farm. Yesterday ray little "wicked" busy bees bid good-by to city life, and to day I lib- erated them under the spreading branches of an apple-orchard full of bloom; and this brings me to the thought which prompted this article. Glean- ings is authority for the quality of honey vinegar. We are here surrounded by a prolific, never-failing fruit-crop. Fruit makes cider; cider makes vine- gar; cider vinegar, known to be such, always com- mands ready sale at the best quotations. I put the question, " Will cider and honey vinegar combine?" Both are known to be in quality par excellent. Neither would be an adulteration of the other. The brand would be improved— honey-cider vinegar. I am told that honey enters largely into the manu- facture of the plug from the wickedest weed in the world. Of course, the name of honey associated with the vile stuff helps the sale of it to those who indulge in such nastiness. Would it not be a bumper in aiding the sale of pure vinegar? Can any one tell? John Cadwallader. Madison, Ind., Apr. 26. Friend C., I am happy to tell you that we have been in the habit of putting our refuse honey into our cider vinegar for some time, and it improves it amazingly— sometimes to the extent of making it so sharp that no- body can use tlie vinegar without lirst di- luting it. When they put it on the lettuce in our dining-room, 1 have remonstrated several times because they did not dilute it more. It would fairly take the skin off 378 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May your lips and tongue. Perhaps a better way would be to put water with the honey before it is added to the vinegar, to avoid having it too strong. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, A PASTE FOR STICKING HONEY-LABELiS ON TIN. In Gleanings for April 15 1 noticed an inquiry for a paste to stick Jabels on tin. I find the follow- ing very satisfactory: Flour, 1 lb.; gum arabic, 2|?4 oz.; sugar lead, powdered, lYi oz.; alum. Hi oz.; water, 2 qts. The gum, sugar lead, and alum, are dissolved in the water, then proceed as when mak- ing ordinary flour paste. Scratching the tin with sandpaper, or washing wiih diluted muriatic acid, is also helpful. One of our anaateui' photographers likes this paste very much. J. F. Barton. Chicago, Jll., April 21, 1?90. And here are a couple more lette s on the same subject : You inquire how to make labels stick to tin pails. I have put on a great many this winler. The best way I find is to use common flour paste, well cook- ed, then rub the label hard with a dry cloth after it is on the pail; rub it down smooth, let it dry, and it will stay as long as the pail lasts, unless you wash it off. Mucilage will not stick well. Jackson, Mich., Apr. 4. W. D. Soper. To make labels stick to new tin with ordinary paste, rub a sliced onion over the tin. livaniville, Ind., Apr. IT. L. A. Wii.kes. spraying of fruit-trees and killing of bees. I write you for information in regard to the spraying of fruit-trees with poison. There are per- sons, malicious and ignoraiit, who will not yield to any proofs, but persist in spraying their trees while the blossoms are on, and poisoning the bees. One man in this neighborhood had his bees mined for this season, and mine are dying oft' daily from the effects of poison. What I wish to ask is, wheth- er there is any remedy through the law by which such persons can be made to quit it. Millbury, O., May 2. Geo. W. Chapman. Friend C, if your neighbors poison your bees they render themselves liable, in the same way they would if they poisoned your chickens or larger animals ; and if it can be shown that there is no necessity for spray- ing the trees while they are in blossom, we shall have a pretty clear case against them. The professors in our agricultural colleges and experiment stations will back us up in the matter, and perhaps the Bee-keepers' Union may decide to take hold of it, if it comes to litigation. I would, however, have a. friendly talk with your neighbors in re- gard to it, and show "them what Prof. Cook has written on the subject. decoy hives not allowed by law in co.v- necticut. There is a law in this State that mukes the setting- out of a bee-hive in the woods, or anywhere else, for the purpose of catching runaway bees, a misde- meanor, punishable by fine or imprisonment. Now, what we should like to know is, can it pns?ibly work any injury to my neighbor who keeps bees? Does it in any way entice them to abscond? We claim not. But we claim, rather, it is a humane act; for why is it not better for the little fellows to have a de- cent place to set up housekeeping in than to have them waste their time and strength in cleaning out some old hollow tree? Now, I regard my neighbor's rights as sacred as my own, and more so. What we should like to know is, whether it can work him any harm to set out hives as I have stated. I hope you will not cast this aside without a reply. I think the law a foolish one, conceived in spite. Middlebury, Conn., April 28. R. B. Wheaton. Eriend W., I was aware that such a law had been passed ; but I pronounced it at the outset a foolish, unnecessary law, and I ob- jected to it at the time it was brought up at one of our conventions. The enactment of such laws, where no law is needed, is one great reason why we have so many laws that are a dead letter. If I wanted to set out decoy hives in the woods or anywhere else. I would do so, and no one, surely, would make any complaint unless it would be some foolish fellow who has got cranky on the subject. four -banded ITALIAN BEES. I Fend a sample of my "so called four banded bees." Will you please be kind enough to examine them carefully and tell the readers of Gleanings whether or not they have four or five yellow bands? Frenchville, W. Va., Apr. 30. L. L. Hearn. Friend H., the Italian bees you send us in a Peet cage, mentioned above, when placed on a window, show distinctly four yellow bands. The fourth band is not the downy fuzz so often called a yellow band, but the horny scale of the body itself is, a greater part of it, yellow, just like the second and third bands in ordinary Italians. I do not know that I have ever before seen bees so distinctly maiked with this yellow band. Some of them may also show the fifth band, but it is not as clear and unmistakable as the fourth. Perhaps I should say to our readers that I do not consider these extra yellow bauds as particular evidence of their purity. It is doubtless the result of careful breeding and careful selection, having yel- low bands constantly in view. While these yellow bands distinguish them more plainly than common Italians, from common bees, it does not necessaiily follow that they are better honey-gatherers than ordinary "Ital- ians. The bees are of a good size, very handsome, and quite docile. I let them out of the cage on the window, so as to see the band more clearly, and put them back, tak- ing them by the wings by my fingers, but none of them offered to sting. We should be glad to have friend II. tell us where he got the stock, and how long he has been get- ting the above result. IN favor of open-side SECTIONS. Seeing, as I do, in Gleanings, occasional and mostly uncomplimentary allusions to open-s'de sections, T feel called upon to say a word in their favor. During the season of 1888 T produced a little over 6000 lbs. of honey in open-side sections, 4 Vx 4 4, 7 to the foot, and I was very well pleased with them. They were used in a case that clamped 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 379 them up firmly together, so that they were propo- lized only on top and bottom. This propolis was scraped off before removing the sections from the case. I think the trouble in using them has been that the ease was not adapted to them. They must be clamped up tight together, so that no propolis can be got in between them. A T super will not do. I am not very much interesteil in this comb-honey business at present, as about a year ago I decided to run my bees— 330 colonies— for extracted honey, yet I dislike very much to see a good thing, like the open-side section, defamed by those who have not given it a fair trial. T. P. Andrews. Farina, 111., May .5, 1890. BAD BOYS, AKD HOW THEY WERE SERVED. I went iato winter quarters with 119 hives; lost 20, and the boys upset six and rolled some down the hill, anil killed three colonies for me. I sold nine others, leaving 87 colonies to commence with this spiing, all in good shape, as they commenced breeding early in February and March, and are all getting strong now. The three boys that upset six of my hives and destroyed three, belonged to three different families; so I made theii- parents pay for the bees f 10 for each colony destroyed, 130 in all, and settled it without going to court. Norristown, Pa., Apr. 19. J. W. Swartley. Friend S., I think you did exactly right. Where boj s tip over bee-hives, or destroy valuable colonies for the small amount of honey they obtain, I think the good of the boys demands they should be made to pay roundly for it. A LOSS OF 110 OUT OF 161 TUT INTO WINTER QUAR- TERS, WITH THE DIFFERENCE GREATLY IN FAVOR OF CHAFF HIVES. I have been watching 1o see the reports of the losses of bees this spring, but I have seen eg re- port. I have lost 110 out of 161. I put 117 into the cellar. I left 44 outdoors in chuff hives, two of which died this spring. Most of those that were in the cellar were very weak. I set them out twice. There was a good deal of honey-dew last fall. It is cold and backward for bees. There have been big losses through this section. Some have lost more than I have. James Mabkle. New Salem, N. Y., May 1, 1890. Your great loss in the cellar, and compar- atively small loss in chaff* hives, speaks well for the outdoor method, though the past open winter was much more favorable for outdoor wintering. We rather doubt wheth- er the food was the whole source of loss in the cellar. Did your liives have plenty of bottom ventilation, and no toj) ventilation? Ventilation from an ordinary entrance in cellar is not enough. Another thing : Was your cellar darkened and perfectly dry, and (lid it maintain a comparatively even tem- perature? Let us hear from you again. We want to know more about your loss. THE HOFFMAN FRAME. Mr.Roat :-Tbe wide and thick top-bar is the only one that ought to be used in Ice-hives. We have used such for six or seven j ears, and many near us are falling into line in regard lo ilum. We did not like the brace-combs luilt above frames, nor the use of burlap? over them, neither the U5e of honey- boards. The frame we ueo is a trifle different from the Hoffman-Langslroth, but only in the wdth and thickness of the top-bar. We call them the Hoff- man-Langslroth. The use of wide and thick top- bars allows us to have no use for them, for we can use a plain board that comes off clean. Honey- boards, burlajjs, etc., are too much machinerj' for us. You can do no better than the Hoffman frame, made as we make them. F. A. S.\lisbury. t^yracuEe, N. Y., Jan. 31, 1890. You will observe that the frame he de- scribes is quite similar to the modification we spoke of on page 330 of last issue. We are sure that bee-keepers would like to dis- pense with quilts, honey-boards, burr-combs, and "all sich," and we hope the above frame will enable us to do it. HONEY- MOONS. We extract the following from the Ameri- can Bee Journal, as many, like ourselves, may not before have known the origin of the term : Honevmoon, it is said, is a term of Teutonic ori- gin, and df rived from a lu.Yurious drink prepared with honev by the ancients. It was the custom to drink of diluted honey for thirty days, or a moon's ase, afier a weddiug feast. It is good to "keep sweet" for a month after mat riage; but it is better when that "sweetness " e.vtends throughout not only the months, but the long years of wedded life. We heartily indorse friend Newman's closing sentence. BEES CLUSTERING ON THE E\ST SIDE OF THE HIVE. In examining my beea last week I notice! that in all the four hives the bees were clustered on the cast side of the hive. Is this usual? I winter out of doors on 8 S. frames, stores on each side of the cluster, 4 frames with the bees in center, 2 frames of honey on each side of cluster. J. F. Barton. Chicago, 111., April 21, 1890. Friend B., if what you say is true it is be- cause the morning sun has so warmed up your hives as to call the bees over to that side. I have seen them cluster on the south side of a hive in preference to the north, and for a similar reason. DOUBLE-TOP-BAR FRAMES. On page 201 is illustrated and described a double-top-bar frame; and in our answer we refer to a sample which we held in our hand, and which, by propolis accumulations, we judged had been used for some time At the time we did not know from whom it came. The letter, with reference to it, was attached to an order ; and as it is now sepa- rated we take pleasure in presenting it to our readers. Friend Teuton was among the very first to use the double top-bar— perhaps the itirst. Friend Root:— I send you by mail one of my thick- topped frames, to let you see that there is in prac- tical operation a deep top-bar combining all the ad- vantagjs called for by the fraternity, unless it be in the width. I have adopted this for the purpose of making more distance between the brood and the upper frames, or sections, the prevention of brace-combs, and the necessity of a honey-board. The queen will never trouble the upper story. The bees will not pile up the bee-space, and, summer or winter, packed or unpacked, the bees have free ac- cess to all the combs in the hive. I am aware that, if the top-bars were all of one piece, and cut out 380 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May with a wabble saw, they would be stronger and bet- ter, but I have no machinery for doing it. I am sure you could sell any amount of them if you made them. Chas. Penton. E. Aurora, N. Y., Feb. 3. Your suggestion is no doubt valuable. I hold in my hand a top-bar made as you sug- gest. Instead of using a wabble-saw we simply use one of our thick grooving saws. A slot is cut so as to leave sufficient wood at each end, and also a solid piece in the mid- dle. Yours will be the cheapest way to make a double top-bar; and it will, besides, be considerably stifler than one made of two pieces of wood. A LETTER FROM A LITTLE GIKL; PAPA'S SOLAR WAX-EXTRACTOll. My papa had over 70 hives of bees two years ago. I will try to tell you how we moved them. He filled the horse-cart nearly half full of fine dirt, so they would not be jolted, then placed in as many as the cart would conveniently hold, brought them home, and removed all the others the same way until all the bees had arrived safely at our new home Papa does not " squeeze" the cappings, as some do, but be has an extractor made of a Simplicity hive wiih a flat cover put on, on hinges, then in the bottom there is a square tin pan 6 in. deep, which catches the wax and honey; above that there is a wire-net cover on which the wax is placed. The good goes down in the pan beneath, while the dead bees and Dad wax stay on the wire net, and over that there is a glass cover which throws the heat of the sun down on ttie wax, an melts it very rapidly. 1 here draw one as near like it as possible. Papa gives me half of the wax for watching it, and put- ting and taking out wax when it is needed. Once a high tide came half way up our front yard, and drowned nearly half of our bees. Church Creek, Md. Eliza Busick, age 13. -^^P _ PAN works were detached from the hives (made of straw); only two or three could be set on the stools; the rest were all broken-up wax, honey, and bees, all thoroughly mi.xed up. Alter getting the house- hold bedded, I placed two washing-tubs before the kitchen fire, took off my coat, rolkd up my sleeves . (I had been, previous to that, stung so much that I had become heedless of more), took up a handful of the mixture, and picked with my fingers bee after bee into the fire. This was my occupation all the night, and I finished it only when the sun was ris- ing. You will doubtless laugh, but I tell you it was not a laughing job to me at the lime, though I have laughed over the matter many a time since. Washington, D. C, April 10. J. S. But, friend S., what in the world did you sit up all night for, picking out bees and throwing them into the fire ? Did the mashed-up honey you had, pay you for the trouble? It was the towels over tlie bot- tom of the hive, shutting off the air, that made the trouble. In removing bees, you want wire cloth. Nothing else is safe, es- pecially when the weather is warm. MOVING BEES; BAD WORK WITH. I must give you the benefit of my experience in bee culture. It was many years ago, when I was but a young lad, when a man who kept a number of hives was a laborer for my father. He would be talking everlastingly about how all his bees were thriving. I purchased one hive from him, and left it with bis own for two or three years, when the number was increased to tix or seven, and may be eight hives. 1 made as many stools in my father's kitchen garden to place the hives upon them. 1 in- quired of the bee-keeper the best way to remove them. He said, "The road is good, as smooth as a room floor. Bring a large-bottomed cart and tow- els, and we will fix a towel about each hive, and place them all in the cart; and by driving carefully you will get them home nicely." Home was three miles cff. By the time we had gone but half a mile, the honey was dripping through the cart on the road; but as it was useless to stop, we continued our journey. Upon lifting them out of the cart to place them on the previously prepared stools, the WHAT MADE THE BEES SWARM OUT/' My bees have been out for a week, and I have had 7 swarms leave their hive and go in with other swarms. They leave from 3 J to 50 lbs. in a hive. Hammond, Wis., Apr. 4. A. E Bradford. The swarming out you mention comes under the head of ''Absconding in Early Spring," in the first chapter of the ABC' book. Bees are more apt to do this when wintered in cellars or special repositories. Yours must have gotten a kind of abscond- ing mania, especially if they had plenty of stores, as you state it. fall HONEY, AND BEES IN GOOD CONDITION. Bees did not do much last year till about Septem- ber 1, when the fall flowers opened and the bees went at them in earnest, filling their Lives with the best fall honey I ever saw. I had several swarms in September, which built their combs and stored honey enough to carry them through the winter — something never known in this country. I have 59 colonies of bees in good condition for spring work. Mart, N. C, March 17. Sdbscriber. 00^ ^aEgn^i0N-B@^, With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. Question 160.— A young man having just graduat- ed from college, and living in the vicinity of Central Illinois, has had some experience in managing out- apiaries for abee heeper. He desires to keep some two or three apiaries, and teach school during the odd months. He wants to hnow hoiv much time he will probably have for teaching school, providing he does all the work himself, with the assistance of a horse and wagon, and yet give the bees all the necessary attention. I should think about four months. Cuba. O. O. POPPLETON. Excepting a few days, he will have from Septem- ber 1st to April 1st. Wisconsin. S. E. Geo. Grimm. If he purchases all supplies, six months, from October 1st to April Ist. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 381 He would " probably " know if he should follow getting things ready for next year, and Belling off out hi8 proposed plan. his honey, etc. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. Wisconsin. S. W. I should say six months, if his apiaries do not ex- ceed 100 to the apiary. California. S. W. R. Wilkin. Not a day— at least I suspect that from my own experience, unless the apiaries are very small. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. If by the above is meant during the honey season, none. If the entire year is included, probably from five to six months. Illinois. Mrs. L. Harrison. If he makes his own supplies, I should say, " Not any." If he buys his supplies, then perhaps three months during winter. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. If he keeps two or three apiaries, and gives them the necessary attention, it will take more of his time than he will be able to give to a school. Louisiana. E. C. P. L. Viallon. If he works with his bees every Saturday he will be able to care for two or three apiaries during the school months— we mean from September till May. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. In a year or two he will probably have twelve months for teaching. With the amount of work he lays out he can do neither himself, school, nor bees, justice, and one or all will fail. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. If this young man is full of energy I should gay he might devote three or four months in winter to teaching at first. He can then decide the question for himself. Ohio. N. W. H. R. BOARDMAN. If he has steel nerves and is iron-clad, and re- quires no rest, he may teach from December till March; but if he is of the same material as other men, he will have no time to teach and do justice to his bees. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. If he keeps "two or three" outapiaries of a proper size, doing all the work himself and doing it properly, he will probably not be able to teach school more than nine months in the year. Most men would not have any time for school-teaching. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. I think the young man will find that the schools will claim to set the time for him. He will have to push things to get ready to begin the fall term; but I guess he can manage it if he uses his Saturdays to finish up in. The winter term will come all right. The spring term he can hardly take, unless he can find a school accommodating enough to have an un- usually short spring term. Thus six or seven months would be his outside lines. Ohio. N. W. E. E. HASTy. He can teach during the winter months. Begin, say, November 1st, and teach four months. But if he keeps two or three apiaries ol from 60 to 80 colo- nies, spring count, he can not do all the work him- self during the honey season; and then when he gets his third apiary to going in good shape he will find that his school days are over, for there is a great deal of work that can be done in the winter— E. France. I don't think I would teach any, unless I had to. He might, perhaps, be able to teach the winter months if he buys his hives and fixtures, but it would be well for him to get thoroughly rested dur- ing the winter; for if he runs three yards with 100 colonies each, he will have to get around pretty spry during the bee-season if he gives the beos all necessary attention. Wisconsin. S. W. S. 1. Freebohn. Let us sec. Three apiaries, 100 colonies each, 30O. If run for comb honey there will be somewhere near ~0,000 sections to prepare, besides hives and many other things. We should therefore say, that, doing all this work himself, there would be but little time for "swinging the birch." If, however, the bees are run for extracted honey, and after each hive has a complement of extra combs and no increase allowed, then from November 1st until April he could devote his time to the profession of pedagogics. New York. E. Rambler. Now please excuse me for the following reply, be- cause I feel sure you want the truth as I see it. In the first place, this young man's having graduated from college is no sign that he is as well prepared to manage your bees as some young man who has not been to college. In the next place, he does not look upon bee-keeping as I do, if he proposes to manage two or three apiaries and teach school during the " odd months." If he does the work as it should be done, he will have no "odd months" at all, if each apiary contains a sufficient number of bees to be worthy of the name of apiary. In taking bees on shares there is an enormous profit to him who takes them, and a loss to the one who owns them if they are worked on the " kick and a brush " plan. Whoever works apiaries, whether he owns them or not, should do the work well and carefully, seeing to every detail, and should have all of his work done ahead of time. If you aim to keep from one to two weeks ahead of your bees you will probably not get behind at any time; but if you aim to keep just even with them you will probably get a week or two behind just at the time when the greatest loss from such being behind comes In. I want the hustling fellow, with natural ability, and I don't suppose it would hurt him if he had graduated at a college, provided his metal had not been all mold- ed and worked in that college until the temper is all worked out of it. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. I am much inclined to agree with the friends who thinli that he should not teach school at all, or else he should not keep bees at all (of course, there are men who can carry on two lines of business at once)— that is, it he wishes to attain a great degree of excellence in either calling ; and it seems to me, too, that this young man is starting out pretty large. If I understand him, he has not had experience in handling even one apiary of his own. The man who proposes to keep two or three out-apiaries, even after he has had experience, will And enough on his hands to occupy all his brains and ener- gies, even in winter time. 382 G1.EANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May FROM OUR ABC CLASS. This department is designed primarily to cover questions either not already answered in the A B C of Bee Culture(priee in cloth $1.25), or, it incorporated in this work, are here dwelt upon more in detail on account of the importance of the question. While these answers are of vital interest to the ABC scholars, they will doubtless be fouml, in many in- stances, to be of considerable value to the iiune advanced student. ' For lack of space, the question itself, instead of be ing directly stated, is omitted, the same being implied in the answer. It is hoped that the class will first consult their text-book before sending in their questions. MISTAKEN IN STORES. J. TT.— The boy was probably mistaken as to the amount of stores the bees had. They should have had twenty pounds by weififht. It is well for begin- ners to wei?h the combs. If the aggregate will make twenty pounds, all right. If not, feel until they have enough. SHUTTINO BEES IN CHAFF HIVES DURING WINTER. C. P.— Do not shut bees up, packed in chaff, out- doors. Give them a full entrance, and let them fly when they will. You m:iy kill them if j on keep them shut up. Bees that die in the snow, probably are of not much use to Iho colony. They are dis- eased, and hence fly our. ARTIFICIAL FORAGE. J. H. I.— It will not pay you, if you area beginner, to plant for bee-forage. But very little is gathered, usually, from artificial forage. Natural sources are usually depended upon. Alsike clover, buck- wheat, and rape, are usually safe to sow. See " Ar- tificial Pasturage," in the ABC book; also "Al- sike," " Buckwheat." MARKET VALUE OF DARK HONEY. Miss JJ.— Dark-coloi-ed honey never sells for as much as light- colored. As a general thing it will not bring much more than half; 35 cents at retail certainly would be very h-gh for dark honey, es- pecially if the flavor were of an inferior quality also. The best way to dispose of candied comb honey is to feed it to the bees. ABOUT WHEN A SWARM MAY BE XPECTED. H. G.— You can not tell exactly when bees will swarm; but from conditions in the hive, you can say they will swarm in a day or so perhaps. The conditions are, an overcrowded hive, large amount of brood, several queen-cells which will hatch in 24 or 48 hours, and a good honey-flow. See "Swarm- ing " in the ABC book. PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHWAY, FOR BEES. C. TF. r.— The outskirts of the apiary should not be closer than 100 feet to the highway, and on ac- count of the children it would be better to have it that distance from the house. With a high board fence, or a hedge six to eight feet high, the apiary may reach clear up to the highway, and very little trouble, if any, will be experienced by passers-by. SENSE OF HEARING NECESSARY OR NOT FOR A BEE-KEEPER. A. T. G.— Impaired hearing would have very little to do with your failure or success as a bee-keeper. The only difference, and that would be slight, would be that you would sometimes be unaware cf the issue of a swarm, from your inability to hear the swarming-note; but by keeping on the watch dur- ing swarming time, as every bee-keeper should, you would lose few swarms. Again, you might miss some of the pleasures of a bee convention. One of the best beekeepers in the State of Ohio is hard of hearing. 3F0B^cce Gdmw. CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE GIVE SMOKERS TO PERSONS WHO STOP USING TOBACCO. First, the candidate must be one of tho^e who have given up tobacco in consequence of what he has seen and read in this department. Second, he promises to pay for the smoker should he ever resume the use of tobacco in any form, after receiving the smoker. Third, he must be a subscriber to Gleanings. Any subscriber may, however, have smokers sent to neighbors or personal acquaintances whom he has 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 smoker in this case need not be a sub- scriber to Gleanings, though we greatly prefer 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 MINISTER WHO USES TOBACCO. I enjoy Our Homes very much. It is all written in such a practical way, just like the experience of so many others, that it is of great help to resist temptations. 1 have had a temptation all my life — that of smoking. Although, through the careful training of parents, I never used tobacco ia any form, yet there is still a desire for it. Now, while I believe we should have a great deal ot charity for the failings of others, when a servant of God who sets himself up to leach others the truth and purity of the word, one can hardly tolerate the use of to- bacco. A minister of this class called at our house, and during the time he was offering up prayer and thanksgiving to God, he was compelled to stop three times to expectorate the vile quid. Now, this seems pretty hard ; but still It has its influence on others by disgusting them. But, friend Root, what ought one to say to f uch a person? God hasten the day when tobacco will become extinct. Linn, Kansas. J. T. Van Petten. Friend Y., I can not tell you exactly what you ought to say to a minister who persists in the use of tobacco ; but I would say, in general terms, try to say that which will do the most good and not do him harm. Pray for him. and pray for yourself before you say any thing, and ask the Ifoly Spirit to help you to act and speak wisely. With such a preparation before you, you will be very unlikely to do harm. But even if he does not stop forthwith, give him to under- stand that you consider him a brother still. And let us remember that it is everybody's privilege to do as he sees fit or thinks prop- er, in all these matters where there are dif- ferences of opinion. In returning from a convention in Michigan I rode several hours in the night with a good brother who is a professor of religion, but who acknowledged 10 me that he used tobacco, and either could not or had not given it up. His son in the seat with him listened to all our talk. I told him I should pray for him, and told him that it would be good uews to me at any time to hear that he had, with God's help, broken away from the bondage. In a few months the son wrote to me that hia father broke right square off shortly after our talk. I am now waiting anxiously to^ hear that the son has come out before men and confessed Christ Jesus. May be when he reads this he will gain courage. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 383 THE FUN IN QL'ITTINQ TOBACCO. I have used tobacco 20 ytars. 1 have quit using it. I have not used any for over three years. I now propose to handle bees for 20 years, and see which is the most profitable for me to handle— bees or tobacco. If you have never used tobacco you don't know the fua there is in quilting it. Athens, Vn. Julius White. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT POR A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO- RAISE CROPS. That art on which a thousand millions of men are dependent for their sustenance, and two hundicd millions of men expend their daily toil, must be the most important of all — the parent and precursor of all other arts. In t\ ,r3- country, then, and at every period, the investigation of the principles on which the rational practice of this art is founded ought to have command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds. Jambs F. W. Johnston. HOW TO MAKE PLANT - BEDS ON THE WORST KIND OF (J ROUND. In our last issue I promised to tell you how to make plant-beds on the worst kind of ground. Keep on just as I have directed before. Now, no matter how much under- draining you have done, you want over- drains, or surface-drains. J. M. Smith had them in his beautiful sandy soil at Green Bay, and I am sure we want them every- where. For the plant business I would have these surface-drains 3i feet apart, from center to center. These surface-drains also form paths to walk in as well as to carry off the surplus water. We make them with two horses by means of Darnell's furrower and marker. Our machine leaves the ground something like the diagram below. r^ r'^ HOW TO MAKE YOUR PLANT-BEDS. A A are paths, and B B the beds. The machine leaves the ground as we have shown it on each side of C. I) D shows the fine soil scooped out of the bottom C. This fine soil is leveled down and brought into shape by a machine of my own inveution, illustrated below. MACHINE FOR MAKI^G BEDS FOK VEGETABLE- PLANTS, FLOWERS, ETC. The runners of this sled arrangement are to go in the paths A, A, in the diagram above. The sieve or screen is just the kind they use for screening sand, gravel, etc. It is set at such an incline tliat, when the soil of the bed is thrown on top of the screen, the fine dirt and fine manure will go down through, while the roueh part slides down to the ground at G. Here we have small stones, clumps of dirt, chunks of manure, weeds, sticks, trash, etc. The meshes of this screen are i inch ; that is, there is a i-inch space batween the wires. The op- erator scoops out the soil of the bed, and throws two or three shovelfuls on the screen A. Then with his foot and shovel he levels off the coarse part at G, takes hold of the bail C, and pulls it along, say a foot, then shovels some more dirt, and pulls it along, and so on. The result is, that the surface of the bed is soft fine soil down several inch- es, and it is finer and smoother than any soil you ever got by raking. If your ground IS in very good order, you may have four or five inches of this beautifully fiued-up soil, most thoroughly mixed and mingled with all the manure that has been put into it, and the big lumps and trash are all down beneath. The back end-board. D, as the machine is drawn along, smooths the sur- face so it should be almost or quite ready for the plants. Our engraver has left the surface of the beds rounding, where they should have been flat. The paths, or sur- face-drains, are rounding, or hollow, while the beds are perfectly flat, as shown in the diagram. This apparatus not only does the work very much faster than it can be done with the garden-rake, but it leaves the soil in a much better condition for the plants. I have been astonished at the enormous productiveness of these plant-beds when the wejtther has been favorable. A man, or even a boy who has had a little practice, will go over the ground very rapidly. When the paths get weedy, get your marker and draw over it with a team, and they will be scraped out most beautifully. For planting cabbage, celery, and every thing of this description, we take a roll of poultry-netting, the exact width of the top of the bed. This netting is ordinarily of 2-inch mesh. For the celerv, we have used H-inch mesh. Unroll it, and then roll it up the other way, so that, when laid on the ground, it will lie flat. Make it stay by means of some bricks laid on it, wherever it bulges up. Now give the boys an ordina- ry cheap wooden sled that will just span the beds. ^Vhen one of the boys is working, he can sit on the sled and put the plants be- tween his feet. We ordinarily, however, have two boys Avork together. As the plants are put in, their sled, or seat, is pvdl- ed along. If the weather is hot and dry. a barrel of water and watering-can should be right beside them. While I write, at least a dozen schoolboys are busy putting out celery and cabbage (a plant in each opening), for we had a nice shower last night. Now, before you say it is too much fuss and trouble, and will not pay, just re- member what I told you before ; and I feel sure that it will prove true in almost any lo- cality. When you get your i»iece of ground up to its highest notch of fertility, the prod- 384 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. May uct of a square yard of your beds in /our or six weeks' time may bring you a dollar bill. But even if it brings you only 2.5 cts., just figure up what a quarter of an acre will amount to. This ground, worked on the high-pressure principle, using guano and liquid fertilizers, should be bearing crops of some kind from the first of Api'il to the first of October; and with the aid of glass to keep off the frost, it can be growing a crop every month in the year. You may take exception to some of these statements ; but if you do, I shall tell you that you never saw a square yard of ground doing what it is ca- pable of doing ; in other words, you have no comprehension of GocVs gifts to the diligent lover and searcher in this direction. A 3IACHINB FOR SORTING rOTATOES. For two or three years past, we have been sorting our potatoes with a sieve covered with poultry-netting of the right size of through the Itural New-Yorker. That in- quiry brings to light the machine we illus- trate below. You see, these friends have gone ahead of me in making it in the form of a revolving cylinder. Here is what they say about it : You will notice at once that it's "just the thing;" " wonder some one hasn't thoug-ht of it before." Well, here it is now, and at a price within the reach of all. With this machine, which weighs less than 101) lbs., two men and a be yean sort and put into the wagon from ?{} to lOU oushels an hour. It can be operated by one person, if necessary. As you see, the potatoes pass from the hopper into the cyl- inder, which should be turned very slowly, by a lazy boy; and if he has got the " spring fever," so much the better. Have him pick out the decayed or scab- by potatoes as they pass through the hopper, other- wise he will want to go to sleep. If tue potatoes need sprouting, raise the lower end of the machine, or turn the cylinder half way over and then back, or both. The small potatoes, dirt, straw, etc., will fall under the sorter into the basket, while the mer- chantable ones will be delivered into baskets as shown, or they may be run on an incline into the THE HOOVER POTATO-SORTER, MADE BY HOOVER & PROUT, AVERY, ERIE CO., O. mesh. The way we used this sieve was to place four bushel boxes tight up together. The sieve was laid on top of these boxes, and about a bushel of potatoes poured in. Then a boy at each side would shake them until the small ones had passed through. The large ones were then poured into two more potato-boxes, placed side by side. This was a good deal faster than sorting them by hand, and there was not any guess- work about it. All that went through the meshes were sold at a low price. I soon made up my mind that a machine was need- ed to do it faster and with less labor. But the more I thought of it, the better I be- came satisfied that some competent person should take the matter in hand, and, by means of a series of experiments, work out just what was needed. I then had in mind a sieve suspended so as to oscillate, letting the potatoes roll off the lower end. With a view of finding out whether any such ma- chine had been made, I made inquiry cellar. To sort seed potatoes from the small ones, just wind the cylinder with binder twine the proper mesh, and the result will surprise you. We have been using one of the above machines for two or three months past. I had not thought of having a sprouting-ma- chine to take the sprouts off ; but this ma- chine actually does it pretty fairly. To keep the potatoes from flying around the room we have tacked on a couple of side- boards, reaching up about as high as the top of the reel ; but we greatly prefer to have the bushel boxes instead of the bas- kets, as shown in the cut. The boxes can be placed under the machine, pushed up so tight together that no potatoes, dirt, or rub- bish of any kind, can get out on the floor. The price of the machine is $15.00. SOME HINTS ON RAISING ASPARAGUS. Friend Root:— As you are very fond of gardening I thought I would write you a treatise on aspara- gus, as it is but little cultivated, and one o f the best of vegetables, coming in early when there is but 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 385 little else in the vegetable liae to be had. The seed can be obtained from the leading- seedsmea, and planted la a great part of the U. S. in May. In the fall and early winter, the seeds, when mature, can be gathered, and they are easily cleaned by putting thetn into a vessel of water and rubbing them with the hands, when the seeds will settle to the bottom, and the hulls, etc., will come to the top, and can be dipped or drained off, leaving the seed nice and clean. Plant the eeeds in April or May, according to climate, in rich mellow earth, about an inch deep, with the seeds two or three inches apart in the drill. Keep them well cultivated for one or two years (two years give the best roots), when they are to be reset in very rich land (unusually well enriched), some time before resetting; the roots are to be put out in trenches somewhat below the general level, and a slight ridge, or bed, is to be made over the roots, and these bed8,or ridges, must be kept free from weeds and grass. The plants ought not to bo cut or used the flr-st year, or the same year that they are reset. Fertilize annually, and the planting will last for a lifetime, or a good many of them, doubtless. They ought to be reset in the trenches or rows at least one yard apart. A table- spoonful of seed will raise plants enough for a good- sized family. It is a salt-water plant by nature, hence light applications of salt promote the growth of the plants, and also help to keep down weeds and grass. B. Jones. Design, Va., April 38, 1890. Thank you, friend J. Oar experience is rather limited in raising asparagus, but we have found this true : There has never been a surplus yet in our market. Last season we cut continuously from the first of May till the first of July, and some even later ; but the plants seemed just as thrifty this year as ever. Two years ago we ran our little seed-drill twice the length of the held, but sowed seed pretty thickly, for the plants in some places were less than an inch apart. Since then we have done nothing but run a cultivator each side of the row, and hoed them out two or three times ; and this spring, from those two rows, we have sold certainly .$2-3.00 worth of roots. It is almost the only vegetable with which we have nev- er yet succeeded in overstocking the market. 0a^ psMEg. But the water that I shall give him shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life.— John 4: 14. Most of you know how much I love to see springs of water. Hunting for springs has been one of the hobbies of my busy life, especially if the springs are perpetual, bubbling forth their treasures winter and summer, year in and year out. Where w^a- ter is plentiful, we think little of its value. I was greatly pleased in California, and along the desert wastes, to see how much value was set upon a living spring. Even if the water that is poured forth is but small in quantity, if the little stream keeps running winter and summer, in the course of time it amounts to a great deal ; and there is something pleasant and fascinating to almost every one in seeing the water spring forth, and keep running unceasingly My friends laugh at me because I go up on the hill so often to see the windmill raise its treasures of water. When I am tired of reading your letters, I look out of the win- dow just as I am looking out of it now while I dictate this, and see the beautiful piece of machinery raise its burden of pure water from the depths below. Although it has pumped more than .300 barrels a day there has never been any indication of the well giving out, and the water has already acquired the reputation of being the best drinking-water iu the town. For a week back, our wood-working fac- tory has been humming and buzzing through the night time as well as through the day. As we staited up suddenly, to try to fill your orders by working both day and night, we were obliged for a time to use coal-oil lamps to light the workmen. The question was asked whether I dared to take the risk of getting our whole establishment burned up, as was that of friend Lewis. I replied that I had very little fear while the sprinklers covered every foot of space right over the work, and so long as the windmill kept the great tank full of water ; for such an abundant supply of water, springing forth at the first stare of the fire, must nec- essarily drown it out before it could make any headway. Am I getting away from my text ? I hope not, dear friends, for I have been thinking that this perpetual spring of \yater is to our business like the follower of Christ in any community where there is danger of the fires of sin drowning out all that is good. The woman told Jesus that the well was deep. She seemed to think the waters of that well that had quenched the thirst of Jacob and his children, and their generations all along down, was one of the great essentials in their time, and so it was. But the Savior next told her of the living water ; and he said it should be in the heart of the possessor like these living springs, and that it should refresh and in- vigorate all around by its unceasing sup- plies that should give everlasting life. Dear friends, these words are more true than per- haps you and I shall ever know. As we go on and persevere in the Christian life, we shall know more and more of the value of these waters, and their power to refresh, awaken hope, gladden, and give joy, until that everlasting life beyond shall be the end. We are greatly inclined to forget this promise. This fountain will be neglected and choked with worldliness if we do not look out. Then, perhaps, we shall look back to the time of our conversion, and lament that the pure waters are not now springing forth as they did then. But it need not be so, dear brother and sister. It may be, and should be, as in the text, a well of water springing forth and giving hope and joy and everlasting life to all around. Through all my religious experience I have been in the habit of expecting, day by day, fresh experiences welling forth from my heart— something new, joyous, and re- freshing, coming, as it were, of itself—biiTut- 386 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. May ing forth without any agency of my own, and giving me something fresh, bright, and new to give to my friends all around, to cheer and encourage them, and to revive and refresh their hopes and their faith. This thing of which I have been speaking has been one of the joys of my life, and I have been led to expect it. But let me tell you that this fountain is easily dimmed and choked up, if I do not constantly beware of the tempter. The experience 1 spoke of a few months ago, where Satan for a time bid fair to get a foothold, for a time checked or kept back these experiences. I knew it would be so ; and when he was trying to make a barter for something he had to offer, over and against everlasting life, one of the things that kept me back was, that I knew I should soon lose these bright experiences of that living water, coming forth, often- times, when 1 least expected it. "Ye can not serve both God and mammon." If I listened to him, I knew I should have to abandon all at once. And yet I did not get away from him easily. He followed me days and nights. He tried first one thing and then another ; and even after he seem- ed to have abandoned his undertaking, he would come back now and then. I hardly need tell you that the one who expects to do spiritual work — who expects to be success- ful in bringing souls to Christ, must be wholly in the service of the Master. There can be no half way about it. For some time I had been feeling that my gift, if that is the right name for it, in pre- senting the cause of Christ to my friends and acquaintances, was being drawn grad- ually from me ; but when I turned resolute- ly about, and prayed earnestly, alone by my- self, it has come back again ; and within a few days these experiences that 1 have been telling you of have been coming thick and fast ; the shackles and fetters have fallen away, and Satan has no power, and my spiritual vision is uudimmed and uncloud- ed, as in the time of my first turning to the Lord. Xow, when we "feel that this well of water that should constantly be in the heart of every Christian seems in danger of dry- ing up, or ceasing to give its accustomed light-heartedness and bright faith, what should we do? And it is this thought that has prompted this paper to-day. One who would have this living water springing up in his heart must first ac- knowledge God the creator of all things. A friend of mine who lives in California wrote some time since something like this : Said he, " If I were a praying man I would thank God every day of my life for this beautiful climate, for my growing crops, and pleas- ant surroundings, etc." I wrote back to him not to wait till he was a praying man, but to commence thanking God right away, and to do it out loud. I tell you, my friends, it is a grand thing, many times, to speak out plain and clear ; and it is a grand thing to acknowledge your Creator and the great Judge of all the earth, right out loud. I told this friend, the next time he went out over those wonderful hills after his horses, in the bright morning, to begin speaking loud to the great God above, and to give him thanks and praise. Dear readers, if there are any of you who feel like this one of whom i have just spoken, try the experi- ment. When off alone by yourself, give praise to God. It will help you in a great many ways. First, you are acknowledging and paying respect and deference to the great Ruler over all; second, you are getinga start in being thankful to somebody. A human being who has no thanks to give to anybody — not even to God the Father — is in a de- plorable state of mind. When you get in a way of thanking God. you are very like- ly to begin to feel like thanking friends and your neighbors when you meet them ; and a man who has thanks to give to each one, and who/ee?s thankful, is a gainer in a great many ways. He will get more of every thing good by having thankfulness ai^d thanksgiving in his heart. After j'ou have for some time become accustomed to thank God in your fashion, and after your own way, you will be pretty sure to begin to think of texts of Scripture right along in this line. How full are the Psalms of Da- vid of such expressions ! When David was a shepherd-boy, off in the fields with the sheep, alone by himself, oftentimes with only the stars above him for company, he learned to give thanks. While I dictate I open the Bible at random. The Psalms are pretty nearly in the middle of the book. The first thing that meets my eye is this : O Lord, my God, in thee do I put my trust. And after this comes a prayer : Save me from them that persecute me, and deliv- er me. On the same page I read : O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth 1 who hast set thy g'lory above the heavens. . . . When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy flng-ers, the moon and stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? If you have never loved the Bible, when you commence giving thanks to God you will find in it something that harmonizes with your feelings. Perhaps you will re- member the prayer that Jesus uttered— "Our Father who art in heaven." And then how naturally comes the next — " Hal- lowed be thy name !" Why, as you utter these words and feel this sentiment in your heart, you will stand more erect, you will have a broader view of the universe, man- kind included, and you will feel more like being honest, good, and true. When you have learned to love God, and to love these Bible texts that speak of him —when you have learned to pray, even aft- er the humlile fashion I have indicated^ you will begin to feel Satan striving to draw you away from sacred and holy thoughts. This new joy of yours can not be a well of water springing up into everlasting life un- til you begin to put aside self. These feel- ings of gratitude that bring joy and glad- ness will be dried up, and will soon be quenched if you give way to the temptation to wrong or to defraud your fellow-man. You may dishonor the Master in a very small matter of business deal ; and when you do so, this avenue is choked. It is hard to realize how exceedingly careful we 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 887 should be. Let me illustrate by a little inci- dent. I tell it because I wish to show you liow to keep the fountain flowing, and not because I wish to praise my own acts. A man brought us some bees this morn- ing. He made the remark that he got ac- quainted with A. I. Hoot a good many years ago. When asked about it he said something as follows : He said he once had some bees to sell, and he was going to bring them out to us. One of his neighbors remarked that A. I. Root always did exactly as he agrees. He re- plied : " I know better. A. I. Root does not al- ways do as he agrees.'' '• How so V " was the reply. "Why," said he, "he agreed to give me $5.rj0 per colony for some Italian bees. On the strength of this I drew them out to him ; and when he saw them he did not do exact- ly as he agreed, for he gave me $G.OO instead of $.3.50." Now, I have forgotten all about the trans- action. I can only remember tluit, at dif- ferent times, I have enjoyed doing business in just that way ; and a great many times I have been glad of a chance of doing it, be- cause such things honor the Master, and I always feel happy afterward. If your money-getting, and getting ahead of your neighbor, are dearer than your love toiGod,this living fountain must cease for ever ; and by and by it becomes a daily task to keep out the weeds of selfishness, and to keep unobstructed the passageways for God's lovB to come into your heart. Jesus strikes the point where he says, " If any man will follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me." You can not have this constant enjoyment otherwise. Lately I have learned particu- larly to enjoy going to sleep at night with a conscience void of offense toward my fel- low-men. I have had some experience in going to sleep with the guilty feeling that I was cherishing, or coveting, something that was not lawful for me to have. Then this spring of joy was choked ; my spiritual life was clouded ; and when awakened in the morning, my mind would begin to grope for some dreaded remembrance. And, oh what a feeling it is to be obliged to face the rec- ollections of guilt and shame of the day be- fore. Now, let us contrast the joyous feel- ing of being able to look over the record of the day before, and find it clean. Eor a few months my first conscious thoughts have been something like this : " Let me see ; is there any thing on my conscience this morning, to mar the new day V Did 1 cherish evil and iniquity in my heart?'' As memory brings up one after another Incident, are there any great black spots— any great loads or burdens of sin that I must shoulder to-day— any remorse and regret because 1 have turned from the Savior and listened to the tempter V Per- haps it takes only a few seconds to review the day before ; but, oh what a glad feeling comes when I can say there is nothing to feel bad about ! I often feel to say in my heart, " Thank God, thank God, there was nothing when I closed my eyes in sleep last night to make me feel guilty and wretched this morning. I fought the good fight, and by the help of Christ Jesus I came oft tri- umphant." Now, when I do commence in this way I am sure to have those experi- ences I have told you of— thrills of joy and thanksgiving— thrills that come along in the line of some remembered text that I never thought of before. This is Monday morning. Last Saturday night w^e all sat up rather late in planting our new dynamo, and making attachments to the electric lights, so they would be ready to illuminate the saw-room at one o'clock this morning. AVlien the expert who was putting up the plant announced that all was ready, we stationed ourselves in the room, which was pitchy dark, while he turned the lever and sent a current through the wires. In an instant the room was in a blaze of beautiful soft light from the incandescent globes. I called some friends to come into the room and see it. While they were making some experiments with the wires, the current was suodenly cut off. In an instant we were in utter darkness. Rut very soon, with a flash, the lamps were all in a blaze again. Perhaps these bright spiritual visions are hardly as quick as the electric current, but to the one whose heart is in perfect accord with Bible teachings, and to the one who is earnestly and honestly striving to follow Christ Jesus, texts of Scripture frequently light up with a wonderful new meaning, almost as vividly as did these beautiful electric lights. They fairly shine in their beauty and grandeur, and keep shining for evermore unless we darken them by deliberate acts of sin. For experiences like these, who would be guilty of such folly as to cloud and extinguish the light of God's love by things that can only sink us down in guilt and remorse. As an illustration of the way these texts suddenly stand out with startling distinct- ness, I mention one that came into my mind a few days ago. I had been studying the lesson about restoring the daughter of Jairus. The servants came to him, saying, "Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master." Jesus, however, spake to him, saying, " Fear not ; believe only.' ^ The two words, " believe only," came into my mind with sudden and startling distinctness. It is an exhortation to faith. Jesus told the father, that, even though his daughter was dead, he need not fear nor be troubled, pro- viding he h?id faith— believe only. Have faith in Christ ; trust the matter entirely to his hands, and nothing more is needed, and the promise comes down to us to-day— fear not, believe only. Another text has been much on my mind of late, and it is this : Most of us are constantly relapsing into a sort of in- fidelity, or want of faith. We can not be- lieve, and steadily hold fast to the belief, that God has any "great amount of care for us individually ; or, in other words, we can not comprehend that the whole human family is dear to him. While this was in my mind, the thought came to me of what Jesus said, in speaking of the lilies of the field—" Ye are of more value than many sparrows ;" and this I have been saying 388 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May over to myself again and again : God cares for the sparrows ; and he cares lor the lilies, and he cares for all this great wide universe. But there is nothing in it all so dear to the heart of the great Creator as mankind- even sinful beings, such as we are. In fact, we are not to be compared with any thing else in the whole range of creation. " Ye are of more value than many sparrows.'" Now, if we hold fast to this one thought, God's love, his regard and his kindness, and his many promises, this thought itself shall give us this well of water springing up into everlasting life. In closing this number of Our Homes it occurs to me that there are (luite a few among our readers who feel like saying that 1 had better look to home and attend to my own affairs, instead of directing other people what to do. especially in this matter of unfinished orders. Never before, since the Home of the Honey-bees was started, have we been so much behind in filling orders. John says that, on Saturday night, we were over eight hundred behind. We are running night and day. We have press- ed new hands into the service until there are people who are working for me whom I do not know by sight nor by name. For once in my life I have had the privilege of saying " yes " to almost every one who ap- plied for work. Our gardening operations are sadly behind, and I had hoped to get a man or boy whom I could keep on the grounds. Just as soop as we get one taught the ways of our work, a message is sent from the factory for " More help!" That you who are suffering for the want of goods may have a little more charity, I will try to explain a little the difficulty of refusing to receive more ordei's or of returning the money. These 800 letters containing orders are scattered through our offices, packing- rooms, machine-shop, tin-shop, saw-room, wax-room, type-room, yes, and even into the greenhouses ; and when somebody com- plains that his order is not filled, it takes a smart clerk sometimes an hour or two to find the order at all. If the goods are al- ready gone, the book-keepers can generally answer ; but even their work is so much be- hind that we have of late been sending a postal-card notice of shipment, by the first train after the goods were loaded on the cars ; then the book-keepers can take a lit- tle more time to make out the invoice, and to adjust the balances, etc. It is a harder matter to get new hands to take hold of the book-keeping than almost any thing else. Again, every mail brings us more or less ad- ditions to orders, change in orders, counter- mand in orders ; and a great many ask us to put their goods in with those ordered by some neighbor, This overhauling orders in process of being filled is very laborious, and seriously interrupts the workmen among the machinery. We try to iill orders in ro- tation, but even this can not be done. Ma- chinery breaks down, hands get sick, and a variety of things occur to stop a certain order ; while one for something a little dif- ferent, even though it came a little later, can go as well as not. All these workmen numbering somewhere between 150 and 200, must be kept busy. While some orders are a month old, others, for a single lawn-mow- er, or even a honey-extractor or iDee-hive, that happens to be ahead in stock, can go by next train ; therefore it sometimes hap- pens that a man may say with justice some- thing like this : " You filled my neighbor's order within a week ; yet mine has been with you for over a month." Others com- plain because we give them no notice of the delay, nor tell them what to depend on. Just now we hardly know what you can depend on ; and to hunt up all the orders that are daily waiting for broken machine- ry to be repaired, or other similar accidents, would take more time than to fill the orders themselves. We stand ready to do this, however : To return your money promptly whenever you get tired of waiting. But with such a mass of business as we have now, every little while there is complaint that an order can not he found. One man asked to have his money returned or his goods sent ; but it took some three days of hard work to find his order. When discov- ered we found it pinned fast to another man's order. He has asked to have his goods go along with those belonging to a neighbor ; and to make sure they would go to- gether, it was pinned fast to said neighbor's order. In the hunt, the two letters were sup- posed to be from the same man. The fol- lowing letter shows the way in which my Christianity is frequently called in ques- tion : Sir;— I sent you an order the -ith of April last, and received an answer that you had received it all riH'ht; since then I have not heard. Now, my Chris- tian friend, is that the way you do business, or am I only an exception? It causes me a great deal of in- convenience, as Mr. Evans gave me an order which was put in with mine. He has boug-ht 30 colonies, and is waiting for his smokers and wire, and nearly every day he comes and " dogs me " for his goods. He has finally concluded to write you and And out whether or not I have sent the order at all. Now, if you are so rushed as to make such unnecessary delay, I think you had better apply a little more genuine common sense, and real Christianity mix- ed, and employ a few honest and good men to at- tend to your customers' orders, for you know there is in every human being a desire to get what he has bought and paid for, within a reasonable time, say nothing about such delays as this. You un- doubtedly remember a passage in the Bible that says. " Do unto others as you want them to do unto you." Now, when you order goods expecting them to be sent within a reasonable time, and you wait patiently over a month, and receive only a card, saying that the order and money had been receiv- ed, and nothing further, I do not believe you would like to be treated in this way, would you? Now, If you have not sent the goods, please return the money, as we can not wait till next spring for the goods. N. C. Evans. Mt. Horeb, Wis., May 9. Friend E, I agree with you exactly. I should not like to be treated in that way. I am happy to tell you, however, that your goods were sent May 6, three days before you wrote the above letter. Your suggestion in regard to hiring good and honest men strikes one of our great troubles. I believe that honest men are as plentiful here as any- where; but competent men — men who can, without experience, go into such a whirl- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 38n pool of business as ours, and help things along, are not very plentiful anywhere. The objection to having a great stock of things ahead is this : Only two years ago we had so many things in our warehouse that were not used nor wanted, that we had to cut our working force down to eight hours a day, right in the montli of May. Worse still, a good deal of the work made up ahead was superseded by something bet- ter, and had to be sold at a loss, or thrown away. We did not anticipate this present great rush this season. We are, however, now planning a larger warehouse than ever before, with a railroad track on each side of it. One train of cars fills it with material, and the other unloads it as it goes to our customers ; and another railroad is now in process of construction, which passes through our grounds, giving us an outlet east and loest as well as north and south, as heretofore. The burning of friend Lewis' plant has had something to do with this present rush. Another thing, friend E., you sent your order in April— the very month when the great rush of the season usually begins. You know we have cau- tioned you in our price list about waiting until the great hurry of the season came, before giving us your order. Your goods were not shipped for a month and two days after you ordered them ; and if you will tell me what will make the matter satisfactory, I will try to adjust it in a Christianlike way ; and I wish to say to all the other friends, tell me in a Christianlike way how much you have suffered by our apparent bad management, and I will ti-y in a Chris- tianlike way to make the matter satisfacto- ry. But please do not do it until we get a little out of our present fearful crowd and jam. I do feel greatly and deeply thankful for your kind confidence and encourage- ment, of years past ; and even though many of you have been badly used for a short time back, I venture to subscribe myself, not- withstanding. Yours in brotherly love, A. I. Rooi'. EDITOl^I/IIr. The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord.— Ps. 37 : 23. EXHIBITS FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR. Dr. Mason sent us the following, which he de- sires us to add to his article on page 371. As the latter has been made up, ready for the press, we will add the same here: I wish that all who are thinking of making an exhibit wouUI let me know soon about how much space they will prol>ably need ; that is, about how many square feet of floor sjiaoe. An average of over 230 feet each was occupied by the six principal exhibitors at the Ohio Centennial in 18,S8, wliere our friend A. 1. Root's exhibit was crowded, although he was assigned a space of about 400 square feet, and some exhibitors with less than 70 feet made nice exhibits, and secured their share uf premiums. Should the six or seven States nearest tn Chicago make creditable exhibits, to say nothing 2; dark and inferior, 8^@9'/2; extracted and strained in cans, 6'/4@8X ; barrels, 5@,5>-2 . Prime heeswax, 37. D. G. TuTT Grocer Co., May 19. St. Louis, Mo. Albany.— floncjy.— Owing to the continued cool weather the demand for honey during the past week has been very good, at quotations which re- main unchanged. C. McCulloch & Co., May 23. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. 03NrE-3E=»IE:c:J]E3 SECTIONS A. I. Root's stvie, *3.00 per 10(10. Address B. WALKER & CO., €apac, Micli., lOtfdb or "Wauzeka, ^VIs. t^-ln responding to this ;ulvtMti>eiiu-iit mention OLK.\KlKGa. "^AKREDPl-YMOUTH KOCK EGGS, $1.00 per 13. L. C. AXTELL, Roseville, 111. 8tfdb Japaneseluckwheaf '^. S^md^i, SfciS: KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. MARCH'S CAULIFLOWER SEED. I sowed cauliflower seed on the same day, and in the same bed, from three seed firms, and I tried to sow them just the same; but when they came up, March's seed stood three to one over the other gQrtg_ Geo. M. Kellogg. Pleasant Hill, Mo., Apr. 14. BENTON MAILING-CAGE. Your imported queen, mailed to me on the 6th, arrived in fine condition on the 10th. I sately in- troduced her according to directions accompanying her, and upon examination on the 13th 1 found one frame nearly filled with eggs. I must say your caging and mailing methods are unsurpassed. Lavaca, Ark., May 14. W. H. Laws. 898 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Junk ITALIAfl * pEEW^. From June 10th to Oct. Ist. Why you should purchase of Wood : He has had maaiy years' expeiit-nce. His queen-cells are built in lull colonies. He u&es no lamp-nursery. He Is located where there are no black bees, and where foul brood never was known. Fully 95 per cent of his queens prove purely mated. He fills orders promptly. He warrants every queen equal to those of any first-class breeder in America. Price 75 cts. each; $8.00 for 13. Address JAMES WOOD, lltfdb Nortli Prescott, Mass. t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. A BARGAIN for some one. One hundred col- onies of bees in S. frame, double story, and in Wo. 1 order. Will take $200.00. 11-13 Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. BRZGZITEST GOLDEN ITALIAN BEES AND QUEENS, I 1 rTJ —AND THE— REDDEST DROrfES IN THE WORLD. Untested, f 1.00 | Tested, $3.00 | Select tested. $3.00 Special breeding, guaranteed to please, $5 00. L. L. HEARN, - - FRENCH VILLE, - - W. VA. lltfdb Please mention this paper. A New Discovery. The common-sense honey-extractor is strictly scientific, powerful, durable, handy, clean, and rap- id, and differs from all others, and is cheaper than the cheapest at bankrupt prices. CirculiAks Free. REV. A. R. SEAMAN, New Ciiniberlaud, Hancock (^u., AV. Va. 9 lOd Please mention this iiajjer. IP YOU WANT BEES That will just "roll" in the honey, try Moore's Strain of Italians, the result of eleven years' careful breeding. Prices: Warranted queens, $1.00 each; 3 for $3. .50. Strong 3 L. frame nucieus, with warranted queen, $3 00. Safe arrival and satisfac- tion guaranteed. Taose who have never dealt with me, 1 refer to A. I. Root, who has purchased of me, during past ten years, 415 queens. Address J. 1*. MOORE, Morg:an, Pendleton Co., Ky. |^~Money-order office, Falmouth, Ky. t:^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. fOnn V'lTSV: ITAIjIAN queens, each, 75c; lOuU six, $4.00. Wiirbe up with orders by June 10th. W. H. Laws, Lavaca, Ark. BEES! Yes, all the bees you DCC© f want, at 75 cts. per Httrt I lb.; 200 full swarms ■•^■■*» ■ to draw from. Can fill all orders for bees by return mail. R. E. Smith, Tilbury Center, Ont. Box 73. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Glkaninos. TESTED ITALIAN QUEENS, $1.00. W. R. Gardiner, Eustis, Fla. CHAFF AND SIMPLICITY HIVES shippt^d on receipt of order. Price list free, lltfdb E. J. Shay, Thornton, Taylor Co., W. Va. Eaton's Improved Bees and Queens. Send for free catalogue. Address FRANK A. EATON, 3-13db Bluffton, Ohio. t^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. FOR SALE. - ITALIAN BEES & QUEENS at a very low price. Address 6tfdb OTTO KLEINOW, JVo. 130 Military A.ve., Detroit, Mich, BEE-HIVES, SECTIONS, ETC. WE make the best Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Sections, etc., in the world, and sell them the cheapest. We are offering our choicest white one- piece 414x4^ sections, in lots of 5UU, at $3.50 per 1000. i^~ Parties wanting more should write for spe- cial prices. No. 3 sections, $3.00 per lUOO. Cata- logues free, but sent only when ordered. Itfdb G. B. LEWIS &. CO., Watertown, Wis. t^lu responding to this advertit-enient mention liLKANlNiiS. THE CANADIAN Bee Journal Edited bi/ I). .1. Jones. 75c. Per Year. Poultry Journal Editedbij W.C. G.Peter. 75c. Per Year. These are published separately, alternate weeks, and are edited by live practical men, and contribut- ed to by the best writers. Both Journals are inter- esting, and are alike valuable to the expert and amateur. Sample copies free. Both Journals one year to one address $1. Until June 1st we will send either Journal on trial trip for 6 months for 25 cts. The D. A. Jones Co., Ld., Beef on, Ont. t^Please mention Gleanings. 6-lldb FORT WAYNE, IND. UJ Ul P if) o Mr 6 If you are ever anno> ed hv the scraping and breaking of combs; killing bees when setting a frame to one '•ide, or hiinging it in the hive; sagging at the bottom and getting waxed last; shak- ing about when moving a hive; in short, if you dislike to pry and wrench your frames, break combs, and kill bees while handling them, you will be pleased with this hive. VERY CONVENIENT. AGENTS WANTED. inC For "1st I'rinciplesin Bee Culture " It tells how to Divide, III Transfer, Introduce'Queens, Feed, Unite, Stop Robbing, Ac IVI Money returned upon return of book, if you are not satisfied Please mention Gleanings. 8-13db FOE SALE --BEES. Good colonies in shipping-cases, with 9 Lang- stroth frames. Hybrids, $3 00, dflivered at rail- road station any time after May 1. 8tfdb MISS MABEL FENN, Tallmadge, Ohio. it^In respondina- to this adverti. nent mention Glkanings. SECTIONS. $2.50 to $3.50 per M. Bee-Hives and Fix- tures clieap. NOVELTY CO., 6tfdb Rock Falls, Illinois. Please mention this paper. BEOWN LBaHOUMS STILL AHEAD. EOaS, $1.00 PEE 13, $1.50 PER 25. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn. 7tfdb Cn COLONIES OF ITALIAN and HYBRID BEES *»« for sale at $3 50 per colony, in shipping-boxes, L. frames. Also egars from W. Wyandottes. W. Mi- norcas, and Pekin Ducks. Eggs. $1.00 per 13. 9-10-lld M. H. Fairbvnks, Homer, N. Y. Please mention this paper. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CL^LTUllE. 3!»9 Bee-Keeping for Profit IS THE TITLE OF Dr. Tinker's New Hand - Book. It gives his New Systeiu of the manag'ement of bees complete, telling bow to get the largest yields of comb and extracted honey, and make the indus- try of bee-keeping a i>rofltable one. The claim is made that our old methods and appliances are of sucb a nature that it does not pay even the expert beekeeper to keep bees except in very favorable localities. The New Book tells why these failures occur and how to prevent them, giving the general principles essential to a profitable system. The work should be in tbc hands of every progressive apiarist. It is well illustrated, and will be sent to any address postpaid for ~.5 cts. Please remit by postal note. Adoress DR. G. L. TINKER, New Philadelphia, Ohio. Please mention this paper. lOtfdb QUEENS.— Fine home-bred Italians, and import- ed, from Waldensian Valley. Circular free. 10-ll-12d Christian Weckesser, Marshallville, O. FOR PURE ITAI.1AN BEE8, POLAND- China Swine, White and Black Ferrets, White Kabbits, White and Browji Leghorn Chickens, and Mallard Ducks. Address N. A. KNAPP, 4tfdb Rochester, Liorain Co., Ohio> IL^lii reypondilitr Lu Liii.^ aaveru?^eiiiejit lufiiin-ii (il,j-,.i.M.\(:s. Three-frame nuclei with Italian queen from imported mother, $2.50 each. Satisfaction guaranteed. M. W. Shepherd. Rochester, O. In writing to advertisers please mention this paper. 10 14db LOOK! BIG 3-FRAME NUCLEI, WITH QUEEN from imported Italian mother, for 13.50. Full colonies low. Thirty Ros9 Comb Brown Leghorn esga for $1.C0. Safe shipment guaranteed. lOtfdb G. W. GILLEr, Wellington, Ohio. t^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL. AND THE STAND- ARD IN EVER? CIVILIZED COUNTRY. Bingham &, Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Prices. Doctor Smoker, 'ili in , postpaid ...f 3.(10 Conqueror " 3 " '• ... 1.7.) Large " 3i4 " " ... 1 .5ii Extra (wide shield) 3 " " ... 1.35 | Plain (narrow " )2 " " ... 100 Little Wonder, 1% " '* .. 05 V, Uncapping Knife 115 \| Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledgeville, 111., March 8, ISflO. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day. and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as I do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs: — I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 3U0 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 13,1890. Sirs: — The smoker I have has done yood service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BmoHAU & Hetherinqtoit, Ahronia, Mich. twin respoiidint? to tliis advertisetnent mention (i i.eam.sos. Ah THERE! One iimested Italian queen, 75c; "" three for *3 0(); t^-tt-d, fl 50 One untested Carniolan queen. $100; three for $3.50; tested, §3. Bees hv the pound and nucleus. Send for price list. Reference— F'rat National Bank. lOtfdb H. G. FRAME. North Manchester, Ind. Please mendon this jiniier. IS^f.i n-siMjiKlint: to tins ltl^elllent meniiori (4i,k.anings Look Here! Supplies Cheap Italian and Albino Queens and Bees; Chaff and Simplicity and Nonpareil Hives. E-xtractors, Smokers. Foundation, Surplus Section Boxes, Root's Perforated Zinc. Price List Free. Write for One. A. A. BYAED, WEST CHESTERFIELD, CHESHIRE CO., N. H. CF"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings lOK COLONIES ITALIAN REES AT BOTTOM iCiU PRICES. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn. 7tfdb Carniolan Queens. Send for Descriptive Circular to DR. S. \r. MORRISON, Oxford, Pa. 9tfdb Please mention this jiaper. Ture Italian QueensT BEES. TESTED, $1.00; UNTESTED, .■)0 CIS. I. GOOD & STEWART BROS., Sparta, White Co., Tenn. tS"ln responding to Lius adver ill meiilion GLEA.MNOii. Rheumatism ^ Bees. No doubt the best bees for curingr rheumatism are pure-bred Italians that prove to be good work- ers and work on red clover. We have such if you want jrood stock to work with and to secure you plenty of honey. Tested queens in May, - 5!1.50; in June, - f 1 35 Unt'd " " " - - 1.10; 3 for - - 3.50 " " June, - 75; 3 for - 3.00 For wholesale prices, nu(3"ei, lbs. of bees, and all kinds of bee-supplier, write for our Iti p. circular, litfdb .INO. NEREL. & SOX, HlgU Hill, I»Io. Mention this paper. Knickerbocker Bee - Farm. SEND FOR CIRCULAR t CALENDAR FOR 1890 TO GSO. ZZ. ZZXTZCZISRBOCZZSR, Rox 41. Pine Plains, I>iitc1ie»iN Co., N. V. 10 Ud Mention (ir.KAXixi;s. 200 LBS. BEES. Bees, iiO ct^. per lb. ; (,)ueen8, $l.()(i each. S. C. PERRY, Portland, Ionia Co., Mich. 10-ll-12il I'le ise mention this pai)er. 400 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June gPECI^Ii pi0¥ICEg. HENDERSON'S BUSH LIMA BEAN. As the bush lima bean does not seem to go off this spring as we expected it, we reduce the price one-fourth after June 1. Alter June 15, if we have much stock on band the price will be one-half the rf g-ular price of 1^1.00 per quart. THE PLANT-TRADE, JUNE 1. We have been short on almost every thing this spring, except celery. We have now in stock, and have had all along, large transplanted celery-plants. White Plume and Golden Self-blanching, and these are considered best for early. We have also at present all kinds of cabbage and all kinds of toma- toes, advertised in our seed catalogue. We are short on cauliflower, in spite of all the efforts we have made to set them growing. We are also short on pepper-plants. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. It will soon be time to sow buckwheat, and, of course, no one will think of sowing any thing else, after the record the Japanese has made. It has, in fact, brought the price of buckwheat down to a point seldom if ever known before. In our locality, from the aOth of June to the 1st of July is the usual time for sowing it. It will, however, usually give a crop almofct anytime during the month of July. As much as 50 bushels per acre have been secured, and it rarely fells for less than 50 cts. per bushel. It is harvested so soon after sowing the seed that you get quick returns. We have a large stock of seed ready to ship by the first train, at following prices. Per lb., 5 cts.; 40 cts. per peck; 75 cts. per X bushel, or $1.00 per bushel: *3 .'iO for 3 bushels; in lots of 10 bushels or more, SI. 10 per bushel, bag included in eveiy case, without charge. Put in two or three pecks per acre, according to the condition of the soil. Now, please bear in mind that there is always trouble in shipjiing small lots of buckwheat, either by freight or express, because the charges are more than the value of the seed. A few days ago a friend wanted a peck of buckwheat sent away down to Texas. Alter the figuring up, we found the cheapest way to get it to him was to send it by mail, at an expense of over $1.00 for postage, while the buck when t and bug cost him only 40 cts. To prevent disappointment, ask what the probable expense will be, before you make your order. FILLING ORDERS AT THE HOME OF THE HONEY- BEES. At this date. May 38, we are still running night and day, and every thing is booming in every de- partment. Hold on! There is one room in our es- tablishment that has been for one or two days de- serted and dull. When orders poured in until we were a full Uunixand behind, we decided to stop sending but price lists except to applicants; there- fore the big printing press was shut down, and the pressman went to helping the boys in the next room to fill orders. For a time it seemed that noth- ing could keep pace with the flood of orders. We were .500 orders behind, then 700; and when it was more than 1000, things began to look desperate. By redoubling our efforts, however, and permitting those who could stand it to put in U or 15 hours a day, in one week we got the lOlO back to 700 again, and now we are reducing it still more; but many of our customers have lost all patience, and are de- manding their money back. Now. do not imagine, dear friends, that we are not able to fill ordei s for any thing promptly. One poor friend asked if we could not possibly send him a sheet of perforated zinc, letting the rest of his order remain. Why, we could send you any amount of zinc by return train, and, in fact, almost any thing else, except bee-hives and sections. All goods ordered by express or mail, have, with hard- ly an exception, gone within 34 hours. The great unfilled want is for sections, and the rainy weather has made it impossible to dry the bass wood, and this has been one great obstacle in the way. We are now having beautiful warm sunshiny dajs, and the basswood is last getting fit to work. Of course, our dry-kiln is running night and day, with the rest of our machinery; but we find even that inadequate, unless backed up by bright sun- shiny weather. As heretofore, many of our trou- bles and delays have been caused by hasty writing and imperfect addresses. We had a list of seven men who had sent us money, and yet their orders could not be found. Four of the seven have been straightened out and their things sent. The trou- ble was, in their letters of inquiry they wrote their names so badly that nobody could decipher them accurately. Oh, if you only would have your cor- rect name and address printed on your stationery, all of you, what a great help it would be ! ^HTire Clotli. For door and window screens, tacking over hives and nuclei for shipping, making bee and queen cages, and a variety of purposes. We have the fol- lowing list of green and black wire cloth which is not exactly first class, but is practically as good for the purposes mentioned, and at prices much below the ordinary price. You can no doubt select from this list a piece to suit your needs. Price in full pieces, lU cts. per square foot. When we have to cut it, 3 CIS. In case the piece you order may have been taken by some one else before your order comes, please say whether we shall send the nearest in size, or cut one the size ordered at 2 cts. per ft., or give a second or third choice. Pieces less than 100 ft. long. These figures are the number of square feet in each piece. Multiply by I'X cents for the price of piece. 14 green 3fi 100 300 1 1 black 3(i 100 300 8 black H8 100 317 3 green 3 black 38 1(10 317 40 100 333 8 black 42 100 3.^) 1 green 44 100 267 5.25 5.25 5.. 54 5.64 5.83 6.12 6.42 65, 65, 64, 63, 63, 63, 62, 54. 40, 33 44, green ; price 77 cts. 110 sq. ft., black; price 81.92 140, ItO, 90, 40, 30, 20, 8, green. I This is below reg. pr. of IX c. I 224, 224, 117, green; 233, black. 2.53, black; price S4.43 255, black ; price $4.46 270, green; price 84.72 150, black; price $2.62 269. black ; price 84.70 258, black ; price 84.60 317, black ; price $5.64 .350, green; price $6.12 A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. Vol. XYIII. JUNE 1, 1890. No. 11. TERMS: 81.00 Pek ANNUM, IN ADVANCE;"! T? i>+ n "Ul 4 c>T% n f1 V-n 1 Q "V 'S _2CopiesforM^.%;3for«2.75; SforM.OO; I -C/O^Ct'tyt't'O/t'C/Ct' ill/ ±OtO. \A. I. ROOT. MEDINA, OHIO. 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- 1 ber, 6 cts. Additions to clubs may be ,' made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffice. Clubs to dlflferent postoflBces, not l-ESg 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. A SOLAR WAX-EXTHACTOR FOR LIQUEFYING CANDIED HONEY. RIPENING EXTRACTBD HONEY BY MEANS OF A SOLAR WAX-EXTRACTOR. The illustration in Gleanings of April 15 has broug-ht some inquiries in regard to the mammoth solar wax extractor shown there. A few explana- tions will probably make it better understood. In size it is 5 ft. 3 in. x 3 ft. 9 in., and 8 in. deep. A chamber at the lower end, where a pan catches the melted wax, makes the entire length about 6 ft. It is made of 78-i''ch pine lumber. The bottom is of narrow matched stuff, to make it tight. It is thoroughly painled a dark color, inside and out, and covered with glass. On the upper part I have used window-sash, which is removable. The lower part, or chamber, has glass, also removable, for the convenience of getting at the wax - dish. It is mounted on wheels in front, for convenience in moving, with legs at the back end, giving it an in- cline of about 45 degrees. This extractor works very nicely, as illustrated and described. But I will note some of the im- provements suggested by its use. The window- sash are a little imperfect, as the bars of wood be- tween the glass obstruct the sun so that the wax cools under them in their shadow. It would be bet- ter to have the glass unobstructed by bars, or at least have them as small as possible. Two large glasses, I think, in place of the sash, would be a de- cided improvement. Retiectors would give some additional heat, and make the machine much more complete. I do- signed these to hinge upon each side, and to ans- wer, when closed, as a eover to protect the glass and keep out the dust and rain when not in use, having them wide enough to shut together in roof shape, and .lined on the inside with tins to reflect the sun. These can be fastened open at any angle desired, when used as reflectors. A correspondent asks, "What prevents the combs from sliding down when they melt?" They will not slide down; but the wax will melt and run out, and leave the old comb and residue, which can be removed at your leisure. It gets out the wax in the best condition, and with the least labor of any method I have ever tried, and I have tried a good many ways; and I am not done yet. I have some- thing else to say about the solar extractor. We all know how much trouble it is to liquefy granulated honey. But some one says, " Don't do it." But we have to do it sometimes; and when we have occa- sion to do a job of this kind, just place it in the so- lar extractor, if in cans or pails, or any convenient packages to go inside; or if in bulk, have a large pan on purpose. It is much better than any meth- od where artificial heat is used. It can also be used to evaporate extracted honey by having a wire- cloth screen at the upper end, to be opened for ventilation. In order to make it convenient for melting or evaporating honey, I would suggest, in- stead of fixed legs at the back end, a standard with holes through it, and a pin with which to fasten the machine at any desired inclination. It could then be let down to a horizontal position for this pur- pose. Just put the honey in and go about your business. It won't burn nor spoil, but the work will be done in the cheapest aiid very hcst possible man- ner. The greatest drawback I have found in the use of a machine of this kind is a lack of sunshine. Vou will be as astonished as I was when you come to use one, at the very few days in the whole sea- son in which we have clear, unobstructed sunshine —a neceseary condition for the complete success of iOl GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE. June a solar extractor. And isn't it also possible that this lack of sunshine for the last few years plays an im- portant part in the failure of the honey crop? Yet I regard it as a valuable acquisition to the apiary, in any locality; but in the South, in the land of per- petual sunshine, I should place it beside the ex- tractor and foundation-mill for usefulness in the apiary— an indispensable labor-saving machine. Now I am done. If you are ingenious I think you will be able to build the extractor, as described and illustrated. H. R. Boardman. East Townsend, O., May 8. Eriend B., I congratulate you on your dis- covery that the solar wax-extractor is the best thing for liquefying granulated honey. May be the idea has come up before ; but if so, I had forgotten it. But, are you sure that the heat of the sun will never injure the honey? Jf so, it is a big item in its fa- vor. In our greenhouse experiments we have had ample opportunity to see how many sunshiny days there are. But we have had an unusual amount of cloudy weather for three seasons past. Wait until we have a drouth; Ihen you can render wax, and liquefy the honey to good advan- tage. The glass should most surely be put in greenhouse fashion— that is, so as to let the water run down unobstructedly, and large pieces of glass are certainly an ad- vantage over the small ones. Would not a large screw, such as is used in the bottom of a music-stool, be the best thing to get the proper inclination? or, better still, have two such screws, one on each back corner. Now have the front raised on a pivot, and you can have any angle you choose. I sup- pose one reason why solar wax-extractors are so much more common in California is because of the perpetual sunshine there. In fact, I am told that they have at least some sunshine every day in the year, and a good deal of the time whole months without an obstructing cloud. For a honey-evaporator you must have ventilation both at top and bottom, to get the best advantage. We tried drying green corn in our greenhouse, but it would not dry a bit. It only turned sour unless ventilation was given sufficient to let a light stream of hot air pass over and through the corn. EXHIBITIONS AT FAIRS. PROF. COOK SDGOESTS SOMETHING IiMPORTANT. Dear Mr. Root :~You will remember that, at the Michigan State Bee-Keepers' meeting held last winter at Lansing, the question of exhibits at fairs was fully discussed. You will remember my sur- prise when some persons present said it was not necessary that the exhibitor should have produced the honey which he exhibited; that he might get it anywhere. At our Michigan Central Bee-Keepers' meeting the other day, the question came up again. It was the unanimous opinion of those present that all honey should be produced by the exhibitor, and all but one person thought it should be the prod- uct of the year in which the exhibition was made. I was appointed a committee to urge upon the au- thorities that this opinion should be embodied in a rule governing all future exhibitions at our State Fair. I have consulted the authorities, and find that we are too late for this year. The premium list is printed, and can not now be changed. I should like your opinion on this subject, and also the opinion of others. It seems to me that equity, and the entire aim of such exhibitions, demand that no person exhibit other than his own product. Fairs are not to stimulate hunting about to find beautiful honey, but to incite to its production. If this rule is adopted, then the neat, skillful apiarist, not the traveling collectors, will get the premiums. Ought he not to have them? The other question, production during the year of the exhibition, might be opposed, as, during very poor years, it might be difficult to make a fine ex- hibit, and if a man made a fine design of wax he might desire to use it successive seasons. Yet even here it is the only fair way. Then all are on an equal footing, which would not be true if honey produced in previous years could be exhibited. Wax for ornament could be brought, no matter when fashioned; while that for premiums should have been produced the season of the exhibit. Thus it seems to me that such a rule should be made to govern in all our fairs. The exhibit should be the product of the exhibitor, and should have been produced the year of the exhibition. Is this not so? Let others speak. ADULTERATED HONEY. Mr. R. A. Hardy, of Lampasas, Texas, sends nie some extracted (?) honey which he says is sold in his vicinity by a bee-keeper in an adjoining town. He thinks some artificial feed was given to the bees, which they stored in the combs. He desires me to state through Gleanings what I think it is, and how prepared. I should say that this is genuine honey— at least I gee no reason to think otherwise. I do not know the kind. It seems rank, both in taste and odor, like some of our autumn honey at the North. There seems to be much wax in it, as though cap- pings were left in. In a mouthful of the honey one gets quite a mass of the wax. I should say that this was a very questionable way to prepare ex- tracted honey for market, and I should not sup- pose it could compete with hone.v that is free from wax, etc. Bee-keepers should be careful to ex- clude all substances from extracted honey, else buyers will suspect adulteration. FLORIDA BEETLES. Dr. J. H. Hunt, Tallahassee, Florida, sends me several beetles in a strong box, with cotton, by mail. They came in nice shape, and all alive. He says he finds them (luite abundant about his hives. He reports that they seem eager to get into the hives, but for what purpose he can not tell. He can discover that they do no benefit or injury. He can almost always find them on the enamel cloth above the bees, and very often sees them going into the entrance of the hives. "Please give name and your opinion of their object in visiting the hives. I shall be glad to send you more if you wish them for experiment for your cabinet, or for the college." This beetle is Euphoria sepulchralis, Fati. It is half an inch long, and is dark brown, with dashes of white on its back. I have It from Maryland, District of Columbia, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. Thus we see that it is widely distributed in the South. We have two of the same genus north, E. inda and E. melancholica. The latter looks very much like this one, except that it is a little larger. Ours as grubs live in the earth, and feed on roots of 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 403 vegetables; and as mature beetles, both feed on ripe fruit like apples, peaches, and on soft green corn. This gives a pretty decided hint as to the attraction which the bee-hive has for this Southern species. I think that, without doubt, they have sampled Dr. Hunt's honey, and, finding it quite to their taste, they help themselves as inclination prompts. I hope Dr. Hunt and others will examine closely and see if this is not so. If it is a fruitless search in the hives, try some in a box with a glass cover, in which a small piece of hcmey in comb is placed, or some candied honey, and see if they do not prove my conjecture true. Our E. inda Hies much like a bumble-bpe, and is easily mistaken, when on the wing, for one. I am very glad to re- ceive insects from Dr. H. and others. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., May 10. Friend Cook, I am very glad to have you take this matter up. At different conven- tions it has been urged that the course you propose would certainly result in tempting people to tell lies. Now, there may be something in that ; but, notwithstanding, I would have it exactly as you say. It has often been urged that our rules in regard to the use of tobacco in our establishment and on our grounds would result in inducing boys to become hypocrites. Perhaps it does now and then ; but I think the good the rules do, far overbalances this occasional evil. I feel satisfied that the original pur- pose of county fairs was to encourage im- proved farming, and improvements in all rural industries. If the exhibitor does not bring the product of his own handiwork, what does it amount to V In our neighbor- hood it is quite fashionable for boys to bor- row choice specimens of poultry from those who have not time to make the exhibits and carry off the premiums. It is surely all wrong. Let the judges make careful inqui- ry, and ascertain whether the exhibitors are residents of the county, and whether they are men of character. A little inquiry will easily determine. Then this fashion of go- ing about from fair to fair, and getting a premium on the same article, will be done away with. Of course, I allude to rural products. Those who wish to advertise goods they have for sale, are, of course, privileged to get said goods in any way they choose ; but in competing for premiums on the products of the soil, it seems to me none but the producer should have a premium. Your experience is like my own in regard to samples of honey sent in, purporting to be spurious. I think that, in every case, I have pronounced them genuine. Those who are looking out for fraud of this kind, fail to consider that bees often gather natu- ral honey of a very poor quality. BEES IN THE AXTELL APIARY. FEEDING SORGHUM IN OPEN-AIR FEEDERS. This afternoon I was out and worked six colonies of bees through, clipping the queens' wings and getting them in a conditidn that will need no more work until we go through to build up into strong colonies just before the honey harvest. It is al- most too early to clip queens now; but I am weak, and can't work long at a time, and I want to com- mence now, so as to do all that I can of it myself, for several reasons. One is, I want the outdoor ex- ercise and beestings, to build me up; and another reason, if J do it it will leave that much more time for Mr. Axtell to do something else that I can not do. Again, I think I can do it just a little more carefully than any one else. I believe many colo- nies are injured by careless handling. Perhaps I should not call it carelessness, but the lack of abili- ty to do every little thing that needs to be done with that exactness that contributes to the welfare of the colony. And still another reason for want- ing to work the hives myself is to see just how much stores they have, and how much and often we need to feed. Those hives we put out in the middle of February because we could not keep so many in the cellar cool enough, are, some of them, nearly out of hon- ey, but they have large quantities of brood and plenty of bees; while the remainder, carried out the latter part of March, have honey to last a month longer, and have less brood and fewer bees, FEEDING BLACK SORGHUM MOLASSES. We are feeding very black sorghum molasses that is two or three years old, and soured a little, and honey, half and half, melted together. Yester- day we fed a pail of each, and four of water stirred together — six pailf uls to 136 colonies. Before night they had taken it all up. It should be just thin enough so that the bees will fill themselves and fly home without crawling off upon the grass to clean themselves off first, which they will do if too thick. We shall gradually take away the honey, though I think they will not take such black molas- ses without some honey or sugar. The better the molasses, the less honey or sugar is needed to get them to take it. If they won't take it at first, or if we don't get in enough honey, we dilute some hon- ey and sprinkle around over the feeders to start them. Our feeders are the large water-tight boxes we had to drain our extracted combs, in with thin boards nailed together just two bee-spaces apart, as floats in the boxes. I examined each colony carefully, as we never fed such poor molasses before. It has been about three weeks since we began lo feed. We fed once or twice a week. The bees look very thrifty and energetic, and the hives have all the brood they can care for, and are very full of bees for this time of year, with some drone brood. They have a little of their own honey left in the hives yet, and are gath- ering a little honey and pollen from the box-elders, and perhaps from some other source. I would not feed molasses, especially soured molasses, before bees fly in the spring; but as soon as they do tiy freely, after the middle of April I doubt whether any sweet that we can get them to take, that is not really poisonous, would hurt them. Of course, it should not be fed while the supers are on, so that any of it could be stored in the sections, nor so much fed to the bees that they store and seal it up in their combs, so that it would be left over for. winter stores. From present appearance there will be but very few weak colonies by swarming time. I think we have never had bees to winter better; no colonies that I yet know of have died or dwindled that had a good queen in the fall. White clover lias wintered well, and is coming up in abundance everywhere. If we get sulHcient rain we may hope for a good crop; but a good crop 404 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June meaDS low prices, and each one should try to devel- op his own home market as much as possible. Try to trade it for every thing you buy, also exchange it for labor done. Try to trade it to every mer- chant in town nearest by; as often some one mer- chant will sell more than all the rest. We had a large lot of cut-out honey, much more last fall than we ever had before, which we cut out and put into pans, which has sold more readily than in boxes. One groceryman wanted a panful every few days. He did not want more than two pans at a time, as it looked mussy from standing. I think the reason it went faster than in sections was, it was kept standing open, where a crate of sections has a lid on. Mrs. L. C. Axtell. Roseville, III., Apr. ;'4. Mrs. A., I am very glad of your brief tes- timonial in favor of bee-stings. If it is real- ly true that getting stung does good, in- stead of harm, it is a strong argument in favor of bee-keeping.— I have fed poor mo- lasses in just the way you mention, and I am well satisfied that you can feed with safety any thing the bees will take or can, be induced to take, if it is done when they fly freely, and the weather is warm ; and I am sure that great quantities of brood can in this way, be secured from very cheap feed, when it is desirable.— Your suggestion in regard to getting rid of the honey around home, instead of crowding the commission houses, is an excellent one.— I am very glad to know that you have succeeded as we have, in disposing of cut-out honey in pans. NON-SWAHMING QUEENS. DOOLITTLE FEELS HOPEFUL IN REGARD TO THE MATTER. On page 316 of the current volume of Gleanings I find an article from Mr. S. A. Shuck, in which he enters a protest against the teachings of Messrs. Alley, Dooliltle, and others, who are giving advice to those who wish to increase their bees on the swarming plan, or by means which allow of in- crease being made without confining the beekeep- er to the apiary from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. each day dur- ing the swarming season, he claiming that "the whole arrangement was unsatisfactory, and entire- ly too expensive." He then goes on to state that hundreds of bee-keepers don't want swarms, which I have not the least doubt is the case, yet it is equally certain that lumdreds of bee-keepers do want swarms ; and It was to these I was writing, and not to those who, like Mr. Shuck, do nut want them. What Mr. Alley's object was in writing, I do not know; he can answer for himself. The point I wish to make right here is, that, in thinking of what should be written or what should not be writ- ten, we must take in the great multitude of bee- keepers as a whole, and not narrow ourselves down to just what we want, but go out in our thoughts, asking the question, " What will be the greatest good to the greatest number?" Failing to do this, we are not complying with the golden rule, nor using that broad charity for others which it is our privilege to use at all times, would wc be making the world better for our having lived in it. I think that, in the past, I have given more matter on " how to prevent increase," and save to others the providing to themselves with those " hundreds of dollars' worth of empty hives," than I have on the different modes of increase, for, on the whole, I am in favor of running an apiary on the plan of as lit- tle increase as pofsible; yet while I now so feel, I have not forgotten the time when I was so anxious for natural increase that I lay awake nights plan- ning how it mightbe obtained. Mr. Shuck next strikes some hard blows at queen- breeders for "diffusing the swarming mania" throughout the country. While I very much doubt there being any ground, only a mistaken one, for his wholesale slaughter of queen-breeders, yet this brings me to the main point I wish to make in this article; which is. Is it possible to breed out of our bees the disposition to swarm? I have always said that it is not, nor do I now believe it entirely pos- sible; yet somethings have come under my obser- vation of late, that have modified my opinion to a considerable extent. I had thought not to say any thing in the matter till I knew more about it; but I have concluded that it will be better to speak of it now, so that others may try with me to see if per- fection can not be reached sooner; for, " In a multi- tude of counselors there is safety." All who have read my book on queen-rearing will remember that, in 1884, I adopted a different plan of rearing queens than that usually adopted by those sending queens out for market. All who have had experience in the matter, also know that the best of queens are reared in case of two queens In a hive, or, in other words, where a young queen is reared and fertiliz- ed from the same hive which has an old and laying queen in it at the time when this young one is rear- ed. This is a fact which none will dispute; but the point to be arrived at is. Arc queens thus reared less likely to swarm than are those reared under the swarming impulse? The method I adopted for rearing queens in 1884 was nearly the same as that used by the bees where two laying queens are tol- erated in a hive at the same time, as the queens are reared above a queen-excluding honey-board when the old queen is doing full duty below, the colony not having the least disposition to swarm while the queens are being reared; yet the most of my queens are reared during the last half of July and the month of August, at which time very few If any swarms issue with me. With the year 1887 I began to notice that I was not having nearly as many swarms as usual; while during 1888, only about half of my old colonies showed any desire to swarm. During 1889, less than half of the old colonies swarmed, while only one showed a desire to cast an afterswarm, the queen-cells in all others being cut as soon as the first young queen hatched, without any attention to them on my par£. All the older readers of Gleanings will remember how that, during the seventies, I had excessive swarming, one season having above 350 swarms from less than 70 colonies in the spring. Swarm they would in spite of all I could do, so that it was nothing unusual for me to have from five to ten swarms in the air at once, while in one case I had fourteen all clustered to- gether in a hedge fence. As 1 go back to those days in memory, it certainly does seem that I have made progress along the non-swarming line, and it certainly does look as if the mode of rearing the queens may have had something to do with it. To be sure, the seasons of 1888-'9 were not good ones for honey, which may have had something to do with the matter; yet the season when the greatest 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 405 number of swarms issued was not a good one by any means, only about half a crop of honey being obtained. I shall look more closely into the matter the coming season, and I wish all who raise queens entirely above a queen - excluding honCj- board ■would test the thing also, and so be helping to solve the problem, that a definite conclusion may be reached as speedily as pofcsible. Why I say "en- tirely," as above, is, that some advise having the cells started by colonies having the swarming im- pulse, and, after they are started, place them above a queen-excluder lor completion. Of course, this would not be entirely along the line we are work- ing on, consequently would not be likely to be as perfect as to results. I see on page 318 that the editor interprets that portion of my article in the May 1st No. of Gi.ean- INGS, where I speak of policy, as applying or in- tended to apply to others. I had no such thoughts; and if it does look a little different, let the reader be assured that Doolittle was the only one it was meant for. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y. Friend D., I am incliued to agree with you thus far. If we save our queens, and use them for breeders, that come from col- onies that persistenly swarm excessively, our chances are greatly in favor of getting a strain of bees given to much swarming ; and, of course, the reverse would follow. But it seems to me it can hardly be possible that we shall see a perceptible difference in so short a time as you mention. If, howev- er, you take pains to select (jueens from colonies that do not swarm, 1 ihink quite likely you would see a remedy to the evil of excessive swarming, even in three or four years. Almost every apiary furnishes more or less colonies that give good yields of honey year after year, without any swarm- ing. Let us try getting our queens from such colonies. USING ESCAPE TENTS. WILL THE REESE BEE-ESCAPE TAKE THEIR PLACE? On page ~01 Mrs. Axtell speaks of the bees being soslowingettingout of the little mosquito-bar tents that the sections were spotted. I am not troubled in that way, and I think she is right in blaming the young bees. I smoke the bees pretty well before taking off the super. This does not drive them all out by any means, but I think the young bees are pretty prompt to go down when exposed to the smoke and the light. If the super is taken off without giving the bees any time to go down, there may be in it young bees which have never flown, and such bees would be a long time about leaving the only home they know of. The Keese bee-es- cape, in some one of its forms, has the advantage that no bees need be driven out before applying the escape; and for home use T think it is ahead. For out-apiaries the little tents are ahead, for the bees can be got out of the supers in less time. CA(iING QOEENS. The article of Mr. Gill, on page ;M3, and the com- ments thereon, prompt me to advise against try- ing the plan of caging on too large a scale, till you find whether it is the best thing in your case. I am obliged to confess that, with me, it has not as yet worked out as well in practice as in theory. I think I can prove very conclusively by argument that there is a loss in raising bees at certain times; and yet, somehow, when the thing is put Into actu- al practice the proof is not so clear. Indeed, to make a fuller confession, I believe if I had never tried to prevent swarming I should be better off to- day. Still, I am not ready to give up trying. But I am afraid that in spite of all my theories, the colo- nies wherein are left, all the time, laying queens, will persist in doing better work than those which are prevented from raising useless consumers. It may be, that 1 shall never get a satisfactory an- swer; but to me this question is a very interesting one: How can the desire to swarm be prevented without interfering with the queen's laying? AMES' DOUBLE TOP BAR. Comparing this with the single thick bar, it has the advantage of the space for winter passage, aii. Well, doctor, I confess I had forgotten that the ten-frame Langstroth hive does space the frames IS— that is, even though I put it so in the A B C, in our recent discus- sions I had somehow forgotten it. Isn"t it refreshing to know that father Langstroth decided so many of these things with so much wisdom years agoV After all our 406 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. June ramblings and new inventions, every little while we have to come back again to Lang- stroth. In regard to double top-bars, see editorial in our previous issue, page 38i». KAMBLB NO. 24. IN MONT(JOMERy CO., N. Y. Early in December last, the Kamtiler dropped quietly off the West Shore train at Fort Plain, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and found that Sprout Brook, the home of the Van Deusens, of flat-bot- tom-foundation fame, was eight miles away. Mud was the chief staple en the surface of the earth then, and we hesitated to embark by stage, and travel so far inland. We were, however, in search of things new and novel; and though the roads were as bad as any we ever saw, we do not regret our trip. Sprout Brook is a charming little village with a church, a store or two, and a hotel. Nearly a mile from the village lives Mr. J. Van Deusen and his sons J. A., O. J., and C. C. The homes of the Van Deusens and their factory are located in a flat- bottomed valley, and form a very picturesque little village as you look down upon it from the hill. A stream winds its way slowly along through this valley, and years ago the water-power here was utilized to run a woolen-factory. But since the ad- vent of improved bee culture, the woolen machin- ery has been taken out and flat-bottom-foundation machinery put in. Like all country streams, the water fails during dry seasons, and an engine has been added to keep the wheels of business running at such times. The Rambler's call was made at an unfortunate time, as the elder Van Deusen had just buried his wife, and was that day from home. C. C. was con- fined to his bed by a severe sickness; and as he was the apiarist of the establishment, our bee talk with the others was of short duration. C. C. has charge of about 300 colonies, and he finds that the highest yields are realized when only 40 colonies are located in a given field. Basswood is not abundant, but clover and kindred flowers give that Mohawk and Cherry Valley honey, which is hardly surpassed by that produced in any other locality in the country. Cellar wintering is prac- ticed by nearly all bee-keepers in this portion of the State, wifh usually, good results. Flat - bottom foundation is, however, the great specialty, and is manufactured in a large building. J. Van Deusen and two of the sons devote their attention to this work. The venerable and pleasant face of J. Van Deusen is well known at our conven- tions, and is always supplemented with a sample of beautiful flat-bottomed foun- dation in hia hand. His position in the firm is to work up trade, attend to cor- respondence, and take in the cash. On the first floor of the factory is an engine, saw-tables, planers, etc., used "■s^ for the manufacture of packing-boxes for the foundation, which is manu- "^^^ factured in the upper story. Flat-bottomed foun- dation is a patented article, but it seems that pat- ent-laws are not strong enough to protect the man- ufacturers, and great secrecy environs the second floor of the factory, which is rigidly closed against visitors, and especially against ramblers. The Van Deusens, of course, claim to make the best founda- tion in the world, and advocate the idea that any foundation that runs less than 13 square feet to the pound, and is not flat-bottomed, is not fit for comb honey. They also lay the broad claim that it is worked out quicker than any other foundation made. Their method of cleansing the wax makes it cleaner than any other manufacturers can possi- bly get it; but we shall have to take Bro. Van Deu- sen's word for it, for their process is a secret. For a lubricant, lye, starch, soap, etc., were vig- orously condemned, and pronounced detrimental to the production of a good article. Their lubri- cant is as pure as the breath of an angel, and is also just as secret. Theirs are the only rolls that can manufacture wired foundation. As to how it is done is also— a secret: Foundation can be made faster than by any oth- er process. No visitor, however, is allowed to see the process— it is a secret! The fact, however, that foundation could be made so very fast, gave the Rambler a great desire to compare the two systems of manufacture— the secret one of the Van Deu- sens and the free-toall, broad-minded system of the Dadants, who make over 30 tons per year. So we ventured a question to that effect. "Oh, yes!" says Bro. Van D., with his blandest smile; "that reminds me of a story Capt. Hether- ington told me the other day. He had a pile of wood, and employed a laboring man to saw it, sup- posing he bad enough to keep the man busy all day. About noon, the man, whom we will call Sam, came around and reported the pile sawed. Capt. H. could hardly believe Sam, and went to see for him- self. ' Why,' said Sam, ' if you want me to work all day, get a pile of wood. I want no little pile like that!' 'Well, Sam, how big a pile shall I get you?' 'Oh!' said Sam, 'get a big pile— a great big one.' ' But, how big- how many cords? what do you call a great big pile?' 'Why, Capt. H., if you want to see me everlastingly work, just get an all-fired big pile.' Well, Mr. Rambler, that's just the size of the pile of flat-bottom foundation we manufac- ture." Silence fell upon us for the space of a minute. We realized that we had hit another secret square on the head. There was one point, however, upon which there was no secret. This was a desire to sell this se- cret flat-bottom foundation, either by the pound or by the ton. The Rambler was inclined to make a bargain for a few hundred pounds, but just then the stage arrived, and we bade good- Hf GENESIS OF FLAT BOTTOMED FOUNDATION. by to the senior Van D., and were again behind tired horses and on bad roads. The Rambler's dreams troubled him again, and the very genesis of flat- bottom foundation came up before him, and would not down until the pencil made the vision perma- 1890 (CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 407 nent. He hopes ro secrets are divulged thereby, for to tell secret 8 or to burglarize is not the forte of the Rambler. Friend R., I am afraid that you trespass- ed a little on the good nature of our Van Deusen friends. I am somewhat acquaint- ed with the father ; and, as you say, I have found him a most pleasant and genial man. Most of us have our peculiarities and eccen- tricities, and our Van Deusen friends are no exception. While I should not quite agree with them in regard to the importance of keeping their discoveries secret, I think we can respect their wishes in this matter, especially when they produce so nice an ar- ticle of foundation, and at a reasonable price. With their machinery they can doubtless make a very great quantity in a year if called for; but perhaps they could not work at a much lower price and still keep up the (luality. We have been selling more or less of their product for several years past. They not only send out a beau- tiful, uniform quality of wax, but they will make sheets two feet wide or more, and make it just as thin, or thinner, than we roll our narrowest strips. I have been told that their rolls are made of brass, and of large size, so as to allow of no springing in the center. Will our good friend Capt. Hetherington tell his man Sam that there is a good opening for just such a chap as he describes, in our own neighborhood? A BEGINNER'S EXPERIENCE. DOWN AT THE FEET OF THE LADDER ; FALLEN PRIDE. Dear Mr. Uo<,t:—l am down at the "feet" of the ladder again, in the bee-business. Last fall I got a handsome, little, select tested Italian queen of you, and she did nobly. I placed great store by her, and anticipated the busy brood which she would turn out this coming summer. I put three nice swarms away in the cellar, to winter; and when imybody said "bees," I would give him a cordial invitation to see mine by candlelight. Alas for human expec- tations! They tumble about one's ears dally, and we build only to see our fabrics fall in shapeless ruin, so often that one wonders at the fallibility of all earthly things, and grows skeptical in contem- plating the utter depravity of inanimate objects. In February, contrary to all precedent and the laws in such cases made and provided, we had a warm spell right up here in the Rockies, where it is alwaj 8 supposed that winter lasts 9 months, and the other three are late in the fall. A huge snow- drift had made it necessary to sink a shaft to find the cellar - door, to fish out potatoes, and, inciden- tally, " to see how the bees were doing." The warm .spell cleared the ground of snow, ail except the deep drifts, and my cellar got too warm. The moisture settled in huge drops, all over the combs, and every thing molded; and one day, when I had managed to get that refractory cellar-door open, I found, to my amazement, two of the swarms en- tirely dead. I lioitted the other one out, and set it in a sheltered nook, and sat down to contemplate the spectacle of about half a bushel of dead bees, and my lovely little <]uccn, beyond the reach of mortal aid. Too much care, too much solicitude to have them warm and comfortable like some pet horse or cow, had done the work. Better have left them out to endure the rigors of a Rocky Mountain winter than this coeseting and consequent death. It taught me a whole lot— those brief moments of sad contemplation, and 1 said, " Whatever I do in future, I intend to sec that you don't get too warm." I am now just where I started last spring— about a quart of bees, and a queen to come from the HOme of the Honey-bees, to build up my ruined fortunes. But, in the language of Mrs. Collins, of Chapman, Neb., " I am going to succeed, if I have sense enough." We look for a wet season, and. con- sequently, plenty of grass, and tlowers in profu- sion. It would do your soul good to see this coun- try during a wet season. The ground is carpeted with flowers, and grass, so green and inviting, against the background of sage brush. Commend me to " Jotham's wife." I like her sentiments. Man should not be measured but by his worth to his fel- low-man, and I respect and esteem the man who grooms horses, or the girl who waits or bakes or scrubs far more, often, than I do the people for whom she labors. The bane of this world is selfish- ness. I used to pride myself on the uprightness of my character and conduct, and point to my career as fio m!(c/) better than my neighbors'. Something wrought a change— I won't say what— and I began a microscopic examination of self. I found out that my idol (myself) had feet of clay, and I took a hammer (metaphorically), and smashed it to smith- ereens. I found myself to be one of the most cap- tious, selfish mortals living. I found that I exacted from my family the best seat, the choicest morsels, and the best of every thing, all of which I took with the utmost self-complacency without a thought or a care for other people's comfort, where mine was concerned. I did not realize all this in a minute nor a day; but when I did come to see myself in a proper light, there was any thing but pleasure in contemplating the spectacle. " What am I, that I should demand or accept these things of my family, or anyone else? " thought I, in the bitterness of fallen pride, over a cherished character, so much better than my neighbors'. I saw plainly, 1 hat, in nine out of ten instances, I wasn't really half as good as men whom I had looked upon with con- tempt. At thi)f fme I do not allow my wife or any of my children to vacate a seat or surrender a pa- per to me until they have no fuither use for either. I do not think that I am doing right, if I let any one inconvenience himself in the least for my sake; but, on the other hand, I am trying to learn to render, without recompense, all the service to liu- macitythat lies in my power. I haven't reached a point yet when I am fit to have a pair of wings grafted on, but I am not the selfish, exacting, disa- greeable brute that I used to be. If a man will just turn the telescope upon himself, instead of upon his neighbors and the world generally, he will find it a mighty interesting— if, perhaps, unpleasant- study for a while, and then he will feel a good deal like going out and hiring a six-footer to kick him for about six consecutive hours. J. F. Crawford. Saratoga, Wyoming, Apr. :.'2. I am sure, friend C, we all sympathize with you deeply in the loss of your last col- ony, away up in the Rockies. Don't you think you had better follow our plan of win- tering bees right in the open airV— I felt 408 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. June deeply interested in your account of your lighting the battle in putting down self; but I confess that I felt somewhat disap- pointed that you did not make some allu- sion to Ilim who lived a human life, and " pleased not himself." How can you help thinking of those words, "Whoso will be chief among you, let him be your servant"? FKOM THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS. FRIEND BAIjDENSPERGER INFRINGES UPON MER- RYBANKS' WOODEN-PAIL, BEE-HIVE. The " haj " Mustapha, as the title " haj " is called, was a devout man, and had performed his pilgrim- age to Mecca, on return from which the pilgrim (that is the literal translation of the word) receives the name of "pilgrim," or "haj," and is then ex- pected to perform his five prayers daily. An omit- ted prayer may be recalled by saying two prayers next day at the time missed. The five prayers are to be said at daybreak, midday, four o'clock, sun- set, and about 9 p. m., always facing Mecca while saying the prayers. My host declined saying his prayers that day; as he thought it would keep me too long, he would do it next day. He then went on describing the way he makes his hives. I should certainly note down every thing, as this is a very important question in apiculture. The wooden model is five spans long (46 inches), be- ing 8 inches in diameter. The mud is brought, mixed with one-third of fresh horse manure. Aft- er being well worked it is left to leaven for a few days. A very pliable but strOng mat made of splic- ed reed is put down on the floor, on which dry and finely pounded manure is strewn. The above-nam- ed composition is now fully besmeared on this stout reed mat, and again dry manure is strewn on. The round model is now laid down on the composi- tion, and by means of the mat, or outer inclosure, the mud is put round the model, and put upright, when the inner model is taken out. With an emp- ty jug having just the same diameter as the inside of the hive, he rubs the inside up and down till it is smooth. The mat is now carefully taken away, and the finished but delicate hive is put away to dry in the sun. When wanted for bees, two round covers, always in readiness, are taken; and after having put in the five above-named combs, the swarm is put in, and is pretty sure to thrive, as swarms are admitted only in the flowery season. The hives are now laid side by side; and before a second layer is put on, the hollow space formed by the two hives is filled with sand and fine manure. When the second layer of hives is put on, the holes formed below the hives are stuffed with hemp, and all the surface is besmeared, making it mouse and moth proof. In cutting out the honey he is very careful not to cut into the comb lest the hive get soiled inside; besides, the refuse pieces must, together with the honey, raise the wax-moth. He always leaves five combs in each hive, thus enabling the bees to store away, besides what is left, food for the flowerless season; for of a winter, hardly a mention can be made. He operates on his hundreds of hives with- out using any protection for his hands. He does not know that people ia Europe and America dread the very name of Egyptian bees, neither does he know that any have been tried in those countries, and probably does not know that there is any dif- ference in temperament or in color. In the middle of August, at the overflowing of the Nile, the hor- nets appear, in very small numbers; but by and by they increase to thousands. He bolls 3 lbs. of hon- ey and 1 lb. of arsenic; and when well mixed he takes a number of feathers, besmeared with this mixture, and sticks them in the hornets' nests. He does the same thing round about all the villages where he has any business transaction, putting also some in plates in front of the apiaries, thus killing numbers. By this time dinner was ready. My host and my- self were seated on an elevated place in the court. It being a cloudy day we were in the open air. On a copper tray were presented, on different dishes- eggs, olives, dates, and omelet bread. We used our hands, as is the custom, while a man kept driving away the flies from ourselves and food. Before eating we had to say, " In the name of God the merciful;" after food, "Thanks to God." After having thanked my bee-friend in the most court- eous manner, I rode home toward Cairo on donkey- back, as I came here, very glad to have seen Egypt still flourishing. Ph. J. Baldensperger. Jaffa, Syria, April 3. Why, friend B., I just held my breath when you spoke about those cylindrical hives made of clay ; and I confess I felt greatly disappointed because you did not tell us more particularly how he cuts those round combs out of the cylinders, and how he puts them back again, or doesn't he ever put them back? and is the surplus honey stored in round cakes so it can be cut into pieces like pie, as pictured in our little book. Mer- rybanks and his Neighbor? I have always felt a little hurt to think my brilliant idea of using water-pails for bee-hives has met with so little favor, not only in our own country, but even in foreign lands. Now, if I ever go to Egypt I shall greatly enjoy their custom of asking a blessing before they partake of food, and giving thanks afterward. AMONG THE MANGROVE ISLANDS. EXPERIENCE IN MOVING BEES ON THE WATER. Two or three years ago my friend O. O. Popple- ton suggested to me the idea of moving our bees to the coast, twenty-five miles from home, to get the benefit of the mangrove honey which comes after the honey season is over in the interior. With many doubts in regard to the prospective profits of the venture, we finally decided to make the trial during the past season. In the first place we had to build new hives, as the old ones were not safe to move bees In. The common pine lumber of Florida is very heavy, so we went to the extra expense of getting cypress lumber, which makes very light hives— quite an important consideration where they are moved so far. The mangrove generally blossoms from the last half of June to the fore part of August. But the season last summer was late, so that we did not move the bees till about the first of July, and that proved to be early. When we finished extracting the last of May, we left a pretty good supply of honey. This being palmetto honey it was of very good quality; and when we were ready to move the bees we took about 600 lbs. from 35 colonies, the number moved. Two frames of 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 409 honey were left in each hive. The frames were fastened at top and bottom, and what we thought would be ample screens for air were given them; honey-boards were screwed down to prevent bees from getting out, and just at night entrances were closed with wire screen. Then my son, Oscar B. (aged 19), commenced hauling' them to the depot, where we had engaged a car. He worked till an hour after midnight, hauling a part about two miles, and the rest from the home apiary, nearly ?4 of a mile. In the morning two more loads had to be hauled; but we had all ready for the train, which took us safely to Smyrna by 11 A. m. We had en- gaged a flat-boat, or lighter, as it is called here, of friend J. Y. Detwiler, to take the bees about three miles south to the locality where we had decided to keep them. There is a strong tidein the Hillsboro River, and we had to wait till about 6 o'clock be- fore we could have the tide with us. Then Oscar fastened our own light row-boat to the bow of the lighter, and we started, Oscar rowing as hard as he could in order to make as much speed as possible; yet darkness overtook us some time before we reached our landing. When within 80 rods of our destination the lighter ran into some oyster-bars in the darkness, and we left it while we spent half an hour in hunting for the wharf where we were to land. Then another half-hour was spent in working the lighter among a net-work of oyster-beds; and when we reached our wharf we were two tired and somewhat disgusted individuals. There was no profane language used, I believe, as neither of us had ever had any practice in that line; but I fear that we felt in a frame of mind such as some of our friends do when they use pretty strong language. Not a light was to be seen. A NIGHT WITH MOSQUITOES AND SANB-FLIES. Our friends had retired for the night. The path to the house was through a hummock little known to us, and it was about 60 rods to the house. Oscar eaid he could do no more, and, rather than try to find the road and then awaken our friends, he lay down on the wharf and slept till morning. After looking to the bees, and bailing out the lighter, I followed suit by making up a bed on top of some bee-hives. Fortunately the night was clear. We had plenty of bedding, a tent, etc., and were pre- pared for camping out; but the mosquitoes and sand-flies were on hand and ready for business, thou- sands of them. We had bee-veils over our faces, and our hands covered. We finally had to cover our faces with our blankets, all we could, and leave room to breathe. It was nearly midnight before I slept. By sunrise we had eaten our breakfast, and spent the entire day in getting the bees to land. PCKE ITAI.IANS BETTER FOR MOVING. We found them all right except one colony evi- dently smothered, and a few bees dead in a few hives. I noticed that the pure Italians lost less than the dark hybrids. We afterward moved one colony of Italians over 25 miles in a wagon, and they made very little disturbance. The dark bees seem to get more excited, and crowd for the en- trance and ventilating screen, thus shutting off the supply of air. A POOR YIELD FROM MANGROVE. The mangrove did not yield much honey before the 10th of July, and then the flow was not con- stant. It seemed to do better after a good shower of rain, while a few days of hot dry weather would be a sure indication of idleness in the apiary. We secured only about 600 lbs. of honey, and the last of that was undoubtedly mixed with cabbage-pal- metto honey, which is also a very light-colored honey, and of fine flavor. Every bee-keeper with whom I talked upon the subject said it was one of the poorest seasons for honey ever known. Some thought that the yield is always light when the mangrove-blossoms are so late in the season. In counting the profits of our experiment, the 000 lbs. of palmetto honey taken before moving would have to be added to the 600 of mangrove, as we could not have extracted the palmetto honey had the bees b'jen left at home; l;'00 lbs. at 7 cents, what we have been getting for most of our honey in our home market, would give .f 84.00. Less cash expense of moving, $24.00, would leave about $60 for our labor — not very high wages, certainly. Large quantities of honey could not be disposed of at 7 cents per pound. One beekeeper shipped several barrels to the North, and realized only 4 cts. Another sold 8 or 10 barrels at home for .5 cents. We left the bees at the coast till December. The last time we ex- tracted, which was during the first half of August, we left plenty of honey in the hives. Some honey was to be had from various flowers, but not enough for the needs of daily consumption; and by the last of October there was very little left. It looked as though the bees would have to be fed or starve. Oscar and I went over to look after them about the first of November, and found them storing HONEY FROM SAW-PALMETTO BERRIE.S. This product is more like a poor quality of syrup than honey; but the bees seemed to thrive on it. We concluded to let them work away while we took a two weeks' trip 50 or 60 miles north on the Halifax River, and Smith's Bulow, and Tamaka Creeks, camping out and adding to our collections in botany and conchology. On our return we found the bees still storing from the palmetto-berries, so we left them a few weeks longer. When we moved them home in December the hives were quite heavy with honey. I am satisfied that, had it not been for the palmetto - berries, we should either have been obliged to feed the bees for a long time, or let them starve. The palmetto is said not to yield a crop of berries everj- year. WOOD-ANTS. We lost two colonies from robbing, and two from attacks of the large wood-ant that is sometimes so destructive to bees near the coast. Had we been with the bees we could have saved those four colo- nies. The ants can be destroyed by following them to their hiding-places. Those that did the mischief for us first made their nests in the top of the hives; and when they got pretty strong they commenced killing, and, I think, eating the bees. I saved one colony they had commenced on. In one corner of the hive there was about a pint of dead bees with wings torn off, and the bees torn to pieces. The rest of the bees were on the combs all right, and 1 was satisfied that the ants were eating a few every day. I brushed the ants out of the hive, and a flock of chickens snapped them up as fast as they struck the ground. They made no more trouble in that hive. The hives were set on large spikes, and the spikes in cans of water; but the cans got empty, and the ants found their way into the hives. They work only at night, remaining hid during the day. On the whole it is hard telling whether our ex- periment paid us in any way except in the experi- ence gained or not. I have no doubt that, in a good 410 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June season, we should have felt well paid for our trou- ble. MOVING BEES FROM THE NORTH TO FLORIDA NOT RECOMMENDED. Some parties have talked of moving bees from the North to Florida, to get our winter flow of hon- ey, and especially orange honey. I do not know whether any one has done so or not; but I will ven- ture the opinion that they will do it but once. PRESENT OUTLOOK FOR FLORIDA NOT ENCOURAG- ING. The present honey season in Florida is likely to be a very disastrous one. The winter was very warm and dry, and we got no honey. The 1st day of March we had a good rain, followed the next night by the first frost of the season. In two weeks came another frost that did great damage throughout the entire South. Thousands of acres of tomatoes and other tender plants just ready for market were cut to the ground. In many places young orange-trees were killed to the ground, and orange and many other honey-yieldiug blossoms were destroyed, leaving nothing for the bees. The winter had been so warm that most things had started to grow. The consequence will be, that our Northern friends will not have so many oranges from Florida the coming season. In the interior, bees will probably have to be fed during the whole season or else starve. Saw-palmetto generally blossoms about May, but it throws out its long panicles of buds long before that time, anJ most of them were killed where they were not protected by the leaves. We have been feeding our bees up to the present time. I have not learned what the prospect is for man- grove honey. Geo. W. Webster. Florida, May 10. DB. C. C. MILIiEK. BY THE HALF-TONE PROCESS. A short time ago we received information that Mrs. Miller did not like the wood en- graving of her husband, Dr. C. C. Miller, in the A B C of Bee Culture. The cut was very good, but it was not exactly natural around the eyes and mouth. We according- ly have had another one made by the half- tone process ; hence I take pleasure in again introducing our old friend and correspond- ent, Dr. C. C. Miller, of Marengo, 111. It is almost unnecessary to tell who the doctor is, or what claims he has on the hearts of bee-keepers. We can say of him as we can say of very few bee-keepers, he has no enemies. In fact, it would be a very hard matter to quarrel with him or make him talk back. He sometimes, like Dr. Ma- son, has a blunt way of talking in conven- tions, for the sake of a joke. There are several men who always help materially in making a good convention. Not mentioning the others, I will say Dr. Miller is one of them. I remember, at the International, at Brantford. everybody in- quired, "Where is Dr. Miller?'' or, " We need /nm." We hold Dr. Miller, here at the Home of the Honey-bees, in very high esteem, not only as a personal friend, but for his opin- ions upon any phase of the subject of bee culture. He has twice revised the ABC book, and twice added his comments in the back portion of the work. In fact, he is consulted in regard to this, that, or the other improvement in hives and other ap- purtenances. A^ery often, when a new thing comes up that 1 think is going to displace every thing else, I write to Dr. Miller, and ask him to find all the fault he an cwith it. DR. C. C. MILLER. And his criticism is genei ally heeded. Our correspondence in Gleanings shows that we do not always agree; but the fact that he is so often consulted is somewhat of a measure of the value we place upon what he says. If some of our new subscribers want to know when and where he M'as born, wheth- er he is short or tall, broad or slim. I would refer them to a short biographical sketch by the writer, in the A B C of Bee Culture. Ernest. CALIFORNIA. BACKWARD gPRING. Bees have wintered well in this part of the coun- try. No losses, except where they starve, and not many of them so far. The spring hasbeen very un- favorable up to date. There have been but few days that bees gathered any honey. Kain, rain, rain, is the order of the day. Our spring was like yours last year. There were only two days vhen bees could work on apple-blossoms. In my apiarj' they are de- stroying the drone larva', and expelling the mature drones. The queens have slacked laying, yet I am feeding whenever bees can fly. I fear that I shall not get bees enough to get much surplus, if this weather continues much longer. I am feeding sorghum, diluted to thin syrup, placing it about two rods from the hive. There is no fighting or robbing among the bees. S. L. Craig. Oakland, Cal., May It, 1890. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 411 MANUM AND THE COMMISSION MEN. HOW HE MANAGED TO SELL $4000 WORTH OF HON- EY BEFORE BREAKFAST. I HAVE seen articles in GiiEANiNGS from time to time on marketing honey. Several of your readers have given their experience and advice on this important subject, and it may not be out of place that I should give my experience with com- mission men. I have never been fully satisfied with the practice of sending my honey to be sold on commission. Though I have never, but once, been able to sell it outright, I have tried very hard to in- duce parties to get in the habit of buying honey as they do other farm produce. But they seem to be a little loth to do so, as they say honey is a luxury and not a staple article. A few years ago I shipped my honey to a firm in Boston, known as Favor & Dudley, who then han- dled nearly all of our Vermont honey. While in Boston one day, looking after the sale of my honey, I chanced to pass a store, in front of which I saw several cases of my honey piled up to attract at- tention. I looked up to the sign over the door, which read, B. F. Southwick & Co. ; and as I was looking at the honey, a fine-looking gentleman stepped out and smilingly saluted me with, " Good- morning, sir." This proved to be Mr. Robinson, one of the firm, who asked : " Do you wish to buy honey, sir? " said he. "No, sir; I was simply admiring it. Do you handle very much honey, Mr. R.? " "Yes; we sold 50 cases of this brand last year, and this year we have so far bought 50 more, and hope to be able to sell 100 this season." " Do you consider this brand as good as any ? " " Yes, we prefer it to any on the market. As it is put up in such nice, clean, and attractive packages, we sell it as a fancy article." Here he opened a case, took out a section, and, holding it up, salesman fashion, he remarked: " There, see how nice and clear it looks. Why, I tell you this iB fancy, and it sells like hot cakes." " You buy this honey outright, I suppose, Mr. R.?" "Yes, we buy it of commission men; but we should be glad to handle all of this brand if we could arrange to do so." " I see this is Vermont honey." " Yes, it is; and, like Vermont butter, it stands at the head." At this point 1 handed him my card. " What 1 is this Mr. Manum? Are you the man that produced this honey?" " Yes, sir, I suppose I am." " Well, you are the very man we want to see. Please step into the office. Mr. Southwick, this is Mr. Manum, who produces such nice honey." " Well, Mr. M, I am glad to meet you. We were speaking of you this morning, and wishing we might see you. Have you anymore honey to sell? We should prefer to buy of the producer direct." " Yes, sir, I have about 200 cases more." "Oh! that is more than we wish to buy at onr time; but we will take it on commission, and do the best we can for you." " Well, gentlemen, I am here for the purpose of selling my honey. I do not like the commission business. I am sick of it, and surely I ought to bo able to find some one in this great city who will buy so little as 200 cases." " Mr. M., you had better consign it to us, and try us. Wc will do our best to please you. We are commission merchants, but we have never had a consignment of honey, though we should like to have you try us." " Very well; then I will ship you what I have, on my return home." This I did, and I was satisfied with the returns. 1 shipped them my entire crop the next year, though it was a light one— only four tons; but this seems to have set them up in the honey business, so that to- day B. F. Southwick & Co. are the leading honey merchants in Boston. The following year I shipped them four tons early; and before I got the rest of my crop ready to ship, the old notion— of selling outright rather than placing it on commission— returned; and, being so strongly impressed that this was the true way for bee-keepers to do, I went to Boston with the de- termination to sell, if possible, to some party, and try to get them in the habit of buying rather than to take it on commission. So I called on my friends, B. F. S. & Co., for that purpose, but they talked very discouragingly. So I called on several other merchants, and in two days 1 succeeded in finding fonr parties who would buy six tons at a certain price— which was less than my price— but closed no trade with either of them. I returned to B. F. S. & Co., and made another desperate effort to sell them the remainder of my crop, which was now re- duced to about 11 tons. I told them how I had found four men who would take si-ic tons. "What! do you propose to sell a portion of your honey, and then consign to us what you can't sell? " "That is just it, Mr. Robinson. I shall either consign the rest to you or to some one else. But I want to sell you the entire lot; and now I will make you a proposition: That you come to Vermont with me and see the honey; and if you do not buy it I will pay your fare back, so that you will be out only $(i.50. But if you buy the honey you shall pay your own expenses up and back. Your expenses while there will be nothing, if you can put up with such fare as my wife can offer you. You see, I am determined to induce you Boston fellows to buy our Vermont honey outright." "Well, Mr. M., your offer is a fair one; but it is too large a lot for us to buy at once." "Very well; then I will return home on the next train, and I will decide in a few days what to do with my honey." An hour later, as I had just taken a seat in the car, and as the train was just moving out of the de- pot, 1 felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. Looking up, there stood Mr. R., so much out of breath that he could hardly speak; but he managed to say: " Mr. M., 1 am going home with you to see that honey. After you left our store, Mr. S. and myself talked the matter over, and we decided that I should go up and see the honey, if I could catch the train, which you see I have just barely done. As I was never in Vermont, I thought it a good time to take a look at your Green Mountains. As we came via the C. V. R. R., we had a long ride through New Hampshire; and when White River Junction was reached I told Mr. Robinson that wo were in Vermont; and I wish, Mr. Root, that I had the ability to describe Mr. R.'s enthusi- asm as we glided along up White River, with the Green Mountains on either hand looming up sky- ward, with a seeming desire to steal a kiss from the 412 C4LEAN1NG!S IN BEE CULTURE. June flying clouds as they journeyed onward, paying their respects to the old mountains only by occa- sionally saluting them with a light shadow as they skipped over the bald heads of these gigantic and aged mountains. Suliice it to say, Mr. K. was wild with delight and admiration as we skipped along from bridge to bridge and curve to curve un- til we reached Bristol in the evening; and whilfe Mrs. M. was preparing supper, Mr. R. inquired whether the honey was near the house, so he could see it that night. Although Mr. R. had been under excitement all day, and must have been very tired, his great energy and business habits would not per- mit him to retire without first taking a look at the honey. So, after satisfying our appetites I con- ducted him to the honey-room, at the rear of the house. Although Mr. R. is a very shrewd and thorough business man, I very soon made up my mind that he would buy my honey before he left. The next morning he was up and in the honey-room by day- light. After doing a few chores— more to allow him to be by himself than for the chores themselves —I joined him just as the bell rang for breakfast. " Good-morning, Mr. R. I see you are making some figures. Does it figure to suit you?" " Well, yes; but can't you make your price half a cent less?" " No, Mr. R., I have already given you half a cent on a pound, in order to induce you to buy the hon- ey. You will see that, by giving you the hall-cent which I have, and if there are 11 tons, you are get- ting $110 for your trouble in coming up here. But, our breakfast is ready; let us go In." " How soon can you ship the honey?" " I think we can get it ready in a week." " Very well; then I will take it at your price, and send you a check for the amount on receipt of the honey. Well, Mrs. M., I have made a $4000 trade with your husband this morning, before breakfast." " Have you bought the honey?" " I have; and Mr. M. says I must stay a few days and help him to grade it." "We shall be pleased to have you; and I dare say you will enjoy the business, while your advice may be beneficial to my husband in the matter of putting up honey in the most practical style to suit your market." Breakfast over, we returned to the honey-room, where the help had arrived, and we commenced work; and after watching the various manipula- tions of the honey as it was being prepared for shipment, from the scraping of the sections to the crating and weighing, Mr. R. looked up to me with a smile, and said: "Mr. Manum, I want to work a little at each part of this work, for the purpose of knowing how it is done." " Very well; you may commence by scraping one clamp of sections, and you may occupy this girl's place while doing so. In the mean time I will find something else for her to do. But, first, she may teach you how to clean one section while I go and catch a few queens to fill an order received last night." I had caught but one queen when I heard a great uproar and laughter in the honey-room. I will here state that Mr. R. has a very agreeable, lively, and cheerful nature, and he enjoys a good time as well as the next one, and especially a good joke, whether he is the victim or not. Upon hearing the uproar I hastened to the honey-house to learn its cause and to enjoy the sport myself. As I entered the room I found all the girls standing, and in a fit of laughter, as well as those from the other rooms. All were looking at Mr. R., who, it seems, had punched a hole in a section of honey with his fin- ger; and while holding it up to decide what to do with the " leaky thing," as he termed it, he drop- ped it on the floor, and of course smashed it; and It was his looks of despair at his ill luck which caused the girls to laugh so heartily. He finished his clamp of sections, however, in a creditable manner, and disappeared for a time. Where he could have gone, no one knew; but he soon reappeared with a large package of choice candy, which he placed at the disposal of the girls, saying, at the same time, that the best way to close a girl's mouth was to sweeten it. This he did very efl'ectually, for the girls did not again mention to him the broken sec- tion of honey, and he was at once considered the hero of the company. Mr. Robinson progressed finely in the different branches of the work, until he was at last promoted to the delicate work of grading; and I found him perfectly at home in this work. His experience in selling honey had taught him how this should be done; and instead of being his tutor, 1 found my- self his interested pupil, greatly to my advantage ever since. After watching Mr. R. a few moments I asked him if he thought it was best to grade the No. 1 as close as he was doing. His answer was, " Yes, most assuredly;" and he remarked: " Now, Mr. M., I want to impress upon your mind the importance of careful grading. For instance, you should always be careful to have every section in each grade be true to that grade. Never allow a single section of No. 3 to go in with No. 1, or No. 3 with No. 2, and so on; because if a single section of No. 3 is found in a crate marked No. 1, the whole crate will have to be sold as No. 3, notwithstanding it contains but one section of No. 3. This rule holds good with fruits, vegetables, and all kinds of goods. All should be true to name and grade. Honest goods will always sell and command the highest price. Therefore work for a reputation ; and when once gained, strive to keep it, because a lost repu- tation is much harder to regain than to have kept it. Therefore be watchful, and send us honest goods, and I will guarantee that you will always be pleased with the result." After spending two days with us, Mr. R. left for his home; and on taking his departure he declared that he had enjoyed himself exceedingly well; say- ing that he could now tell his customers all about the honey-business, as he had been where it was produced, and worked at the business with his own hands, and that he knew that it was strictly pure. On taking his leave of the family, Mrs. M. pre- sented him with a well-fllled lunch-basket, saying to him that the contents of the basket might be ac- ceptable to him before he reached home. This little gift, representing her motherly nature, made such an impression upon his mind that even to this day it seems to be one of the pleasantest remem- brances of his first visit to Vermont; and to assure us of that fact, he has, every year since, forwarded us a well-fllled box of choice goods from their large assortment, as a token of his appreciation of that lunch-basket, and his regards for the giver who has since gone to her long home. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 413 Notwithstanding B. F. Southwlck & Co. did well with the honey I sold them that year, I have never been able to sell them any since, owing to the fact that, since then, the price has been so fluctuating, and also that the bee-keepers of New England seem to prefer to consign their honey, or, at least, they do so without making any attempt to sell outright, and I have found it rather up-hill business to estab- lish the custom above; hence I have been obliged to consign my honey each year since the year above referred to. Although Messrs. B. F. S. & Co. have, so far as I know, been square and honorable with me, and make quick returns, I should much prefer to sell my honey at home, and have it done with. Bristol, Vt. A. E. Manum. Well done, old friend. Why, you will get able to write a book if you keep on at this rate. Now, there is one great moral in your very interesting story. It is this : There is nothing that helps a man to sell goods like being very conversant with the details of the commodity he is handling. And the emphatic injunction in regard to honest grading is a great truth. A reputa- tion is much easier lost than gained, and much harder to be gained when lost than to have kept it. RIPENING OP EXTRACTED HONEY. ARTIFICIALLY RIPENED JUST AS GOOD AS THE HONEY RIPENED IN THE HIVE. Mr. Holtermann, on page 87, says that the col- or of honey is probably affected by being stored in dark combs. Further on he tells us he leaves his honey intended for exhibition on the hive until a few days before such exhibition, and then extracts it. In this way, he says, he secures the ripest hon- ey, and that "no one will admit that honey some time off the hive and out of the comb is of any bet- ter flavor than that just taken off; and further, that such honey is not alfected as to color, if stored in white combs. There are several mistakes In the above, I think. At least o/ie man does admit and argue that honey may be improved off the hive, and, indeed, should be. I would call Mr. Holtermann's attention to my former article on page 48, Jan. 15. In addition I will add a few thoughts. In his foot-note, the editor corroborates what I have quoted. He says that well-ripened honey is less liable to candy than that which is extracted be- fore it is sealed. That the most thoroughly ripen- ed honey is the last to candy, other things being equal, I agree. But to the idea that it must be ex- tracted before it is ripened, I say emphatically, no. Last summer I extracted my first honey near the close of the wet spell we had in June. During that period, honey came in about as thin and rank as I ever tasted it. Nearly half of this honey was un- sealed. I put it in lard-cans and stooe jars, covered with cloth, and set them where the sun would pour in through the south window upon them, and left the honey to couk. In the fall this was among the thickest, richest honey 1 had, and the last to candy. And why should it not be so? If honey ripens by staying on the hive, what is it that does the work? What is the process of ripening honey, any way? Does it not consist in evaporating the water and intensifying the body of the honey? Is it not this concentration of the essential elements of honey that constitutes its richness? And if so in either case, are not the conditions essential to this ripen- ing process as well secured in a warm dry honey- house as in the hive? I claim from experience that they are present to even a greater degree. I see no way out of this conclusion unless it be in the vague, improbable guess that some chemical change takes place in the hive. I do not say that honey will not ripen in the hive, but I do say that the essential conditions— heat and dryness— must be present. In other words, the hive must stand in the sun, and be as near proof against outside dampness as possible. Honey remaining on hives densely shaded keeps thin, and ac(juire8 that moldy flavor spoken of by the editor on page i'-K the coloring of honey. Now a word as to the coloring of honey. That honey standing long in old black combs will become dark, is no doubt true. But it will do the same thing in new combs. I have put two sections of honey in a dish, one of which was beautifully white, the other considerably travel-stained from re- maining on the hive. When they were cut into, the honey in the travel-stained comb was perceptibly darker than that in the others. This, coupled with the fact that honey extracted from old combs, pret- ty soon after it is stored, is as light as any, seems to prove that honey will turn dark by standing in the hive, whether stored in black or white combs. Now, what is the cause of this? Can it be some mysterious chemical process that goes on there? Who can throw some light on the matter? George F. Robbins. Mechanicsburg, 111., Feb. 3. Friend R., how large are those stone jars? I can readily imagine that, if they held not to exceed a gallon apiece, and if set in a south window, without curtains, during the hot days of July and August, the honey would evaporate or ripen until it acquired any desired thickness. And is not this a hint as to the cheapest way we can ripen raw honey V Well-ripened honey is certain- ly a little darker than green raw honey. I have seen basswood honey almost as clear as spring water, and so thin that you could almost drink it like spring water. When thoroughly ripened, however, it was quite dark, comparatively. PEDDLING HONEY. extracted ; preventing granulation a failure. Mr. J. A. Buchanan's article in Gleanings, March 1, has called forth a few thoughts in my mind which may be of interest to the producers and sellers of honey, or, more particularly, extract- ed honey. If we prevent honey from candying by sealing hot, or by mixing, what shall we say to those who have been taught that pure honey granu- lates, and impure honey does not? and when a visit- or comes to your apiary, and sees your operations, how will you prevent his being confirmed in the idea now prevalent, that all honey is bogus? Pre- venting granulation by sealing hot has not worked satisfactorily with me. Some one wishes to see how the honey tastes. The sealing is not done perfectly, and then your honey granulates. Con- sumer, who thinks it should be clear, observes \slthasmile, "He got too much sugar in it that 414 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June time." The one who has kept " strained honey " in the house all winter, and knows it is natural for honey to granulate in cold weather, and those we have succeeded In educating, think that you have adulterated it. It will not do, generally, to rely on the groceryman to explain to the customer. Gen- erally he is not asked to; and in time the story gets old, and he can not spare the time ot> an article that sells as slowly as honey does. As Mr. B. says, we bee-keepers must solve the problem ourselves. If I had an unlimited amount of time 1 could sell extracted honey for 10 cts. where comb honey sells at 12; and it need not be in liquid form either. Thinking that I must change from producing ex- tracted to comb honey two years ago, I purchased some comb honey to peddle with my extracted granulated honey, and found, to my entire satisfac- tion, that the trouble in selling extracted honey at the price named was less than selling comb honey. I sold .5 lbs. of the former to one of the latter. When comb and extracted honey are placed in a store, generally the result is the reverse of the above. The groceryman gets tired of talk, and sells what is " called for." Now, how shall we solve the problem of selling extracted honey? for with me in this market it must be solved or given up. The groceryman does not succeed in disposing of any worth mentioning, in the granulated form, and the task of melting and sealing hot in small glasses, and remelting what granulates again, and keeping the groceryman supplied with it in at- tractive form, is too great a task where you have a large crop to market and take it to grocerymen in other towns. Waverly, la.. Mar. 11. J. B. Colton. Eriend C, the honey business is full of contradictious, like almost every thing else. I know it does take a deal of talking. The best way to get rid of the talking, however, is to give your customers a real nice article ; and when they call for more, give them a real nice article again. THE HONEY MARKET OF BUFFALO. HOW THE DEALERS THERE CALLED THE LIQUID ARTICLE '* STRAINED," MANUFACTURED (?) COMB HONEY. During March I was, owing to my mother's ill- ness, suddenly called to Buffalo, N. Y., and remain- ed there about two weeks. I took a room, and pre- pared my own breakfast and supper. You know a German is saving, and can live where other people starve. There is one thing I always feel breakfast is incomplete without, and that is honey. The en- tire year, when able, I like either extracted or comb honey for breakfast. So I ventured out, and at the grocers' made inquiries about extracted hon- ey. The clerk or proprietor asked, " Do you mean strained honey? " and told me they had none. The remark led me to think whether It could be that, in the same country, and in so large a city as Buffalo, and within so short a distance of that great apicul- tural light, Dr. Mason, people did not know extract- ed from strained honey. I then and there deter- mined to sift the matter thoroughly. I visited about fifteen stores, and in every case found they called it strained. I would say, " Have you comb honey? " and then would ask for "the other" kind, and in one way or another I led them to name the honey first, and the name given was always strained. In the largest grocery store (so far as I know) in Buf- falo, in Yerxi's, they called it strained; and when the young man in attendance found out I kept bees, and knew honey, he asked me if the comb honey in their store was really genuine. I then read him your offer about the manufacture of comb honey, and the efforts of the American bee- journals to stamp out the erroneous idea that comb honey could be manufactured. Surely a man can not attain to the greatest suc- cess in the sale of goods if he has no confidence in them; and surely in that large establishment on Main St., Buffalo, a man understanding his goods, and selecting them judiciously, could surprise the proprietor by the amount of sales which could be effected in comb and extracted honey alone; and, on the other hand, what an outlet would be secur- ed for the bee-keeper's honey ! The extracted hon- ey shown by this store had been packed in a large packing-house. I will not say it was impure, but it was not good ; and owing to the fact that it had passed through several hands, the price was higher than would be necessary if it had passed from the bee-keeper direct into the hands of the retailer. This matter is surely important. The next ques- tion is, " How shall it be remedied? " The question is a difiicult one. If a store could be induced to subscribe for a good live bee-journal, much could be done to educate the salesman. Bee-keepers, too, should be wide awake, and instruct the parties to whom they sell their honey, and place them in a position to refute statements injurious to the sale of honey. An instance: A customer comes in and says, " I would buy that honey, only there is so much manufactured at the present day, I fear yours may be." The clerk, who is doubtful himself, will, if he is conscientious, shut his mouth; if not, he may say, " This is not manufactured," etc. But if he can say with confidence, "It can not be manu- factured," and show there is a reward of $1000 of- fered for the manufactured article, which has nev- er been claimed, then he is likely to convince his customers, and effect a sale. I saw friend Hersehiser in Buffalo, and he stated they even called honey " evaporated," and that if people could only feel sure that honey is pure, much more would be sold. R. F. Holtermann. Romney, Ont., Apr. 23. Eriend H., what you tell us is truly as- tonishing, and, I might add, discouraging. By the way, you did a good thing when you started out to find out about honey. I have often done the same thing when waiting for a train in a large city, and I believe it is well worth while to canvass our towns and cities thoroughly whenever opportunity of- fers. It is not only on honey that clerks are often deplorably ignorant, but on many oth- er things they handle. And here is a hint for those who are out of work, or think they do not get as much pay as they ought to. They do not read and inform themselves, and keep posted. Just talk with some of our runners for the large manufacturing es- tablishments, and see how thoroughly they are posted, not only in regard to the goods they sell, but also in regard to the current gossip of the day, not forgetting manufac- tured comb honey. By the way, when you start out in a city, do not forget our reward cards. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 415 FASTENING FRAMES AND TOP-BARS FOR SHIPMENT. T. P. ANDREWS TELLS US HOW HE DOES IT. The questions, how to fasten on loose bottom- boards, and how to fasten the frames for transpor- tation, seem to interest many who wish to move bees. Five years ago, while fixing: up a carload of bees for a move, I devised and made a lot of comb- spacers, one of which (half length) I send you. By raising the front end of the hive, one of these spacers is readily slipped on to the bottoms of the frames, near the middle. Now, when you have let your hive down on to the bottom-board you have the frames fixed so there will be no swing to them. iifivi 'ivilTMF ENDVIEW. SPACER iNFFlAMES Put one of the spacers across the top-bars, near each end, and you will have the frames secure from any movement on the rabbet. These spacers are cheaply made, quickly adjusted, and have none of the objections that are held against staples, nails, etc., driven into frames or hives. To fasten on bottom-boards easily, securely, and cheaply, procure a lot of tins cut to aboutl?4X>2 in., and a supply of rather thick wire nails one inch long. Three of these tins, tacked on to each hive, one each side near the front, and one at the mid- dle of the back end, holds the bottom - board to the body. I drive a nail diagonally into the back end of the bottom-board, to keep the hive from slipping off when the front end is raised. To cover the hives and at the same time give the necessary ventilation, I made frames of lath, halved together at the corners, just the size of the tops of the hives, which are not beveled. On to these cover- frames wire cloth is securely tacked. After the comb-frames are fastened, the enameled-cloth cov- er is slid back so as to leave an opening for air, the i?ize of which is adapted to the strength of the col- ony and the warmth of the weather. The wire-cloth cover is then placed on the hive, over the enameled cloth, and fastened with four wire nails. When this is done, and the entrance closed with a cleat tacked on, the bees are in good shape to transport by wagon or rail, as I have occasion to know from a somewhat extensive experience in the use of these appliances. T. V. Andrews. Farina, 111., March 6. Your plan of fastening frames is very sim- ilar to the one we used last summer (see Gleanings, page 551, last year). The notches in our strips were not pointed. Yours would have the advantage that they would crowd between the frames better. I don't believe I should like your method of fastening bottom-boards ; it is too much work. REMOVING QUEENS TO PREVENT SWARMING. E. FRANCE ANSWERS A SEASONABLE QUESTION. When you remove the queen from a colony to prevent swarming, how long do you keep her out? What do you do with her in the mean time? and is there any trouble in putting her back? The above question was handed in by one of our subscribers, for E. France. We forwarded the same to him, and he replies : Our out-apiaries we visit only once a week. We simply cage the queens in the hive, and usually let her remain caged two weeks. The bees build queen-cells when the queen is caged, just the same as thej' would if the queen were taken away. We never cage more than three-fourths of the queens in the apiary, at one time, for the reason that we must have some young brood from which to raise queen-cells. After the queen has been caged one week we are on hand again to extract. It won't do to leave the queen-cells another week, so we tear them all out and give the colony at least one comb of very young bees and eggs, from which they will raise another batch of queen-cells. At the end of the second week we again destroy all queen-cells, and then liberate the queen. If we are making any new colonies at the time we are caging queens, then we would put the queens into the new colonies, and after two weeks let the old colony raise a queen. But sometimes bees will swarm with a caged queen. In that case, take the queen away, out of the hive; that will cure them, .si/rc. But, remember that, if a colony has no queen, they must have something from which they can raise one; then they will work and feel happy. See Oleanings for 1889, p. IV. If I were running for comb honey I would get the bees just as strong as I could without swarming; then take the queen away, give her a quart of bees and some combs, and there let her remain until the close of the honey-flow, say 20 days; then return her with her combs and brood. It would be safer to cage her for one day, but we don't do it, for by this time she has quite a nice lot of bees and brood to go with her. We have run a few colonies at home in this way for several years, and never yet have lost a queen in putting them back. Of course, the old colony that is at work all this time making comb honey must be kept supplied with brood, young enough, from which to raise a queen, and queen-cells are to be destroyed once In ten days, then give them more brood. E. France. Platteville, Wis., Feb. 23. Friend F., you have struck upon one point that I didn't see. Tou say that bees will sometimes swarm with a caged queen ; but, of course, in that case they will come right back to the hive, unless, indeed, they tind some other swarm to unite with. It seems to me from the above that it does make a difference, in some respects at least, wheth- er the queen be caged in the hive, or taken entirely away. A queen with a quart of bees can usually be returned to the hive 416 Gl^EANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. June she came from, especially if honey is coming in, and they have no other queen hatched. At other times I think there will occasion- ally be trouble. SPACING BROOD-COMBS. HOW FAR APART SHALL WE SPACE OUR BROOD- COMBS FROM CENTER TO CENTER V What is the proper distance from center to cen- ter to space brood-combs— 1 'a inches? So far as I know, Tfi is all right, and I think It is the distance agreed upon by the majority. But sometimes we settle down upon something in a kind of passive way, without any special reason for it; and some- times that turns out right, but sometimes wrong. How about this spacing business? What do we know about it? Why is l?s better than lyi or 1!^? I don't know; but is it not time to examine the mat- ter a little? One of the first factors In the problem is the thickness of brood-comb. If I am not mis- taken, worker comb, when first made, is % thick. As successive generations of brood are raised in it, the deposits at the base of the cell increase the thickness of the septum, and wax is corresponding- ly added at the mouth of the cell. So, you will see, the thickness of comb, although an important fac- tor, is not a ^red factor. Without giving the mat- ter any special attention, I have measured worker comb a plump inch in thickness. Here an eighth of an inch has been added to the thickness; and if the comb were twice as old, would not another eighth be added? So I should not like to say that ii is the average thickness, only that it is constantly in- creasing in thickness, that thickness bring limited only by the age of the comb or the room the bees have to elongate the cells. I have seen cases where I suspected the bees had gnawed down every thing to the original septum of wax, just because through age the comb had become so thick that it could be made no thicker without making the passageway between the combs too narrow. If the bees could have moved the combs further apart, I see no rea- son why they might not have done so and gone on thickening the combs. But I suspect that we so seldom have comb thicK- er than one inch that we may base our calculations on ]^ as the thickness of comb. And here I may re- mark, in passing, that friend Heddon, when he said he would have top-bars only % wide if he had 1^0 space between them, could hardly have counted much upon combs increasing in thickness with age. With top-bars % wide and i% between them, there would be i6 space between combs when new, and that space would be constantly decreasing as the combs grew older. While the comb is new there would be barely room for two bees back to back, each hugging down tight to the comb; and when the comb becomes one inch thick there will be only ^e between the two faces— not room enough for the queen to stand erect. Would the bees tolerate such a condition? The next question is. What space is desirable he- tween the faces of the combs? There is good au- thority for saying that there should be more space between combs in winter than in summer. For all that, I think the majority will keep the same space summer and winter, and we are left to decide what, all things considered, is best for all the year round. Suppose we have our brood-combs spaced 154 from center to center, with a cluster large enough to oc- cupy 8 combs. If, now, we space our combs a little less than 1J4 from center to center, 10 combs will go in the same space the 8 occupied, allowing us to raise a fourth more brood with the same bees, be- cause they can cover just that much more. But there is a still further gain; because, when we put in the two extra combs, there is just that bulk of bees displaced to occupy more combs. The 8 combs measuring ig each, occupy "iS inches, leaving iX inches as the measure of the bees that fill the spaces. Now, suppose we space our combs 1J4 inches from center to center. Take ig (the thick- ness of the comb) from IJ^ inches, and we have ib as the space to be filled with bees. We have 4K inches of bees, and these will fill 14 spaces of i'e each. So we can have 14 combs covered by the same bees that covered the 8 combs, just by spacing them X inch closer. In the same way, if we space 1% from center to center we shall find that, instead of 8 combs, the same bees will cover 34 combs, barring the fact that some of the bees may go into the cells. And so, the closer we space, the more brood we can raise, till— but, hold on ! Another factor comes in. We can't space so close that the bees can't get be- tween the combs to feed the babies, even if the queen had the eggs laid there. Moreover, there must be enough bees between the combs to keep up the requisite heat or the eggs will not hatch. A single bee can not hatch an egg, as a hen can; and in spring weather I don't think a single layer of bees could. So you see we gain by spacing closer, only up to a certain point. When we find just what the right point is, then spacing closer than that will leave some of our outside spaces too cold to hatch eggs, and we shall lose by it. Somewhere about 1% from center to center is right; but I don't suppose it is exactly 1%. How can we find what it is? Upon that depends our spacing and the width of our hives. I suppose we need to find what is best for spring; for, after warm weather comes, it does not matter so much; and at the South, can we not space closer than at the North? I should not be surprised if some one points out factors that I have left out altogether, and I feel that it is worth while to find out all we can on this topic. Marengo, 111., Mar. 24. C. C. Miller. Doctor, I am glad that you did think about accommodations for the nursing bees. When they are incessantly putting their heads into the cells, and backing out again, they can not afford to have cramped quar- ters, nor even to have somebody just be- hind them to hit against, every time they back out. Suppose you had to crawl into a cell to feed the children, and you were given such close alley-ways that you are striking a back wall every time you back out. Now have these alley-ways crowded with people, and see what a predicament you are in. Our packing-room has been too much like that during the past few weeks, and I tell you it pays to have more room or fewer people. I do not believe that combs ever ought to be nearer than If inches ; and if they are old and crooked and wavy, I am in favor of something pret- ty near H inches. In changing combs about promiscuously, as we used to do every day and every hour, I have seen brood-combs pushed so closely together that the nurse-bees could not get in to feed the larvte, and keep them from starving, with- 189U GLExVNINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 417 out cutting down the surface of the comb ; and sometimes after having done this there was not room for the larvae on both sides to be capped over, when they became large enough. Then our little friends had a seri- ous problem on their hands. Mow, I do not believe in putting combs too close, neither do I believe in turning them around and mixing them up promiscuously. Of course, the bees can adjust themselves to such bungling operations on the part of their keeper, but 1 am sure that it results ia a loss of brood more or less, and consequently a loss of honey-gatherers when the season opens. that we Gleanin(;s people are now al- most 10,000 strong. REMOVING a HE QUEEN. STIMUIiATIVE rEEDINO, ETC. I WAS surprised to read the answers in Gleanings regarding this question, as I often am in reference to stimulative feeding. I have tried both of these very cai-efuUy under the most painstaking caution to avoid any error— no guesswork at all. I am sure that our bees— and they arc very much like other bees— do breed more rapidly when fed, in case no storing is in progress; and I am as fully convinced that removing the queen at the proper time, if done so as not to disturb the peace of the colony, will give more honey. It may not always be well to do this, but it does add to the harvest. THE JOINT-SNAKE, AGAIN. Willie Atchley has sent me another of these liz- ards. This one had never lost its tail, and was a beauty. In coming from Texas it took occasion to shed its scales, or skin. This was done in shreds, not entire, as seen in snakes. The f pecimen came in nice trim by mail, and delighted me. Judge of my regret, then, when a student, in studying its habits of motion, preparatory to giving a paper on this lizard before our Natural-History Society, let the latter crawl through a hole in the laboratory floor, and escape. The student felt even worse than I did. SCALE LICE. The scale lice, which secretes such an abundance of honey-dew, and which Mr. Jos. Barrengton, of St. Mary's, O., reports as infesting his lemon-ti-ees, are closely allied if not identical with the one sent by Dr. Miller, which infested the English ivy. The genus ii Mytilarvis. It is near, if not nerii. The l>lants should be treated with the kerosene emul- sion, as I describe in Bulletin 58. This bulletin will be sent free to all who desire it, upon application. Agricultural College, Mich. A. J. Cook. Friend C, if you have tested these two subjects, stimulative feeding and removing the queen, at the college apiary, as you peo- ple usually test disputed questions, I think we shall nave to give up on both points I am surprised to learn that your laboratory floor is so poor as to have a hole large enough for even a glass snake to creep through. My observation was to the effect that your buildings and rooms were models of perfection. I earnestly advise all our readers who are interested in this matter of lighting insect-enemies to send for Bulletin oS. But, dear friend Cook, you had better hire an extra clerk in anticipation of the calls that will be made for it. Remember SWARM-CATCHEHS. A NEW USE FOR THE DRONE-ANU-yUEEN THAI' " We don't want swarms," says our friend Shuck. Well, we do not; that is, some bee-keepers do not. The bees do not seem to know this fact; or if they do, they care nothing about the wants of man. When the bees get ready to swarm, out they come, and so they M'ill continue to do, no matter what uc want, or what the breed, strain, or race of bees happens to be. We have all found this out, haven't we, Bro. Shuck? 'Tis well enough to talk about a non-swarming race or strain of bees; but it is quite another thing to produce them by any means yet devised. Well, now, recognizing these facts, why not be ready for the bees when they get ready to swarm? Let us provide the easiest, cheapest, and most practicable means for catching swarms when they Issue. When we first introduced the drone-and- queen trap, friend Root said a good word for it, and at the same time remarked, "Now if some one will devise some way for hiving bees when they swarm, etc." {I can not recall just the words, as I have not the copy of Gleanings at hand that contained the article), "it will be a good thing," or words to that effect. Well, what we are getting at now is friend Root's comments in a foot-note attached to the de- scription of an article describing the self-hiver we were invited to send Gleanings about a month ago. What puzzles mo is this: Why it was that, when Bro. Root indicated that a self-hiver would be a good thing when speaking of the trap, some six years since, is the fact that he did not know at that time all about self-hivers, as mentioned in the foot- note spoken of above. The idea of inviting some one to attempt to invent a self-hiver, and then com- paring it, when invented and described, to Mr. Quinby's "queen-yard" arrangement: Goodness, friend R., it makes me nervous to think about it. Quinby's device was about as much like our auto- matic swarmer as cheese is like chalk. no. 1. TRAl' ATTACHED TO A HIVE. Excuse us for getting off the track. We will now 418 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. June describe how to catch a swarm of bees in the drone- and-queen trap. Those who use the trap have noticed that, when a swarm issues, and after the bees return to the par- ent hive, as many pile into the trap as can, and will be found there. The idea struck me that the trap might be made large enough to hold the entire swarm, and so we show the reader a cut of such a trap, and will describe how it is arranged, and its workings in catching a swarm of bees when they issue. Fig. 1 shows the trap attached to a Bay State hive. You will see that it projects considerably beyond the front of the hive. The bees, to gain access to their hive, must pass under the trap and enter through the metiil, A. Fig. 2 shows the inte- rior of the catcher. It is the same as the drone- trap. In fact, it is noth- ing but the drone-and- queen trap on a larger scale. Instead of being made .just large enough to hold a pint of bees the trap will hold the largest swarm likely to issue from any hive. The trap has a porta- ble cover (c), so that, when a swarm has been hived, the bets can be quickly removed, or placed in a new hive. fig. 2. our new self- This device may be at- hiver. tached to the hive in a dozen different ways, to suit the fancy of the apiarist. It will be seen that there is a stake (D) driven into the ground under the front end of the trap, for the box to rest on. B, as shown in Fig. 2, is a box, open on one side, 80 the bees can enter, while the opposite side is cov- ered with perforated metal. This represents the bottom chamber of the drone-aud-queen trap. Two cone-tubes are used for the bees to pass into the trap. We stake our reputation as a bee-keeper, on the statement that this trap will catch and hive ninety- nine out of every one hundred swarms that issue. The queen will enter the trap, and, when the bees return in search of her, they \< ill readily find her ladyship in the box, ready to receive them. You will notice in the trap (Fig. 2). and just ahead of the cone-tubes, a strip of perforated metal. This is so arranged that it comes exactly over the en- trance to the hive, and above the metal A. When the bees return after having missed their queen, they will pass into the trap through this metal, and join their queen. Here the bees will be found on the return home of the apiarist, when they can be disposed of to suit his pleasure. If no hive is ready, the box can be placed on the stand the bees are to occupy, and hived when most convenient. If the bees are to be returned to the hive they issued from, this can be done after the combs have been examined and the queen-cells removed or destroyed. We shall send Bro. Root one of these traps, and arrange with him to make some at once, so those who desire can test them the present season. Wenham, Mass. Henry Alley. Friend A., I think I understand your ar- rangement as given in Fig. 1 ; but if I am correct it is a little confusing in Fig. 2, be- cause the engraver has not quite done his duty. The hiving-box, and B and C, are simply three separate articles, and rest upon each other in the manner shown, only for convenience. I really hope the device will hive 99 out of 100 swarms that issue. But without taking more space I think we had better wait for reports from those who are now using it to hive swarms. With the present crowd of business now upon us, we could not undertake to make any new thing just now, and as we have so little swarm- ing, especially in connection with our selling bees by the pound, we fear we shall not be able to make a test of the machine that will be very satisfactory. FRAME - SPACERS. THICK TOP-BARS AND PERFORATED ZIKC. Ever since Dr. Miller and you were talking about that queen-excluding strip to goon the top of the heavy top-bars, I have been thinking; and this is what I have evolved: Instead of having a saw-kerf to slip the zinc into, which is almost sure to be glued up with propolis, bend the zinc into an L shape, and let the L part with the slots in slip down over two broad-headed nails driven into the side of the top-bar; then when a frame is to be removed, the zinc can be lifted out, and have the "lateral" movement, so desirable to the frame. They could all be taken off if necessary. Have I made my meaning clear? But I do not think any such arrangement will ever become practical, as it would be so much in the way in handling the frames. If we are to dispense with honey-boards by using ht^iavy top-bars, it seems we have got to have the frames spaced just exactly right; in fact, too exact for the average bee-man's eye to do the work; so, to help out, here I have invented what I call an au- tomatic spacer, made thus, the points to be made i of heavy tin, and to \ / / \ f~n\ /~/~\ /~7 ^^ J^s* * bee-space at V_/ \LJ V..J V~/ the base, and, say, one inch from base to point, and the distance be- tween them to be just the width of the top-bara. Not to be left on the frames, but to crowd down from the top, so as to force the frames to the right place, two would be necessary; for if only one were used, the frames might move out of place at one end, while the other was being adjusted. They might be nailed to a block with a handle, something like your tool for fastening foundation in wired frames. If to be used to remain permanently on the frames, of course a % block would have to be used. I think this might give the advantage of fixed ledges on the hive, with none of the disadvan- tages. What do you think? C. A. Hatch. Ithaca, Wis., Feb. 19. Friend H., your slips of zinc would be stifEer and safer to handle by having a fold made lengthwise, as you suggest; but I agree with you that they would be too much machinery. I do believe that some sort of frame-spacer would be an excellent thing, if we propose to do away with burr-combs by reducing the space between the top-bars. Ernest suggests that a spacer could be made by driving wire staples into the strip of 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 419 wood. The round end of the staples would readily force the frames into position. Of course, the staples need not project out of the wooden bar more than far enough to bring the frame into position. Our friends who are fond of extreme accuracy in their work would like such an arrangement. On page 415 another friend gives us an excellent illustration of a frame -spacer. His intention was to use it to keep the frames in position. But they will answer nicely for bringing frames into place, as suggested by friend Hatch above. FROM ALL PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. In order to read understandingly the reports given below, it will be neei'ssary to observe the following points: First, the State is u'ivin; then next in their order are the names of the repiiitcrs. with their respective postoftices. To indicate local- ity, the usual abbreviations are used— N., S., E.and W., for north, south, 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 letters, a, b, c, d, etc. , indicate the answers to the questions propounded in questions a, b, c, etc., just below. For some reason or other we have not received reports from all of our corres- pondents, although nearly two weeks have elapsed since the ^; cellar; rest, chaff; b. 5; outdoors in chaff. ILLINOIS. C. Dadant. Hamilton. N. W. 5-17. a. 3 per cent, both ways; b. 10 or 15; out: starvation the cause. No loss anywhere e-xcept from overbreeding and sub- sequent starving. F. W. Goodrich, Bloomington. C. 5-15. a. 5; outdoors; b. 10; outdoors. C. C. Miller, Marengo. N. 5-16. a. 7 per cent indoor; b. 10 per cent, mixed. Bees booming; heavy in bees, but weather is cool, and bees may starve in June as last year. Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria. W. C. 5-17. There has been no loss, indoor or out, except by starvation. Bees did well this spring, until the May freezes; since then bees have been chasing out the drones; some would have starved had they not been fed. INDIAN TERRITORY. R. W. Swain. Vinita. 5-17. a. 1 had 25 stands; lost 1 from moth; oublooi-; b. very little loss. lOWA. Z. T. Hawk. Audubon. W. C. 5 16. a. Lost none; cellar; b. 12K; cellar, mostly. 1 have lost a feiv colonies by robbing since placing them out. All are short of stores. Eugene Secor, Forest City. N. 5-20. a, b. 10; cellar. J. W. r.ittenliender, Knoxville. S. E. 5-15. a. 5; wintei-ed in cave; b. 8; wintered outdoors; bees in good coiiditii'ii. Iiut very dry; unless a rain comes soon, the honey- crop will lie short." Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon. E. 5-17. a. 30; indoors; 1 per cent outdoors; b. 10 indoors. A. Christie, Smithland. W. 5-17. a. About 2; part in cellar, part outdoors; chaff in upper stfE any other for adminittering' injections. Water about blood-warm should be used when the purpose is to relieve constipation, and a considerable quan- tity — one to three pints, or more — may be used. The water should be retained for a few minutes, while the bowels are kneaded and shaken. If theie is difficulty in retaining: the water, a folded najikin should be i)re88ed as'ainstthe anus. In hemorrhage and inflammation of the lower bowel, cool or cold clysters should be emi>loyed, and should be retained as long- as possible. The copious cool enema is a valuable antiphlogistic remedy used in conjunction with the cool bath in oases of violent febrile excite- ment, as tvphoid fever, when temperature rises above 10ii° F. Large enemas of water, or of water containing- quassia, are the best mode of treatment of ascarides. or the so-called seat worms. Large, or what are termed forced, enemata are also recommended by Dr. Mosler as the most suc- cessful means of relieving intussusception. They are also recommended in hernia and in the treat- ment of tape-worm, in connection with other an- thelmintics. In catarrh and other diseases of the large intestines they are useful in cleansing and washing away acrid secretions and foreign matters as well as in applying local treatment. A. Rohrick. of Vienna, has observed that injections of water into the colon incicase the fluidity of the bile secreted by the liver. This fact has led to its em- ployment in jaundice due to catarrh of the t'iliary ducts as well as to other causes, and, accordinsr to Dr. Mosler, with successful results. In administer- ing a forced injection, the syphon svringe should be employed. The patient should lie on his back with his hips elevated, and the enema should be administered slowly. When colicky pains occur, the injection should be withheld for a few minutes, until the pain subsides. When it is desired to force fluid into the small intestine, which may be done in case of necessity, the patient should be placed on his knees and shoulders, so as to lift the pelvis as much as possible, and the fluid should be introduced slowly. Now, please notice, friends, when you pay money for a recipe or secret, the seller, as a mattter of course, gives all the ad- vavtnges of the great discovery, and puts it intliemost glowing terms, while he entire- ly ignores its drawbacks or dangers ; at least, such has been my experience. Print- ed circulars, scattered far and wide, from Dr. A. Wilford Hall, illustrates this very pointedly. Now. please read the following from p. mi, Dr. Kellogg's book : But the enema may become a source of mischief if abused. If habitually relied upon to secure a movement of the bowels for a long time, the bow- els lose their activity, and the most obstinate con- stipation sometimes results, precisely as from the prolonged use of purgatives. Dr. Kellogg declares that this very matter of thoroughly washing or rinsing these or- gans may be a means of mischief. 1 under- stand that physicians do not all agree in re- gard to this.' While some say the use of water internally will do no more harm than washing the hands and face daily, others agree with Dr. Kellogg. A good many of us would be very glad indeed if nature would at certain times forbear a little, and, if the use of water would induce her to get over a little of her " activity," what harm would it do to use it ? Dr. Hall also makes quite a point of his treatment for diarrhea, "giving the idea to the reader that this is a part of his discov- ery. Now let us see what Dr. Kellogg says un- der the head of " Diarrhea," after giving directions in regard to diet, on page !)07 of " Rational Medicine." He writes : Next in importance as a measure of treatment, is the proper emplojment of enemata. We have seen more benefit derived from the injection of large quantities of hot water— as hot as could be borne, and in as large quantiiies as could be retained — than from any other tingle measure of treatment. After reading the above I was greatly sur- prised to find I could bear water internally so hot as to be painful to my hand, without any inconvenience whatever ; and this very warm or hot water seemed to give wonder- ful relief. In fact, the effect is very much like that of the rested feeling that comes from taking a pretty hot external bath. I am satistied, too, that these large quantities of hot water do remove accumulations that may have been productive of harm for months, or may be even years. We read on the same page : The hot or cold water used in injections should be employed in considerable quantities, either as hot as can be borne or quite cool. From personal experience I am pretty well satislied that no harm can come from using any excess of hot water, even if the quantity be so great as to produce a mo- mentary sensation of sea-sickness. There is much more in the book mention- ed, on this subject; but the above, in con- nection with the advice of your physician, will be sufficient. And finally, dear friends, do not think of sending $1.00 to anybody for some one's secret discovery, when your own family physician knows all about it, and has known so for years. Your family physician will also be glad to tell you all that is known in regard to it. There are a great many good physicians among the read- ers of Gleanings, and I appeal to them whether I am not right. Very likely, good will result from calling the attention of the world at large to this special line of water- cure treatment. We can not very well make a mistake in keeping ourselves too clean. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. That art on which a thousand millions of men are dependent for their sustenance, and two hundred millions of men expend their daily toil, must be the most important of all— the parent and precursor of all other arts. In every countiy, then, and at every period, the investijjation of the principles on which the rational practice of this art is founded ought to have command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds. James F. W. Johnston. WHAT SHALL WE DO WHEN THE GHOUNO IS ALL THE WHILE TOO AVET TO PLANT? To-DAY, May 24, almost nothing of our main crops is in the ground, because of heavy and incessant rain. Eor two seasons past we have had a similar experience, and were therefore partly prepared for it. We have had some sad experience in trying to work ground when it was too wet, and had therefore decided to have it in proper order, no matter how long it took. But here it is. almost June 1, and only one planting of corn has been made. Our first potatoes are pretty nearly knee-high, and so are some of the weeds. By watching our chanres we have cultivated them up a few times ; but if any portion of the weeds is left on top of the ground, they start to grow again. What cultivating we have done has been done when the ground was too wet for the horses to step on. A week ago to-day, by 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 423 working men, boys, and teams, until aft- er sundown, we got in most of our eaily po- tatoes. The groiiLd was so wet then that our teamster protested all day. Ever since then the ground has been almost like a swamp. The underdrains and overdraius are doing tiieir duty, but they are not ade- quate. The only thing that can be worked is our plant-beds, six feet wide, and raised a foot or more above the paths by means of boards up at the sides. These plant-beds are worked without stepping on the soil at all, and, of course, it is all hand-worked ; but the ground Is manured and made soft with peat and sand, so it is so light and soft the garden-rake will give it all the cultiva- tion needed. Just now I am seriously con- templating half an acre raised up in this way, to be worked entirely by hand. The only trouble is, during severe drouths it is hard to keep them wet enough so they do not dry clear through from side to side. Several times during the past week the ground would do pretty well for planting by hand, but it would not do for a horse to step on it. I presume that the great quantity of manure we have worked into it helps to hold the water. We first cover the ground with all the manure we can plow in ; then we cover it again with a manure-spreader, and work this in with a cut away harrow. By the way, the cut away is the most useful tool for working manure into the ground I ever saw. When all other harrows would clog up and scrape the manure into heaps, the cuta-way just chopped the manure and soil all up together, and turned It under in a way that could not help make any cultiva- tor of the soil smile. Well, as I was saying, there have been several times during the past Meek when we could have planted by hand were the ground only marked. At half-past four this morning, the teams could have got along very well ; but none cf our men were up, and the horses had not been fed, or I should have got at it. By the time they were fed and ready, another drenching rain closed the business for the day, and to- day is Saturday. Garden-stuff already com- mands tremendous prices, just because of this continued wet weather ; and I suppose that those who have anv stuff to sell will have their own price. But how can it be done unless we make our gardens in raised beds, as I have mentioned, and substitute hand work for horse power ? To-day I have been considering putting in some things by stretching a string. As a rule, this does not pay. for we not onlv have the labor of moving the string at each row, but the digging must all be done by hand. The furrower and marker, drawn by a team of horses, is by all odds the cheapest and best, even for small patches of ground ; and for setting cabbage and celery plants, the fine dirt thrown up by the furrower is just what is wanted to put back around the plant. For tomatoes, melons, sqnasnes, and cucumbers, or any tiling that is to be put from 6 to 9 feet apart, tlie labor of using the string would not be so great ; and if we can, by the use of it, secure a crop when nobody else has any, it miglit pay exceedingly well. One objection to using a siring, however, is the tramping on the groimd, necessitated by boys tunning back and forth to move the string, as well as in transplanting the plants. I am getting every year more and more averse to tramping over the ground — not only by the horses, but by men and boys, especially after it is worked up to a very high degree of fertility. Raised beds 6 feet wide seems to be the most feasible plan ; and I feel sure these will pay for many products. They could be cropped very closely, and the ground kept so light and mellow that cultivation could be done very quickly and thoroughly by using rakes of different widths. Qn^ QaEg3Fi©i\[-B6;^, With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. AU querieB sent in for this department should be briefly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or qu.estion8 should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked, "For Our Question-Box." QtJESTiON 161 — Jo?ies and Brown havehcen keeping hem on shares. Jones is the owner. GLExiNINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 427 are glad to get your testimony in regard to section-holders. THE MELTED -WAX PLAN OK P0TTING IK START- ERS; 25 TO THE MINUTE, AND 1200 PER HOUR. I notice ia Gleanings of May 1, a letter from Dr. C. C. Miller, giving his way of putting in start- ers. He says he can put in four starters a min- ute, and Emma can put in 14. I will give you my way of putting them in. I use a small iron pan, with a bottom about 5 in. across, and put enough wax in to cover the bottom about }i inch. I place the pan on the stove and let the wax melt. 1 take a board one foot wide and 18 in. long, and sit down close enough to the stove so that I can reach the pan conveniently, and put my sections on a pile (starter side) on the board, and the starters also. I put the board on my lap with starters next to me. I dip the edge of the starters into the hot wax, and then place it on my sections. The first minute I tried it I put on 20 starters; the next minute, I put on 2.5. I can put on 1200 in one hour, without any extra effort. I have a little girl and boy that lay them away after I get them on. I do not put the sections together until after the starters are on. Muncy Sta., Pa., May 8. R. I. Cromley. THE HOFFMAN FRAME, AGAIN. I notice you inquire in Gleanings for May 1 "if there is any one else among your readers who has tried the Hoffman frame." T have used this frame for the past six years, and I find it far superior to any other frame, and I agree with Mr. Beebee in all the points he makes in regard to them. My frames are the Langstroth size, with top-bars 1% in. wide at the ends, and notched out ]i in. on each side between the end-bars, making them I's in. wide over the combs, so that, when they are plac- ed in the hive, there is V in. space between the top- bars, to allow bees to enter the super. For supers I use the T super with V-in. bee-space at the bot- tom, and place the supers directly upon the frames. No honey-board is required with this frame if the super has a bee-space at the bottom, as the top-bars act the same as a honey-board. This I deem a big point in their favor. I produce comb honey exclu- sively, and in my six years' experience with this frame, without honey-boards, I have had but one section in which brood was placed. When I first be- gan to use this frame I had top-bars v in. thick; but I found the weight of the combs caused some of the frames to sag. I also noticed that, where the frames sagged, there were brace-combs built; and where the frames did not sag there were hardly any brace- combe. I then changed from the %-in. to ^-in. top- bars ; then the result was, there was no more sag- ging of frames, and almost no brace-combs. Louis Anderson. Bloomsbury, N. J., May 6, 18!tU. Your testimony is valuable, and the more so, as it substantiates what others have said. So you can use T supers on these frames with- out a honey-board. That's good. Who else has tried these frames? NO LOSS on summer STANDS. I have to report 54 colonies in the fall, and 54 spring count. How is that for outdoor wintering in ordinary box-frame hives, and just as they stood on their summer stands, and, with one single excep- tion, in good condition? My bees have had so far too much honey from last year to raise enough brood. That is not room enough ; nevertheless, the late, cold, and wet spring will give them ample time to use it all up before they get much from the fields. White clover is blooming earlier than common, with prospects good, when the weather settles. We had a light frost last Sunday and Monday morning, with heavy rains yesterday and to-day. Franklin Garnes. Kenna, W. Va., May 14,1890. AGAINST selling ON COMMISSION. If the bee-keepers do not adoptsome other method of selling their honey than sending it to commission men and letting them sell it for what the grocerymen want to give, they might just as well let their bees all die or kill them. As fine comb honey as you ever saw, linden, white as snow, put up in 2 lb. frames, sold last February for 8 c. per lb. ; taking out freight and commission, netting the bee-keeper 5 Ji cts. per pound. If the commission man had been in- structed to sell it for 1214 it would have brought it. As soon as I can get time I will give the readers of Gleanings my method of selling honey, and how to get a good price for it, as 1 have always sold my own honey for the last forty years, and expect to if 1 live forty more. Wm. Urie. Minneapolis, Minn., April 28, 1800. FROM 55 TO 115, AND 2700 LBS. OF HONEY, WITH A LOSS OF BUT TWO. I Started in the spring of 1889 with 55 colonies, with quite a per cent of them very weak. I increased to 115, principally by natural swarming. I obtained 2700 lbs. of honey, 2000 lbs. comb, and 700 lbs. extract- ed, all very nice white-clover honey, for which I real- ized from 15 to 20 cts. for comb, and 15 for extracted, wholesale. I started into the winter of 1889 with 115 colonies, with natural stores, no feeding, and came through with 115 up to March. I lost two in March, and two more proved to be queenless ; the rest are in good shape, with a prospect of a good season in view. I wintered all on their summer stands, with sawdust cushions over brood-frames, in im- proved Mitchell hives, double-walled. S. R. Morris. Bloomingburg, O., May 10, 1890. how an untested queen and 1 LB. OFBEES DID. I ordered 1 lb. of Italians, and an untested queen ; but through your kindness you sent 2 lbs. of bees and a queen. As I told you in a letter, I put the 2 lbs. of bees into the hive in the greatest hurry, not think- ing that, right after destroying the black queen, the blacks might destroy the new queen; and as it came to my mind that might be the case, I let the white sheet lie before the hive for about three days, to take a look every morning to find the dead (jueen dragged out of the hive, but could find no dead queen, so I did think all right. By this time, and several weeks ago, I could see the young yellow-striped bees come out to try tlicir wings for the first time in the nicest way. So I have turned the black cross colony into the most beautiful Italians. The 1 lb. of bees and Italian queen I got of you last J\me are now a strong colony. John Slaubaugh. Eglan, W. Va.. May. 1893. prospect very poor for honey so far. There are no material; sisns of swarming, and white clover is just beginningiltojbloom. It is 6till very cold, and we have.had four frosts- this month. 428 GLEANINGS IN 3EE CULTURE. June Yesterday, the 15th, was so cold that bees did not fly much. Bees are mostly la light condition. So far they have wintered well, but spring- weather is very cold. Wm. St. Mabtz. Moonshine, 111., May 16. HORIZONTAL WIRING ; NO SAGGING OR BOWING OP COMBS. I have been reading Gleanings with interest, and I have seen a great deal said about wiring —which is the best way— and I should like to say that I have been using the horizontal wires for about ten years, and most of the time only two wires; but I prefer it three wires, and I never have had any trouble with foundation sagging or bulg- ing out. I think that the greatest trouble with foundation sagging is that the wires are not stretched tight enough. If the wire sags, the foundation must. As for tin bars, I have never used any. I have had no use for them; and as far as I can see, they are a bungling affair. I use the L. frame, and prefer it to any other that I have used. MY HONEY CROP FOR 1889. Comb honey, 1000 lbs.; 500 extracted. I com- menced in spring with 30 colonies; increased to 45. Fremont, Mich., May 16. Sam0el Boyd. general satisfaction ; but until then the public will persist in saying the.v " knew it is more'n half su- gar." E. U. Foster. Waterbury Center, Vt., May 6, 1890. BACKWARD weather. You will see by my report that we have lost pret- ty heavily in bees. These have mostly died during the last two months; and although we have been feeding some we did not watch them closely enough. It was warm here the greater part of the winter until February, causing the bees to fly a good deal, and consume considerable honey. For the last four or six weeks we have been having al- most continual cold rains, which keep the bees con- fined to the hives when they should be gathering honey. A little more attention and feeding would have saved some that we have lost; but we dislike to inaugurate a regular system of feeding, and have been in hopes of sunshine. However, the most of our colonies are in fair to good condition; and the prospects for a big crop of honey are good, provided we get clear weather soon, us the white clover is in better condition than it has been for years past. S. E. Miller. Blufifton, Mo., May 18. SELLING extracted HONEY ; CANDYING A BAD FEATURE. I have been selling honey in connection with ma- ple sugar and syrup for six years, doing a successful business all through New England, but principally in Massachusetts. When I first commenced in the business I bought pure white-clover extracted honey ; but experience soon taught me that white- clover honey would not hold trade, as it would soon become candied ; and when I went around the next time I was politely informed that they did not care to buy brown sugar and pay a honey price. I would tell them that it was sometimes due to the action of the atmosphere, but I suppose they thought it was due more to my action than that of the atmosphere. I saw I must make a change if I held my trade. I tried some orange-bloom honey, shipped from Florida, and found it to be the best yet. I have sold it for four years now, and where I sell it once I sell again. It wfll retain its liquid form two years or more. If we could only keep our white-clover ex- tracted honey from becoming candied it would give NO LOSS IN WINTERING, AND PROSPECTS FLATTERING. The outlook for bees in this locality is very flat- tering. Colonies are all strong, and all I have heard from have wintered well. I wintered 50 colonies on their summer stands, and did not lose one. All of them are as strong as they were last year the 13th of June. On the 14th of this month I had a new swarm. It was caused by feeding. There was little but willow in bloom at the time. It was never known to occur in this locality before. Myrtle, Pa., May 19. E. A. Pratt. DECOY HIVES, AND THE LAW CONCERNING. It is my mind that this law was framed by bee- hunters, and presented to our legislature without consulting the bee-keepers. The law should be re- pealed, for, as I understand it, it does not even al- low us to have an empty hive in our apiaries. I claim we should have the right to decoy our own bees as much as we can. Hunters and sportsmen have caused many laws to be made to the farmer's sorrow. Now, why not put this to vote, and see how many are in favor of repealing this law? I say, repeal it. E. S. Andrus. Torrington, Conn., May 31. VERY DRY. The prospects are very poor for a good yield of honey. It has been so dry that there is no white clover, and it has been very cold since May came in. It is still cold, with hard frost at night, with fre- quent snowstorms. All fruit will be killed, and the bees have not worked a single day on fruit-bloom. Minneapolis, Minn., May 30. Wm. Urie. SWARMING, AND LOTS OF WHITE CLOVER. Bees commenced swarming on the 1st of May. Swarming is a month late. I have hived 15 swarms so far. I never saw so much white clover. Bees are working with a rush. I never saw such a large swarm. Your paper is just right for twice a month. G. B. Cartmell. Jackson, Tenn., May 19. UNJUST discrimination BETWEEN HONEY AND FISH IN FREIGHT RATES. I should like to say, " Honey in Pails" is double first-class, while fish in the same kind of pails is fourth-class. This hurts me badly, for I have work- ed up a market for honey in 30-lb. wooden pails. It ought not to cost more to ship extracted honey in large wooden pails than comb honey in glass boxes. F. Wilcox. Friend W., there are several reasons why raih'oads charge more for honey than for tish. The first is the value. If they spill or damage a pail of fish, it does not amount to very much compared with a pail of honey. Another thing, I suppose the reason why honey in wooden pails is rated higher than honey in boxes is because of the liability of being tipped over and spilled. If honey is put into pails having an absolutely tight cover, say something like syrup-cans, so they will not leak any side up, it should go at as low a rate of freight as any thing else put up in similar tin cans— that is, where the value is about the same as the value of 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 429 honey. Liquid paint, for instance, is a very large article of traffic, and it is put up both in tin pails and wooden kegs, and, if I am correct, honey can be sliipped about as cheaply as paint, ^'ery likely, however, the matter needs looking after. pYgEiiF MB pY piEmpBe^g. O thou of little faith I wherefore didst thou doubt? —Matt. 14: 31. There are in this world lovable people, or, if you choose, lovable neighbors. There are also neighbors — just a few of them— who are not lovable. It is our duty to love them, nevertheless ; for Jesus said, " Love ye your enemies." Doubtless most of you know people whose very presence seems to bring something pleasant and cheering. Every word they speak indicates faith, energy, go- ahead, and hopefulness. Some writers have a faculty of making their words so attract- ive that we like to read them and dwell on them. Their bright expressions we like to read over and over again. Well, of late 1 have been enjoying myself by reading over and over the words and expressions of Christ Jesus ; and the more I read them, the more I love them. I am not a great reader of the Bible, and I doubt whether anybody ever sees me reading it more than a few minutes at a time Sometimes I read a chapter, but not often more than that at once. It used to trouble me somewhat be- cause I did not like to read the Bible as some do. It is too much for me ; that is, to read very much of it all at once. A verse or a part of a verse seems to be all I can manage or comprehend at one time ; and sometimes a little bit of verse will last me several days. The more I dwell on it and think about it— the more I repeat it over and over— the more it becomes music to my soul. And especially do I delight in mak- ing it fit into the subject of conversation that is going on about me. One of the brightest little texts I ever got hold of is the one about which I am writing : •' O thou of little faith ! wherefore didst thou doubt ? " Matthew, Mark, and John, tell us the little story about Jesus walking on the water. After feeding the five thousand, -Tesus saw fit to tell his little band to get into a boat and cross the sea alone. He dispersed the multitudes, and sent his followers away, and then he went up into a mountain to pray. He told the little band to go to some point on the other side of the sea, or lake. The distance was so great, however, that they did not reach their destination before morning. Late in the night they had a con- trary wind, and the little boat was tossed by the waves. By and by somebody was discerned in the darkness, walking on the water. No wonder they were afraid, and supposed it was a spirit, or something su- pernatural. They forgot all about the mira- cle of the loaves and fishes, and of the Lord and Master who was away, they knew not where. But he, in his loving kindness, very soon dispelled their fears and bade them '' be of good cheer ; " and then he added, '' ' Tis I ; be not afraid.'" We can well im- agine the relief they felt. Perhaps, not- withstanding his cheering words, however, they felt a little uneasy still. Our bold and impulsive friend Peter, however, was the first to recover, and grasp hold of the fact that there could be no possible danger while the Master was near. With his reckless daring and ready response he burst out with the words, '' Lord, if it be indeed thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." I can imagine that the other eleven looked at him in open-mouthed wonder and surprise. Did anybody ever hear of such assurance ? Per- haps not. But the Master was pleased. Whv V Because it indicated faith— faith in his Lord ; and if any thing ever pleased Je- sus, and made him smile, it was perfect, un- reserved confidence, not only in his ivon- droiis power, but in his loving kindness. He re- plied, as you, my friend, may have said to one of the little ones of your household— one that is just learning to walk, for instance. AVe do not know whether the Master put out his hands to him or not ; but he gave his permission, and encouraged him in the same simple word, '' Come! " Most of us would have been very apt to back out, even then. Not so with- Peter. Over the side of the boat he went, in a twinkling. Out upon the water he stepped with perfect faith, and safely stood and walked upon the yielding element. Had Peter's faitJi remained per- fect, his 'walk would have remained safe and perfect also. But the wind was still boisterous ; the waves were rolling and tumbling. A'ery likely he got dizzy, and then began to be afraid. He started out well, but he lacked e«cZ(m»g faith. He be- gan to sink. He did not, however, turn back and grapple for the boat. We know he was a good swimmer, for on one other occasion he jumped out of the boat, and swam ashore to meet the Master. But he did not trust to his skill in swimming, on this occasion. As he began to go down in the water, we may suppose that he raised his hands imploringly toward the Master as he said, " Lord, save me." I wonder if it is not possible that Jesus smiled as he saw his fright. How often have I laughed outright in great merriment to see the little ones of our household, when I was giving them their first lessons in walking, become af- frighted when there was nothing to fear : Jesus was near enough so he actually reached out his hand and caught him. And then comes that bright, glorious, hopeful, happy, beautiful speech, the text I have said over and over so many times, and yet never tire of repeating : '' O thou of little faith ! ivherefore didst thou doubtV" ]May I take the liberty of paraphrasing it a little ? Didn't his Lord mean, even if he did not say, " Why, Peter, I am surprised at you. How couldst thou fear when thy Master was so near by? Why should my good friend Peter, who started out so well, so lull of faith and ambition, and so full of perfect trust and confidence, become demoralized and affrighted simply because the winds and the waves were boisterous? Didst thou forget that, at my command, the winds and waves obeyed ?" And that one word. 430 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June " wherefore," like a beautiful bar in a strain of music, as I repeat the text over and over, comes vs^ith wonderful beauty and power. It seems to say, " Where, In all your ex- perience with me, have you found reason to be afraid? Have I ever failed, or have I ever been mistakenV Did you ever know me to call upon the elements of nature when they were not obedient to me? Where in all our past pleasant intercourse and ac- quaintanceship did you all together have reason for doubt or fear? Can you not trust me, my good, faithful, and devoted friend Peter? Can you not trust mef Matthew tells us no more, but only adds that, when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased, and together they united in wor- ship, saying, " Of a truth, thou art the Son of God." They soon landed, and then com- menced the busy life again. When the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent into all the country round about, and brought the sick and the diseased. And now we are told that they begged only for the privilege of touching the hem of his gar- ment ; and as many as even touched him were made whole. And now, dear friends, is there not a practical application for us? Is not the great trouble, and the great lack of all hu- manity, in the same line of thought of Peter — "O thou of little faith"? Is not that your trouble, dear reader? It surely is mine. Jesus is near, and ready to help. And not one of us in all our past experience can say that we have trusted him in vain. A new railroad is coming through our town. Crowds of new people are already camping in the suburbs. At the dinner-table some one expressed a fear that this new element coming into our midst would be demoraliz- ing to our community. I knew as well as they that there was danger in this direction ; but yet, if it is Christ Jesus that we are trusting, have we anything to fear? I smiled as I commenced my little text, " O thou of little faith ! wherefore didst thou doubt?" A few weeks ago two good friends of mine had trouble. They are both professing Christians, but they talked hard, and I fear they did some things besides talking. With all my busy cares I felt a responsibility laid upon me. I must go to each of them— per- haps get them both together, and may be plead in rain for Christ Jesus the Savior. I feared it would not do any good. As we knelt at our bedside at night, I prayed ear- nestly that God would put it into their hearts to consider how wrong it was for them to cherish such feelings toward each other. I prayed that they n)ight each feel moved to ask forgiveness of the other. What did I do next morning? Why, I went to one of them with a very sober, downcast face, and with a trembling voice commenced my task. To my surprise he laughed outright as he put his hand on my shoulder, and said, '' Why, Bro. Root, we knew as well as you do that we were out of place as Christians, and we have made it all up. and fixed the things that made the trouble, so I think I can assure you it will never happen again." I opened my mouth in astonishment as my face softened into a smile, as I realized that I was relieved in this unpleasant task. Then I remembered the prayer of the night be- fore, and the text stood out strong and clear before me—" O thou of little faith ! After your earnest prayer last night, where- fore didst thou doubtV^ As I look back and see the victories that have come from pray- er, and the obstacles that have been over- come ever since I chose Christ Jesus as my guide, then it comes again, as I look in open-mouthed astonishment, and see what changes have been wrought through the name of Christ Jesus ; and I say to myself fondly, "Wherefore! wherefore! where- fore I didst thou doubt?" A few weeks ago 1 stood on the brink of danger. I seemed, for the time being, changed over ; some evil spirit had got a hold upon me. I once heard of a man who felt sure he could keep sober if he kept off from a certain street. On that street was a saloon that he knew from sad experience he was not capable of passing by. The tempter was too strong for him, if he even passed before the door. He avoided that street, and passed around, even though it cost him considerable addi- tional travel when he was tired out and weary. But it was the safer way. And yet it was very hard to keep away from that street. Although he knew from past ex- perience that it was dangerous, still he could hardly keep away from it. I think he was wise in doing so. I have been through a similar siege with the tempter. For many weeks, in my want of faith I rather concluded that the rest of my life would have to be passed in just that way — wearing myself out with useless travel just to keep out of Satan's way. When it occurred to me, however, to reach out in utter help- lessness, as did Peter, saying, " Lord, save, I am utterly discouraged in trying to save myself, and have lost hope ; save me or I perish " — when I got right there, like a flash of light the tempter, with all his machinery, gathered himself up and departed. There are no saloons at all now on that dangerous street ; in fact, there is no such street. The shackles have fallen, and I smile to think of them now. The whole trouble was little faith. It was in Doubting Castle that I was imprisoned, and the key of promise was hidden in my bosom, unused because I for- got I had it. "Years ago, when I knelt down by mvself and uttered that first prayer to my Maker, " O God, if there be a God that cares for a poor helpless child to whom he has seen fit to give a place in this great uni- verse, help me if thou carest for me" — when I uttered that prayer I could scarcely com- prehend that Jesus could or would help one who did not help himself any better than I had been doing. I knew I was had and tvicked, but I had got it into my head and heart, that, before one prayed he must be good. I could not comprehend that there was any possible help for one who kept slip- ping back and yielding to temptation. When help came, and I felt a strong arm round about me, I was utterly astonished. It was a new experience, and a revelation too. And, dear friends, this experience and this revelation continually come up ; and as I am helped out of one piece of miry 18b0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 4ol clay after another, I am astonished again. My faith seems to be continually settling back, notwithstanding all these Victories. And this is why I so cling and hold on to this beautiful, bright little text of mine — " O thou of little faith I wherefore didst thou doubt?" And now, dear friends, in all this talk — in fact, in most of my talk for months back, I have been trying to impress the thought that there is help torsinvers; there is help through Christ Jesus for those who feel themselves to be helpless sinners. A letter j List at hand illustrates more fully what I mean. It comes from away down in Texas ; but notwithstanding, it echoes the thought of many other poor souls scattered far and wide throughout the world. Please read : Mr. Rixit:— I used to keep bees, and was once a reader of Gleanings. I was a good man once; but since my wife died I have become a drunkard. I have made promises, and broken them, until I don't believe the Christiajis here have faith enough in me to even pray for me; and the simters don't like me now as they did when I had money to spend with them for whisky. 1 have a good old Christian mother, and I write to beg you to help her pray for me. 1 am a young man yet. I think there is still hope for me. By the help of God I won't touch any more whisky. Please pray for me. I would not write you this way. but I believe you are a gocd Christian. . Texas, May 13. I want to say, first, that my recent expe- riences have prepared me to have more charity for those like the writer of the above than I have ever had before. Our poor friend has written to me when utterly discouraged. We judge from his letter that he is almost on the point of giving up. There is something almost plaintive in his honest, frank confession. He does not beat about the bush, nor use polite w^ords to tell the truth as it is. He says, "I have be- come a drunkard.''^ AVhy, the very word sends a chill through one's veins. Of late it has become so customary to use some softer or more polite word, that we are startled when a poor sinner uses the term " drunk- ard." And he says, further, that he has made so many promises only to be broken that he hardly believes that the Christians around there have faitli enough to pray for him. His money has gone, and his compan- ions who are, like himself, sinners, are gone also. He is alone, and clear down to the bottom, probably. There is one poor soul, however, who still hopes and prays— an old Christian mother. But even her prayers, and thoughts of that pious mother, have so far been of little or no avail. He remem- bers his bee-journal and the Home Papers ; and, as a last hope, he writes to me, beg- ging a favor. The favor is, that I shall help this poor old mother pray. Oh how I wish I could be by her side for just a little while I How I should like to hear her tell me the sad story of her lost boy! "Lord, help ! " wells up in my heart as I read the words. ''Lord, help this poor soul strug- gling in helpless bondage. Help him as thou didst help me when I was a slave and in fetters. Ilelp all who are in the fetters of sin ; and, O Lord, hear this poor old mother's prayers, and help our poor friend in his utter helplessness. May he look up to thee, as did poor Peter when he said, ' Lord, save me.' " Dear friends, I do not mean to say that Christ Jesus will or can help imless we come to him. You will remember that, in his own village of Nazareth, none were healed. The reason was, that nobody came to him asking to be healed. They hadn't even faith enough to come. And it is so with us. We must come to him. "Him that Cometh to me I will in nowise cast out." If the writer of the above letter were invit- ed to come to Jesus, and should refuse, and make excuses, there would be no help. If, however, in his utter discouragement and despair, he should come, saying, "Lord, help, for I have nowhere else to go," salvation is sure— that is, providing he holds to that attitude. Should he change his mood and reject the Savior, he is lost. " He that helieveth on the Son hath everlast- ing life.'' Now, it is not enough to say that we believe. Words are well, but they must be the expression of the heart. What must the sinner do ? He must from the heart say, " Lord, help," at every turn. When tried and sorely tempted he must from the bottom of his heart keep calling and beg- ging for help. So long as he does this with an honest sincerity of purpose, and with an abiding faith, he is safe ; and in a very lit- tle time he will come to look back, and smile to think of how little he could com- prehend or understand what Jesus can and will do for those who trust him. He will smile as the wondrous truth bursts in upon him in the light of the beautiful words of my little text. I say w?/ little text, for I have been making it mine ; but, dearly be- loved reader, let me give it to yon that you may make it yours: " O thou of little faith I wherefore didst thou doubt? " 3F0B^cc0 CQii^W. CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE GIVE SMOKERS TO PERSONS WHO STOP USING TOBACCO. First, the candidate must be one of those who have g:i ven up tobacco in consequence of what he has seen and read in this department. Second, he promises to pay for the smoker should he ever resume the use of tobacco in any form, after receiving the smoker. Third, he must be a subscriber to Gleanings. Any subscriber may. however, liave smokers sent to neighbors or personal acquaintances whom he has 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 for the smoker. The one who receives the smoker in this case need not be a sub- scriber to Gleanings, though we greatly prefer 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. REDEEMED FROM BONDAGE. I have been a slave to the filthy habit for about 2.5 years. One year ago last November I quit chew- ing an! went to smoking, and the latter was the worse of the two habits. Last August I attended a revival meeting, and became deeply convicted of my sins, especially in regard to the way I was rais- ing my family, and the e.vample I was setting be- fore my boys (I was a backslider). I resolved to "return to my father's house" again, and seek sal- vation. Oh the joy and comfort it gives one to 432 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. J UNE know that he is freed from sin and evil habits' I smoked but once after I was converted. The sec- ond time I filled my pipe I was condemned, and those words came into my mind, "Cleanse your- selves from all fllthiness of the flesh." Pipe, tobac- co, and all went into the stove; and, God being my helper, I will never be found guilty of the habit again. About that time my wife was reading Gleanings, and she said, "Listen; A. T. Root of- fers to give a smoker to any one who will quit the use of tobacco." I said, "Amen! I want to sign a pledge of that kind. I want the world to know that God has power on earth to cleanse his children from all unrighteousness, if we only put our trust In him." Go on, Bro. Koot, sowing seeds of right- eousness. May God bless you, is my prayer. My wife says, if I ever commence the use of tobacco she will send you the price of the smoker. Glenwood, Iowa. Daniel Barbee. May God be praised, friend B., for your bright, clear, unconditional surrender ; and especially do I commend your willingness to stand out before the world, making your retreat so sure that you can not go back, even if you would. And I am glad, too, to hear the good wife say that, if you ever be- gin the use of tobacco again, she will re- port, even if you should backslide so far as to incline to neglect it. A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL WHO IS KILLING HIM- SELF WITH TOBACCO. We have a minister here who is a member of our conference, and who is killing himself by smoking to- bacco. We are taking pledges from him to quit; and as we all read (my) Gleanings, your most ex- cellent magazine, and among them the pledges, I promise to send you the price of a smoker if he re- turns to it again. Send it to my address at once, and I will deliver it. M. K. Little. Fort Worth, Texas, March 2. WHAT A LAWYER THINKS OF TOBACCO. I have induced my boy, Wm. Lucas Dillard, to quit the use of tobacco, offering, as an incentive, your offer of a smoker. I tell him that, if a stran- ger, who perhaps will never meet him this side of the ultimate tribunal, can so deeply feel for the follies of youth, there must be something vitally and radically wrong in the abominable practice of tobacco chewing and smoking. My boy has a man- ly sense of duty; and if he puts himself voluntarily under obligations to do something, I'm sure noth- will divert him. H. M. Dillard. Meridian, Texas, May 6. GOING SECURITY. There is a young man, a neighbor of mine, who is reading my Gleanings. He keeps bees, and says that, if I will get him a smoker, he will dispense with tobacco entirely. Send the smoker; and if he ever uses the weed again I will pay for the smoker. His name is Burt Jenkins. F. H. Kunklb. Camden, Mich., April 30. TAKING THE PLEDGE AFTER HE HAS STOPPED A MONTH. Please send a smoker to A. J. Foster, Winthrop, Iowa. I will pay for the smoker if he ever smokes again. He has stopped smoking now for a month. Of course, Mr. Foster understands that he is never to use tobacco in any form, and this is right. Winthrop, Iowa, Mar. 24. B. P. Brintnall. A HUSBAND WHO HAS QUIT. M. C. Hays has quit the use of Tobacco. You will p'.case send him a smoker. If he ever resumes the use of tobacco, he pi-omises to pay for the smoker. Mrs. M. C. Hays. Temperance Hall, Tenn., Apr. 21. SECURITY FOR ANOTHER. A friend of mine has promised to stop using to- bacco if you will send him a smoker. If you will send one, and he ever uses tobacco again, I will pay for the smoker, t never used tobacco, and I thank God that I never formed that habit. McKean, Pa., Apr. 4. D. E. Porter. YOUNG MEN TAKING WARNING IN TIME. I take pleasure in reading your Tobacco Column. It is gratifying to see so many young men take warning while on life's meridian. Mr. L. W. Mc- Guire has broken from the useless tobacco habit for seven months, and desires a smoker. He pledges that, if he ever uses any again, he wil pay for the smoker. G. W. McGuiRE. Dark Ridge, N. C, Mar. 14. A BOY WHO HAS FOUND A BETTER USE FOR HIS MONEY. I am a boy 17 years old. I have been in the habit of using tobacco some, but am trying to live a Christian. I have concluded to do without it, and that I can put my money to better use, and feel better over it. Please send me the smoker; and if I should use tobacco any more, I will pay you for the smoker. Bertie S. Evans. Mendon, Mich., May 9. quit after 12 YEARS. 1 have received Gleanings 7 years, and have concluded to quit the use of tobacco. I have used it twelve years. If I am entitled to a smoker, please send with other goods. If I use the weed again I will pay for smoker. J. H. Kline. Wooster, O., Apr. 18. IS INDUCED TO TAKE THE PLEDGE THROUGH THE influence of the TOBACCO COLUMN. Through the influence of the Tobacco Column I have made up my mind to quit the use of tobacco. I have used it for five yeai-s off and on. You can send me a smoker, and if I should resume the use of it again I will pay for the smoker. Wayville, N. Y., Mar. 26. O. C. Abel. A friend GOING SECURITY. Please to send me a smoker. I have a friend, D. F. Stewart, who has quit the use of tobacco, and agrees that, if he uses it again in any manner whatever, he will pay you the sum of $1.00 for the smoker, God being his helper to enable him to quit using the weed. And I promise to see that he ful- fills his contract. G. F. Tyler. Honey Grove, Tex., Apr. 25. TWO PLEDGES. In reading Gleanings I feel as if we were old acquaintances, and without it we should be lost. I hope that it will be weekly soon. I promised an old uncle of ours that, if he would quit chewing tobacco, I would get him a smoker; so he quit on the first day of this year, and says he will never use it again. If he breaks over I will pay for the smok- er. His address is V. B. Lindsy, Nebraska, O. I have taken the pledge too; and if I ever break it I will pay double price lor it. J. N. Riley. Washington C. H., Ohio, Mar. .5, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 433 The Tobacco Column for this issue, as the friends will observe, is, a great part of it, going security for some friend or relative ; and this is exactly what we want. In fact, I should much prefer having the pledges given in this way. We wish the one who pledges himself, however, to be a subscriber to Gleanings. The one who gives up us- ing tobacco need not necessarily be a sub- scriber himself. In all cases, however, his own good will depend very much on Glean- ings being well circulated in his own neighborhood. The second one who takes the pledge is a minister of the gospel. One of his people agrees to deliver the smoker, and be responsible. May the Lord bless and strengthen this minister. EDITOl^I^L. Lord, save us : we perish.— Matt. 8 : 25. We have at this date 9931 subscribers. CONVERTING COMMON FRAMES INTO HOFFMAN FRAMES. Os pjge 435 Ernest speaks of this arrangement as if it were new. It is new to him, but the same thing was recommended and tried before Glean- ings had an existence. It was given in the Ameri- •can Bee Journal; but I believe that those who tried it afterward pried off the strips and threw them away. Present needs, however, may mal^e a differ- ence. BEE-CRADLES. So.ME years ago, before our present proof-reader and traoslator was here, we received a letter from a friend in Germany. As it was written in the language of that country, we sent it to a linguist to translate. It so happened that the translation came back with the word " bee-cradle." It was very easy for us to guess that, instead of bee-cradle, our German friend meant "queen-cell." We had forgotten all about the circumstance until we just received a letter written by a German friend in Missouri, he writing in French. Being more or less familiar with the German iliom, he sent an order for a lot of "bee-cradles," as large as a certain piece of paper. Our proof-reader studied all the way to dinner and back again as to what " artificial cradles" might mean, as he had never used any oth- er, and yet he had never seen Mr. Warner making any in the saw-room. Finally the incident related above came to his mind, and he then concluded that our friend wanted /O!t?iclatto)i. Ttiis shows the dif- ficulty in translating the technical meaning of a word when it is used in its common acceptation. (Juite likely many passages in the Bible which seem so incomprehensible are owing to the fact that the translators spoke of "cradles" when " honey-comb " was meant. SELLING SECRETS FOR MONEY. A GREAT number of communications have been received in regard to tiie revival of the water-cure treatment. We have space for only two of them, and I wish to give these two because they Illustrate so forcibly how it is that good e.irnest Christian people may differ so widely in opinion. Here is the first: Friend Root:— In my last ({leanings I see an article liv vou about A. Wilforil Hall's ni'fiit ilisfovery. The true Cliristian, like his MastiT, is t-ver ready t.j liflp all of Gotl's children in every way in liis powt-r. 1 know some, like yourself, who have sifrned the idiili,"' very idiietantlv, anil some who said they could never sifrn it, tlmufcli it should he the means of saving; their lives, if they could not imnart to others that which has been a Idessinj' to them. Yours in the e;uise of blessings for the world, Sulphur Grove. O., May 20. S. J. ARNOLD. Thank you, friend A., for your very kind words. I think we all agree with you, at least in the main. The next is from one of those very ministers of the gospel who have given their names to Dr. Hall, to help him advertise: Bro. Root:— 1 received Gleanings to-day, ami was surprised to See an article in reference to Dr. A. Wilford Hall's remedy for euring disease without medicine. What hurt me all over, and down in ray soul, was that you say I ought to be ashamed of myself for indorsing the remedy. I have been trying to preach the old, old gosjiel of Christ about fift.y-flve years, and I am not aware that anybody ever before said I " ought to be ashamed" of something I had done. In my Indorsement, which you can find in the Microcosm, I stated I would not quit the practice for the half of Texas, and I repeat here that I would not. I have been using it about eight months, and. humanly speaking, it saved my life. If the doctors knew of this, why did they not chai"ge "me for a prescription and tell me it would cure me? Dr. Hall admits the remedy has been known to some extent, but never in its application, as he has revealed by his own experience of forty years ago. I must say I think you are slandering him. I feel soi-ry to have to write to you in this wav, but I could not satisfy my mind without doing it. If you had been in the spirit in which you mostly write. I am very doubtful about your writing any of the article. Our business relations have been very satisfacto- ry, and I wish you every good; but I think you have made a mistake. I rem.tin yours very respectfully, Luling, Tex. , May 22. S. C. ORCILiRD. Dear brother, I can not for a moment doubt the kindness of yourheart,orin the least the h^pest sin- cerity of your motives; still, 1 think you are mak- ing a mistake. The editorial you allude to was written by your old friend A. I. Root himself, and I think that no motive but love to his fellow-men prompted him to write it. No doubt you have been greatly benefited. You are full of enthusiasm in regard to the plan, new to you, of treating disease without medicine. Are you sure that you consult- ed a physician in regard to your poor health, and stated to him exactly where you thought the trou- ble lay? Perhaps our physicians have been remiss. Doctors, and others who have much to do with hu- manity, are used to these sudden excitements in regard to certain things that come up. Very often it is a revival of some old thing, and sometimes it is really some new development; but, dear brothers, all of you, shall we not keep in sight that grand truth once uttered by Gamaliel when he said, " If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God, ye can not overthrow it " ? Meanwhile the testimony of our best doctors, ministers, and professors in our colleges, will say unmistakably that selling secrets for money, in answer to broadcast advertising, is certainly not only wrong, but it is not up with the spirit of the age and of our American institutions. The man who does it has a bad heart. I am well aware that Dr. Hall gives his pamphlet to ministers of the gos- pel, free of charge; but, dear friends, is not this whole custom wrong, and bad in its tendency, giv- ing ministers certain things with the understand- ing they use their influence to get people at large to buy? A great many pastors of churches refuse to receive any thing at loss than the price charged other people, in order that they may never be ac- cused of having selfish motives in what they advise. Our good friend Terry recently refused to receive a potato-digger as a gift. He insisted on paying the game price that others do, so that he might, when writing through the agricultural papers, ex- press an unbiased opinion cither for or against it. 434 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June THE NEW YORK STATE BEE-KEEPBRS' ASSOCIATION Has gotten out a very neat and nicely printed re- port of its 2lBt annual meeting, held at Rochester, Feb. 6, 1890. A copy of the same can be furnished by the secretary, Mr. George H. Knickerbocker, Pine Plains, N. Y. PROSPECTS GOOD. Although the rains have been rather excessive and frequent throughout the country, the pros- pects are generally good. White clover is reported everywhere as doing finely; and if we do not have rain or cold through the time it yields nectar, there will probably be a pretty good yield from this source. BEE-KEEPING FOR PROFIT. This is the title of a pretty little work by Dr. G. L. Tinker, of New Philadelphia, O. It is nicely printed, and well arranged. Each topic is put in big black type, for the convenience of the reader. It details Dr. Tinker's new system of management in connection with the new hive. Price 25 cents, postpaid. Address the author, as above. BEES and HONEY. This work, by T. G. Newman, has just been re- vised. It has been largely re-written, and is fully up with the times. It contains 200 pages, and is well and fully illustrated. Of course, being pub- lished by T. G. Newman & Son, its typographical appearance and binding are par excellent. It is written in Mr. Newman's vigorous style, and fills an important place in bee-literature. Price f l.OO, postpaid. We can furnish it if desired. MANUFACTURED SCIENCE, AGAIN. The Pharmaceutical Era, of Detroit, Mich., for May 1, contains a brief summary of Mr. Allen Pringle's article which appeared in the Popular Science Month- ly, as above. After quoting Prof. Wiley's statement in the Popular Science Monthly for 1881, to the effect that "commercial honey is entirely free from bee mediation, made of parafflne filled with glucose by means of appropriate machinery," and after quoting his lame apology seven years afterward, to the effect that he repeated " this statement more in the light of a pleasantry than as a commercial reality," and that he does not believe it possible to imitate comb, etc., the editor says: "If the latter gentleman did not at the time, and does not at the present believe in the existence of a manufac- tured honey, as his last-quoted statement above would seems to indicate, he certainly owes it to himself and the chemical fraternity in general to offer a satisfactory and sweeping retraction." Yes, sir, he certainly has owed it ever since 1881 to himself and to the chemical fraternity, and also to the bee-keepers all over the laud, to offer a satis- factory and sweeping retraction. Prof. Wiley is certainly put in a very bad light in scientific circles. The only thing he can do now is to offer an humble apology and sweeping retraction. A scientific man in his position in the government ought to be ashamed of himself for all these years of silence. We are very glad that Mr. Pringle has shown him up in scientific circles in the vigorous manner he has. The editor of the Pharmaceutical Era closes up with this paragraph : " As the matter involves primarily the integrity of a well-known scientist, and, secondarily, the reliabil- ity of important methods of chemical analysis, it is to be hoped that it will receive the careful attention of chemists." We trust this matter will now be taken up and circulated over the country ; and that the pressure will be so great upon the professor that nothing but a satisfactory and sweeping retraction and apology will be forthcoming. yellow bands; beauty versus utility. One of our subscribers, Mr. Jacob T. Tlmpe, of Grand Ledge, Mich., sends us some yellow-banded workers. It is proper to say, however, that these bees show the characteristic Cyprian shield at the base of the thorax, and probably have a large per- centage of Cyprian blood, although our friend said they were very gentle. Cyprian bees show wider yellow bands, and are more inclined to show the fourth band, than are the ordinary pure Italians. Since our editorial on page 378, in our last issue, our apiarist reports some four-banded bees in our own apiary. By looking up the record we find that the queen came from Mr. W. P. Henderson, of Mur- freesboro, Tenn. Mr. H. is breeder of nice queens, and a fancier of yellow bees. We hope that our friends, in selecting for color, will not overlook the matter of utility. Perhaps we can have beauty and utility combined. There are several desirable qualities which we should like to have in our bees; and these might be stated in the order of their value thus: Good workers; non-swarmers; hardi- ness; gentleness, and beauty. What we want most is bees that will secure large yields of honey when others at the same time will begetting but a small yield; and if beauty can be hitched on too, we shall not, of course, object. But there is a little tenden- cy to overlook working qualities for golden yellow bands. In fowls, beauty and business often go to- gether. The writer (E. R.) has some White Leghorn hens " over home " that lay eggs every day, Sundays included, week after week. They haven't time to sit; and are there any prettier hens than White Leghorns? Now, then, can the bee-fancier do as well as the poultry-fancier? PBICE LISTS RECEIVED. The following parties send us Uieir price list : J. B. Kline, Topeka, Kan. J. a. Sayles, Hartford, Wis. F. C. Erkel, Le Sueur, Minn. B. P. Barber & Son, Colebrook, O. J. B. MeCormick, Fredericksburg, O. fi. H. Knickerbocker, Pine Plains, N. Y. Martin & Macy, North Manchester, Ind. M. A. Williams, Berkshire, N. Y.; calendar style ALBINO s QUEENS. I will furnish pure queens of this gentle and beautiful race of bees this season at the following prices: Extra select tested. $1,50: Warranted, 75c. JOSEPH MOSEK, Festina, Wineslilek Co., Iowa. J. W. Taylor has Fine ■*• * * * * * ^^ Albino and Italian Queens That he will sell as cheap as the cheapest, and guar- antee safe delivery. J. W. TAYLOR, - - OZAN, - - ARKANSAS. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT 75c Per Biisliel; 17c lor Bag. Warranted pure seed; 10 bushels or more, 70c. W. D. SOPER, Jackson, Mich. Box 1473. In writing to advertisers please mention this paper. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 439 Contents of this Number. Agricultural Ants l.'iT Apiary, Plan of 145 Arrangement of Hives 445 Australia 464 Barnes Saw 448 Beemites 450 Braoe-combs, Plea for 4r)9 Brace and Burr Combs 44B California. Experience in. ..459 <-"apI>ing of combs 460 I ■.iriii..lans. (i.K.il Word for.463 rliair Hivt-s. l'ai-l. The Hook for Jief/inners, the Most Complete Text- Hook on the Subject in the English Lant/unffe. Bee-veils of Imported Material, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. Send your address on a ftidh''' Chas. Dadant & Son, HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO., ILLINOIS. t^"!)! responclinj? to this adveitisement mention GLKANiNGa. jRFTHl^ JlIflWflTHH. HO ! ye gleaners after knowledge in the field of apiculture. Stop a moment, please, and read this, Sto]) and read this advertiBement. Send and get my creamy Monthly, (I will send three sami>les gratis) It contains the vi ews of leading Bee-men on some special topic ; Points out errors ; makes jou ponder. And abandon wrong ideas. If you'd march with those who "get there, Send yotir stamps to "Hutch the hustler"— Fifty cents jxt annum only ; Twelve Reviews for only fifty. Address Bee-Keepers- Review, W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Ed. & Prop. Flint, Mich. I3nn respondintr t» tl (iLKANINGS. DO YOU WANT QUEENS If 80, see Moore's " ad." in April Ist and June Ist Nos. A lot of fine queens ready to mail. J. P. ITIOORE, ITIorisan, Pendleton Co., Ky. ^THE BRIGHTESTS^ Five-banded, golden Italian Bees and Queens, and the Keddest Drones. Ver.v gentle; very prolific; good honey-gatherers— working on red clover— and the Most Beautiful bees in existence I Took 1st premium at Michigan State Fair, in 1889. Refer- ence, as to purity of stock. Editor of Review. Sam- ple of bees, five cents. Untested queens. $1.00. 6 for *5.00. Tested {at leaitt :i bands). $:i.OO; selected, tested (four bands), SS.OO; breeding queens (4 to .5 bands), j^f).0n. Virgin queens. 50 cents; .'> for J2.C0. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. JACOB T. TIITIPE, 8-15db ♦irand Ledge, Mlt-li. ^Srin respondintr to tills adveiilscment mention Gi.kaninos. 440 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June Wants or Exchange Department. CARNIOLAN APIARY FOR SALE! W ANTED.— To exchange Columbia tricycle for bee supplies. S. G. Kilgohe, London, O. WANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange one Green's solar wax- extractor, new, for an incubator or Italian queens. G. C. Hughes. etfdb Pipestem, West Va. W ANTED, of wax. -To exchange 1 lb. of thin fdn. for 3 lbs. Ttfdb C. W. Dayton, Bradford, la. WANTED.— To exchange for sections, fdn., hon- ey, or offers, an American fruit-evaporator. No. 2; capacity, 10 to 13 bu. apples per day. For de- scription of evaporator, write to American Mfg. Co., Waynesboro, Pa. O. H. Hvatt. ftfdb Shenandoah, la. WANTED.— To exchange one or more finely bred Scotch collie (Shepherd) puppies, for Italian queens, or supplies. l-12d F. W. George, Wllliamstown, Iowa. ANTED.— To exchange photo outfit for Root's chaff hives in flat, or safety bicycle. F. Shilltng, Jewett, Ohio. WANTED.— Parties with capital to establish the manufacturing of bee - hives and supplies. Have already nice growing trade established. Can be largely increased bv manufacturing. "Refer- ences." J. B. Kline, Topeka, Kan. W W ANTED.— Italian queen for a sitting of White Minorca eggs. Miss Sarah Shaw. Stockholm Depot, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. WANTED— To exchange Japanese buckwheat for Green's solar wax-extractor. R. Robinson, Laclede, 111. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. Hyt rid queens for sale, 3.oc each. Black queens, 30c each. C. C. Kirkman, Redallia, Pitt Co., N. C. Mismated Italian queens, 3.5c each, and blacks, 20c. Safely delivered. W. G. Hayen, Pleasant Mound, 111. J. W. Taylor has 13 or 15 hybrid and mismated Italian queens that he will sell for 25c each, or five for $1.00, or $3 25 per dozen. 13-16db J. W. TAYLOR,:0zan, Ark, For sale, 35 to 40 hjbrid queens, good layers (wings clipped), at 2.5c each, as they come; 40c for the best. M. Ludtman, Hannibal, Monroe Co., Ohio. Black queens, 20c; hybrid, 35c; mismated Ital- ians, 50c. Stamps for pay. J. A. BucKLEW, Warsaw, Coshocton Co., O. For sale- 25 black and hybrid queens for 25 cts. each, if a ready-provisioned cage is sent with order. Age unknown, but will send none but prolific ones. J. W. Smith, Moscow, Lamoille Co., Vt. Hybrid queens at 30c each, as long as the supply lasts. GtJSTAVE Gross, Milford, Wis. ZT BSATS AIiZi I Italians, 60c, hybrids, 50c per lb., and a queen with every 7 lbs. bees. Oi-der quick. W. E. YODER, Lewisburg, Union Co., Pa. t^ln responding to tills artveitlseiiieiit nientnm RLKANiNns. FOR SALE-FINE PROPERTY AVith 8,'j acres of land, and apiary of 100 colonies of Italian bees, fixtures and all. Address for partic- ulars. Louis Werner, Edwardsville. 111. t^lri r(.'si)on)iry— The receipts of old croii of comb honey have been quite liberal the last two weeks. Demand lighter, dealers buying only case at a time. We quote: 1-lb. white comb, at i:3@14; dark, 10(u 13. Extracted, very slow sale; white, at 5;g:ti. Dark, at 'i.—Brcsii-dX. none in market. June 4. C LEMONS, Cloon & Co., Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis.— Him* f/.— The season is well over on old honey, and is early for new to be ready for the market. Choice white clover, comb, 12'; common to fair. 8®10. Extracted, choice. 7c; fair, 5@5,'2, in can.— Bt'Csictt.r, 27@28. W. B. Westcott & Co., June 9. St. Louis, Mo. Detroit.— H'Dieiy. — Not much desirable honey left in the market: it is selling slowly at 10(513 cts. Extracted, KaS—Bexawax, 27(rt>28. June 9. M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, Mich. Cincinnati.— Hojifjy. —Demand for comb honey is slow, and prices nominal. There is but little on the market. Extracted honey is in good demand, and bring?. 5(5 8c on arrival, according to quality. We bought to-day the first 40(10 lbs. of new choice extracted clover honey.— Bfe.sira.r, there is a good demand at 24(2428 for good to choice yellow on ar- rival. Chas. F. Muth & Son. June 10. Cincinnati, O. St. Louts —Honey —We have sold the first arrival of new crop of extracted honey at 7Vic. Market quiet.— Beeswax, prime, in demand at 27. June 10. D. G. TuTT Grocer Co., St. Louis, Mo. Boston.— H(;)ie.i/.— No change in prices. Honey sales very slow. We have recently received a ship- ment from Michigan, very fine stock, which is an ample supply for us lor the summer. June 11. Blake & Ripley, Boston, Mass. Rheumatism -^^ Bees. No doubt the best bees for curing rheumatism are pure-bred Italians that prove to be good work- ers and work on red clover. We have such if you want good stock to work with and to secure you plenty of honey. Tested queens in May, - il..50; in June, - fl.2.5 Unt'd " " " - - 1.00; 3 for - -2.50 " June, - 75; 3 for - 2.00 For wholesale prices, nuclei, lbs. of bees, and all kinds of bee-supplies, write for our 16 p. circular. 9tfdb JNO. NIBBEL. & SON, High Hill, Mo. Mention this paper. TAKE NOTICE ! BEFORE placing your Orders for SLFPPIilES, write for prices on One-Pieco Basswood Sec- tions. Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Frames, Foun- dation, Smokers, etc. Address K. H. SCHMIDT & CO., 21-20db NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co., WIS. tSTln responding to this advertisement mention Gleaning.'*. Bee-Keeping for Profit IS THE TITLE OF Dr. Tinker's New Hand - Book. It gives his New Systeui of the management of bees complete, telling how to get the largest yields of comb and extracted honey, and make the indus- try of bee-keeping a profitable one. The claim is made that our old methods and appliances are of such a nature that it does not pay even ihe expert bee-keeper to keep bees except in very lavorable localities. The New Book tells why these failures occur and how to prevent them, giving the general principles essentifll to a profitable system. The work should he in the hands of every j)i-ogre=6ive apiarist. It is well Illustrated, and will be sent to anj' iiddress postpaid for 2.5 cts. Please remit by postal note. Address DR. a. L. TINKER, New Philadelphia, Ohio. Please mention this paper. lOtfilb EMPLOYMENT. -AGENTS wanted everywhere, for the HOME JOURNAL- a grand family paper at $1 a year. Bin ca»li vremiums. Sample Free. THOS. G. NK"WMAN & SON, 346 East Madison Street, - - CHICAGO, ILLS. t^"Iu respondinir to lliis advi-iti.-ciin iit inentiiin Glka.\iN(;s. SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1, 1890. we will sell our No. 1 V- groove section.s, in lots of 500. as follows: Less than 2O0O, $3.50 per 1000; 3000 to 5000, $3.00 per 1000. Write for special prices on larger qiThntities No. 3 sec- tions at $2.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives, foundation, cases, etc. J. STAIFFER Ac SONS, letfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind. '. ^^lii respomlinfr to this advei'ti.-^eiiK'iit mcntiun (tLkaning> HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH. FACTORY OF BEE-HIVES, ETC. From now on 1 will sell my 4-frame nuclei, with Italian queen, at $3.75. In lots of 5, at $3 .50 each. Untested queens, at $0.(0 per dozen in June; $8.0(1 per dozen in July. Satisfaction and safe arrival guaranteed. Twelfth annual catalogue. Otfdb P. L.. VIALiliON, Bayou Goiila, lia. Please mention this jiaper. Bee-Keepers' Supplies. WHY : SEND > LONG DISTANCES ? SEND NAME ON POSTAL CARD FOR MY NEW PRICE LIST TO C. P. BISH, Grove City, Mercer Co., Pennsyl'a. l-ormerlii of St. Joe Sta., liutler Co., J' - BLAST S.^IOKEKS. A2>pl!/ to CIJAS. J\ MVTIl X SOX, Cincinnati, Ohio. P_ s _j^end 10-eent stamp for "Practical Hints to Bee-keepers." Ji^Meiitinn Gleaiiiini!<. Itfdh 412 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. June FOLDING PAPER BOXES. CRAWFORD'S SECTION CARTONS ARE THE BEST. Send for free sample and price list, and find out the reason. A certain fact has come to our knowl- edge that is worth dollars to you. Send for it. A. 0. CRAWFORD, S. Weymouth, Mass. 12tfiili Please mention this i)aper. Attention Bee -Keepers! Our one-piece V-groove section is made of the •whitest basswood, and is guaranteed to have no su- perior in quality or as folded. This is our specialty. Hives, frames, crates, cases, and general apiarian supplies, manufactured and for sale by GOSHEN BEE-SIIPPI-Y CO., Go»»lieu, lud. Send 5-cent stamp for sample of our sections. t3^1n resijonding; to this advertisement mention Gleanings. PIECE V-GKOOVE SECTIONS BY return train, at Ii3 50 per 1030. Circular. IStfdb L. J. TRIPP, Kalamazoo, Mich. ONE ZTAI.XA1T QTTSEITS Reared on the Doolittle plan. Tested, $1.00; un- tested, 50c; or more at same price after July 1. P. Brower, New Paris, Elkhart Co., Ind. I '^In responding to this advertisement mention C'rLEANiNGS. For Sale - - 10 Colonies Fine Italian Bees iQ Simplicity hives, full of bees, at $5.00 per colony. Also IJ colonies hybrids. CHAS. McCLAVE, New London, Ohio. rOR SAI4E— 60 or more 9-Fraine Hives, in good condition, with cap nailed, known as the Frost pattern, at 75 cts. each; 10 for $5.00. Have been used some. F. H. McFARLAND, St. Albans, Vt. BEES for sale ia Simplicity hives, cheap. Address 13 13d W. C. Martin, Ashley. Del. Co., Ghio. B EOWN LE&HOBNS STILL AHEAD. EOOS, $1.00 PEE 13, $150 PES 25. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn. 7tfdb QUEENS.— Fine home-bred Italians, and import- ed, from Waldensian Valley. Circular free. 10-ll-12d Christian Weckesser, Marshaliville, O. FOR PURE ITALIAN BEES, POI^AND- China Swine, White and Black Ferrets, White Rabbits, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, and Mallard Ducks. Address N. A.KNAPP, 4tfdb Rochester, Lorain Co., Ohio* l^In respondintr lo tlas aaveiii.--Hmeiil mention Glkamnos. Carniolan Queens. Send for Descfiptive Circular to DR. S. W. MORRISON, Oxford, Pa. 9tfdb Please mention this paper. DIG 3-FRAME NUCLEI, WITH QUEEN •* from imported Italian mother, for J2..50. Full colonies low. Thirty Rose Comb Brown Leghorn e?g8 for $1.C0. Safe shipment guaranteed. lOtfdb G. W. GILLET, Wellington, Ohio. t^'ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. AU THERE! One untested Italian queen, V5c; f^" three for $200: tested, ri.SO. One untested Carniolan queen, Sl.OO; three for S3..50; tested, $2. Bees hv the pound and nucleus. Send for price list. Reference— First National Bank. lOtfdb H. G. FRAME, North Manchester, Ind. Please mention this paper. ©< CHOICE ITALIAN QUEENS. >o Tested, $1.60. Untested, $1.00. Tested queens reared in the fall of '89, $1.50. These can be mailed at once. MISSES S. & M. BARNES, 7-13db Piketon, Ohio. Ofln responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. SECTIONS A. I. Root's Ptvle. $3.00 per 1000. Address R. ^VALKER & CO., Capao, IVIieli., lOtfdb or ^Vauzeka, AVis. t^"Iri responding to this ndvertisenient mention Gleanings. Tongnoco Rnrlfwhoat '/^ hush. 65c: 1 bush., $1.10. uapdUCbC DUliiWUCdl D.M.¥E7BBIGfHT, New Paris, Ind. ITALIA[1 * PEEW^. From June 10th to Oct. Ist. Why you should purchase of Wood : He has had many years' experience. His queen-cells are built in full colonies. He uses no lamp-nursery. He is located where there are no black bees, and where foul brood never was known. Fully 95 per cent of his queens prove purely mated. He fills orders promptly. He warrants every queen equal to those of any flrflt-class breeder in America. Price 75 cts. each; $8.00 for 12. Address JAMES WOOD, lltfdb North Prescott, Mass.. ^P"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. A BARGAIN for some one. One hundred col- onies of bees in S. frame, double story, and in No. 1 order. Will take $200.00. 11-12 Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. BRZGZXTEST GOLDEN ITALIAN BEES AND QUEENS, —AND THE— REDDEST DRONES IN THE WORLD. Untested, $1.00 | Tested, $2.00 1 Select tested. 3f3.00 Special breeding, guaranteed to please, $5.00. L. L.HEARN. - FRENCHVILLE, - - W. VA. lltfdb Please mention this paper. A New Discovery. The common-sense honey-extractor is strictly scientific, powerful, durable, handy, clean, and rap- id, and differs from all others, and is cheaper than the cheapest at bankrupt prices. Circulars Free. REV. A. R. SEAMAN, Ne^v Cumberland, Hancock Co., AV. Va. lltfdb Please mention this paper. CHAFF AND SIMPLICITY HIVES shipped on receipt of order. Price list free, lltfdb E. J. Shay, Thornton, Taylor Co., W. Va. QUEENS and SUPPLIES. Untested Italian queens, each $1.00 Tested 2.00 Send for price list of bees and supplies. Address F. W. I.AMM, (Box 106.) Somerville, Rutler Co., Ohio. Please mention this paper. SECTIONS. $2.50 to $3.50 per M. Ree-Hlves and Fix- tures cheap. NOVELTY CO., 6tfdb Rock Falls, Illinois. Please mention this paper. L.EASE NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT IN Gleanings, May 1.5th. Untested. 50c; test., $1. W. M. VICKERY, Hartwell, Hart Co., Ga. P TESTED CARNIOLAN QlfEENS. $2.50 each: untested, .$1, or 8 for $5. Send for price list of Italian bees and queens, bred in my Nappanee apiary. 8tfdb I. R. Good, Vawter Park, Ind. Vol. XYIII. JUNE 15, 1890. No. 12. TERMS: 11.00 Per ANNUM. IN ADVANCE; 1 TPct+^T,l-i oTi ^/I -inn 1 Q "y Q 2Copies£or$1.90; 3for«2.76;5forW.OO; Ol/Ot'Ct'C't't'O/t'tJC*/ I fli ±OlO, 10 or more, 75 ets. each. Single num- I ber, 6 ets. Additions to clubs may be ' made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffice. PUBLISHED SKMI-MONTHLT BY A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO. f Clubs to different postoffices, not less I than 90 ets. each. Sent postpaid, in the 1U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 ets. per year extra. To all countries I, not of the U. P. U., 42 ets. per year extra. A PLEA FOR MIDDLEMEN, ETC. OUK GOOD FKIEND MDTH TEI>LS US SOMETHING ABOUT SELLING HONEY AT WHOLESALE. We have seen a number of articles in bee-jour- nals in which our friends describe the manner of disposing- of their honey. Home trade is advocated every time. Ithasmyfull sympathy because it is the least expensive, and a retail price is realized ; besides, we don't need that "middleman," who is looked upon with suspicion and with envy. He makes the mon- ey which the producer should make (?). All of us have seen and heard the expression of such senti- ments. Our good friends are not aware of the ex- penses of a dealer in a large city, not even of his advertising bills, which are the least of his expenses. When one of our friends peddles his honey from house to house, and disposes of from 1000 to 10,000 lbs. in a season, he has certainly done a great deal, and I give him due credit for his energy; but he takes care of his own interests only, and he could not sell another quality of honey besides his own, if he would try to. Different men have different dispositions, and not many could do as he did. Some others have other business on hand, after the honey-season is over, and are glad to sell their hon- ey to an honorable dealer. He takes care of his own interests also, otherwise he would not be a dealer long; but with him there is no difference be- tween the Canada linden honey and the American basswood. It is well that this great country of ours affords a living to all; with your permission, Bro. Root, I shall endeavor to prove that the dealer also is of some use to this world. The dealer can not, like some producers, peddle his honey, because he buys large lots, and honey of all qualities. His very existence depends on the turning of his money, and he is bound to fl.nd a market for such qualities as come within his reach. The avocation of a dealer also requires energy and perseverance, and more so than many of our good friends have an idea of. The sale of choice clover honey has never caused us any trouble aside from the desire of selling " more." But there was a time when we did not know what to do with fall and Southern honey. We could not dispose of it at cost, and were glad to find, at last, some printing-roller makers to use our dark honey. We took care of buying no more than we could help. Next came a time when we believed that we could dispose reacjily of all the honey the Southern States could produce. Vanity is not our character- istic, but we found that we had made a mistake during a time of plenty, about five or six years ago. We could not sell as fast as honey came in, by any means. But It was not so much on account of the larger arriva.s, but because of the slackening of the demand from the custom which we had believ- ed to have established. Our trade in Southern hon- ey is now, perhaps, second to none in the country. Basswood honey is an article which we could not dispose of until last winter, when our friend W. J. Pickard, Kichland Center, Wis., sent us two car- loads. It took quite an effort and some time to find buyers. But we succeeded in selling from 80,000 to 100,000 lbs. of basswood honey during the winter. We now hope that our supply won't give out, be- cause we have established a custom for basswood honey, which we are apt to keep if we can supply regularly. Manufacturers are prone to make a uni- form quality of goods. Who is not acquainted with the horrible (?) flavor of the horsemint of Texas? The horsemiut honey has been slandered. We had, last fall, a carload of horsemint from our friend Stachelhausen, Selma, Texas. For more than two months we could not 444 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June make a sale, but had returned to us two barrels from Boston, Mass., and one from Richmond, Va., and several more from nearer by. But at last we found a customer for the much-abused horsemlnt honey, and we could have sold several carloads more if we had had it. You would have been sur- prised, Bro. Root, at the fine flavor of honey-cakes made of the horrible (?) horsemint. We had once a large customer for the fine man- grove honey of Florida. When the frost nipped the buds, three years ago, and the supply ceased, we lost that trade. Demarara sugar took the place of the mangrove honey, and we have not regained those customers yet. Horsemint eclipsed the man- grove last winter; for most of the mangrove honey purchased last fall was still on our hands two months ago, but is gone now. From the above you see that we can't peddle our honey; but we write to our friends, see them oc- casionally, and post them as to different qualities, etc. Our home trade is stimulated in a different man- ner. Here we see our friends also, and supply every good customer, wholesale and retail, with a fine sample case, a specimen of which will be ex- pressed to you. It contains a dime jar, a half- pound, pound, and two-pound jar of as fine clover honey as we offer them for sale. In the upper cor- ner of the case stands a one-pound section of comb honey. The sample case is ornamental, and, very naturally, a conspicuous place in the store is as- signed to it. By it our friends and their customers are reminded of us, and we receive their orders by telephone or otherwise, if we fail to see them in time. I will send you a case, empty, for safety's sake. We have a large trade for honey in our square glass jars, and I believe that you find our very plain labels in most parts of the country. Our square jars are popular, and I doubt whether we should be blessed with the trade we have, without them. We ordered 1000 gross of jars a few months ago, in order to buy them at old prices, and we ex- pect to have disposed of them, filled with honey, before the beginning of next spring, not to speak of the trade we have in empty jars. In the above I had reference to extracted honey only, which is, for us, by far the best trade. There is no breakage in transit, and losses are caused only when shippers are careless in the selection of their cooperage. We have taken, perhaps, more pains than anybody else in the country to introduce "machine-extracted honey." Our sales of comb honey during last winter amounted to about 60,000 pounds or more. We re- ceived no full carload at any one time, but many a large shipment of most excellent quality in one and two pound sections, and in large and small shipping-cases. We received, also, our share of dark comb honey; i. e., buckwheat honey from the Northwest, and catnip from Missouri. The latter is not as dark as buckwheat, but it is dark comb honey, which is, with us, a troublesome article, if salable at all. Dealers are to blame for its pro- duction by their misleading quotations, no difl'er- ence whether they were made intentionally or in a thoughtless manner. It makes me smile to see quotations of fancy and of medium buckwheat honey. We verily believe that we have as much opportunity of selling buckwheat comb honey as any one of our Eastern competitors, and we ex- pect to sell our share hereafter. But we know that it has been, and will remain, a cause of disappoint- ment to shippers and buyers. One may raise dark honey enough to supply his own home trade; but to raise it for shipping purposes is against his own interests. Money will be lost with almost every shipment, by at least one party, not to speak of the ill feeling created against the one or the other. We have to render into strained honey all dark comb honey on hand for a certain length of time, and after the cases have become soiled— the only thing we can do with it. To illustrate my argument, let me give you the following problem: If we pay 5 cents for good dark extracted honey, what should we pay for dark comb honey which we have to render into strained honey? The figure must certainly be unsatisfac- tory to the shipper, if we want to do justice to our- selves. If we should pay him a price fair to both, our friend would accuse us of dishonesty. How- ever, if he had sent us his honey extracted and in barrels, instead of in combs and neat shipping- cases, his product would have been three or four times the amount; and our transaction would have been pleasant and profitable to both parties. None of us would have been subjected to a pecuniary loss, and none would have been accused of being a " sharper." Comb honey must be wh te, and sections well filled, when the difference is but small in the sales of one and two pound sections, although the one- pound sections will remain the most popular. We want no one-fourth pound nor one-half pound sec- tions. " Shipping-cases " is another item of whiCh I wish to speak. Of the many different sizes we have re- ceived during our existence, small cases, as a rule, have proved to be the most satisfactory. All cases should be glazed, at least on one side. Cases hold- ing 24 one-pound sections answer the purpose. We have had them arrive in two-tier sections Just as safe as in one-tier. But cases holding 13 one-pound sections, as a rule, arrive safer and sell faster; and, if damaged in transit, the lot can be straightened up easier. Such is our experience. These small cases can be made of H-inch stuff, and should not cost above 10 or 12!^ cents apiece, including glass. My article has become longer than I expected; but other business does not allow me much time, otherwise we should perhaps write shorter letters and oftener. Chas. F. Moth. Cincinnati, O., May. 1890. Friend M., I am exceedingly glad to get the above paper from you. It always gives me pain when I hear folks uttering whole- sale condemnation and complaint against any class of people — that is, people who are engaged in an honorable employment. We have had some experience in selling honey by the carload, but not very much, however, compared to what you have had. But we can fully understand that it requires a man with special ability, and that it is a trade of itself. I congratulate you on the success you have made in introducing honey from special localities. We have had trouble with buckwheat honey, similar to yours. Quite a lot of it is now burdening our shelves. Yesterday the bees made their way in, evi- dently thinking that, if nobody else wanted it, they could dispose of it to good advan- tage. Oar wagon is offering it at 10 cents a 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 44o pound retail, and carrying it to the houses ; and even at that price it does not sell. We do not wonder that you had such success with Mrs. Pickard's honey, from Richland Center, Wis. 1 was present when they were taking it out, and I thought that their bass- wood honey compared favorably with any honey in the world. If basswood is thor- oughly ripened, and is thick, and has no taint nor fermentation, it is, in my opinion, luscious. You know something about hav- ing honey returned, as well as ourselves. There is quite a tract of country down in Kentucky and Virginia where the mer- chants will return every bit of honey as soon as it candies. They say it turns to sugar, and is useless ; and during the past winter we have exhausted our logic in try- ing to convince them that it was all right. Our good friend Capehart, who took the orders, insisted that honey must be melted, and shipped away hot— or, at least, that is pretty nearly what he said. Well, so long as it remained liquid it sold very well ; but when a cold wave came, then there came a wail from honey-dealers. I felt as if I should like to get the whole of them togeth- er and shake some sense into their heads. Now, friend M., if you can sell honey down there, and explain by circular or by personal letters that candying is not a plain indica- tion of fraud, I shall be glad to have you undertake it. Where bee-keepers like the business of peddling honey, and can dis- pose of their crop in that way, by all means let them do so ; but it certainly is a great piece of folly to find fault with commission men and middlemen indiscrimately. Why, friend M., if it had not been for you and your sturdy energy in working ofE the prod- uct of Texas, Florida, Mississippi, and oth- er like localities, I do not know where our honey business would be just now ; and it was news to me to learn that you had made an opening for the great basswood product from Wisconsin. Go on, and don't feel hurt, even if some of our small fry say un- wise things occasionally. DEEP SPACE UNDER FBAMES. ETC. NOT A SUCCESS. frame. It is jusf possible that, in spite of my strong- and long- feeling against fixed distances, I may think it worth while to try the experiment of a wide frame in all its parts, with spaces at each cor- ner. In any case I want the deep space under the frames in winter, and, if necessary, I will in some way lessen the space in summer. FLAT COVERS. Another thing that has not worked as well as I expected is the tiat hive cover. Either the hive or the cover, in too many cases, is just a little out of true, and that lots in cold air in spring. Is there any remedy for this? If I can not do any better I can put quilts or cloths on. SAGGING OF TOP-BARS. While I am telling my shortcomings, I may as well speak of top-bars. I have always said that I had no trouble with =8 top-bars sagging, although wired without any diagonal wires. This spring I hoed all the brace-combs and propolis off my top- bars for the first time in three or four years, hop- ing to get the honey-boards to work as well as ever, and I found some places where there was sag enough to make a space of M inch between lop- bars and cover, instead of %, as designed. I be- lieve I would rather have top-bars so thick that no sagging need be feared. My top-bars are all an inch wide, except in the few Dovetailed hives I have. These last are ,'»' wide, and they sagged worse than those 1 inch wide. I think hereafter I shall clean off the tops of my frames every year, as I formerly did. KEENEY'S PLAN OF WIRING. I've tried hard to find some fault with the plan, taken with Ernest's improvement on page 37'3, but I can't do it. If foundation is cut a little too large, so as to be crowded down on the bottom-bar, I don't believe there will be any need of reversing to get combs built down. I can readily believe that | top- bars will not sag with this plan, since so few of my % top-bars sag with perpendicular wiring without any diagonals. But my bottom-bars, being Ji x V, do sag— upward. ARRANGEMENT OF HIVES. The lay of the land has much to do with it. In one of my apiaries I have, for the last two years, used a combination of friend Hatch's plan, on page 374, and Ernest's plan on the next page. Perhaps I might say it is simply the first part of Ernest's plan. I like it better than any thing- else I ever My experiment in trying to have a deep space under brood-frames through the summer has al- ready come to grief. April 30 I found some comb started under the bottom-bars, and in one case a piece of drone comb, some 8 inches long, built clear down and filled with drone eggs. It was all built of old black wax. Others have succeeded; what causes my failure? My bottom-bars are Ji wide and }4 thick. Perhaps a wider or thicker bottom- bar is needed. If top-bars can be so made that bees will not run comb above them, can not end-bars and bottom-bars be so made as to prevent combs between them? They are certainly less inclined to build comb there than between top-bars. If, how- ever, bottom-bars are made wide, there will cer- tainly be much trouble in having them glued to- gether; for my Is bottom-bars sometimes touch and are glued together. I need not say what an annoyance it is to attempt to pull out a frame and find it holding fast to the bottom-bar of the next tried. Possibly I might like the Hatch plan better; but as there need be only 6 inches space between the hives in each group, I can, without using any more space, have an alley ir)>i ft. wide where friend Hatch has 10 feet. If space is important, or if it is desired to have the apiary as compact as possible, my plan is better; but then flying bees will trouble more. Where there is no objection to using a large space, friend Hatch's plan is hard to improve on; and if it be desirable to have them closer, the 6 feet between hives, where they face each other, can be reduced to two or three, and the alleys made narrower. Just now my assistant objects to having 446 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June the hives facing each other any nearer than six feet; indeed, she objects to their being- as near as six feet, in case of swarming. Another thing comes to me that I had not thought of at first. Friend Hatch hc.s less trouble with flying bees in his alleys; but how is it when he is working at a hive? If he sits at the middle of the hive he is just 7 feet in front of a hive, nearly in its line of flight. With my plan, and the game number of hives on the ground, I am IG feet away from any hive which is facing me. As I spend more time at the hives than I do in the alleys, I believe I like my plan best. Marengo, 111., May 30. C. C. Miller. I am somewhat surprised, friend M., ttiat the deep space tmder the frames has already proven a failure with you. Our good friend Baldridge and one or two others claim them to be a success. Our friend Danzenbaker gives I inch under his brood-frames, and has, in connection thereto, an entrance i deep, or wide. Mr. D. says that he not only finds nothing is built under the bottom-bars, but that this extra space with a wide en- trance forces the bees to enter the supers a little earlier. lie argued that bees are anx- ious to get their stores as far away as possi- ble from the cold and robbers; and if the bottom of the hive were open, or exposed by a wide large entrance, the bees will actually carry their stores where it is close and pro- tected. But if I understand you, your ex- perience doesn't corroborate this, for you have a large entrance. Now, doctor, 1 have just been waiting for a good chance to quarrel again with you on your manner of cleating covers. You know I argued, a while ago, that the covers should be let into grooves of the cleat, and nailed. You thought that a cleat simply nailed on to the ends of the cover, without grooving, would be just as strong, and bet- ter. And now you say your covers are not always true. I have never yet seen one cover of the Dovetailed hive that warped any, and if the Dovetailed hive is nailed true, the hive can not get out of true, on account of the great strength of the corners. Practical tests in the apiary prove this. I feel quite sure, doctor, that a cover- board let into a groove in a cleat is much less liable to warp than one dependent on nails alone. In this connection, perhaps I should say that flat covers covered with tin are lia- ble to warp or wind. I notice that quite a number of our customers are ordering these covers with the tin. They will regret it, I feel sure, and for this reason : The upper surface of the board, immediately under the tin, is kept dry ; the under surface, next to the bees, is subject to more or less mois- ture from the cluster. A cover-board not protected by tin receives the moisture from the dew and the rains on its upper sur- face, and this counterbalances the moisture on its under side. I should be glad to have any one try the experiment with the tinned and untinned flat covers, and report. I do not know, doctor, whether you cover with tin or not, but I presume you do not. — I think I can indorse all you say in regard to the sagging of top-bars. I have seen them bend down fully half an inch from a straight line.— 1 am glad you can not find any fault with Keeney's plan of wiring. I hope you will try It tins season, and report to us a little later.— In regard to the arrangement of hives, the lay of the land certainly has very much to do with it. Trees, stumps, and uneven places, very materially modify any nicely proposed plan that we may have. When we located our basswood apiary we arranged a plan. The ground was a little swampy and uneven in places, and we found ourselves obliged to put the hives just where they will stand level, irrespective of any well-defined plan. Ernest. In addition to the above, friend M., I wish to suggest that a Simplicity cover is made exactly to keep the cold spring air out ; and yet you are all going to throw it away, without even a thought of its advan- tages. Yes, and you coolly ask if there is no remedy for your fiat tops and covers ; and then, after I gave you the diagonal wires and tin bars that make an absolutely sure thing against sagging, you forgot all about that. BRACE-COMBS AND BURR-COMBS. HOW TO PREVENT THEM ; ALL IN SPACING, AND NOT IN WIDTH OB THICKNESS OF BEES. The following is a private note received from one of our Canadian friends, which will explain itself : Friend Boot:— Inclosed please find a paper written and read by request of the Oxford Bee-keepers' Association, at Woodstock, on the 2lst inst. I think the paper will be helpful by directing attention, especially to the importance of proper bee-spaces. It is the space that must be right, regardless of either width or depth of top-bar. A top-bar }i in. thick only, is, in my opinion, just as safe against burr-combs and brace-combs, provided the spaces be right, as one an inch thicker. A few years ago this same sub- ject was up. I said to my wife that 1 had a mind to propose to Mr. Root that he visit me; and that if he did not fully agree that the remedy was all in the spacicg, after looking over my hives, I would pay all expenses of the trip; but after thinking awhile, she replied, "Oh! well, you know people see things so differently that all might not be satisfactory." So I dropped the matter. 1 shall not feel hurt if you think the paper of no use, and drop it in the waste- basket. S. T. Pettit. Belmont, Ont., Can., May 27. The following is the paper : In all improperly constructed, occupied hives, may be found, in addition to the orthodox brood and drone combs, two other kinds; viz., brace- combs and burr-combs. Now, in order to get rid of, or, more properly, to prevent, the building of the troublesome brace and burr combs, it would be well to inquire into the cause of their construction, or into the conditions most favorable to their con- struction; or, in other words, why they are built. The brace-comb (if it may be called a comb) is in- tended for a very different purpose from that of the burr-comb. The former is constructed in posi- tion for just what its name implies— a brace; and the latter ultimately for store combs. If during a good honey- flow some sealed honey be placed close 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 447 together than the bees placed it, they become alarmed; and to prevent more crowding, and to keep things in position, they go to work and build brace-cumhs in the now too small bee-spaces. T'pon examination, brace-combs will be found to be studs of hard wax, with, in some cases, a touch of propolis, possessing no small degree of resisting power. Brace-combs will usually also be built in all undersized bee-spiices, so the cause of their presence in almost all cases is quite apparent. With regard to burr-combs, if we investigate the matter we shall discover the reason why the way- ward little worKers do so persistently persist in building them. We all know, I presume, that bees are severe economists, and most exacting in that line. They economize heat, time, and every thing pertaining to their welfare. Every available parti- cle of sweets, and every thing that can be utilized by them, is eagerly gathered and stored; but in nothing are they more economical than in the space inclosed within the walls of their domicile. It is their inherent nature to occupy and utilize every space, larger than a bee-space, within their homes; and especially so is this the case at or near the top of the brood-chamber; and now, just at this point, I would ask. Is not the cause of the presence of burr-combs apparent? and does not the remedy readily suggest itself? My experience, running- over quite a number of years, says the cure is at our finger-ends; is easily understood, is unpatent- ed, and may be had for the taking— simply ad- just all the interior parts of the hive so that a proper bee-space is maintained throughout, and the goal is reached— the joy is yours; for under these conditions there is neither room for burr- combs nor supposed necessity for brace-combs, and but very few of either will be built. Frames are spaced by different parties, all the way from 1}4, in. to 1,'i in. from center to center, so it will easily be seen that, in order to form proper bee-spaces, top-bars must be of different widths, according to the spacing practiced. Top-bars Ji in. square, and spaced 1% in. from center to center, will form spaces ^ in. by Je in.; and he who expects that bees will not economize such roomy spaces at the top of the brood-chamber has failed to note one very prominent and impor- tant characteristic in bee-nature, and will simply be disappointed. Like noxious weeds, his crop of burr-combs will grow until these spaces are nearly full, and super ventilation well nigh chopped off. Hut, what about deep top-bars? will one inch or so of depth prevent burr-combs between top-bar and super? Well, now, I am aware that this point stiould be approached charily, as so many experi- enced bee-keepers regard depth of top-bar as hav- ing great virtue in that line; but with all due re- spect for the opinions of others, I will frankly state that, after six or eight years of experience with thick and thin top-bars, I am pretty well convinced that that virtue is not in depth of top-bar, but in correct spacina- Although my real frame has a top-bar about Vi in. thick, my ideal frame has one only 'g of an inch in depth, and of the necessary width to form correct bee-spaces. Most bee-keepers, I believe, regard i"o of an inch as the bee-space. Well, I will not quar- rel with that, tor it is worthy of notice that the bees themselves, as yet, are not fully agreed as to what a proper bee-space should be; but I would add that it must not be even a shade more than i\ of an inch— anywhere between -^^ and /e will do; but be- tween top-bars and supers, i^ of an inch has my de- cided preference. The top-half of end-bars should be of the same width as the top-bars, and the lower half tapered down to the width of the bottom-bar. The end-bars of my frames are all so made now. In all fairness, it should be admitted that some stocks seem to have a peculiar fondness for burr- combs; and under almost any conditions some em- bryons will appear in the hives of such bees. Belmont, Ont., Can., May 20. S. T. Pettit. Friend r., I have always been greatly averse to thick top-bars, for the reasons you have given. It curtails too much the space we should like to have filled with brood. When the diagonal wires and tin bars were invented, I thought I had solved the great problem by enabling us to use thin top-bars, leaving so much additional space for brood, and at the same time having no sagging. I should be very glad indeed to know you are right in your deductions ; but, if I am correct, a great many vrill not agree with you— at least not until they have gone over the ground carefully and made more experi- ments. Give my respects to your good wife, and tell her I have long been thinking of making you a call, and that it will not need the additional incentive of having my expenses paid, to bring it about. And now about the bee-space. In our locality it is a very difficult matter to maintain an exact bee-space. I find that old hives in our yard will shrink and swell, under the influence of the weather, i inch ; and as the frames rest on the rabbets, near the top edge of the hive, this must of necessity vary the bee- space between the upper and lower set of frames. We made some hives two years ago that were just exactly 9^ inches deep. As the L. frame is 9i inches deep, this would leave f inch bee-space on top of the frames. Well, last spring I measured these same hives. Instead of shrinking ,',; inch, as I thought they would do, they had actual- ly swelled so that they were 91 deep. It is quite dry weather now, and their present depth is 9* inches. I have just measured several of them. If we should have con- tinued dry weather, they might possibly shrink another sixteenth. I must confess that I am very greatly surprised to note the different depths of hives, due to climatic conditions. This may not be true in all lo- calities, but I should feel pretty sure that it would be iu most of the Northern States. Now, then, the point comes up, How are we here in Medina, and a good many other places, going to maintain an absolute bee- space, so it shall be the same at all times ? I confess I do not know. The question arises, " Is it necessary to have an absolute bee-space, at all times of the year?"" It does not matter much if we do have, in the spring and fall or winter, | or even i inch ; but when honey is coming in, and brace- combs naturally start, then is the time we need pretty nearly [\. bee-space ; and if the hives are made right we will get it provid- ing the weather is dry. Our new Dovetail- ed hive allows a bee-space of exactly ,';; be- tween the brood-frames and sections. As the sections are supported by flat tins on the bottom edges of the super, a little shrinkage 448 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June or swelling will not affect the space between the brood-frames and sections. It is a com- paratively easy matter to control bee-spaces between shallow supers, and between super and brood-nest ; but between an upper and lower set of brood-frames, L. depth, it may not always be uniform. There will be a small variation between a dry and a wet season, with us. Your logic is good in re- gard to exact bee-spaces ; and in localities where they can be maintained uniformly, perhaps a thin top-bar will answer; but with us I fancy we shall need the additional assistance of a deeper and wider top-bar. This is a splendid field for experiment, and I hope many of the readers will test it care- fully. MOVING BEES. MAKING THE BEST OF EVERY THING. THE TWINE METHOD OF FASTENING HIVES ; A BIG TESTIMONIAL, FOR IT. 1 have just returned from moving 40 colonies of tees with an ordinary farm wag-on, without springs, over quite a rough road, some 8 miles, to an out- apiary, with more ease and expedition than I ever did before (and I have moved many hundred colo- nies, and used all sorts and methods of fastening). I used the twine fastened as given by Ernest, on page 253, April 1; and though exceedingly busy I write this to let some one who has bees yet to move, know that the method is a decided success, if ordinary precautions are used, and common sense exercised. I hauled 30 at a load, and with each colony in an old-style Heddon hive. I used two half-story supers filled with sections and start- ers, which made it more difficult to fasten, and more cumbersome to handle than single bodies would have been. The bottoms were all loose- nothing nailed or fastened, except by the cord, which was about the size of an ordinary clothes- line. I took the precaution, however, to secure the two parts, where they come close together on the top, by a smaller piece of twine, so as to prevent all possibility of slipping. To enumerate the advan- tages of this method, I will say that time and tem- per are saved in preparing the colonies for ship- ment ; no nails to mar or split cover, hives, or bottom, and they can be undone in one-fourth the time it usually takes by any of the old methods. Thanks are due to the editor of Gleanings for giving those of us who must move our colonies to out-apiaries for so great an improvement, say I, and all will join me who try it. Belleville, 111., June 2. E. T. Flanagan. Yes, sir, friend Flanagan, you are right. The twine method of fastening hives for moving bees is rapid, cheap, and, with or- dinary care, safe. No little thing like this ever gave me more real pleasure to give to the bee-keeping world than this, because I knew it was good. Our Mr. Ward, the teamster, invented the plan. I hope our readers who have any thing to do with mov- ing bees will give the plan a trial. I have explained it to our packers, and they are actually sending out hives, for short dis- tances, by freight and express, tied by this plan, with no crating whatever. For par- ticulars, see page 252, April 1. HOW TO GET ALONG ; WHAT TO DO WITH DISAP- POINTMENTS, ACCIDENTS, AND STUMBLING- BLOCKS. Friend Root:— The Baroes saw that I ordered of you the 13th of this month came to Concord yester- day evening, so I took a spring wagon and went after it ihis evening, and brought it home, and thought I would set it up to-night; but after open- ing the box I found the arm, or support, that the journal of the fly-wheel rests on, was broken in three pieces, and one end of the mandrel was sprung— done in shipping, for I heard those pieces rattling when the railroad men rolled it out of the freight-room. Now, I shall have to get a new sup- port for the lly-wheel, and a new mandrel, before I can use the mill. I think the company ought to send them free, and I will leave it to you to fix the matter with them; but have them sent immediate- ly, and I will do whatever you say, for I have con- fidence enough in you to believe that you will do just the best you can under the circumstances. Poplar Flat. Ky., May 37. L. C. Calvert. Later, May .3/.— Well, friend Root, my mill coming in the shape it did gave me the blues, and I could not help it; but I never went to sleep after going to bed until I made up my mind to try my saw next morning, so I got up early and went to putting it together. I took a strip of plank and laid the brok- en arm on it, and very carefully put the pieces (for it was broken in three pieces) together, and marked it off and cut a bed in the wood for it, and then screwed a block over it, and put the mill up and tried it, and it ran all right. Now for the mandrel. I put the crooked end in its box, and screwed the box fast in my bench-vise, then made a gauge fast to the bench, and turned the mandrel until it came to the point where it was furthest from the gauge; then I carefully sprung it and kept on until I could turn it clear round, and it would just touch the gauge all the time. I put it in and started the mill, and you ought to have seen the blues go out at the back door of the shop. I ran the mill the rest of that day, and Thursday and part of Friday, and it has cut over 3000 feet, line measure, and now I feel as if I were almost fixed for running a hive-factory, lean say that the mill will do all that it is recom- mended to do, and I am well pleased. But that broken arm, or support, for the fly-wheel, I want sent, but I am in no hurry for it. Any time will do. I think it could be sent by mail about as cheap as any way, as it is not very heavy. As you stand to operate the mill, it is the left-hand side that the broken piece is on. L. C. C. Well done, my good friend C. How many times in my daily travels about the grounds and the factory I find things come to a dead standstill by some break-down, disappointment, or mishap ! Very often, time enough is spent in severely censuring, to have gone to work and started things go- ing again. I have before written in regard to people who have a knack of mending things. Oh what a need there is in this world for people who are good at patching up broken tools and machinery ! It is true, in the above case, that the fault lay either with the shipper or transportation compan- ies, or both ; and I have known people to re- fuse to take a thing from the depot because Ib90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 449 of some trifling injury. Within a month a lot of basswood-trees were refused because the tops had been bruised by standing them up in the car ; therefore they were left at the station, to dry up and spoil. Now, I have had large experience with railroad companies and manufacturers, and business men almost all over the world ; and with few and rare exceptions my advice is, to take your goods and pay charges. If there is an overcharge, call your agent to witness the state of affairs. If the goods are dam- aged or broken, do the same. Then take your goods and repair the mischief as well as you can. Make out your bill for damages and trouble, in a fair and Christianlike way. Present the matter as an honest man should, and write to the faulty ones as you would write or speak to honest Christian men. To the railroad companies I often say, "■ Now, friends, the above are the facts as nearly as I can give them. If you see fit to pay me for my trouble, I shall be very thankful ; but if you do not, I shall shoulder it as best I can, and try not to have any hard feelings." Such a letter almost always brings liberal treatment. And it is the same way with a manufacturer or dealer. A mild or pleasant letter to begin with will certainly do no harm. If it should trans- pire, however, that you have been duped and swindled by somebody who has no thought of making the matter good, then, but not before then, is the time to bring for- ward your, artillery and fight for your rights. I am well acquainted with the manufactur- ers of the Barnes saws ; and if they do not, in answer to the above, treat our friend Calvert handsomely, then I shall be mis- taken. I have thought sometimes that they erred on the side of too much charity. In our work, all ordinary breaks in machinery are carried to the blacksmith. Very often, however, where a casting is broken there is no way but to send to the maker for a new- piece. Frequently, however, we can hold the broken pieces together by a little in- genuity, so as to use the implement or tool until the missing part comes. FIVE-BANDED ITALIANS, ETC. PHOF. COOK GIVES US SOMB FACTS. Mr. Jacob T. Timpe, Grand Ledge, Michigan, sends me some bees which he requests me to ex- amine and give my opinion, through Gleanings, as to the number of bands, and as to their race or blood. These are, I believe, five-banded Italians. They are very yellow and very beautiful. The five bands are so plainly shown that no one could fail to disco^rer them. Mr. Timpe asks if I should sus- pect them to be in any sense Cyprians, or that they might have any Cyprian blood in them. I think not. I think they are Italians. I have often seen these very yellow Italian bees. I believe I could take any Italian bees, and, by breeding with color alone in view, I could very soon get four or five banded bees. It is as easy to breed for the yellow as the white, which latter gives us the " albinos." I have no doubt but these bees are five-banded Ital- ians. I should expect them to be very gentle, as they are very beautiful. HERMAPHRODITE BEE. Mr. Timpe also sends me a very interesting bee. I am much interested in such specimens. They are very curious, and show that the bee-keeper is a close observer, to detect the freak. This bee has the eyes and mouth organs of a drone, the antenna? of a worker, as to number of joints--twelve; one antenna the form of a worker, the other a drone, the body and wings of a worker, a sting, while the legs on one side are like those of a worker, while those on the other are regular drone legs. I have seen but one other case of equal interest. In that, one side is drone, the other worker, as I reported at the time in Gleanings. NEW YORK WEEVILS. Mr. A. Troxel, Nankin, Ohio, wishes to know through Gleanings the names and habits of two large gray beetles which he has sent me. These are weevils, as is at once evident by their long snout. This is the New York weevil, Ithycci-KS novehoracen- cis. It is one of our largest weevils. One of these is two cm., or .8 of an inch, long, though it is very large, even for this species. They often eat into the branches of apple-trees, and so girdle the twigs. If they were very numerous they would do much damage; but as they have been well known for years, and have never been so numerous as to cause alarm, I think we need not greatly fear them. tachtna flies. If any one will look at page 424, Fig. 314, of the 14th thousand of my Manual he will see the figure of a tachina fly. These flies closely resemble a house-fly, to which they are closely related. They lay their eggs on other insects, bees included. The maggots that come from these eggs bore into the victimized insect, and wax fat at Its expense. Thus the victim becomes at the same time food and home for the parasite. In most cases this tachina fly does great good, as it destroys hosts of our worst insect-pests. But when they attack bees, and kill them, it becomes quite another matter; then they are our enemies, not our friends. It is one of these tachina flies, without doubt, that is destroying the bees of Mr. J. S. Lummitt, BakeblU, Tenn. He says the bees lie about the hive dead, and, when examined, he finds the mag- got inside. This is just as I have always found this parasite, so I have no doubt but that I have decided correctly in this case. I havecwritten to Mr. L. for specimens of the lately dead bees. As soon as I get them I will rear the files and then I will illus- trate aod describe the species that is doing the mischief in Mr. L.'s apiary. THE cereals and GRASSES NOT HONEY-PLANTS. In reply to the query of Prof. B. F. Koons, let me say that I have never seen bees working on any of our cereals— wheat, oats, barley, or rye— nor on any of our grasses, for either honey or pollen. So in answer to his question : " Do bees work on wheat, rye, oats, or grasses, either for honey or pollen, and thereby bear an important part In the fertilization of such plants?" I answer, unhesitatingly, no. Dr. W. J. Beal (see his valuable work on grasses. Vol. I.) states that he has repeatedly seen honey- bees working for pollen early in the day on tall meadow fescue (FesUtca atTindinaceci). He says the flowers of most grasses, except where close fertil- ized, are usually anemophilous; that is, fertilized by the aid of the wind. Without doubt, insects do 450 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June uot serve to cross-fertilize many of the grasses. Tall meadow fescue and buffalo grass may form exceptions. In case of the cereals, all except rye, perhaps, are close fertilized, and thus our observation— not see- ing the bees on the plants— and also the structure of the flowers, alike prove that bees take no part in their fertilization. We may, it is true, see bees working on both the cereals and the grasses. In such cases we shall generally find plant-lice on the grass or grain, and the bees are after the nectar secreted by the in- sects. In case of ergotized grain or grasses— those bearing ergot — we may find bees swarming on them, as this fungus secretes a nectar which is ve«r attractive to bees. So the mere seeing of bees ar6und grass or grain is not conclusive that they are in quest of pollen. We must examine closely, when usually we shall find the nectar-secreting aphides or ergot. In conclusion we may say that, while bees do act as very important aids in fertilizing nearly all our plants and vegetables — nearly all with showy or odorous flowers, they do not thus minister to the welfare of the grasses or cereals. BEE-MITES. It is never quite safe to diagnose a case till you have seen the patient; but I have no doubt that the small "mites" which are vexing Mr. S. R. Morris, Bloomingburg, O., are mites. Very likely they are the same that 1 have illustrated in "Bee- Keeper's Guide," 13th edition, page 430. These little eight-legged mites are soft, so that when slightly pressed they will be crushed and leave a red stain. Mr. M. asks how they can be destroyed, or how he can get rid of them, as he regards them as even worse than ants. As I have never had a chance to ex- periment, I can only suggest. I would propose that a wii'e gauze screen be put above the bees, so as to keep them away and then place cloth or paper, with some sticky substance on it, for the mites to attack. They will stick and so can be cleaned out. The sticky fly-paper might be used. If it does not work— I think it would— try greased paper— paper smeared with lard or molasses. The wire keeps the bees away, while the smaller mites pass through to the adhesive paste, and are caught. A screen cov- er and all could be rigged for a single hive, and, if successful, it could be used on the hives success- ively till all are freed. THE SKINKS. Mr. C. E. Hardesty, Connotton, O., sends me a small skink which he wishes me to comment upon for Gleanings. This is one of the lizards, or swifts. The Skink family have broad heads. This one is bright orange, prettily marked with black dots. It is too small and young for me to name. The lizards, swifts, or skinks, have four legs, long tails, and can run very rapidly, hence the common name, swifts. Like the joint-snake, or glass snake —really no snake at all, but the joint or glass liz- ard—already described in Gleanings, which, as will be remembered, though a lizard, has no legs, these swifts are loosely joined at the vertebrae, so that the tail breaks off very easily. Some of the skinks are very pretty, and are worthy to be ad- mired, if people would drop their prejudice and not frown upon every thing that creeps or crawls. The dread felt for lizards is entirely groundless. They are as safe to handle as kittens, and may be fondled as fearlessly, as they can do no one any harm. The skinks feed on insects and other small animals, and are not in any way harmful. A J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., June 6. Why, old friend, is it indeed true that liz- ards are harmless? I have often admired their bright little eyes, and felt like patting them on the back ; but it is entirely new to me that they may be fondled as fearlessly as kittens. Now, why in the world don't you have a museum of pet lizards? You might have it somewhere in the neighbor- hood of that pet bear. By the way, give my respects to his bearship, accompauied with a bottle of honey, and charge the honey to the account of A. I. Hoot. LUTHER'S SWARMING-IMPIiEMENTS. THE FOUNTAIN -PUMP. I have used a set of swarminstools three years, and I tUink them very good. 1 can take down swarms that have clustered high or Jow in trees. I can stand on the ground and get a swarm that is 20 ft. high, or I can go up 20 feet on my ladder and get them if they are 38 feet from the ground. I use an extension ladder, each section 12 ft long, and two basswood poles, each l(i ft. long. No. 1 is '^ in. square, with a board 2x8, hollowed at the ends, to form a hook, when the pole is nailed to the edge of it. The end of the board is to be 8 inches from the end of the pole. No. 2 is Ih x 1?4 in., with the face of the pulley toward the basket. There is a cord 25 ft. long, with a snap at one end, also a small staple driven into the pole about 11 ft. from the pulley to hook the snap into when not attached to the swarming-basket. The pulley is a common window- frame pulley, put in near the end of the pole, the same as is put in a window-frame. The way I fix my baskets, I take a No. 10 wire, bend it in the form of a bail, and put the ends through the rim of the basket and bend the lower 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 451 •end to tbe hook around a splint. The handle needs to be ]~ or 1') in. above the top of the basket. T have a string 2 ft. long hanging at the bottom of the basket, to take hold of to shake the bees out. I use a small market-basket 13 in. long, 8 wide, and 6 deep. I think they cluster on it better than on peach-biiskets. I also have hooks made of heavy wire, to hook over limbs to hang up baskets with bees in, to wait until I can get time to run them into the hives. The way I manage is this: As soon as a swarm has gathered on a tree, I go with my basket and poles, hang pole No. 1 on a limb wtiere I can easily reach it when wanted (see drawing). Pole No. 2 I hold so as to get the basket close up to the bees; let it lean against the limb, when [ hold cord and pole with left hand, then take the small pole in my right hand, and, placing the upper end against the limb the bees are on, give the pole a quick shove up, striking the hook against the limb. I then lower or swing the basket'™ or 3 ft., and wait until most of the bees have settled on the basket, after which I let the basket down so I can take hold of the bail, and unhook the snap. I now take a look over the apiary, to see if there are any swarms in the air. If there are, I hang the basket of bees in the shade, to wait until conven- ient to care for them. If there are more than one swarm in the air at once, I use the force-pump to keep them separate; and as soon as one clusters on a limb. 1 proceed as before with baskets and poles until all are in the baskets, then run them into the hives. I had 2i colonies last year, and three baskets were ;is many as I had in use at any one time. I inclose a drawing of my device, made by Master Frank M. Silverthoru, one of my neighbors, who has taken but s lessoas in the art. of a teacher. He is also somewhat interested in bee-keeping. Stephen Luther. Fairview, Pa , March 4. 189J. DISADVANTAGES OF FIXED FRAMES. dr. miller miller discusses the plan pro .AlSd con. Shall we ever get any thing settled— settled to stay? No sooner do we get settled down upon any thing than some one stirs it all up again. And now comes Ernest with hia " fixed distances;" and when he starts on a thing he's such an intense chap! He's *o Ernest! But, why doesn't he spell his name one way or the other— either Ernst, in German, or the English translation. Earnest? But, about the " fixed distances," Ernest, don't you know that, when you were wearing short pants, it was pretty generally settled that we didn't want the inconvenience of fixed frames? There are still in use, if I mistake not, in that country from which you ^et your name, hives that open at the side, allow- ing the first frame to be pulled out sidewise with a hook, then the next, and so on, obliging you to take out every frame if you want to get the last one. The closed frame, as in the American, was an im- provement on this, for you could get at the frames from the top; and after taking out the first frame you could move the others along to get out any one you wished. But that movable side wasn't liked as well as a solid box, and it was bo much nicer to be able to lift out any frame you wished, simply by moving the others a little to one side. You were started on this tack by the need ot something to keep frames fixed when hauling to and from out- apiaries. But I have never felt the need of this. I haul my bees home in the fall, with no other fas- tening than that which the bees have made, and haul them back in the spring the same way. In fact, I expect to haul my bees to the out-apiaries this spring without taking off a cover, from the time they were hauled home last fall. I wondered at your saying, on page 9i», that you had so much trouble hauling, till I remembered that you had li top-bars. Mine are one inch, and I believe there is a great difference in the stability of the two. Yours will swing with a good deal less shake than mine; and if we are to have wide top-bars, perhaps you will not be so anxious for the staples or any other toggery of that kind. But you say I am prejudiced. I suppose I am. I've always had loose frames, and never handled any others except once, and then I didn't like them. But your ear- nestness in the matter, and your lugging around those spacing arrangements with you at the Ohio convention, have made me do some thinking, and I'll try to talk fairly about SOME ADVANTAGES OF FIXED FRAMES. I must admit, that it is a nice thing to have frames so fixed that there is no kind of danger that they will get out of place in hauling or handling, that you can pick up an empty hive and carelessly set it down where you want to hive a swarm without having to stop and arrange all the spacing. Then, too, if you could have it without the attendant dis- advantages, and without too much trouble and ex- pense, it would be nice to have your frames so that you can instantly and certainly space them just at the distance you want them. It takes time to space with the fingers. After you have put in all your frames, spacing them as you go, you find you have a quarter or half an inch more in the last space than you want, and then all must be readjusted. And then if we are to do without honey-boards, and depend upon spacing a certain distance, say /e, I suppose that f^, must be exact. If you spend 15 minutes in spacing loose frames with your fingers, I don't know that you can get i'^ exact— certainly not so exact as you can by instantly pushing them up against some spacing arrangement which allows them to go just so far and no further. With such an arrangement there is not the same chance for mistake or carelessness. More than once I have found two frames spaced apart twice as far as they should be, or pinched up together till almost touch- ing. Such things could not be when frames are forced to be just right if got into the hive at all. All these things considered, especially if we must have exact spacing, it may be well enough to re-try some spacing-device— I don't mean settle positively upon it, but give it a fair trial. So it may be well enough to ask in advance, WHAT SPACER SHALL WE TRY? Some of them are too much like the closed end- bars, requiring a movable side. And now I may as well confess that, for several years, I have been us- ing what is practically a side-opening hive. I used eight brood-frames in a ten-frame hive, with a divi- sion-board at the side; and to all intents and pur- poses that made it a side-opening hive. Then when I changed my ten-frame hives last year to eight- frame, I made them 12'8 wide Inside, to correspond with my supers. Spacing the top-bars \% from center to center left a space of \\% inch at one side. 452 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June and this I filled up with a dummy. So you see I was in a measure forced into it; but I have found my present arrangement so very convenient that, if I were commencing- every thing anew, I would make an eight-frame hive IS's inches wide, and put in a dummy f thick. One special advantage is, that by taking out this dummy I can move the frames along and handle any one I wish, without setting a frame on the ground to let me get at the rest. But I should not want a closed-end frame— at least, I think I shouldn't. I think we want a spacer that, when a frame is lifted a quarter of an inch, it will leave the f rame j ust as free as i f there were no spacer in the hive. I don't like Phelps' staples, but I do like his hemispherical-headed brass furniture-nails better than any thing else I have seen. They must work smoothly. There can't be any catching about them. They are easily put on any frame, even without shaking off the bees. They are the least likely to dull an uncapping-knife. I don't know just how much should be conceded to the uncap- ping-knife. Comb-honey men need not consider it, neither need extracting men, if they do not extract from brood-frames, and I think brood-frames are extracted less and less. Now, if you don't find something better, get some of the right size of these furniture-nails, tell us how you will sell them, together with a push-stick made just right to push them in, and a good many of us may want to give the Phelps plan a fair trial. Marengo, 111., Mar. 31. c. C. Miller. Friend M., don't lay the present fixed-dis- tance bubble to me. If it should burst per- haps I shouldn't want to father it. Yes, doctor, there was a time when I wore short pants, when there was an old Qulnby closed-end hive in one corner of the apiary. I was afraid of bees in those days, and, of course, had no practical knowledge of the terrors of fixed distances as found in Quin- by frames. But things are changing a little bit now. As I have before said, out-apiaries have necessitated some sort of frame that is better for moving bees ; and it is very natural to look to fixed distances to help us out. Another consideration comes in ; and that is, there are very few bee-keepers who space their frames properly. Farmer bee- keepers almost never have them spaced right. Day before yesterday an old bee- keeper brought in four colonies. When he arrived here the bees were escaping from under the cover. I said, ''Have you got the frames properly fastened, so they will not shake about? '' " Oh, ya ; dey all fas'nd tide." Our apiarist took the hives and put them in position. Next day I asked him whether the frames had been properly stuck up. He smiled a little, and said the combs were spaced sometimes an inch apart, and sometimes an inch and a half, and from that down to a quarter of an inch. The spaces between the combs were almost sol- idly bridged with brace-combs. Yes, " dey yas all fas'nd tide," and our friend from Holland was right. Now, if this bee-keeper had some sort of a spacing-device to his frames, he probably would have put the combs the right distance apart. I have found, in buying up bees, that farmers and small bee-keepers scarcely ever have their frames properly spaced, and, as a conse- quence, they never move the frames, and for a very good reason. Such combs are fixed in a way that practical bee-keepers do not want them. Another consideration. ea;aci spacing helps materially to diminish burr- combs, and, as you say, spacers will proba- bly save considerable time.— In regard to those furniture nails, friend M., we have so many irons in the fire now that we will not dare to advertise them. As they are some- thing that can be obtained at almost any furniture store, any one who desires to try them can obtain them readily. If there should be a demand for them, of course we will furnish them. Erxest. FLORIDA. AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM AN A B C SCHOL- AR; GARDENS AND BEES. Editor GJea?i(j!(/s;— Tourists, visitors, invalids, and winter residents, have about all shaken the dust of Florida from their feet; and those of us who don't want to, or can't get away, are left to enjoy this most beautiful of all Florida seasons— the summer. Those who h:tve seen the State in winter only, can have little idea of the fresh and becoming dress Nature puts on when the rainy season comes; and instead of dormant trees, dried and yellow grasses, and bare, white sand, we have every grass root, and weed and shrub and tree in full leaf and flower. We are told that the past winter and spring has been "exceptional," from a weather point of view; but as that is what we immigrants invariably hear regarding every uupleasant occurrence in weather or business, we have almost come to consider the exception the rule, and pronounce Florida climate rather uncertain. We have greater changes of temperature, and more of them, than is generally supposed. For in- stance, on the 14th and 15th of last March the mer- cury dropped from 90 to 24° in the course of 36 hours. This uas "exceptional;" but it is not at all uncommon for the tail of one of your northwestern blizzards to switch across our peninsula, driving the mercury very near the frost-point. Then the wet and dry seasons do not always come as per schedule. Tn 1889 the rainfall, accurately measured in Orlando by Dr. Thos. Baker, was a trifle over 5 ft. This year the total, up to May 1, is less than 4 inches. Orange-groves should bloom in February instead of April, as this year. This tardiness proved fortu- nate, as, on account of the dormant condition of the trees, the frost of March 15 did little damage to bearing groves, except where they had been forced ahead by the use of fertilizers and irrigation. 1 am not an orange-grower, but I have a few set trees about my home, which came to grief in this way. When the frost came they were a perfect mass of bloom and tender foliage, and by noon of the next day they were the sickest-looking trees imaginable. But our best-remembered lessons are taught by ex- perience; and now I think It will be some years, at least, before we try to turn another dry winter of discontent into a glorious summer by using phos- phate and artificial rain. The vegetable-gardeners lost heavily, as that night made almost a clean sweep of tomatoes, potatoes, beans, peas, egg-plant, squashes, corn, etc., and the season was too far ad- vanced to plant again with much chance for a crop. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 453 For although this is called the land of perpetual summer, one can not plant just at any time. We have our winter gardens and fall gardens; but the unsophisticated Yankee who plants the common g-arden vegetables between March and September will have have an opportunity to paral- lel the bee-men's biggest story of " spring dwin- dling." There are showers and sunshine in abun- dance, conditions uniler which one would think the gardens ought to boom; but they don't. In our market, the quart measure is the stand- ard, and the nickel the smallest coin that will buy any thing. As to prices, would not some of your Ohio gardeners delight in selling their tomatoes at 30 cts. a quart? That has been the price here for the last two months, and they are small tomatoes, and few in a quart too. Very poor celery is 2.5 cts. a stalk; lettuce, 5 cts. a head; potatoes, .50 cts. a peck; onions, 10 cts. a quart; string beans, 5 cts. a quart; strawberries are cheap now, at 25 cts. a box. Sweet potatoes are one of the very few vegetables that flourish in summer, and are always cheap— from 40 to 75 cts. per bushel. We do not plant slips, as you do, but lay a foot or eighteen inches of the vine across the ridge, and push it into the earth with a forked stick, and in a few days it sends out new roots and leaves. The swarm of bees, my first and dearest, in more than one sense, about which I wrote you last fall, picked up a little after the robbers ceased paying their unwelcome attentions, but it was not more than a good-sized nucleus when orange-blossoms came in April. But thsy proved themselves " hust- lers" then, and speedily filled their hive with brood and honey. As I wanted experience in manipulat- ing them, more than honey, I divided them a short time ago, and now have a virgin queen five days old, on the three combs I took from the old hive. Now I must tell you how I got a swarm out of a barrel, and stop. They were runaways, which a negro had caught a mile or so from town, and shak- en into a barrel which had no head in either end. For a cover he set a heavy box over them. I bought them, and early one foggy morning my ten- year-old boy Don and I went to bring them home. I had a light box, fixed so as to hold four or five frames, and proposed to transfer their combs if they were large enough; if not, to transfer the bees alone. My first move was to lift that box off the barrel; and if ever I had a "bse in my bonnet" it was a second or two after. They said, " What are you at here? Get out of this!" in good English. So I set the box back and took a little time to con- sider their proposition. I had found a case to which "Directions for Transferring," as per ABC book, comprehensive as they are, would not apply, and I had to make some of my own. First, we fired up the cold-blast smoker, and smoked them till they couldn't wink. Then I turned the box upside down again, and set it to one side. A few combs were fastened to it, and seemed very soft— so much 80 that they all fell over to one side as I turned the box. Then I put my little hive where the barrel stood, and jarred the bees into and around it, most- ly around it, as it was small and the barrel big. The combs were all too short to reach across the frames; but I put three of them in, upside down, so that the heaviest part would rest on the bottom- bar, and hung them in my box. On a comb not larger than my hand I found the queen, and put her safely into the hive. Now, how to get the bees in was the question. I could not wait for them to go in of their own accord, as I wanted to take them away at once. There was a narrow alighting-board on my bo.x, so I nailed down the lid, and, making a little paddle, I began shoving them toward the en- trance. When I got a bunch of them on the alight- ing-beard I would gently crowd them up to the entrance, and, by making haste slowly, I soon had all but a few stragglers safely housed. Then I nailed the entrance shut, put the box under my arm, and walked home with my prize. How much we enjoyed the early morning walk, the dewy pine woods, and our success, you "bee brethren" will realize if you recall your early experiences when the glamour of novelty was with you. Just one question: Do any bee-keepers use the crosswise Simplicity frame? I have made my own hives and frames, and, either by mistake or for some now forgotten reason, made the first frames crosswise, and all since. I handled some long Sim- plicity frames for a neighbor, and do not like them at all, compared with my own. E. J. Batrd. Orlando, Fla., May 20, 1890. Friend B., the crosswise Simplicity frames have been in use for many years, and there has been once or twice a boom on them ; bnt I suppose that most bee-keepers, like ourselves, became disgusted with hav- ing two kinds of frames in tlie apiary ; and as the greater part of the frames in use are the regular Langstroth, the crosswise were sooner or later ruled out. I do not know of anybody now that uses them to any extent. The only objection is, they are out of the beaten track. THE GREAT FLOOD OF THE MISSISSIPPI. THE OVERFLOW AMONG THE HOMES OF BEE-KEEP- ERS ; THE PROSPECTS FOR A CROP OF HONEV. Bro. Rout:— The greatest overfiow of the Mississ- ippi Valley has passed, and all the planters are busy with their preparations for the coming season. Planting cotton is almost completed, and much of it is up, and ready for the hoe and plow. The pros- pect for the future is very encouraging, and I have no doubt that a large cotton crop will be made. When the year closes, one would scarcely realize that such a flood could have passed over this rich alluvial country, and its ravages so soon obliterat- ed. The corn crop will be small, as it requires to be planted early, so as to avoid the summer drought. A large quantity of millet and peas will be planted for fodder. The overflow was 2'/4 feet higher over the country than I have ever known it, having resided here from my birth. The loss of stock was immense, es- pecially cattle. Most of the work stock was saved. Thousands of cattle were driven on to the few high ridges of land above the flood, and a large portion perished of starvation. The destruction of human life was more than one would suppose. More than twenty persons were drowned within a radius of twenty miles of this city. My friend, W. G. McLen- don, whom you may know as a large bee-keeper of Chicot County, Ark., lost his son, three years old, who fell from the piazza into the water, four feet deep, while his mother and father were away some distance from the house feeding the cattle that were located on a scaffold. No one saw him at the 454 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. JUNE time, and his body was not recovered for three days. We can well imagine their grief. He saved his bees, 180 colonies, by elevating them on a scaf- fold. The levees will hereafter be immensely strengthened, and I hope never to see such an in- undation again. My bees escaped the overflow, as the southern half of the city, with a large district adjoining it, was protected by a ridge of land above the water, where my bees were situated. The honey-flow now is good. I will commence extracting to-morrow. All the white clover was drowned except that on the high ridges, and that was consumed by the starving cattle. The swamp woodbine, rattan, and wild grapes, persimmon, and many other forest trees, are in bloom. I hope yet to have a good yield of honey. I gave my bees a thorough overhauling, and they are in excellent condition. I have very little trouble with robbers. I use small square pieces of mosquito netting, with cords attached to each corner; and when there is the least evidence of robbing I tie them over the front of the hive. It gives plenty of ventilation to the bees in the hive, and they soon recover from their demoralization; and when the netting is re- moved they are ready to make a good defense of their home. I rarely keep the net on more than half an hom% unless the robbers have entered the hives in great numbers. I have large nets to en- velop the entire hive, when the bees can gain en- trance at the top or sides. The netting is my only resort; and as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, you can not use it too soon. I devote my apiaries to extracted honey, reserv- ing a couple of hives for comb honey for my own family use, as there is no profit in comb honey in this country. I leave for Mount Eagle, Tenn , about the 10th of June, where I will devote a few weeks to my apiary there. O. M. Blanton. Greenville, Miss., May 26. Friend B., when we are tempted to com- plain of too much rain again, we will re- member your sad troubles along the banks of the Mississippi. What a sad, sad story you tell us— a little one only three years old, drowning, because he fell from the piazza of his home! May God be with the poor father and mother. BAMBLE NO. 25. pie, peanuts, and popcorn to edification, and raised almost f 4.00 for etceteras for the minister's wife, and also for a pair of magnetic insoles for her shoes.^ RAMBLER IS INVITED TO A DIME SOCIAL. From Fort Plain we rolled gracefully along west- ward on the Central K. it. We had made up our mind to stop at Oriskany and see Mr. W. E. Clark, ex-president of the N. Y. B. K. A.; but we learned that a sea of three miles of mud lay between the station and residence, and all we could do was to look away across the sea and imagine that Bro. Clark was hard at work tacking leather to those best bellows-smokers of his. We reached Rome about noon; didn't see much evidence of apiculture here, but the people seemed to bee very friendly. It was about dinner time, and two fine gentlemen said to me, " Let's go in here and have a dime so- cial." We accepted the invitation with alacrity, for at home our church had a real good dime social. We escorted the widow Dibble, and ate pumpkin A DIME SOCIAL. She, like other females, is troubled with cold feet. It is said, on this account the magnetic-insole trade is heavy among the fair sex. Well, my alacrity came very near ruining me. I am a total abstainer, teetotaler, and " prohib;" and when these fine gen- tlemen whisked me up to a bar, where vile com- pounds are sold, and asked me what I would take for a dime social, I was sorely tempted to say brandy with sugar; but I smote the tempter, and won the victory. Said I, " I'll take pumpkin pie;" and these fine men and the dispenser of drinks just laughed the Rambler to scorn. Said I, " My friends, which is better to take, a piece of pumpkin pie, and go hence with a clear head and untangled feet, or that vile stuff that will roll you in the gutter, or heap abuse upon your family?" Their hilarity visibly subsided, and I withdrew in good order, and I hope my little lecture and stand for principle had a good effect. Not far from Rome we had a fine visit with an old-time bee-keeper, who has the cognomen of James Moore, aged 83. In war times he had 125 col- onies; but they had all died out; clover had killed out, and the bees could get nothing but weed honey, and they could not winter upon it. There's no earthly use to try to keep bees without a good stand of clover. Said I, " Bee-keepers now feed sugar or taffy, if they find poor honey in a hive." "Why," said he, "I fed taffy in a bake-tin; also fed maple sugar, nigh on to forty years ago, but weed honey is very deceptive. You can not see much difference between that and clover honey, and can not tell the effect it will have upon the bees; but the taffy was sure cure every time." "Bee-keepers are now talking a great deal about automatic hiving arrangements. Did you ever have experience in that line?" "Why, bless you, yes. I had the cutest hive for that purpose you can imagine, nigh on to forty years ago. This hive was invented and patented by Sylvester Davis, of Claremont, N. H. It was called the Platform hive, but I called it the Side Issue. You see, we had hot times them days in politics, and every thing was a crisis, or an issue, so I put the hive in line with the times. Here is an old pic- ture of the hive. You observe that four hives were placed side by side. In the spring, if four swarms were wintered, remove every other one and place 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 455 on a new platform, and place empty hives next to all full ones. Close the entrance to the hive con- taining the swarm, and open the passages into the empty hive. If this is done in early spring, the bees will work through the empty hive; and, find- ing so much room, they will forget to swarm." " But, how about a queen in the new hive? In my experience a queen is necessary, to hold the bees to business and make a permanent working colo- ny." "Yes, yes; but you mean a king-bee. Young men try to get smart nowadays, and tool us old heads with their new-fangled ideas; but do you think I managed bees for nothing nigh on to forty years ago? I guess I know. The process was just as simple when the hive was full, as you could see by the glass in the rear of the hive. Open the front entrance to the old hive, and close the pas- sages between, and the thing was done. The kings NON-SWARMER BEE-HIVE. that were always around would set up rule. But this hive was a terror to moth-worms. I used to kill dozens every morning in the little moth-draw- ers. I had to tend right to my knitting and drop no stitches, to keep them from hatching, when I kept bees nigh on to forty years ago. Then, you see, under the wire-cloth platform was a spring exercis- er and feeding-chamber. When it is too cold for bees to fly in the early spring, let the sun shine in here, and what a jolly time the bees could have!" The inventor also advocated spring feeding, and also gave the following recipe for feeding to make the best of box honey: Take 25 lbs. best West-India honey; 25 lbs. white sugar; 40 lbs. water; one gill of salt; H oz. essence of anise; IH pints mucilage of slippery elm; !4 gill of porter (or ale); flavor to suit the fancy. But I could never see much profit in the plan, and never tried it; and so my aged friend who kept bees " nigh on to forty years ago " had experiment- ed very near to the late methods of tafify feeding and the self-hiving of swarms. There is one thing, however, we think that is for ever buried, and that is moth-traps. Our aged friend found the worms always plentiful, and the trap was a splendid breed- er If only neglected, which it was sure to be by nine out of ten of farmer bee-keepers. We found bee culture not much indulged in, in the immediate vicinity of Mr. Moore. We suppose the weed honey and moth-traps had given it a set- back from which it could not recover. As we left our aged friend, the thought that "there is nothing new under the sun " was uppermost in the mind of the Kamblek. Friend R., we are very glad indeed that you stuck to your principles ; but I never before heard of using pumpkin pie as a " beverage.' Come to think of it, however, Josh Billings calls it " the delitef ul bevverij of Nu Inggland." It is a safe thing to take, however, and I believe that all are agreed in legard to the matter. I well remember Syl- vester Davis' patent bee-hive and the Side Issues. The drawers were to pull out and catch the moth, and were a big thing when first introduced. It had its day, however, and passed away, as has been the fate with patent hives for fifty years or more. MANUM ANS^WEHS COHBESPON- DENTS. PRACTICAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Friend Root:— In consequence of my talks in Gleanings I have received many letters of inquiry on various matters pertaining to the bee-business; and thicking that my answers to some of them may be of interest to some of our bee-keeping friends, I venture to forward you the following: The first is my answer to a young man living in a neighboring State, who wants a situation as an as- sistant in the apiary, and who wishes to know how I manage with my men, and how much I pay, etc. My answer was substantially as follows: Mr. A.—\ reply to your favor by saying that I re- quire six men to assist me with my bees during June and July— one apiary being let on shares. I usually hire one or two men for four or five months, and the other four for only two months. The price which 1 pay varies according to the ex- perience and uorth of the man. I have one man who has worked forme seven seasons of six months each. 1 pay him f25 per month for May, Septem- ber, and October, and $dO per month for June, July, and August. The time is divided in this way, so that if , from any cause, he does not complete his full time, there would be no question as to the price to be paid tor what time he works. 1 have another man who has worked for me a number of seasons, and who prefers to work only through June and July. I pay him *76 for the two months. I have another man who has worked for me one season; and as he is an excellent and faithful man, I pay him for this season S25 per month for three months. For a new hand, or one who has never worked for me, or for any one near me who practices my methods, but who has had a little ex- perience with bees, and who understands the theory pretty well, I pay $iO for two months, or $~0 for six months, when they insist on working through the season for the sake of learning the business. Of course, their board is included at above prices. I locate one man at each out-apiary where he is to remain during the swarming season, which is usually from five to seven, and sometimes nine weeks, but more often six weeks. I expect my men to be at their post every day during this time, Sundays and all; and while I do not expect a man to do any unnecessary work on Sunday, I in- sist on his being on hand to hive swarms that may issue. It is my practice to visit each apiary once or twice each week, to give instructions, and to as- sist the met! when assistance is required. You say that you have had a little experience at home with a few swarms, and that you have read several bee-books, such as Cook's Manual and the A B C. and that you have taken Gleanings two years, and that you would like to work the first 456 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June four months of the season, and that you are a young man of good habits, and anxious to learn the business. You asij if I expect my men to do other work not pertaining to the bee-business. Yes, I do those who work before and after the swarming-season. I have a small farm— 40 acres— and when not busy with the bees I sometimes ask my men to assist in planting, and in the fall in har- vesting; but my farm being small, and there being so many of us, the farm work is light, and quickly done. Now, in view of these considerations, and what you say about yourself, I will pay you $60 for May, June, July, and August. HIVING TWO OR MORE SWARMS TOGETHER. Mr. Manum:— When you hive two or more swarms in one hive, how do you unite them without their quarreling? and what do you do with the extra queens? My answer is, that, in a large apiary, there will usually be several swarms out in one day —we sometimes have 20. In that case two or more maybe hived together without fear of their quar- reling; but if they issue one per day, or one has been hived two or three days, and it is desired to unite another with them, I first cage the queen al- ready in the hive, and hang the cage in the hive, and then shake the bees off the combs in front of the hive, and at once dump the new swarm with them, having first secured their queen, and at once sprinkle them, hive and all, with sweetened water well flavored with peppermint, and allow them to run into the hive. Just at night I liberate the queen. Now, if the extra queen is an old or inferi- or one, I pinch off her head: but if she is only one year old, and a good one, I either introduce her in place of some old or poor queen, or return her to the hive from which she Issued, after first remov- ing all queen-cells. Having lost so many bees by swarming, she wiu not be likely to attempt to swarm again the same season. At this time I usu- ally discard all my two-year-old queens, and for the past two years I have had calls for all such at 50 cents each. Cy this practice I winter no queen over one year old. If you wish much increase you can hive the extra queen with just enough bees to cover one card of hatching brood; and by giving them a card of brood occasionally, you will soon have a colony in good condition for winter, without having much reduced the working force in those hives run for surplus. WILL, IT PAY TO CONTRACT? Another makes the following inquiry : Having read much of your writing in Gleanings, with interest, I venture to ask whether you think it pays to contract the brood-chamber during the honey-flow, to secure all the honey in the surplus receptacles. My answer to this question is this: In a locality where no fall (or dark) honey is stored in sufficient quantities to winter the bees, it will not pay, at the present low price of honey and high price of sugar. When honey sold at 20 to 25 cents per lb., I practic- ed contracting with profit. But I prefer now to al- low them the full number of combs, so that the bees may store enough, or nearly enough, honey for winter, while the white-honey flow lasts, as we very seldom get any honey here after the basswood season. Butif in your locality you are quite sure of securing fall honey enough for winter stores I would advise contracting during the white-honey flow. You should be governed in this by your locality, both as regards quantity and quality of honey, as well as by the price your honey sells for. packing FOR chaff HIVES. Another man asks: What is, in your opinion, the best material for packing the so-called chaff hives? I have made a few Bristol hives from your description of them in Gleanings, and the only material for packing I can get near by is unseasoned basswood sawdust. Do you think this would soon dry after packing, so it would answer the purpose? Answer: No: I would hardly dare use it, for basswood will mildew very quickly in hot weather; and, again, sawdust alone will pack too hard to answer a good purpose; because the harder any such material is packed, the more it becomes a conductor for both heat and cold. I believe fine dry planer shavings, such as are made by planing well-seasoned lumber, are as good as any thing which can be got cheaply. Now, if the bottom of the hiv'e around the outside walls is air-tie:ht, these shavings will form a multi- tude of little dead-air spaces; while if, on the other hand, the bottom of the hive is not tight, so but that it will admit of air, these same shavings will form a multitude of little air-channels up through which fresh air will continually circulate, which would doubtless be a benefit to the bees in hot weather, if not in cold. So, then, my preference is dry planer shavings. Oat chaff, or very fine cut straw, are good. a call from a neighbor. " Halloo, Charles! walk in. lam glad to see you this lonely rainy day." " Well, I have called to have a little chat with you about the bees. Jennie said you were in your office, so I walked right in. I hope I am not inter- fering with your writing." "Oh, no! not at all. I was just having a little mechanical chat with our friend Root. Well, have you been out to your apiary recently?" "Yes: I was there yesterday, and I found things a little mixed. You remember I told you in April that I had lost only 4 per cent in wintering. Well, that was true; but since then every one of my light colonies has gone up; and some that were not so very light are missing. The boy I have there says that a number of them have swarmed out, and left some brood and lots of honey, and I have called to ask you to tell me the cause of such conduct." " Well, Charles, you know we have had a very cold backward spring, which has been a trying time for the bees, especially light colonies. They all being so short of pollen, they have worked hard to get a little whenever they could fly out, and many times they ventured out when they ought not to; consequently the old bees have wasted away to an alarming extent. In fact, there are scarcely any old bees left in any of my hives; therefore those that came through light did not have the strength to rally and survive the wasting-away of their small numbers, and had to succumb to their fate— dwindling." " But, what was the cause of fairly good colonies in the spring swarming out and leaving their brood and plenty of honey?" " Well, now, let me ask you a question. Did those that have swarmed out have young or old queens?" "Nearly all of them had old queens. Two of them had young queens hatched last August, but 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 457 they were not very good layers last fall, so I do not care much for them." " Well, then, one cause of absconding is due to the queens, and can be traced out thus: The queens being- on the decline— or poor— and the colo- nies being light in bees in the spring, the queens did not get to laying early enough to get a batch of young bees hatched out before the crisis came: and finding that they were weakening instead of gain- ing, and not being able to cover and care for their brood, thej' became discouraged, and swarmed out; when if they could have held out a few days longer until the brood commenced to hatch, they would not have swarmed out, because a few young baby- bees would have held them. I have given such col- onies a few young bees from other hives, with good success, when discovered in this condition. If the weather had been favorable, all of these light stocks would have pulled through all right; but we have had about the hardest spring I ever knew, and we shall have no light colonies this summer to bother with, as they are all gone where the woodbine twineth." "Have you engaged all your help yet for this season?" " No: I am two men short." " What are you going to do in that case?" " Well, I have got to run three apiaries myself— two out-apiaries, besides this one at home: so when you are enjoying yourself in your one apiary you can think of me with three to manage, besides the other boys to look after." " But, how are you going to do so much yourself, pray tell?" " Well, I am going to try to prevent swarming in the two out-apiaries, and the home apiary I shall run principally for extracting; and I hope, by giv- ing them room enough, they will swarm but very little if at all; and one of the out-apiaries I shall manage by removing the queens just before they prepare to swarm, according to Elwood's method, and in the other out-apiary I shall try to prevent swarming, according to Manum's method, which T do not care to tell you about yet, as I am not sure it will prove practical on a large scale. I have tried It with only a few colonies." " Well, I hope you will be successful; but I think you will have your hands full before the season is over." " Thanks. I assure you I shall work faithfully for success, and succeed 1 must, in some way." Bristol, Vt., May, 1890. A. E. Manum. THE TEXAS AGKICULTURAL ANT. PBOF. COOK TELLS US SOME WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT ANTS AS WELL AS BEES. I HAVE received from Mr. W. D. Allen, of Koose, Texas, a fertile (or wingless) queen of these strange ants [Pogouornyrmex harhatus). He requests a re- port through Gleanings, and desires especially to know whether there is more than one queen in a colony, and whether there is any way to extermi- nate these rivals in agriculture. As they allow no vegetation within a radius of six or eight feet of the door to their nests, the damage they do is by no means insignificant. I am specially glad to re- ceive this queen ant, as we have none of this species in our collection. I shall be very grateful if Mr. Allen can send me more queens— both winged and wingless— males, and workers— both large and small. I am also glad to present to the readers of Gleanings something of the life and habits of these interesting insects, especially as they are of peculiar interest to bee-keepers, as there is much in common in the life economy of ants and bees; and the student of either will the better understand his subject if he study the other. These ants (see cut) are reddish brown in color. The queens are a little more than half an inch long. The males — drones — are half an inch long, and the work- ers, of which there are two sizes, are respectively one and two- eighths of an inch shorter than the males. The young queens- virgins— and males have wings, while the workers and lading queens are wingless. Like bum- ble-bees they live in underground nests; though these ants tunnel into the earth for several feet, and have quite extensive galleries. They may have a hill or mound above their tunnels, or they may have no hill. The entrance to the tun- nels is usuallyiby one 'opening; but there maybe two, three, or four, all near together. They take their name, "agricultural ant," from the fact that they keep a circle, with a diameter of from six to sixteen feet, about,the entrance to their nest, en- tirely free from all kinds of plants; and radiating paths, also'cleaned of vegetation, stretch for many feet in Tevery direction from the central circle. These paths are five or six inches wide at their in- ner end, and become more narrow as they extend. They are] alsoj husbandmen, in that they garner into their nests seeds during summer, on which they feed at all seasons. Their paths are highways over which they bear] the heavy seeds. To show how brainy they are, it is reported that if, from heavy rains, their granaries are flooded, the seeds are carried out to dry; and, when dry, are carried back. Totshowjtheir patriotism, it is reported that, in case of storms, they will plug the eniranqe with their bodies, and thus die for their kindred and home. Therelis a certain kind of grass—" ant rice," which is nearly always found about the cleared circles of these insect agriculturists. It is believed that the;ants!sow the seeds purposely to raise their favorite forage 'crop; while some argue that the presence of the ant rice is accidental, coming from seed carelessly left.by the ants. There is some rea- son to believe that there is purpose in the seed- sowing. So we see these Texan ants are veritable agriculturists, and no mean rivals of man. The young queens— virgins— have wings. When the season for mating comes— in June— the males and females fly forth and mate. It is reported that they mate on the ground (?). The males die at once, and the now.; impregnated queen flies ofl', and alone commenceslto dig.'a home. So, like the queen bum- ble-bee, the queen-ant, at first, has to do all the labor. The queen ant, finding her wings in the way, bites them off. The hard command, "If thy hand offend thee," is obeyed by these insects. Who shall say thatjinsects are destitute either of intellect or morals ? All the ants which are produced at first are work- ers, and those produced while the queen is not only chief, but the only " cook and bottle-washer," are the small workers. Thus, as with bees, a stinted 458 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. June diet results in undeveloped femalep, or workers, and a very stinted larder produces small worijers. As the season advances — June — the males and queens again appear, and fly forth to mate, after which the aueens commence new colonics. To answer Mr. Allen's question, I think there is only one queen in the colonies of these ants, though I may be wrong, as many species of ants have several queens in a single colony. Ants are very muscular. It has been estimated that a man, to equal an ant in performance, would have to walk over 150 miles a day with more than a ton weight on his liead. Like bees, ants are very neat, and spend much time in scrubbing and comb- ing. Unlike bees, the ants scratch and comb each other, and there is every indication that the recipi- ent of such favors receives them with great satis- faction. The ants are also seen to sleep so sound- ly that they are waked with difficulty. From this we m.iy very safely conclude that bees also take naps. As the agricultural ants are always all in their nests from noon to one o'clock, it would seem probable that this is the usual napping time. Any who are specially interested in these ants will do well to read the very interesting book by Rev. Mr. McCook, of Philadelphia, on this insect. This is a book that should be in every public libra- ry. Mr. Allen asks for a remedy, or means to exter- minate these pests. I have no doubt but that bi- sulphide of carbon, poured into the tunnels be- tween twelve and one, will quickly destroy these ants. It is used successfully to destroy the prairie- squirrels in the West, and I have used it here with entire success in killing the ants that are often so annoying on our lawns. 1 have just explained the use of this substance, and the other insecticides which I have found useful in killing insects, in a bulletin entitled lusccticidrs, which any one can get free by addressing a card, requesting it, to Secreta- ry H. G. Reynolds, Agricultural College, Michigan. Mr. McCook explains a trap which he says will very soon exterminate all the agricultural ants of any nest. This consists of a tin box set over the hole,, so made that any ant passing either in or out must pass over an inclined piece of bright smooth tin, whose roof-like edge stands or projects over the box. Thus the ants are precipitated into the box; and as they can not get out, they are easily killed. I should suppose that, if the box were quite large, and contained kerosene, it would need no at- tention after placing it, else it would need empty- ing each day. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Apr. 26. I am sure, dear friend, we are all very much interested in what you have just told us. I have heard of those ants sowing rice and tending to the crop. Now, although my faith is very great along this line, I must confess that 1 am strongly inclined to think, with the others you mention, that this must be a mistake. Even though the ants are seen depositing seeds, I do not be- lieve they do it with any expectation of waiting for a crop. Some one has said that the lowest types of mankind can be dis- tinguished from the highest types of ani- mal instinct, by a very simple matter ; namely, no animal ever yet had sense enough to build a fire to warm him when cold. In the same way, I should say that no animal or insect ever had or ever could have sense enough to sow seeds and wait the production of a crop. — Are you not put- ting it a little exact to say that the ants are all in their nests from noon till one o'clock ? Did you not mean to say for a period of about an hour, usually, during the hottest part of the day ? Without clocks and watches they would have to go out and take a look at the sun to see when it was about napping time. I do know that domestic ani- mals get into the habit of judging time very accurately. Our Clydesdale team has learn- ed to make a fuss if they can not get into the stable and be fed when the whistle blows. .V few days ago our teamster told them to go on ; that they could not stop that particular night, even if the whistle did blow, and one of them gave a loud whinny of disapproval. THE HEAVY LOSSES OF BEES IN YOKK STATE. ITALIANS WINTERED BEST ; BLACKS AND CARNIO- LANS ALL DIED ; HONEY-DEW THE CAUSE. I SEE the report of .Tames Markle, in last issue, from New Salem, N. Y., that he lost most of his bees. I live about 12 miles from him. The loss of bees through this part of the State is fearful. It has cleaned out whole apiaries, and covers a large territory. The whole cause is bad stores, or, in other words, the large amount of honey-dew that the bees gathered last September. I put into the cellar about 125 colonies. All perished except 60 colonies of Italians, the rest being blacks. The Italians had their hives stored with plenty of good early white honey, and bad no occasion for storing honey-dew, as their hives were full of good honey. When the honey dew came, every colony of pure blacks perished. Does this not prove the superiori- ty of the Italians over the blacks? Last season the blacks did nothing, and hardly pulled through the summer, while the Italians in the same yard gath- ered enough to live on, and stored their hives full, and gave some surplus. The blacks have no honey stored; and when the honey-dew made its appear- ance they had room for all they could gather, and in a few days their hives were full. As it became salvy as soon as gathered, it was impossible to ex- tract. I see you doubt, in your foot-notes to Mr. Markle's report, that the food was the whole source of the loss. It certainly was, and nothing else. If it was not, why did those having honey dew all per- ish, and those having good pure stores all live, be- ing all wintered in the same cellar. If the bees had all been left out of doors, the loss would not have been 6 per cent, as those that were left out had a cleansing flight every few days all winter. I am done now with black bees. They are cer- tainly not worth bothering with in this section of the country. I have kept about an equal number of blacks and Italians for the last 16 years, but now I will not bother with the blacks any longer. All they are good for is to work on buckwheat when we have a good August, and honey dew when it comes. Although my loss has been heavy for me, never losing any in winter before, I am not dis- couraged. I have 60 good strong colonies of Ital- ians left. I shall try all the harder to get back to 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 459 my number again; but it is hard for a poor man to lose so manj-. CARNIOLANS BAD FOR WINTERING. I had a few colonies of pure Carniolans. They were the first to perish. I have tried them now four years. They are no better than the common black bees, but worse to swarm. Gallupville, N. Y., May 20. F. Boomhower. AN ABC SCHOLAR'S EXPERIENCE IN CALIFORNIA. STARTING WITH A FEW FOUL-BROODY COLONIES, .\ND INCREASING TO 80 HEALTHY ONES. The rainfall in Southern California has been very large, being over 40 inches, while in ordinary years about 20 is a fair average. Such rainfalls have pre- ceded good honey years in the past, and a good flow of honey was predicted by the bee-men for this season. 1 his prophecy seems likely at present to be f iilflUed. Swarming has been going on at a lively rate, and honey is now coming in freely. We have this year's swarms from which we have al ready extracted and taken comb honey. Some of them are also ready to swarm again. This is all very encouraging to us. We know nothing at all of bee culture except what we had read in the ABC book and a few copies of Glean- ings. We took an apiary here that had dwindled from 150 down to IH hives, containing bees. Foul brood had been among them, and we knew what we had to contend with. Of the 18, about 6 or 7 were unaffected, and the others have at this date mostly gone with the majority. We also purchased another apiary of ;'2 hives, al- so affected. The price paid was so little that I am ashamed to mention it without your knowing all the circumstances. I noticed they were about as willing to give us all the apiary as a part of them for the sum we offered. We had very little money, and were obliged to think before investing. We commenced by buying empty hives at a low price, taking out comb and boiling them in an iron tub. The wax, we traded to a supply-dealer near by, for foundation. We then removed all diseased brood and gave foundation in place, removing the bees at the same time to a cleaned hive. We now have a rousing apiary of about 80 hives. 1 never knew that bees could work as ours do now from daylight to dark. About 10 or 12 swarms we took from trees and buildings, or picked up in other localities dur- ing the swarming season. The others are the in- crease of our apiary. We have rented a furnished cottage, and it would seem that we shall be able to live comfortably. I might say, that California was as new to me as the bee-business. It was a strange land, strange people, and a strange business at the same time. Such sights as raising an empty hive and finding a lizard a foot long inside would be new to many of your bee-family. Every step of the way was new and novel. We often read the ABC book until late at night, that we might know how to act the next day. My helper is a young man of more than ordinary practical talent and discern- ment of things. Though scarcely able to speak or read English, much of the creditor success is due him. I read the book and gave him the outlines, and was often astonished at the almost marvelous comprehension, and even enlargement of the sub- ject, which he showed. To the bountiful year, given by the kind heaven- ly Father, of course, is due such an incease. Hen- ry keeps a Bible in the bee-house, and at times reads to me while I pronounce and explain the hard words. He thinks it better than gold, and digs deeper and deeper into its mines of truth day by day, so that, besides becoming bee-keepers, we are fitting for the pure and beautiful country be- yond. Oh that we might get right, before the sum- mons comes to pass over! To speak of bees again, I will tell you what I did. I transferred a hive, cutting out several combs, and fastening in other frames, without veil or smo- ker, and without getting stung. I do not know whether it is a feat or not. It was a good swarm I found in an odd-sized hive piled up with others somo distance from our apiary. I did not want to go back again, and to save time I put it in a regular- sized hive, as above stated. 1 raised the cover vein gemlv, and got them exposed to the sun and air, and then 1 think they did not know their own hive, and so did not defend it. At any rate I cut out the combs and fastened them into the other frames with stickfi; and though the air was full, rot one ventured to sting. It is necessary to shade all hives here. We buy store-boxes for shades, and also use burlap some, under the cover, and hanging down in front to shade. We have just finished painting the hives white, the better to stand the heat. I have seen combs at the front of the hive (a black one) that were melted into a mass. We get 12'/2 cts. at the village store, for comb hon- ey, in 1-lb. sections. It is retailed at 15. For ex- tnicte-i we get 6 cts. by the 00-lb. can, and 7 for small quantities. We have just prepared :i:.' (iO-lb. cans for honey, and hope that will not nearly hold it. We have extracted at this date about 8 cans, and the white sage is just beginning to furnish honey. "Black sage " has been the best honey- plant up to this date. Swarming commenced March 2S, and was wonderfully lively for a time, but now seems mostly over. W. S. Rltchie. Sierra Madre, Cal., May 10. BRACE-COMBS, ETC. friend doolittle argues that we do not WANT them removed. It has been with much interest that I have road all the arguments, experience, etc.. along the line of wide and thick top-bars for the frames to do away with brace-combs, all, or nearly all, seeming to think that it would be a great advantage to " be rid of such a nuisance," or, at least, they seem to think of these brace-combs only as a nuisance. Now, with me I consider these brace-combs a great help, and for years I have allowed them to remain on the top-bars of my frames, because I considered them of value: that Is, I consider them of more value than they are a disadvantage. Were I work- ing an apiary for extracted honey I might change my mind a little, perhaps; but for comb honey I would not allow any one to scrape them off my frames for 50 cents per hive. Years ago I consider- ed them a nuisance, and so each year I scraped them off in the fall when I prepared my bees for winter, till one fall, through an extra amount of other work, I did not get time to go over more than about two-thirds of the apiary in preparing for 460 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June winter, guessing' at the rest, or, what amounted to the same thing, weighing the hives to come at the amount of stores they had, instead of inspecting every frame, as I usually do. Previous to this I had used the Hill device, or something similar, to give the bees a passageway over the combs during winter, as is so often recommended to be used un- der the bee-quilt; but frequent examinations dur- ing winter satislied me that these brace -combs, which I had taken so much pains to remove, an- swered every purpose of the device, besides being much cheaper, as well as requiring no room in my shop, or lugging back and forth from shop to apiary both spring and fall, which they required when used. But their greatest advantage appear- ed when 1 came to put on the sections, for the bees seemed to consider them as little ladders on which to climb up into the sections, for it was a very no- ticeable fact that the bees entered the sections much sooner where these brace combs were left than they did those where they had been removed, and, if I re- member correctly, I so wrote in Gleanings at the time, advising all to remove the brace-combs from the bottom of the supers, but not from the tops of the frames. The next year I tried the same experi- ment again, and so on for several years, till at last I became thoroughly convinced that these brace- combs added largely to my crop of comb honey by getting the bees into the sections much sooner than they otherwise would. Now, some may say that it is no use getting the bees into the sections as soon as the first honey comes in; but I claim that this has very much to do with our crop of comb honey. It is not that the first four or five pounds of honey stored in the sec- tions could be sold for so much cash that I wish it placed in the sections, but all my past experience teaches me that, for every pound of honey stored in the brood-nest at the commencement of the season, there will be ten pounds less stored in the sections that year. Let the bees once com- mence to store honey in the brood-chamber thus early in the season, and they are loth to enter the sections at all; and, instead of giving us lots of sec- tion honey, they keep crowding the queen from the cells more and more till, when fall comes, we have little honey for market, and our bees in poor shape for winter. When we come to fully under- stand this fact we shall see that, wherein these brace-combs are the means of having our bees en- ter the sections sooner, just in that proportion are they of value to us. Try the experiment, brethren, and see if, at the end of such a trial, you will not be willing to put up with the inconvenience they cause you, for the sake of their great value. CAPPING COMBS. Picking up a paper lately, I read an article argu- ing in favor of extracting honey before it is ripen- ed, in which were these words: " It stands to rea- son, that, if a colony Is saved the time of capping over hundreds of square inches of comb, it will gather just that much more honey." This 1 claim is a mistake wrought out by the writer in not be- ing familiar with the laws that govern the inside of the hive. If the bees which capped the cells were the field bees, and if these cells feere capped in the day time, then it would stand to reason, as our writ- er claims; but when we come to know that (when a colony is in a normal condition) it is the bees that are under 16 days old which do all of the wax work, and that the larger part of this wax-working is done at night, then we see that the capping of the combs plays no important part in the production of honey. The bees which cap the honey would not go into the field if there were no honey to cap, so I do not see where there would be any saving in keeping them idle by extracting the honey before they had time to cap it. If it is to be argued that it would save the honey that went into wax to form the cap- pings of the combs, then I answer, that, according to Prof. Cook and my own observation, bees always secrete wax enough for the purpose of capping combs, during a honey-flow, whether combs are capped or not; hence it is wasted if they have no place to put it. Looking at it in the above light, which is the correct one, in my opinion, there is no saving to the bees in extracting uniipe honey. More bulk of honey will be obtained, I admit, but not because time is saved to the bees. Borodino, N. Y., June 6. G. M. Doolittle. Friend D., I remember quite distinctly that, when you paid ns that visit ten or twelve years ago, one of the things you were very emphatic about was that you did not want the burr-combs removed from the top of the frames ; and during all this dis- cussion in regard to brace-combs the mat- ter has been on my mind, and I have been feeling quite anxious about it ; but I had not got started until you took it up. Now^ I think very likely you are right. But you use an arrangement amounting virtually to the wide frame for holding sections, put over the tops of the frames. Now, if I un- derstand you, you let these burr-combs go right up and be built right on to the bottom- bars of the wide frames. In that case you have a sticky, dauby mess every time you re- move the wide frames to take out the sec- tions. Then you have the inconvenience we all know about so well, when putting them back again. May be you have some way to obviate this latter matter, however — I hope you have. I once decided that I would let the crate or super be built fast to the tops of the frames, and let them remain there during the honey season, taking out the sections when I want to, by removing them one at a time from the crate or super, to get rid of this inconvenience of breaking loose from the burr-combs. I emphatically agree with you in regard to getting the bees at work in the sections before very much honey is put into the brood-combs, although I should not say that one pound in the brood-nest very often prevents ten pounds from going into the sections. I am inclined to think there is quite a saving in the quan- tity of honey by extracting before the combs are capped, although I quite agree with you in your statement that the bees that gather the honey do not, as a rule at least, cap the cells over. Ernest calls my attention to the fact, friend D., that you use a deeper frame than the shallow Langstroth, and there is a pretty general agreement that bees will go into boxes quicker from shallow Langstroth combs than from the square Gallup combs. He says, too, that many who are using thick top-bars declare they do not hinder the bees from going up into the boxes, even though no burr-combs are built over these top-bars. I should be very glad indeed to have our good friend J. B. Hall, of Woodstock, On- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 461 tario, the pioneer of thick top-bars, tell us what he thinks about it. He is an adept in getting large amounts of comb honey, as all know who talked with him at the exhibit at Toronto. 0aR QaEgiFi0i\[-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 quastlons should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked, "For Our Question-Box." Question 163.— a. What do you pay for competent help in the apinry? h. Do you employ boys or menl c. W hich is the cheaper help— the average boy from 12 to 10. or a fuU-ijroicn man, the boy receiving wages proportionate to that of the man'l I don't hire any help. Ohio. N. W. a. We do our own work. Illinois. A. B. Mason. Mks. L. Harrison. a. S30 per month and board, b, c. A good compe- tent man is always cheaper. Louisiana. E. C. P. L. Viallon. a. From S15 to $30 per month, according to relia- bility and experience of the hand. b. Men. c. Man. Cuba. O. O. PoppLETON. Farm wages, b. Men. c. The man, provided he knows as much as the boy; i. e., enough to do as he is told. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. $1 .50 per day. b. Employ a man. c. A handy boy will do full as well as a man, and will work cheaper. The trouble is to get the handy boy. New York. E. Rambler. 1 have never paid regular wages to any except boys of the ages mentioned. 1 paid them 40c per day. I should prefer to pay more for older and more reliable help. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. We employ either boys or full-grown men, and pay without regard to the age, according to the good will and ability. A man may be too dear at 50 cents a day, while another can be cheap at three dollars. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. I do not hire. The man who thinks [he knows much about bees, and really knows nothing as he ought, is rather unpromising timber to make help of, compared with a good boy who is willing and anxious to learn. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. a. Don't employ any. c. A boy 16 years old will do as much work as he ever will during 10 hours each day, and should be paid as good a price as a man, providing he does his work as well. There is a difference in boys as well as men. A poor one of either does more damage than good in any apiary. New York. C. 6. M. Doolittle. a. About $^35.00 per month for men; 15 to 20 for boys. b. Both. c. A good boy is as good for some kinds of work as a good man. It depends on the kind of work you have to do; gome parts of the sea- son, boy's work is the cheaper. As a rule I should prefer experienced help— men instead of boys. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boardman. a. rsually $25 for an inexperienced man to work with me, and $35 to $50 for experienced help; amount depending on skill of man, amount of honey coming, and whether he has to take charge of an apiary himself. Also somewhat by the supply and de- mand of help in the market, b. It seems impracti- cal to work boys in to advantage, except where sev- eral hands are needed in an apiary. California. S. W. R. Wilkin. a. f 30 per month with board is the highest that I have paid for the season. I have hired more for the past 15 years at .$1.00 a day and board, than at any other price. This was to a man that has been with us 18 years, and has proved to be the cheapest help ihat I have hired, b. Both. c. I have had some boys that were excellent helpers; but find quite a relief in having some one with age and ex- perience suflicient to shoulder a part of the care and responsibility. Wisconsin. S. W. S. 1. Freeborn. a. My help has always been in the family, b. Mostly women, c. I think I'd rather have an aver- age man than an average boy, but would rather have an unusually bright and thoroughly trustworthy boy of 16 than an average man, and would prefer a very competent man to either. My principal help is a slender girl that I wouldn't swap for either of the above, although she is such a driver that I sometimes threaten to " strike " for less hours or leave for an easier place. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. a. From $25 to $30 per month, according to the length of time they work. b. Good men, when I can get them. c. The full-grown man every time, if competent, and I want no other, though I am sometimes obliged to hire young men; and I must say that I have had young men 16 to 30 years old that did well. I always prefer to keep my old help year after year when I can; but it often happens that one or more wish to start business for them- selves, so I then have to look for new hands. This happens nearly every year. See page 455. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. We hire boys from 16 to 20 years; paying about $10 a month and board, for the first year, for a 16- year-old boy. Some boys are good help at 13 to 14 years, at about $8.00 per month. We rather have boys than men; they are quicker, and will do more work than the average inexperienced man. We keep our boys as long as we can. They are worth more and more every year. But as our work in the apiary lasts only about a month each year, our boys usually leave us after two to four years, for some other more steady work. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. You are aware that I have students who come here to learn the business each year. From the best of these students whom I can get to work for me, I select my foreman, and this one man Is all I have to hire. This foreman is usually from '20 to 30 years of age, and all but one unmarried, so far. My son who bas acted In that capacity the past year is only lU years old. but Is unexcelled as foreman of my apiary; 12 tol6 is too young to manage an api- 462 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June ary, either with or without help. The man would be the cheapest in the end. I pay from $300 to $400 a year and board. I have work in the winter; but I value their services at just half in the winter what I do in summer. Another thing I wish to mention here. I have had twenty applications for men who have learned apiculture with me, for every one I can furnish. The demand for practical apiarists who are really worth something-, is away ahead of the supply, and that, too, at wages about double what farm hands can get. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. Dear friends, I am very glad indeed to get the above answers, and I am glad, too. to know that in the main they pretty nearly agree with my own experience in hiring help. My great business in life has been in em- ploying help ; and not only have I done it for personal gain, but I hope and believe that the inspiring motive has been to solve this great problem of '" something to do." Now, then, I think you pretty nearly all agree that it is not a discussion between men and boys ; neither is it a discussion be- tween men and women ; but the whole mat- ter hinges on this : The faithful and the unfaithful, or, if you choose, the half-heart- ed and the whole-hearted. I have some- times decided that I could not wear myself out any more in running after boys ; but in a very little time I would decide again that one good faithful, whole-hearted boy, was worth more than half a dozen mtn who were intent only on passing the hours and get- ting their pay. The one who enters heart and soul into his work, and strives to make it a««ccess, is the one that is helping. We are just beginning to pick strawberries. As we are getting 18 cents a quart for them, it pays to go over a large extent of ground for only a few berries. As fruit is very scarce in our market, everybody is hungry for it. My first mental question was, " Where is the boy who will get these few berries— who will get them all, and not waste his time, nor eat the greater part of them?" I in- stantly fixed my mind on one boy whom I knew would be faithful in every respect. He would not need any watching, and there would not be any doubt in regard to the re- sult of his search. He could not get them all before schooltime, so help was needed. After running over in my mind at least half a dozen, 1 decided on one of the very smalle^. He has all the qualifications of the other one, and I am sure, without say- ing any thing to him about it, he will not eat a berry without permission, during his two hours' work. A few days ago when I was discussing with the foreman about trusty boys, this boy overheard our remarks, and looked up with a bright, manly face. Said he : " Mr. Root, am I a good boy?" "Yes, H.," said I at once, "you <(re a good boy;" and I mentally added, " May the Lord bless your faithful, honest little soul." And my prayer is now, " May God help us to so educate our children that'there shall be more faithful, honest ones." It needs no spirit of prophecy to say that such ones will rise. Why, no matter how many crowds are going here and there for work, there will never be enough of the real honest and true— the real genuine nobility of the earth, and the salt of the earth. May God help us ! JlE^Dg 0F QiWl^i FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. HONEY STATISTICS. The following are the rest of the statisti- cal reports, which came too late for inser- tion in our last issue. Some of the corres- pondents were away— or, at least, in the far corners of the United States, so that their reports came in a little late. ARKANSAS. W. H. Laws, Lavaca. W. C. 6-2. a. b, 2; outdoor. CALIFORNIA. G. W. Cover, Downieville. N. 6 31. a. 80; outdoors; b. 80; in box and Langstroth hives outdoors, W. W. Bliss, Duarte. S. E. 5-23. a. 5; outdoors; b. 15; outdoors. The season so far is far above the average. Win. Muth-Rasmussen. Independence. E. 5-S;0. a. 2; outdoors; b. don't know; probably the same. J. ]'. Israel, Olivenhain.Cal. S. 5-20. a. 7><; outdoors; b. 10; outdoors. No cellars for bees are used here. R. Wilkin, San Buenaventura. S. W. 5-25. a. 6; outdoors; b. 5; outdoors. GEORGIA. J. p. H. Brown, Augusta. E. C. 5-22. a. 10; outdoors; b. 20; outdoors. Bees mostly kept in the o'.d box gum. INDIANA. T. H. Kloer, Terre Haute, .'i-27. a. 5; nearly all on account of queenlessness. Wintered out- doors, b. There was little loss during winter, but during the present month many have died of starvation, dwindled away, or swarmed out. Bees are just beginning to make a living. KANSAS. Frank H. Howard, Garden City. 5-23. a. 10; outdoors. BIICHIGAN. W. J. Carroll, Otsego. S. W. 5-26. a. 90 in cellar, loss 1; 10 outdoors in chaff, no loss. b. The loss in this neighborhood is very light, not more than 10 per cent. Bees winteied in chaff are in much the best condition. MINNESOTA. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa. E. 5-24. a. 25, cellar; b. 20, cellar. The loss in cellar was compai-ative- ly light, greatest loss being after their removal from the cel- lar, on account of the cold backward spring. MASSACHUSETTS. A. A. Sanborn, Westfield, Mass. S. W. .5-22. a. Loss very light outdoor, b. Loss very light; both meth- ods. OREGON. George Ebell, Baker City. E. 5-23. a. 100 per cent. b. Outdoors in chaff. TEXAS. B. F. Carroll, Blooming Grove. 6-2. a. None; outdoors in S. hives, b. None; outdoors. VIRGINIA. J. W. Porter, Charlottesville. C. 5-24. All outdoor wintering in Virginia. My own bees mostly slaughtered by foul brood. Bees generally wintered well; small loss. WASHINGTON. J. H. Goe, Mossy Rock . 5-24. b. 25; outdoors in common hives. The winter here was very hard on bees. W. W. Maltby. Port Angeles. 5-23. a, b. 7, outdoors. WISCONSIN. J. C. Sayles. Hartford. S. E. 5-20. a. 2, cellar; b, 2, cellar and outdoors. HEAVY LOSS IN A LARGE APIARY, BY THE MISS- ISSIPPI FLOOD. I have just had a severe loss among my bees. I live in the Red River Valley. I had 4a5 colonies on the first of April, and their increase from that time in three apiaries. On the 30th of April several levees broke in my neighborhood, and the water ran over my place. I put them up on pens four feet high. The water rose so fast, and the current was so strong, that I could not do any thing for I SHU GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 463 them after it got that high. The pens were washed away, or knocked over by arift. I have only about 40 left, and they are damaged, and ihe brood got wet. I have changed them into new hives. The water was 3J inches deep in my house. Some houses were wasbed away, and nearly all fences are gone, and crops destroyed. A great deal of stock was drowned, but no loss of human life that I have heard of. Some of the hives have been found in the woods, with a few bees in. The dead brood smells bad. Will it cause foul brood? Rush Point, La., May 34, 189J. W. J. Dawson. No, sir. Foul brood can n -^t start without a seed, any more tlian corn c.in grow wliere none is planted. IMPRISONING TROUBLESOMh, ROBBER BEES, AND PUTTING THEM TO HONEST WORK. I applied the wire cone to a use the other day that I am very much pleased with. Robbers got to work at a nucleus, and were raising quite an ex- citement. 1 made a box 3x3 inches, and as long as the width of the hive, with no bottom or back. The top was of double wire cloth, so they could not feed through it. Then in the front I bored a two-inch hole and put in a wire cone ~yi inches long, point- ing inside. This box I then fastened over the en- ^ ARR\NGEMENT TO PERMIT BEES TO GO INTO HIVES, BUT NOT TO GET OUT. trance of the hive being robbed, and you should have seen the robbers pile into that cone — just where I wanted them. Soon they were all in, out of mil way in working- for the rest of the day. I then i;ook them back into the cellar for three days; and when put out they remained in that hive. So I not only helped the weak swarm, but got the robbers nicely cornered, and stopped their nosing around, and stinging, when every thing else might have failed. This plan may not be new. but I have failed to see it in print; and I give it, thinking it may do some one some good. H. P. Lakgdon. East Constable, N. Y., Apr. 16. Friend L., your experiment is quite old. As much as ten years ago I gave an account of it in Gleanings. I. too, got a lot of black robbers entirely out of my way ; and by setting them in the cellar I made honest bees of them. They did not last very long, however. Either they lost their lives in undertaking to rob somewhere else, or else they were bees so old that they did not have very long to live. They lived long enough, however, to strengthen up my weak colony, so that the queen could fill it with brood. In my case, I presume that these black rob- bers came from the woods. If it were neighbors' bees, however, we should be care- ful about trespassing on any of their rights. CARNIOLANS, AND THE POSITION OF GLEANINGS IN REGARD TO THEM. By a late number of the Apiculturist and one or two of the other bee-periodicals, we note that one or two writers think the po- sition of GLi:ANiN(is is rather unfavorable toward the Carniolans. In fact, one scribe intimates that, because we sell Italians, therefore we condemn Carniolans. Why, the facts are, friends, we could sell Carnio- lans as well as Italians : At one time we were seriously proposing to locate a Carnio- lan apiary; but the few colonies we tested did not prove to be a desirable race to sell or recommend, and we thought we would wait for further developments. VVith us the Carniolans were not very gentle. The progeny of one queen were the Grossest bees we ever had in the apiary ; but then, she may have been crossed with a black drone ; but from the looks of her bees it was impos- sible to tell whether she was pure or hybrid. We also found that the Carniolans were dis- posed to swarm rather to excess. However, as we do not wish to appear partial we are glad to give a good word for them. In the last Bee-keepers^ Review we find the follow- ing editorial: THE CARNIOLANS GREAT BREEDERS. This i^ the first spring that we have had several good colonies of Carniolans in a normal condition- that had not been exhibited at fairs the previous autumn. That they rear more brood early in the season than do the blacks or the Italians, there is vo quci'tion. It was a surprise to us to see the en- thueiastic manner in which they go at it; as though brood-rearing had filled their minds to the exclu- sion of all else. It makes no difference if no honey is coming in. and only a little remains in the hive, brood-rearing is kept np to the very highest notch until the last drop of hOLey is consumed. Even with our prf^sent cold, rainy, and late spring, three colonies of Carniolans swarmed May 213; and at this writing (May 27) the Italians have made no prepara- tions for swarming. We all like bees that get to the front early in the season — that " show up " with hives running over at the blossoming of ihe clover— but. unless theee bees will •• turn to" and gather in the harvest when it comes, our enthusiasm will suffer a rapid decline. In this latter respect, the Italinns never disappoint us. When the harvest comes they are as complete- ly carried away in gathering honey as the Carnio- lans now are in raising brood. If the Carniolans will gather honey, when it comes, with the same energv now displayed in breeding, they will be the bees for us; and it is with interest that we shall watch their behavior in this respect, and report re- sults. Perhaps we have not had fair samples of the Carniolans. We hope the majority of them are. however, better than those we tried. What we are all after is a race of bees to breed early, are prolific, good work- ers, and but little inclined to swarm, whether it be Italians or Carniolans. Beau- ty or color ought to be a secondary consid- eration. FURTHER PARTICULARS IN REGARD TO THAT HEAVY LOSS IN NEW YORK. You ask for a more definite report on my bees. I-?. built a cellar, a honey-room, and a shop, 18x20— cel- lar full size of building, base laid in mortar, (J ft. high, with drain under the base. It being so wet all winter, the ground in the cellar become very wet. I put the bees into the cellar Nov. 30; set them 10 In. above ground, three and four tiers high, with open bottom, and honey-board shoved part of the way off. It got very warm at first; then I open- ed the cellar door at night: left windows open all 464 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. J I'NE the time, except shutters. It was very dark when the door was shut. The combs did not mold. I set my bees out Jan. (j, and Feb. 12 I left them out two days and then it turned cold, and snowed. I took 1000 Ibf . of honey, top storage. I don't think it was the cellar, but the warm winter, and honey-dew. I will give you some of the losses: Cellar. Left. John L. Van Olindo, 117 3 Peter Livingston, 60 4 W. S. Ward, 30(1 150 I. Hallenbeck, 20u loss heavy W. Wright, 4(10 H. Martin, 70 " " H. Bradt, !»0 6 or 8 left. These were all in cellars that have wintered well heretofore. If you want definite statistics I will try to get them. There are others who have lost. It is wet, cold, and backward for bees. L. Markle. New Salem, N. Y., May 32. TOO SMALL AN ENTRANCE FOR THE CHAFF HIVE. I like the Dovetailed hives to hive in; but with no bee-cellar to put them in for wintering, I will take the chaff hive all the time for the permanent home of the dear little bees. I have tested it, and found but one fault; and that is, the Sx% entrance is too small for hot weather, and I often have to raise the cover to keep the bees from clustering outside. I should like to tell you how much good Our Homes talks are doing, but I have not time. May God ever be with you. Lucinda A. Zinn. Philippi, W. Va., May 3. We formerly made the entrance to the chaff hives only 8 in. long. Others have mentioned that this was too short, and our own experience convinced us as much. We have recently made the entrances full width of the hive, and we believe the change will be appreciated. SELLING SECTIONS BY WEIGHT. I object Strongly to your statement that section honey is sold by weight. Everywhere I have been — Boston, New York, Washington, and even our own little local traders, invariably sell them (at re- tail) by the piece, no matter whether 13, 14, or 16 ounces, at the same price. I have no doubt that 99 out of every hundred retailers do the same thing all over the country. E. C. Newell. Brookfleld. N. H., Apr. 30. Eriend N., I do not know that I ever went into a grocery in any town or city where they sold sections as you say, without putting them on the scales. Why, the very Idea of selling three-fourths of a pound at the same price as a pound, or even a pound and a quarter, seems incredible. Honey commands pretty nearly the price of butter. What would become of the grocer w^ho would attempt to put off 12 ounces of butter for a whole pound ? Perhaps we had better settle this question through the Question- Box. LOSS IN MINNESOTA. There was very serious loss in this county, from dysentery, caused by honey-dew. Some localities did not suffer so much as others. Colonies were left in very weak condition. While 1 lost but one colony in 40, I should estimate my loss in bees at 10 per cent. Others have lost 50 per cent in colonies, and 75 per cent in bees (estimated). N. P. ASPINWALL. Harrison, Minn., May 20, 1890. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. MARKET-GARDENING JUNE 15. In my last I considered at considerable length what we should do with such a sur- plus of water as we were then having. Well, almost before my letter was in print it stopped raining and we have had warm sunshiny days almost uninterruptedly until the present time. I thought that, with the amount of rain we had had, we certainly could stand a couple of weeks, or even a month, without suffering. I soon found out my mistake, however. The ground had been so thoroughly soaked that our clay soil settled dow^n about as hard as if it had never been plowed. Then when the drouth came, the ground cracked open until the cracks through the strawberry - bed were large enough and deep enough to drop strawber- ries—that is, little ones— clear out of sight. When a little rain came, the water just ran into the cracks and seemed to do very little good, comparatively. Our transplanted cel- ery and cabbage did not prosper at all, un- less the beds were heavily sprinkled with water from the windmill, and then loosened up by a sharp steel rake. This saved them, but it was almost more work than the plants were worth. Under the circumstances, about the only course is level culture, and plenty of soft mellow dirt. With the soft mellow dirt we can fix the ground so it would stand a drouth of two weeks, or a month, easily. The ground that was planted before the ter- rible rains, amounted to but little ; I put in ■ the potatoes as nicely as I ever did; but there came up a great wetness, and settled the clay down so solid it was like a brick. The potatoes tried to get up through the crust, but gave it up, and a great part of our potatoes on the creek-bottom land are under the crust yet. Cultivating between the rows fixes the dirt between the rows well enough, but it does not help that around the potatoes, so our first planting will be a fail- ure. Ground that had not been planted was plowed up, rolled, harrowed, then rolled and harrowed again and again, until we had fine mellow soil. Corn, beans, peas, etc., planted in that fine mellow soil, without even a drop of rain, came up and grew to my full satisfaction. Without this fine mel- low soil and perfect tilth, it is almost im- possible to get a decent crop, no matter how much manure or phosphate or any thing else you put into it. To sum up the matter, when we have such heavy rains as we have had during the past spring, I do not know what to do. Does anybody else? True, we can wait until the rains are over and until the ground is dry enough to pulverize prop- erly; but we shall have to go without early stuff. Sandy loam, with a gravelly subsoil, would probably help the matter greatly; but I fear that underdrains and overdrains are both inadequate for such severe rain- storms. We can. however, rejoice at the excellent prices. June 10 there was scarcely a strawberry in Medina, and whoever had them to put on the market could get his own price. We still get 20 cts. per lb. for i8yo GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 465 lettuce ; 10 cts. for spinach and beet greens, There is another thing that I am rejoicing over : When every thing is exactly right, how wonderfully crops may grow and ma- ture I Xevy few. in my opinion, have wit- nessed the possibilities of market-gardening and fruit-growing. We get glimpses, how- ever, occasionally, and I am getting some of them now, and that makes me happy. ©QR pejaEg. If ye, then, being- evil, know how lo give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that asis him'?— Luke 11 : 13. As it was children's day, and other mat- ters occupied the attention of the Sunday- school, our lesson for last Sabbath was not taken up at all. But it has been taken up by me during the week, in a way that I have seldom before taken up any lesson. The golden text, •' Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,"' has always had something startling in it to me ; and then the words afterward, about a child asking its father for bread, or for a fish, or for an egg. Would any father give a stone or a serpent or a scorpion ? Surely not. And right close upon this vivid illustration comes the promise of our text to-day : "■ If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ? '' Please no- tice that, instead of saying that God will give bread, fish, etc., or needful food, the Savior says he will give us the Holy Spirit, implying, in a most positive and direct man- ner, that the Holy Spirit is the summing-up of all things. And the more I think of it, the more sure I am that the one thing need- ful to us all— ves, to every reader of Glean- ings, is the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is in our hearts, it takes the place of every thing else. I have been so much impressed with this that I have been praying with un- usual earnestness for that Holy Spirit in my heart, that is promised with so much emphasis. You will notice that, in all of Jesus' talk, in all his discourses, that seems to be the great theme. He is constantly exhorting us to more faith in God. Just be- fore that part of the lesson which I have taken up, is a most earnest exhortation to importunity in prayer. This means, as I take it, that we are not to get tired of pray- ing, nor to lose faith. We are to plead with God as we would plead with a neighbor who was unneighborly. Even though he should snub us, we are to have energy and perse- verance, and faith enough to continue to beg and entreat arni implore, even though he should say, right out. that he would not accede to our request. Now, we are to hold on to God's promises in the same way. We are to beg and beseech, no matter if we are discouraged by seeing only continual bad- ness in our own hearts ; and we are to contin- ue to implore and plead for his Holy Spirit to take the place of the badness. What has been the result of my continued prayer for the Holy Spirit in my own heart ? Perhaps you may smile at the idea of my expecting an answer to such a prayer, when the pray- er had been uttered for perhaps only a little more than a week back. AVell, dear friends, 1 have become so much accustomed to see- ing some answer to my prayers almost im- mediately tliat I have begun to take it as a matter of course — not when I pray in a half- hearted fashion, as a mere form, or as a sense of duty ; but when I pray in real dead earnest, for any thing I feel is right and proper. I have been led to expect some sort of answer ; and the answer in this case has been a little different from what I exaected it to be. This matter of the Holy Spirit has been for years rather confusing to me. What does it mean ? I have often before prayed for the presence of the spirit of Christ Jesus in my heart ; and I do not quite know what it was unless it was our recent lesson that prompted me to use the words of our text, and ask the Father for the Holy Spirit. Well, the effect has been to give me more of a spirit of charity and love toward all humanity than I perhaps ever have had before ; and I have also been able to see the consequences of a lack of faith and a lack of charity in others, in a way I have never seen before. Why, it seems to me, as I think of it this morning, that one of the greatest troubles we have to contend with is a lack of faith and a lack of charity in each other. The reason why many make failures in life, if I am correct, is because they are so constantly thinking evil of oth- er people ; and in the same line they doubt God's providence and God^s promises, and almost think evil of the great Father above. I want this talk to be helpful to you, dear friends, therefore I want to emphasize this uncharitableness by some illustrations that we all can enter into heartily. Uncharita- bleness is a disease. It gets hold of us, poi- sons our best feelings, warps our judg- ment, makes us sneering and ironical ; dis- torts, twists, dwarfs, and cramps the whole universe round about us. Tlie most promi- nent illustration I can think of in regard to bee- men is the false statements in regard to the adulteration of honey. The thing has crept in and grown until not only our periodicals but our standard works, our cy- clopedias, and our medical books, have got the disease, and made a shameful show of the depravity of humanity where there is no such depravity. What a sad thing ! While Dr. Kellogg's book was on our tables a few days ago, one of the office hands turn- ed over to the " Adulteration of Food," and there we found that foolish story repeat- ed, about manufactured comb honey. Our good friends of the Farm and Fireside, in a lengthy editorial a few days ago, brought up the whole matter of adulteration of hon- ey and the adulteration of candies, and ever so many other things, giving their readers the impression that humanity at large is so corrupt that we can hardly be sure of any thing. Now, this hasty, thoughtless man- ner of denouncing the great public at large — of denouncing the busiiiess men oi our na- tion, all comes, if I am correct, becau.se of a lack of t!ie Holy Spirit; because we have 466 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June not that Christian love in our hearts that we ought to have, and that strong reluctance to repeat words of censure or reproach, that all of us ought to have. Oh, if newspaper men, magazine men. and publishers of cy- clopedias, would, as they commence their work in the morning, pray from the heart that the Holy Spirit might keep them from these mistakes and evils, what a grand thing it would he ! 1 suppose you have al- ready thought of my bright little text right here — " Thinketli no evil.'' A great part of my acquaintance with the world comes through the letters day by day — letters that I am obliged to read in order that I may do justice to my fellow-men. While most of these letters breathe a spirit of charity and love, there is occasionally one from a poor brother or sister who has got things mixed and wrong. He supposes he has been wronged and cheated, when no- body has had a thought of such a thing. How sad are such cases ! I once had a teamster who was plowing on the creek bottom. He was right close by the railroad. His horses became excited, and made him some trouble with his plowing. He, poor fellow, became disturbed and excited too, and in his disor- dered state of mind he would have it that the engineer of the locomotive was running back and forth, sending the cars spinning hither and thither, just on purpose to annoy Mm and frighten his team. I had hard work to convince him that the railroad men never so much as thought of him and his team away down at the bottom of the bank. May be they did not see him at all ; but he did not think it unreasonable or impossible that these men who handle great cars and loco- motives, and whose time is worth ever so many dollars an hour, would stop and move great heavy machinery just on purpose to bother him with his comparatively unimpor- tant labor. I often think of this illustra- tion. Only yesterday Ernest wrote a whole Sage to a poor friend, to try to convince im that he was wrong in thinking that we had struck him a damaging blow in print, because we wanted to get the business away from him that he was doing. Why, the poor man did not even know that every member of the Root family have been wishing and almost praying for weeks back that the or- ders through the mails might stop. I pre- sume I never would have mentioned it had not this circumstance brought it out. But, dear friends, I have actually felt pained when a clerk has opened a letter containing a hundred dollars, and sometimes two or three hundred. For so many years I have been in the habit of thanking God for such letters, that it does seem a little strange now to feel sad when they come. We have had more business than we knew what to do with. We have stopped sending out price lists and advertisements; we have discouraged those who inquired about goods — that is, hives and sections, because we knew how unable we were to fill orders promptly ; and yet this poor friend would have it that we were greedy for the small business he was doing, and wanted it all ourselves. When by some blunder an adver- tisement was left out that should have ap- peared, two or three good friends have al- most insisted that A. I. Root kept it out be- cause he was afraid it would injure his trade. And then when I have tried to ex- plain, one or two have accused me of being untruthful. Why, bless your hearts, dear friends, do you think it possible, with all my cares and burdens, that I want what justly belongs to you? Think hard of me, if you choose, tor our neglect during the past few weeks. You may even call me names, and accuse me of being lazy and half-heart- ed, and you may say 1 have got so I do not care as I once did ; but, please do not hurt me any more by insinuating that I am greedy for your business. What a very sad picture I sl'iould present, if, after all these blessings God has sent me with such un- stinted abundance, I should be greedy for still more property, more business, and more anxiety. Many of the things you, in your thoughtlessness, have accused me of, I never knew any thing about ; for it is im- possible that any one human being should be able to compass or keep track of so much. And in saying this, please do not under- stand me that no one is looking after your kind orders. Others have taken my place. Other good kind Christian hearts are read- ing your letters, many of them, and dictat- ing answers in my place. Perhaps they do not know you as I do, and very likely they are so cramped for time that their answers are brief ; but I am sure that a kindly feel- ing actuates them all. I am sure that the Holy Spirit has a permanent lodging-place in the hearts of the most of these friends and helpers who are gathered about me, doing their part to the best of their ability, and as I would do it if I were able to do it all. During revival times we often witness the workings of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of men. A few weeks ago my old pastor, A. T. Reed, wrote me that he would be very glad to have me pass the Sabbath with him in a neighboring town, that I might assist him in the revival work now going on there. I could not well be spared for even one day, at this season of the year, especially at this present season ; but I arranged to leave home late Saturday night, and to get home early Monday morning. Almost as soon as I stepped from the train Saturday evening, I was ushered into a church full of pleasant, wide-awake, earnest people. Their very faces inspired me ; and I talked to them for forty minutes, perhaps, as well as I ever talked in any similar audience. Before the meeting closed, great numbers of young and old, especially the former, arose and testified for Christ Jesus. During the Sabbath I at- tended five different services, taking more or less part in all of them. I came home with a new inspiration in my heart for the cause. It was arranged that my stay over Sunday should be with a family who had lately come out on the Lord's side — at least a grown-up son and daughter had, and we hope and pray that the father will follow soon. The son and daughter were perhaps from eighteen to twenty, and I was at once impressed with the beautiful characters of the two. They were bright, enterprising, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 467 go-ahead, remarkably intelligeut, and at the same time their lives were consecrated to the Master. They especially won my re- spect and admiration, the more so, perhaps, from the fact that God had just called home the mother of the household. She died in March. In order to save expenses, and at the same tim3 make the home pleasant for the bereaved father, the daughter had, with much zeal and devotion, undertaken to fill the mother's place in the household. The responsibility was a little new to her, and it touched my heart to see how anxious she seemed to have every thing pleasant for her guest, and to do as her mother would have done had she been alive. She did all the cooking and housework. Before the even- ing meeting she came out with a pleasant face, and called us in to supper. I replied, in a vein of pleasantry : " Why, my good young friend, I did not know we were to have any supper, and it hardly seems as if we need any after our most excellent late dinner." '■'• O Mr. Root ! is it really true that you mean exactly what you say? Did you in- deed consider it an excellent dinner V You do not know how anxious and troubled I felt about it ; and I was so afraid that I should not have every thing just right, or just as mamma would have had it." As she spoke the words, a look of tender- ness came into her face as she thought of the dear mother who had so recently gone ; and it gave me, too, a glimpse of that anx- ious spirit which I had before seen beaming from her expressive hazel eyes. Had any- body asked me at the time what her com- plexion was, or what the color of her hair was like, I could not have told, for I rarely notice such things ; but I should have said, notwithstanding, that she was one of the most beautiful characters (perhaps I might as well say most beautiful young women) that I had ever met. Now, please do not think that I am partial ; for her brother was as handsome a young man as one often meets. The attraction in both was, how- ever, in the line of •*• pretty is that pretty does." These two had recently given their hearts to Christ under the teaching and preaching of our dear brother Reed, who once, a few years ago, in God's providence, brought me from darkness into light. Brotlier Reed has grown since then, and God's work is growing rapidly in his hands. Some of you who see this, doubtless know him and have learned to love him. As his chosen field of work is evangelical, he may come into your neighborhood some time. If so, do not, I beg of you. miss seeing him and hearing him talk. Well, my heart was full of the Holy Spirit during this Sunday work. It was an easy matter to love every- body— even the ruddy-faced saloon-keepers that abound in such plenty in the town of Lorain. And is it any wonder that I had several times thanked God for giving me glimpses and even a brief acquaintance with two such nice people as this boy and girl I have been telling you of V Of course, I recognized that they were hu- man, like the rest of us— that close acquaint- ance might develop faults in their charac- ters that seemed so perfect; but, dear friends, what is the harm of thinking well of everybody V My good old mother sees so much good everywhere in everybody, that it is a standing joke among the children. If she chances to talk with a tramp or a Jew peddler, she bids him good-by, with the firm conviction that he is a good man ; and I know by experience that the tramps and Jew peddlers— it. fact, almost everybody else, leave her with a feeling in their hearts, if not out-spoken, " Well, there is a good old lady, any way." Two or three times 1 have heard her called an old saint. Please ex- cuse this much in regard to my mother, dear friends. It will probably be a long, long while before anybody calls this son of hers, who is writing to you, a saint or any thing approaching it. But is it not our privilege, dear friends, to see saintly quali- ties in our friends and neighbors? Let us now go back to the neighbors I was speaking about— a boy and girl of eigh- teen and twenty— the two whom I had learned to consider almost as young saints —at least, during my brief Sunday acquain- tance. Sunday afternoon, it being decora- tion day, I spoke briefly to an audience of several hundred. There were four or five speakers present, so we all spoke briefly. At the close of the talk, some old neighbors who used to liVe in Medina came forward and took me by the hand. As they lived near by, I was constrained to step into their home a few minutes between meetings. A young man— one of Ernest's old playmates — was among the converts, and the Holy Spirit had certainly found a lodging-place in his heart. The poor mother had not been attending the meetings, and she had not yet risen to that point where love, hope, and charity brighten and ennoble '' our neigh- bors." I hope she will excuse me, if she ever sees this, for quoting one single expression from her talk. When they asked me where I was stopping, I gave them the name. They were new comers, however, and not much acquainted. Finally the mother spoke: "Oh, yes I I know now. It is where that red-headed girl lives, who keeps house for her father." Just then the words '-red-headed girl" jarred particularly on my spiritual state. It is a common expression, and may be that almost any one has at times indulged in j ust such words. Dear friends, is it right to speak in that way of any neighbor? I had not noticed the color of her hair before, any more than to remember that it was light ; and as she spoke feelingly of her love for Christ, her eyes were beautiful, and her face was beautiful, and her hair too. It seemed in keeping with her peculiar com- plexion. I noticed, as she sat down to the table, somewhat fatigued with her labors over the stove, a flush on her cheek. I knew what brought it there, and I admired her all the more. If there is any class of women I respect and admire more than oth- ers, it is those who voluntarily choose to do their own housework ; who know what it is to cook and sweep, to iron and wash. The words "red-headed girl" kept ringing in my ears They called up recollections of 468 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June times when I have thoughtlessly and un- feelingly spoken of my friends and neigh- bors with a lack of cliarity. May God help me to do so no more. May that Holy Spirit I have been telling you of help me not only to speak of, but to look upon every human be- ing us something sacred and holy— as a piece of God's handiwork. And may this same Holy Spirit help me to see the good and saintly traits in fallen ruined humanity. " O Lord God, help not only my poor self, but help every reader of Gleanings to pray often, in faith believing, for that Holy Spirit that Christ Jesus thine only Son promised to those that ask. Help us that the influences of the Holy Spirit may find such a lodging-place in our "hearts that kind- ness and love shall characterize our every thought and word and deed ; and may its influences brighten and ennoble our poor hearts that are so prone to wander after the bad. Help us to remember our sacred calling ; help us, who have enlisted under the banner of the cross, to remember our profession ; help us to see light ahead, and not darkness and ruin ; help us to look up to the great God above, who created us in his own likeness and in his own image. Save us from the peculiar temptations that so often beset at least most of us, and which tempt us to see only the defects and misfortunes of the neighbors round about us ; help us, O Lord, to see the God part, and inspire us with that Spirit, that w^e may be able to encourage and bring out the good ; give us, we pray thee, of that Holy Spirit according to those unfailing promises, as in the language of our text to-day.'' Come, Holy Spirit, iieavenly Dove, With all thy quick'ning- powers; Kindle a flame of sacred love In these cold hearts of ours. BUSINESS AT THE HOME OF THE HONEY-BEES. SOME PRETTY SEVERE CHARGES AGAINST A. I. ROOT. Don't be troubled, dear friends ; it is not somebody else that I am going to complain of, it is only myself ; and the particular rea- son why I speak of it is that I may ask you all to be slow in condemning your friends and neighbors, and to remember that there are almost always palliating circumstances that we do not know all about. In the past two or three issues I have told you that things were in a rather bad shipe here this present season, on account of the unexpect- ed rush for goods. Amid it all, however, we have tried to be prompt in answering all inquiries, and we have tried hard to tell the truth. I do not know that I have ever ex- horted our clerks more, relative to making some sort of answer to every complaint that has come, than this present season. Not- withstanding, however, a great many of our friends have had great reason to complain, and perhaps good reason to say hard things of your old friend. The following letter il- lustrates this : Dear Sir:—1 write you once more concerning the supplies I ordered of you six weeks ago, which have failed to materialize. After four weeks had passed I wrote you about the matter, and you claimed that orders had overwhelmed you so that you had been running night and day, but would ship my goods the next day (May 30). After reasonable time for the shipping bill to reach me, I wrote again for the reason you failed to do as you agreed, and you failed to ship, or explain any thing. I have talked with several bee-keepers about the matter, some of whom are readers of Gleanings, and all agree that your promise to me of May 29, that you would ship my goods to-mor- row, was a base deception. If you could not fill the order, say so like a man. My bees are swarming, and I shall get supplies elsewhere. A portion of the goods will be worthless to me before you get around, if you ever do. 1 demand my money back by return mail. F. F. Harrington. Hartwick, N. Y., June 9. Whoever undertakes to carry on a busi- ness requiring many hands, should take in- to consideration the fact that sickness and accidents will occur more or less, as a mat- ter of course, and two or more should be trained, if possible, for the very important posts. The proprietor ought to ask himself the question almost daily, " What should I do just now if so and so should be sick or kept away ? " This I have tried to do to the extent of having one or more " loose men " around, with nothing particular for them to do. This season has been no ex- ception. I mentally wondered several times what I should do if a certain one were disabled or kept away, and in a very few days the very thing happened. Sometimes two valuable hands were laid up at once. During the very height of our rush I told my wife that nothing would make greater disaster than to have something happen to "John," who takes the entire charge of oi:- ders, and tells people what we can do an,d what we can not do. Well, John sprained his ankle at this very crisis, and w^as kept from the office nearly two whole weeks. But even when he could hardly endure the pain, the clerks were running to him with inquiries concerning business. This state of affairs threw our good friend Harrington behind, with a lot of others. Although Er- nest was pretty well burdened with the journal matter, bees, and attendant letters, he took Mr. Calvert's place as best he could, and wrote the letter promising that the goods should be shipped May 30. He did this because " Jacob " told him they could surely go at that time. But there are other "big guns" in our establishment besides Jacob ; and somebody overruled Jacob's ruling, it seems, and, in fact, in John's ab- sence there were several who had been promised, and the promises could not well be all fulfilled at once. The postal card which friend IL says was not answered was answered promptly, but perhaps not as ex- plicitly as the urgency of the case demand- ed. About the time the goods did go, I got hold of the transaction and declared that this shipment should be put on the next train, even if it stopped even/body else. Now, I do not know that even "/ had a right to say this, for a promise is as binding toward one man as toward another. It is true, that 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 469 although Ernest gave the positive promise that the goods would go promptly, they did not go until seven days afterward. Under the circumstances, friend 11. was quiie ex- cusable in deciding that Ernest's promise was a "base deception."' If he knew Ernest, however, he would never think of accusing him of trying to deceive anybody. Ernest is sometimes foigetful ; but when he made the promise, he had no thought that it would not be kept. Now, I am very well aware, friends, that apologies are very well, so far as they go ; but in eases like the above (and I fear there have been quite a number of them), the only thing that can be done is to ask these friends who have been "■ hum- bugged " by receiving promises that have not been kept, to make out their bills for damages. The only honorable apology, in my opinion, for such kind of business, is a dollars-and-cents apology. Friend H., make out your bill, and we will try to meet it. Meanwhile, A. I. Root begs that you will put out your hand with as much good grace as you can. under the circumstances, and " shake.'' Yes, even if we are going to quarrel, let us shake ttrst ; and if we can not shake after we get through, we shall be so much ahead any way. Hundreds of dollars have been already sent back, and a good deal of it just as soon as the letter was re- ceived, because the order was to ship at once or }iot at all ; and we stand ready to return every dollar that has been sent us just as soon as we are told to, providing the goods have not already gone. EDIT01^I^l£. Thou hast been a shelter for me.— Psalm 61: 3. WHY DO THE BEES KILL OFF THEIR DRONES IN JDNE? So many have asked this question during the past few days we have thought best to answer it here. I know of no other cause for such a state of affairs than a break in the honey-flow or pasturage; and, as a general thing, it indicates that you had better commence feeding until honey begins to come. If you do not, you will lose in brood in a way that will be damaging to your colony, even if you do not lose the colony outright by starvation. Watch the honey-flow, especially if you have col- onies nearly destitute of stores. HOW WE ARE GETTING OUT IN FILLING ORDERS AT THIS DATE, .JDNE 13. Well, dear friends, we are still running night and day, with .500 or 600 orders ahead of us; but al- though the number of orders is large, the amount of goods to be sent is not nearly so great, for the orders are small, comparatively. We expect by July Ist to be up in every department. In fact, every thing now goes almost by return mail, or by return express or return train, unless it calls for hives and sections. Our wax-room is so well ahead they have come down to ten hours a day, so you can have any thing in the line of foundation right ofl'. QUEENS AT LOW PRICES. We are well aware that queens are offered by dif- ferent parties lower thiin we dare undertake to fur- nish them. Those ordering should remember, how- ever, that we have for years been in the habit of having queens on our table every day, ready to be sent out by the first mail. Now, at least some of those who offer queens at low prices do not send them promptly. Perhaps our readers know how many, better than we do. Another thing, those who order queens often live some distance from their postofhce. People write us about making a trip to the postoffice every day for a week, and that where the postottice is three or four miles away. Imagine the trouble and expense it makes when the queens are not sent promptly. Another thing, those who are new in the business often fail in get- ting queens to go through alive. I fear that some of our younger friends have thoughtlessly figured up that they could do well in selling untested queens for .50 cents; but when they come to find, though, in experience, that half of them or more die before reaching their destination, they sometimes get into real trouble. Now, I do not make these re- marks because I wish you to send your orders to us, but because I wish those who propose advertis- ing queens at very low prices would think well and be careful before they embark in the business. THE NEW water-cure TREATMENT. A HOST of letters have been received siuce our last; and the greater part of them— in fact, I might say all— who have purchased the secret of Dr. Hall speak in praise of this drugless remedy. Many give actual experiences of where it has been the means of saving life. They say, too, that before going to Dr. Hall, they had applied to our physi- cians right and left. If this is true, it is a rather sad state of affairs; but I can hardly believe that the average family physician is ignorant of reme- dies that have been laid down in our medical books, and even our common family doctor books, for ages. I am inclined to think that those good friend.s who have inv--8ted their $4 00 are a little prejudiced against our doctors, and a little biased in favor of Dr. Hall. I am, however, well satisfied that even Dr. Hall's manner of doing business has been the means of saving life, and giving health to many more. Then is it not right for him to take $4.00 from the sick and suffering for his little pamphlet? These friends I have been speaking of try to make out it is right, even though the treat- ment is in our common doctor books. Now comes the question, "What is right in such a state of affairs?" Why, it seems to me to be a very simple matter. All valuable information comes to us through books and periodicals. Let Dr. Hall give us a nice little book, fully illustrated, and filled with testimonials and experiences from those who have used this treatment. Sell this book at about the price similar books are ordinarily sold. By this means he will do a hundred times more good, and I think very likely he will get just as much money. I myself should be very glad to give the hooka recommendation. I should like to have it, how- ever, embody also the opinions of some of our lead- ing physicians. BEAUTY VERSUS UTILITY, AGAIN. On page 434 of Gleanings for June 1, in speak- ing of some yellow bees sent byMr. Jacob T.Timpe, the type made us describe them as "yellow-banded workers." What we meant to have said was, " Five yellow-banded workers." Through the sickness of several of the clerks, the writer was obliged to'at- tend to other work and omit some proof-reading. In this connection we would say that Mr. Timpe takes some exceptions to our having suggested in 470 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June this editorial the possibility that these four and live banded bees ininltt contain some Cyprian blood. He assures us the bees in question are from pure Italian stock, and are not of Cyprian descent. In proof he sends another cage of bees which are in- deed handsome flve-banded bees. Though they resemble very closely some yellow Cyprians they are no doubt of purely Italian origin. SENDING SPECIMENS OF FOUL BROOD BY MAIL. Every season we have more or less such samples sent in paper boxes, which are often burst open in the mail-bags. The clerk who opens the mail sets the specimen in a certain place until the letter de- scribing it is found. Then the one who examines it to see whether it is real foul brood or not may be careless. They ought not to be in our establish- ment, for foul brood has cost us already more than flOOO, clean cash. The point is, this sending of samples or specimens by mail or express, or any other way, should be stopped. It is very dangerous, and there is not a bit of need of it. We can tell you from description just as well as to see the brood itself ; and our text-books and journals have all described it, over and over. Please do not send any suspicious comb through the mails or in any other way. Let all the bee-journals echo the request. If you are afraid it is in your hives, examine the de- scription in our text-books; then if you are not satisfied, state the matter plainly; write to us or some other competent authority. Meanwhile take every precaution against spreading. It should be treated like scarlet lever, yellow fever, cholera, etc. Stamp it out of existence ; and by no manner of means give a chance of spreading it by your own thoughtlessness or foolishness. THE ABC BOOK. We have had a great many very kind notices of the ABC book, but never a kinder one, or one that we consider more complimentary, than the one made by Bro. Newman in the American Bee Journal, page 363. The following is the notice: The A B C of Bee Culture, by A. f. Eoot, has again been revised and enlarged, and the new edi- tion is now on our shelves. It contains 430 pages, and is profusely illustrated. It is the cheapest, and one of the best — if not the very best — of all the books on apiculture in existence. We congratulate friend Root upon the perfection and excellence of his book. This is more highly appreciated, because friend Newman is not only the publisher of a bee-journal, but the author of a most excellent bee-book, and a practical printer besides. Ttiis state of feeling be- tween publishers is indeed pleasant; and this is not confined to publishers of bee literature either. When G. B. Lewis & Co. suffered loss by fire recently, it will be remembered they received messages of con- dolement from other supply-dealers, with oflfers of assistance. As C. C. Miller said recently, it peems as if the mlllenium of brotherly feeling and good will were now among apiculturists. The American Bee Journal is always on time. We never saw one copy in all the hundreds that have coaie to us that was poorly printed— over-i"ked or under-inked. They are always a model in typographical appear- ance. We are in a position to know that it is not an easy thing to be out on time, nor to make every ^number of a periodical an exact duplicate of the others typographically. We do not say this be- cause we desire to reciprocate friend Newman's kindne88,but because it is something for publishers to emul8W:e. BEAUTIFUL BEES GOOD QUALITIES are alivayei pleas- ing to tlie eye. are always profitable. If you want Bees and Queens that combine beau- ty and good qualities to a marked degree, write for circular giving low prices. No circulars sent out unless applied for. CHAS. D. DUVAlili, Stfdb Spencerville, Mont. Co., Rid. JS"In respondinir to this advertisement mention Gleanings. "HANDLING BEES." Price 8 Cts. A chapter from "The Hive and Honey Bee, Re- vised." treating of taming and handling bees; just the thing for beginners. Circular, with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. 5tfdb CHAS. DAOAIVT & SON, Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illinois. it^'In respondintr to tli;s adwfti^einent mention Gleanings. t^-fii respoMdiMj; to tills advertisement mention Gleanings. Look Here! Supplies Cheap Italian and Albino Queens and Bees; Chaff and Simplicity and Nonpareil Hives. Extractors, Smokers. Foundation, Surplus Section Boxes, Root's Perforated Zinc. Price List Free. Write for One. A. A. BYAED, WEST CHESTEEFIELD, CHESHIEE CO., N. H. It^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL, AND THE STAND- ARD IN EVKRY" CIVILIZED COUNTRY. Bingham & Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Prices. Doctor Smoker, 3)4 in , postpaid Coaqueror " 3 " Large '• 2i4 " Extra (wide shield) i " " Plain (narrow " ) 3 " " Little Wonder. 1% " Uncapping Knife Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. .S3.00 . 1.75 . 1.50 . 1.35 . 100 . 65 115 Milledgeville, 111., March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day. and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as I do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 13,1890. Sirs: — The smoker I have has done erood service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to itfdb BmaHAM Ss HETHESiiraTON. Abronia, Mich. l^"In responding to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE Contents of this Number nmntaiTJ 475 Age of Bees to Mail 482 Alfalfa i n Kansas , . .192 Basswooil. Aiiniliilation of.. 490 B.'es Transff iTiiig Eirgs 497 Brace-eornbs, Necessity of..49:i Caged Queens 480 Clinicians. Good Temper.. 49S Chitties. White 491 Ci- .499 Killed in June. ExohidHis I'rev'ng Laying.. tSO Ki Xfil 1 )i.stanoes 4S1 Ki.xtd liistanees Resumed. ..497 Fracas, Lively 499 Fr.imt's. Siiacihg 490 Oolilsiiiitli Beetle 4,S7 Hiv,-s. Sha le for 49ii Holf man Frame 483, 489, 49 1 Honey l'rvisi)efts. Cook 4S7 Honev C.in.lv'gin Suminer.497 Honey, Do Bees Make? 485 Horsemint 496 Italians, Four-banded 49-> Jones V. Brown. Legal Case.4Sl Jumbo Extractor 484 Lawn-mower Attachment. .495 Locality and Hives 497 Lonu-ldea Hive •. 482 MaTiayin^- CiOO Colonies 498 Mclntvrc. J. F 486 Meltiiig Old Cbs. with Porn.496 Myself and Neighbors 500 Ne.'tar Going to Waste 495 Osburn in Cuba 4.s:i Pollen for Drones 479 Rt'lioits Discouraging. , 49S Kil)euing (-Jreen Honej' 485 Kipening Honej' in Jars 497 Shade for Hives 49B Simp. V. Flat Cjver 483, 49; Solar Wax-extractor 499 Space Under Brood-frames. 49(i Spacing of Combs. . . (Q. B.) .49! Spacing Brood frames 490 Spruce-tree Plant-lice 488 Strawberries, Visit to Terry. 500 Swarming, Preventing 480 Thick Top-bars No aurr-cb.497 Thick Top-bars 498 Watering Bees 496 Wiring Frames 49i Wiring, Horizontal 495, 496 TAKE NOTICE ! BEKOKE placing your Orders for SUPPliIES, write for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sec- tions. Bee-Hives, Shipping'-Crates, Frames, Foun- dation, Smokers, etc. Address U. H. SCHMIDT & CO., 31-20db NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co., WIS. 0*ln resi>onding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. IF YOU ARE IN WANT OF BEES or BEE-KEEPERS' SCPPLIES, Send lor our New Catalo«;ue. «tfdb OLIVER HOOVER & CO., Mention this paper. Snydertown, Pa. LONG > DISTANCES ? SEND NAME ON POSTAL CARD FOR MY NEW PRICE LIST TO C. p. BISH, Grove City, Mercer Co., Pennsyl'a. Formerly of St. Joe Sta., Tiiitler Co., Fa. ESTABLISHED IN 18S4. 9tfdb Please mention this paper. ALBINO ^ QUEENS- I will furnish pure queens of this gentle and beautiful race of bees this season at the following prices: Extra select tested. $1.50; Warranted, 75c. JOSEPH ITIOSER, Festiua, 'Winesliiek Co., lo'tra. t^"In respondiner to tills advertisement mention GLEANINGS. TESTED QUEENS CHEAP Diirinff the Sicnrminf/ Season. Prolific queens, producing all three-banded work- ers. $1.00 each. Six for f 4 00. 13-14d J. A. GREEN, Daytou, 111. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. mailing QUEENS TO NEW MEXICO. The queens came yesterday in good condition, and I put them in according to directions. Cimilario, N. M., Apr. 3J. J. B. Dawson. PLEASED WITH THE ABC. You are right in thinking the A B C of Bee Cul- ture would suit me, lor it dees, and 1 am more than interested in it. vv. B. Hamilton. Quinc}', Miss., May 26. printed SERMONS. I am kept very busy now in Christ's service. I am superintendent of the Sabbath -school, class- leader in the church, president of the Band of Hope, and also take the service in the church now and then; and sometimes, when I get to reading your Home talks, I feel as if I should like to shake you by the hand, and say, " Go on, brother; you are doing a grand work for the Master, the result of which only eternity Will reveal." I only wish that all the papers that are printed would tell ute more about Jesus. It was by reading a sermon by one of your ministers, T. Dewitt Talmage, that I was brought to a saving knowledge of the truth, and that sermon was in a newspaper. A. A. Miles. Brisbane, Australia, Feb. 10. [Dear friend M., we rejoice to know that one of our American ministers, through a printed sermon, was the means of bringing you to the Srtvior. 1 want to thank you for your trank acknowledgment. May the Lord be praised for such testimony.] OUR LEADER SHEARS. About Christmas time I ordered a pair of your Leader shears, also a pair of lace scissors, both of which have proved more than satisfactor.y. The shears are beautiful. A number of my friends have seen them, and thought them wonderful for the price. Mrs. F. M. Maynard. Jefferson, Wis., Mar. 29. [My good friend, perhaps I should say to you and a good many others who have been rejoicing over the price of the Leader shears, that the factory where they were made has been burned down, and has not yet been rebuilt. On this account we are out of some of them, and have been obliged to sub- stitute others. We purchased, however, to large a stock that we have enough to last for some time to come, with the exception of a few sizes, such as the 6,'^ and 10 inch ] 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 477 PeNEY QdhliW' CITT MARKETS. Kansas City.— Hojiei/.— Received to-day first consiKnment of new comb honey from Independ- ence. Mo. Very nice white 1-lb. sections, put up in handsome whitewood packages, twelve sections to the case, selling at ]rj@16: no change in extract- ed. Beeaivax, 25. June 19. Clemons. Cloon & Co.. Cor. Fourth and Walnut Sts., Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis.— Hojicj/.— Very little inquiry. We are in receipt of 6000 to 8000 lbs. of new crop extracted, which IS as fine as you ever saw. We quote: Choice comb, 10® 12; inferior, 8®9. Extracted and strained, iu cans, 6(tf'8; 5>^ in barrels for old. New crop. 6'/i®7'/4. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., June 19. St. Louis, Mo. San Francisco.— H()?ie)/.— Extracted honey, 454@5i wholesale. Comb honey, 1-lb. sees., 11@12; 3-lb. sees., 8@11. Beeswax. 23®37. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER. June 11. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco, Cal. Detroit. — Honey. — No desirable honey left In the commission houses. The dark grades that are left are selling at 10(gl2. Extracted selling slowly at 7@8. Beeswax wanted at 27(g!.28. M. H. Hunt, June 19. Bell Branch, Mich. Kansas City.— Ho»iey.— Market cleaned up on old comb and extracted. New crop of comb begin- ning to arrive. We quote 1-lb. comb, white, 15; 1-lb. comb, dark, 11@12; 2-lb. comb, white, 13@13; 3-lb. comb, dark, 10® 11. Extracted white, 6@7. Dark, 5. Hamblin & Bearss, June 13. Kansas City, Mo. Columbus.— Ho?iew.— Sales of honey slow at 15 c. Old honey about cleaned up. A lot of honey re- mains which is not salable. June 18. Earle Clickenoer, Columbus, O. Boston.— Honej/.— No change in honey or bees- wax. Blake & Ripley, June 19. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. Cleveland.— Honey.— Extracted. 5X@5?4; comb honey. 11@12 Beeswax, :i2@3:3 Market quiet for Jhoiie* . tirui lor beeswMX. June 27. A. C. Kendel, Cleveland, O. Albany.— flonej/.— There is not enough doing in honey market at present to report. C. McCuLLOCH & Co., June 18. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. For Sale.— 1890 white-clover honey, extracted, No. 1, in 65-lb. tin-cans or by the barrel. J. B. Murray, Ada, O. Wanted.— New honey, comb and extracted. State price, quality, and shape. Geo. W. Hardwick, 328 E. Market St., Indianapolis, Ind. Rheumatism -^- Bees. No doubt the best bees for curing rheumatism are pure-bred Italians that prove to be good work- ev* and work on red clover. We have such if you want good stock to work with and to secure you plenty of honey. Tested queens in May, - $1.50; in June, - $1.25 Unt'd " " " - - 1.00; 3 for - - 2.50 " " June, - 75; 3 for - 3.00 For wholesale prices, nuclei, lbs. of bees, and all kinds of bee-supplic3, write for our 16 p. circular, mfdb JNO. NEBEl. A: SON, Hi;^! Hill, M«. Mention this paper. ITALIAN QUEENS FOR SALE. Tested, reared iu August, 1839, 75 cts., clipped; untested, fi6 cts. ; hybrids. 25 cts. G. L. JONES, Grand Ridge, Illinois. t^ln responding to tliis adverti.'^ement iiieutiun (JI-kamn'-^. o< Now Ready to Ship >o Full colonies of pure Italian bees, with tested queen, in A. I. Root's Simplicity hive, only $4.00 each. Every thing flrst-class. Pure Poland China pigs, eligible to Ohio record, from $5 to $13 per pair. Safe delivery guaranteed. I shall do by all as I would be done by. N. A. KNAPP, 13tfdb Rochester, Lorain Co., Ohio. t^"ln responding to tliis advertisement mention Glkaning.s. E. R. GIBBS, Breeder and Dealer in Ferrets, Guinea Pigs. Lop-eared and Common Rabbits. Send 2-cent ■stamp for circular. 25 colonies of fine Italian bees and fixtures for run- ning them for either comb or extracted honey, for sale at a bargain. Address E. R. Gibbs, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. I3'"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings, QUEENS from imported mother; untested, 7.5c; tested, $1.25: three-frame nucleus, with queen, $3.00. Safe arrival guaranteed. 13-14d Thomas & Kissel, Horatio, Darke Co., Ohio. FOR SALE. — Italian queens; tested, at $1.00 each; untested, 75 cts. each. Safe arrival. 13-15-17d L. A. Ressler. Nappanee, Ind. Please give me your or- 1 Two - frame nucleus, ders, and try my fine yel-* with queen, in June, $2. low Italian queens; areTTested queen, $1.50; un- from Imported stock,,*. tested, $1.00. 8tfdb well known to my cus-T Mrs. Oliver Cole. tomers. Send for circular I Sherburne.Che. Co., N.Y. It^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be Inserted under this head at one-half onr asual 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 regular rates. This department is intended only for bona-fide exchanges. Ex- changes lor 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. ANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. ANTED.— To exchange 1 lb. of thin fdn. forSlbs. of wax. 7tfdb C. W. Dayton, Bradford, la. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees in portico L. hives for a good set of tinner's tools. IStfdb J. A. BUCKLEW, Warsaw, Ohio. W W WANTED.— To exchange a li-inch Foundation- mill, good as new, with dipping tanks and boards, for beeswax, tin plate, metal rabbets, T tins, or offers. A. A. Weaver, Warrensburg, Mo. 13-14d WANTED.— Ext'd honey, Chaff and S. hives. Bee supplies, honey-extractor, for World type-writ- er. Telegraph fodder-cutter, sulky, or offers. W. W. KULP, Pottstown, Pa. W ANTED —To exchange full-b'.ood Chester-white pig for a good incubator. Mrs. R. a. Wolfcale, Uniondale. Indl. WANTED. — Second - hand foundation machine. Give description and price. J. F. Michael, 13-U-1.5d German, O. W ANTED.- Cornespondence with parties wanting small fruit-lS-m in full bearing now. Apiary, poultry yard, etc. Good yearly income. Splendid home. Speak quick; must be disposed of. No pos- tals. F. M. Saundeks, Hamilton, Texas. WANTED.— To corroapond with some bee-keeper in Illinois that can make utte of a handy man with 4 h. p. enjjine. this winter, to make bee sup- plies. F. P. HisH, Henton, Shelby Co., 111. 478 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July ■-. - ^^p:,.\A^mii\ lip WINS ~r^,- Iliirrali lur the Ciiriiiolaiiis ! ThCy take the lead; win the race; secure the prizi. It you want TONS OF HONEY, Try the Carniolans. Hardiest to winter; tBleasant- est to handle; best hone ^r-K-atherers. Our stock is the bfst that can be procured, and is bred miles away trorn other races. Price**: One untested queen, $1.00; 6 for $5.00: 13 for $9 00. One tested queen; !|f;i. 50. One import- ed queen, $3.50. The Hi-i'-Ki-fjx^r.s' A iu -?.i iu -» -:ij and Albino Queens That will frive perfect satisfaction. Tested, $1.25. Select tested, 11. .50. Uateeted, 75 cts. from now un- til October. 1 guarantee safe delivery. Sold this year 113 queens. J.W.TAYLOR, 13-],5db Ozan, Hempstead Co., Ark. In writing advertisers please mention tliis paper. rOR SAIiE.— An apiary of 135 colonies of Ital- ian bees, together with fl.xture8 and honey crop, if bought soon. I will also sell my place, good house and out-buildinas. and H'j acres of land. L WERNER, Edwardsville, 111. GARNIOLAN APIARY FOR SALE ! My Carniolan apiary must be sold at once, to al- low me to move to Colorado Springs. " You have the best Carniolans in the country." H. Alley. Select imported queen, f5; untested queen, $1; untested, Vj doz, $5; tested queen. $■!; 1 lb. bees, $1; 3 frame nucleus, $2 00; full colonies, in 1-story Simplicity 0-frame hive, f5; add price of queen yon want. Tan percent difcnuut on all orders of $30 00 or over. Large stock of all ready to ship at once. (Jiieens by mail, others on board cars here by freight or express, as ordered. Remittance of currency, bank draft, or money order must accom- pany all orders. Will sell my whole apiary and implements, and give immediate possession. House and grounds also for rent. S. W. MORRISON, M. D., I2tfdb Oxford, Chester Co., Pa. r^ln responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. WE have on hand a fine lot of beautiful Italian queens which we will send by return mail at the following prices: Tested, .fl.3.5; untested, 85c. Safe arrival guaranteed. Leininoer Bkos.. Douglas, Putnam Co., Ohio. Queens by Return Mail. Untested (Italians) fl 00 Tested 1,50 Solect tested 3 00 Untested honey queen 125 Tested honey queen 188 Select tested honey queen 3 75 Bees and brood at the same rates. See our cata- logue, free on ain>lication. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. IF YOU WANT BEES That will just "roll" in the honey, try Moore's Strain oC Italians, the result of eleven years' careful breeding. Reduced prices: Warranted queens, KOc each; 3 for 1^3.(0. StronK- 3 L. frame nucleus, with warranted queen, *3 50 Sale arrival and satisfaotion guaranteed. Those who have nev- er dealt with me, 1 rtfer to A. I. Root, who has pur- chased of ine, during past ten years. 415 queens. J. P. ITK^OKU, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky. 13tfd K3g^Money-order office, Falmouth, Ky. I'lea.'-e mention this pajKT. PHOTOGRAPHY AND BEES. One hand camera, 4x5 pictures, and one Scovill, 5x8, with tripod, etc., $10 each. Alto a few stands of Italian bets, which have averaged 100 lbs. of hon- ey per stand, in Root's Simplicity hives, with wired combs, f4 00 each. Send for particulars. W. J. HUSSBY, Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. I "ill responding to tills advertisement mention tiLKANlNGS. BROTHER BEE - KEEPERS. By the time this reaches you I will be up with or- ders, ready to All yours by Urst train. No. 1 sec- tions, *3 00 per 1000; No. 3, f 3 50. Shipping-crates, Foundation, Smokers, and all bee-goods needed in the apiary. Send for price list free. Address \V. D. SOPER, Jackson, lUlcli. lyin responding to tliis udveitisement nniiii.iii c.i.K.wiNf;*. Italian Honey Queens. Tested, $1 .50; untested, 90c. A limited number extra select tested, %2, 00 each. R. AV. TCJRNBR, ITIedlna, Olilo. In writing to advertisers please mention this paper. MY22D ANNUAL CATALOGUE ^I'f^ALTAN, CYPRIAN, and HOLY-LAND BEES, QUEENS, NUCLEI, COLONIES, and SUPPLIES; also EGGS FOR HATCHING, can he had hv sending me vour address. 11. II. BROWN, Liyht StrcfA. Oil. Co , Pa. 9tfdlj I'lease mention this paper. GLOBE BEE^EIL A center rivet holds 5 spring-steel bars like a globe to support the bol)- inetVeil. These button to a brass ' neolt-bJind, holding it tlrraly—tl. SIMPlilCITY HIVES shipped on receipt of order. Price list free, lltfdb E. J. Shay, Thornton, Taylor Co., W. Va. Italian Queens Cheap. ^'^S?gsfED;..5e. 13-14-15d A. R. Young, Roesie, St. Law. Co., N. Y. QUEENS and SUFFLIES. Untested Italian iiueens, each .f 1.00 Tested 3.00 Send for price list of bees and supplies. Address F. ^V. LAITIM, (Box 106.) Somerville, Uutler Co., Olilo. Please mention this paper. TESTED CARNIOIiAN QUEENS. $2.50 each; untested, $1, or 6 for $5. Send for price list of Italian bees and queens, bred in my Nappanee apiary. 8tfdb I. R. Good, Vawter Park, Ind. AU THERE! One untested Italian queen, V5c; "11 three for S3.00; tested, SI 50. One untested Carniolan queen, fl.OO; three 'for .f3.50; tested, $3. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Send for price list. Reference— First National Bank. lOtfdb H. G. FRAME, North Manchester, Ind. Please mention this iiaiier. Vol. XVIII. JULYl, 1890. No. 13. TERMS :»1.00 Per ANNTJH, IN Advance;! fp c!,+nJ^ln oTt orl i-n T Si '7 ^ 2Oopiesfor»1.90;3for«2.75; 5forM.OO; -C/Ot/tt'C/t'l'O/t'e'tt/ 1/ rO J. O 4 fJ . PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY 10 or more, 76 cts. each. Single num- I ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be j ^ ^ rs^1.ftS'o\rp'o\WErcE!'^™^^'^°J>1. /. ROOT, MEDINA. OHIO. Clubs to different postofflces, 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. POLLEN FOB BEES. CAN BEES GET ALONG FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME ON NITROGENOUS FOOD? Some years ago I discussed, in Gleanings, P. Schoenfeld's theory on the larval food of bees. Mr. Schoenfeld has published in the Illustrterte Bienemcituno some other very interesting articles, which I am willing to reproduce in extenso. DRONES. About three years ago Schoenfeld Inclosed a frame with new combs in a cage of double wire cloth, so that the bees outside of the cage could not feed those inside of it. The comb was filled with 100 gr. of sugar syrup, and then a number of drones put inside of this cage, and the whole thing was hung in a good colony of bees. At the end of the third day the drones were dead. Two other experi- ments on cold rainy days, when no drones were fly- ing, had the same etfect. It is well known that drones feed themselves on honey. If we cage them and give them a few drops of honey so soon as they are hungry, they eat this honey like the worker- bees. Schoenfeld then caged some drones in the same way, giving them honey instead of sugar syr- up, and they died at the end of the third day. Next he removed the outer wire screen, so that the work- er bees could feed them through the single wire screen, and they lived for weeks. Consequently, drones can't live longer than three days, if not fed with nitrogenous food by the workers. I will re- mark here, that it is a well-known fact that drones, as well as queens, feed themselves on honey, but do not eat pollen, but are fed by the worker bees with the same nitrogenous food which they give to the larviB. These experiments prove this again, so far as drones are concerned. These experiments indicate how the drones are killed by the worker bees in the fall or summer time. It was supposed, till recently, that the work- er bees drive them from the honey at first to the bottom-board, and, when weak enough, they are carried out of the hive. But the drones are not so lazy and awkward that this could be done without great tumult. It is much easier to explain, if we know, that the drones get very weak soon after the worker-bees stop feeding them nitrogenous food. But these experiments throw some light on an- other question: Why do the bees kill the drones? It was supposed that the drones are expelled as soon as the swarming fever is over, and no mating of young queens would be necessary; and because queenless colonies keep drones, sometimes, over winter, this doctrine seemed to be infallible. But not to speak of the fact that such a knowledge is far more than we can expect from the mind of an animal, we know of some /ac8 inch, so as to meet the center of the square edge of the next frame, as in E, of the diagram. This will prevent the gluing and sticking together of the frames, also squeezing of the bees to a large extent, and allow faster work- ing of them. ■^ r The corners of the top-bars of the frame at C should not be taken off more than just enough to allow for turning the frames efasily in the rabbets, otherwise the bees will have too much of a chance to fill up the rabbets with propolis. For the same reason, I object to your modifications of the top- bars as the jutting points of them, as called by Er- nest, are very important, in order to fill out the rab- bets to keep them free from bee-glue. To use these frames on tin rabbets, as proposed by Ernest, would, according to my experience, be a very doubtful improvement. The frames would slide too easily on the rabbets; and carrying and moving the hives would soon convince him of it. The way I use them on wooden rabbets, the frames are just 490 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. JULY glued fast enough to allow the moving of the hives without any preparatory fastening, unless the hives are only partly filled with frames. In this case I take a piece of burlap, or any cloth that I use for covering up the frames; roll it into a bunch, and stuff it behind the spacing-board. The «lose-fltting part of the side-bars should ex- tend at least 3 inches down from the top-bar. As a well-made frame lasts a good many years, their ex- tra expense amounts to but very little, if they have any advantages over others. Julius Hoffman. Canajoharie, N. Y., June 15, 1890. The points you make are well taken ; but it does seem to us that the frame as you make it would be too expensive for thei aver- age bee-keeper to use. E, E, if we under- stand it correctly, are cross-sections of the end-bars, looking straight down. Beveling the end- bars would be rather expensive, and the rounding of the points, C, C, C, etc., would be another item of expense ; and yet it is true, that a well-made frame will last a good many years ; and the extra expense, of course, would be but little on each year of use, providing additional ease of manipula- tion is secured. E. E. 'WOODMAN, SPARE THE TREE. SOMETHING ABOUT EMBELLISHING CHEAP SEC- TIONS. " Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us."— Eccles. 1: 10. Bra. Root (please allow me the use of this salutato- ry phrase, as we are both children of the one Father, God). I have noticed a great deal of uneasiness ex- pressed by writers for the bee-journals in regard to the great consumption of basswood for sections, etc., and the consequent decrease in honey from that source; but I was not so strongly impressed, nor did I realize any imminent danger from that source until brought to the realization of the fact by your statement that you alone had ordered two carloads of sections of Mr. Lewis. Now, add this to the great amount your and all other more or less extensive manufactories must turn out, and one can easily imagine the wholesale slaughter that is going on in the linden forests. We must also con- sider the alleged hair (?) mattress we find in hotels. At the present rate of destruction that has been inaugurated against the old linden, it will be only a question of time when a " chunk " of nice delicious linden honey in a beautiful basswood section will be " a thing of the past." THE REMEDY. Some have recommended planting basswood forests, which is wholesome advice when we are considering the welfare of coming generations, " because I shall leave it to a man that shall come after me;" but the remedy that should be sought should be one that would be beneficial to the pres- ent as well as future generations. 1 am now going to offer a solution to the problem; and if it is im- practicable, or " has been up before," please con- sign this to the waste-basket right quick; but on the contrary, if it is likely to become a thing of beauty, and, consequently, a joy for ever, then the fraterni- ty are as welcome to it as the flow of honey that God gives them from year to year. You see, peo- ple would scarcely tolerate a section made of dark wood, such as elm or even pine; but my ideals to make them out of even such, then beautify or em- bellish by having labels, either of white paper print- ed plain or lithographed with several colors, and cut with the proper insets the same as an unfolded one-piece section, beihg printed on all sides with appropriate address, kind of honey, and any ex- planation deemed neceiesary for the improvement of the honey-trade. Now, when your sections are taken off and relieved of the accumulations of pro- polis, this gummed label could be wrapped around your dark wood, covering up all defects, making your dark section even more beautiful than the whitest basswood. All scratches, stains, and joints would thus be hidden; the producer would be send- ing his advertisement and other apicultural litera- ture broadcast into every honey-consumer's home, besides saving this desirable honey-producing tree. I don't think, either, that a section made of cheap material that can be procured around any factory and thus labeled would cost any more than the present linden production; and even if it did, the preservation of the basswood \vould surely more than compensate. J. H. Makkley. Carbondale, Kan., June 16. The same thing has been suggested many times. The only difficulty is the amount of labor required to put the paper on nicely. I do not believe it could be done profitably. I am inclined to think, too, that most kinds of paper would soil more easily than the basswood. You see, the paper must be ex- actly the width of the section, to have it look well. Folding the edges down over the edge of the section would be very nice, but this makes still more labor, and it is a hard matter to get it down nicely and have it stay. Have any of the readers of Glean- ings ever put this into practiceV The pasteboard boxes which we sell in large quantities to slip the section into come pretty near what you suggest, and it is not very expensive. We heartily agree with you in regard to the consequences of slaughter- ing the basswood. "What else can we doV SPACING BROOD-COMBS. AN OPEN letter TO DR. C. C. MILLER. " What is the proper distance from center to center to space brood-combs — 1% inches?" asks Dr. Miller on page 416, June 1st Gleanings. He then gees on to tell us that, so far as he knows, this dis- tance is all right, and concludes with '•sorncH7ie/e about 1| inches from center to center is right ; but I don't suppose it is exactly 1%. How can we find out what it is? "when he next adds, "Upon that depends our spacing and the width of our hives." It is hardly necessary for me to say that I read this article of Dr. Miller's with more than common in- terest, although I read all of his articles with inter- est beyond what I do these of most of the wi iters, for he has a peculiar and fascinating way of get- ting at what he wants, without committing himself very positively as to any thing; hence we must read with interest to find out where he stands. Friend Root's foot-notes were right to the point, for I really feared that we might yet be able to place our combs so close together, if some one carried out the doctor's reasoning a little further, I bat we 1«90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 491 should need no bees at all, but could fill out our hives solid with combs of brood with only a few bees and the queen around the outside, which would so cheapen honey that the most of us would have to go out of the business, leaving- the doctor and Bro. Heddon in possession of the field alone. Well, now, doctor, I will tell you just what is the right distance from center to center to space brood- combs. It is exactly l)i inches; no more and no less, where all worker combs are used, and 1% inch- es where drone comb is used. You said you did not know why !?» is better than lH or 1)4, but I will tell you why \}i is the right distance, and how I know it to be so. You know, doctor, that I am great for following nature, even if Bro. Root does say that in queen-rearing I am the furthest from nature that any one can conceive of. Nature told me that 154 inches is right when I made my first hives, more than 30 years ago. At that time I could not find in any of the books on bees that I then had, how far apart the frames should be plac- ed ; so, in order to ascertain, I went into the loft of the barn where were stored all the old box hives from lather's old apiary, to the number of some 30 or more, and, upon measuring the inside of the tops of the hives where the combs had been cut from, I found that all of the central combs were just IX inches apart, while some of the combs near the sides of the hive were from I's to 2 inches apart; those being the furthest apart where the combs run in the hive so the last one comes in the corner. Since then, whenever I have come across a box hive where the bees were out of it, I have measured the distance of the combs apart where they were attached to the top of the hive, and I have found them invariably the same, to an exact- ness approaching the thirty-second of an inch. Is it to be supposed that the bees do not know what Is right in this matter, when they have to furnish food, fuel, and the whole business? In order to keep up the necessary warmth for brood-rearing in early spring, the bees form a living wall around the brood, thus keeping the heat from escaping the cluster; and to do this it takes the depth or thick- ness of two or three bees all the way around, as I have often ascertained by tipping up the hives at that time of year. Did you never tip up a hive carefully some frosty morning in April, doctor, and closely examine the bees between the ranges of combs? If you never have, it will be an inter- esting thing to you, if you are any thing like me. How nicely they are packed, all with their abdo- mens pointing away from the center of the cluster! This is the hive proper; and inside these bees, brood-rearing is going on nicely, while some un- lucky bee on the outside is so cold that it can hard- ly walk or move. But, enough on this point, as I wish to look at some other of the doctor's calcula- tions. He says, " If I am not mistaken, worker comb, when first made, is \ thick." In this he is very nearly if not quite right, for that is as I find it to be; but when he comes to figure this same li in his calculation of distances, even did the combs never grow any thicker, he is making a great mistake, for there is one facte r which he does not take into consideration, which is, the capping of the brood. When the brood is capped in this % comb. Dr. M. will find that, from outside of cappings to the op- posite outside, is exactly one inch; and where the combs are so eld that they are one inch thick, with no brood in them, they will be lis thick after the brood is capped. Dr. M. will see that this does away with all the calculations in his article, and ■leaves him at "open sea "full more than he was when he commenced. I ' had measured worker brood many times ; but to be sure I was right I have just come from measuring many combs, and can find none— no, not one— with capped brood, that nieasures less than one inch, although I have measured some having brood in for the first time. The way I measured was as follows: I took a small steel wire, which had been painted black, and filed one end to a sharp point; then beginning at % I made a nice rule by marking J', of an inch on it up to m inches. I now went to the hives, took out combs from different ones, and pushed this wire through the sealed brood till the point began to make an impression on the sealing on the opposite side, when the ruled side gave me the depth, and in no case was it less than one inch; while the older combs were all the way from that up to l^s- Another thing: As the bees rambled by on the comb alongside of this rule, I found that they stood on the comb so that they were all the way from f'a to H inch high; and as I claim that the combs should be far enough apart so that the bees can stand back to back if they wish to, this would say that the combs should never be nearer together than Wi inches. I might go on and tell how I had tried friend Pond's close spacing, and various oth- er experiments which I have made, which were not satisfactory, till I now space all combs for worker brood Di inches apart; but it would make this arti- cle too long, so I will say adieu where I am. Borodino, N. Y., June 19. G. M. Doolittle. I have always told correspondents in Gleanings that If was the proper spacing ; but when I read your article through I was up in arms, ready to take issue with you on the thickness of capped brood. But before replying to you I thought I would go out in- to the apiary and see how (mt bees did. I first went to one of the kegs containing one- inch wire nails ; selected two or three that were exactly that length by a rule. I then measured old and new brood comb, and into each I pushed the nail up to its head. I found in every case that the point of the nail stuck out i inch. These combs were some that we had stored away in the house- apiary. Some had been used seven or eight years, and some only two years. Some was natural comb, but the most was built from foundation. We (Mr. Spafford and I) then went out into the apiary, selected at random combs of sealed brood, pushed the wire nail through so the head was just level with the capping. The point of the nail just pierced the capping on the other side. AVe measur- ed old and new combs of sealed brood, and found them all exactly an inch thick. I had expected to find some thicker, but did not. Well, now, if capped brood is as a rule one inch thick from capping to capping, on If spacing, we shall have just f inch between the surfaces of capped brood. We usually consider that I is a large bee-space, i small, and i'gjnst right. Now, if I measure bees rightly I caii not make them in our apiary average over f„ high on sealed brood. On unsealed brood they stand a little lower be- cause their feet extend a little into the cells. 492 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. July Unsealed brood is ordinarily only I inch thick and requires more care, attention, and warmth than does sealed brood. The aver- age unsealed brood is i in. thick. There- fore, in l|-inch spacing there is i inch be- tween the surfaces, and plenty of room for the bees to back in and out of the cells. After it is sealed, I in. is enough, I think. Now, while I would admit the facts about the thickness of comb and brood, I would not quite agree with the conclusions you draw therefrom ; If spacing I should still think is enough. Some of the bee-keepers in New York, using standing frames and fixed dis- tances, and having had their frames spaced H inches apart, have now abandoned that spacing, and have adopted, instead, at con- siderable expense. If spacing. D. A. Jones argues for If and li inch spacing. Frank Cheshire says scant If is correct, because it results in the exclusion of drone brood ; 1-angstroth, years ago, allowed that dis- tance—If. Now, I never heard that these authorities or their large following could not rear as much brood as those who used wider spacing. In our apiary we used to use nine frames, and this gave us about li- Inch spacing. The result was, that we had crooked and bulged combs. Latterly we have been using If, and like it better. It is true, as you say, that the combs in box hives are H inches apart in the center. A number of correspondents have reported this to be true ; but because Nature does so, is it any reason why the bee-keeper who wishes to properly control the hive should adopt this spacing ? Nature sets out trees promiscuously, scatt^ed here and there ; but the fruit-grower >nkes to have his trees in rows ; and so do all of us who like to have shade-trees, and wish to adorn our homes. While we must pay some regard to nature and her methods, yet there are improve- ments that necessitate changes. Nature spaces combs for both winter and summer, and for drone and worker brood. Is it not desirable to have these things under con- trol V In winter we want wide spacing ; and when honey is coming in, I believe that closer spacing helps very materially to force the bees into supers, although I may be mistaken. In the sections we want combs over 2 inches apart from center to center. Now, friend D., it may seem a little like E resumption in me to reply to you before >r. Miller has had a chance. The fact is, I have studied this matter a good deal ; and after a good deal of investigation I have formed some conclusions. I will not say positively that If-inch spacing is right ; but there is an awful big following who are using it, get big crops of honey, and lots of brood. I am aware, also, that there are per- haps as many using li-in. spacing. The ma- jority of our " Question-Box "' respondents vote for H inch, but it seems to be because they happened to use this distance at first, and have continued it since. Perhaps Dr. Miller will now be better able to decide which is right— li or If. Ernest. Ernest has covered the whole groiind so thoroughly that I hardly need add any thing. I will call attention, however, to the fact that most of the remarks above take it for granted that the combs are pret- ty accurately spaced ; whereas, in real prac- tice the combs are never accurately spaced. The only way in which accurate spacing can be preserved, that I know of, is to nave frames at fixed distances, and always put them into the hive in the same order. Then you have it. If, however, they are swapped about, the distances are being continually varied, and, as a consequence, the bees do more or less tearing down and building up every time the frames to the hives are re- moved ; therefore I should say that, in the light of the facts given by friend Doolittle, we certainly need a little more than If inch. WORKING ON ALFALFA. WONDERFUL KESOURCES OF THE LOCALITY OF GARDEN CITY, KANSAS. I ARRIVED here the 25th of April, with 60 colo- nies of bees, for the purpose of securing honey from the great alfalfa fields. The bees did moder- ately well from the prairie blossoms before alfalfa came in, which was perhaps two weeks ago. They are now becoming strong, and some have swarmed. I think most of the honey comes now from alfalfa, although I find the bees thicker on the prairie flow- ers. If there should be plenty left for seed of the first crop, I shall probably get a good yield from it. They get seed generally from the second, although some try for two seed crops. There seems to be lit- tle honey in the first blossoms. The only serious obstacle in the way of success with bees here is the wind, which is often strong, and comes pretty near being constant. I believe there is a great future in this country for the farmer and horticulturist. I never saw such healthy-looking fruit-trees before. They have the conditions of Cole's " New Agricul- ture " to perfection here— an underflow from 4 to 15 ft. from the surface near the river, say two miles wide, and on higher land 60 ft. Also in some val- leys back from the river It comes near the surface. It is inexhaustible. There are wells here four feet deep which can not be drawn dry. It is like dip- ping from the river, with a fall of seven feet to the mile. A way to irrigate, independently of the river and the dams, which may wash out, will readily sug- gest itself. J. B. COLTON. Garden City, Kan., June 16. COVERS TO HIVES ; SAQQINQ OP TOP- BARS, ETC. DB. MILLER DEFENDS HIMSELF LIKE A MAN. Don't you think it's a little rough for you Roots to come at me as you've done on page 466, and the whole crowd of you to jump on to me? Well, let me take you one at a time. First, the old one. You think the Simplicity cover warmer than the flat cover. Yes, and so are the telescope ones I former- ly used better and warmer than the Simplicity; but there's more simplicity about the flat cover than either of them, and on that account I prefer them. You must use a quilt of some kind with the Sim- plicity cover, and the most of the flat covers are all right with no quilt. It's the exception when a flat cover doesn't fit right, but I don't like the excep- tions. As to diagonal wires and tin bars preventing sag- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 493 giag, do theyt I have heretofore said I had no trou- ble with sagging; but since exactness of bee-space has been so much insisted on, I am troubled with what didn't trouble me before. All the sagging didn't trouble me as much heretofore as the tin bar would. But when you come to the matter of exactness, lay a dozen of your frames one on top of the other, and see if the top-bars are all exactly straight. How do the diagonals and bars " make an absolutely sure thing against sagging"? The tin bar simply ensures an exact distance between top and bottom bar, but that does not prevent both sagging. The diagonals insure that there shall be no more sagging than their length will allow. If the diagonals are drawn too tight, will not the top and bottom bars bow up? and if not drawn tight enough, then sagging follows. Theoretically, the whole thin^ depends on drawing the wires just tight enough, but possibly that may not be so diffi- cult in practice as in theory. Now for the young one. That cleat. You know that the cleat is stiffer be- fore that groove is cut out of it. The board must stay secure in the groove, and nails alone will allow a board, I think, to warp a little more. Still, no se- rious trouble comes from that when the cover is of a single straight board ; but I have some made of two boards with a tin-trough arrangement to pre- vent leaking, and they have warped more. The principal difficulty comes, however, not from the boards •«yarping, but winding. No cleat can pre- vent that. You say you never saw a cover of the Dovetailed hive that warped any. Neither did I see any of mine when no older than yours. I sup- pose you will say I ought to have painted my covers; to which I have no reply to make. Per- haps the trouble comes more from the hives being out of true than the cover, and you needn't throw up to me the squareness of your Dovetailed hives. Just as fast as my old hives become too rotten to use, I'm going to have Dovetails in their place. No, I don't put tin on my flat covers, but I did on my wider covers, and I'll mention an objection to the tin. It doesn't allow evaporation, and water stands on the inside of tinned covers in large drops, quite often, from the breath of the bees. BEES KILLING DRONES IN JUNE. I never saw so much of it before. It can hardly come from scarcity of stores, for every shake of a comb brings a shower of thin honey. Perhaps it may be where a young queen is about to take the place of the old one. And now a question : WHEN DOES THE SUPERSEDING QUEEN TAKE THE PLACE OF THE OLD ONE? Or, rather, when is the old queen removed? Does the young queen generally kill her when she first batches out, or is the old queen retained till the young one gets to laying? Economy would suggest the latter as the better course, and my observa- tions, lately, have inclined me to the opinion that it may be a very common if not the usual course. Can you tell us how it is? ABE BRACE-COMBS DESIRABLE? Doolittle generally knows what he is talking about; but isn't there something different about his arrangements that makes the difference? I find that my bees go to work in the sections just as soon as any thing is to be put in them; and even when there Is so little to store that they can only fltl the bait, I have bad them in the late years of failure fill the bait and leave the other sections un- touched. Surely, I don't need brace-combs. Marengo, 111., June 21. C. C. Miller. Look here, doctor : the old telescope cov- er takes too much room, of course, for you and I who have out- apiaries, to load bees into wagons. Diagonal wires and tin bars do prevent the sagging, but they must be very nicely put in and adjusted. The tin bar must be used so long and no longer, and the diagonal wires must be just so tight and no tighter ; and, since you mention it, I do remember that I nlmost always scolded when we fixed up a lot for our own apiary. — My impression has been that the old queen is rarely if ever killed by one of her own daughters. The only proof to the contrary that I can think of is that we do not often find two queens, mother and daughter, in the same hive. I do know, however, that there are two, a good many times, when we don't know it. Excuse me if this statement is a little contradictory. Now, doctor, do you mean to say that your bees always go to work in sections when they ought to be at work there? Don't you know some con- trary colonies that cram the brood-nest and leave the sections untouched? With Replies from our best Autliorities 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 163.— TF/iat width from center to center do you think it best to have brood-combs? Do you keep them the same distajice the year roundl lYi inches. 3. Yes. Wisconsin. S. W. 1. l)i inches. 3. I do. Illinois. N. W. C. 1. VA inches. 3. Yes. Illinois. N. W. E. France. Mrs. L. Harrison. Dadant & Son. IK inches, and the same above as below, as I ex- tract only, and am so often changing combs up and down. 3. 1 do. California. S. W. R. Wilkin. I always have used IK inches, and see no good reason for changing. The bees build them thus when left to their "own sweet will." 3. Yes. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. If I could have the combs always hang perfectly true, I would have them lij inches. 2. No. In the spring I crowd them as close as they will bear to be; in the summer, m inches from center to cen- ter, and further apart still for winter. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. Di inches is the distance we use them. I am not prepared to say it is the proper distance. 3. We do not change them, although we have the excellent authority of Mr. Manum for so doing. Unless well protected, my present limited experience is against narrow spacing for spring brood-rearing. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. 494 gli:anings,in bee culture. July 1.1% inches; 8 in a hive, 11 ?» inches wide inside. 2. Yes. I think it somewhat better to spread them a little wider apart in the winter, but not enough better to pay for the trouble. Illinois. N. C. J.A.Green. Mine are l?^, but I don't really know whether that is best. 2. Yes. There might be some advan- tage in having them further apart in winter than in summer, but I don't believe it would pay for the trouble of changing. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. I have my frames about 1^ inches from center to center, and do not have them fixed so as to be just so far apart. I have used those that were spaced, and did not like them. I can space with my eye to suit me best; a slight variation is not objectionable. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. 1% in winter, in order to allow more bees to clus- ter between the combs, which gives them a better opportunity to generate more heat between combs. 2. No. 1 think li'^s or 1% is about right when work- ing for box honey, as I think bees will enter the boxes more readily when the combs are closely spaced. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. 1% inches, but I am not particular that each frame is exactly spaced. With hanging frames, the eye gauges the distance. I have practiced tak- ing out one frame during winter, and giving more space; but after several years' experience I can not see that the bees winter any better with the added space. New York. E. Rambler. About l?a inches; a little less rather than more. I say, about; perhaps it is not best to be too definite about the matter until we understand more of its importance. I suspect that, in the future, there will be more importance attached to the adjust- ment of the brood-frames than there has been in the past. 2. Yes. Ohio. N. W. H. R. BOARDMAN. The best results are obtained when the frames are apart from center to center about l>nnches, or a little less. It is not necessary to attach great importance to the one - sixteenth of an inch. 2. Careful and repeated tests have convinced me that no improvements are realized by spreading the frames during the winter months. Ohio.:. S. ;W. C. F. MuTH. The room for ditference of opinion here is but a email fraction of an inch. Between the widest and narrowest spaces that are used by good apia- rists 1 do not think there is much to choose. One and a half inches is perhaps as good a distance as any. 3. When convenient I like to widen the space a little when fixing them for winter; but the mat- ter is hardly important enough to justify breaking open all their sealing on purpose to widen the space. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. l'/4 inches. A large per cent of my colonies are in the Gallup hive, inside dimensions 12X18X12X inch- es high. In hiving young swai^ms we use 12 frames to the hive; Space li4 inches apart; but with old combs, and comts bulged 9 little, we run many with 11 to the hive, to facilitate matters in hand- ling, rather than to keep all pared to the right thickness. 3. We have practiced, to some extent, spreading the frames in fall, but have concluded that it does not pay for the trouble. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. Freeborn. After trying many distances fallow IIX inches for eight frames. 2. Yes, sir; and any system pro- posing to space the frames differently between winter and summer will get behind the times, for no such kind of manipulation can bo afforded by the successful bee-keeper of to-day. That is what I think. By the way, it will be well enough to here mention that I am writing what I think, and not what some one else thinks. I respect other people's opinions when they differ from mine, and I believe I deserve some respect for writing my honest opin- ion, regardless of others. Michigan. C. James Heddon. See answer to G. M. Doolittle on page 491. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, THOSE SERMONS ; WHITE CHITTIES. I am more interested in your sermons than I am in the bee business. I have, or keep, only a few bees. I subscribed for Gleanings on account of the bees, but now I read the sermons first, and they have become part of my spiritual life. May God bless you in your work of faith and labor of love. I want to tell you that we have uhWe "Chitties " here; two per cent a month in advance every three months, and corn thirteen cents per bushel! The only difference I see between Munson's Chitties and ours is the color of the skin and amount of cloth- ing. Thomas Adams. Gaf kill, Kan., Feb. 24. Yes, friend A., there are white Chitties, I fear. Now, there is great need of a good Samaritan right in this line ; and I do wish that somebody— lawyer, minister, banker, or political economist, would tell us how men of capital can help poor people in trouble, by loaning them money at a low rate of interest. If I am correct, these high rates of interest are always received where an investment is risky — so risky that the money-lender loses a great many times. He takes risks that an ordinary banker or mon- eyed man would not take at all, therefore he gets a rate^of interest that will allow him to loan his money so that he can afford to lose one time out of three or four. It seems to be a sort of lottery business ; and as his very life (that is, his financial life) depends on getting his money, he gets hard, unfeel- ing, and unscrupulous. The experiment has been tried to some extent, of giving money outright to those who were in need. Sometimes it works well, but too often it only encourages the one helped, to go into some new piece of extravagance or folly. Why can't this whole thing be managed in the spirit of love between the money-lender and the money-borrower? I feel sure there is something wrong on both sides, or there would notbe that bitterness that exists be- tween the two parties. Right in this same line we have the pawnbroker, who advances money to people who are in seeming distress. i8y0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 495 It seems to me the pawnbroker might be and ought to be a very good Samaritan. But just think of the estimation in which he is held. ' His very name is a shir and a re- proach. The world seems to think it is a disgrace to be seen going into such a place as a pawn-shop, and a still greater disgrace to keep such an establishment. It really seems that the world means to have us un- derstand that anybody ought to be ashamed of himself who gets into such straits as to have to pawn his possessions. But, dear friends, how about the homeless and the friendless, the sick and the suffering, and the widows ? Perhaps the world will say that it is everybody's business to stay where they are known, and to have friends, and that everybody who is fairly deserving does have friends who will stand between them and want in the time of need. This may be so ; but the whole matter is a sad one to me. Let those who so severely censure the money-lenders remember that lending mon- ey is hard, severe work— work that wears and tears on the mind and body. It is easy to lend; but I tell you, my friends, it is hard to get your money hack. AVe ought to know something about it, with all our book- keepers and clerks to look after the little dribs as well as the big ones ; to look after the continual stream of losses that would break us down financially if we did not al- most flght for our own. I have sometimes wondered whether the good friends did not think we were hard, cold, and unfeeling. If they do, please read over again the arti- cle on page 841, 1889. Now, dear friend A., do not, I beg of you, think this little ser- mon hard and unfeeling. It has been writ- ten with the kindest feelings toward erring humanity I ever had in my life. I do know that it is terribly hard to sell corn at IS cts. a bushel. May God grant that the time may come wlien some of these very poor people we have been talking about shall have the opportunity of buying the corn, providing it rrmst be sold at such an insig- nificant price. AN ATTACHMENT FOR CATCHING GRASS FROM A LAWN-MOWER. I send you a sketch of an apron for a lawn-mow- er, which I made last summer, and found it did very satisfactory work. It keeps the grass from falling on the ground, and so saves the necessity of raking it up; and while raking is not very pleas- ant work, it also takes time, and it leaves the lawn with a ragged appearance. It may be made as follows: Get a piece of heavy steel wire, about six feet long, and two strips of pine, 1x54 inch— one 18, and the other 20 inches long. Also two thinner strips the length of the knives on the mower. Lay the first two strips down on the edge, with the shorter one at the right hand, and then nail the thin gtrips down on top. Bend the wire, and fasten it on top of the framework, with either staples or small wire, leaving about 4 inches at each end for a hook. The wire shoula project further toward the left hand, as the knives throw the grass that way. The other side should not reach beyond the wheel, as it would be in the way of running close to trees or buildings. The hooks are made long, so that there may be a chaWce for fastening them, after passing around the roller bearings, thus holding it firmly in place. The front ends of the runners should be rounded, so they will not catch in the'grass. Fasten stout strings to the back of the runners, long enough to tie to the handles. Now cover over all with enameled cloth, with the enameled side up, atid hem the edges under. Hook on to the machine, fasten securely, and tie the strings to the handles, 80 the back of the apron will just clear the ground, and it is ready for business. Unless the grass is quite tall it will run quite a while without being emptied; th^n it maybe shoved off in a pile in a convenient place, and afterward gathered up. The weight of the extra load is scarcely noticeable, and I think any one who uses a lawn-mower will find it a saving, both in time and labor. I have not found it necessary to have a curtain around the sides, as but little will fiy over unless it is very windy. F.^rina, 111., Apr. 25. D. M. Andrews. FOUR-HANDED ITALIANS; WHERE THEY CAME FROM. Friend Root: — In reply ito your inquiry on page 378, May 1.5, 1890, 1 would say that, in the fall of 1882, I bought of G. M. Doolittle a select tested queen of the golden Italian strain, with which I was greatly pleased on account of the gentleness of worker progeny; but in the spring following I lost this queen by uniting a colony of black (German) bees with the Italians. Next spring I ordered from friend Doolittle another of his best select tested queens, and from this one I got my present strain of four-banded golden Italians. It is true, as friend Doolittle will tell you, that I have greatly improved them in that beautiful golden color, and I have established a strain of Italians producing uniform red drones, and at the game time 1 have tried to keep them up to his standard for gen- tleness and honey-gathering. How I have succeed- ed in my efforts in. this direction, many of my pat- rons can testify. I don't claim them to be better honey-gatherers than the imported Italians, but that they are equal to them in this respect, and much more gentle to handle than any other bees I have ever tried; and as friend Doolittle said some time since in Gleanings, "If we can combine beauty with the other good qualities of the Italians, are we not a step in advance?" To get these bees up to the present standard I have devoted six or seven years; and for this labor I feel amply repaid, both in dollars and the satisfaction of knowing that, with the continued assistance of friend Doo- little, 1 have greatly improved the ordinary Italian Itjee. L. C. Hearn. Frenchvllle, W. Va., May 20. 1890. ANOTHER PLAN OF HORIZONTAL WIRING. I herew ith give my way of wiring frames, which I have used for some years. You will notice that it is on the same principle of tension as the one given by E. D. Keeney, in May 15th Gleanings. I first stretch the wire four times across the frame through the end-bars, then draw tight, and fasten. I then take a piece of wire and wrap it once around the center of top wire, then around each one be- low in succession, holding with the other hand in such a way as to draw each toward the center, giv- ing them all the tension they will bear. Economy, Ind. A. G. Mendenhall. I had studied out your plan, friend M., and was aboUt to give it to the readers of Gleanings as a superior method when 496 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July Keeney's plan was presented to me, and I at once thought it was so superior that I would abandon my plan and give Keeney's instead. Superioi- in what point? Because the tension is on the four corners of the frame, and not in the end-bars, as in mine, or, rather, yours. As Keeney's takes no more wire it does not require to be pierced, and only four bent nails, together with the fact of tension being produced at the strongest points, decided me as to its superiority. I am glad to know you have used it some vears with success, for it helps to prove that Keeney's plan must likewise be a success. MELTING OLD COMBS WITH OLD POLLEN IN THEM, AND HOW TO DO IT. Being an old subscriber, I take the liberty of ask- ing a few questions. In cutting out old brood- combs for wax, is it best to save those half-full of pollen? Will the bees ever use the old pollen? Williamson, N. Y. Frank Adams. Yes, bees will, in the spring, use up the old pollen in the combs. You can melt up the old combs with pollen in them. We rec- ommend, in the A B C of Bee Culture, put- ting old combs in a cheese-cloth bag, and then weighting the whole down under hot water. The clear wax will come to the surface of the water, and the refuse will remain in the bag. A very nice, easy way, is to put all such in the solar wax-extractor, and just let old Sol give you a nice clear cake of yellow wax, without " any bother " too. ANOTHER POINT IN FAVOR OF HORIZONTAL WIRING. You omitted one good point in the wiring of that frame mentioned on page 371. In cleaning top-bars of burr-combs this spring I got more than 10 lbs. of wax; but the trouble is, I have to work so slow or break wires. If for this and nothing more it would have been worth dollars to me to have known it before I wired 10,000 frames this spring. Carrollton, O. C. V. Kintner. Yes, we did omit to make that point. There has been so much trouble from cut- ting the wires on the perpendicular plan that some of the friends in ordering have asked to have the top-bar grooved to let the wires in. The horizontal wires, or the plan of wiring mentioned on page 371, would obvi- ate this trouble. FROM AUSTRALIA. I am a bee-keeper— that is, if you count a man one who has 160 colonies. Between two and three years ago I started with two nucleus hives of Italians, and shortly after my brother bought four more, and these we joined; bought 20 hives of brown bees, and Italianized them, and God blessed us in our undertaking. To-day we have a nice api- ary, and things look promising. We got one of your ten-inch machines, and it works splendidly. This season so far has been a splendid one; and as we have about three months more to run before the season is over, we expect to get a good store. Brisbane, Australia, Feb. 10. A. A. Miles. The next spring they built comb to the bottom of each frame. For a small apiary, I can find nothing as handy as old phosphate-sacks for smoker fuel. I make them in rolls about 14 inches long, and 2 thick. I use them in the Clark smoker, first taking out the grate. When I am done using it I dip the fire end in water, then the rest is saved for anoth- er go. I wish you would thank Dr. Miller for advo- cating the Clark starter fastener. It is as far ahead of the Parker as the movable comb is ahead of the old box. W. W. KuLP. Pottstown, Pa., May 22. SHADE FOR HIVES OUT OF OLD SUGAR-BARRELS. For a shade for my hives I get a sugar-barrel; and after nailing through the end and middle hoops with a small wire nail, so as to fasten all of the staves, I knock the head out, then saw the hoop in two. making two half-barrels; and after clinching the nails they are ready for use. The covers are light, easy to handle, and give good ventilation be- tween cover and top of hive, and they do not blow off as easily as a flat cover. If they are properly nailed and clinched they will last a long time, and are not expensive. A SIMPLE WAY TO WATER BEES. I take a tub (I suppose any thing else would do), tie a piece of burlap over it, put in a piece of brick or stone that will keep it down in the center; and then fill in with water until it comes up about one- third of the way on the burlap, which leaves a large surface for the bees to alight on. It is only occasionally that a bee gets drowned. One ad- vantage of the tub is, it does not need looking after, except occasionally. Try it, and be convinced. Dow City, la., May 17. M. G. Wiggins. Friend W., you have given us two bright ideas. Thank you. TWO INCHES UNDER THE BROOD-FRAMES A FAILURE. Two ye&rs ago I hived a swarm on 8 Simplicity frames, raised two inches from the bottom. They did not build any comb below the frames that year. BEBB WINTERED WELL, BUT " 8PRINOED " BADLV. Bees wintered out of doors well, but springed badly; but they are in good condition now; but, alas! very little basswood will bloom, and we all know what that means — no white honey from Cen- tral New York this year. We are in hopes to make it up in buckwheat. We should be pleased to see you about August 15th, and show you how W. L. C. takes care of 600 colonies with one assistant, in 7 different places. W. L. Coggshall. West Groton, N. Y., June 8. We should be glad to know, friend Cogg- shall, how you, with one assistant, manage 600 colonies in 7 out-apiaries. What kind of a hive do you use ? Are your frames sus- pended, closed-end, fixed, or not fixed with spacers ? NECTAR going TO WASTE ; A GOOD FLOW OF HORSEMINT. Never before did I see such a flow of nectar from horsemint; in fact, my bees are gathering honey faster than they can build comb to receive it. I have 160 colonies. I run about 36 for extracted honey, the rest for comb honey in one-pound sec- tions. Some of my extracting two-story Simplicity hives have a case of sections above the extracting story that I put on a few days ago, and are about full of as beautiful honey. Oh I I wish you were here to visit our mint-fields, and just see the quanti- ty of it. I know you would say, " I wish my bees were here to gather some of this flow that is going to waste." There is acre after acre" resembling 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 497 fields of wheat. Thousands of pounds are wasting here for want of bees to gather it. The flow te not half over yet. The tested queen I got of you is a splendid one. Her bees have about finished two cases of 1-lb. sections. Each case holds 28 sections. Lexington, Tex., June 8. W. S. Douglass. Friend D., it would afford me great plea- sure to visit your mint-fields. But are they not an indication of bad farming '? So long, however, as they will grow and flourish, let us by all means utilize the honey they pro- duce. A HONEY THAT CANDIES IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER. Friend Boot;— Can you account for honey candy- ing in the summertime? This summer we extract- ed about 1500 lbs. This was in November; and at Christmas time it was candied without the least signs of any moisture on the tops of the cans. From November to December the thermometer was ranging from 85 to 100 degrees in the shade. You will see by the label inclosed that we tell our customers that the honey will candy as soon as cold weather begins; but when it candied in the full heat of summer we were nonplused. I may say that this honey was gathered from the red mangrove, but it Is a beautiful white honey. A. A. Miles. Hemmant, Queensland, Aus., May 9. Friend M., we have for years back, every little while, had reports of a kind of honey that candies, even at a summer tempera- ture ; and this honey does not seem to be confined to any particular plant, or to any particular locality. It seems, however, as a general rule, to be confined to certain locali- ties. I do not know of any remedy, unless it is to utilize such honey for feeding and brood-rearing. The bees can use it about as we use honey candy, such as they use when they need feeding in winter. with you that honey in open gallon vessels, exposed to a daylight temperature, ranging about 100 de- grees for two to three months, would become so thick it never would candy. G. F. Robbins. Mechanicsburg, 111., June 5. did THE BEES TRANSFER THE EGGS FROM THE QUEEN-CELLS ? Eight days ago I found one colony queenless, with some young bees about hatching out. There was no young brood, but plenty of bees. I got a frame full of brood in all stages, and I put it in with them. This day I find four nice queen-cells on it, and on the frame next to it I find three cells. Did the bees transfer the eggs? Clearfield, Pa., May 21. J. McGaughey. Yes, friend M., the bees did transfer the worker eggs. The same thing has been sev- eral times reported. You will find it in our text-books and in the journals. THOSE JARS FOR EVAPORATING HONEY OUT OF THE HIVE. Frieiid Root:— You inquire the size of those jars I speak of on page 413. You notice I said lard-cans and stone jars. There were two IC-gallon cans, one 6-gallon jar, some 4-gallon jars. The two cans I emptied late in the fall, and refilled them from screw-cap cans. The honey from the latter was candying rapidly at the time, while the former had not commenced to grain. The 6-gaIlon jar was the last one disturbed. When 1 emptied it in January, the honey was candied at the bottom and clear at the top. At the same time, some 2>i-lb. and 5-lb. tin pails of honey, with lids, filled in August, were mostly beautifully liquid. From the above I think THE NICEST HONEY ; BURR-COMBS AND THICK TOP-BARS. I have kept bees for eight years. I have the name of having the nicest honey around. I had 3000 lbs. last year from 28 swarms, spring count. The most I received from one colony was 212 lbs. I sold the most of it around home. It averaged me 13 cts. per lb. I also sold some extracted honey. I have had five new swarms. The first came out the 23d of May. I prefer the thick top-bar. I have a few of Ji top-bar frames, which, with >4 in. be- tween frame and super, will not allow burr-combs to any extent. O. H. Pike. Mount Vernon, Mich., June 16. ■u GONE BACK TO FIXED DISTANCES. I began bee-keeping, or rather, perhaps, keeping bees, in 1850; but when I read the many learned ar- ticles in Gleanings I see I am yet a novice. I have been much interested in the discussions on fixed distances for frames, because the first frames I ever made I made with projections on one side only; thus: This gives me the distance I wanted, and is right | whichever way they were turn- ed. I used this pattern of top-bar for many years, and was satisfied with them till the much-esteemed editor of one of our bee-journals told me that fixed distances were very objectionable, so, of course, I straightway cut off the projections; but in less than one season I got tired of spacing frames with ray fingers, and often squeezing bees between the combs, in pushing them together, so that I drove a nail for a spacer, on one side only. I manage very well with them. A nail on one side is better than on both, as you have not to be so particular where you put them, and it's just half the work. Bees have been doing pretty well here lately on wild mint. Every one has had difficulty in getting swarms to stay. I lost three, but now give them a frame of brood, and they stay. Geo. E. Hailes. Syble, Tex., June 6. NO LOSS IN winter. I put 53 swarms into the cellar, and took out 53; and after they had been out a short time they be- gan to double up, and they kept at it for three weeks, and 16 is the number that went in with oth- er swarms. I have not lost as many as most of my friends here. " A. E. Bradford. Hammond, Wis., June 3. LOCALITY, and HOW IT AFFECTS BEE-HIVES. Why don't you get Prof. Cook to tell us all about the little troublesome flea, and how to master him? Mr. Root, if you and friend Doolittle were keeping bees in Texas, you would not tell bee-keepers to paint their hives white and leave them in the sun. Experience would teach you better. Bees have swarmed a great deal, but no surplus yet. Milamo, Tex., May 23. G. W. Beard. BEES ON ALSIKE ; RAPE SOWN AMONG THE OATS. Mr. Root .—Yours of the 7th was received the Uth, and the goods last Thursday. Every thing was in good shape. The alsike clover seed you sent me last spring, a year ago, you ought to see how big it 498 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. July is, and how the bees hum over it. The 1 lb. of rape you sent, I sowed last spring, and received no benefit therefrom. The bugs took it until the weeds came up. Then we gathered a few seeds, which I threw broadcast over my oats this spring, and I believe that every seed has come up, and is all yellow all over. Whether the oats is a bug-pro- tector, I Ijnow not. Bees have not done well so far — at least mine. It has been too rainy for them. Peter J. Petrt. Port Washington, O., June IH. HEAVY LOSSES IN BEES. Eighty per cent of the bees died in this vicinity last winter. 1 lost about 97 per cent. The losers all wintered in cellars. C. M. Lincoln. Rupert, Vt., May 20. DISCOURAGING FOR IOWA. Up to June 3d the weather was very dry ; the clo- ver was burning up with the hot winds. We have had but little rain for the Itiet two years, and this spring has been excessively dry, and now the weather is cloudy; for days, damp, misty, and chill. Bees have been nearly starving, and to day they are putting out drones. There is considerable white clover in bloom. We need lots of rain and then sunshine. The spring was cold, hence our bees did not breed as rapidly as desirable. I fear our har- vest will be very limited. I think Gleanings is getting better and better, when I compare our Gleanings of years ago with Gleanings of to-day. Lucas, la., June 10^ E. B. Morgan. heavy losses in winter ; DUG-OUTS VERSUS CELLARS. Bees in this part of Minnesota have come out rather poorly. One man near here put 30 colonies into the cellar last fall, and now has only one left. Others have lost half of their bees, :ind but few have come out without heavy loss. Bees are doing nicely now, although it is quite wet for them. I have 40 colonies now. I have had good success with the bees for the last few years. Three years ago I went from 43 to 6. I was then trying to win- ter bees in dug-outs in the bank, but found that that was a failure. I then made a cellar for them. I bricked it up inside, and put in a cemented floor, and a frame inside of the brick wall, and lathed and plastered on the frame. Since then my bees winter in good shape. , I. C. Smith. Lone Tree Lake, Minn., June 13. PROSPECTS DISCOURAGING. It has been one of the worst seasons for bees, for a number of years. Last fall, bees went into win- ter quarters in apparently good shape. The losses last winter were very heavy. While your humble servant did not lose a swarm, many have lost heavi- ly. Some have lost about a quarter, some a third, some a half, some three-fourths, and a few lost all, or nearly all. Of these, one lost six out of eight; one lost all; one lost 39 out of 40. Bee-keepers in this section are becoming much discouraged. All through the month of May we had only four bright days— no chance for any thing from fruit-blossoms. Dandelions are gone, and hardly enough honey is gathered for brood-rearing. Raspberries were kill- ed last winter or spring, so there is nothing to be had from that source. Up to this date there is no clover in bloom. Most of it winter-killed, so that at the present date the bees can hardly hold their own —not a spoonful of surplus yet. The season may yet open up very favorably. Time will tell the story. D. Noble. Clintonville, Wis., June 16. 0a^ 0WN ^Pi^i^Y, CONDITCTED BY ERNEST R. ROOT. CONDITION OF THE BEES. Our spring has been very backward, and it began to look as if the summer would bring us no nectar. White clover has been in bloom now for nearly two weeks. The farmers round about report seeing more of it than they have seen before in a great many years, yet, until the 22d inst., no hon- ey had begun to come in. Prior to that time the bees had been living from hand to mouth ; in fact, we had been feeding all of the colonies more or less, to keep them from curtailing brood-rearing, if not from actual starvation. Again, the bees are at work storing honey pretty rapidly just now, the 28d. THIClv TOP-BARS. The great rush in other departments of our establishment, together with the sick- ness of clerks, has prevented my experi- menting in the apiary as much as I ought to have done. I finally sent out some thick top- bar frames. They were wired on Kee- uey's plan, filled with foundation. It is hardly time yet to tell how we shall like them, although we feel pretty sure that they will never sag. OUT-APIARIES. By reason of the great rush in other de- partments, as above spoken of, and the backward spring, we have not located an out-apiary this season. On account of orders for bees and queens, we shall need all the bees we can scrape up at home. CARNIOLANS. We have now a colony of the above bees in our apiary, that are as gentle and nice to handle as any Italians we have in the apia- ry, and this colony bred pretty hej^vily in spite of the backward season. Mr. Spafford says, however, as to their disposition, they are at times a little more nervous than the Italians, he thinks. They seem to be a trifle larger in size. That was the impres- sion I had formed of those we had a year or so ago. These Carniolans were obtained of Dr, S. W. Morrison, who is now about to sell off all his Carniolan apiary, being oblig- ed to go to Colorado Springs on account of the ill health of his wife. Since writing the above I have tested a little more the temper of the Carniolans. We always open the hive now without smoke. "We made quick motions over the frames, pointed our fingers at them— in fact, did every thing we could to irritate them, except to jar the hive, and they are certain- ly gentle. They prove to be good comb- builders, good breeders, and have as much 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 499 honey in their liives as any other calony in the apiary. I shall be very glad to believe that the six or seven colonies of these bees we have tested heretofore have not been a true type of this race. SOLAR WAX-EXTRACTOR. A short time ago we bought about two dozen hybrid colonies, on natural-built combs. The latter were so poorly built out that we put them in upper stories above the queen-excluding zinc, with the queen and a majority of the bees below. After the brood hatches we put them in the solar wax-extractor. We have been using it ev- ery day. The solar wax-extractor is cer- oue of the conveniences in a well - kept apiary. CROSS BEES ; A LIVELY FRACAS. For experimental purposes, one of our hybrid colonies we had decided to change from one hive to another. After the combs were transferred, as is usually the case, there were quite a lot of bees clinging to the inside of the hive. As we have done a good many times before, we inverted the old hive before the entrance of the new one, and gave it a bump to jar the bees out in front of the entrance. Then a lively fracas en- sued. Almost every one of those bees flew up into the air immediately, and began stinging vigorously. In fact, the air seem- ed to be black with them. I confess I do not like to run from bees when I have a veil on ; but having only a thin coat on, the little scamps punctured my back and arms right and left. I finally took to the ever- greens in inglorious haste, leaving our apia- rist, Mr. SpafEord, to take care of himself. To get rid of the bees I circled around the evergreen trees two or three times. After coming back to the old place I found that Mr. Spaflord had got his smoker, and was making free use of smoke. Now, it so hap- pened that there was a small hickory-tree back of this row of evergreens ; and very soon, very much to our horror, we heard the cry of children. Mr. S. and I both ran to the tree, and found that Iluber and his play- mate Mattie were pretty near the top of the tree, and those hybrids, evidently, had left us and attacked those helpless children with bare legs and bare heads. Erantic with pain they clambered from one limb to another. I yelled to Huber to jump into Mr. Spafford's arms, and then I ran for the other boy. He was then ten or twelve feet up the tree. When he was within about eight feet I called out to him to jump. He hesitated a moment, and then finally did as I requested. I caught him safely in my arms. By doing this we left the bees eight feet up in the air, buzzing around whence their victim had suddenly disappeared. Huber, fortunately, had received only one sting ; but Mattie was stung something over a dozen times about the face, head, and neck. The probjibilities are, that the bees attacked Mattie first, and, drawn on by the scent of the poison, they began giving him an unfair dose. After reaching the ground safely, the boys needed no invita- tion to swamper to the house, which they did, followed by your humble servant. Both boys were crying with pain. I quickly re- moved the stings by scratching them out, without pressing the poison-bag. There were so many stings in Mattie's hair that I was forced to resort to a fine comb. We finally removed them all, and his face was bathed, and he was taken home. The stings had no other effect than to give him a good big swelled head and fat cheeks. Iluber had received only one sting, and it did him no very serious injury. For some reason, Iluber is very sensitive to the effect of the poison. His mother thinks, if he had been stung as much as Mattie was, it would have killed him. However that may have been, we are glad that it was no worse than it was. Mattie has been stung a good many times, but does not seem to be affect- ed much by the poison. After removing the stings I went back into the apiary, and found the air was full of mad bees. I carefully adjusted my veil and went out among them again, having first prepared myself with a couple of flat boards, about 10 by lo in. These I clapped togeth- er, cymbal fashion, in such a way as to kill half a dozen at every stroke. I continued this for ten or fifteen minutes, until I killed all or nearly all the mad bees. The apiary again became quiet, and all was well. One other time, by some little hook or crook we had gotten the bees stirred up so that the air was literally black with the in- furiated insects. We did nothing further than to close the hive up at the time, and avoid that part of the apiary as much as possible. There was a whole week that we could not go anywhere near that hive. They stung every thing and everybody that chanced to come within a few yards of them ; and for two or three weeks after, they gave us more or less trouble. After the recent occurrence above related, I con- cluded that all the angry bees were proba- bly in the air ; and that, if they were going to be troublesome for a week or more, and pos- sibly sting a valuable horse, or get after more children, they might just about as well die then as at any other time, and so I proceeded to kill them as above stated. Mr. Spaflord was in another part of the apiary working, and he told me afterward, as he saw me with the two boards clapping and smashing the bees that were about me, that there was a literal swarm about my head. I stood and kept killing the bees until they were all dead. The apiary was then as quiet as ever, ^nd we have had no annoy- ance since. It is a well-known fact, that one or two angry bees will follow an apiarist about the whole day, and possibly annoy him other days, if they are not killed. Killing them puts an end to the annoyance, and allows the apiarist to go about his work among his bees with his veil raised up, enjoying all the comfort he has a right to have. It does not pay to let those angry fellows live after they are so thoroughly stirred up. 1 pre- sume I must have killed, at a rough guess, some 2(J0 or 800 bees ; and what was the loss of that many bees compared to the continuj.* ' al annoyance of being stung every time arty 500 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July one came within a few yards of their hive ? Their sisters in the hive, not having knowl- edge of what their sisters outside were do- ing, seem to be fairly quiet with ordinary precaution. PYgEIiF MB MY piEI6pB@R?. Lay up for yourselves treasures In heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. — Matt. 6: 20. There are three things that I wish to talk about to-day. First, " our homes ;" second, " our neighbors ;" third, strawber- ries ; or, if you choose, the cultivation of strawberries. Can any one lay up treasures in heaven by raising strawberries? I feel sure he can ; and the very thought of it an- imates me and gives me energy, enthusiasm, joy, hope, and finally health— yes, health. Health comes as a result of honest enthu- siasm in some praiseworthy object, a great many times, when it will not come in an- swer to the combined skill of our greatest, wisest, and best physicians. Perhaps I might as well tell you, to commence with, that neighbor Terry has been for some time bard at work writing a strawberry-book. Per- haps it was nearly a year ago that I told him I wanted him to get a good ready, and write me a strawberry-book very soon. I was not much surprised when he replied that that was just what he would like to do. I do not know but he said he had been thinking of it. When I met him at one of our institutes he asked me if I had considered that he was only a very novice in the berry-business. I told him I had, but that I would give morp for his fresh enthusiasm, even if he did not know so much, than I would for something written by some of the veterans who had lost their enthusiasm, and to whom the sub- ject had become an every-day affair. There is something wonderfully interesting in see- ing any one take up any of these industries, when a great part of it is new to him. I like to see a boy or girl who has become ex- cited, and is full of energy over bees, straw- berries, chickens, or any of these outdoor industries. As I look back and think of the enjoyment, and the new thrills that have come as I have taken up each new subject in turn, it makes me feel young again. Well, when the first chapters of the strawberry-book came we were so full of business I did not pay very much attention to them. I knew that, when the printers got ready to take hold of them, I should have to read them any way. In fact, I have become so tired of reading letters and fol- lowing out the different lines of business through the letters, that I do not know but I have lost energy somewhat. Before I got through with the strawberry-book, however, it all came back. Why, in the concluding chapters I could hardly sit still. I looked at my plants out in the plant-garden, and I looked at the gseund on the hill by the wind- mill where I am preparing to plant berries, and I could hardly contain myself. Before I got many pages further, I got into a fever to visit friend Terry. But tlaere were the letters piled up, many of them grievous complaints because the writers had not got their goods. I could not be spared one whole day, and I did not feel as if it would be right for me to desert my post so long. I did, however, write to friend Terry that I wanted the privilege of dropping in upon them some night oetween nine and ten o'clock ; and I wished them, also, to let me go back about seven or eight o'clock in the morning. I bade him tell his good wife that all the preparation she need make for my entertainment was plenty of bread and butter for breakfast. With the berries I could help myself to, I should be quite satisfied and hap- py. Then I counted the hours until a reply should come. A reply did come — not in an- swer to my letter, however, for it was writ- ten before my note had been received. Here is a part of friend Terry's letter : Friend Root: —Oar patch is a grand success, bringing us about $15.C0 a day. We get our price, without a bit of trouble. In spite of great competi- tion. Plenty of room wp ahow. T.B. Terry. Hudson, O., June 18, 1890. I received it just before nocn. Friend Terry lives about 25 miles from us ; and a little before four o'clock, one of our Clydes- dale horses was standing before the office, waiting for me to get the letters looked aft- er so I could be spared until the next day at noon. My wife admonished me that the barometer was falling, at a pretty good jog. But the strawberry fever was too strong to be allayed by a summer shower, so off we started. My teamster has always been rath- er skeptical in regard to Mr. Terry's farm- ing; and I am sorry to say that a great many farmers and teamsters throughout our land are somewhat the same way, and yet I do not believe that they could give any good reason for it if they were to try. I rather enjoyed accepting his invitation logo along with me to take care of the horse. Mrs. Boot said, before I went away, something like this: "Now, husband, remember that Mr. Terry's folks are in the midst of farm- ing, besides taking care of their berry crop, and very likely Mis. Terry is burdened. Stop somewhere and get your suppers, and feed the horse, so that you may make them as little trouble as possible." We came into the pretty town of West Richfield just about six o'clock. Did I ever tell you that I have an especial liking for hotel-keepers? Well, I have. I like every thing about a hotel— especially the country hotel. I like the landlord and the landlady ; I like the girls who wait on the tables (as you may remember); I like the boy who tends to the horses in the stable ; yes, and I like pretty well the folks who lounge around the door and bar.* I should like them bet- ter, however, if they were busy in some- thing good— in the line of our text, for in- stance. These country hotels are homes for * When I use the term "bar "I do not mean a place where drinks are sold, as used to le the cus- tom forty years ago. A good many of our country hotels here in Ohio do not sell any thing at the bar —not even cigars or tobacco. Perhaps the term "bar" had better be exchanged for "olBce." I wonder how it is with you, friends. Do the hotels in your small towns nowadays sell drinks of any kind? 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 501 homeless people ; and 1 always enjoy seeing how well they carry out this idea. " My good friend, we want some supper just as soon as our horse can eat his feed. VV^e have quite a piece to drive yet, and we wish to get there before the people have gone to bed." I was pleased to see how quickly he mov- ed to the kitchen to tell the women-folks to start it going. Then he directed in regard to the care of the horse, and stepped briskly to the meat-shop ; and almost before the kitchen door was shut we heard them pounding steak. Before I had time to be- come impatient or nervous, we were called to partake of the nice steak and potatoes, with a couple of fried eggs, nice sweet but- ter, good bread, and a good saucer of straw- berries. If you want to see me have a good appetite, just let me ride twenty miles across the country. For serving us thus handsomely, the whole charge was only 25 cents apiece. The horse counted the same as a man. Now, when I get promptly serv- ed, and yet on such short notice, do you wonder that I thank God for hotels; and that I feel kindly toward hotel-keepers? Just a little before nine o'clock I had the pleasure of telling my companion, Mr. W., that this was friend Terry's home. I watched him as he looked at the bright pretty barn and tool-house in the dim moon- light. Friend Terry was off to Hudson, with berries ; but his son and a hired man welcomed us. " You said you would be here between nine and ten ; but you are a little ahead of time, are you notV" said the young man. I always like to be ahead of time. It is a grand idea, in business, boys, to make your promises, even in traveling, so that you are on hand a little sooner than you agreed to be. You try it awhile, and see if you don't find that I am right. We were warmly wel- comed by all the family, even if we did come three or four days before we were ex- pected. Friend T. soon returned, then got a lantern, and we went to see those wonder- ful strawberries. The first glimpse I ever had of the Grand llapids lettuce was by the light of a lantern. I shall never forget it. By the way, there is something wonderfully fascinating to me in going about among the plants after dark. How cool and beautiful the ground looked in friend Terry's new plantation of strawberries ! The beautiful, thrifty little plants, each one as much like its neighbor as two peas can be alike, at ex- act distances (rows four feet apart, plants two feet apart in the rows), with all the in- tervening ground in process o£ being raked until nothing cotdd live except the straw- berries—why, I fairly ached to get hold of a fine-tooth steel rake, just to stir the beauti- ful, fine, soft rich loam. If there were any weeds, they had not come to the surface of the soil. In fact, weeds never get s) as to be visible on the Teriy plantation. Then we went with the lantern over to that half- acre in full bearing. 1 have a photograph of It that I will show you before long ; but no photograph can begin to do justice to the sight we beheld. The varieties of straw- berries are selected so as to have no rusty leaves. Every leaf is thrifty, perfect, and has that bright new look that indicates a rank luxuriant growth. The whole ground between the plants is carpeted with cut straw, so not a berry can find any thing gritty or that will soil it in the least. Strawberries growing and ripening on "straw"! and, oh what clusters of them! It seemed as if there were hardly room enough for them to ripen without lying pil- ed up on each other. Paths were provided for the pickers, a foot wide ; but these paths were also filled with straw. The Sterling, Cumberland, Gandy, Downing, and Bubach, kept their berries out of the path ; but the wonderfully productive Haverland could not be satisfied with piling the berries up in the row, but it just kept pushing its great long stalks full of fruit clear out into the path ; and it was very difficult indeed to walk in the paths without stepping on these freat beautiful handsome berries. Did any- ody ever see such a plant as the Haver- land? One reason for wanting to visit friend Terry was, that I wished to see wheth- er his Haverlands were really lying in heaps around the plants, as ours were. They were doing that very thing. Friend T. is not excitable. I never saw him get very much excited about any thing. He is cool and quiet in almost all emergencies. He does not sail his hat nor get as enthusiastic as I do ; but for all that he enjoys nature's gifts fully as much as the rest of us, if I am correct. Now, the catalogues have been se- verely censured for being extravagant in regard to many of these new things ; but since I have been home I have searched all the catalogues in vain to find any thing that does half justice to the Haverland. It is true, the berries are rather tart, and have not very much flavor compared with some of the others ; neither are they as large as some. But the berries are of good size ; and with a little sugar they are almost as g(iod as any of them. And, oh my! what an abundance! I have not any figures just now about the amount per square rod; but you will find them in the book. It seems to me that this plant is destined to bring about a new era in strawberry culture. We have had them for two years. The first year we kept our original plants so busy furnish- ing runners, that we did not get very much fruit. During this last spring I let the old plants go, and they were pretty well covered with grass and weeds ; but when they began to set their fruit I was almost alarmed. I could not believe it possible that any plant could ripen the quantity of green berries that lay around them on all sides. But they did do it ; and as fast as they turned red they increased in size to such an extent that it seemed almost like popping corn. The lantern was put away, and we went to bed. I obtained permission to get up at daybreak, and I proposed not to disturb anybody else. 1'he bwometer's prediction troubled me a little, anrl so I was not sur- prised t> hear the patter of the raindrops a little before daylight. The rain let up, however, a little after daylight, and, oh what a be lutiful sight met ray view 1 One of friend Terry's hobbies is keeping things 502 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July painted. The barn and tool-house and cov- ered barnyard had jiist been treated to a coat of bright new paint. By the way, this covered barnyard has just been enlarged to about twice its former capacity. But I tell you, it is handy— especially where one has as many tools as friend Terry and I have. Friend T. has a knack of combining colors, with a small amount of architectural curves about the covered yard, that makes it won- derfully pleasing to the eye. The fence be- fore the house was also neatly painted, and in good repair ; gates all working nicely. A gravel walk led around to the front door, and a gravel driveway on the other side of the lawn led around to the rear of the house. Friend T. has a gravel bed, or bank, on his own farm, and therefore it is not a very ex- pensive matter to have neat gravel walks all about his home. The painters had also been at work about the house ; and when I sug- gested that most of us would think that it did not really need painting, he remarked that it was cheaper to paint before buildings really needed it, in the common acceptation of the term ; and there we have the same story over and over again all over friend Terry's premises. Every thing is done be- fore it begins to suffer from lack of atten- tion. The weeds in the strawberry-bed are killed before they get to the top of the ground. His fourteen-acre potato-field is tilled in the same way, even during this re- markably wet season. The potatoes stood so regular through the field that one might think they were spaced by machinery, which, in fact, they were, by the machinery of the potato-planter. Instead of there be- ing hills of potatoes, however, there was a single stalk standing up like a little tree, each one just like its neighbor, as in the strawberries. This comes from the '' single- eye " idea. If we let a great lot of sprouts grow in one hill, it is like having eight or ten stalks of corn in a hill — you have only nubbins instead of fine large ears. This single potato-stalk produces only a few po- tatoes ; but as these are not crowded at all, they are large, fine-shaped ones; and his potatoes, like his strawberries, command an extra price. Some time last fall I sent friend Terry an order for 25 bushels of po- tatoes, to be kept for seed. I was too late. They were sold out, and I was astonished to learn during this visit that 2S0 different peo- ple sent money for potatoes, after the pota- toes were gone. That is worse than any thing we have done — or better, whichever you choose to call it. The receipts for strawoer- ries during the day I was there were some- thing over $23.00. When I mention about friend Terry's farming, many people reply at once, '' Oh, yes ! friend Terry has got money, and can afford to hire all the help he needs." Now, this is a sad mistake. One great feature of Terry's farming is to manage with the very smallest amount of help. If I am correct, he has only one hired man, aside from himself and boy, and the assist- ance his wife and daughters give in berry- picking. Many people ask, with wonder expressed in their eyes, " Why, do Mr. Ter- ry's daughters work outdoors in the straw- berry-bedsV" Yes, my friend, they do. After they had finished their education, they, like most young ladies, wanted some- thing to do. They might teach school, clerk in the store, or perhaps find a situation in an office in some of our large cities. They preferred to stay at home, however, and work with their father, rather than to be '••bossed" by somebody else who is not their father. Do you blame them? Their father suggested that they raise strawber- ries, instead of teaching school ; and I think they aie getting more money than most schoolteachers. I did not see them picking strawberries while I was there, be- cause it rained. As they were living at home, and working for their father, they could work when they chose. I looked sev- eral times longingly at the beautiful large piano that has recently been purchased, and which stood right in sight ; but so many important matters crowded I hardly dared ask them to treat us to some music. Now, I sup]iose women-folks should be free to choose an occupation, just as men are; but if it were myself, or if it were my daughters under consideration, I should say. " Give me strawberry culture a hundred times over, rather than schoolteaching or any of the other employments open to women- folks." AVhen I mention these rural pur- suits, and the wonderful success some have met, the constant objection raised is, that the markets are frequently overstocked. Strawberries a week ago sold in our town at 5 cents a quart. Ours, however, when freshly picked, brought 8 cents readily. I now wish to relate a little incident illus- tratinsT the character and quality of friend Terry's berries. I think it was on Tuesday, June 17, that the quantity of berries became so great that friend T. took a small load to Akron, while his son went to Hudson. He feared there would be more than the town of Hudson could manage. As he approached Akron he met farmers coming home, telling him there was no sort of use in carrying another strawberry to Akron that day. He, however, pushed ahead, but found it all as they said. Stacks of berries were piled up in front of every store and grocery. The troubled proprietors were standing out on the street, trying in vain to get an offer. He drove to the place where he was accus- tomed to trade, and asked them to look at his berries. This they positively refused to do, saying they were in trouble already be- cause of having been induced to purchase beyond what prudence would dictate. The proprietor, however, finally consented just to look under the cover of the drawers. Friend T. assured him he need not buy, but that he would like to have him see some of his product, as he might at some future time wish to bring him some berries. He reluc- tantly approached the spring wagon. Friend T. expected to see him an astonished man when he raised the cover; but he was not prepared for his sudden change. The ber- ries were sold at a price away above those already standing on the' sidewalk. When he got home, his" son had orders for all the berries they could pick, from the Hudson dealers ; and on going to the postoffice he 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUIIE. 503 found a letter from the Akron man. implor- ing him to bring four bushels Thursday morning, without any possibility of failure. Mr. Terry was obliged to decline the order. There were not berries enough to go around. When I was there, the Gandy had just be- gun to bear. Friend T. had taken a sample to Hudson, and they brought a dollar a peck, without any trouble. No wonder, for they looked like luscious peaches or plums, more than like strawberries. As we stood by the buggy, ready to bid our friends adieu, I ven- tured the remark, "'Friend T., why don't you have 14 acres of strawberries instead of 14 acres of potatoes ? They would not be very much more trouble, and then think what a lot of money you would have.'' He shook his head, and smiled. I don't remember just what he said, but it convey- ed an idea to me something like this : '* Fourteen acres of strawberries would make my home a thoroughfare. Its quiet and sanctity would be invaded. My wife and daughters, instead of having this quiet, pretty home all to themselves, would have seclusion and peace no longer. It is true, I might make more money ; but I am not working for money. It is not the end and object 1 have in view. I am a farmer, and I always expect to be one. I love my work because I am enabled by it to demonstrate what farmers' homes may be, compared with what many of them are at the present mo- ment. I want to see farmers' boys and girls find something to do at home on their farms. 1 want them to love the farmer's home, and to feel proud of it. I want them to And peace, comfort, contentment, where too many of them have found only drudgery, privation, and long hours of toil. I want them to work at home on the farm, and to learn to lay up treasures in heaven, as well as treasures on earth ; and I want to show them the buried treasures that lie unused only a little way below the surface of the soil — just below the surface of so many farms, where at present we see only an un- sightly and dreary waste of weeds and dis- order." Now, my good friend Terry did not say any thing of the sort. He is not as talkative a man as I am, and he did not say very much about it, only that he did not want 14 acres of strawberries, with their attendant care and bustle. In going all over the prem- ises, all over his home, and talking with his wife and children, one was impressed at every step that he is not bent on making money. It seems, however, that the kind Father has provided the money. That lit- tle text that has been for so many \ears a hobby of mine, explains it all : " Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- ness, and all these things shall be added unto you." So long as friend Terry is work- ing with all his might and main to emanci- pate the farmer from the drudgery of ordi- nary farming, God will see to it that he has the wherewith to do his work. Moody once said that he believed that God would furnish his ministering servants with the wherewith to carry on their work. I said, as soon as I heard it. '' I, too, believe it is true." Before I left I told my friend that, al- though there were to be more chapters to the strawberry-book, he could have his pay for what he had done, just as well now as at any other time ; and I added something like this : "Friend T., I have been having many heavy cares and burdens to bear during the past few months ; but I am glad to be able to say that lack of funds has not been one of the burdens." He replied : '• Thank you. Mr. Boot ; but I do not need it. A lack of funds has not cramped me and troubled me in my work either ; " and a pleasant look on his face impressed me with the thought that a spirit of thankful- ness to the great Giver above was in his heart as well as mine, and gave an added enjoyment to his work. We bade adieu to that pleasant home. The surrounding homes for quite a little distance seemed to have caught friend Ter- ry's spirit, for they were well-to-do, pro- gressive farmers ; but the potato-fields right over the fence from friend Terry's were as different from his as any thing you could well imagine. Notwithstanding this, they were rather better than any thing we had seen in our drive of 2') miles across the country. I looked in vain on this side of the road and that, but no such farming greeted us anywhere as we saw there.* We took a different route home. You never see me going the same road twice, if I can avoid it. At Cuyahoga Falls we call- ed on the veteran strawberry - man, Mr. Matthew Crawford. Friend C.'s whole business is strawberries— not raising them for the market, but testing different varie- ties, and raising plants for sale. I saw something there which I had never seen anywhere else, and perhaps I shall never see it again— little beds of two or three rows, of all the kinds of strawberries known. In some places great luscious berries were rotting on the ground. When I remon- strated, he said so many were coming daily to discuss the different varieties that he left a few so as to be always able, during the season, to furnish specimens of dead- ripe fruit. I mentioned ever so many kinds I had heard of, but I was promptly led to the very variety in question, where I saw it doing its best. Friend Crawford is a devot- ed, faithful Christian. In fact, it shines forth in his face, looks, words, and actions. As my paper is getting long, I shall be oblieed to pass over this visit briefly. As an illustration of our talk I give the follow- ing : "Friend C, will you please show me the largest berry known ? " " With great pleasure, Mr. Boot. But do you really think you w^ant to invest in the largest berry known V " " Why, surely. If it is a good one, why should I not V " * Later.— Since our visit I hare received the fol- lowing' on a postal, from friend Terry: Well, it dried oir Saturday, so we sold 10 bushels of berries. S26.00; !ind Monday 13 bushels, 836.55. Not quite so thick to- day, but we |.c(it a bushel of Uandy's Prize, that sold for$4.0O. I had a photo taken. The Uandy will not hold out lonir. Hiu^on. ().. June 24. T. B. Tf.rrv. 501 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. July " Yes, it is a good one— that is, fairly good. Come and see." He parted the leaves, and there, to my great astonishment, was an immense fruit that I should hardly have called a strawber- ry had it not been for the surroundings. Instead of being like other strawberries, it was much the shape of a very badly scallop- ed tomato ; and 1 declare, the berries were pretty close in size to some tomatoes. I picked a great big one and took a bite. The quality was very much like that of the Bu- bach ; but there was not a single specimen but that was knotty and gnarly, with protuberances growing out of one side or out of another. At first I declared I would make a planting of it ; and then it occurred to me that everybody would object, and pre- fer something a little smaller, of good shape, and firm enough to ship— something like the Gandy, for instance. If one want- ed, however, a great lot of berries, and something that could be picked very quick- ly, I rather think this would be the berry. My companion told me that he had found ten of them that would make a quart, and he thought it very likely that he could do it then and there. As its shape suggested to- matoes, I asked : " Friend C, why is it )iot probable that some time we shall have a single strawber- ry combining so many of the desirable qualities of others that only one variety will be needed — like the tomato, for instance ? " " I have thought of it a good deal, Bro. Root ; and, by the way, I am very much re- joiced to know that we have finally one to- mato summing up all the good qualities to such an extent that no other is needed. 1 am myself, at present, planting only one kind of tomato, and it seems now that I may never care to plant another kind." I almost held my breath as I asked, *' Why, friend C, you astonish me. "Will you please tell me the name of that one to- mato that you put in place of all the long string of tomatoes known to seedsmen and catalogue-makers ?" What do you think he said ? He smiled just a little as he replied, "■ The Ignotum." I did not at the time know whether he was aware that I first gave it to the public, but he said he had heard it so stated. ''Now, Bro. Root, I have something to tell you that will greatly please and interest vou. I do wish you could meet friend . Louden, \^iho gave us the great big straw- berry you hold in your hand, and he has given us almost numberless other valuable strawberries. You will notice that I have numbered them in different places over my ground — No. 4, No. 8, No. 75, etc. Well, friend L. is a Canadian. Some years ago he was very low with consumption, and his case was pronounced by nearly all the physi- cians incurable. There was nothing before him but to get ready to die. As he was a good man, his friends could not bear the thought of losing him, and his children could hardly give him up. A sou of his was interested in strawberries, and he begged his father to stay outdoors and get interest- ed in berry-growing, suggesting that, if he should get as full of enthusiasm as some of them did, it might make him well." I be- gan at once to think of our good friend Mrs. Axteil. " The father very quietly assented, and placed himself as pupil under the son. In a little time he became deeply interested in the matter of perfecting new varieties. At present he has done more work of this kind than perhaps any other man in the world; and this season," so our friend Crawford went on to say, ''he has a whole half-acre covered thickly with plants, and each plant is a different seedling from its neighbor. These are to be tested, with the hope that they may furnish the world some- thing better than we have already." Those who have made experiments in this line can conceive how much of an undertaking is such a project; and the outcome of it has been that he has regained his health, and although he is quite an old man now, he will probably live for some years yet. So you see it is not only worldly gifts which shall be given to those who seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, but the promise seems to include health; for friend L. has found a new lease of life in propagating new and better varieties of strawberries for his fellow-men. I do not know whether he is rich or not. It may be that, like Terry, he does not care to be rich, but holds fast to the text of our talk to-day. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. — Matt. 6: 20. EDITORI^Ii. GtiEANINGS TEN THOUSAND STRONG. Wb are happy to announce to our readers that we have now on our books 10,000 subscribers, the exact number being 10,002. There is such a call for sample copies that we are now printing nearly 11,000 journals each issue. In fact, we have been doing this right along through the year. While we have been slow in reaching 10,000, we are glad that we have been able to hold our readers. Somehow or other they stick by us, and we hope to stick by them. AdvertiEers will please take into considera- tion our large subscription-list. Three thousand is usually a large list for a trades journal; but ten thousand is almost phenomenal. GARDENING IN JULY. If you have fine soft mellow ground, well manur- ed and well drained, you can get a good crop of al- most any thing, pi-oviding your seeds or plants are got right into the ground without a moment's de- lay. One of our agiicultural papers suggests that the 1st of July is generally about the best time to sow buckwheat in any iMtriotic neighborhood. Do you open your eyes and mouth at the latter re- mark? Well, his explanation is, that the bombard- ment universally carried on is almost always pro- ductive of a thunderstorm; and that, if it does not rain on the 4th, it surely will the next day, and this will give your things a start that will be pretty sure to make a crop. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 505 BCSINE8S AT THE HOME OF THE HONEY-BEES, JULY 1. Our saw-room reports all orders filled, with the exception of 8e«tion8; and as we are now running almost all our force on sections, both upstairs and downstairs, still running day and night besides, we hope to be up on sections by about the time this reaches you; and we never mean to be caught in such a predicament again, if our friends will over- look our past delinquencies of the season. We do not mean by this that you are to let us off "scot free." Tell us what the damage has been and we will try to make it satisfactory. SELLING SECRETS. It seems we have not quite finished this matter, judging from the large number of letters coming daily. From among them we select the following: Friend Root:— You may remember, perhaps, my telling you, when you honored me with a visit at Niagara, of the in- fluence your writings had had on me. I may say that that in- tiuenee nas not waned; but there is a question concerning the Wilford Hall matter that I should like to have you explain; or, rather, give your views on. I, like yourself, and hundreds of others, through an advertisement in Me.ssiah's Herald, of Boston, and the personal indorsement of the editor, signed the Pledge of Honor, and sent the $4.00; but I was considera- bly taken back when I read your editorial in Gleanings of May 15, characterizing Dr. Hall as a swindler; and I received a further surprise when, in the next issue, you give the whole ■• secret " (?) away by quoting Dr. Kellogg. Now. what I want to know is thisiHave you not violated your ple'dge by pub- lishing what you did? If so, why am I not at liberty to lend my pamphlet to any of my friends whom I think such treat- ment would benefit! Geo. Cork. Waterloo, Out., June 16. Thanks, friend C, for the kind compliment you pay me. If I were you, I think I would not show the little pamphlet to my friends, under the cir- cumstances. You ran, however, show the copy of Gleanings in which I copied from Dr. Kellogg, as much as you choose. Some of the friends still in- sist that I violated my pledge, and if in no other way by saying to the world that Dr. Hall's secret is the same as what I quoted from the doctor book. Very likely there is some ground for the claim that I have not kept my pledge to the strict letter. Let us try making the matter plainer by an illustration : A man pays you a debt, and you give him a receipt in full. You afterward discover that the money you received from him is counterfeit. Suppose he should still flourish his receipt in full, and claim that he owed you nothing because he had a receipt with your signature at the bottom. In one respect he is right. But you reply: "Look here, my friend, that receipt was given to you with the supposition that the money was genuine. You obtained it by fraud." Property or papers, or any thing else, ob- tained by fraud or by false pretenses, can be re- covered by law. Dr. Hall obtained our signature to that printed promise by false pretenses. S'ome of the friends go even so far as to say that Dr. Kel- logg obtained his information from Dr. Hall, and that Hall is the original discoverer. But even if this were true (but it is not). Dr. Hall has been tak- ing $4.00 for a secret that is not a secret, for it has been for ten years or more published in Kellogg's book. Still others claim that Dr. Hall was the original discoverer of forcing water clear to the small iatestine. But those who make this claim have read carelessly my extract from Dr. Kellogg's book— see page 443, June 1, toward the end of the long extract. I have carefully read all your letters, dear friends, and tried hard to find reasonable grounds for calling Hall honest; but the evidence is all before us on printed pagcx. hind in filling orders, it is refreshing to learn that we are not the only ones who have had " an un- precedented rush." Messrs. Newman & Son are al- ways prompt in filling orders, if any of the dealers are. The American Bee. Journal, on page 411, says: Like all other supply-dealers we have experienced an unprecedented " rush " during this season, and as a result we have not been able to get some lines of goods fast enough to fill orders as promptly as la our custom. We are doing the best we can to satis- fy all, and are shipping all the goods we can obtain, the moment they come to hand. We hope to be able to clean up all orders now on hand in a few days, and then to resume our usual promptness, for which we have a widespread reputation. It is indeed true that they have a "widespread reputation " for promptness. In the next column of the A. B. J. we find this pithy editorial on odd sizes, which we are glad to reproduce: Odd sizes of sections, brood-frames, crates, etc., are simply impossible to get made now during the "rush." If people will use anything besides the regular stock, they should have them made in the winter, and keep them on hand ready for use when needed. All dealers and manufacturers are now behind with their regular orders, and none will now take an order for a special size ; so those who use such, and have not laid in a stock in advance, will have to do without them, and learn a lesson which will cost them more or less of their crop of honey. Again, we notice that the D. A. Jones Co., of Bee- ton, Can., have been behind. In their issue of the Canadian Bee Journal of June 15, they say: Orders still crowd us, and we are subjected at times to some pretty harsh letters, when we have been doing our best to get off whatever may have been ordered in each case. Our trade in founda- tion has been larger this year than ever before, even though some of the other supply-dealers have been selling it at less prices than we. At this mo- ment we have about all the wax bought up which is available, and we fear that our supply is going to be short of our wants, especially if orders come in the way they have been for the past week or two. We have been very much delayed through the sick- ness of the foreman of our tinshop, but we are having a full force working at the present writing, and we hope to catch up soon. With the exception of one or two nuclei and half a dozen queens, all orders for bees and queens are gone forward. Yes, we all get " pretty harsh letters," even when we are doing the best we can. Customers should not blame dealers too severely when they are urged by catalogues and otherwise to send in their orders early. We all try to do the best we can to antici- pate trade; but on account of sickness, mentioned in the editorial above, on account of fires, on ac- count of a good many other things that can not be anticipated, many times it is utterly impossible to ship promptly. The only way out of the difficulty is for customers to anticipate their needs, and order early. ^PECI^Ii ]^0TICEg. NEW HONfY. We are beginning to have calls for new honey. As soon as you have any choice to sell, we should be pleased to have samples of extracted, with of- fers; also price on comb honey. ALFALFA HONEY. SUPPLY-DEALERS BEING BEHIND. Misery loves company, it is said ; and although we regret to hear that other dealers have been be- We have in stock perhaps a ton of alfalfa extract- rd honey, which we have received from Reno, Ncviula. Now, the people here at our village pro- nounce it equal to any clover honey that was ever thrown out of the comb; and in order to show you how nice it is, I would request that, in making freight or express orders, you have a little alfalfa honey put in as a sample. Prices exactly the same as for clover honey in our catalogue. .506 GLEANINGS IN BEE CIXTURE. lULY MAPLE SUGAR. We have in stock, unsold, about a ton; and in •order to get it out of our way we offer it at one cent per pound less than we did in our April issue— 7, 8, 9, and 10 cts. per pound, according to quality; !4 ct. less in 50 lb. lots, and one cent less in barrel lots. What we have is mostly of the medium grradi'S, t^ and !i cts. We have very little of the cheapest grade, and the same in regard to the best. WIRE NETTING REDUCED TO THE OLD PRICE. We are pleased to announce to our patrons, that, owing to a reduction in tbe cost of wire, we are able, after this date, to sell wire netting at the old prices ruling before the advance the first of March. The price, till further notice, will be as given on the last page of our catalogue for Jan. 1, 18!t0, and later issues; namely, for 2 inch. No. 19, 4 feet wide, i4.00 per roll; 5-roll lots, $3 75; lO-roll lots, $3.60 per roll; 25 cents added for cartage on single roll ship- ments from New Vork and Chicago. 14INCH GLOBE LAWN-MOWER FOR $5.70. In laying in our stock of mowers for the season ■we have to judge from sales of previous years what proportion of sizes will be needed. This year has not followed last very closely, and we have had a large call for larger and smaller sizes, so we hav£ had to order more, and we have a surplus of 14-inch on hand. We consider this the best size of the five. However, to reduce this surplus we will, during July only, sell a 14inch Globe mower for $5.70, "Which is 2.5 cents less than regular price. IGNOTUM TOMATO-PLANTS. We have finally rather more plants than we shall need this season. We therefore offer them to those who can make a plantirg as late as July, at the fol- lowing prices: 5 cts. for 10, 40 cts. per 100, or $3.00 per 1000. You can have large plants or small ones, just as you choose; but if you have the large ones. The express charges will be considerably more. Small and medium sizes will be sent by mail at an expense of as much more for postage as the plants >kfs. 75c. Per Year. Poultry Journal Etdtedhij W.C.d.I'ett^r. 75c. Per Year. BUSH LIMA BEANS. This season, like the last, the bush lima beans "were slow in coming up; and, worse still, a good many of them never came up at all. This was the «a8e with the first and second plantings. To mv great surprise, however, at about the third plant- ing, only about three days later, when we had ex- •ceedingly warm, tropical weather, every bean came up as promptly as one could wish. As the first and second plantings grew so poorly I have been put- ting them in thicker and thicker. They now stand as thick as peas in the rows. Now. was it the hot weather that made them all germinate, or were the seeds in the bottom of the bag a little different? This can hardly be possible, because they were put through a fanning-mill and afterward hand-picked. If those who have had seed that came up hudlv will apply, we will fill the order again; and if others want to try the bush lima bean planted in July. AUTOMATIC SELF-FEEDING Fountain Pen We call the attention of our readers to the Bateman fountain pen. We have for a year or two been on the lookout for a good reliable fountain pen at a price within the reach of all, and at last we have it. We have tried in our office a number of different kinds, and finally decided on one which was far ahead of all others. We bought them at a bookstore, and they were careful to withhold the name, so we could not order direct; but we have re- cently discovered that the pen that proved so reliable, and ahead of all others we had tried, was the " Paul E. Wert" fountain pen. This has been acknowledged by all who have tried different kinds, to be away ahead of all others. The Bateman, which we offer, was first made within the pres- ent year, and is almost an exact copy of the Paul E. Wert. There is one little difference which is claimed to be an improvement. We have thoroughly tested them in com- parison with the Wert pen, and con- sider them fully as good; and, what is of as much interest to you, they cost only half as much. The Wert pen usu- ally retnils for $2 .50 to $3.00. We sell the Bateman for only $1.25, postpaid, or you can have one free for four new subscribers to Gleanings, with your own renewal. A filler and directions for use accompany each pen. The pens are 14-karat gold, with plat- inum point, and mounted in a black rubber holder. See cut. A. I. ROOT, Medina, 0. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 511 TESTED QUEENS CHEAP During tlie Sirti>-mi)i(/ Sen.son. Prolific queens, producing all three-banded work- ers. ^I.UO each. Six for $i (10. 13 Ud J. A. GREEN, Dayton, 111. C^lu responding to this iulvertisenient nifiitiun Glkanings. HOME EITIPI^O YMENT. — AGENTS wanted everywhere.for the HOME JOURNAL— a grand family paper at $1 a year. Big cash premiums. Sample Free. THOS. G. NB^WMAN & SON", 246 East Madison Street, - - CHICAGO, ILLS. t^ln responrtinp to this artvcitisemeiit nienlitm GLKANiNCis. SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1. IS'.ti), we will sell our No. 1 V- proove sections, in lots of 500, as follows: Less than 2000, $3.50 per 1000; 2000 to 5000, $3.00 per 1000. Write for special prices on larger quantities. No. 2 sec- tions at $2 00 per 100 •. Send for price list on hives, fouijiiaiion, cases, ere. J. STAUFFER A: SONS, 16 tt'db Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappanee, liid. ' III rc'spondintr to this advertisement mention Glkanings. ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL, AND THE STAND- ARD IN EVERY CIVILIZED COUNTRY. Bingham & Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Prices. Doctor Smoker, S^ in., postpaid Conqueror " 3 " Large " 2^4 " Extra (wide shield) 2 " " Plain (narrow " )2 " " Little Wonder, 1% " Uncapping Knife 115 Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. . $2.00 . 1.75 . 1..50 . 1.35 . 100 65 Milledgeville, 111., March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day, and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as I do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell.. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 12,1890. Sirs:— The smoker I have has done arooA service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel' Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BnraEAU k HETHEBmQTOir, Abronia, Mich. ^F'ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. DADANT'S FOUNDATION Is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac. Mich.: O. G. Collier, Fairbury, Nebraska; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, Ohio; E. S. Armstrong, Jerseyville. 111.; E. Kretchmer, Red Oak, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis. ; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wisconsin; J. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon. Iowa; C. Hertel, Freeburg, Illinois; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont. Mich.; J. M. Clark iS;: Co., 1517 Blake St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111. : E. 1.. Uoold A: Co., Brantl'ord, Ont.. <'aii.; R. H. Schmidt & Co., New London. Wis.; J. Stauffer & Sons, Nappa- nee, Ind. ; Berlin Fruit-Box Co., Berlin Heights, O.; E. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, N. Y. ; L. Hanssen, Davenport. la. ; O. Theilman, Theilmanton. Minn.; G. K. Hubbard. Fort Wayne. Ind.; T. H. Strickler, Solomon City. Kan.; E. C. Eajrlesfleld, Berlin, Wis., Walter S. Piiuiler. Indianaiiolis, Ind., and numer- ous other dealers. LANGSTROTH on the HONEY-BEE, The Book for Jicr/lnnera, the Most Complete Text- Book on the Subject in the J^uf/lish Language, Bee-veils of Imported Material, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. Send your address on a rtMb''° Chas. Dadant & Son, HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO., ILLINOIS. tSrin responding to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. SECTIONS. $2.50 to $3.50 per M. Bee-Hives and Fix- tures cheap. NOVELTY CO., 6tfdb Rock Falls, Illinois. Please mention this paper. SECTIONS .A. SDF»EOI-A.XLiT"5r. A. I. Root's style, $3.00 per 1000. Address B. WALKER & CO., Oapac, ITIifli., lOtfdb or Wauzeka, AVis. t^-lK respondinL' to tliis n.lvH. ti...iii.nt mention Hlkaningsj. SRZaXXTSST GOLDEN ITALIAN BEES AND QUEENS, —AND THE— REDDEST DRONES IN THE WORLD. Untested. $1.00 I Tested. $2.00 | Select tested. $3.00 Special breeding, guaranteed to please, $5 00. L. L. HEARN, - FRENCH VILLE, - - W. VA. ntfdb Please mention this paper. Special chops. A magazine for advanced agriculturists; 2.5 cte. per year; sample 7 cts. Also, Black Minorcas, B. Leghorns, and S. Wyandottes; eggs of either, per setting, 75 cts. ; 26 at one time, $1.00. 4-,T0d C. m. OOODSPEGD, Skaneateles, N. Y. {^•lu rusjioudintr to thlsadvei-tisenient nieiiii..ii i IF YOU ARE IN W.\NT OF BEES or BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES, Send for our New Catalogue. 9tfdb OLIVER HOOVER & CO., Mention this paper. Snydertown, Pa. 512 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. July BEES letfdb SEND for a free sample copy of the BEE JOUBNAL — 16-page Weekly at $1 a year— the oldest, largest, and cheapest Weekly bee-paper. Address BEE JOURNAL., Cliicago, III. Please mention this i)aper. 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 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. Having- a few colonies c f hybrids to Italianize, we offer for Pale 12 or 14 ml^mated queens for 50c each until sold. Some of the queens produce almost three-banded bees, and their progenv are almost pure Italians. T. L. Thompson, Blairsville, Pa. For Sale.— 25 nice, large, laying hybrid queens at 25c each. Send at once if .tou want nice ones. F. H. Petts, Warsaw, Mo. We have about V(J Carniolan queens (in an out- apiary) that have mated with Italian drones. We offer them at the following prices: 5Uc each, or f5.(0 per doz. The above queens are large and pro- lific, and are only one year old. Reason for selling above queens is, we arc going to change to all pure Carnlolans. F. A. Lockhart & Co., Fattens Mills, N. Y. Afewjoung hybrid queens for sale at 30c each, buyer to send provisioned cage. John Ginter, Pleasant Home, Ohio. «< IMPORTED . CARNIOLANS.>o We have just received a very fine lot of select imported Carniolan queens. Price $4.00 each, and guar- anteed to arrive at your P. O. in good condition. We also have a very fine lot of home-bred Carniolan queens that are ready to ship by return mail. With us 90 per cent have proven to be purely mated. Some parlies have condemned the Carnlolans, but we are sale in saying that they have never had any pure Carniolans; so the pure Carnlolans did not get justice. See what A. I. Root says in Gleanings, July 1st, regarding pure Carniolans. Give them a fair trial, and you will find that they have qualities superior to any other race of bees. One untested queen, fl.OO; six, f4.50; twelve, 18.00. For further particulars write lor free ciicular and and price list to F. A. liOCKHAKT & CO., Pattens ITIllls, N. Y. LOOK^ Italian Queens, 20 to 75c kWI% B Tested, 750; untested, 45; mismated, 20c. My queens are as good as any in every partic- ular. I am requeening one of my apiaries to five- banded golden Italians. Safely delivered by F.C. Morrow, Wallaceburg, Ark. ITALIAN QUEENS FOR SALE. Tested, reared in August, 1889, 75 cts., clipped; untested, 65 cts. ; hybrids, 25 cts. G. L. JONES, Grand Ridge, Illinois. PURE ITALIAN QUEENS. Tested queers, Sl.CO each; untested queens, TOc each; 8 for f 2.C0. All queens bred from select im- ported and home-bred queens. Safe arrival guar- anteed. D. O. EDMISTON, lltfdb Adrian, Lieuaivee Co., inicli. FINE ITALIAN QUEENS, FROM bees for business; untested, each 75 cts.; six, $4.00. Order now, pay when queens arrive. 13-16db W. H. Laws, Lavaca, Ark. CHENANGO VALLEY APIARY Fills orders now, and sends out by return mail. Beautiful Yellow Italian Queens. LTntested, $1.00. Tested, $1.L'5. Send for circular. 14itdb Mrs. Oliver Cole, Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. t^'ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Warranted to produce 3 banded workers, and safe arrival guaranteed. I can fill all orders for less than' one dozen by return mail if desired, price 75c each. Look at my ad. in June Nos. of Gleanings. Address James Wood, North Prescott, Mass. lltfdb (t^"Xn responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. mR QAI F My supply business, shop building, run Onkb. and tools, with 70 colonies of bees. Want to sell at once. Low price and easy terms. Must be disposed of before Dec. 1st, 1890. Address 14-15-16d Jas. a. Nelson, Muncie, Wy. Co., Kan. J^In responding to tliis advt-rtispim-nt mention Gleanings. Tested Italian queens, fl.25 each; untested, 80 cts. Mrs. a. M. Kneeland (nee Taylor), Box 77. Mulberry Grove, Bond Co., 111. Z.001^1 Hybrid queens wanted, but do not send them un- til you write to and hear from O. R. COE, Windham, Greene Co., N. Y. Hybrid queens, 30c; mismated Italian queens, 40c; all young, and very prolific. B. Davidson, Uxbridge, Ontario, Can. Mismated Italian queens for sale at 25c each. Mrs. a. a. Simpson, Swarts, Greene Co., Pa. Mismated queens, 20c each. No more 10c hybrids. F. C. Morrow, Wallaceburg, Ark. Ten very fine hybrid queens for sale at 25c each; 5 for fl.OO. G. L. Jones, Grand Ridge, lU. EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY. ^p^^KsIfree. SETH WINQUIST, Russellville, Oregon. Sturwold's Show-Case FOR THE PROTECTION BND DISPLAY OF HONRY. This case is 2'/4 feet high and 20 in. square, out- side measure, top and bottom. The glass of which it is made is 16x26. The ease is to be set up in any gro- cery, drug-etore, or any other place of business where you wish your honey exhibited or sold. These show - cases are shipped from here. Price $4.00. With your name and address,! 4.50. As the glass is very apt to be broken in transit we will ship them with the glass boxed separately at same price, if you prefer. As the cases are pnt together with glue we can not sell them in the flat. iL. Z. ROOT, 2^edixa.a, O- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 513 Contents of this Number. ABC Scholar's Experience. .521 Alley's Di'one trap 532 Apliis, Blue and Green 525 Apiary, plan for .524 Bees Assessable 531 Black Bees, Gentle .520 Carniolans, Favorable to. ..5*3 Chart' Hive, Wider £nt'e... .5'29 (.'ue's Swarniiiigr Arrang:m't.,520 Commission. Selling on. 515, 516 Covers, Hive 526 Diamond Rattlesnake 517 Double-Nvalled Simplicity... 51S Dovetailed Hive 529 Editors and Questions 518 Foundation. Heavy, Best... 532 Gardening: iti July 533 Gift of Spirit 5'J6 HellKrammite 516 Hermaphrodite, Another. ,.518 Holfman Frame, Our Ap'y.5:!2 Home of T. B.Terry 522 Honey, To Improve 528 Hybrids and Propolis . .532 Keeney's Wiring 5';9, 532 Labels. To Stick to Tin 527 Miller's Proposed Apiary. . .52i Pert 'd Zmc Not a Failure. . .529 Poison Honey and Bees .'i29 Quern, Fertile, Flying Out. .530 yueriis stoiipiiiM: Laving .530 Querns Failiiii^ to Hatch ...531 Queen c's. Damaged, How?. 519 Sections, Weight v. Piece. . , 5'28 Sections, Starling Bees in ..517 Selling on Commission. 515, 516 Shade for Hives or Not 525 Spacing Brt>od-fi'ames 516 Stinging. Fatal 528 Strawberries. Terry's 523 Thick Top -bar, Failure 5'29 Thick Top-b's in Our Apiay.532 Thick Top-bar 518 Width of Top-bars.. (Q.B.). 527 P0NEY 0@MJilN. CITT MARKETS. Columbus.— Ho»ifi/.—Houey scarce, and selling at ITc for choice white clover. Twelve or fifteen hundred pounds would meet with ready sale. July 8. Earle Clickenger, Columbus, O. Chicago.— Hofiej/.— Market is bare of honey of all kinds, both comb and extracted. New comb will bring 13c. A little fancy has been sold at 15c. Ex- tracted fi-om 6@8. Weather warm but there is some demand, and consignments would sell. July 8. 11. A. Burnett, 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. New York. --7i(Uicj/.— New Southern strained ar- riving freely. Quality poor, and prices declining. We (juote from tiiKgid.jc per gallon. New extracted, orange blossom, 7f" 7 ':: . New California, white sage, 6(S6'2. California light amber, r)>4@,")i4. Beesit'aa;.— Scarce umJ lirm at2!l@30. July 7. HiLDRETH Bros. & Segelken, 28 & 30 West Broadway, New York. Cincinnati.— HoHcy.— Demand is good for new crop extracted and comb honey. Judging by pres- ent arrivals, there has been a good crop harvested. Extracted hone.v brings 5i(2 8c on arrival. Comb honey 13@]5 in the jobbing way, for best white. Bee.su.'((2;.— There is a good home demand at 24(ai26c on arrival. Chas. P. Muth & Son, July 9. Cincinnati, O. Detroit.— Hojiey.— No new honey in the market, and no denirable old left; it is quoted at ll;(3)13c. Extracted, 7(®8c.— B( csiraa; wanted at 37®28c. Bell Branch, Mich., J uly 8. M. H. Hunt. St. Louis.— H(j?iej/.— Trade quiet at unchanged prices. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., July 9. St. Louis, Mo. New York.— Honey.— Market is unsettled, it be- ing now between seasons. We quote common Southern, strained, at 6(J@:65c per gal. New Califor- nia extracted, 6@6!4c per lb.; new Cal. comb, 11@12. Beesnax, scarce, 27(a;28. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co., July 9. New York. Boston. wax. July 9. -Honey.— T^o change in honey or bees- Blake & Ripley, 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. For Sale.- 2000 lbs. very fine extracted honey; also 3000 section honey, all white clover. G. L. Jones, Grand Ridge, III. Wanted.— I shall need thirty or forty thousand lbs. of comb and extracted honey this coming fall. Give particulars as to quality, kind, and price. J. A. Buchanan, Holliday's Cove, W. Va. QUEENS from imported mother; untested, 75c; tested, $1.35: three-frame nucleus, with queen, $3.00. Safe arrival guaranteed. 13-14d Thomas & Kissel, Horatio, Darke Co., Ohio. Yellow Carniolans. I have a new strain of bees. They are Yellow Carniolans. Queens are large and extra prolific. Worker bees show three yellow bands; are very gentle and the best honey-gatherers. One queen mailed (safe arrival guaranteed) on receipt of one dollar. Those who sra looking for a new strain of bees should try the Yellow-banded Carniolans. 14-15d H. ALLEY, Wenham, Mass. ll^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. *< Now Ready to Ship >» Full colonies of pure Italian bees, with tested queen, in A. 1. Root's Simplicity hive, only S-1.00 each. Every thing first-class. Pure Poland China pigs, eligible to Ohio record, from f 5 to $12 per pair. Safe delivery guaranteed. I shall do by all as I would be done by. N. A. KNAPP, 13tfdb Rochester, Lorain Co., Ohio. t^"Iii responding to thi.s adverti.senient mention Glkanings. Rheumatism ^^ Bees. No doubt the best bees for curing rheumatism are pure-bred Italians that prove to be good work- ers and work on red clover. We have such if you want good stock to work with and to secure you plenty of honey. Tested queens in May, - $1.50; in June, - $1.25 Unt'd " " " - - l.n0;3for - - 2 50 " June, - 75; 3 for - 2.00 For wholesale prices, nuclei, lbs. of bees, and all kinds of bee-supplie9, write for our IB p. circulnr. 9tfdb JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. Mention this paper. 1 C COLONIES in 10-frame L. hive at $3.00 each, or '" the lot for $40. P. H. Fellows, Broadhead, Wis. 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 Ave lines will cost you according to our regular rates. This department is intended only for bona-flde 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 all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. W ANTED.— To exchange 1 lb. of thin fdn. for 2 lbs. of wax. 7tfdb C. W. Dayton. Bradford, la. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees in portico L. hives for a good set of tinner's tools. IStfdb J. A. BucKLEW, Warsaw, Ohio. WANTED.— To exchaoge a 14-inch Foundation- mill, good as new. with dipping tanks and boards, for beeswax, tin plate, metal rabbets, T tins, or offers. A. A. Weaver, Warrensburg, Mo. 13-14d WANTED. — Second - hand foundation machine. Give description and price. J. F. Michael, 13-14-15d German, O. WANTED.— To exchange fine young Carniolan queens, for foundation, or supplies, or other offers. F. A. Lockhart, Pattens Mills, N. Y. WANTED.— 1000 lbs. of nice white clover bees' honey, in 1-lb. sections. Will pay cash, or ex- change supnlies for the apiary. Address with price, A. D. Ellingwood, Milan, N. H. U15d WANTED.— To exchange one 1!4 in. single express harness, 1 saddle, for shotgun, incubator, thor- ough bred poultry hand garden culiivator. or of- fers. A. F. Ames, Tamasoa, Pvny.Co., 111. 14d 514 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July Hurrah tor tlie Carniolaii»!i I They take the lead; win the race; secure the prize. If you want TONS OF HONEY, Try the Carniolans. Hardiest to winter; pleasant- est to handle; best hone ?-jratherers. Our stock Is the best that can be procured, and Is bred miles away from other races. Prices: One untested queen, $1.00; 6 for $5.00; 13 for 19 00. One tested queen, $:i.50. One import- ed queen, 13.50. The Jii-f-Kce2>ern' AdvnncK and an untested queen, for SI 25. J. B. Mason, Mechanic Falls, Me. C^ln respondinij to tins ;ulvertiJ.eiiRiii iiii-ijliuii (tLkanings. Golden Yellow Italians .::;- -;::- -;•:- V •::? V V and Albino Queens That will give perfeot satisfaction. Tested, $1.25. Select tested, $1.50. Untested, 75 cts. from now un- til October. T guarantee safe delivery. Sold this year 113 queens. J. "W. TAYLOR, 13-15db Ozan, Hempstead Co., Ark. In writing advertisers please mention this paper. FOR SAliE.— An apiary of 125 colonies of Ital- ian bees, together with fixtures and honey crop, if bought soon. I will also sell my place, good house and out-buildines. and 8 '3 acres of land. L. WERNER, Edwardsville, 111. GARNIOLAN APIARY FOR SALE ! My Cariiiolan apiary must be sold at once, to al- low me to move to Colorado Springs. " You have the best Carniolans in the country." H. Alley. Select imported queen, $5; untested queen, $1; untested, 1/2 doz , $5; tested queen. $4; 1 lb. bees, $1; 3frame nucleus, $2 00; full colonies, in 1-story Simplicity 9-frame hive, $5; add price of queen you want. Tin percent discount on all orders of $30.00 or over. Larjre stock of all ready to ship at once. Queens by mail, others on bonrd cars here by freight or express, as ordered. Remittance of currency, bank draft, or money order must accom- pany all orders. Will sell my whole apiary and impli^ments, and give immediate possession. House and grounds also for rent. S. W. MORRISON, M. D., istfdb Oxford, Chester Co., Pa. C^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Queens by Return Mail. Untested (Italiansi $1 00 Tested ... 150 Select tested 3 00 Untested honey queen 125 Tested honey queen 1 88 Select tested honey queen 3 75 Bees and brood at the same rates. See our cata- logue, free on application. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. TESTED CARNIOLiAN QUEENS, $2.50 each: untested, $1, or 6 for $5. Send for price list of Italian bees and queen.s, bred io my Nappanee apiary. 8tfdb I. R. Good, Vawter'Park, Ind. Italian Honey Queens. Tested, $1 50; untested, 90c. A limited number extra select tested, $2 Oil esch. R. W. 'IdRNER, medina, Olilo. In writing to advertisers please mention this paper. CHAFF AND SIMPLICITY HIVES shipped on receipt of order. Price list free, lltfdb E. J. Shay, Thornton, Taylor Co., W. Va. ttalian Queens Cheap. ^^uSIesIed; 75c. 13-14-15d A. R. YocNG, Rossie, St. Law. Co., N. Y. THE "I^EVIEW." SOME OF THE TOPICS IT HAS DISCUSSED. «' The Ppoduction of Comb Honey,'» was the Bpecial topic of the April number. "Hotu to liaise Extraeted Honey," was discussed in the May issue. "ComfoPts and Convenienecs fow the Apiary," were named and described in .June. " Ffom the Hive to the Honey Market,'' was the topic of the July issue. " iviattketing," Will be the Special topic of the August number. The "I^evieua" is Published monthly, at 50 cts. a year. Hend for samples (free) and see if you can afford to be without it. AddPess Bee-Keepeps' Revietu, W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Ed. & Prop. Flint, Mich, tyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. QUEENS and SUPPLIES. Untested Italian queens, each $1.00 Tested 3.00 Send for price list of bees and supplies. Address F. \V. LAITIM, (Box 106.) Somerville, Rutler Co., Obio. Please mention this paper. Ah THERE! One untested Italian queen, 75c; **•' three for $3.00; tested, SI 50. One untested Carniolan queen, $1.00; three for $3..50; tested, $3. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Seud for price list. Reference— First National Bank. lOtfdb H. G. FRAME, North Manchester, Ind. Please mention this paper. "HANDLING BEES." Price 8 Cts. A chapter from "The Hive and Honey Bee, Re- vised," treating of taming and handling bees; just the thing for beginners. Circular, with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. 5tfdb CHAS. DAJ»ANT &, SON, Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illluols. iW\\\ responding to tiiis .adv.Mii-Hin.'iii mention Gleaning.s. FOLDING PAPER BOXES. CRAWFORD'S SECTION CARTONS ARE THE BEST. Send for free sample and price list, atid find out the reason. A certain fact has come to our knowl- edge that is worth dollars to you. Send for it. A. 0. CRAWFORD, S. Weymouth, Mass. 12tfdb Please mention this paper. -^THE BRIOHTESTS^ Five-banded, golden Italian Bees and Queens, and the Reddest Drones. Very gentle; very prolific; good honey-gatherors — working on red clover — and the Moot Reaiitil' III bees in e.xistence! Took 1st premium at Michigan State Fair, in 1889. Refer- ence, as to purity of stock. Editor of Review. Sam- Dle of bees, five cents. Untested queens, $1.00. 6 for .»5.00. Tested [at least 3 bands), $3.00; selected, tested (four bands), $5.00; breeding queens (4 to 5 bands), $7.00. Virgin queens, 50 cents; 5 for $3.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. JACOB T. TIITIPE, S-lodb firand Ledge, Mlcli. t^"In responiling to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Vol. XVIII. JULY 15, 1890. No. 14. TERMS: Jl.OO Per ANNUM, IN Advance; 1 J? €^+ nJ^l -i o'it o fl i -vi T fi '7 ^ 2Copiesfor$1.90;3for»2.76; SforM.OO; I -/iot/tt'C'6/t'O/t't/Ct/ Vfl/ XOiO. 10 or more, 76 cts. each. Single num- i ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY made at club rates. Above are all to I i] I Df)f)T MFD/Ill A DH/D be sent to one postoffice. r Clubs to different postoffices, not less 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 I cts. per year extra. To all countries t NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. SELLING HONEY. ANOTHER COMMISSION MAN'S EXPERIENCE ; GRAD- ING ; THE PROPER SIZE OF PACKAGE ; DARK HONEY NOT UNSALABLE. In Gleanings for June 15 I was surprised to see that your correspondent, Chas. F. Muth, with his experience in selling honey, advocates the use of small-size (one dozen combs) shipping-crates. We think they are the worst style of honey pack- age that comes to market, and rarely see an in- voice arrive in good order. They are undoubtedly iDtended to be sold to family trade by the case, but that is a failure; for families who seek to buy their supplies in a wholesale way, although good econo- mists naturally, are not liberal-miaded enough to accord anybody much profit. Hence their " penny wise pound foolish " way of oftentimes overstocking themselves, and thereby satiating their appetite for honey, and consequently they do not use near- ly as much in a season as they would if bought along as they wanted it by the combs, affording the retailer or dispenser a small (due him) profit. The reason this small-size packing-case is so gen- erally out of condition is, freight handlers, express agents, etc , handle them so carelessly, pitching them about (play-ball fashion), where, if double the weight, they would not do so. The double-deck case is a mistake, and ought never to be used. The flat and nearly square case being too wide and too much like a flagstone to handle, is not desirable. Our experience and observation is, that the best packing-case for comb honey is a case holding from 25 to 30 combs one (tier) to be about 3i in. long and 10 in. wide, height of one comb. This size of pack- ing-case can be loaded on the truck, and handled by one man where the square flat case can not be. Although no honey should be trucked, freight- handlers and uninterested humanity generally take the easiest way, and it is difficult to always prevent them ; hence we believe in packages that will best stand their carelessness. Screwing on covers is a mistake, as screw-drivers are not always at hand, while jack-knives are more plentiful, and will open a nailed-on cover much quicker and safer. Our advice is, put your comb honey up in thin Ji-pound sections, being longer one way than the other, and to make the most show for the amount of honey. It is done in all articles of merchandise, and is due the article itself. The best package for the honey-producer to put his extracted honey in is60-lb. tin and 1.50-lb. pine fish- kegs, being the cheapest, and answering every pur- pose. The retailer prefers buying in bulk and sell- ing in any amount his customers may want. The bottler and peddler prefer to buy in bulk and put up in their own peculiar or pet style of package. So much for the style of package that honey should be marketed in. But we should be very sorry if Mr. Muth's idea about buckwheat or dark honey should prevail, for the sale of dark honey is many times greater, es- pecially here in the East, than clover or any light honey, simply because it sells at a price that the masses can pay. Of course, if clover or any light honey could be sold at the same price as buck- wheat, dark, or mixed honey, would be as much sold; but I doubt whether much more, for the mass- es are not connoisseurs or epicures generally, and the dark honey is heavier bodied, goes further, and generally does not have as rank a bee flavor as light honey. Right here the thought suggests itself, that the less different names given to honey the better, for 516 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July they are confusing to those who are not up in bee culture any better than myself. All light honey is known as clover honey, and all dark or mixed hon- ey as buckwheat honey, and that is enough, com- mercially. If honey goes on the market as clover, buckwheat, basswood, goldenrod, etc., and on that line finally the name of every weed and flower that a bee gets any honey from, it will cause a useless confusion in trade, and interfere with a free con- sumption; for when one wants to buy honey, if he can't tlnd some certain flower, honey that some en- thusiast c wise beekeeper has told him his last light honey was made from, he won't buy. Concerning extracted honey, ] think the dark honey has the advantage, for it has no season, but sells the year through for about the same price; while to get the price thai light extracted honey commands, it has to be sold early before cold weather, hence its selling season is much shorter; and if kept over that season it depreciates in price more than the dark extracted honey. I have no in- ventions in the honey line. I am writing this only for the good of the honey trade, if there is any good in it. If a uniform style of package could be adopted, so that the much-despised middleman could depend upon receiving it so he could duplicate his orders at all times with the same style of package, the consumption of honey would increase many fold. H. R. Wright. Albany, N. Y., June 25. Friend W., I know you have for years been remarkably successful in disposing of dark comb honey ; but I did not know before that you had succeeded in finding a market for dark liquid honey. We are very glad in- deed to know it ; and it illustrates once more the fact that people buy and use many things when they once get into a notion of doing so. In our vicinity they have got in- to a notion that honey must be white, and therefore they will not even taste of any thing else— at least a great majority of them. SHIPPIMG AND SELLING HONEY ON COMMISSION. SUGGESTIONS FROM A COMMISSION MAN. Mr. Boot: — I was induced to go into the receiving of comb honey for this market last August, by a man of wide experience in that line. Of course, he was allowed to write and solicit consignments, and all he did say on paper I do not know, as 1 kept no copy then of the letters as I do now. Well, on came the honey from ditferent sources. It was very gratifying to know that the man was well known among bee-keepers, having been in business quite a while before. Just about the time the honey came in and should have been sold and put upon the market, he got into some difficulty that detained him from active work for me or us, and then the whole thing of making a new trade and a new mar- ket fell to my lot; and although not successful as to obtaining the prices the shipper wanted, owing to the bad season for honey, we managed to dis- pose of about 30,000 lbs. of comb honey and 60,000 of extracted honey, at prices, for comb honey, 9 to 12 cts., for dark and buckwheat; 13 to 13 for num- ber 2 clover and basswood, and 14 to 16 for fancy No. 1 clover; paper boxes, 1 cent more, and the ex- tracted 5Vi to 7 for buckwheat, fall flower, and dark; and 6X to 7 for mixed and for basswoud; and No. 1 white, 7 to 7'2 and sometimes 8 cents. Of course, we charged 5 per cent commission on ex- tracted and 10 per cent on comb honey; charge no interest, insui-ance, or storage, but merely take off the freight and cartage or expressage; and with all that we have men ship us who are not batisfled, and make all sorts of threats of what they will do about publishing us before the convention held by bee- keepers, etc., so that I will not get (they say) any one to ship to me. Now, I do want to ask you if the few men who have written me thus are a fair type of bee-men or honey-shippers. If so, I hope they will be judicious enough not to place themselves in a position to be answerable to the law for defam- ing the name or the man's business. I will now give you some points in my experience that have a tendency to ruin a market on comb honey, so that it is impossible to get fair prices for it; for instance: Last fall, nearly every commis- sion house that handles produce or vegetables had several small consignments of honey, and they sold it at what they could get for it, and especially if some of it came in a leaky condition; instead of flx- ingit up aal gst'.in? at the a3tail lojtaad sellin? the rest at a price to sustain the market, they let it go at any thing to get rid of the " sticky stuff," and the sharper whD bought it does what the re- ceiver should do, and he who sells it to the consum- er at so low a price that the honest handler says, "lean not get honey to sell at that, hence I am off." Now, as a remedy, every shipper of honey should write to any large city and find out whether there was or is a honey-house there, or a man who makes a specialty of handling honey in all shapes, and correspond with him about their productions, and in that way his honey goes to one party, and the wholesale trade know where headquarters for it is, or should be, and there they go to get it, good, bad, or indifferent, and prices for all kinds and styles, and much better prices could be obtained and much more satisfactory all around. I should like to speak about a few things in re- gard to honey being broken in the case. We can not recover from the railroad company every time, as the companies receive it only at owner's risk of breakage; and if it comes in a leaky condition they say they are not responsible for it, unless it should be smashed in tranfit by a wreck, or packages bro- ken to pieces in transit. E. J. Walker. Philadelphia, Pa., March 14. Be not weary in well doing, friend W. You know the rest of the text. Do your duty well and faithfully before the great Father above, and you will surely find your reward. Faithful, honest, conscientious com- mission men are always in big demand. In regard to shipping at the owner's risk, I think if 1 were shipping honey I should prefer a higher rate, and have it go at the railroad company's risk. SPACING BROOD-COMBS. IS IT 1%, 1/e, OR IVi? After reading Gleanings, pp. 490—2, where the points are so ably brought out on both sides, I would not even need to make a comment were it not that the subject is one of more than ordinary importance. I wish I could feel that I fully deserve 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 517 the compliment Bro. Doolittle pays to my style of writing; but the fact is, that, in so many things, as in the present case, I am so ignorant of just where the truth lies, that I dare not be very positive. I sometimes say, " There are a few things 1 know all about, but bee-keeping isn't one of them." But about that distance. I wish we could have a series of very full tests of what bees themselves would do under different spacings. I don't think I believe in following nature quite as much as Bro. Doolittle— we kill off most of our roosters, and cut out drone comb— still, when there is no special reason on the other side, nature is a pretty safe guide, and na- ture and Doolittle together make a strong team. I never thought of the cappings in measuring, and who but Doolittle would have thought of measur- ing them as he did? The question the hardest to be decided is, how much space is needed between combs to allow bees enough to get up the re- quisite heat in the spring? As suggested, the changing-about of frames makes more room neces- sary than if each comb always remained in the same place. But, say: With the Keeiiey method of wiring, or, perhaps better, with Hatch's plan of leaving out one diagonal, we can have the septum of the comb exactly in the middle of each frame; and then if spaced at fixed distances each comb will exactly fit wherever it is put, except where bulged with honey. That l,'^ of nature is hard to get over. But doesn't nature make allowance for corrugated combs and for drone comb? I just measured a piece of new drone brood sealed, and it was 1% in thickness. I didn't suppose it was so thick. Is it all so thick? For such comb l'/4 would seem close spacing. What has now been brought out by Doolittle's ar- ticle leaves the matter in somewhat clearer lisrht, and we have these data : Sealed comb is at least one inch thick, and workers stand i% high on it. Allowing the workers to stand back to back makes two layers of bees ?i, making If necessary if spac- ing is exact and the bees just touch. But spacing is not exact, and the bees should not be allowed to rub the feathers off their backs, so it seems a little more than l-'g is needed. Nature has IK, so no more than 154 is needed; and as that allows corrugations and drone comb, neither of which we want, we can get along with a little less. Now, Bros. Doolittle and Root, you have made the matter clear enough so that for the present I'm going to settle down on l/o till somebody comes along and knocks me off from it. I'm rather sorry for it, because all my plans are made for 1^. All the same, I thank you for the light you have given. After I had written the above I read it over at the breakfast-table, when my assistant said, in a rather vehement manner, "I don't care, I'm with Ernest; If is all right, nature or no nature. Look at the nice frames of brood we have with 1?8 spac- ing, filled clear to the top-bar, instead of having a big margin of honey all around." And then she took a big bite of bread to emphasize her position. I tried to make a compromise something after this fashion: " Ves, I think there is something in that, and our present spacing makes it much easier to get out the dummy. I don't suppose it makes much difference in hot weather whether the spac- ing is too wide or too close, so for convenience in handling we'll let the frames remain as they are; but when it comes to the last spacing of the season we'll put the dummy close to the side of the hive or take it out altogether, and leave l/c through the winter and spring." GETTING BEES STARTED IN SECTIONS. In reply to your question, friend Root, on page 493,1 may have had bees "that cram the brood- nest and leave the 63ctions untouched," but I have not observed it. If you ever again find such a colo- ny, try it with a good bait section; and if they leave it untouched, please report it. I think the very best bait is a section partly filled, taken bees and all from a hive where the bees are at work in the super. That idea I got from you, but ordinari- ly the empty comb answers every purpose. BEES FILLING OLD SECriONS. By the way, I've watched pretty closely about the bees finishing these baits; and although up to July 3d no sections are entirely finished, the sealing is in all cases more advanced on the baits; and if I ever find a case in which the empty foundation is finish- ed before the bait, I promise to report it. You can now go to super after super, and find sealing com- menced on the bait, but on no other section. Marengo, 111., July 3. C. C. Miller. Very likely, friend M., you liave no trou- ble with bees that won't work in sections, so long as you make it your invariable cus- tom to use the baits ; and right here is a pretty good hint for some of the rest of us. THE DIAMOND RATTLESNAKE. PROF. COOK IS HAPPY IN THE POSSESSION OF A LOT OF POISONOUS RATTLESNAKES. Dear Friend i?oot:— I wish I could invite all the readers of Gleanings into my laboratory and show them our beautiful rattlesnake. It comes from Mr. S. A. Preston, Burnet, Texas; and consid- ering its long journey it is very agile and sprightly. It is very handsome. The colors are a rich brown, and the light diamond-shaped spots on the back are very beautiful. He brought his rattle-box all the way from Texas with him, but refuses to shake it either for his own or others' amusement (?). Per- haps he mourns for the (?) he left behind him, and so he has no heart for amusement. His appetite also seems to be wanting, for he refuses to eat even frogs, with the delicate hind legs that are so coveted by epicures. Possibly he will break his fast after a night's rest. And just now a telephone dispatch says I have another rattlesnake at the express office, from W. H. Rempfer, Swales, Pa. I shall have him in the cage with the other very soon. We shall be glad to learn how the rattlers of Texas and Pennsylvania take to each other. Heigh-ho : Another reader of Gleanings from Louisiana sends a third rattle- snake. I shall put them all in the box together, and will report later to the readers of Gleanings how they behave. I can give a very interesting pa- per on these terrible reptiles, which I will do for your readers as soon as 1 have had a chance to become better acquainted with these new arrivals. Now for a good large live copperhead and moccasin. Who will send them? I want the finest cage of poi- sonous snakes in America. Thanks to Gleanings and its readers for the prospect. THE HELLGKAMMITE. Mr. C. F. Thomas wishes me to report on a large lace-wing which he has sent to me. The lowest or- der of insects is the neuroptera, or lace -wings. 518 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July They are so called because of the numerous veins and cross-veins to their wings. Thus their wings resemble gauze or lace. I hardly need say that the dragon Hif s, or darning-needles— the bee-hawlis of the South— and the day-flies, which often gather about the street-lamps in our lake cities, like Tole- do and Cleveland, belong to this great order. Many of these insects, while larvse, live in the water and feed on the small aquatic animals that keep them company in their watery homes. Nearly all lace- wings are predaceous, and feed wholly on other in- sects, and 80 are to be classed among our beneficial insects. The hellgrammite (corydalus cornutus) is our larg- est lace-wing. It is four inches long and six inches from tip to tip of wings when they are expanded. The specific name, cornutus, comes from the jaws, which are developed into two long horn-like organs which strongly remind one of the tusks of the ele- phant. The larvse is a long flat insect, with strong jaws, and lives in the water. We often catch them in the Cedar River, which flows through our college farm. The Insect pupates under some board or stone at the water's edge. I do not know the origin of the common name, hellgrammite, but think the alarming appearance of the fly and the larvte might have suggested it. Terrible as the insect looks, it is entirely harmless, and no one need fear it in the least. ANOTHER HERMAPHRODITE. Mr. Timpe has sent me another hermaphrodite. This one is really a drone, as it has the male organs. Its head is really drone, though the antennfe, in number of joints, are like those of the worker. The legs on one side are like those of the drone, while those on the other are like those of the work- er. As I understand, this bee is from the same queen as the other one sent a few days since. I think this is a very interesting matter. I believe there are some very interesting scientific inquiries that these hermaphrodites may answer. I should take it as a great favor if any bee-keeper who may discover such bees would send them to me. I wish to make a thorough study of the whole question. Agricultural College, Mich., July 3. A. J. Cook. EDITORS ANSWERING QUESTIONS, &c. CNNECESSARY AND FOOLISH QUESTIONS. The more care I devote to the perusal of your papers (ABC and Gleanings), the more I feel convinced that my last letter was even too weak in regard to the honor due you as a writer and editor. Your way of writing is exactly what most bee-keep- ers need— plain, yet solid information— saying much In few words. Oh how it amuses me to find, from time to time, that some are questioning you on sub- jects which you have so clearly answered long ago. Good heavens! what patience an editor must have! This reminds me of something that happened at our late State Farmers' Institute, at Chrisney, Ind., last February. I was asked to give a lecture on the farmer's home. It was very well received. The second day, a professor of Perdue University had a very instructive lecture on crop rotation. He spoke exceedingly well, with a voice clear and well adapted to the locality. After the lecture was given, the gentleman asked if any one among the audience would like to ask some questions. A bright looking man arose and asked, "Do I under- stand the speaker to say rhat we should plant wheat every year on the same piece of grounds" Holy Moses! I could have kicked myself . I said to my- self, " If my lecture of last evening, on the farmer's home, was as well understood as the lecture of Prof. N. N. on crop rotation, then God help us." When— yes, when— will our people begin to study and think just a little more than they do? Again and again you are asked how bees should be han- dled; how the frames must be spaced; how to secure a good crop of honey, etc. Does it not re- quire more than ordinary meekness to stand all this? I can only admire men who possess such vir- tue and act accordingly. the heavy top-bar a good thing. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to find that a heavy top-bar frame-is asked for by the fra- ternity. I have used them since 1883; also a friend of mine, Mr. J. B. Mueller, principal teacher at Ferdinand, Ind., has used ^them since that time. We used them alternately— one with a deep top-bar and the next one a Simplicity frame with metal corners. Sections can be placed on thick top-bar frames without any sagging whatever. Bees will place less wax on top of these frame-, even if no quilt is used for a time. Yet I fear that all will not hold good for what certain writers claim lor them. Combs rest firmer in these frames, and wire is not needed to keep the foundation in shape, or to keep comb from breaking. Such frames are more dura- ble and more stable, if placed in the hive. But an active queen will get upstairs and have things all her own way, as you say, in spite of these thick- topped frames. Even to a third story will her maj- esty ascend, and see that all her subjects are doing their work. This is our experience. By all means, staples should rest in either end of the frame, else the proprietor will kill more bees than in handling the thin-top-bar frame. This is not paying to any one unless he cares to possess a good many sting- less bees besides the dead ones. A DOUBLE-WALLED SIMPLICITY. I should like to draw your attention to a double- sided Simplicity hive. Make a second hive that will exactly cover the Simplicity hive, allowing only tar-paper space. Nail or screw together, and you have a hive next to a chaff hive. I consider this the best hive, in very cold as well as in very hot weather. I have the idea of this hive from one my father, Hon. J. C. Stenger, used for 38 years. In all these many years this same hive stands on a lime- stone rock, and never have the bees suffered in this hive. They swarm less from that hive; and in regard to comb honey, it has been the "boss" for 38 years. These, certainly, are convincing facts in favor of a double- walled Simplicity hive. Give your opinion on this subject. the TOBACCO DEVIL MORE HARM THAN KING ALCOHOL. In conclusion, I say this much to you: That in fighting the tobacco devil you have a friend and helper in the writer of these lines. Tobacco does even more harm than the heavy drinks, and they do harm enough in this world of ours. [Rev.] Stephen Stenger. St. Meinrads, Ind., June 34, 1890. Thanks, friend S., for your kind words. But we do not have very many foolish ques- tions—certainly none as bad as the one you mention. It does, however, sometimes seem positively awful to find how people 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 519 will get hold of things when one it trying hard to make tliem plain. Notwithstand- ing, let us not discourage people from ask- ing questions— let them come. Hives made double walled, with tarred paper between, have been a long while in use. Our expe- rience is, that they do not dry out as well as the chaff hive; that is. they are more likely to be damp and moldy inside during a spell of damp weather. TAKING QUEEN-CELLS AWAY FROM THE BEES, ETC. DOES SHAKING COMBS INJURE THE EMBRYO QUEEN ? A correspondent wishes to know "if it will an- swer to sbake the bees oflf the frame of brood hav- ing queen-cells upon it. if it is wished to save the cells for use." No— not by any means. Very many have been the number of queens killed or injured for all time by this plan of getting the bees off the ce:i.s. If the cells are only just capped over, suL-h shaking dislodges the royal larva from the royal jelly, throwing the larva to the bottom with such force that it is either killed outright, or, in failing to get back, dies where it Is. If further advanced, such shaking deforms the queen by her having crippled wings or legs, or, what is more often the case, the queen has a dent in the abdomen, certain segments of which are dented Inward or the whole flattened or curved. While this last is not as bad as to have the wings deformed, yet it Is a very rare case where a queen with a deformed abdomen proves to be a really good queen. Such queens generally become fertile and lay quite well for a time, so are of some value; but those whose wings are crippled are worse than no queen at all, for they can never become fertile, while they stand in the way of our successfully introducing a laying queen. In case such crippled-wing queens are of the German or hybrid race, they are very hard to find, and the parties who have ordered queens for supposed queenless colonies having such crippled queens, and lost them in trying to introduce them. can be numbered by the score, If not by the hun- dreds. No one should attempt to introduce a queen to any colony, unless he takes away the reigning queen at the time he puts in the new one, without first trying the colony with unsealed brood to see if they are really queenless. If they build queen- cells on this brood he can know that they have no queen; if not, then he may know that, if he tried to introduce a queen to that hive without first find- ing and taking out that which the bees are rever- encing as a queen, he will be certain of losing the one he would have preside over the hive. But, to return: How shall we get the bees off the queen- cells if we can not shake them? The way I man- age is as follows: Upon removing the frame of cells from the hive it is carefully set down at the entrance of the hive, the same side up that it oc- cupied while in the hive, and the bees on it thor- oughly smoked so as to cause them to fill them- selves with honey while the hive is being closed, when smoke is again poured upon them to such an extent that the most of the bees will run into the hive, when the remainder are brushed off with one of the bee-brushes which can be had of A. I. Root. If they are loth to run off the comb into the hive, the whole can be brushed off; but be sure that they have filled themselves with honey before you undertake to brush off so many bees, unless you are willing to stand many stings, for the bees around queen-cells will fight with a vengeance for them, unless the precaution is taken to coax them to fill themselves with honey. If the weather Is cool and the cells are to be placed at once in the hives, it is a good plan to take the bees along with the cells so as to keep the cells warm, when, with a little smoke, drive the bees off the cell you wish, so that they will be out of the way while you take it oft' the comb. After the cells are all off, then the bees can be shaken off the comb at the entrance of the hive, the same as from any other fmme. This latter way of not trying to get the bees off till after the cells are, is good at any time where the cells are to be placed in different hives about the apiary. STORES FOR WINTER. As the basswood will be yielding honey in most localities by the time this reaches the readers of Gleanings, I think it will not be amiss to tell of a good plan of securing good stores for the bees to winter on. I know many will say, feed suear syr- up, but it is quite a job to feed a whole apiary with liquid feed at a time when rubbers are always plentiful; besides, at the present high prices of sugar there is little if any profit in it. Good bass- wood honey is good enough for winter stores, and the advocates of the pollen theory can not object, fer there is no pollen ever gathered from the bass- wood bloom. The plan is this: When honey com- mences to come in from basswood, four or five nice worker combs are placed in the upper story of the hive which we are running for extracted honey, and on the top-bars of each of these are placed the letters W. S., which signifies winter stores. These combs are to be placed about 1 '-s inches apart from center to center, and are not to be extracted from at all. As soon as the honey in these combs is sealed about two-thirds of the way down, they are to be spread apart, and other combs or frames filled with foundation placed between them in each al- ternate space, or enough to fill out the hive. These last are to be extracted from; but the former are to be let alone to the end of the season, when we have all the stores the colony needs, well ripened and of the finest quality. In preparing the colony for winter, place three or four of the frames of honey next one side of the hive, then place in one of the frames with the bees on it which has very little honey in it; next, the last comb of honey, and finally two more combs with the bees on them, when the hive is to be closed and the bees from the remaining frames that were formerly in the hive shaken off at the entrance. This is done so that the bees shall cluster at one side of the hive early in the winter, rather than in the center; for when in the center they frequently eat all of the honey toward one side of the hive; and if this happens in very cold weather they starve there, not being able to cross over to the other side. With the above plan they are all right as long as there is any hon- ey in the hive. G. M. DOOLIttle. Rorodino, N. Y., July 7. Friend D., I fear you are a little too em- phatic in regard to what you say about shaking combs. It was suggested, years ago, to purposely save cells from combs that had been put into the extractor, and we did not find an imperfect queen as the result. They may, however, have been at such a 520 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July stage that they were not easily injured. At other times I iaave been troubled because of the number of queens with bad wings and crooked or indented bodies, and I should not be surprised if your remarks point out and explain some of these cases. I fear that many of our friends will object to using basswood honey for winter stores. ANOTHER HIVING ARKANGEMENT, o. R. coe's method. Friend Root:— The method of hiving swarms that I have used for a few years Is so simple that perhaps it might be best to have It described in Gleanings. I have a hiving-box made as follows: A square box, 13X12 Inches, and 12 deep, with half of the front side cut away. For bottom I nail on a board 12x18, which extends out 6 inches in front; and for a cover a plain board in which I bore several half-inch holes and put in sticks 4 to fi inches long, which extend down into the box on which the bees cluster. Fig. 3 shows the invei-ted cover with the sticks, and Fig. 3 the hiving-box complete, with cover on. The handle of the box is a small iron rod to which I have attached a few feet of small rope. COE'S HTVINO APPARATUS. When a swarm comes out I wait until they just begin to cluster on a limb when I place a ladder near them. I then take the hiving-box and hold it in the hollow of my bended arm. I now tip the box forward until the bottom-board of the box stands at an angle of 45 degrees, and with the other hand I shake the cluster of bees down into the box, and they at once go up and cluster in the box. I now throw the rope over a round of my ladder or a limb of the tree near the ground, and leave it sus- pended. With my smoker I prevent any more bees clustering on the limb from which they were first shaken into the box, and in a few moments they are all quiet in the box. I next prepare their hive, and always place an empty half-story under it, as In Fig. 1. A yard square of enamel cloth nailed to two pieces of boards l)i wide, I spread in front of the hive. I now take the cover from my hiving-box with near- ly all of the bees hanging to it, and the sticks, and shake the bees on to the enamel cloth ; and if there are many bees yet on the sides of the box I turn it over and shake them on the enamel cloth also; then grasp the ends of the sticks of the enameled cloth, and, as you lift the bees up, they will slide down toward the center as it bags down, and then I hold it so that they slide down into the half-story hive. I now slide the hive forward. But few bees will fly, and the swarm is hived very quickly. SOME OF ITS ADVANTAGES. The great point is, that I can get them into the box as quickly as they would settle on to a limb or on to a Manum swarming device, and then, to all intents and purposes to the bees, they are hived. I can place a dozen swarms (if 1 have so many hiving- boxes) on the stands they are to occupy, and they will fly from and to the box, and mark their new location as well before as after they are placed in the hive. This is a great point with me when I have many swarms. I never had a swarm leave the hiving-box after it was once in it all right, until I shook them out. The enamel cloth fastened to sticks is a grand thing to use in transferring and many other uses, as bees can be shaken on to it and slid off where we want them. O R Coe. Windham, N. Y ., May, 189U. GLEANINGS FOR JULY 1ST. SOME OF ITS CONTRIBUTORS. Friends Bout:— (You see I want to include Ernest in my gi-eeting, for we have learned to appreciate the practical things from his pen as well as the good things from A. I.'s). I have just left off devouring No. 13 of Gleanings after having read every thing in it from cover to cover, including most of the advertisements, and now I propose doing what, many times in the past year, I have felt like doing, but never did; i. e., give you both my heartfelt thanks for the bi-monthly feast of good things that Gleanings never fails in bringing us. I need not say, "God bless you," for it is evident to all the 10,003 subscribers, and the additional host of read- ers of Gleanings, that he is constantly doing that. Let nie say, rather, may God's blessing continue with you in all your future as you now enjoy it; and I will add, that I believe it will so long as you keep his colors nailed to the mast, and your one hand placed in his while the other holds the helm. And while I give thanks to yourself and Ernest, I want a good big share to go out through Glean- ings to Dr. Miller, Mr. Doolittle, Prof. Cook, Mr. Manum, Mr. Hasty, Rambler, Mr. Heddon, and the many other veterans who so ably and interestingly discuss all pertaining to the apiary. BLACK bees gentle. A little more than a year ago 1 knew next to nothing of one of God's most wonderful creatures, and scarcely ever gave the honey-bees credit for the delightful sweet I had so often enjoyed. But now, thanks to you all, and to the Father's hand that guides our steps, and led me to invest in a few colonies of bees, I have had the veil removed; and wliile I still stand enraptured on the threshold, and feel that I have but entered on a pursuit that promises exquisite pleasure, I have already enjoy- ed BO much in the investigation of my interesting little friends that lam already a thousand times repaid for the score or so of stings I have receiv- ed. It appears to me I must have secured an ex- ceedingly gentle lot of bees. I have ten colonies. They are the common black bees, with possibly a 18)0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 521 very slighL admixture of Italian, and yet I can open any of them, handle as I desire, and when I please, and change from one hive to another, and brush out remaining- bees without any such " lively fracas" as you had with your cross hybrids. In fact, the nearest approach to any such circus I have experienced was with pure Italians, in the apiary of the Misses Barnes, at Piketon. A short time since I made them a business call, and while in the apiary with a hastily improvised veil over my hat the wind blew it off, and in less time than I can tell it a dozen or more little warriors took a mean advantage of the situation and attacked me from behind, and with drawn spears they began prod- ding me so vigorously in the back of the head that T, like you, made an inglorious retreat; nor did the little rascals stop with "a held fairly won," but followed in very hot pursuit after I had crossed the fence, and until I entered the invitingly open door of an out-buildirg some rods distant. But, thanks to a highly appreciated constitutional condition, the dozen or so Btings received did not inconven- ience me anj- worth mentioning. I don't know that any thiig I have to say will be of interest or profit to the gleaners of Gleanmnos; but feeling assured ihat you have a capacious waste-basket I can not forbear giving an item or two of MY EXPERIENCE. First, after nearly killing two colonies with the smoker while transferring from box hives, I dis- cover I don't need any smoker at all to handle bees —at least, such as I have at present. Second, I have learned that, even in fruit bloom, if weather be cold and wet, bees can not, without stores, keep from starving. I paid one colony and very nearly two, for this information, but offer it to my brother-amateurs fiee of charge. Third, I have learned not to set frames of brood in the sun while searching others for the queen. I paid the greater part of a nice frame of brood and some b< es for this practical knowledge; and if oth- er amateurs don't say, "The fool ought to have known better than that," I will not charge them a cent for this bit of experience either. Fourth, I have learned that it is not safe to lay a caged queen on the ground. The ants are liable to kill her inside of ten minutes. I paid a nice prolific bla(k queen to learn this, and feel thankful it was not a more valuable one. Fifth, I have learned a much more simple and eap3- way to intrcduce queens with the Peet cage than by fastening to the comb, as per printed di- reciitns. Just lay the eage on a board with the tin cover down; withdraw the tin and put )t on from the other end. Now draw it back so as to expose about a quarter of an inch of the candy; lay it on the frames with the wire side down, giving the bees access to the candy, and the work is done. By the time they get the candy eaten out they are ready to accept the queen. I have introduced five in this way, successfully. Sixth, I am half persuaded to believe I have learned a mechanical reason for the queen laying drone and worker eggs, and that the does not con- trol it at all. But since amateurs always get to know so much more than the oldest veterans, and so much that, by prsictical experience, they are forced to unlearn, I will not give this crude idea to the public until I have proved it bej'ond questiorr If some day I succeed in getting workers reared in drone-cells you will hear further from me on the subject. If not, then you will not learn of my fol- ly. QUESTIONS. Now for a thing or two I have not learned, but which I should like to knew. Why does a large prime swarm, with a fine prolific queen, start a queen- cell within a week after being hived, and before the frames are more than half filled with comb? I have such a case. Is it phenomenal? Has any one ever noticed a queen deposit an egg in a queen-cell, or is there any indisputable proof that she ever docs so? And now I must tempt the maw of that capacious waste-basket a little further, and have my little say on that very interesting case of Jones vs. Brown. With all deference to Mr. CaldwelTs legal acumen, I wish to modestly protest against his assuming that, during time of contract. Brown and Jones are alike owners of the b( es. Now, if I understand the case. Brown, neither by the contract nor otherwise, gained any proprietary interest in the bees. Jones was as much the sole owner under the contract as before the contract. But. like landlord and tenant, he had intrusted his property into the hands of an- other, under certain conditions. As in the case of a professed tailor spoiling cloth intrusted to him to make a garment of, he is liable for damages to the full extent of the lots, so a professed apiarist should be liable for loss arising from want of skill or gross negligence, clearly proven, but no further. Let us vary the case, and suppose Jones was the owner of an extensive bee-hive factory in Johns- town, Pa., prior to the flood. He enters into a con- tract with Brown to take charge of the plant, on condition that Brown's labor, as manager, should balance Jones' capital invested in the plant, and that they were to bear all expenses of manufactur- ing equally, and divide the profits. The flood sweeps the factory out of existence. Can Jones hold Brown liable for the loss he sustains from a cause in no wis-e attributable to Brown's want of skill or negligerce as manager? We think not. If the bees had been swept away by a cyclone within an hour after Brown took charge, would any sane man hold him liable to Jones for the loss? Would it in any wise alter the case if the cyclone made the havoc one or two years after Brown took charge? or if the cyclone w as one of unforeseen and una- voidable disease? It seems clear to my mind, that, if the loss was by reason of want of assumed skill or negligence on the part of Brown, he should bear all the consequences; otherwise it is Jones's loss. Wheelersburg, O., July T. J. M. Brown. Friend B., your bees are gentle because they are getting honey. Wait until the honey-flow stops, and then see if you can handle them without smoke. I do know that bees are many times smoked most un- mercifully when there is not the least rea- son in the world why they should be smok- ed at all. Tour hints and experience are valuable. Most of the veterans have learn- ed as you have learned : but you will proba- bly save a good many beginners from loss. Your plan of introducing by the Peet cage usually answers as well as any ; but where the queen is feeble, I should prefer to have her directly on the brood-comb. I think the ground has been gone over pretty fully in regard to why a queen lays drone and 522 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July worker eggs. Large prime swarms do not, as a general rule, start queen-cells within a week. I am inclined to think the queen of that colony will be superseded before a great while. Yes, a queen has been seen depositing an egg in a queen-cell.— The dis- cussion in regard to Jones and Brown em- phasizes the fact that partnerships, or bees on shares, seem to be, at the best, compli- cated and unnecessary. Better buy or sell outright. ^ I — ^ SOME GLIMPSES OP THE HOME OF T. B. TEERY, HUDSON, OHIO. liAWN, GRAVEL. WALKS, EVERGREENS, ETC., IN THE FRONT. AND THE LUSCIOUS STRAWBERRIES IN THE REAR. I>r our last I promised you some pictures of friend Terry's home, and I am glad to see that our artist has succeeded so well. When I asked him Mhat he did to the evergreens to make them so even and regu- lar, and of such bright luxuriant growth, he replied that he did nothing at all. They are the ordinary arbor-vita?. For a while I was a good deal puzzled to know why they did not look as our evergreens do, and a good many others"— one small, indifferent tree, and then another large one, and so on. The secret of it is, the ground was under- drained, enriched by thorough tilth and clover before the trees were put out. In fact, all the ground around friend Terry's home has been worked up to a degree of fertility and evenness of texture that makes all the plants and trees just alike. If the arbor-vitfe grows of its own accord of the beautiful shape of those about friend Ter- ry's home, I should never think of bringing them into artificial shape with shears and trimmers. HOME OF T. B. TEUKY. The graveled walk, the shrubbery, and vines by the porch tell their own story ; and a row of evergreens on the right and on the left called forth exclamations of surprise from me on account of their regular ap- pearance and beautiful shape. The house, it should be remembered, is on the north side of a street running east and west. These rows of evergreens, therefore, run north and south ; and there is another row, seen in the strawberry picture, just across the back end of the dooryard, thus making an inclosure. Having now viewed the front, the reader will please go with me up the gravel walk. We will turn off to the right, near the cor- ner of the inclosure. Right here is the out- building that friend Terry has several times described in our agricultural papers. It is such a beautiful, secluded spot, overshad- owed by the evergreens and other trees, that a picture of it is given in one of our rural papers as a hint to farmers in the way of comfort and convenience to their wives and grown-up daughters, to say nothing of the younger ones. As we step through the ever- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 523 greens we come into the half-acre of straw- berries. And liere is a picture of what you see. This picture wns taken from a hill, or gentle elevation, north of the house. Many of the strawberries were in blossom at the time it was taken. If you put on your specs you can gei a glimpse of the blossoms here and there. Between the evergreens and strawberries is a roadway. At the left of the roadway, and right back of tlie house, is the new half- acre of strawberries for the next season. lings. As the Sterling is imperfect, a row of Downings comes next as a fertilizer. Then we have Cumberland, (randy, Bubach, Ilaverland, Jessie, and perhaps some others. They are alternate, so as to have one row of perfect after every two. or. at the furthest, three, rows of imperfect. The straw mulch- ing is plainly visible in the paths; but the cut straw between the plants can not be seen except by moving the foliage aside ; but in the whole patch there is no ground visi- ble—nothing that can soil the berries. Dur- ^■A:ki*^ir«*^«^^- terry's half-acre of STRAWBERHIES. These were planted in rows four feet apart, and plants two feet apart in the row, as 1 have explained. On the other side oif the roadway is the wonderful half-acre which I recently visited while it was in full bear- ing. There are fourteen rows of berries, as you will see by the picture. Perhaps an ex- pert could tell the varieties by the foliage. Next to the potato-field, on the left, there are three rows of some variety, the name of which I can not now remember ; then come three rows that I am pretty sure, by their looks in the picture, are Ster- itig picking time the straw is tramped down in the paths much flatter than what it ap- pears in the picture; and one of the worst troubles, if it was a trouble, was the long stems of the Ilaverlands thrusting them- selves right square in the paths in order to get sunshine to ripen. 1 believe friend Ter- ry proposes to make the paths, especially through the Ilaverlands. a little more than a foot wide hereafter. Over in the field be- yond the fence we saw the wonderful crops of wheat— 85 or 40 bushels to the acre, right straight through the field. There are no 524 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. July trees on Terry's premises, except around the house. He does not tolerate a tree in his grain-fields at all. PLAN FOR APIARIES. A UNIQUE WAY OF ARRANGING 80 HIVES. Friend Ernest:—! was very much interested in the article by C. A. Hatch, and your own following, page 374, May 15, as I have given this subject con- sidei-able thought of late; and seeing that sugges- tions on this are acceptable, I venture to offer mine; but I shall not be offended, and order you to stop sending Gleanings, if it never nppears there- in. plan of my theoretical ideal apiary. You will take notice that an apiary managed on this plan, con- taining 4 groups each way (16 groups), .5 in a group, would contain 80 hives— just about the proper num- ber, and need not occupy a plot of ground to ex- ceed 60 feet square, and still leave ample room. In regard to bees going to the wrong hive, I should say that those at B would know their hive was the center one, C the left, A the right of the three facing one way; those at E and D would not be at all likely to mistake another hive in the same group (see diagram), and they would not be any more liable to go to the wrong group than they would if arranged rn the hexrgnnal or Mr. Hatch's plan. You will notice that, when ihe grass in the S. E. miller's proposed APIARY. Our apiary is arranged hexagonally, and we are pleased with it in nearly every way; but when it comes to running a lawn-mower through it, I al- ways wish it were arranged on a plan that would admit of running the mower parallel with the hives both ways. I have also noted what the senior edit- or has to say on the subject. Of course, we can have our hives in straight rows, and still be on the hexagonal plan, and that is just how ours is ar- ranged; but we are bound to run the mower diago- nally one or two ways in order to cut the grass be- tween the Lives in the rows. I herewith submit a main alleys is cut, the lawn-mower can be run be- tween the hives in a group, though the distance from A to B should be some greater than I have al- lowed, in order to allow a large-gized mower to pass E without varying from a straight line. E could be set out so as to be on a line with A inside, but this would ilirow it out of line on the outside, unless the hives are square. Hives E and D would have tfceir entrances at right angles to the alley for the operator, and he might be in the way of some of the bees from said colonies, but not more so than if arranged other- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 525 wise, and we can not expect to have it so arranged as not to be in their line of flight more or less at times, as they sometimes come out and turn short around the hive before rising higher than a man's head. SHADE FOR HIVES. Allow me to say, that the longer T keep bees the less use I have for shade over them. First we planted grapevines, and they did not make a growth to suit me, ard I concluded it would be al- together too much labor to keep them nicely trel- lised and tied up, so I cut them off, and now some of them seem to want to make a nice growth. I next planted seedling peach - trees, intending to bud when they got larger, and these, too, seem to want more fussing with than seedlings that volunteer to come up among grass and weeds. However, there is an elm, a honey-locust, and a cedar tree in the apiary which we left when preparing the grounds. Now, during the cool rainy spell we have been having for some weeks up to within a few days ago, the bees in the hives exposed to the sun would soon come out and get to work when he deigned to shine a few hours; while those in the shade would not get warmed enough to bring them out of the hives. I don't believe I cai-e much whether those peach-trees grow or not. White clover is immense, as well as alsike and common red, and the bees are booming. S. E. Miller. Bluffton, Mo., May 24. I have been trying to find some fault with your plan, but I give it up. The more I examine into it, the more I am convinced that it is a good one, where economy of space and lawn-mower convenience is de- sirable. Whether better than Mr. Hatch's, I can not say. Instead of making each group 8 feet or more apart, as you have marked in your diagram, I would have them about twice that. Then I would have the hives 18 inches apart, so as to give plenty of room for a lawn-mower. Where hives are in groups 6 inches apart, long tim- othy grass will grow up, as we find by ex- perience, and interfere greatly with the op- erations over the hives. Of course, you can cut it out after a fashion ; but as neither lawn-mower nor sickle would be available, it will be necessary to hack it down with a case-knife, cutting a few spears of grass at a time. Well, then, if the groups are 1(5 feet apart, and each hive in the group is about 18 inches apart, an apiary of 80 colo- nies may cover about 70 feet square, if L. hives are used. It could be very easily ac- commodated in the back yard of an ordina- ry half-acre town lot, with a frontage of, say, 80 feet. With this arrangement of dis- tances, a bee from tlie entrance at A, say, would have to go 40 feet to the east to find an entrance just like the one to which he belonged ; and yet this entrance would be considerably different, after all. The en- trance of A is near the west corner of the apiary ; and an entrance similarly situated, and 40 feet east, is a little more remote from the opposite corner. Taking it all in all it is hardly possible that a bee could make a mistake. Of course, an apiary on this plan might not occupy more than 40 feet square, if the colonies are crowded a little closer to- gether. But space usually is not as valua- ble as that. Aside from this, it is well ar- ranged for a lawn-mower. I hope that all who can will give it a test at as early a date as possible. In actual practice there may be some serious objections to it. You will observe that it is friend Hatch's plan, as de- scribed on page 374, carried out a little more elaborately. Ernest. ^ I — THE BLUE AND GREEN APHIS. something about plant-mce in general; ker- osene emulsion as a remedy. There is a little green louse, or parasite, destroy- ing my apple and plum trees. I send you one dol- lar to send me something to spray them with. Please send me whatever you know will fix them. What do you spray them with, and how prepared? Dell, Ore., June 13. G. .1. Gray. On receipt of the above we wrote our friend that we did not know any thing that would destroy the insects that were injuri- ous to his trees. We wrote him that we had tried in vain to destroy them on our cabbages, but gave it up. Whenever the emulsion was applied with sullicient thor- oughness to destroy the insects it injured the cabbages so much that they did not amount to any thing. That has been my experience for two or three years. Perhaps I should remark that relief came to us in our cabbage-raising, in the shape of a little insect, or bug, looking something like the larva of a potato-beetle. We forwarded samples of these to Prof. Cook, asking him to tell us about our unknown friends. Our readers will notice that he replies to both matters at once : Friend Root:— I am surprised that you say that the kerosene emulsion will not kill the "blue plant lice" of the cabbage. I have believed, as there- suit of many trials, that it would, if used thoi-ough- ly, kill any plant-lice. To even suggest that those at the "Home of the Honey-bees "are not thorough, would be unpardonable: so you see we are in a di- lemma. But, did you apply it with a force-pump so that you surely brought the liquid in contact with every louse on the plants? If so, and the lice were not killed, then you have tougher lice in Ohio than we have in Michigan. Please make the emulsion as I recommend in Bulletin 58, and apply with a force-pump very thoroughly, and write me the re- sults. Anent this subject of plant-lice, let me say that if G. J. Gray, Dell, Oregon, will thoroughly spray his trees with the kerosene emulsion, he will surely destroy his enemies. I have often done this, and have recommended it to others who have used it with entire satisfaction, and have thanked me heartily for the suggestion. It is specially desira- ble in case of young trees or nursery stock, to de- stroy the insects, unless, as is often the case, their natural enemies do it for us. And this leads me to speak of the little helpers that have come to your aid in rescuing your cab- bages from destruction. Of course, friend Itool, you know the little ladybird beetles "when to manhood grown," though you do not know the babies. The two insects you sent were the grubs or larvie (Fig. 1) of one of our common lady-bird beetles. The grub, or larva, is elongated, much like the potato-beetle, only more so, is black, mark- 526 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July ed with orang-e or yellow, and is found very common at this season on plants in company with ants and plant - lice. The ants are there to sip up the nectar from the lice, the lady-bird beetles to take lice, nectar, and all. Both the grubs and the mature beetles feed extensively on the lice, and thus prevail mightily against this small but terrible pest. When the box arrived, one of the grubs had assumed the mature form. I hope you did or will box one or two, feed them liberally with lice, and thus get a better introduction than any description can give jou; for you may well say, " I wish to give them a hearty thank-you." Some of these beetles— indeed, nearly all— are yel- low or orange (Fig. 1), spotted with black; hence such signiflcant names as maculata, 9-notata, 13- punctata, etc. Others (Fig. 2) are plain yellow on the wing-covers, while one small species, very common here and very useful, is black, with two orange spots, one on each wing- cover (Fig. 3). All are short and broad, or rounded, in outline. Fig. 1 shows the larva, pupa, and imago, or mature beetle. As will be seen, the pupa is very small compared to the larva and beetle. Tliis is true of all the lady-birds. The short lines beside the figures give the true eizp. Hardly a day passes that I do not see these insects feasting on plant-lice. They eat as though they greatly relished the food. I almost fancy that I can hear them smack their lips as they suck dry the fat, full-fed lice. You may well feel to thank these and thousands of other insects that work in a similar way for us, asking no wages, and truly boarding themselves. Without these helpers, our injurious insects would prevail. Agriculture would be a hopeless industry, and our earth soon a desert waste. How wonder- ful is this balance in nature: Everywhere there is a limit set to accomplishment; everywhere the "fittest succeed." Everywhere success comes on- ly with struggle and etfort. How can any one study in this grand book of nature, without be- coming charmed with the grand scheme of crea- tion, and reverent as he contemplates the great Planner? Though his "ways are past finding out," we see enough to thrill us with admiration and lo'^e- A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich , July 3. Friend C, I really be? pardon. I knew the lady bug, as we call it, but I did not rec- ognize the larva. As the blue aphis has en- tirely disappeared from our cabbages, I pre- sume it has come about through tlie agency of these insects. A couple of \ears ago we tried every thing for the blue "aphis on our cabbages and turnips that has been recom- mended through the papers. Some of the remedies disturbed them a little if we took pains enough ; but even then, the remedy injured the cabbage more or less; and even if it had been a jterfect cure, the time spent and the cost of the material amounted to somewhat more than the value of the cab- bages. Perhaps a little iustiuction in the matter might help us to do better. HIVE-COVEBS. AFICULTUBAL NOMENCLATCRE. I SHOULD like to add ray experience to the hive- cover controversy. My hives are a simple box nailed together to hold the frames, cleated at the ends. Covers and bottoms are alike— simply a plain board cleated at the ends similar to Dr. Mil- ler's, only the cleats are made of lJ4-in. stuff, and lahhctcd Xx'a in., and nailed both ways— that is, through the cleat into the end of cover and through the cover into the cleat. 1 have used such hives and covers for about 13 years, and I am well pleased with them. I paint tjoth sides of covers and bot- toms. The cause of a cover warping is the swell- ing of the under side from absorption of moisture and the shrinking of the top through evaporation. Painting does away with a good deal of this, and the rahlietcd cleat the remainder. I was much interested in Dr. Miller's article on the above caption; but your answer to the ques- tion, " What is an apiary? " though it may be good Webster, does not seem to me to cover the ground, or, rather, it covers too much ground. If an apiary is a place where bees are kept, then what is an apiarian? A man who takes care of a place where bees are kept? Again, we often hear the expres- sion, "Moving an apiary." Now, we can not move the place where bees are kept unless they are kept in a house and the house is moved. And in con- nection with this I should I'ke to call attention to the fact that the names of some of our forest-trees that produce honey are often misquoted. For In- stance, the poplar is often called by the names of " whitewood." "tulip-tree." etc , and you, Mr. Edit- or, seem to think that poplar and quaking aspen are one and the same. Again, t-he cottonwood is often called whitewood, which would lead some to think it the same as poplar. Now, my experience is that these are all different trees except the tulip-tree, which I believe to be the same as poplar, and so called on account of the blossom resembling a tu- lip. The name whitewood bas simply been used because that is the color of the wood of all these different trees. The cottonwood, balm of Gilead, and quaking aspen, are all different trees, though very nearly allied to each other. The poplar is of another and distinct type. It yields honey in great profusion some seasons, while the other three yield nothing, to my knowledge, but propolis and pollen. BRACE-COMBS. Dr. Miller suggests that, in experimenting with thick top - bars, tin strips be tacked on each side of the top-bars to increase the thickness. Now, may it not be possible that the doctor's suggestion will bring forth fruit not dreamed of? Is it not a fact that bees are a great deal more inclined to stick wax to wood than they are to tin? Again, what harm (or good either) would it do if these same strips of tin were raised up ,V in. above the frame (instead of even) and perforated same as the ex- cluders? This is merely a suggestion. No charge for postage and packing. I give it free. Santa Paula, Cal., Feb. 19. R. Touchton. Friend T., I did not mean to say that the poplar and tlie quaking aspen r<;e7f one and the same thing, but that in our locality the tree is called by both names, while in the South our whitewood. or tulip, is called pop- lar. I do not know how we can straighten up this confusion in the names of trees. IMHII GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 527 0ai^ QaEg3Fi0j\i.B0;[, With Replies from our best Auttiorities 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 10-4.— TT'^at width do you i^refer for top- barsf Forbottom-hars? 1. 3. Ja inch. Wisconsin. S. W. 1. 2 "« of an inch. Michigan. C. 7i all around. Illinois. 1, 2. J inch. Illlaois. N. W. S. I. Freeborn. A. J. Cook. Mrs. L. Harrison. Dadant & Son. I have always used them ''a of an inch wide. Ohio. N. W. A.B.Mason. Not wider than worker-brood comb. 2. If any different, narrower. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. We make all of our frames out of Pa x 7^ pine lum- ber—tops, sides, and bottoms all the same. Wisconsin. S. W. E.France. One inch. 2. % inch. After experimenting for years 1 adopted the above, and have no desire to change, at present at least. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. Not wider than % In any case, nor narrower than ?*; bottom-bars the same, so far as width is con- cerned. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. One inch, I suppose, because I have always used that width. 2. '3 ; I have tried V2, but that is too narrow, as the bees buiid comb around and under them. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. Our top-bars are of inch stuff, running down to a beveled edge. Our bottom-bars of frames are Ji inch wide, just the size of worker-combs— the best size for the prevention of brace-combs. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MuTH. One inch, both for ease in manipulating frames and uncapping honey, although in this county the uniform width is Ja, being more convenient for the planing-mill men in cutting them from scraps in making hives. 2. % inch. California. S. W. R. Wilkin. I keep my preference for Js'-inch bars until some other style of bar is proven a sure remedy for brace-combs. Then, if the desirable thing is not too awkward, I may adopt it. 2. Bottom-bars might be as narrow as ?8 if there were any object In hav- ing them different from the tops. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. 1 have always used :'6 for both top and bottom. I find a wider top or bottom interferes with uncap- ping when the extractor is used. The wide top and bottom bar becomes a still further nuisance in this respect when closed-end bars are used. A spoon- shaped uncapping-knife would have to be used. New York. E. Rambler. Such a width that, when properly spaced, there will he between the top-bars just a bee-space and no more. 2. A little less than the top-bars, in order to give the bees free passageway between them. I see nothing practical in lieing very nice about the width of bottom-bars unless we have some means of spacing them uniformly. Ohio. N. W. H. R. BOARDMAN. 1, 2. I do not know. I have always used them Ji wide. I do not want them much less, and I am not sure that I want them wider. I am going to try 500 frames this season with top and bottom bars an inch wide. This is for brood-frames at fixed dis- tances. For the ordinary hanging-frame I am very sure I should not want them wider than 'a. My frames for extracting are wider, but combs are thicker— Tin U% inches. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. 1. That width which will allow I'V of an inch be- tween them. If I'-'i is the proper distance from center to center, then I believe top-bars should be If'^ wide. 2. I should want bottom-bars just as wide as toptiars, if they would stay at rejiular distances apart. But with the ordinary hanging frame, if you look under the bottom-bare you will see they have a way of getting together and spreading apart, so that, to keep them from being glued to- gether, they must not be more than '3 wide. Even at that width mine are too often glued together. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. I am a little surprised to find the testimo- ny so universal fur I ; but, dear friends, is it not a good deal because we have used the I so long, and have not tried any thing else ? Dr. Miller makes a suggestion which I wish to emphasize. If your hives have movable bottoms, just take a look some time and see how the bottom-bars are spaced— I mean after you have put the top-bars in very good shape. By tipping the hive back from the bottom-board you can get a glimpse of the bottom-bars. Now, wlienever I have look- ed at them it has seemed to me a little un- fortunate that we should leave things in such shape, and expect the bees to manage all right with all sorts of distances, and combs even sticking together at their low- er edges. We solicit for this department short items and questions of a practical nature; but all questions, if accompanied by oth- er matter, must be put upon a SEPARATE slip of paper with name and address. ROYAL GLUE FOR LABELS ON TIN. If you will use "Royal glue" for sticking labels on cans and pails, I think they will ttay. I don't have any trouble in making them stick with it. Washington, Ind., May 3. Mrs. S. D. Cox. EVERY THING SEEMS TO YIELD HONEY. The past ten days have been good bee-weather, and bees are just booming here. All the little apiaries are increasing 100 and 200 per cent. My own is not swarming so much, but working in sec- tions, and it looks as though I should have cases filled and capped by July 4— unusual here. Every thing seems to yield honey. A. A. Lewis. Waterbury, Vt., June 24. 528 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July A GOOD FLOAV. I must have a great many moi"e sections if the flow of honey continues as for the last three weeks. Swarming- weather, hot and wet. J. Bagley. Serena, 111., June 28. COLONIES IN THE OPEN AIR. A few years ago a neighbor of mine, an old bee- hunter, found one on a poplar, on the outside, un- der a short bend, that I think had about 50 or 60 lbs. of honey. C. R. Ruth. Elimsport, Pa. CHAFF HIVES. Is there any thing ahead of the chatf hive, de- scribed in A B C of 1879? Geo. F. Knapp. Springport, Mich., June II, 1890. [That is a question we can not answer. Our chaff hive has given splendid results in wintering. It is not as portable as the smaller hives, nor as handy to use. A. I Root uses the chatf hive, and prefers it to anything else for a general-purpose hive; al- though at the same time he would always have Dovetailed hives, or Simplicity, to use In connec- tion with the chatf' hives.] A fatal STING. One of my neighbors, Samuel Mc.ldams, was stung on the neck by a bee last week and died in 30 minutes. Frank Butler. CarroUton, 111., June 30, 1890. [This is a sad record, friend B.; but please let us remember that, If somebody should call for in- star^ces where people have been killed by horses or cattle, there would be a hundred or more euch cases where we find one who has been killed by bee- stings ] the SEASON IN ILLINOIS. The Reason here is very poor so far for white honey. The fields are white with clover, and the basswood is in bloom, yet the bees are idly lying out with the foundation ia cases scarcely touched in many cases. I do not now think we shall have one-fourth of a crop of white honey. Similar re- ports come from all directions. C. H. Dibbern. Milan, 111., July 1, 1890. IMPROVING POOR HONEY. I have honey that I have kept in an open-mouth- ed vessel for two years, and it is still foamy.~^ What can I do with it? Geo. Gould. Villa Ridge, III., July V. [You do not tell us whether the honey is good quality. Probably not. Sometimes, in such cases, running off the liquid portion and then melting the candied part will give you very nice honey— that is, from the candied part,] tT FTiO'^r DIFFERENT FTELDG, sections not sold by weight, but by the PIECE. If you will permit, I should like to correct the impression you seem to have, that honey is invaria- bly sold by weight. According to your reply to friend E. C. Newell, one would suppose you cercain- ly had overlooked the truth in this matter. Mr. Newell is correct in his statement, page 464, that grocerymen invariably refuse to buy or sell any other way than by the piece, especially after their first years' selling of section honey. Neither, as Mr. Newell says, will they allow you any thing for extra weight. This thing I have thoroughly tested In our local market. My groceryman suggested to me to have my sections made at least h inch nar- rower, as I was losing from 3 to 3 ounces on each section this part of the season, and he couldn't help it. Mr. Newell says he strongly objects to your statements in this matter, and your reply will still surprise— yes, grieve him, to think you are so out of it, and at the same time ignore, apparently, all that he has invariably found to be the case. Please let Mr. Newell have the satisfaction of knowing there is at least oije who indorses his statement; and, if I am not greatly mistaken, others by the score are ready to do the same. I want my sections hereafter 4>4x4J4xlj 3, In p'ace of lis, then there will be no possibility of so much overfilling. I should like to hear the views of oth- ers on this matter. I am aware that, in the fall, when our crates begin to have light weight, grocers would rather take in by weighing. But my under- standing is, no reduction the season through. Pine Grove, O., June 24, 1890. S. Daniels. That is rigbt, friend D.; give us the facts, no matter whom it hits. If sections of hon- ey are sold in many places for so much apiece, we certainly ought to know it. A HONEY-WELL ; A MAN BORES INTO A BLUFF, and SECURES THE SWEET ARTICLE BY THE BARREL. The heading as above, together with the following, appears in the Cleveland Leader for June 27: Louisville, Ky., June 27.— A successful boring for honey has been made in Ni)rih Tennessee. For many years swarms of bees have been noticed by boatmen at Fox Blutf', on the Cumberland River near Franklin, Ky. Tne blutf is 170 leet high, and the river's channel ruf's directly under it. The bees have been observed about a big fissure near the center of the blutf, and the opening could not be reached from above or below without great danger of being stung to death. As the bees had never been robbed it was believed a large amount of honey was stored in the cliff. Secretly a well-borer named Staks visited the blutf', and was at once im- pressed with the idea that he could i-each the won- derful honey - storehouse with his drill. After some coaxing he persuaded a number of farmers to undergo the expense, and a three inch hole was bored from the top of the blutf. At a depth of 85 feet the drill struck the honey. Barrels and tubs by the score were filled and carried off to neigh- boring farms, and the syndicate has sent to Louis- ville for more receptacles. It seems a shame to give space to any such silly statement as the above, and we would not do it were it not that, whenever some newspaper reporter manufactures such a yarn, it comes to us right and left. Oil and gas may come out of a hole drilled in a rock, but not honey. PUTTING YE.4.8T INTO HONEY TO KILL OFF NEIGH- BORS' BEES. Last spring I had 10 colonies (hybrids), and they increased to 40 by fall, besides giving me considera- ble honey. I wintered them indoors; placed them In tiers against the end of a building, and packed them in straw. Most of them lived till spring, but have dwindled away since, except five colonies, and they are not in the best condition. I wintered them the same way the two previous winters, with- out any loss. A neighbor had some trouble with robbers. He closed his hives and left a hive of honey, without bees, open, pouring yeast into the honey (so It is claimed). My bees, of course, went there. Is it possible that that has been the cause of the dif aster? Will it be safe to give the same 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 529 hives to new swarma, there being considerable hon- ey left in most of them? WHAT DO THE COURTS DECIDE ON THE MATTER OF DESTROYING BEES WITH POISONED HONEY ? Has it been tested in courts whether people have a right to destroy bees, and endanger consumers of honey that way? If it would not be too much trouble, I wish you would replj' to this in Glean- ings. A. Hennings. Alabama, Wis., Juno 3. Friend H., this story about feeding bpes yeast in their honey is very old. I do not believe it was that that killed your bees ; but I am inclined to think, from what yon say, that they had the spring dwindling. I do not know that the matter has ever been tested in regard to poisoning bees ; but it certainly would be a very clear case, for our laws are very severe on any one who wilful- ly poisons domestic animals of any sort. WIDER ENTRANCE FOR THE CHAFF HIVE. I see by Gleanings you have abandoned the 8- inch entrance to chaff hives, and adopted the full width. If you will jog your memory I think you will find I was one of the first if not the first to in- sist upon full-width entrances to chaff hives, both one-story and two-story. If you please I should like to insist upon another improvement. There will not be any more demand for brood-frames with top-bars 'a wide. Many of us think 1?8 too wide. Many of us wish to continue the use of metal cor- ners. It is hard to use all-wood frames and be a Christian at the same time. I want to use metal- cornered wired brood-frames with top-bars one inch wide and % thick, wired as you have been wir- ing them, with tin bar in Ihe middle. Bonney, Pa., June 20, 1890 Philo S. Dilworth. Yes, you did suggest making a wider en- trance ; and from what you and one or two others said, together with our own convic- tions in the matter, we commenced this spring to make them full width of the brood-chamber. There is no reason, if sin- gle-walled hives have the full-width en- trance, why the chaff hive should not. Don't be too positive that there will be no more demand for a narrow top-bar I inch wide. The tendencxj of the times looks that way. THICK TOP-BARS; RUSHING AFTER NEW THINGS A DAMAGE. I have just read in Gleanings, page 183, "It is a serious matter to lumber our homes and our apia- ries with things that may, after a little while, be discarded as useless for the purpose for which they were recommended." Now, I will venture a proph- ecy. The wide and thick top-bars that you are just now booming so vehemently will turn out just as stated above. They will soon be regarded as an in- tolerable nuisance, then away they go, and what a time therp will be to get the combs out and fit them into other frames! Top-bars one inch wide and % thick, properly spaced, will prevent brace-combs as effectually as one inch or Ja thick. I know whereof I speak. I saw it tried; but there are objections to wide top-bars, that make me extremely reluctant to go back to them. 1 have not used a honey-board since I discarded the old Langstroth style of hive, and I am satisfied in roy mind that I never shall. My hive is so constructed that a supf r of the same length and width is jufet right for 'ii one-pound sec- tions 1?4 wide without separators, and leaving- room to slip in a '» board in one side as a clamp. I then place two strips 7 in. wide, of painted cloth, between the sections and the brood-frames, and that does the business to my satisfaction. The mak- ing of frames an inch or 1 '.; involves quite an extra expense over frames just Js wide. In most places suitable lumber can not be had without special or- der for the purpose, and that at once involves an extra price, to say nothing of the extra quantity. G. B. Keplogle. Centerville, Iowa, Mar. 13, 1890. What you say regarding thick top bara may be true ; but if we reject every thing new because new, apiculture would be at a standstill. On such a basis the world would never have had a sewing-machine or a steam-engine, and you possibly might have been plodding along without movable frames. No, friend R., it is worth our while to properly examine into the merits or de- merits of the new, and then use a little dis- crimination. Have we not urged, in almost every number of the journal, to go slow and try a few, and, if the few justihed trying more, try moreV If vou will turn to our catalogue you will see that we sell thick- top-bar frames for the .s«7?ie price as the thin ones. There is more lumber in the former, but they are more cheaply made. Thin top- bars are quite liable to sag, but the thick ones will hardly be affected by the weight of combs. Top - bars Ix^ inch, properly spaced, will not prevent burr-combs with us. E. R. THE DOVETAILED HIVE AND KEENEY'S WIRING. The Dovetailed hive is very neat, and I shall like it better after using a while. I am not sure about the slatted honey-board. I put in the nine slats and placed them even. Before the super is put on I find the bees will bridge their frames to the cover. That may be because the frames have already been plentifully bridged on top when used in other hives where I use a cloth. But I scraped the top-bars as well as I could before putting in the frames. I find it necessary to put on ihe enamel cloth. The new plan of wiring frames, introduced by E. D. Keeney, I have tried with improvements suggested by Er- nest; foundation only four inches deep, and stick one edge into the slot that was made for comb- guide. It works wonderfully well. Hopkinsville, Ky., June 9. ' D. F. Savage. ^OT AGAINST PERFORATED ZINC. Spring opened with bees in good condition. I did not lose a single colony until April. A neighbor asked me to assist him in overhauling his 30 colo- nies, when we found 9 dead. I told him of my success in wintering, not having lost a colony in 7 years, the entire period I had owned bees. But after a week's rain I told him a different tale. I had lost 8 colonies out of 18. But after the weather settled, the little fellows went to work in earnest; and up to June 14th I had taken .''C'a lbs. of as fine clover honey as one could wish. I will add, also, that my hives with perforated honey-boards did much bet- ter than those with wooden ones. At this date the honey-How is about over, as we have little else here besides clover that yields honey sufiiciently to store in supers. E. W. Sta\ton. Bowling Green, Ky., June 31. The statement has been made, that per- 530 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July forated zinc diminishes the amount of hon- ey stored in the supers. The testimony above doesn't point that way. Bees will store honey just as well above perforated zinc as they will without any. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS; WAGES FOR EXTRACT- ING, ETC. 1. One of my old hives has plenty of bees, but had little brood, compared with others during the hon- ey flow, and they stored no surplus at all. Is the queen too old? or what is the cause? 3. If a man goes out extracting for other bee- keepers, what is the usual compensation? Do you think 5 lbs. per hive too much? or would it be more just to take a certain percentage? 3. I want to establish an out-apiary next year, with a party who keeps about (i to 10 hives himself. He wants h lbs. of honey for every hive of mine, and is williDg to give me 5 lbs. for every hive of his for the care of his, both parties keeping their own increase, if any. Is this arrangement just? If you think the answer to these questions will interest others, you may publish the same. Olmsted, June 26. M. R. Kdehne. 1. Queens durinsr or just before swarming time very often stop or diminish laying temporarily. After the swarming season, or after the colony has swarmed to a new location, the queen will commence in good earnest. 2. About $2 00 or $2.50 per day ought to be fair wages for extracting, the person proposing to do the extracting furnishing the extractor. Five pounds per hive would be pretty big wages. 3. The arrangement proposed would hard- ly be fair. Supjioseyou owned, at the out- apiary, 100 colonies, and the other party owned 10. You would have to give him 500 lbs., and he would give you in return but 50. PROSPECTS POOR FOR THE LOCALITY OF E. FRANCE. Mr. Root:— When you were having your rainy weather in Ohio we had a three-weeks' drouth. Now we are having rain and floods— rain, rain, rain. Cornfields are green with weeds. White clover is scarce^that is, old enough to blossom. I was at one of our bee-yards the 19th, and could put all the clover blossoms that I saw for five miles, into a peck measure. But the young clover is thick all over the ground; but that won't blossom this year. Bees have had a hard time to make a living for the past three weeks. We went through one yard yes- terday. I don't think they had, on an average, one pound of honey per colony, and many did not have enough for supper— not a bit of new comb built yet. Basswood looks promising. E. France. Platteville, Wis., June 21, 1890. you please advise me in regard to the matter? I should like to raise bees if I can make a success. New Haven, Ct., June 26. E. W. Easter. From your letter we gather that the colo- ny you mention was queenless, and of course they would then dwindle down to mere nothing just as you state. The colony is now probably too far gone to help matters any by giving them a queen. You could very easily make another start by buying a two-frame nucleus and an untested queen. These if the hive is Langstroth size could be put right into the hive where the bees died, and in a very short time you would again have a good colony of Italians for the next winter. If your hive does not use the regular L. frame you had better purchase a pound of bees and a queen. WHY THE BEES DWINDLE. I should like to ask you for a little advice. I bought me a swarm of bees one year ago this spring. Last season was a bad one for honey. The bees filled the hive full of comb, but did not make enough honey to last them through, so I fed them all winter when the weather was warm enough. This spring the bees were in good condition, and plenty of them; but for some cause they have dropped off, and I don't think there are fifty bees in the hive. I have watched them closely, and I don't think there have been any moths near them, but I think they grow less from day to day. Will WHY DID THE QUEENS STOP LAYING DURING THE HONEY-SEASON? I should like to ask you a question in relation to my bees, and, in fact, all the bees in this place. They are dying a natural death, for the queens have not laid an egg for six weeks; and what the cause is I don't know. It is not for the want of stores or honey-flow, for there have been hundreds of acres of alfalfa in bloom of late, and the weather is not unfavorable. ANOTHER POISONOUS HONEY-PLANT. The bees worked well for a couple of months since, on a weed that is called loco. Now, that same weed is very poisonous tu horses when they eat it, and also to cows. It is not always fatal, but they get crazy. Is there any thing in the flower that will prevent queens from laying? While the bees worked on it the queens were laying, and col- onies increasing; but when the loco stopped bloom- ing the queens stopped laying, aad consequently the bees are dwindling down to nothing. Have you ever heard of a similar case? There has been loco here every year since we started bees here four years ago. James Christianson. St. Johns, Ariz., July 1. Friend C, it seems to me you have an- swered your own question ; namely, the weather was not favorable. Queens will not lay, as a rule, unless honey is coming into the hive ; and no matter if there are hundreds and thousands of acres of blos- soms, there are times when there may not be a drop of honey for the bees to get.— Per- haps Prof. Cook can tell us something about the poisonous honey-plant you men- tion. I do not remember to have heard of it before. Even though all you say be true, I hardly think the honey is poisonous or has any thing to do with the non-laying of the queens. A QUEEN OUT FOR A PLAYSPELL. T received the queen in fine condition, and she is now doing finely. She commenced laying the sec- ond day after being received, and has filled three frames of eggs. I introduced her as per directions, and as I took a frame from the hive I stepped over to arrange frames, and see all was right; and on coming back in about fifteen minutes (I don't think the time to be any more) my new queen was poising at the entrance of the hive, taking her bearings very carefully. I dropped to the well-known posi- tion of a bee-hunter, to keep her against the hori- zon, and had the pleasure of seeing her majesty 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 531 have a fine frolic. Her circles included about two acres; and as she cut the air it was fine music to hear. In about ten minutes she returned, as nice as a veteran worker. After I found her laying I clipped her wing-. All is well that ends well. I took a look at the cage and found three cells com- pletely torn down. I think she liberated herself very quick. I lost my lirst queen about twelve days before I ordered this one. The most probable cause, I think, was, she took a flight and was caught by a bee-bird, as I have shot 35, and exami- nation proved they really catch my bees. Vine Creek, Kan., July 2. Wm. H. Dodge. Friend D., you have struck upon some- thing tliat was fully discussed some years ago, and called forth considerable comment and some anxiety. You say a fertile queen took wing, to the extent of flying over per- haps a couple of acres. In your case she did not meet a drone. May be a queen that has once laid worker eggs never meets a drone afterward ; and I believe that is the general rule in teaching. But for all that, I am sure I did see one queen, that we im- ported from Italy, take wing just as yours did. I do not know what she took wing for, nor just how long she was gone, for 1 only saw her returning. We have other testi- mony that seems to indicate quite strongly that queens, after meeting the drones once, fly out one or more times after this meeting. AI.E BEES ASSESSED AS PROPERTY? I should like to know whether bees are assessed in your State or not, or in any other State that you know of. The county officers wanted the assessor to assess them. I told him them were not as- sessable unless there was a State law to assess them. He thought I was right. He wanted me to write and see if they were assessed in other States. Jas. K. Whipps. Le Sueur Center, Minn., June 18, 1890. I do not know what the prevailing custom is ; but I think bees should be assessed with other property. In fact, if the assessor should pass by my bees I should feel slight- ed. If hives of bees are not property, then we had better all of us quit the bee-busi- ness. This matter has been up before, and there was some discussion on it some years ago. I do not want any thing from my neighbors unless it justly belongs to me ; neither do I want any thing nor any privi- lege from the government of the "United States unless it is fairly mine. Of course, I agree that there are things of so little use, or of a value so uncertain, that it is not worth while to tax them. If your bees and tixtures would not sell at public sale, then I should say they were not worth taxing. As hives of bees do, however, sell for some- thing with other stock, this customary sell- ing price, it would seem to me, should be the proper value for taxation. WHY BEES SWARM OUT, ETC. Can you give me any reason why a new swarm will settle in a new hive, and remain a few days, and then start out and leave the hive? Also, why a new swarm will enter an old hive where there is a good working colony already in it, and remain in it, and apparently work with perfect harmony? I had such a cHse the other day. Is it not advisable for a very strong colony to have as many as four or five supers placed ui>on the hive at once for ample room to work in? C. W. Youngman. St. Paul, Minn., June 21, 1890. The matter you mention is fully discussed under the head of "Absconding," in the A B C book. Al)sconding swarms often try to force an entrance into any sort of hive- one containing bees or one Avithout. Some- times the colony occupying the hive will receive them peaceably, and sometimes they will not. I would place enough supers on a strong colony to give them all the room to work, but not too many at once. QCEENS FAILING TO HATCH BECAUSE WRONG END UP. I have been a bee-keeper for seven jears, during which time I have had three queen-cells that, hav- ing failed to hatch, an examination showed the queens were wrong end up— that is, their heads were turned toward the hatut my wife gave us a sample of these for breakfast, that allay- ed all my misgivings. Early Turitans are just beautiful when cooked as Mrs. Hoot knows how to cook them, even if they are not fully grown. It takes about live hills to make a peck at the present stage of growth. But ten cents a hill (each hill representing a single potato when planted) pays us very well. Of course, we select the most mature- looking hills to dig first. The only thing I felt sorry about is that I did not start more potatoes in the greenhouse, and plant them in celery-ridges in just that way. At the same time we planted the potatoes in the greenhouse, we found a strip of ground that would work very nicely by turning under some rye that was about knee-high. We put peas, kidney wax beans, and corn, in this strip. I knew the peas would be all right ; but it was so very early for corn and wax beans, I thought I would try only four rows of each. Well, the corn and beans had so many ups and downs, and made such a very poor growth for many weeks, that 1 thought 1 had wasted my time and pains ; but just now they are yielding beautifully— I mean the beans and peas. The corn will be ready in about a week more. We get 50 cts. a peck for peas, and 10 cts. a pound for wax beans ; and Mr. Stevens sajs that he only w ishes he had four times as many. We have been getting this price for the peas for at least four weeks, and I should think for over two weeks on the wax beans. Two quite small boys pick all the peas, and two more pick the wax beans. I have now got these boys taught so they pick only peas that are just right— none of them ''too thin,"' neither do they let any get too hard. I have also taught them so as, with my as- sistance, to keep just enough ahead for the demand, and no more, so our customers get them just freshly picked. The wagon leaves here at six in the morning, and then comes around for a fresh supply again at nine. So our small boys pick late in the evening, just what is wanted to start out with in the morning. Then early in the morning, before it gets real hot, they get just enough for the wagoTi when it gets around at nine. About this time they are tired enough to stop and rest, and by three or four in the afternoon they are all ready for work again. Our berries are picked in much the same way. There is nothing like being able to tell your customers that the peas, beans, berries, etc.. have just been picked within an hour, or two hours at the furthest. We have a good careful man to look after the boys, to see that they do not get to playing, nor eating their berries, and then I get around among them three or four times a day. I tell you, I just enjoy gather- ing up the stuff. Besides the trade on the wagon, we sell quite a little stuff at a sort of berry-stand between our lunch-room and 534 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July counter-store. This is where we display and sell our honey also. Well, it is my privilege to gather up tempting things from the fields, and make a little display of them on this berry-stand. As we have unexpect- ed calls for all sorts of stuff at all hours of the day, we find it exceedingly convenient to scatter baskets all over our grounds. When we have new comers, I find it a hard matter to keep them from carrying the baskets up to the toolhouse, especially nights. These market-baskets (peck, half- peck, and half-bushel) cost only 30 or 40 cts. a dozen ; and it does not pay to carry them in nights, not even when it rains. A^ery often we have a sudden order for something to meet the trains, especially at this time of year when picnics and excursions are in vogue. If baskets are in the field, I can call from the office window to Mr. Weed, whose place is in the plant garden, and he can go to the top of the hill and call to the boys to bring up what is needed, providing baskets are where they can grab them up quickly, and set them at work. Now, when 1 take my morning walks, I take a basket of suitable size and gather up what peas are picked. Then I fill another with string beans from where they are picking ; a third one with new potatoes ; a fourth with black and red raspberries ; may be a fifth with currants and gooseberries. By this time I am ready to look for a wheelbarrow. By the way, we have wheelbarrows scattered over the premises almost as plentifully as baskets. I think there are seven altogether. When I get more samples than I can carry I call to some one to meet me with a wheel- barrow. Now, when the boys bring the stuff in from the fields, they just dump it down in all sorts of disorder. I can not teach anybody (at least I have not succeeded so far) to fix up a display of fruits and vegetables as I fix them up. First, I dispose of all partly filled baskets, by selecting a basket of prop- er size, so each one will be heaping full. " Heaping full " means good measure, and then you know what the Bible says about good measure. Then I put all the currants by themselves, all the raspberries, gooseber- ries, peas, wax beans, giving the berries the most prominence, peas and beans next, set- ting the potatoes on a box or stool a little lower. Before I get things fixed, a lively trade starts up, and my display is very soon disordered. When I can be spared, how- ever, I just enjoy seeing things go off ; and before any thing is out, some of the small boys that are almost always standing around (feeling sure by past experience that I have work for them) are ready to go to the fields and bring in a fresh supply. By the way, this year we are employing quite a number of little chaps at only tivo cents an haiir. Mr. Weed and the time clerk concluded that they would be worth that mvich, even if they did play a good deal. Well, I really enjoy teaching these " two-cent " little fel- lows how to work and how to do business. There is a full understanding between us, that, when they prefer to be their own bosses — that is, to be free from any obliga- tions—they can be off from duty by simply marking their time off on the slate. There is a small slate on purpose for them, sepa- rate from that used by the big men and women. Sometimes when I ask them to do something they reply, " Why, Mr. Root, I am not at work just now ; but if it is some little thing you want done, I will do it, with- out charge." Just think of the idea of these little fel- lows working on a salary of two cents an hour, being liberal toward myself, or toward their "boss," who employs toward 200' hands, at an expense of more than $20. W an hour ! I mentally thank them for the example they set me ; and may God help me in a like way to be liberal toward them, with their small modicum of strength and judg- ment. Just a few minutes ago I saw one of the younger ones with his berry-basket hitched to his suspenders in such a way that he can pick berries with both hands^ instead of picking with one hand and hold- ing the basket with the other. This reminds me that, while in Wisconsin, I saw a sort of tin box to be strapped around the waist, used by friend France's pickers, for picking blackberries. This tin box has no bottom, but it has a funnel-shaped cover. This cov- er drops the berries in such a way as to spread them over the top of the box, so as to have it nicely rounded . This year our berries are all picked by the hour. We like this better, because we can stop and start as the market demands, set the boys at any moment hoeing or weeding, without mark- ing the time off or on. Besides, I think there is a l)etter feeling among the children — less strife and jealousy— where they have regular wages by the hour. Of course, the rate of wages is gauged by the amount of work. Our strawberries have brought, dur- ing this season, from 10 to 15 cents, few if any being sold for less than 10. Raspber- ries have only once been down to 8 cents, and that was Saturday night. Of course, however, all of our stuff brings a better price because of being freshly gathered and delivered in tempting shape, right at the homes of the consumers. Now, in conclu- sion, let me say again, " Isn't it fun to be a gardener in the month of July?" THE OREGON EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY. Friend Root:— Will you please let us know some- thing- about the new everbearing strawberry? I g-ot 12 last fall, and planted them in my greenhouse. They made a nice growth, and are now in my garden, full of handsome berries. They are constantly send- ing out more fruit-stems, but not a runner appears. 1 have one plant with not less than eleven fruit- stems, and the berries are fully as large as Jessies. If it is going to keep it up at that rate all sum- mer, I should think that one plant ought to produce half a bushel of berries alone. But how can we multiply them, if they will not send out runners? Pulling the stools apart is the only way I know of ; and then the question comes, " Will that not kill them?" and, when is it best to do it? Port Clinton, Ohio, June 9. J. Johannsen. Friend J., we also had about a dozen plants in the greenhouse. They commenc- ed sending out runners just before fruiting, and we have perhaps 40 or 50 young plants. IHM GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUilE. 535 Ijike yours, our old ones are still blossom- ing and sending out fruit-stems. While the fruit is not as large as the Jessie, it is of very fair quality. I, too, have been getting a little excited about this strawberry. But these plants are in very rich plant ground- in fact, nearly half manure, and some otn- er varieties of strawberries under the same circumstances are also blossoming and bear- ing fruit ; and I presume this is caused by the very rich ground they are in, and the continual watering they receive when the celery plants and others adjoining get their heavy waterings every three or four days. In fact, a little patch of Jessies in the greenhouse is still giving us a box of ber- ries every other day, when those in the field ceased bearing more than two weeks ago. Is it not true, that special treatment may make any strawberry-plant everbearing V I am sure I can not tell why yours do not send out any runners. The introducer of the plant has an advertisement in this issue, but I do not know his prices. I do not be- lieve that dividing the stools would answer very well. ANOTHER STRAWBERRY REPORT— 80 QUARTS FROM A PIECE OF GROUND 5x8354. Friend Root:— The strawberry-bed you saw in my yard in Boseobel, the day you arrived there, is S2K feet long by 5 feet wide. We picked 80 quarts of as fine berries as any one ever saw, from said bed. They are the Jessie and Bubach varieties. The lit- tle boy measured one that was 5'/4 inches around. This bed was only eleven months old when it pro- duced the 80 quarts of berries. You saw this bed a few days after it was set out, it being a very dry time. BEN.J. E. Rice. Boseobel, Wis., July 2. Dear friends, here is a hint for you. Aft- er your early crops on your garden, manure the ground well, turn it under, then pulver- ize and work it thoroughly. Be sure to make surface-drains as well as underdrains, so that heavy rains can not beat it down solid, and in only eleven months you can have such a yield of fruit as friend Rice speaks of. The sight of the pretty little bed of berries took my eye at once, and I made up my mind then, that, if he kept them look- ing as nice, he would get his reward. THE IGNOTUM TOMATO IN AUSTRALIA. From packet received, containing 33 seeds, I was Buccessful in obtaining 20 fine healthy plants, every one of which has proved true to name— at least, not like any thing grown here before, save Mikado, from which, I am inclined to think, this is a sport. I say this, because the Mikado was first out here; but if the Ignotum has been, I should •call the Mikado a very poor sport from the Igno- tum. It is very strong, and hardy in habit. The fruit is very uniform in size and shape, quite «mooth, no corrugations. One tomato that I mea- sured and weighed gave the following results. It was the finest one in view at the time. Size, 17 inches around; weight, 22^ ounces. The 20 plants yielded up to date (they are still bearing) 343 lbs. of fruit. If planted like the 20, on similar land, and "the conditions the same, the yield would be just 43 •tons of fruit per acre. R. Patten. Binni Apiary, Cowra, Aus., May 31. EGYPTIAN ONIONS; GROWING TOMATOES IN THE GREENHOUSE, ETC. Mr. Roof.— Can those Egyptian onions be grown under the greenhouse benches where they will re- ceive little or no sunlight? If so, what time shall we sow the sets to have them fit for market in March and April? Tomatoes bring about a dollar per bushel in this place when they first come into market; but after they become plentiful they are slow sale at 30 and 40 cents. Now, what I wish to know is this: Why can we not have them very early by sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the month of January, or even earlier, and growing them in ti or 8 inch pots till the middle of May? Will it not pay? Cokeville, Pa., June 28. John Ma.ior. Friend M., the Egyptian onions will do exactly what you wish ; in fact, 1 have thought, during this past spring, they do nicer in the shade than anywhere else ; that is, they are more white, crisp, and tender. The way we manage is as follows : The little sets, or onions, on top of the stalks, are put in during the present month of July. We just pick them ofi and strew them pretty thickly in drills as we would peas, in good rich soil. If land is plentiful, put them far enough apart to cultivate with a horse. If you wish to have more on a small quantity of ground, put them only one foot apart. They will come right up and grow, and make a very pretty show in a garden right during the fall months. Any time in February or March, when the ground is not frozen, dig them, and set them in rich soil under your greenhouse benches. The sudden warmth will make them think spring has come, and they will grow to your heart's content. Those left in the held will be a month or two later. During the past spring we have sold wagonloads of them at5cts.for a bunch weighing 8 oz. Those forced in the greenhouse brought 5 cts. for a bunch weighing a third of a pound. The foreman of our sawroom has a little greenhouse of his own construction. He wanted it to play with, just as I use ours to play with. The first week in July he in- formed me he was selling tomatoes. The tomatoes came from plants kept in his greenhouse, in pots, until they had blossoms and little tomatoes on. When the weather admitted they were transplanted into open ground, and 1 presume he gets as much as $2.00 a bushel for all he has now to spare. To be sure, it will pay any one who will take the necessary pains and care. A GOOD REPORT FROM THE BUSH LIMA8. The bush lima beans you sold me seed of are look- ing finely— just covered with blossoms, and loaded with pods, not quite full yet. Chapel Hill, N. C, July 7. Julia C. Graves. AN unexpected CONTRIBUTION TO THE WAR AGAINST TOBACCO. A. I. Root:— As a co-laborer in the endeavor to raise the moral standard of our race, I herewith inclose five dollars. The same I desire placed to the credit of your anti-tobacco account. I have watched with Interest the responsee that come to 536 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July your appeal to the people to cleanse themselves of the tobacco habit; aud the number you have reach- ed far exceeds any estimate I may have made. There is little probability that the calls upon you for " smokers " will exceed your willingness to supply; but should the demand at any time seem a tax, you might not call in vain upon the writer for a little assistance. I have the honor to be very truly your friend, R. A. Burnett. Chicago, 111., June 11. Friend Burnett, may the Lord be praised for your kind donation— not because we need it, but because of the spirit it shows and the lesson it may teach. At present I hardly know what use to make of the $5.00 ; but the Lord will unquestionably point out a way. I suppose, of course, I may have your letter for print. I want it because I feel sure it will help in the war against to- bacco— the war that is to be fought, not by might nor by power, but by the influence of the Holy Spirit. A WOMAN WHO HAS QUIT SMOKING. Please send Mrs. Nancy Sheets a smoker. She has quit smoking her pipe. She has started in the bee-business, and would rather do without the pipe than without a smoker. It she ever commences smoking again I will pay for smoker myself. Fredonia, Kan. John Darst. Many thanks, friend D.; and please tell our friend Mrs. Sheets that Uncle Amos bids her God-speed in breaking away from the tobacco habit. A YOUNG BEE-KEEPER TAKES THE TOBACCO PLEDGE. I am now 30 years old, and have been using tobac- co four years; but after reading the Tobacco Col- umn I have decided not to use it any more. I have six colonies of bees in frame hives, and should like to have a smoker; and If you will send me one I will pay for it if I ever use tobacco again. Goodman, Miss., May 20. W. R. Tate. AN UNCLE AND NEPHEW UNITE IN TAKING THE PLEDGE. My uncle and I have been using tobacco for about three months. He has quit it, and about an hour ago I chewed my last chew ; and if you deem it prop- er, just send us a smoker. If either of us use it in any way again we will pay you for the smoker. Stony Point, Tenn. A. D. Derrick. PAYS FOR THE SMOKER AFTER COMMENCING THE WEED, BUT HAS QUIT AGAIN. I send you 70 cents to pay for the smoker that you sent me several years ago for stopping the use of tobacco. I have broken my promise; but I think more of my word than I do of the money, so I re- mit to you the amount promised. For nearly a year I have done without It, and now have no de- sire for it. I am very glad that, when we fail in our promises, we can begin again. I enjoy reading your Home talks in Gleanings, and hope you will continue in your good work. E. G. Rowland. Manchester, N. Y., May 15. seat a habit hard to leave off. For encouragement to him, send him a smoker; and we hereby bind ourselves from this date not to use tobacco in any way, shape, or form. If he or I ever go back to the habit, we will send you the price in full for the smoker. L. B. Whittle. James B. Whittle. Cloud's Creek, S. C, Feb. 25. 0a^ Jl0MEg. FATHER AND SON TAKING THE PLEDGE TOGETHER. My little son and I have been smoking only since we have been keeping bees, as we thought the smoke would quell them. Since we have been read- ing Gleanings, only a stray copy now and then, I tell him we must lay aside our tobacco, as it may Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.— Prov. 4: 14. I HAVE of late said so much in regard to temptation, and the importance of avoiding at the outset, any thing that might lead us into danger and sin, that I sometimes think I ought to be ashamed of myself ; and here I am taking up the old siibject again. It may be that it is S'ltan who whispers to me now and then that a man over tifty years old, and one who has been a professing Christian for twenty years, ought to be ashamed of himself— or, rather, ought to be ashamed of acknowledging that he is still tempted to do evil. Perhaps the season of the year has something to do with bringing to my mind the text I have quoted. Dur- ing the month of July, most of us think more or less about some sort of recreation. Our schools are closed ; many of our places of business are shut dowm during the heat- ed term ; some of the Sunday-schools, I am sorry to say, take a vacation ; and in the ab- sence of the pastors, church services are sometimes stopped for a time. All of us think of taking things a little easier. It is true, that those who work in the harvest- held oftentimes undergo the severest labor of the year ; but after harvesting is done, even they usually think about picnics, excur- sions, Chautauqua. Lakeside, the seashore, watering places, etc. These things are all right and proper in their place. But there is something sad in the fact that at such seasons so many are ready to forget their vows to God, and vows made before their fellow-men, and stray away into old sins, and get back into old temptations. Many who have been intemperate find it very hard to get past the Fourth of July. Now, to all such I would recommend the little text I have quoted : " Enter not into the path of the wicked." Do not even go in places they frequent. If there is any place where bad men are wont to congregate, go not there. It is sometimes urged that we should go to do them good, or go to keep down the evil. This may all be very well, if we go as missionaries, or go with that idea in view. But, beware of letting Satan deceive you. If you turn to the 4th chapter of Proverbs you will find a verse just after our text, which reads, " Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, pass away." If you do this, there is not very much danger. I know this by experience. But there is al- ways danger if you dally with sin. Another verse, further on, reads: "For they sleep not, except they have done mischief." Many a boy. many a girl, would have been perfectly safe from temptation had they not 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 537 unwisely chosen dangerous places. There are streets in our great cities where it is said to be unwise for a woman or even a man, for that matter, to walk, unless it be on business. Once when staying over night in the city of New York I felt a great curi- osity to just take a look at the dangerous localities. I hadn't any business there, as a matter of course ; but I wanted to see, at least from the street, the things we have all heard so much about. Yes, I had a curiosi- ty to see what was going on in such places in the night time. I decided that I would walk briskly, and pretend to be on urgent business, so that nobody would take any notice of me. But either I was not sharp enough, or else even a busy man is not se- cure from interruption. In a little time I was followed. I caught only a glimpse of the poor lost wretch who attempted to enter into conversation with me, but her voice still rings in my ear, and the hollow, mock- ing laugh that I heard behind me as I hur- ried away follows me still. Another verse reads : " "They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence." But after the above verse comes one of such won- drous beauty, and so bright with hope, that I want to put it in right here, even if it is not in a line with my subject. It is this: '' But the path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." I presume we all have this longing for something new and something different. During these July days we hunger for some sort of change. We want to lie off for a day or a week, or perhaps a month. We want to go somewhere. We want rest, and we want recreation. It is right that we should, too, dear friends, and I hope many of you who read these lines are having rest and recreation. Here in the factory we have been so busy for mouths past that no one has even spoken of a picnic or excursion or a holiday. Just now, however, we are glad to recompense these friends by telling them that any of them can take a vacation if they wish, pro- viding, of course, too many do not go at once, and that they also make some arrange- ment for filling their post while absent. Our orders are all filled ; however, we have quite a good many still coming and going daily. What shall we do for recreation? The children and even mamma almost al- ways find a little fault with me because I always recommend some kind of work. For instance, I should say, '' Have rest and rec- reation and fun in raising strawberries." Now, with a great many of you this would mean severe hard work. I am glad to note, however, that a great many of my readers look at it as I do — that is, where it is a change from their every-day toil. Why do I recommend these things? Well, because so many who start out to have a good time do not seem to have it, after all. It turns out like the words in Isaiah : " Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satisfi- eth not?" Perhaps some of us have had experience in that way. I wonder if I shall judge harshly of humanity when I suggest that recreation and having a good time sug- gest to many something sinful. I hope it does not to you, dear reader, but 1 am afraid 1 shall have to confess that, a great many times when I feel out of sorts, and a general lack of interest in my every-day work, my thoughts are very apt to" turn toward something sinful. A man who has been intemperate, when he thinks of a pic- nic or a hunt in the woods, or boating and fishing, instinctively turns his thoughts longingly toward some sort of stimulant to take along with the lunch. One whose besetting sin is gambling would take along a pack of cards. I'erhaps neither would propose to do any thing bad. One would say, '' Oh ! a little fun won't do any harm just at this time of year, when we are hav- ing a holiday." The other would suggest, •' We will just play a little among ourselves, just for the fun of the thing, without any stakes." My friends, let me bid you read the 4th chapter of Proverbs. " Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men." I do not know where your besetting sin lies. I do not know just where you are weak, but it is pretty much the same. The only safe course is, " Avoid it, pass not by it ; turn from it, and pass away." I have told you about our horse Meg that used to run away. Although it was years ago, everybody who handles her needs to be cautioned to keep a firm hold on the reins. Sometimes, after I have driv- en her for fifteen or twenty miles I think to myself. "Oh, well ! she is too tired to run now. If the lines were thrown right down on the dnshboard there would be no dan- ger." Before long, however, I have been ready to change my mind. Even after she has been driven twice fifteen miles I have seen her start with as much strength and suddenness as if she were right fresh from the stable, or as if she had not been used for a week. And it is so with Satan and sin. Do not console yourself with the idea that you are too weak with hard work during these hot days to be in danger of evil sug- gestions. Do not delude yourself. Satan is on the alert, and is watching for just such opportunities. Physical weakness and ex- haustion count as nothing when Satan has once got hold of the reins again. Before you know it, almost before you have time to say, '' Lord, help, " you are swept off your feet out into the stream. Keep clear of dan- gerous paths. Choose wisdom and not folly. Never mind if you are tired and weary. Better wear out your shoes— yes, better a thousand times wear out yourself, than to get back into the hands of the evil one. Now, notwithstanding I do not take up many of the ordinary amusements and rec- reations, I am still one of the greatest fel- lows for something new and something ex- citing that you ever knew. If I can not have some variety in the routine of every day's duties, I am not satisfied. Nay, further : I am hardly satisfied unless I can explore some unexplored region, more or less, every day. As a matter of course, every little while my explorations run into Satan's domain. How can I tell? There is no difficulty, dear friends, in deciding. The 538 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July one who is constantly seeking wisdom and guidance from on high will always be told very quickly when he is sinning against God or against his fellow-men. Now, when my enjoyments are of that nature that make me feel even just a little bit guilty, this sense of guilt constantly mars the enjoy- ment. The little prayer I have told you of, " Lord, help." begins to ring with its warn- ing note. When my pleasures and enjoy- ments are of such nature that I can freely ask God's blessing on them, it gives a new and pure sense that I can hardly explain. But you know how it is yourself. When I am out among my strawberry-plants, say at the close of the day, between sundown and dark. I often say to myself, '' Thank God I thank God ! There is nothing wrong or wicked in being happy with these gifts that come directly from his hand." And this re- minds me of a single sentence in a letter just received from friend Terry : Those Haverlands yielded at the rate of more than $im() per acre. T. B. Terry. Hudson, O , July 8. Now, it is not the money that friend Ter- ry is after, that makes him rejoice at this result, but it is because of the possibilities that he sees along the line where he is mak- ing discoveries. It is because he sees plain- er than ever before that he has made no mistake, and that his convictions were right. There is another line of temptations that beset and trouble and worry a great many of the friends who come to me, and it may get in and mar the enjoyment of any kind of recreation — yes, even strawberry-raising. The temptation I allude to is the one of un- wise expenditures, or extravagance, if I may so term it. Some of you who read these pages may say, " Well, I am going to have my recreation as Bro. Root does, in raising strawberries." He may commence by buy- ing a piece of ground he has no right to buy ; or he may take time that belongs to his employers. He may purchase manure unwisely. He may finally order a great lot of strawberry-plants (of A. I. Root), when he could have got a few near home to much better advantage. If there is any class of sufferers that I feel sorry for from the bot- tom of my heart, it is those whom Satan tempts to pay out their money unwisely as fast as it gets into their fingers, and some- times a little faster. Do not mar your hap- piness in this line, dear friends. My first experiment with strawberries, and the one I think I enjoyed the most, was in taking some old dried-up plants during a drouth in July, and giving them water until their dried-up runners revived and put out new leaves. I did most of the work between sundown and dark, so it cost little or noth- ing. Then I wheeled manure on a wheel- barrow from a place where it was doing no good, to make a mulch. With this start, and without buying any plants at all, I pro- duced the finest crop of strawberries, I be- lieve, I ever raised. Of course, I did not know what variety I had got hold of ; but that did not matter very much then. Now, when you can use something for recreation and enjoyment that costs us nothing, and does not encroach upon anybody else, you can truly rejoice. A little beginning can be made in almost all of these rural industries in just the way I have indicated ; and when we are learning to love plants or domestic animals, and are led through them to look up in wonder and joy and praise to the great God above, we are in a measure safe from Satan's allurements. I now want to refer to the text about the Holy Spirit, in my talk of June 15. I am still praying for the Holy Spirit according to the promises of Christ Jesus the Son of God ; and something a little surprising in regard to this matter of temptation has come to me along this line. One who is praying for the Holy Spirit is not likely to fall into temptation ; for the attitude of heart that would prompt one to pray for the Holy Spirit would be very sure to crowd out thoughts of evil. The trouble is, then, that we get into an attitude of heart where we do not want the Holy Spirit— where we rath- er excuse ourselves and turn to the pursuit of something else. In this attitude of heart we are in great danger of falling into Sa- tan's hands. The gift of the Holy Spirit crowds out and keeps away every thing evil, and it is this that makes it the greatest of all God's gifts. We read in the first Psalm, '■ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." When we are busy with something good we are not likely to be led away by something that is evil. AVith the Holy Spirit in our hearts we shall be constantly prompted toward acts of kindness and acts of mercy, and these promptings should keep us so busy that we shall have no time and no taste or desire to join in with those whose works are evil. And since I have been praying for the Holy Spirit, my busy days seem to be my happy days. I greatly enjoy being what I have been mentally calling myself— a "connect- ing link." I do not mean the connecting link that Darwin sought for and did not find, but a connecting link in a helpful way. Were you ever out in a field with a plow or cultivator, and horse and whiffletree, but could not go on with your work because you lacked a simple connecting link? Some- times a piece of harness is made to do duty in default of something better. A clevis, if it is on hand, makes a good connecting link ; and I have often declared that I would have clevises of different sizes hung up in the tool-house, so that, when one gets lost or broken, an extra one might save time and vexation. Well, I have been happy in making myself a connecting link in the ma- chinery of every-day life. Two men were drawing a heavy burden, during a hot July day. The burden was too heavy for them. I glanced out of the window and saw a man approaching them from an opposite direc- tion, with a horse all harnessed, ready to hitch on to some vehicle. I remembered a whitlletree standing against a post in the tool-house. If the whiffletree could be on the spot when the horse passed the two men with their burden, the horse would do easi- ly what they were doing with difficulty. If I should call a boy, he would not under- stand where the whiffletree was, and the 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 539 man with the horse would be gone. By going downstairs with a rush, and through the apiary on a run, I knew I could get the whiffletree at the appointed spot before the horse got out of hearing. ^S'obody was as- tonished to see me go downstairs as if the house was on fire, for I often do it. The bees did not sting me as I rushed among their hives, for verv likely thev have often seen me do it. The men looked their thanks, even if they did not say any thing, as old Charley walked oif with the burden easily. ^ow, in our busy place of business, by keeping my ears and eyes open, I can, a great many times a day, make myself a con- necting link in just that way. 1 presume a great many of the friends think I just hap- pened to be on hand with a whiffletree, or that I just happen to hear the wliistle of the man who drives the wagon with the berries. But there was no " happen '' about it. My ears have been sharpened, I hope and be- lieve, under the intluence of that little prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and it has made me more wideawake, and keener to the needs and wants of those around me, I hope. And I hope, too, it has made me kinder and more forbearing. Now, please do not, any of you, say that I am telling these things because I want to boast of what I have done. I boast not of myself, but of the Holy Spirit that is promised' as a free gift to all and every one of you. Some of you are wanting to know w^hat you can do for Christ Jesus. Some of you want to know what you can do for your fellow-men ; and some are wanting to know what they can do to earn a livelihood ; and others, I hope, are wanting to know what they can do to keep themselves busy, that they may not want to go into the path of the wicked, as in our text to-dav. Dear friends, that promised gift of the Holv Spirit will supply all these wants. But while you are praying for it, please remember that you can not " enter into the path of the wicked " nor "• go in the way of evil men ; " for if you do, after such a prayer, you would not be con- sistent and honest; therefore, as I have said, is prayer a safeguard. Now, when you go off for your summer vacation, or when you go to picnics or on an excursion, or take a holiday, and you want to have a good time and a happy time, prav first for that Holy Spirit I have been telling you about, and then enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. The above was dictated late Saturday evening. It is now Monday morning. Mon- day always brings a burden of cares. It seems harder, because I have been out of the harness for a little while, and it takes a little time to get the harness adjusted and the burdens fairly shouldered. Now, please do not think I am complaining. The har- ness is a errand and glorious one ; and when I am bearing the burdens for Christ's sake, I am not only proud of them, but happy that I may bear them. .Vlmost in the outset I found a grand place for making myself a connecting link, as I have been telling you. The foreman of one of the rooms sent word ihat he would prefer to resign his place rather than to have " so and so " work there any longer. " So and so " declared with equal positiveness that it was by my express orders that he should go to work Monday morning in that very room. Each one was full of complaints of the other. My first impulse was to dismiss all connected with the disturbance. It Is now our dull season, and we could spare half a dozen, without minding it. But I said nothing to anybody, but took a turn in the open air, and prayed for that gift of the Holy Spirit which is promised. That Spirit told me at once that I should feel very badly if I dismissed these friends with their hearts full of jealousy, fault-finding, and evil. I thanked (lod that I liad not acted upon the impulse of the moment. One of the parties is a professor of religion, and I had a big hold on that. As I plead with him and quoted texts, his string of complaints became shorter and feebler; and he finally admitted, with tears in his eyes, that it really was the lack of Christ's spirit that brought the present trouble. His comrades were not professors ; but I reminded him that it is our duty and our privilege to lead them to Christ ; and yet how far— oh, how very far away we were from it 1 As I caught a glimpse of the bitterness in the hearts of all concerned, it seemed to me that it would need not only a long " con- necting link," but one of mighty strength, to unite the two parties. But, dear reader, the love of Christ can bring together the bitterest enemies the world ever knew. It can bridge over chasms that have their out- growth in years. Satan can be routed, and the love of Christ be implanted Instead, oft- entimes, if even only one of the parties is a professing Christian. Now, then, suppose I liad hastily dismissed all who were quar- reling. As a part of them proposed to dis- miss themselves, all I should have had to do would be to assent. I can not tell you how glad I am that I did not assent. Had I done so, the feeling of bitterness would have extended to myself ; and mv chance of leading them to the Savior would have been passed by, perhaps for years to come. As it is, all feel kindly toward me, and I am sure that at least one of them will give me a hearty co-ojieration in any thing I propose, and. in fact, the little pleading I did for Christ Jesus has brought me nearer to that one than I have ever been before ; and as I pen these words, dear reader, I rejoice and feel exceedinglv happy to think of the new bond of friendship and love between myself and that one— to think of the .s^ronfy connect- ing link for Christ Jesus, where there might have been only bitterness. THE NEW WATER CUKE. SOMETHING FROM ONE OF OUR DOCTORS, AND -VL- SO A KIND WORD FROM THE OTHER SIDE. BicFoRE dismissing this matter, I wish to give a couple of letters selected from a large number on the subject. The first one is from one of our regular practicing physi- cians : 510 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July Mr. A. [. Root:— Yon give the doctors a punch in ■Gleanings of July Ist for being " perfectly silent on this great discovery " as you term it. Now, I think I speak the sentiment of a large majority of the medical profession when I deny the charge by saying we are not silent, but "speaking out in meeting "day and night, the world over, and be- cause we do not parade our wares in public, and advertise in the popular journals and daily prints, and discuss "the Great Discovery," which is as old as Hippocrates, and has been used by physicians from that day down to the present, you must not conclude that we are silent and disinterested specta- tors, or afraid of diminished rations of " bread and butter," as Dr. Hall is pleased to insinuate, in case the "Great Discovery " comes into general use, and "doctoring" is carried on "without medicine." We report remedies and the general treatment of diseases, and special cases, to each other, through the medical journals, the only proper vehicles for such communications. " A little knowledge is dangerous ; " and while you are reporting your "Great Discovery" to your 10,000 readers you should point out the pathological conditions to which it is applicable, as well as the great danger that would result from its improper use. All reme- dies are relative agents— relative to the pathologi- cal conditions existing— and all good remedies are dangerous if not rightly used; and this one which you extol so highly, and recommend so indis- criminately, caused the death of a lady in this city, in the convalescence of typhoid fever, although used under the direction of a skilled physician. Now, you seem to think our keeping still is at least suspicious, and would like us to appear before the public and prove our innocence to the entire satis- faction of all your readers. You have asked the question yourself, and we patiently await the ver- dict. Our evidence is before the world, and we submit the case without argument. J. A. SCUDDER, M. D. Washington, Ind., July 7. Very good, Dr. S. I hardly need say that I believe you are right in nearly every par- ticular. Any thing that comes up, having a tendency to spoil our faith in the family physician, tends toward danger and evil. I have, however, received so many very kind letters from those who have very great faith in Dr. Hall's remedy, that I thought best to submit one of these also : Mr. Root:— I noticed your editorial in Gleanings for May 15, and I wish to say I think you have done a great wrong to perhaps hundreds of people. I will explain. If I had read your editorial before I had purchased the secret I should never have bought it, for the reason I have such confidence in your criticisms; but I have practiced the treatment, and it has saved me a great deal of sickness and money, and I would not sell it again for $1000. You say it is well known to our doctors. If that state- ment is true, why did they not prescribe the fame forme? I have had several doctors treat me dur- ing the last 30 years for what they called " inaction of the lower bowel," and every little while 1 would get bilious and have a sick spell; and the nearest anybody ever came to prescribing that treatment was one doctor who told me to take one of those five-cent glass syringes and inject a gill of cold wa- ter. Now, can you not sec that there are others to •whom the treatment would be just as beneficial as it is to me, and that your editorial will for ever de- prive them of that which, if they had, they would not part with for any amount of money? therefore you have done them a great wrong, saying nothing about whether you wrong Mr. Hall or not. You say Dr. Hall claims it was revealed to him by Ihe Almighty. I can not find any such statement in the pamphlet, in the light that your editorial gives it, any more than you claimed that God revealed that spring to you there by the windmill; and I be- lieve both of you in your finding the knowledge of the spring and the secret. Another thing, Mr. Hall does not claim that the injection was a discovery, but that the retaining of water after having had a thorough evacuation was, and I most heartily agree with him. And even admitting that it is an old remedy, is he not a bene- factor by bringing it before the public? and is it not worth i4.G0 to any family? Do you not bear witness that it is " valuable" ? and would you have known it if it had not been sold for $4.C0? And now, Bro. Root, just one thing more: Two years ago this village had an epidemic of menin- gitis. Four of my children had it. Two died, and I believe before God that this treatment would have saved my boy's life. If you are acquainted with the disease, you know the first and main thing is to get a movement of the bowels; and as they are tak- en with vomiting, it is impossible to give physic. Could I not with this secret have done better? In closing I will say my heart is full because I think you have done wrong, and a great wrong, to your fellow-men. I am not selling, nor interested in the sale of it, nor in Mr. Hall. Adolphub Newton. Norwich, N. Y., June 6. EDITORIAL. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, .ioy, peace, longsufleriiig, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.— Gal. 5: 22, 23. Until next issue we will pay .'Jc each for the April 1 and May 1, 1890, numbers of Gleanings. DECLINE OP BEESWAX AND FOUNDATION. Since the rush of the season is over, the price of beeswax has eased a little, and we are able to cancel the lafct raise of 3c. per lb. Price of beeswax will be same as on the cover of last issue. Heavy brood fdn. 4.5c. per lb., and at sante rate for other grades. J AhTONISHED BEES. We clip the following from the Country Qentle- men : Among other things struck by lightning this sum- mer was a beetree near Cuesta, Ga.; bees and honey were scattered in every direction, but the bees couldn't hit back. ANOTHER WARNING NOTE. In spite of our caution on page 470, we have re- ceived two or three more samples of foul brood by mail and one large one by express. The one last mentioned came in the absence of the writer (E. R. R.), and the receiving clerk, not supposing the box contained any thing so dangerous, of course opened It. It being very hot weather, some of the honey had melted and run through, when my attention was called to it after my arrival home. I took it down in front of the boiler-arches. 1S90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 541 carefully examined it, and found it was the genu- ine foul brood. Fortunately it came during a great yield of nectar, and of course there were no rob- bers. Had there been, we might have had a repeti- tion of our foul-brood troubles. I tell you, friends, it is a most serious matter. Sending foul brood by mail or by express can not help placing in jeopardy an}' apiary within whose immediate vicinity it may come. The instructions and description of foul brood, given in our A 15 C of Bee Culture and in Prof. Cook's last Bulletin, are bo complete and full that our friends ought to be able to properly diag- nose any case of the real trouble. Bro. Newman, In the Amrricaii Bee Jdunuil, has likewise informed his readers, and we hope the other bee-journals, if they have not already done so, will send forth a warning note. Our friend wished us to send it to Prof. Cook, alter examining it. Instead of com- plying with these instructions I gave it a " hist " in- to the boiler-furnace. It is like sending dynamite or nitroglycerine through the mails. While in the case of foul brood, human lives are not jeopardized, yet human interests are so most seriously. Either our friend above is not a reader of a bee- journal, or else he reads them so carelessly that he overlooked the former warnings. If he had been a follower of our pages a year or so back, he could not have been mistaken as to what he had in his apiary. iafer.— After the above was in type I noticed that Bro. Jones, of the Canadian Dec Journal, things it necessary, for proper diagnosis, that samples of the infected brood be sent to the proper persons. With the clear and minute descriptions that have been given of the symptoms of the disease, I still think that a person of average intelligence could very easily diagnose his own cases. HONEY AS FOOD. How many times I think of Josh Billings' quaint speech— "What is the use of knowing so much, when so much that you know ain't so?" I am re- minded of it just now in the confession I have to make. A short time ago I gave you my experience in using honey as food, and I was quite emphatic in saying that it gave me a headache when maple syr- up would not. Well, a few days ago I took a notion to eat quite liberally of the new alfalfa honey, spo- ken of in last issue. Quite to my surprise I felt un- usually well during the whole afternoon. Then I ate still more for supper, and good old dame Nature l)ronounced it tiptop and called for more. Since that I have been eating quite liberally, with the best results; and when I found that alfalfa honey agreed with me perfectly, I substituted good well- ripened basswood honey (extracted, of course), with the same results. Therefore I wish to ask my good friend Cook to let me take back at least a good deal of what I said about honey being un- wholesome. In the latter experiments I ate it with good nice bread and good nice butter; and I be- lieve that, in my former experiments, at least sev- eral times I ate honey with hot biscuit or some- thin? of that sort, and I am afraid I charged the honey with something that belonged to the hot cakes that went with it. Perhaps you think 1 am taking considerable space for a small matter; but it is quite a serious matter when the editor of a bee-journal says that honey is not good food, even if he does mean to gay, so far as his persimal experi- ence (joes. Very likely a kind of food that would at one time induce nature to protest, might at some other time prove to be exactly the thing she wants and calls for. Shall we not all be slow in coming to positive conclusions? OF INTEREST TO AUSTRALIAN RE ADERS. Goods shipped to Australia have had the option of three routes: Across the continent to San Fran- cisco, thence by steamer, which is the quickest and most expensive route; by steamer via New York and England, and via sailing vessel from New York direct, the last being the cheapest and alto requir- ing the longest time, usually about Ave months from New York. We have just received advice of a steamer, " Prodans," to sail a month hence direct for Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sidney, and expected to make the trip one way in fifty days. We are as- sured that the rate will be low, less than half the cost by steamer via England, and we sincerely hope, for the benefit of our Australian correspond- ents, that the venture may prove successful and be continued. EOYPTIAN ONION-SETS, CROP OF 1890, ETC. Ours are now ready to gather, and, like the strawberry-plants, the quicker you get them into the ground the better growth they will make before winter time. Price 10 cte. per quart, or 75 cts. per peck. If wanted by mail, add 10 cts. per quart extra. We shall not be ready to send out straw- berry-plants before aboutthe first of August. Dur- ing the coming fall we shall offer lor sale only four kinds— Jessie, Bubach, Haverland, and Gandy. We drop the Sbarpless for the Jessie, and the Jersey Queen for the Gandy. We mention this, as others may wish to know our preference among all the new sorts that are oflered. The Gandy is the one, it will be remembered, that has been advertised as the " first season's " strawberry. We shall also test quite considerably the strawberry known as Mi- chael's Early, also sometimes called Osceola. This seems to be about the best early strawberry. E ; : I MOTTOES AND LETTERS IN COMB.^O You can add much to the attractiveness of your fair exhibit by having the bees work out in white comb, letters forming your name or some motto. It will be the means of attracting many more eyes than would otherwise notice your display. We are again prepared to furnish letters as we did a year ago, and that you may know fully what we did agree to furnish we copy from last year's notice: We have a full set of pattern letters to work from, and they are of such a size that three will fill an 8-section wide frame, the openings forming the letters being about 7'/4 in. high and .5 in. wide. M and IF, of course, are wider, and 1 narrower. The letters are of the following pattern : FAIR, 1890. The price will be 10 cts. per letter or figure. With thin foundation inserted, 15 cts. per letter or figure. In ordering, if yoir will write the letters in the or- der you want them, we can make 3 letters in one piece, just right to slip into a wide frame. Or if you don't happen to have a wide frame, simply tack a bar on top, to suspend it from, and hang it in the hive without a frame around it. The 4 fig- ures, 1890. will go in a frame. To make the letters, we simply lack two 7.: inch boards together, mark the letter, and jig it out on a scroll-saw. To put in the foundation, separate the boards, lay a sheet be- tween, and tack them together again. We make the letters large, because the bees will work in them more readily, and they are much more con- spicuous when filled. PREMIUM OFFER. To those intending to make an exhibit, and who will agree to distribute judiciously the circulars we will send, we will furnish free one letter or figure for each dollar's worth of goods ordered, if the or- der amounts to $4.00 or more. If foundation is in- serted in each letter, we will furnish 3 letters for e\ery f 4.(K) worth of goods ordered. u ■« ■« Will tell you more about our fair offers in next issue. 542 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July HONEY PACKAGES FOR COIVIB AND EXTRACTED HOIMEY. U'4-LB. SINCLE-TIEH SI I n'l>I.N(i-( ASES. Cases holdlns: a single tier of sections are v much preferred by the large wholesale dealer i honey. They are much lighter to handle, anc, ■consequence, are much less liable to breakage dur- ing shipment. Moreover, if any of the top row •of sections, in the double-tier case, become daubed, the lower ones will become soiled with the drip- pings. PRICE LIST OF SHIPPING-CASES. Nailed, with In flat glass, each. 1 10 100 48-lb. double-tier shipping-case \i 35 I $ 20 1 81.80 I tl 6.00 :24-Ib. '• " I 30 I 16 1.40 | 12.00 24-lb. single-tier " I 28 16 1.40 1 12 00 12-lb. " " I 15 I 10 I 80 I 6.00 PBICE LIST OF GLASS. Prices Size of glass. Her sheet For 10 sheets Pel- box of 50 ft. sheets in box 8S13H •• 24-lb. double-tier oases 3x18 " 24 1b single '• and 48-lb. double-tier case^. 2X18 " combined crate •2x9 " 12-lb. cases »c Sc 2c Ic BOc 26e 20c 10c ti 50 2 50 2 60 2 50 64 133 200 400 For further particulars see page 23 of our catalog. GLASS HONEY TUMBLERS AND PAILS. Clhss Tumbler. Nos. 788 and 789. Screw-top Pail. Nos. 775 to 778 Oalcen Bucket Fail. FOR PACKAGES. , and give price. TABLE OF PRICES — NO CHARGE Please order by number and name Capac Number and Name. No. 788, JiJ-lb. tumbler No. 789. one-pound tumbler Nos. 788 and 789, nested No. 775, J^-lb. screw-top glass pail. No. 776, small pound screw-top pail No. 777, large pound screw-top pail J^o. 778, l)^-lb. screw-top glass pail. K-lb. Oaken Bucket pail. . 1 lb. Oaken Bucket pail In lots of 5 bbls., any one or assorted kinds, 5% off. ily. Fa 10. 100 10 oz. 3 25 2 25 16 oz. 3 »l 2.75 6 50 4 70 11 oz. 5 40 3.60 14 oz. 5 42 3.76 17 oz. B M 4 75 24 oz. 7 6.1 6 00 10 oz. ft 42 3 75 16 oz. b 4b 4.30 GLASS JAHS roH BXTHAOTED HONEY. Price, Each Dos 2 lb. square flint jars with corks 7 75 Gross S7 00 1 6 60 5 50 K " " " 6 45 4 26 5oz.,ordime •' 4 36 3 25 One and 2 lb. In i4 gross boxes. Dime and >^ lb. in gross box- •es. Shipped direct from Cincinnati, Ohio. If shipped from here with other goods add 25c per box for freight from Cin- cinnati here. Without corks 75c per gross less on 1 and 2 lb. ; 60c less on others. In lots of 5 gross at a time, 5 per ct. discount. SQUARE CANS FOR SHIPPING EXTR.\CTED HONEY. The above cut shows our favorite package for shipping extracted honey. The oblong box con- tains two square tin cans as shown, each can holding 60 pounds of honey. The whole package is the most complete thing we have ever seen for holding and shipping 120 lbs. of honey or over. There is no shrinkage and consequent leaking, no taint to the honey from wond as is so frequently the cahe with barrels and kegs. The cans being made square economize space and are easily boxed. A stick, one inch square, is laid over the tops of the cans, before the cover is nailed. The bee men of California who produce t rom 20 to lUO tons of honey annually, use these cans exclusively. 1 box of two cans t 75 i 1 can. boxed singly I 45 10 7 00 10 • " 4 20 100 ' 65 00 I 100 ■ " .... 40 00 With a large 4-inch screw-cap as well as small one. 5c extra each can. The.se are convenient for digging out candied honey. We can ship these 60 and 12 lb. aq. cans from St. Lou- is, Mu., when desired, at same prices. We can furnish, when desired, a honey-gate to flt the screw caps to the fortgoing cans as thnwn at the upper lelt hand corner of cut. This is a great convenience for retailing honey, as the stream can be stopped instantly. There is no danger of flllintr small honey-receptacles to over- flowing. Price 15c. each; 11.26 for 10; (10 per 100. ONE - GALLON (12-LB.) SQUARE CANS, 10 IN A CASE. We have made arrangements so that we can furnish 12-lb. sq. cans, same style as our regular 60-lb. cans, 10 in a box. These will be shipped direct from St. Louis or from here, at the fol- lowing prices: One box of ten 12-lb. cans 81.60 10 boxes at 81. 40 14.00 100 boxes at 81.30 130.00 100 cans in a crate without boxes. .12.03 4-qt. d-gt. 2-qt. 1-qt. A NKKT OF 6 RAISED-COVER PAILS 1-pL. Post. Ft _, 50 , Nesi of 5 pails as shown ...40 | 3 60 | 16.50 32.00 'j 200 | 40C Nest of 3 smaller pails 20 | 1.75 | 8.00 | 14.60 ( 1 176 Nest of 3 smallerpails. paint- ed, and lettered PukeHonet.30 | 2.76 | 13.00 | 28.00 | | 190 For other honev packages and further particulars see pages £2 and 23 of our catalog. -A.- I. ItOOT, IWCedixxA, Olilo. \8W gli':anings in uee cultuke. 547 *^BEST OlSr EAUTH V- ELEVBV YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL. AND THE SrAND- ARD IN EVKRY > IVI LI ZED COUNTKV. Bingham & Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Prices. Doctor Smoker, 3K in., postpaid ...$2.00 Conqueror " 3 " '" ... 1.T5 Liirs-e " 314 " " ••• 150 E.xtra (wide shield) 3 " " ... l.'^5 Plain (narrow " )3 " " ...100 Little Wonder, \% " " ... 6.5 Uncapping-Knife 115 Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell ag-ain, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledgeville, III, March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day. and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as 1 do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 13, 1890. Sirs:— The smoker I have has done jrood service, since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb Bingham & Hetheeinqtoh, Abronia, Mich. tyin responding to thi.-i advertisement ntlon Gleanings. TAKE NOTICE ! BEPORIi: placing your Orders for SIIPPI^IES, write tor prices on One-Piece Basswood Sec- tions, Bee-Hives, Shippiner-Crates, Frames, Foun- dation, Smokers, etc. Address R. H. SCHiniDT A: CO., 21-30db NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co.. WES. ^yin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. For the benefit of friends who have black or hybrid queent which they want to dispose of, we will insert notices free of chargre. as below. W^e 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. Ten youngr hybrid Italian queens for sale at 25c each, if you take five or mors you may have them at 30 cents each. J. H. Johnson. Middaprhs, Northampton Co., Pa. 33 {rood hybrid queens for sale raised under the swarmine impulse, 3 le each, or 4 for $L00. J. M. Kinzie, Rochester, Oakland Co., Mich. lam now requeening my apiary, and will have about 35 queens to spare, mostly Italians with just a slight dash of black blood; any one sending pro- visioned cages can have them at3.5c for one, or B for $1.00. Luther Purdy, Killbuck, Holmes Co., O. 35 mismated Italian and albino queens for 30c each; 13 for $:i.01), or 3) for $1.03. I guarantee safe delivery. J. W. Taylor, Oz in, A rk. 50 hybrid queens for sale at 3>e each; 5 for $1.0;)." J. A. Gree.v, Diyton, III. DADANT'S FOUNDATION Is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich.: O.G.Collier, Fairbury, Nebraska; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, Ohio; E. S. Armstrong, J erseyville. 111.; E. Kretchmer, Red Oak, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula. La., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wisconsin: J. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Freeburg, Illinois; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1517 Blake St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111. ; E. 1.. Ooold A: Co., Brantl'ord, Out.. €aii.; R. H. Schmidt & Co., New London, Wis.; J. Stautfer & Sons, Nappa- nee, Ind.; Berlin Fruit-Box Co., Berlin Heights, O.; E R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, N. Y.; L.Hanssen, Davenport, la. ; C. Theilman, Theilmanton. Minn.; G. K. Hubbard. Fort Wayne, Ind.; T. H. Strickler, Solomon City, Kan.; E. C. Eaglesfleld, Berlin, Wis., Walter S. Pouder, Indianapolis, Ind., and numer- ous other dealers. LANGSTROTH on the HONEY-BEE, The Booh for Hef/iiiners, the Most Complete Text- Hook on the Subject hi the limjlish Latujuttge. Bee-veils of Imported Material, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. Send your address on a postoito qhas. Dadant & Son, HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO., ILLINOIS. CS"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. . MUTH'S HONEY - EXTRACTOR, SQUARE GLASS HONEV-JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY- SECTIONS, &(•., Ac. PERFECTION COL.D - BLAST SMOKERS. Five fine hybrid queens 3.5oeach; or the lot for $1.00. Williams Bros , Burdick, Porter Co., Ind. Apply to CHAS. j'\ MUTH Ji- SOX, Cincinttntl, Ohio. P. S.— Send 10-cent stamp for "Practical Hints to Bee-keepers." 1^~ Mention Oleanings. Itfdb i^THE CANADIAN Bee Journal Edited bij D. A. Jones. 75c. Per Year. Poultry Journal Edited bij W. C. C . refer. 75c. Per Year. These are pub'ished separately, alternate weeks, and are edited by live practical men, and contribut- ed to by the best writers. Both Journals are inter- esting and are alike valuable to the expert and amateur. Sample copies free. Both Journals one year to one address f 1. Until June 1st we will send either Journal on trial trip for 6 months for 3,) cts. The D. A. Jones Co., Ld.. Beef on. Onf t^Please mention (SLEANINGS. ° "' trsriii rcspoiuling to tills advertl.sement mention Gleanings. 54S GLEANINGS IN BEE ClJLTUKE. Aug. Wants or Exchange Department. W ANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. W ANTED, of wax. -To exchanp-e 1 lb. of thin fdn. forSlbs. 7tfdb IC. W. Dayton, Bradford, la. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees in portico L. hives for a good set of tinner's tools. IStfdb J. A. BucKiiEW, Warsaw, Ohio. WANTED.— To correspond; with parties having honey, potatoes, peaches, apples, etc., for sale. Prompt attention given to all letters. Earle Clickenger, Commission Merchant, 15-16-17d Columbus, O. WANTED.— To exchange young Canary Birds, in pairs, and White Leghorn chicks, in trios, for Italian bees or queens. Address I. Ferris Patton, Lawrenceburg, Ind. WANTED.— A position as apiarist in western Lou- isiana. Answer atjthis office. ANTED.— Second-hand section machine. Give price, and time in use.*- i- C. P. Bish, 1.5-16d Grove City, Mercer Co., Pa. W WANTED.— 1000 lbs. of nice white clover bees' honey, in 1-lb. sections. Will pay cash, or ex- change supnlies for the apiary. Address with price, A. D. Ellingwood, Milan, N. H. ]41.5d WANTED.— T want a situation in a Cuban apiary. 12 years' experience. Reference, C. F. Muth & Son, Cincinnati, Ohio. Address A. Carder. 15-]6d Hebron, Boone Co., Ky. WANTED.— To exchangeTa Shipman oil engine, one horse power, in good order, for 1000 pounds of white extracted honey, or offers. 15tfdb F. A. Salisbury, Syracuse, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange good colonies of bees in standard L. hives, for a first-class gold watch. Will give good trade for watch that suits me. 15tfflb J. V. Caldwell, Cambridge, 111. W W ANTED.— To exchange warranted queens for foundation or offers. W. C. Mauser. Lewisburg, Pa. ANTED.— I will exchange 8ewing-machines,new, and fruit-trees, for honey. Address 15-24 E. Peterman, Waldo, Wis. WANTED.— To rent for ca.sh or sell farm of 60 acres, five miles from this city. About 26 acres in fruit. 13 acres of strawberries, 3 acres of rasp- berries, 3 acres of blackberries, 1 acre of grapes, -5 acres of apple, peach, and plum trees. Balance of land No. 1 for marketing purposes. Buildings and other improvements in fine shape. Beason for sell- ing, too many irons in the fire. Earle Clickenger, Com. Merchant, lo-ied Columbus, O. SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1, 1890. we will sell our No. 1 V- groove sections, in lots of 500, as follows: Less than 2000, 113.50 per 1000; 2000 to 5000, $3.00 per 1000. Write for special prices on larger quantities. No. 2 sec- tions at $3.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives, foundation, cases, etc. J. STAUFFER & SONS, 16-tfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. EMPIiOYMENT. — AGENTS wanted everywhere, for the HOME JOURNAL— a grand family paper at $1 a year. Big cash premiums. Sample Free. THOS. G. NEWMAN" & SON, 246 East Madison Street. - - CHICAGO, ILLS. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. HOME Contents of this Number. Alfalfa Honey 570 Ant", Red Florida 568 Ashes, Wood 570 Basswood Consumed 564, 568 Boomhower's Accident 569 Boxes, Getting Bees Out of .562 Brood-combs 664 Brood in Horizontal Frame.568 California Bee-killer 565 Drones Killed in June 569 Eggs, Beis Stealing 568 Fixed Distanii-s in England. 563 Florida S,.iiiitinics Late.... 568 Foundation Stretching 557 Hatch's Cover 561 Hive, Shirley 568 Honey, Shipping and Seirg..551 Jones V. Brown 555 Keeney'.s Spacer 656 Miller's Article Revievi'ed...561 Poplar— What is It? 569 Potatoes, Eaily 670 Queen Leaving Hive 569 Queens, Two in a Hi ve 568 Reports Discouraging 569 Secrets, Selling 565 Sections, Getting Bees Out. 555 Spraying Blossoms 565 Strawberries, No Runners. .671 Swarming, To Prev't.(Q.B.).r>67 Swarm, Small Third 558 Taxing Bees 663 Top bars. Thick 662 Volition in Laying Eggs 559 CONVENTION NOTICES. The Southwestern Wisconsin Bee-keepers' Affiliated Associ- ation will meet Oct. 1, 1890, in Platteville, Wis., at the residence of E. France, to commence punctually at 10 a.m., sharp. There will be a large turnout of prominent bee-keepers of the State. A question-box, free to all, in which any subject you wish dis- cussed can be presented and answered. Let every one be on hand and bring in his report for 1890, starting at spring count, or May 1. There will be blanks sent to each member tor this purpose, in due time, by the secretary. Boscobel, Wis. ' Benj. E. Rice, Sec'v. P@NEY GdWW' CITT MARKETS. Milwaukee.— Ho/iey.— The demand for honey is good for this season of the year. The supply of old crop is fair, equal to the demand. Can quote: White, 1-lb. sections, choice, 13@14; white, Hb. sections, medium, 12@13; dark, 1-lb. sections, good, 10@11; white extracted, in bbls. and half-bbls.. 7® 7>^ ; white extracted, in kegs and tin, 7X@8; dark extracted, in kegs, bbls., and tin, 6@6H. Beeswax, 28@30. A. V. Bishop, .^j July 14. Milwaukee, Wis. Columbus.— Horiej/.— Market bare of merchant- able stock. The crop in our own apiary being a failure, the same being the case in the surrounding country, from which we draw our supplies at this season, shipments from a distance would meet with ready sales at 17@18 cts. for fine white clover. July 23. Earle Clickenger, Columbus, O. Boston.— Honey.— No change in honey or bees- wax. Blake & Ripley, July 23. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. San Francisco.— Ho?16j/.— Honey quiet. Extract- ed, 5@514; comb honev, ll@12'/4. Beeswax. Zl@23. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER. June 14. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco, Cal. St. Louis. — Honey.— New crop comb, 1-lb. sections, 13K; extracted and strained, in cans, 8@9; extract- ed and strained, in bbls., 6^. Beeswax, prime, 27. Demand fair. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., July 19. St. Louis, Mo. Detroit.— Hojiey.— No new honey offered, and no old left to quote. Beeswax, 26@27c. July 18. M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, Mich. Wanted.— Comb and extracted honey. State price and quantity. Walter S. Pouder. Indianapolis, Ind. For Sale— 2000 lbs. of extracted honey, in 60-lb. tin cans. Send for samples and prices. Leiniger Bros., Douglas, O. For Sale— 2.'J00 lbs. extracted white honey, in 60- lb. cans, @$5.00 per can F. O. B. R. L. Tocker. 15-16d Nevada, Mo. For Sale— 3000 lbs. comb and extracted honey, A No. 1. Address J. B. Murray, Ada, Ohio. Please quote honey. Can use 2000 lbs. nice. The Dodge Grocery Co., Dayton, O. 1890 GLEANINGS IN hJEE CULTURE. 549 ^ -WICTOll t BICYCLESK- Will carry you up hill easier and doAvn hill faster than any others you ever mounted. ALL INTERCHANGEABLE. ALL HIGH GRADE. ALL RIGHT. Send for Catalogue. OVERMAN WHEEL CO., Makers, Ghicopee Falls, Mass. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. The bee-hives arrived all right, and we are much pleased with them. G. Garver. McVej-town, Pa., June 9 PROMPTNESS. The queen ordered yesterday by telegraph was received to day, safely. Accept my thanks for your prompt fulfillment of my order. E. E. Bewinger. Pittsburg, Pd., July 22, 1890. WELL PLEASED. I received the queen in good condition. I am well pleased with the whole transaction. Accept thanks. I am so well pleased that you will find an- other order Accompanying this. Wawaka, Ind , July 23,1890. T. J. Mawhorter. GLEANINGS GOOD FROM COVER TO COVER. You may continue Gleanings until you are told to stop, and that will be when I am unable to keep bees or earn enough to pay for it. Gleanings, from cover to cover, is charming for the enthusias- tic apiarist, and always a welcome visitor with me. Arden, N. Y., July 19, 1891). J. G. Earl. gleanings a GOOD INVESTMENT. I am very much pleased with Gleanings, and will say that its cost hRS many times returrjed to me in the knowledge of facts contained therein. No investment 1 ever made returned me so much on first cost as Gleanings. G. Wiederhold. Yonkers, N. Y., June 20. likes the dovetailed hive. I received the 20 Dovetailed hives the 27th, all O. K. They were packed very nice. I am well pleased with them. All who have seen them say they are the right kind of hive to use. Naples, N. Y., Apr. :50. W. H. Ellerington. BEES SAFELY TO SOUTH DAKOTA. The bees you shipped me July 10th arrived on the 14th. They were just what I wanted, and in good shape. 1 find that it pays to order from parties that are responsible, even if it does cost a little more, as I have ordered from several parties, and got a bad muss, and from some I did not get any thing— not even my money back; yet I thought I would save express by getting them nearer home, but not so. J. W. Chapin. Winfred, S. Dakota, July 16. gleanings a GOOD ADVERTISING MEDIUM. The orders for merchandise, foundation, and la- bels, have been duly received. Every thing was ac- cording to list, and, as usual, quite satisfactory. We can very heartily join our testimony to that of others, that Gleanings is a remunerative ad- vertising medium. A few years of prominence be- fore the public is necessary for a wide business. Westfield, Mass., July 11. F. H. & E. H. Dewey. AN a B C SCHOLAR'S EXPERIENCE. When I was a boy in my old Kentucky blue-grass home I helped my father work with bees in the old round tree gum. The love of bees then instilled into my heart still clings to me, so 1 procured five {Colonies in old round black gum hives, and trans- Jdrred them a few weeks ago into L. hives, which I made myself, and now want to combine bee-keep- ing on a small scale with the garden and fruit. My friend J. Gaston Catrmel, a bee-keeper, has kindly loaned me some copies of Gleanings and your ABC of Bee Culture. I am so well pleased with these publications that I must get each of them as soon as my means will allow it. Your pos-ition in regard to tobacco, intoxicating drinks, and profani- ty, together with your plan of working with boys and girls and grown-up people in your business, meets my hearty approval. May God bless your work. Keep on, dear brother. There are few on earth that live and work on that line. Work on that line, and don't surrender. May we meet over there, if not in this vale of tears. M. C. Brickey. Jackson, Tenn., July 2. SUPPLY-DEALERS BEING BEHIND SIDE. THE OTHER Friend Root;— Tn looking over Gleanings for June 15 1 notice the letter of F. F. Harrington. It *pains me to read such communications, and I want to say to the readers of Gleanings that 1 have had dealings with A. I. Root for several years, and have found him one of the most prompt supply-dealers I have ordered from. His promptness in answering letters is one of the reasons I order goods shipped so far; and if any misunderstanding occurs he is al- ways ready and willing to make .t satisfactory; and what more can mortal man do? Who of us do not make mistakes? And 1 do hope, dear friends, we shall all try to have more charity for one anoth- er. 1 have felt the inconvenience of this waiting, very much; and 1 have been compelled to order a few goods from other dealers to last me until tlioy do come: but I am not going to blame A. I. Koot for it He has not been sending out any price lists for some time, and is doing all in his power to fill orders, and I can not think any one is excusable for accusing him of usinir (kccpthm. Thar word means a good deal. Bro. Root, I trust you will not let unKind letters worry you very much. I pre- sume friend H. is a stranger to you. Linn, Kan., June 20. J. T. ^ an Petten. 550 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. (( BANNER' ) J Years ag-o, whpn I beg'an working- with my brother, the editor of the Review, his apiary was called the " Ban- ner Apiary.'' A large share of this apiary is still kept at the old place, where 1 manage it on shares. It is stocked with a flue strain of Italians, and I have been saving the best cells from the best colo- nies, when they swarmed, and having- the queens hatched and fertilized in nuclei. These queens I offer at 75 cts. each, or three for $2 00. No black bees near here. Can flll orders promptly, and will guarantee safe arrival. Make money orders paya- ble at Flint, Mich. Address IStfdb B:L.ITIEK HUTCHINSON, Kogersville, Cienesee Co.. ITIicli. t^In responding to this advertisement mention OLEAKIMGa. Alley's Business Queens ONE DOLLAR EACH. BEiritr AZLEY, - - WENBAM, MASS. IStfdb Please mention Gleanings. THOSE 75 Ct. ITALIAN QUEENS FROM THE OLD MAID'S APIARY, Are giving- perfect satisfaction. Orders promptly mied. Satisfaction guaranteed. Address E. D. ANDREWS, I». WI., Nortli New Salem, Mass. Please mention this paper. Italian Honey Queens. Tested, $12,5; untested, 75c.; select tested, $2.00. I have shipped queens from Canada to Texas, and from New Jersey to Oregon. Never h.ad a complaint nur lost a queen. Twp-trame nucleus with any queen, 81.50 extra. I guarantee satisfaction or refund money. K. W. TURNER, Medina, Ohio. In writing to advertisers please mention this paper. A RrVni IITIflN In strawberry g-rowirg-. The n IVI.TUI.U nun Enhance is the most relia- ble, most productive, largest shipping and all-pur- pose berry ever before otfered. Send tor description and price. Henry Young, Ada, Ohio. 15-16d l^"In responding to this adveitisement mention Qlkanings. FOR SAIjE.— Apiary and small fruit farm, half- mile from court-house, 30 acres; 60 L. hives, honey-house, extractor, etc. ; wire-netting- poultry- yard, poultry-house, 50 Langshans. Box house with 3 rooms, g-ood well, timber and g-rass. field and gar- den tools, etc., etc , all for $800.00. half cash, balance I time. F. M. SAUNDERS, Hamilton, Texas. S-lOiJ Please mention this i)aper. | GARNIOLAN « QDEENS, Circulars giving special prices for Carniolan queens, bred the remainder of the season from pure and gentle mothers, the workers of which can not be surpassed as honey-gatherers. Send for circular. JOHN ANDREWS, 15tfdb Fattens Mills, Wash. Co., N. Y. I»"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. GARNIOLAN BEES. For the highest type of these bees see our adver- tigement in Gi.,eaning8, .Tuly 1 No. ].5tfdb J. B. MASON & SON, Mechanic Falls, Me. In writing to advertisers please mention this paper. TESTED or warranted Italian queens, 90c each; untested (young laying) Italian queens, 60c each. Can send by return mail. Address Otto Kleinow, No. 150 Military Avenue, Detroit, Mich. 500 Italian Queensf,-?!lfrs^3r^unS: ed, 70 cts. each ; three for $3.00. Also bee-keepers' supplies, etc. 16-page circular free. IStfdb JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. l^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. Italian Queens Cheap. AL- Bl - NO. Do you want to take the premium at yctir fair this fall? If so, send for my prices on two and three frame nucleus of the most beautiful and gentlest race of bees known, — t?h:h: -A. Ij :i3 I pb" o . — Send for a queen and be convinced. 1.5-17d A. L. KILDOW & BRO., Sheffield, 111, !l^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. FRIENDS, I HAVE Italian -:f. Qvieezis For sale, bred from an imported queen direct from Italy very cheap. Send^ for prices. Address FRANK liAlIBENTHAL, Krickner, Ohio. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. FOR SAliE.— My queen-rearing apiary and busi- ness, dwelling and out-buildings, and about 8 acres, for $1700.00. Fruit and berries; fine location; pleasant village; a nice home at a bargain. Also privilege of an out-apiary. Write. lotfdb OHEISTIAN WECKESSEE, Marshallville, Wayne Co., Ohio. t^ln responding to tins advertiseineiit mention Gleanings. TESTED, $1 50. UNTESTED, 75c. 13-U-15d A. R. Yoong, Rossie, St. Law. Co., N. Y. -^THE BRIGHTESTS*- Five-banded, golden Italian Bees and Queens, and the Reddest Drones. Very gentle; very prolific; good honey-gatherers— working on red clover— and the Most Reautll'ul bees in existence! Took 1st premium at Michigan State Fair, in 1889. Refer- ence, as to purity of stock. Editor of Review. Sam- ple of bees, five cents. Untested queens, $1.00. 6 for $5.00. Tested (at least 3 bands), $3.00; selected, tested (four bands), $5.00; breeding queens (4 to 5 bands), $7.00. Virgin queens, .50 cents; 5 for $2.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. JACOB T. TIMPE, 8-15db Grand Ledge, mich. t^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. GARNIOLAN APIARY FOR SALE ! My Carniolan apiary must be sold at once, to al- low me to move to Colorado Springs. " You have the best Carniolans in the country." H. Alley. Select imported queen, $5; untested queen, $1; untested, !4 doz., $5; tested queen, $4; 1 lb. bees, $1; 3-frame nucleus, $2.00; full colonies, in 1-story Simplicity 9-frame hive, $5; add price of queen you want. Ten per cent discount on all orders of $30.00 or over. Large stock of all ready to ship at once. Queens by mail, others on board cars here by freight or express, as ordered. Remittance of currency, bank draft, or money order must accom- pany all orders. Will sell my whole apiary and implements, and give immediate possession. House and grounds also for rent. S. W. MORRISON, M. D., IStfdb Oxford, Chester Co., Pa. twin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. IF YOU ARE IN WANT OF BEES or BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES, Send for our New Catalogue. 9tfdb OLIVER HOOVER & CO., Mention this paper. Snydertown, Pa. SECTIONS. $2.50 to $3.50 per RI. Hee-Hlves and Fix- tures cheap. NOVELTY CO., 6tfdb Rock Falls, Illinois. Please mention this paper. Vol. XVIII. AUGUST 1, 1890. No. 15. TERMS :»1.00 Per ANNUM. IN ADVANCE;! T? t> + riTxl n cTn n rl i'-m 1 Q '^ 1i 2Copiesfor»1.90; 3for$2.75; 5forW.OO; XL'Ot'tt't/t't'OAfc'fc/Cl/ UI'L ±0{0. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- i ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be .' rs'iU\S'o"NV^;o^To.^Erc^?'^--^'^^'^°Jy4. /. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO. Clubs to different postofflces, 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., 12 cts. per year extra. SHIPPING AND SELLING HONEY. VALUABLE HINTS FOR EVERY PRODUCER, TROM OUR COMMISSION MEN. As honey-producers, inamajority of cases, are about ready to dispose of their product (if indeed they have any to sell) it may not be amiss to give some practical sug- gestions regarding when and how to ship, and the best marketable form in order to get the best returns. This information ought to come from those who have had largest experience in the way of shipping and selling honey, and we have therefore prepared a series of questions, and sent them on to those who quote prices in our Honey Column ; namely, the much-abused commission men. These fellows, with all their faults, render much and valuable ser- vice to bee-keepers, though some of our friends, we fear, think otherwise. While it is a good rule to dispose of honey at home if we can, at good prices, yet if this can not be done we must seek the aid of those who make it a business to handle honey. Our honey-men have very kindly answered the questions we ask below, and we hope our readers will take pains to read carefully the suggestions given in the replies. The ques- tions are as follows : 1. Do you prefer to receive consignments of comb honey in single-tier or double-tier cases? and what capacity in pounds? 2. What is your opinion as to the best size of sections for selling— 1-lb., 4ix4i, or a dif- ferent size? 3. Do you prefer that the 1-lb. section shall contain a little less than a pound, or a little more? 4. Do any of your customers sell sections by the piece rather than by weight? What way has your preference ? 5. Do you have any difficulty in moving off dark grades of honey? 6. Would you recommend the producer to market all his dark honey in extracted form, rather than in comb? 7. What sort of package is best adapted for shipping extracted honey? What do you think of the 60-1 b. square tin cans, as compared with barrels and kegs, for ship- ping? In short, what package do you rec- ommend your shippers to consign you ex- tracted honey in? 8. About what time ought comb honey to be sold, to get the best prices? What time for extracted? 9. When a consignment of comb honey comes to you in a broken-down condition, what do you do? 10. Do you think that producers realize more for their honey when shipped on com- mission than when sold outright? The replies are as follows : 1. Single-tier cases, not over 30 lbs. net. 2. 4.V X 4>4'. 3. 1-lb. sections preferred, xlunt weight. 4. Retailers sell by the piece, calling it a pound. 5. Dark grades, except buckwheat, move off slow- ly, and at low prices, comparatively, though straight buckwheat sells readily. 6. We recommend extracting alldark honey but buckwheat. 7. We prefer cheap dark grades of extracted hon- ey in barrels or half-barrels, on account of lower cost; fine grades in new 60-lb. cans, with screw tops, or in good kegs. 8. B3st time for comh honey, in the early season; GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. i. e., September and October; extracted, from Sep- tember to February. 9. When consignments come in broken, and ship- pers hold a receipt signed, " In good order," with- out the claim, " Owners risk" etc., we make claim for damage against the transportation company, in many oases. 10. Producers generally realize more when ship- ped on commission than when sold outright. This is the reason why the king of bee-keepers, Capt. H., ships all of his product on commission. 1-lb. sections of honey sell best in light and shmcy paper cartons. We recommend strongly, again and again, to put in every crate a sheet of corrugated or indented pasteboard. It protects the combs somewhat against breakage; and if one comb is leaking it protects all others against soiling. New York, July 7. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co. 1. We prefer the single-tier cases, about '25 lbs. each. 3. One-pound sections. 3. Full one pound. 4. Honey in sections is generally sold by weight. 5. There are objections to dark colors, and such can be sold only at a reduced price. 6. By all means let the dark honey be extracted, as it will not sell in the comb. 7. We find extracted honey more salable in bar- rels and half-barrels. We would not advise 60-lb. packages of any sort. They are more expensive, and yet not desirable. We would recommend ship- pers to send their extracted honey in barrels or half-barrels, whichever is the more convenient to them. 8. The best time for shipping comb honey is in" September or October, after the hot weather is over. It is more generally used during cold weath- er. Extracted honey can be shipped at all seasons of the year, as the demand is not governed so much by the weather. 9. Comb honey received in a broken or bad con- dition has to be sold for what it will bring, as the longer it is kept the greater the waste, and less valuable it becomes; hence the necessity of the shipper's starting it in good sound packages. 10. This can be answered only by the shipper him- iself. If he can realize a fair price at home, we think it safe for him to accept; but there are times and places when the producer can not And sale for his property, in which case he is compelled to find a market elsewhere. Our market is quiet to-day. Our receipts are increasing. We anticipate a good demand at remunerative prices this season. St. Louis, July 22. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co. 1. We prefer to receive consignments in single- tier cases of from 13 to 2.5 lbs. weight. The 13-lb. cases meet with general favor, and always move off first. Single-tier cases are preferable, as they ship in better condition; and in case of leakage there is no bottom layer to spoil. 2. The4.^X4;:^Xl?^ section, in our opinion, is the best size, for market use. 3. Our customers prefer a section to contain a little less than 1 lb., as they are mostly sold by the piece, and not by weight. By so doing they gain a few pounds on every case, which is quite an advan- tage, as the article is sold on a close margin. 5, 6. We find it difficult to move all dark grades of honey, both comb and extracted. 7. Extracted honey shipped to this market should be in cans holding 60 lbs. or less. 8. As the honey crop in this section has been a partial failure for the past few years, the same be- ing the case this year, we find that honey placed on the market early brings the best price. Later in the season it is gathered in from different sec- tions, causing a break in price. 9. When a consignment of honey arrives in bro- ken-down condition we recrate it. The broken combs are placed in cans, and disposed of to the best advantage. As a usual thing, when honey ar- rives in that condition there is very little realized out of it. Breakage might be avoided to a great extent if shippers would be careful to pack their honey properly. We have had shipments of honey arrive with a space of ^ of an inch between sec- tions, causing, by continued jostling, ^i of the sec- tions to break down, and a leakage of i4 or more of the honey. In most cases, when honey is properly packed, particularly in small cases, it comes through in good shape. 10. When honey arrives in good shape we think producers realize more by having it sold on com- mission. In addition we would suggest that ship- pers be careful to sort their honey, and pack the same grade together. Never mix light and dark. Always ship by freight, as it arrives in much better shape than by express. Earle Clickenger. Columbus, Ohio, July 21. 1. We prefer single-tier cases weighing from 16 to 18 lbs. 2. One-pound sections, 4Jix4ij, sell well, as do also sections 4x5Ji. The latter are one inch thick, weigh a trifle less than a pound, and are generally retailed by the piece. We also have considerable demand for 5x5 sections weighing a pound and a half. 3. We prefer that the 1-lb. sections contain a little less than a pound. 4. Very many of our customers sell sections by the piece rather than by weight, and we prefer this way for retailing. 5. We have no difficulty in moving dark grades of honey. 6. We would not recommend the producer to mar- ket all his dark honey in extracted form, but only that portion that is unsalable in the comb. G7. Extracted honey sells well in barrels, half-bar- rels, 60-lb. square tin cans, and small pails. We would recommend large producers to use half- barrels, and small producers the smaller packages. 8. Comb honey sells best during the months of September and October. The earlier it can be placed on the market, the better. The demand for extracted does not begin much before January, and sells well during the three following months. 9. We find the best thing to do with a consign- ment of broken honey is to offer it somewhat be- low the market price, and sell as soon as possible. There are always buyers for such honey, and it does not pay to overhaul damaged stock. 10. We think producers, as a rule, realize more from honey placed on commission with firms that make a specialty of selling honey than by selling outright, for the reason that the party buying out- right must assume the risk of a possible decline in prices, and on that account can not pay full mar- ket price at time of purchase. We seldom have any trouble from broken honey when shipped by 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 553 freight, but we rarely receive a consignment by express that is not more or less damaged; besides, freight rates are much lower than express. Con- signers should seek to keep the cases as clean and bright as possible, therefore avoid marking with brush and paint. Small stencil or rubber stamps will answer every purpose. We advise glassing one side of case only, and not the sections. Albany, N. Y., July 9. Chas. McCulloch & Co. 1. We prefer comb honey in single tiers, twelve frames to case, weight 10/.< to 12 lbs. 3. The best size of sections to show comb honey, we think, is oxii'^ by Ih thick. 3. We prefer light weight, but only from IK to full weight in the 13 lb. cases. 4. Mo3t of the retail trade sell comb honey by the section. 5. We never have had any trouble in moving dark comb honey. 6. We would recommend extracting half of the dark honey. 7. We certainly recommend the screw-top 60-lb. square can, shipped in cases of two cans to the case. It all has to be put in this shape to sell in our market, except very dark honey. 8. Producers of honey, like producers of grain, must use their own judgment in moving their crops. Comb honey is sold every day in the year. As soon as the new crop comes in we always find the farmer and small bee-man selling their honey at very low pi-ices, some years supplying the trade until October. After that time honey-dealers gov- ern prices to a certain extent. If a number of shippers want honey sold quick, and every shipper is forcing sales at the time, this compels receivers to keep honey down in order to move stocks. 9. When a consignment of comb honey is received In bad order, we have our man go through the con- signment and take out all unbroken comb and re- pack the same. The broken comb is then sold. 10. If a producer has a home trade for his honey, and time to sell the same, he may do better than shipping; otherwise a good commission man that makes a specialty of honey can sell his crop to better advantage than the producer. All comb honey should be shipped where it is to be sold, be- fore freezing weather. It saves the shipper break- age, and the sellers the trouble of repacking, as comb honey shipped in cold weather is almost al- ways received in bad order. Hamblin & Bearss. Kansas City, Mo., July 13. 1. We prefer single-tier cases with a capacity of 30 or 35 lbs., it does not matter which. 2. We prefer, for one-pound sections, 4 Vx4;4 size. 3. We prefer that one-pound sections shall weigh 15 ounces rather than 17. 4. Most of our customers prefer to sell honey by the piece rather than by weight. Our preference, for our customers' sake, is that the weight be so that they can do this. We, of course,/are obliged to sell by weight. 5. We have very great difficulty in moving off a dark grade of honey. Boston is the poorest market in the country for off -grade honey. G. We would certainly recommend the producer to market his dark honey in the extracted form. 7. We prefer the fiO-lb. square tin cans to any thing else, there being two CD lb. cans in a case. We receive a great deal of honey from Florida in kegs and barrels, but prefer the tin cans. 8. Comb honey ought to be sent to market about September 1, and from that on through the season. Extracted, about Oct. 1. 9. When a consignment of comb honey comes in in a broken-down condition, we find some restau- rant man who will cut the combs out and sell them from a platter, but we have very hard work, and rarely get over 8 to 10 cts. per lb. for the honey, and never can collect any damage from the transporta- tion company. 10. This is a hard question, especially for a com- mission man, to answer; and we think it best for the producer to draw his own conclusions from his experience. We have a great many letters from shippers, expressicg their perfect satisfac- tion with the way and manner and prices they have received for their shipments of honey to us. We have had some people who have written us they could have realized more if they had sold their honey at home. We can only say that, after fifteen years of close attention to the honey business, we turn away five times as much honey as we receive, it always being our policy to check all consign- ments that we do not think we can handle to ad- vantage, preferring to please our shippers rather than to secure a large quantity of honey and cut prices. We feel very sure that those who have shipped to us believe that they can do better than to sell their honey. There has been a tendency of late years to rush honey to the market in the early part of September. This always demoralizes prices; and receivers, in their anxiety to sell, put honey lower than there is any necessity for it to be sold. Boston, Mass., July 7. Blake & Ripley. 1. In general we prefer consignments of comb honey to come in single-tier cases; yet when prop- erly packed, the double-tier case is usually prefer- red by the retail dealer, as honey shows up to bet- ter advantage, and carries, or bears transportation, equally well. 3. Sections 4X x 4JSi' we think most desirable for 1-lb. combs. 3. We should like the section to contain exactly one pound of honey. Perhaps scant is better than over, as the frame is too full, and dealers lose the overweight in many instances. 4. Where the special advantage to the retailer ex- ists is in having sections so uniform in weight that they can be sold at so much per frame. 5. There is a very limited demand for dark comb honey, and it seems to us that only those who have worked up or secured a trade for it should put it on the market unless they can afford to have it sell at 3 to 5 cts. per pound below the white in same shape. Extracting is, to our mind, the best way to secure good value for dark honey, it varying in price from one to two cents below white. A good demand is also found for it, especially a choice article, such as well-ripened buckwheat, for which we have a line of customers. 6. The most popular packages in this maket are barrels containing 300 to 500 lbs., and the square tin can, which ought to contain just 60 lbs. of hon- ey. These packages meet the wants of dealers who buy of the commission merchant or jobber. Kegs are too light, and honey soaks through them. As to which of the two packages to use, we would in- variably give the tin preference, as dealers who 551 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. use barrels will take tins when barrels can not be obtained; but it is more difficult to get the other class to take barrels in lieu of tins. Yet if the tins cost half a cent per pound more than the barrels, use the barrel. 7. Our experience would point to the four closinc: months of the calendar year, or middle of Aug-ust to middle of December, as the best months la which to sell honey, both comb and extracted; but, please remember we do not say that that is the time to sell, for circumstances beyond our control, and our general inability to read the future, warn us that all comtiiercial rules are subject to change. The highest prices obtained by us in an experience of 16 years were in February and April, 1879. The lowest was about the same time in 1887. 8. Sell it as soon after arrival as possible. We do not recase nor change from original package. 9 Sometimes one, and again the other. Circum- stances existing at the time should determine the matter. 10. The subject has been quite exhaustively treat- ed by Mr. C. P. Muth, in your issue of June 16, and we agree with him in the main details of prepara- tion, etc.. of honey for the market. As the form of package he finds necessary in his method of dispos- ing of honey is fully explained, and the reason therefor given, no comment is needed. The one- pound section for comb honey, and the tin can and Itarrel before described, are at present the popular packages here. K. A. Burnett. Chicago, 111., July 13. than in cold. The early shipments of comb honey generally bring the best prices, but only in a small way. Our best trade for both comb arid extracted honey commences with cool weather, and contin- ues about the same through the season. Very lit- tle extracted honej is sold until cool weather 9. When a consignment of comb honey comes to us in a broken down conlition we immediately have it looked over, all the perfect sections select- ed, put back in the cases, and the broken comb sold to the first customer, generally realizing about half price for it. The next thing we do is to pre- sent a bill of damages to the railroad or express company for the loss. 10. As to whether producers realize more for their honey when shipped on commission or sold right out is a rather delicate question for a com- mission merchant to answer; but we with pleasure refer to our numerous patrons who have consign- ed honey to us the past season. They will bear us out in saying that they realized more for their hon- ey than they would have done had they (U they could) sold right out. Some producers get in a great hurry to realize from their crop; and if they don't find a customer just when they want to sell, and at the price they ask, they become uneasy for fear they will not be able to dispose of their honey. The very worst competition we had last st ason originated with this class of bee-keepers. We would advise them to ship their honey to some commission merchant, and give him time to dis- pose of it. He makes it a business to find the best market, thereby realizing the best prices lor his shipper, and making him happy. Kansas City, Mo. Clemons, Mason & Co. The replies given by commission men w ill in every case be found exceedingly valuable, and we hope all honey-producers will take the time to read this whole subject thor- oughly. By way of a summary we note the first question, that the single-tier case is in- variably preferred , the capacity being any- where from 111 to 24 lbs. (2) The 4i sections are in most cases rec- ommended ; and, (3) Light weight rather than overvi eight is preferred, because (4) The most of the retail trade sell comb honey by the section. We must confess that we are a little surprised at the replies to 3 and 4. Our customers are, for some reason or other, beginning to demand 4i sections a little less in width than the regu- lar l}i. In fact, during the past season we have 'supplied a very large trade on H, and we propose next year to make the H section our standard, rather than the 1[|— not only because bee-keepers demand it, but because commission men recommend underweight rather than overweight. Right here a wrong may be involved ; but if the retail dealers 6. We would recommend that at least fifty per distinctly State that their sections are sold cent of the very dark comb honey be extracted. j^y ^jjg p|g(.g r^^j ^ot by the pound, and the 7. The very best package for shipping white and customer SO understands it, then there is amber extracttd honey in is the five-gallon screw- nothing wrong nor dishonest about it, any top tin can, two cans inclosed in a wooden case, more more than there is in selling apples Ship the very dark honey in kegs and barrels. and OrangeS by the piece. Still again, moSt 8. We can not say when is just the best time to people are better satisfied in their conscience sell comb or extracted honey in order to realize the tO buy a luxury providing it COSts a little best prices; but we would advise early shipments, Zess than they anticipated ; but if it exceeds as honey is much less liable to be broken down the price which they have fixed in their while in transit when shipped in warm weather mind aS the limit of what their purse Will Yours of July 6th is received. We will try to answer your questions as near as we know how. Before commencing, we should like to say that we think the questions asked are very important, both to producers and dealers, especially those pertain- ing to getting honey ready for market, grading, and stj le of packages. If all bee-keepers could re- alize the importance of putting up their honey in imerchantable shape they would realize much bet- ter prices and quicker sales. There is nothing bet- ter than a whitewood package for comb honey; one side glass front is sufficient; and be very careful that the contents of the case compare favorably with the row of sections that is exposed. 1. We prefer the single-tier cases, either 13 or 34 sections, weighing about 11 to 33 lbs. respectively. 3. We like the 5 by ii'e and IH thick S3Ction bett. It shows a larger surface of the comb than a 4ii by 114 does. 3. As the one-pound sections can not be made to weigh exactly a pound, we prefer they weigh a lit- tle less. 4. The most of our customers sell more honey by the section than they do by the pound. We should prefer to sell it by the pound. 6. W^e have considerable difficulty in disposing of dark comb honey, even at low prices. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 555 stand, they will rarely buy. For instance, comb honey is quoted at 2O cts. per lb. A customer asks his dealer the price of this or that section of honey. If he says 18 cts., the honey is sold ; if 22 cts. is asked, the custom- er refuses to buy. (5) "We are surprised that so many of the commission men say they have no trouble in moving off the dark honeys. (6) We note that most of them prefer to sell dark honey in extracted form rather than in the comb ; and they advise the pro- ducer to extract most of his dark honey, if he wishes to sell it. (7) It is surprising to note how popular the 60-lb. square tin can is for shipping ex- tracted honey. Only two— and one of these very emphatically— prefer barrels instead of the square cans. The latter costs about half a cent a pound, and new barrels can be had for about a quarter of a cent. One of the dealers says that, if barrels cost half a cent more than the tin, use the barrels ; but otherwise, he says, use the tin. After all, it seems that there is only a quarter of a cent in favor of the barrels ; and as commis- sion men generally prefer the square cans, producers may all gather a good hint here. (8) The best time to move off comb honey is some time in the fall— it may be early or late. A good deal depends on circumstances and the judgment of the seller. (9) We have had honey come to us in a broken-down condition ; and knowing that our commission men must have had similar experiences we are greatly interested in reading their replies. We have been in the habit of sorting it over and wiping off soiled and sticky sections, but it takes a good deal of time. Blake c^ Ripley suggest a very sen- sible method of disposing of it— getting res- taurant-keepers to take it at a reduced price. Chas. McCuUough A: Co. do not think it pays to overhaul it, and they remark that there are buyers who will always take it. (10) We knew that this question would be a hard one for commission men to answer ; but their replies seem candid, and we have no doubt but there are many times when honey on commission will bring more than when sold outright. In the latter case there is an immediate and certain return, while in the former there is some risk. It is true, that when honey is bought outright the buyer must assume all risk of fluctua- tions in prices ; and to be on the safe side he will naturally buy as loiv as possible. If honey is sold on c(>mmission, both parties are interested in getting as good a return as possible, though we know sometimes the pro- ducer is dissatisfied with the returns. If he could put himself in the position of the commission man perhaps he would think more charitably of his neighbor. JONES vs. BROW^N, AGAIN. this: Jones has let 100 (number not given) stands of bees to Brown, each to share the profits alil^e. Now, then, let us suppose that A. I. Root agrees to let W. S. Fultz have ICO stands of bees for the season of 1890, Fultz to take care of them and to share the profits with A. I. Root, and the increase is 100 stands of bees during the season. Now, how many stands of bees will belong to A. I. Root, and how many to W. S. Fultz? Evidently, A. I. Root will want the original 100 and half the increase, which would make his share of the bees 150 stands, and W. S. Fultz would have only 50 stands. Now, if those bees were lost during the following winter, the loss of the increase, which was all that was owned in common, should be borne by both parties alike; but the original 100 stands were the property of A. I. Root, and he should stand the loss on them. According to the contract as stated in Gleanings, it is evident that, when Jones and Brown dissolve partnership, Jones will want his original 100 stands of bees, or all of them that will be alive at the time, and also half the increase. Then the proposition of Mr. Caldwell, in last Gleanings, that they are both equal owners in the apiary, is not correct. Brown is not part owner in any thing but the profits. W. S. Fultz. Muscatine, la., July 8. When doctors disagree, who shall decide? It seems to me, friends, that keeping bees on shares is a complicated way of doing business, at the best. Why not rent them for a certain sum of money, to be paid in time, whether the season be good or bad? But even then we should have to meet the question of returning the bees in as good order as they were received. ^ I ^ GETTING THE BEES OUT OE THE SECTIONS. THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THE CASE. I HAVE been very much interested in the contro- versy over the question of the responsibility of the above parties as stated in the contract, and I differ entirely from Mr. Caldwell, Mrs. Harrison, and others. Inreading'he contn ci it rt^ads to me like DOOLITTLE GIVES A DISCOURAGING REPORT OF THE HORIZONTAL BEE-ESCAPES. As the time for taking off the surplus honey is at hand, perhaps a few words regarding getting the bees out of the sections will not be amiss. The most common way of doing this in years gone by, and, surprising as it may appear, quite common yet in some places even at the present time, was to go to the hive and slide a piece of tin between the communications of the hive and sections, when they are removed; or else smoke is used to drive the bees from these openings, when, in either case, the honey is curried to a room having all but one window darkened, where it is left for the bees to collect on this window, when thej are put outdoors by reversing the sash, or otherwise. The latter plan, where smoke is used, will do much better than the former; for with the tin, many bees are cut in twain and otherwise mutilated, thereby mak- ing the colony very cross, besides being a very cru- el mode of procedure. I hope that no one in the future will persist in such a way of taking off honey. Some use a barrel or b^e-tent to set the honey in, instead of the room, putting a cloth over the barrel for the bees to ooUect upon, when it is turned over as often as the bees collect upon it, thus setting the bees free. With the tent a hole is left in the top for the bees to go out through. This latter is prefera- ble to the rf'om, providing the barrel < r tent is left 556 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. in the apiary near where the honey is taken; for in this case many of the young bees will find their hives, while they would not if carried to the room. Some of our eastern bee-keepers have bee-escapes on the hoods or caps to their hives, the same being a cone-shaped piece of wire cloth which is placed over a bole in the cover to the hive. At the point of this cone is a hole large enough to admit a bee, which point stands out from the hive. The honey is now separated from the main hive, and commu- nication with it shut off, while the passageways to the sections are left open. The cover is now put on, which allows no place for the bees to get out, except through the bee-escapes. The bees now commence to leave the sections, going out through the escapes, while no robber bees can get at the honey, because they do not know enough to go out to the point of the cone-shaped wire cloth, but keep trying to get in near the base, where the fra- grance of the honey is the strongest. In a day or two the honey is gathered up free of bees. When I heard Mr. Manum tell of this process at a bee con- vention, I at once fell in love with it, especially as he told of taking off double the amount of honey in a given length of time that it was possible for me to do. The only drawback there is to it, and the one which is applicable to all plans where the bees are removed from the hive, is, that very many young bees are taken with the honey, too young to get back again, while the queen is sometimes car- ried away, unless a queen-excluder is used, which in either case results in quite a loss, especially if the qr.een should happen to be in the sections. Again, the bees will always fill themselves with honey when thus removed; and in doing so they often make the nice combs quite unsightly by their gnawing the cappings to the cells. For the above reasons I prefer to proceed as follows, so as to leave all bees in the hive where they belong, and save the harm to the combs. I go to the hive, quiet- ly remove the cover and one of the outside boards to the section case on the side next to me, when a few puffs of smoke are given to drive the bees off the face side of the combs. I next go to the oppo- site side of the hive, take off the board there also, and treat that side the same as the first. I now point the nozzle of the smoker to each of the little holes the bees always leave in the upper corners of the sections, when the smoker is worked vigorous- ly, say two or three puffs at each hole. The same is done on the other side, using force enough with the smoker to drive the smoke clear through the sections from one side to the other. Now wait a moment or so, to give the bees time enough to run down into the hive below, when the sections are taken off nearly or entirely free from bees, and are ready to be stored away as soon as off, just where they are wanted. Should a very few bees stick to them they will be old bees, and when they fly to the window of the honey-room they can be let out and will always find their way back to the hive. Cau- tion should be taken not to wait too long after the smoke has been blown through the holes, especial- ly when honey is not coming in; for if we do, a re- action will take place, when the bees will run back into the sections almost as lively as they went out, where they will stick till they havfe filled themselves with honey, in spite of smoke or any thing else. When I first saw the horizontal bee-escapes which were to be used in the honey-board the past winter, I had great hopes for them in ridding our sections of bees, and allowing them' to go right down into the hive where they belonged, so that, without danger to either queen or young bees, we might take our honey from the hives with little labor, and free from bees; but I am informed that those hori- zontal bee-escapes worked far better on paper than they now do when they come to be used on the hives. One of the inventors of these escapes writes me that he is disappointed with them, on account of their not doing what was expected of them. So far our season for honey has proved almost a fail- ure, so I have had no chance to give them even a trial. I hope, if they are not already what they ought to be, that some inventive genius may find out where the trouble is, and give us an escape that can be placed under a case of sections or an extracting super at night, and rid it of bees before morning. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., July 17. Friend D., I am very sorry indeed to hear that you have succeeded no better with the horizontal bee -escapes. At the time so much was said about them I was a little fearful that it would turn out as you say. Perhaps, however, others have succeeded better. Eriends, will you please give us your experience, especially in using the hor- izontal bee-escape to get the bees off: from your comb honey? KEENEY'S COMB-SPACER A DEVICE TO GET RID OF BURR-COMB!?, THICK TOP-BARS, AND HONEY-BOARDS. I THINK it was Josh Billings who asked the ques- tion, "What's tne use of learning so much, when half you learn ain't so?" I have thought of it often during the last year, when reading the different ar- ticles in bee-periodicals upon the subjects of burr- combs, sagging top-bars, thick top-bars, beveled top- bars, with many devices illustrated to prevent them. Ah me! howwelllknow that many things for use in the apiary are perfect in theory, but practically are total failures. No subjects in apiarian work have I given so much study to, as properly and accurately spacing my combs, preventing burr - combs and sagging top-bars, and I am happy to say I am mas- ter of the situation, and my frames are as free from burr-combs (except when sections are on) as when you ship them from the factory. With my spacing - device, bees winter better, come out stronger in spring, and, as a practical test, every other hive to the number of fifty, for two years, the spacers were left out; and those with it in swarm- ed 16 days the earliest, on an average, through the apiary, showing they were warmer, and bred up much faster— fully 40 per cent. Bees can be moved to and from out-apiaries, to and from cellar, or about the yard, without a frame slipping or shuck- ing a particle. It is applicable to any kind or size of movable-frame hive, with combs wired as de- scribed in Gleanings for May 15th. Every comb will be as even and true as so many boards. Loaf- ing-places for from 100 to 1000 bees will be closed. Any frame in the apiary will exactly fit the place of any other frame, no matter from what hive tak- en, making them all interchangeable, so desirable to every apiarist. The spacers can be taken out or put In in half a minute, and they do not cost 5 cents per hive. I have fully tested them two years with pride, pleasure, and profit. I use a hive similar In 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 557 size to your eight-frame Dovetailed, my frames be- ing % thicli by li wide, top, ends, and bottom-bars. These in the hive evenly spaced, leave 7 spaces be- tween the frames, i'^ inch wide, with two spaces bacli of the outside combs, just half that width. Now get 7 strips =8 inch thick, scant /« inch wide, and the length of your top-bar, also two strips half the width gotten out, and put them in those spaces; clean off from your old frames burr-combs, side and top; and if you have bulged comb, shave it off for that spacing, and you will find that all future comb-building will be in exact keeping with that scant IVa-inch spacing. It works perfectly; and if any practical apiarist will give it a trial, and can find any fault with it, I should like to have him tell what it is, in Gleanings. E. D. Keeney. Arcade, N. Y. If I understand your spacing-aevice it is simply a series of strips of wood wide enough and long" enough so as to close en- tirely the spaces between the frames. Of course, there will be no burr-combs because the bees can not gain access to the tops of the frames the spacers are on. Those spacers must be removed every time you put on sections or an extracting-super. I doubt very much whether such an arrangement will be tolerated by bee-keepers in general, for you yourself say that there are no burr- combs except when the sections are on, and that is just the very time when burr-combs are built, and when we don't want them. When honey is not coming in they are not built, and so your spacers will do no good except to hold your frames at fixed dis- tances. In fact, friend K., we do not see that you get rid of the burr-combs at all. — Your method of wiring is working nicely, and it will probably supersede all other methods for new frames in the near future. DAD ANT'S EXTRA-THIN FOUNDATION STRETCHING. THE RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO PUT FOUNDATION INTO SECTIONS. I am using Dadant's extra-thin comb foundation in the standard one-pound section, but have to trim every piece, as the bees bulge it if used full size. Now, if this is always the case why do they not make it narrower and save waste? Can you mention this in (iLEANiNOS? I should like to know what others think about it. Bees are booming on basswood now. It openea here July 4. Harry Lathrop. Browntown, Wis.. July 10, 1890. We sent the above to Chas. Dadant & Son, who reply: We think the main trouble lies in the foundation not being properly hung. It should hang thus: or [CCoIf€€mCC€€«» n mw. it may be that the foundation was too fresh when used, for we notice that the softness of the fresh sheets, which makes them more malleable for the bees, also helps them to sag more readily. Most of our customers use foundation for sections 4 inches wide, and we have but very few complaints of its being too wide; we think this is due to the fact that the most of them do not use full sheets, but only three-cornered pieces or narrow strips running the full length of the section. We prefer to use sheets about 4K inches wide, and cut them in two so as to make a little over two Inches in depth. This allows of sagging whenever there is any in the extra-thin foundation. We expected to hear of more sagging this year than other seasons, owing to the exceed- ingly hot weather of the month of June, but so far we have not had any complaints. We should like to hear from others. We cut our foundation any size wanted. Dadant & Son. Hamilton, 111., July 19, 1890. The point you make, friend D., is referred to by Cheshire in his work, and we are glad the matter has come up as it has, for the opportunity is presented of instructing the users of foundation respecting the right and wrong way of putting foundation into sec- tions. When it is fastened into sections as shown in the engraving, the downward pull- ing is all on perpendicular lines. When it is put in the other way, the cell-walls run- ning upward are like a rail fence, or thus : If there is any stretching, this rail fence, as it were, straightens out a little. All our L. foundation is made with the cells so as to hang to the top-bar as shown in the engraving below. Our thin surplus, when it comes out of the mill, is in long strips, four inches wide. If pieces two inches wide are cut off the end, and fast- J> ened the long way to the top of the sec- / tions they will be suspended the wrong way. If, however, these strips be cut into squares, and then divided the other way, the foun- dation, when put into the sections, will hang right. There is only one way to get our brood-foundation into brood-frames; and that is, with the cells hanging right as shown below. We have no doubt but that Mr. Dadant makes his foundation in the same way. After dictating the above I went down in- to the wax-room to test the relative strength of foundation fastened in the two ways. I took a strip of our thin surplus, 4 in. wide and about 17 long. This I cut into squares. Now, then, I welded together two of the pieces so that one side and one end lapped together. The welding was accomplished simply by pressing the lapped ends so they were, so to speak, firmly fastened. After warming the strips a little and putting the ends between a couple of grippers, I pulled to see which half of the foundation would stretch first. Of course, I expected that the foundation as shown in the cut opposite would stand the greater strain ; but in this I was disappointed. I could detect no ap- preciable difference, after many trials, in the strength of either. I'ossibly in the hive, when the comb is drawn out, there may be a difference. Theoretically, the facts as stated above ought to be true. Have any of our readers tested this matter in the liive— that is, by making comparative tests by putting sections into the super with foun- dation fastened both the right and the wrong way? I know that Cheshire and the Dadants mention this in their works. Per- haps the Dadants can give us a little^ more light on the subject. '' " E. R. 558 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Aug. A SMALL THIRD SWARM. REPRESENTATIONS OP THINGS TRUE TO NATURE. If there is one thing above another with which we liave taken particular pains, it is that all our engravings supposed to repre- ject which they so poorly try to show;! Yet it is nevertheless a fact that there is not a real good engraving of a queen-bee, al- though we think we have one in the ABC book that is fairly lifelike. In the accom- panying engraving our artist has succeeded A LITTLE SWAKM OF BEES, JUST AS '1 HEY LOOK AND ACT. sent nature in any of its phases shall be true admirably in showing a small third swarm, to life. How provoking it is that there are Most of our readers will instinctively rec- so many engravings of queen-bees that look ognize something familiar in the pretty as much like a beetle as they do the real ob- little scene. While the individual bees 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 559 themselves are not exactly typical Italians, eggs are often laid when the bees are building yet the cluster itself, the position of the comb, in worker-cells so shallow that there can be wings, and the manner in which they are no compression, and impregnated eggs are laid in hanging together, to say the least, is real queen-cells. which are still more roomy than drone- and lifelike. I wish to call particular atten- cells. Cheshire ridicules Quinby's idea as "« ^^"I'l tion to the bee on the extreme end of the broken twig on which the bees are cluster- ing. Every bee-keeper will recognize some- thing ia that little individual, strikingly natural. The bees on the wing are not as true to nature as they might be in some cases, but they are very good. It does not take a great stretch of the imagination to think of this as a third SM^arm, possibly hav- ing a virgin queen somewhere in the outer edges of the cluster. Naturally enough, they have clustered on the end of a little twig of a tree so highly prized by the bee- keeper ; namely, basswood— or, as some of our friends term it, the linden. Not more natural or more true to nature is the cluster of bees, than the basswood leaves. See ! Here and there is a leaf with torn edges. How natural I Yes, and just a little beneath the cluster is a basswood blossom. These facts would show that the engraver had some idea of the eternal fitness of things a bold guess made long ago by an American apiarist of just repute, though but little acquainted with sci- entific matters." But Cheshire does not very dis- tinctly state what he does believe. Indeed, it is a little difficult to tell just what is believed by the authors of our bee-works, for most of them speak in a rather vague way. A. I. Root, an author not given to vagueness, says in his ABC: "lean not but conclude that the queen knows when an egg will produce a drone, and knows just what 'wires to pull ' to have every egg laid in a drone-cell pro- duce a drone. I think it very likely the workers have something to do with this matter, but I have never been able to make out by what means they signify to the queen that some eggs in drone-cells or even in queen-cells would be desirable." Dzierzon says: "We must, in any case, assume that the queen possesses the instinctive power to lay fertilized eggs in small cells and unfertilized eggs in large cells," while his English translator, C. N. Abbott, advances the suggestion that inter- when he made a little swarm come out and nal pressure has something to do with it, and "that alight on a basswood limb just when such a swarm might be expected— that is, when basswood was evidently in its height, as in- dicated by the blossom shown a little below, at the left of the cluster. The swarm was so small as to be unnotic- ed by the apiarist ; but his wife has seen it, and, tugging him by the arm, points to the twig twenty or thirty feet, perhaps, above the ground. The swarming-device is handy, and his assistant has ready at hand one of the indispensables of the apiarist — a ladder. The little swarm is not worth much, but then they are evidently pure Italians, and he will make a nucleus of them. Off in the distance is a well-kept apiary ; and at the right, a beautiful home. Whether these are all adjuncts of one establishment, our si- lent engraver will not tell us. By way of explanation we may as well say that our artist having run across a beautiful print, evidently the handiwork of a German engraver, forwarded the same to us. We were so struck with its natural, lifelike ap- pearance, that we returned it to him with instructions to engrave it as faithfully as he could. The original artist was evidently a bee-keeper, for how could he have made the cluster and the basswood leaves so lifelike if he were not? Our engraver who repro- duced it, with some slight suggestions from ourselves, is also a bee-keeper, and the en- graving attests how well the work was done. VOLITION OF THE QUEEN LAYING. DR. MILLER ARGUES FOR THEORY. iTHi.vK it was Quinby, supported by Wagner, who advanced the idea that a queen lays worker eggs in worker-cells because of the mechanical compression in the smaller cell; and in the larger drone-cell, there being no compression, the egg is left unimpregnated. But the reply was made, that the accumulation of eggs in the ovaries enlarges them and causes sufficient pressure to secure their fertilization as they pass the spermatheca." The revised Langstroth, while rejecting the compres- sion theory, says: "Yet it is very difficult to ad- mit that the queen is endowed with a faculty that no other animal possesses, that of knowing and de- ciding the sex of her progeny beforehand. It ■ seems to us that she must be guided by her in- stinct." Prof. Cook is not vague at all, but distinctly gives his belief that the queen controls the whole matter by an act of the will. He strongly fortifies his posi- tion by saying, " The Birou of Berlepsch has fully decided the matter. He has shown that old drone- cells are as small as new worker cells, and yet each harbors its own brood." Prof. Cook further argues: " What gives added force to this view is the fact that other bees, wasps, and ants, exercise the same volition, and can have no aid from cell-pressure, as all the eggs are laid in receptacles of the same In the face of all that has been said on the other side, it may seem presumptuous to attempt any de- fense of the old theory of Wagner and Quinby, that compression of the queen's abdomen decides the sex of the egg as it is laid in the cell. Still, I sup- pose I may raise the question whether it has not as much show of reason as any later theory. The sweeping objection to the compression theory is, that impregnated eggs are laid in worker-cells when the cell is barely commenced, " so that pres- sure can not be exerted," says Cheshire-" in which ' no compression can take place," says Dadant- " where there could be no pressure," says Cook. Is there not an entire misapprehension here? Surely COMPRESSION Wagner and Quinby could not have meant that the diameter of the worker cell was less than the diam- eter of the queens abdomen, and that the abdomen had to be compressed each time into smaller di- mensions to allow it to enter the cell. Is it not rea- sonable that the difl'erent position that must be taken in the smaller cell causes compressiony Did you never notice the small boy who has been ia- IN EGG- 560 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. dulging too freely in green fruits? He finds relief in compression of the abdomen, which he secures by simply bending- forward. When the queen lays in a worker-cell, she bends into something like a right angle. May not that position have a mechani- cal effect in some way to secure the impregnation of the egg? When she lays in a drone-cell her posi- tion must be different, for the cell is deeper and wider. In the Revised Langstroth it is suggested, " It is possible that the width of the cells and the position of her legs when laying in drone-cells pre- vents the action of the muscles of her sperma- theca." It is not impossible that exactly the same com- pression may be caused in a shallow cell barely commenced as in one full depth." If an egg is laid in a shallow cell, does not the queen^bend into just as sharp an angle as if the cell were full depth? and is she not bent the same way in laying in a queen-cell? for I think she never lays in queen-ceils of full depth. But, how about laying in incipient drone-cells? Does she lay in drone-cells less than full-depth? If so, might not the width, as suggest- ed by Dadant. have a mechanical effect? But if the width makes drone eggs, then the greater width of the queen-cells ought to make the eggs dmner still. I don't know what reply can be made to that, un- less it be that we know very little about it, only that in some way the peculiar position essential for impregnation may be secured both in the work- er and queen, but not in the drone cell. Prof. Cook presents an argument that at first sight appears unanswerable. He says: "What gives added force to this view [the volition of the queen] is the fact that other bees, wasps, and ants, exercise the same volition, and can have no aid from cell-pressure, as all the eggs are laid in recep- tacles of the same size." But, do they exercise the " same volition "? That word " same " is begging the question. Do they ex- ercise any volition? Even if the receptacles are of the same size, and if it is fully proven that there is no compression of any kind, does that prove that there is any volition? The common fowl lays eggs of both sexes in the same receptacle ; but has she any volition in the matter? Of course, I know that the impregnation is different in the two cases; but is volition proven in one case any more than in the other? If the answer is, that for any thing we know there may be some volition in the case of the fowl, then, I ask, is there any volition in the case of the human race? And now I fancy I see that good-natured smile on the face of the professor as he asks, " Do you think, now, really, that all the force is taken out of my argument?" Candidly, I don't, professor. I confess it leaves it rather bad for the compression theory, but, just as much, it leaves your volition theory " not proven." " The queen sometimes lays worker eggs in drone- cells." Does she? In regular drone-cells? I beg your pardon. As A. I. Root says in the ABC, "The mouth of the cells will be contracted with wax," and I think no worker egg is ever laid in a drone-cell without the cell being first cut down in depth, and the diameter of its mouth contracted. Dadant says: "This contraction of the cell-mouth seems indispensable to enable the queen to put in motion the muscles of her spermatheca." Now comes Prof. Cook's clincher. He says the Baron of Berlepsch has fully decided the matter. " He has shown that old drone-cells are as small as new worker-cells, and yet each harbors its own brood." Now, if that proves any thing doesn't it prove too much? If the queen by her volition puts a worker egg in every cell of small size, certainly she would do so here where she finds cells as small as new worker-cells, even though they may have formerly been larger. But I suspect there may be a mistake here, even with so great an authority as Berlepsch back of the statement. Were these cells as shallow as worker-cells? As the bottoms of cells become filled with cocoons, the bees prolong the cell-walls at the mouth, making old cells as deep as new. Moreover, a close examination of old cells will show that the narrowing toward the mouth be- comes less and less till the outer edge which has been freshly prolonged can have no narrowing. Suppose, however, the cells should be found just as small at the mouth— in other words, " as small as new worker-cells," then we have precisely the case already spoken of where the workers have made a heavy rim of wax, and in that case we know that worker-eggs are laid. Taking all these things into consideration, does it not look more reasonable that the mechanical ef- fect of position rather than the will of the queen decides the sex of the egg? There certainly ap- pears to be some volition on the part of the work- ers, for they make desperate efforts to secure drone eggs at certain times, while at others the drone- cells are as carefully avoided; and it is possible that the queen leaves the matter entirely in their hands, but it is equally possible that she has a will in the matter also. That will, however, goes per- haps no further than to select a cell which by its size or shape decides the sex of the egg. If you say that she wills a worker egg, and makes the necessa- ry muscular effort for its impregnation, the ques- tion maybe asked, " Why does she not fill a drone comb with worker eggs at a time when drones are not wanted, and give the workers the wink to build wax rims around the mouths of the cells instead of first waiting for them to make the rims? Or, when she is 80 anxious (if it is she and not the workers) for drones that she will go two combs outside the brood-nest to find a little patch of drone comb in which to lay, why does she not use her will power to lay drone eggs in some of the worker-cells? If she is too intelligent to lay drone eggs where she knows they would not have room enough to grow, why does she not lay drone eggs in some of the in- cipient queen-cells where they surely would have elbow-room? C. C. Miller. Marengo, III., July 20. Look here, friend M. I do not know that I can help you just now in this matter you have so well summed up and arranged ; but I think I can push you out into still deeper water if there is where you want to be. 1 ou have not said any thing about the experi- ment of removing eggs from worker-cells to drone-cells, and vice versa. As this always results in having the egg produce exactly what it would if it had not been removed, it will rather help your position. But we have another suggestion from one or more writ- ers. This is, that the worker bees manage the whole thing by performing some sort of operation on the egg, or possibly giving the infant bee something, or withholding some- thing just as soon as it has broken the egg- shell. Perhaps the proper kind of medicine is put around the egg to change it just be- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 561 fore the egg-shell breaks. In that case the worker bees have entire control of the mat- ter of sex. You know there was quite a stir made a few years ago because some one suggested that the bees have the power of making eggs laid in the worker comb pro- duce drones when it becomes desirable to do so. For instance, if you take a frame of worker comb containing eggs in worker- cells and nothing else, and put it in a queen- less hive, more or less drones will be found emerging- from worker-cells ; whereas, had the frame been left in the hive where the eggs were laid, there would have been no drones at all. Some of the " big lights " sat down on us rather heavily because we in- sisted that such was the case. Now, doctor, if you never tried the experiment, suppose you do so. If the worker bees can make a worker egg produce drones when it seems desirable, it will have quite a bearing on the point you have started. KEVIEW OF DR. MILLER'S ARTICLE, PAGE 445. DEEP SPACE UNDER FRAMES. I HAVE only failure to record with any thing over Vi Inch under frames. Comb is either built down to the bottom-board, or knobs and pinnacles of comb are put on the bottom-board to bridge the distance. I do not thiDlc the doctor will And any help from wide or thick bottom-bars. I have in use bottom-bars 1 inch, "s, and ;« wide, and )4, -^i, and i4 inch thick, and I much prefer a bottom-bar M or ?» wide by li inch thick, to any other, as it is so much easier to put such a frame into a hive and take it out without crowding- or killing bees; and I am not sure, but I think comb Is built down to it closer than one wider. All we need of a bottom-bar any way is to keep the two end-bars in place, and serve as a check to the bees in building comb downward. COVERS. I have used flat covers for years, but 1 can not say I am pleased with them, for just the reasons mentioned by the doctor; i. e., the twisting and warp- ing 80 as to let cold wind blow in when we want every thing snug and close, if it were not for the weight and awkward- ness of the old Langstroth cap, I would adopt it at once; but it is awkward, clumsy, and expensive, and also must have a cleat all around the hive to support it, which adds to the cost and takes up so much room in the cellar dur- ing winter; also fills a wagon to no purpose if you wish to haul hives or bees. I have used a modified style of this cover, or, rather, a modified Simplicity, a few for several years, and have TO of them now. They give so good satisfaction that I am willing to call it the best cover yet. The top should be made of two pieces, and covered with tin well painted. The rim is 3 inches deep, and rabbets X inch by '« inch. It should not fit too close, so as to allow for the swelling and shrinking of the hive. No shade- board is needed with this cover, but the frames must be covered with a cloth or enamel cloth (I prefer the latter) to keep the bees out of the I'A- H.^TCH'S HIVE-COVER. inch space above the frames. With" a [flat cover such as the Dovetailed hive has, I haveinot been able to dispense with a shade-board, and really that coverlis the only^fault I have with] the Dove- tailed hive, and my home yard is provided with them now, 10 frames to the hive, however. No more 8-f rame hives for me. keeney's plan op wiring. LWiring frames has never been a hobby of mine; but nevertheless when this plan was given in Gleanings its merits were so clear I adopted it at once, with a limit- ed experiment on some two or three frames. I HATCH'S improvement ON have concluded that keeney's plan of one of the diagonal WIRING. wires may be left out, and yet tlie foundation is held in place all right. This allows all the wiring to be done with one piece of wire, which saves all of the time of splicing and fastening, which comes so awkward to clumsy men's fingers. The inclosed diagram will show how I mean. At first I thought the other diagonal wire was the one, if any, to leave off; but experi- ment proved I was wrong. ARRANGEMENT OF HIVES. The plan of the doctor's, of setting four hives in a cluster, is all right for compactness. I tried it at first and found it was all right as far as the bees' interest was concerned ; but there is no quiet alley for your wheelbarrow and tool-box to stand in; and the hive that stands just in the rear of the one you are at work with is almost sure to get stirred up and to put in a pointed protest, while the one at the side of the one you are at work with, facing the same way, 1 mean, if it does show irritation can be very quickly quieted by a whiff of smoke at the en- trance, for you are in just the position to see them and throw in that aforesaid quieter. See, doctor? As to bees from the other row annoying, T feet away will be found ample room for them to get over the doctor's head, even if he has one of his three-sided stools to sit on, and is at the top notch of it. C. A. Hatch. Ithaca, Wis., June 20. Thanks, friend Hatch. You have given us just the facts we have wanted to know more about. The fact tliat the bee-space under the frames is a failure in one or two instaLces is worth scores of others proving that the bees did not till this space with burr-combs. Dr. Miller, a short time ago, you remember, reported that they were a failure with him almost the tirst thing in the season.— 1 do not know but your point about narrow hottom-hsirs is well taken ; and it would be, perhaps, worth our while to consider it. Who else can give us some facts from experience on this point?— Now, friend II., I do not like your cover. We have used virtually such a one for a good many years in the shape of the old Simplic- ity. I can not see any use in having this inch or U-inch space above the frames. It necessitates the use of enamel cloth, or some sort of covering. The more we tise the Hat cover, the more we like it. So far, in a year and a half or two years, we have had no covers that wind, that were properly made. We paint our covers on both sides ; 562 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. and we do not want any more of them, as I explained to Dr. Miller some time ago, cov- ered with tin. If the ends are let into the grooves in good substantial cleats, there will be no warping. It is true, there may be, in time, a little winding; but if there should be, the high corners can be leveled up by putting the cover under a weight in such a way as to bring them back to posi- tion. With thick top-bars, and no enamel cloths or other covers, to my notion we shall have all that can be desired. Refer- ring again to the winding, your cover will not be entirely proof against it, I think. Our old Simplicity covers that have been used for some seven or eight years have be- gun to show this undesirable feature some- what, and I can not see how a cover cleated all around is much better than one cleated on two ends, in this respect.— I like your improvement on the Keeney method of wir- ing. I can not now imagine why I didn't think of it before. In making the engrav- ing I gave instructions to make the point 6 toward the top of the frame instead of to- ward the bottom, as you made it in your drawing. Six is very securely braced, and will prevent the sagging of a thin top-bar. It is at this point where most of the heavy strain comes. The horizontal wire 1 and 2, when reversed so as to be parallel and immediate to the top-bar, will not hold as great a weight as the wire braced as at 3, 6, 4 ; 1 and 2, immediate to the bottom-bar, is not required, usually, to support any weieht of honey, so I should prefer to begin at No. 1 to bring point 6 next to the top-bar, rath- er than to bring 6 near the bottom-bar. I understand the reason why you prefer to have the horizontal wire near the top- bar; and that is, to keep the foundation from folding over, which it is liable to do if wired as shown above. But to prevent this, cut a wide groove on the under side of the top- bar, and push the end of the foundation up into said groove. Then imbed the founda- tion on to the wires. We have tried frames wired as above, and they worked beautiful- ly. Our thanks are due to you, friend H., for suggesting the usa of one wire only. I believe it will be strong enough for all pur- poses ; and it is at a considerable saving of time over the two-wire plan.— Let us hear from you of tener, friend II., by way of criti- cism or otherwise. Your pen smacks of experience. E. R. ANOTHER METHOD OP GETTING BEES OUT OF BOXES. NO USE FOR HONEY-BOARDS. I SEE quite a good deal in Gleanings about get- ting bees out of boxes or eection-cases, bee-escapes, thick top-bars, etc. I will try to tell you how I have managed for some years past to get bees out of surplus cases, not to have any robbing, and but few stings. I commence to take off honey any time when it is warm enough for the bees to fly nicely. I start the bees down with smoke, then take off the case quickly, turn it over on my left arm, and brush them with goldenrods when in bloom. The bees don't seem to get cross when brushed with goldenrod tops. I brush the bees from the lower side of the case down in front of the hiver then set the case on a stand near the hives I take the cases off from, and pile them up as h:gh as con- venient. I have an empty case with thin muslin tacked on the top, which I keep on the pile of sec- tion cases. I keep right on taking off cases until I get off all I want at that time. If it is off from a hundred hives it would be all the same. Then if the bees are lively I can go to the first pile with brush in hand, take off the muslin cafe and brush the bees from the top of the honey-cases and give the muslin case a quick thake and put it on the cases and go to the next pile; and in a short time I have the bees all out without any robbing or stings. If there happen to be brace-combs, so much the better, for the bees will go for the honey and sel- dom uncap the honey in the sections. The same is true of the frames I have been using lately. They have thin top-bars plump 54 inch thick. That ac- counts for the brace-combs on some hives. Now, I have tried a number of different ways to get bees out of sections; but the way I have described above suits me the best. THICK TOP-BARS. 1 wish to write a little about thick top-bars, so I will go back a little. 1 have been keeping bees near- ly 24 years. I was first attacked with the bee-grip in 1866. While I was working on a farm near Da- venport, Iowa, I happened to be at one of my neighbors in harvest time. At dinner they had some genuine clover honey on the table. He kept 30 or 40 hives of bees in Langstroth hives. He had Langstroth's book on bees, which I read some that noon. In the fall I was at Davenport at the county fair. There I saw the Child's patent bee-hive. I was taken up with it so much that I invested f30 in rights, etc. I use the hive now to store bee papers in. I should like to give you a little of my experi- ence with that hive, if I had time. I made some hives with frames that hung on hinges; and to han- dle them (as there were no projections) I made my top-bars % inch thick, with a groove on each side, made with a round plane. I don't remember of ever being bothered with brace-combs. My top- bars were always clean. I had a plump j^-inch bee- space between sections and hive. I have used thick top-bars most of the time since I have been keeping bees. I believe the queen-excluders are a good thing, but T have no use for break joint honey-boards. Perhaps I should have both on hand now if 1 had not used up my surplus change in two trips to Florida and one to Cuba. For the past three or four years I have got the most honey with the least work and the least stings I have ever got. I have never failed in getting some honey to sell since I have been keeping bees. I never have fed 10 lbs. of sugar to get one lb. of honey. This is a poor section for white honey. It is a buckwheat and goldenrod section. The honey-case I am using at present suits me best of any thing I have ever had. I can put on 28 sections with separators, or 33 without, or half the number if I wish. I used to dread to clean up sec- tions for market, but the way I have them now it is a pleasure. This year I have sent sections to mar- ket that were nearly as clean as when they were put on the hives. 1 have a wide frame that holds four sections. When the sections are full they will weigh exactly 1 lb., without glass. They are held in the frames with a thin wedge or a couple of wire 189U GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 563 nails. They want a little play, say y'e inch or 'b. to come out easily. After I put the sections into the frames I don't talie them out until I send them to marliet. Ben. Franklin. FranklintOD, N. Y., Feb. 1. Friend F.,your plan of getting bees out of boxes is substantially the same as I de- scribed a year ago, while on a visit to Dr. Miller, if I am correct. Thanks for your suggestion of a good use for patent bee- hives. Keep them for storing bee-papers. ARE BEES TAXABLE PBOPERTY? SOME GOOD ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF TAXING THEM. Friend Roe man or firm he is dealing with showing disregard for his interests. The spirit of our text is a comparatively unex- plored region. It is so rare to see a man or a business house put it in practice— that is, looking out for tlieir customers" interests better than they look out for their own- that when anybody does it it creates a sen- sation straightway ; and it makes a bigger advertisement than would a sign over the 57i GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. top of your building, with letters on it ten feet long. It is not only business houses and man- agers, shops and factories, that fail to avail theDQselvesof these wonderful gospel truths, or fail to explore this great broad unexplor- ed region, but it is common laboring people —those who work for wages. The quality embodied in our text is so rare and so val- uable that he who has got hold of the key, and who has discovered the secret, shoots up in his attainments, ability, and value so as to call forth remark. Now, do not un- derstand me to say that such qualities do not sometimes fail, for a time at least, of appreciation. The one who commences to serve Christ by loving his fellow-man better than himself will have crosses to bear. Like Moodv in his first boyish attempts to serve the Lord, he may find himself put down to crackers and water for his rations, and a hard bench to sleep on at night. But the reward is sure and certain, if he shows a reasonable and constant devotion to the interests of his fellow-men and to Christ Jesus. You may ask why Christians do not get greater wages for their services, compared with worldly people, than they do at pres- ent, take them right through. My reply is, that their Christianity does not strike deep enough, and is not put sufTiciently and di- rectly into practice. Let me now give you another practical application of this same spirit. I am afraid it may give pain to some good friends of mine ; but even if it does I am sure it will prove a lasting help to them in the end. June 12 we received an order from Mrs. D. B. Crumbaugh, Augusta, Ky., for a lot of hives, frames, etc. Tha goods were ship- ped June 24, twelve days after the order was received, which was not so very bad for an order in June. The goods, however, did not get along in due time, so she wrote us, complaining, telling how great was their need. A tracer was sent as usual, but this did no good, apparently. Another com- plaint was sent and a second tracer. The card calling forth the second tracer we give below : Please send a tracer from your depot after the things. I gave the bill of lading to our agent, and he said, send to you. I see your letter is to Brecken- ridge Co., instead of Bracken, which mistake you may find is the cause. 1 know if I had thought it would have been so long and so much trouble to get you to fill an order for me I would not have bothered you to do so. Mrs. D. B. Cbumbaugh. Augusta, Ky., July 3, 1890. You will notice the italics in the above. The writer did not emphasize this portion, but our clerk who opens the mails always reads every thing and underlines all matter of special importance. This was underlined to indicate to the book-keepers to look up this matter and see whether the goods were properly addressed. I want to put in a plea in behalf of the book-keepers. They were so overcrowded at this date that even im- portant matters were crowded over for the next day, and a great mass of communica- tions did not receive the careful attention they perhaps would at any other season of the year ; therefore the matter in italics was overlooked entirely. As a dozen or more tracers were sent every day for goods, I presume they had got into a mechanical sort of way, without giving much thought to it, only that more goods were to be trac- ed or hunted up. The tracers were sent in a sort of routine way, and the kind appeal underlined on the card was overlooked en- tirely, and the postal card distributed. Of course, an answer was made, as we always make an answer, but it was only a printed one. We have been obliged to use printed answers quite largely during this past sea- son, simply because they were better than no answers at all, and because we could not find anybody who could answer intelligently — that is, no one who could do it until he had some acquaintance with the business, and experienced hands were already over- worked. Finally there came a letter that fell into my hands. Here is the letter, with postscript : Mr. Rout:— Ag&in I write to say nothing has been heard of the supplies. I ordered the goods marked forwarded promptly; and if marked correctly, and in that way, it seems to me that the railroad offi- cials ought to be made responsible to a certain de- gree for my loss. Here have been our hives minus frames, all during the honey season. As I wrote you before, the man working with the bees said our loss in honey was from 300 to .500 lbs.; besides, if goods ever come I am bound for them all, as, not coming in time, he has no use for them another season. I do not know what Mr. Crumbaugh would order done with them if ever found— returned to you or sent on to me. I shall have to leave that with you. Our honey season is over here for this year, and he does not think he will be here again next season. The 30 days from shipment expires to-morrow, but I usually, in my own business, re- ceive goods before sending remittance. This, to me, has been the most worrying order and business I have ever attended to in 19 years' experience. Mr. C. will, I think, be home during August, and will then write to you. Mrs. D. B. Crumbaugh. Augusta, Ky., July 23. P, S.— When you find them I think you will find them directed to Breckenridge Co., to which I called your attention before, but there is no town of Au- gusta in that county. After reading the postscript I penciled at the bottom of it: "How is this?" Then was unraveled the whole shameful story. The postal card with the underlined part was brought to light, and the book-keepers were obliged to admit that no attention wa& paid to the suggestion that the goods had not been directed right. Going back to the original order we find that our friend wrote plainly, Bracken Co. The pen hadn't mark- ed quite plainly, however, so it might have been considered Brecken instead of Brack- en. Well, the one who draws off the orders and simplifies them for the packers, making sure that the address is exactly correct, took it into his head that this was an abbrevia- tion of Breckenridge, and so added " ridge " to Brecken, sending the goods to a county that had no Augusta in it at all. For sever- al years, at the bottom of page 3 of our price list is the following in large black type : "In one case we had to pay $131 for sup- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 57.5 plying a county that our customer did not give." It is kept constantly in our price list to im- press upon our friends the necessity of giv- ing the county as well as town. Our clerks, all of them, have had ample experience in regard to the matter of counties. The county is often of more importance than any thing else. If you have the county, the goods will generally find the town. Please notice that the responsibility falls upon a great many people in this little transaction ; but it comes first upon myself. As there was just time to get a few lines mailed before train time, by my direction the book- keeper told our customer of the shameful blunders that had been made, and wound up by saying we had ordered the goods re- turned to us; and, more than that, if she would tell us what our blundering had act- ually cost her we would try to pay it. Now for a practical application of our text. Being tired and overworked, is, I know, quite an excuse for doing things in a half-hearted, mechanical way. It is, to a reasonable extent, an excuse for a want of sympathy for those whose comfort and hap- piness depend upon our fidelity ; but not- withstanding, if we esteemed others better than ourselves, and had that real feeling of sympathy in our hearts, and love for every human being, even though miles away, we should be more careful than we usually are about doing them wrong or injury, even through inadvertance. If somebody puts a great heavy boot on your corns, you can ac- cept an apology with a pretty fair grace, es- pecially if he says he did not mean to do it. There is, however, a feeling in almost every one's heart, that the man who has great heavy boots, and a big heavy body to bear down on them, should look carefully where he steps ; and, dear friends, it behooves a Christian not only to look very carefully where he steps, but to be careful what he does, especially if his work be of such a na- ture that it may work injury that can not well be repaired. The clerk who added " ridge " to the name of the county, has a postal guide right on his table, expressly to set him right when there is any doubt in regard to an address. Had he looked in this he would have found a Breckenridge Co. in Kentucky ; but had he looked fur- ther he would have found that Augusta is in Bracken Co., and this would have made him safe. We have had ample experience of the danger of "tinkering" with addresses in any way. If we direct goods exactly as we are ordered to, we can easily prove our- selves exempt from blame ; but if we add to, or take from, in the least respect, we are doing a dangerous business. Now, so far my story looks a good deal as if I were complaining that but little Chris- tian sympathy is found, as a rule, among business people. It might look, too, as if I meant to say that A. I. Boot has lots of Christian sympathy, and that is why he is doing so big a business. Now, please do not get that idea. A good many of you know that it is not so. A. I. Root once in a great while takes a freak of showing forth a spirit somewhat akin to that of the glorious Master. But this light he has been able to shed to you through these pages is all a borrowed light. AU credit and honor and GLOHY belong to Him who came to a sinful world because he loved sinners. I do not know but I scolded most about that postal card with that important part underlined. When I went to the book-keeper with it she admitted that it was a grievous thing to neglect and ignore such a plain suggestion as to the cause of the trouble ; but she shoul- dered the whole blame at once. In fact, as I understood it, she took it all on herself. A few minutes more, however, another lady — a devoted Christian, who sends the tracers — came to me saying, " Mr. Root, I send all the tracers, and it surely was my fault that that card was distributed without inquiring into the matter underlined. Tell me what it costs to make this good, and I will pay it." Then I felt happy. We had reached bottom, and were beginning to stand on the rock Christ Jesus, according to the text. I feared she did not realize, however, how great was the damage, and, said I, '' Why, my friend, it may cost a hundred dollars to make good this woman's loss." I watched her face to see what the effect would be. I could see the inward struggle, but she bore it bravely, and replied, " Never mind, I will pay it, or my share of it, whatever is right." This, my friends, is what I call shouldering the cross in business matters. As she is a comparatively new hand, her wages are not very large ; and one hundred dollars, as a consequence of passing a postal card along before it was fully answered, would prove a pretty heavy cross. The book-keeper, who has had many years of experience, and has a pretty fair salary, protested, however, and insisted that she was probably the one who passed the card along for distribution. I do not know whether it occurred to them that their old friend A. I. Root would never stand back and see two w^omen lift on a burden like this without lending a strong hand. My impression is, that they did not think any thing about it ; only they felt for their poor sister away off in Kentucky, who tells most plaintively in her letter of her troubles that came about through our care- lessness. The leader of our young people's meeting not many Sundays ago made the remark that speaking well of people is contagious. I spoke right out ("in meeting") and re- marked, "So is fault-finding,"and the whole meeting smiled. Now, my friends, this spirit of Christian sympathy is contagious. Why, it catches and goes like wild-lire ; and if that sister away down in Kentucky does not get a little of the contagion too, and come forward and clasp hands with her sis- ters here, even though they have done her a damage, I shall be much mistaken. After she has seen this statement of the matter she will show a Christian spirit in making out her bill of damages, whether she be a professing Christian or not.* * Since the above was written, the clerk who add- ed the •' rid^e " to the name of the county has sent me a little note, written on his type-writer, express- ing great sorrow for his error, and proposing to work for less wages until he has made up for that and some other mistakes. So you see there are 576 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. Now, my friends, a word in regard to ■bearing these crosses, or, letting them slip on to the shoulders of somebody else. It certain- ly builds up business, and it builds up daily wages and salaries ; but, best of all, it helps us to grow and improve in accuracy, in skill, and fidelity. A man who goes to work for me and proposes to stand the conse- quences of his blunders — that is, where they Rveclearh/ and unmistakably his own, makes progress" straightway," as our good friend Mark puts it ; but the one who says he '' can not afford it," or who evades the subject as quick as he can, has trouble and misfortune all his days; and, worse still, he does not seem to get over his misfortune of being inaccu- rate. Perhaps it is true, there are those who are unfortunately unfitted for any position where mistakes are dangerous. I have sometimes had pleasant talks with people who seemed by nature unfitted for exceed- ing accuracy. It depends a good deal, of course, on the faculty of close application to the matter in liand. I feel sure of this, however, that a spirit devoted to the great rflR QAI F My supply business, shop building, run Onlab. and tools, with 70 colonies of bees. Want to sell at once. Low price and easy terms. Must be disposed of before Deo. Ist, 1800. Address 14-15-16d Jas. A. Nelson, Muncie, Wy. Co., Kau. J3rln responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. Bee-Keepers' Supplies. WHY : SEND : LONG DISTANCES ? SEND NAME ON POSTAL CARD FOR MI- NEW PRICE LIST TO C. P. BISH, Grove City, Mercer Co.,PeDnsyl'a. I'orinerl]/ of St. Joe Sta., Jlutle.r Co., I'a. ESTABLISHED IN ISS-l. 9tfdb Please mention this papL-r. 584 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Aug. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half oar 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 regular rates. This department is intended nnly for bona-tide exchanges. Ex- changes for cash or for pilce lists, or notices offering articles for sale can not he 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 . \v ANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scovbn, Kokomo, Ind. w ' ANTED.— To exchange 1 lb. of thin fdn. for21bs. of wax. 7tfdb C. W. Dayton, Bradford, la. WANTED.— To correspond; with parties having honey, potatoes, peaches, apples, etc., for sale. Prompt attention given to all letters. EakliE Cltckenger, Commission Merchant, 15-16-1 7d Columbus, O. W WANTED.— Second-hand section machine. Give price, and time in use. C. P. Bish. l.'i-ied Grove City, Mercer Co., Pa. WANTED.— I want a situation in a Cuban apiary. 12 years' experience. Reference. C. F. Muth & Son, Cincinnati, Ohio. Address A. Carder, 15-16d Hebron, Boone Co., Ky. WANTED.— To exchange a Shipman oil engine, one horse power, in good order, for 1000 pounds of white extracted honey, or offers. IStfdb F. A. Salisbury, Syracuse, N. Y. TANTED.— I will exchange 8ewing-machines,new, and fruit-trees, for honey. Address 15-24 E. Peterman, Waldo, Wis. WANTED.— To rent for cash or sell farm of 60 acres, five miles from this city. About 25 acres in fruit. 13 acres of strawberries, 3 acres of rasp- berries, 3 acres of blackberries, 1 acre of grapes, 5 acres of apple, peach, and plum trees. Balance of land No. 1 for marketing purposes. Buildings and other improvements in fine shape. Keason for sell- ing, too many irons in the Are. Earle Clickenger, Com. Merchant. l.V16d Columbus, O. WANTED.— A situation in an apiary in one of the following States: California, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, or North Missouri; or I would buv a small apiary. I can give good reference. W. T. Zink, Nichols, Greene Co., Mo. WANTED.— To exchange red-clover Italian bees in portico L. hives, for set of tinner's tools, good horse and buggy, or any thing useful. A big bargain given, especially for tinner's tools. 16d J. A. BucKLEW, Warsaw, Coshocton Co., Ohio. WANTED.-To exchange self-inking printing-press, 3x5, for a good violin. C. A. Camp, 16d Painesville, Lake Co., O. WANTED.— To exchange 40 colonies of brown and hybrid bees for winter apples. Bees to be shipped in shipping-cases, 8 L. frames per colony. Write and make me offers. H. O. McElhany, 16d Cedar Bapids, Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange beautiful young Italian queens from imported stock, for honey or oth- er offers. Mrs. Oliver Cole, 16tfdb Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. Chenango Valley Apiary. WANTED.— One hundred empty brood-combs in Simplicity frames. Thos. Gedye, 16d Kangley, LaSalle Co., III. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees in portico L. hives for hives in flat or one-piece sections. A. W. Gardner, Centerville, St. .Joseph Co., Mich. 16-1718d WANTED.-To exchange extracted white-clover honev for a 4 or 6 inch comb foundation-mill. 16d August Bennek, Cottleville, St. Chls. Co , Mo. WANTED.-To exchange babbitt lathe foot-power with circular saw, and scroll-saw attachments, for extracted honey, or wax and queens. 16d C. H. Luttgens, Hammonton, Atlantic Co., N. J. WANTED —To exchange Italian bees and queens for foundation or supplies or other offers. W. D. Blatchley, Binghamton, Broome Co., N. Y. 16 17d 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 because there is hardly value enough to these queens to pay for buying them up and keep- ing them in stock; and yet it is of tentimes quite an accommo- dation to those who can not afford higher-priced ones. Black queens, 20c; hybrids, 30c. J. A. BucKLEW, Warsaw, Coshocton Co , Ohio. I will sell a few hybrids at 20 cts. ; and mismated ones at 30 cts. C. G. Fenn, Washington, Ct. About to choice hybrid queens for sale. 30c < ach or 4 for $1. CO. Geo. Denman. Pittsford, Hillsdale Co.. Mich I have 30 nice hybrid and 35 young blaok guteas for sale. Send me 50 cents and get one of them. 16-17-18d A. D. Ellingwood, Berlin Falls, N. H. We are now requeening our apiary, and will have about 25 mismated Italian queens which we will sell at 25 cts. each, or 5 for $1.00. Leininger Bros., Douglas, Putnam Co.. Ohio. 15 black and hvbrid queens for sale at 25c each, 5 for $1.00. Wm. T. Rehrig, Beltzville, Carbon Co., Pa. A few hybrid queens at 20c each. J. A. Roe, Union City, Randolph Co., Ind. 40 selected black and hybrid queens at 20 and 25 cts. each. O. F. Sunderland, Box 411, St. Albans, Franklin Co., Vt. 12 or 14 mismated queens for sale for 50c each. T. L. Thompson, Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa. Hybrid queens for sale; 15 at 40 cents each. Joseph Costello, Palmetto, Manatee Co., Fla. THOSE 75 Cf. ITALIAN QUEENS FROM THE OLD MAID'S APIARY Are giving perfect satisfaction. Orders promptly tilled. Satisfaction guaranteed. Address E. ». ANDREWS, 1». ITI., North New Salem, mass. Please mention this paper. Carniolan and Italian Queens, 50 Cts. Each. I am requeening every thing to imported Carni- olan stock, and offer the queens out of two apiaries as above. Address jr. A. ROE, Union City, Ind. tyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. ITALIAN QUEENS, 50 CTS. I will send nice young laying untested queens by return mail at the above price, and guarantee safe arrival. Send in your orders at once. Address F. H. PETTS, Warsaw, Mo. t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. WILL SELL APIARY OF 33 COLONIES IN flue condition (good location). Also 40 acres of land one mile from lively town. Address all in- quiries to BOX 98, White Cloud, Mich. 16-lT-18d pUCAp } Twenty tested Italian queens, only 75 *'''^'*' • cts. each. Pay after queen is receiv- ed, if preferred. S. F. REED, N. Dorchester, N H. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 585 Contents of this Number. Bees and Cereals 589 Bees Brushing Eyes 601 Bees for Rheumatism 603 Bees in Chimneys 595 Bees, Stingless 605 Bees, Cross 602 Boys. Bad 597 Cicada e"* Cow-killer 600 Cutting, H. D 690 Detroit Exposition 601 Dibbern Bee eseape 606 Distances. Fixed 592 Ernest's Travels 606 E-\tractor, Novice 602 E.xtracting in California 693 Foul Brood in Ireland 596 Hives, Number Made Here .6U Hives. Painting 602 Honey in Hive or Sections. .593 Honey Statistics 598 Honey, Selling 587 Ireland, Foul Brood in 596 Michigan, Northern 603 Pump, The Best 602 yueens. Raising (Q.B.).604 yueens. Judging by Looks. .614 Queens, Impotent 603 Ramble 26 591 Rattlesnakes 601 Repoits Discouraging 603 Sand Bees 603 Sections, Weight o( 597 Stings, Remedy for 603 Swarms in California 591 Tobacco Column 607 Tobacco for Bee-forage 603 Top-bars, Thick 602 Wasps... 600 Wheat and Tares 610 CONVENTION NOTICES. The Southwestern Wisconsin Bee-keepers' Affiliated Associ- ation will meet Oct. 8, 1890, in Platteville. Wis., at the residem e of E. France, to commence punctually at 10 a.m., sharp. There will be a large turnout of prominent bee-keepers of the State. A question -box, free to all, in which any subject you wish dis- cussed can be presented and answered. Let every one be on hand and bring in his report for 1890, starting at spring count, or May 1. There will be blanks sent to each member for this purpose, in due time, by the secretary. N. B.— The (i:>te ut the above convention has been changed from the 1st to the 8th. Boscobel, Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec'y. pajviEY CeiiUMN. CITT MARKETS. Chicago.— Ho/ic!/.— Selling well for this season of year, and receipts do not keep up with sales this week. 14(516 has been obtained for all fine white comb in lib. sections. Extracted, California, QVi&l cents; and domestic, 7 cents for prime. The quali- ty of honey being offered is fair— not all of it as good as usual. Beeswax, 2o@'Z(}. Aug. 7. R. A. Burnett, Chicago, III. St, Louis.— Hooey. —We find ready sale for ex- tracted and strained honey in barrels, at 6c. Comb honey steady, at Vi^®'lSH. Beeswax, 26J4. D. G. TuTT Grocer Co., Aug. 8. St. Louis, Mo. Albany,— Ifonfj/.— We have received one con- signment of new honey; the quality is only fair. We have sold a part of it at l.")C. From advices re- ceived, the indications are that the crop will be short in New York State. Aug. 8. CHAS. MCMULLOCH & Co.. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Kansas City.— Honey. —The receipts of comb and extracted have been very light. Demand for comb good, at U@.l5 for 1-lb. white; dark 1-lb. is 12@13. Very little demand for extracted yet. Beeswax, 32@25. Aug. 9. Clemons, Mason & Co., Cor. Fourth and Walnut Sts., Kansas City, Mo. Detroit.— Honey.— There is a little new honey in the market, and it is held at 15 cents. Extracted, KSS- Beeswax, in fair demand at 26@37. Aug. 8. M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, Mich. New York.— Honey.— Southern strained, 60@65c per gallon; Southern extracted, 65@70c per gal.; or- ange bloom, 7@7,'2C per lb, California, effi-Jc. No new comb honey has arrived as yei.— Beeswax, dull and declining, 27c for a choice article. HiLDRETH Bros. & Segelken, Aug. 11. 28 & 30 West Broadway, N. Y. Wanted.— Honey to buy. Please quote prices. F. S. McClelland & Bro., New Brighton, Pa. Wanted.— A quantity of light extracted honey in bulk packages; will pay 8c per lb. cash, delivered here. C. W. Dayton, Bradford, Iowa. For Sale.— 500 lbs. of good comb honey at 16 cts. per lb. cash, on board cars at Bay City, Wis,, or Kedwing, Minn. Frank Durand, Esdaile, Pierce Co., Wisconsin. ITALIAN QUEENS CHEAP. We will sell Italian queens at the following low prices: Tested, 85 cts.; one-half doz., 14.75; untest- ed, 65 cts. each. Satisfaction guaranteed. Leininger Bros., Douglas, Putnam Co., Ohio. tSrin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. CARNIOIiAN QUEENS. ^. a. * * 85 Cts. Each, or 4 for $3.00. F. H. McFARLAND, St. Albans, Vermont. SPECIAL CHOPS. A magazine for advanced agriculturists; 25 cts. per year; sample 7 cts. Also, Black Minorcas, B. Leghorns, and S. Wyandottes; eggs of either, per setting, 76 cts. ; 26 at one time, $1.00. 4-.50d C. M. GOODSPEED, Skaneateles, N. Y. IC^Iu responding to this advertisement nienticjii i.i .. ,.v KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. bees arrived safely. The bees arrived all safe in due time. I am well satisfied with them. They are doing nicelv, and seem to like their new home. Geo. Fisk. Marion, Mich,, July 25, 1890. QUEEN VERY NICE. My bees came all right. I am well pleased with the change in my order. The queen is very nice. Ottawa, Minn., July 14. Mrs. S. Coffin. BEES IN good shape, Freceived the queen and bees in due time. She is laying. I am pleased with her. Other goods ar- rived safely; all satisfactory. E. C. Morton. Fairview, O., July 15. SENDING strawberry-plants IN AUGUST. The strawberry-plants ordered just a week ago to-day are now growing nicely in my garden. They came in fine condition, and scarcely wilted a bit. Thanks for the four extra ones. I take several papers, but I like Gleanings best of all. Newark, O., Aug. 12. G. H. Taylor. LAYING BEFORE SHE HAD BEEN OUT OF THE CAGE 10 MINUTES. The queen you sent me July 1 was received at 3:30 p. M. of the third, and I Introduced her the .same evening. I was very busy, so did not look after her till to-day, when I found her still in the cage. I pulled the cage off and watched to see how they would act. The queen started down toward the bottom of the frame around and half way up the other side, all the time poking her head into the cells, when she stopped and began depositing eggs in the cells, and that before she had been out of the cage ten minutes. Geo. C. Jones. Herman, Minn., July 7, 1890. A KIND WORD FOR OUR INDUSTRIAL BOOKS, ETC. Since your busy season is over, perhaps you would like to know how your abecedarian in this section is getting along. Every book that I have received from you has proved quite a blessing to me, for which I feel thankful to you and the great Giver of all good. We have had plenty of honey, through the instruction of your ABC book, and the carp are ready twice a day for their meal, and I intend to build another pond this fall. So much for the A B C of Carp Culture; and the A B C of Potato Cul- ture helped me to raise 200 bushels last year. Pota- toes were a failure in this section this year. Now, what I want is for you to set me aright on the road of growing strawberries succe8sfull.v, as I want to keep up close to the foot of the class among your scholars. Keep on with your foot-notes and ser- mons, and by all means with your special depart- ment for raising crops. G. H. Knislky. Tatesville, Pa., Aug. 8, 58G GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. ->1VICT0R t BICYCLESK- Will carry you up hill easier and dov/n hill faster than any others you ever mounted. ALL INTERCHANGEABLE. ALL HIGH GRADE. ALL RIGHT. Send for Catalogue. OVERMAN WHEEL CO., Makers, Ghicopee Falls, Mass. twin responding to this advertisement mention Gleaninos (( BANNER"^ Years ago, when I began working with my brother, the editor of the Review, his apiary was called the " Ban- ner Apiary." A large share of this apiary is still kept at the old place, where I manage it on shares. It is stocked with a fine strain of Italians, and I have been saving the best cells from the best colo- nies, when they swarmed, and having the queens hatched and fertilized in nuclei. These queens I offer at 75 cts. each, or three for *3.00. No black bees near here. Can All orders promptly, and will guarantee safe arrival. Make money orders paya- ble at Flint, Mich. Address 15tfdb ELDTIER HUTCHINSON, Rogeretvllle, Cienesee Co.. ITIiclt. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Ol/BAimioa. EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY, ^p^^'fc^'i^lirfree SETH WINQUIST, Russellville, Oregon. Carxiiolaxi Qiieezis. Untested, reared from an imported mother, $1.00. l^early all will prove tested. F. SCOTT, Cloud, Ohio. NOW FOR A BARGAIN. 1 will sell cheap my entire stock of good Italian bees, one honey-extractor, and all my bee-flxtures; and if sold soon will sell the honey also, as I wish to retire from the business. Mrs. Rebecca Kinney. 16 19db Bloomsburg, Col. Co., Pa. t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleaninos, NOW is the time to set STRAWBERRIES for next year's fruiting. Write for fall price list of plants and Secrets of Success in Growing Small Fruits; sent free, on application to I. A. Wooll, letfdb Elsie, Mich. Alley's Business Queens ONE DOLLAR EACH. BENRT AI^JLEY, - - WENHAM, MASS. Please mention Gleanings. IStfdb GARNIOLAN « QDEENS, Circulars giving special prices for Carniolan queens, bred the remainder of the season from pure and gentle mothers, the workers of which can not be surpassed as honev -gatherers. Send for circular. JOHN ANDREWS, IStfdb Pattens Mills, Wash. Co., N. Y. It^~ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. GARNIOLAN BEES. For the hijrhest type of these bees see our adver- tisement in Gleanings, July 1 No. ISttdb J. B. MASON & SON, Mechanic Falls, Me. In writing to advertisers please mention this paper. Rfin Italian nilOOnC For Sale. Tested. Sl.lO, OUU lldlldll VUtJerib three 1 or *3.00. Untest- ed, 70 cts. each; three for $2.00. Also bee-keepers' supplies, etc. i6-page circular free. lotfdb JNU. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. twin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. rOR SALE.— My queen rearing apiary and busi- ness, dwelling and out-buildings, and about 8 acres, for S1700 00. Fruit and herries; fine location; pleasant village; a nice home at a bargain. Also privilege of an out-apiary. Write. l.^tfdb CHRISTIAN WECKESSEB, MarshalMlle, Wayne Co., Ohio. C^In responding to tins advertisement mention Glkanings. FOR SALE. A W^ELL-ESTARIilSHED Si;PPl.¥ RUS- INESS. Will invoice the stock with a reasonable discount, and no charge for the business. If not sold before the 4th of Sept., wUl auction otf at that time. Have an Armstrong T-tin machine which will make 500 complete T tins ia an hour. A fine working Given foundation press; Horse Power and Rodgers saw; Hives, made and flat; Sections, Ex- tractors, etc., and 50 colonies of Italians. Terms cash or satisfactory security. Will quote prices or receive bids by mail, on the whole, or any article. GEO. M. TERRELIj, 16d Jerse} vllle, III. 0"ln responding to this adverti.sement nientlcni (ii.KAs UNTESTED Italian Queens, 75c each, three for $3.00. Tested $1.00. H. G. Frame, letfdb North Manchester, Tnd. IF YOU ARE IN W^ANT OF BEES or BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES, Send for our New Catalogue. 9tfdb OLIVER HOOVER Sl CO., Mention this paper. Snydertown, Pa. SECTIONS. $2.50 to $3.50 per ITI. Bee-Hives and Fix- tures cheap. NOVELTY CO., 6tfdb Rock Falls, Illinois. Please mention this paper Vol. XTIII. AUGUST 15, 1890. No. 16. TERMS; »1 00 Per ANNTIM, IN Advance;! l^c./zTf AZt* o Zj /j/7 Tin 1 Si '7 ^ 2Copiesfor81.90;3for$2.76;5forW.00; x!/Of/tt't/i't'0/t't/tt/ LfO J- O i O . ber. 5 cts. made at club rates. Above are be sent to ONE postoffick. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY Additions to clubs may be j i °Jn. /. nOOT, m EDINA, OHIO, I NOT oflhe ufpriirtJ! ctsrper "yearTxtra 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- tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 cts. per year extra. To all countries SHIPPING AND SELLING HONEY. SOMETHING FURTHER ON THE SUBJECT, FROM OUR COMMISSION MEN. Since our last issue we have received the following in reply to the series of questions propounded on page 551, from E. J. Walker, of Philadelphia : 1. 24 sections, about 20 lbs. 3. 4 !-/ X 41/4. 3. We prefer that sections shall hold a little lees than a pound. 4. Our customers sell by the section. 5. None, if put up in nice shape (paper boxes). 6. Either one sells. 7. 60-lb. cans, two in a case. 8. Any time after June 1. 9. Go over it all and put it in shape. 10. We never buy, unless very low. REMARKS. We think this a good year to get back what was lost last year in low prices; and the shipper who gets his goods on the market early is the man to get all the advantage; for if the party does not need the money on his stock, and there were a chance for an advance in price, the seller or commission man is best calculated to know that, and can be more independent, and hold it for better prices; and if It is a large crop he can have it to sell when buyers come along. You ask whether, if the shipper sends his crop on commission, he can get more for it than if he sells outright. Well, that depends very much on circum- stances, and what he can get for it. If he can sell at the top price, no doubt that is best; but the de- mand for comb honey varies so much sometimes that we do not sell much before the new year; and then, again, much is sold after that time; and the lower the price, the more of it is consumed; and as for extracted, it may sell all the time for manu- facturing cakes, etc. Last year, if we had held our stock a little longer we might have got more for it; but then, two weeks later there was no demand. We are this year in much better shape to get prices, as we are known now as the depot for honey, and the only ones handling honey in a large way. If the bee-keepers would not ship to every man who is merely in the commission business, they would get more for their goods, as most commission men do not know how to take care of honey ; and if it should come to them in a leaky condition they sell at any price to get it out of the way, without going over it as we do, taking out the broken and selling it at a price for broken, and getting a regular price for the man who sends it. In that way the market is not broken in prices, and parties could not get hold of it late at such low prices, to retail it so low that other buyers will not buy it, as they can not pay regular prices and compete. So our advice would be to all who have honey, to consign it to one party in a city, and make that headquarters for honey there; we could have a wholesale and retail price for honey, which would make a fair average for the shipper. We must have the small buyer as well as the large one, to use up the odds and ends and small lots. Our advice in shipping honey is to send 24 sections to the case, 20 to 22 pounds to the case, and pack about 100 to 150 pounds to the case or crate; in oth- er words, pack 6 to 8 boxes in a lot, as the cases come cleaner, and are not so liable to break down in handling. Freight is the best way to send it; no matter how the extracted is sent. Cans, 2 in a case, are preferable. E. J. Walker. Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 1. Since the receipt of the above, the follow- 588 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. ins has come to hand from Ilildreth Bros. & Segelken, of New York, who reply to the questions as follows : 1. Single-tier cases, holding- from 24 to 30 1-lb. sec- tions, and 12 or 15 2-lb. sections. 3. 4,-4 x4.V. 3. Our trade demands light-weight sections in every style, whether in paper boxes, glassed or un- glassed. 4. We sell by actual weight; but the retailer gen- erally sells by the piece. 5. Dark honey, off grades, sections mixed with buckwheat honey, find rather slow sale, and will not bring more than buckwheat, and often not as much. The same may be said of unfilled sections. A straight buckwheat in the comb finds ready sale in our market. 6. We would say, extract all dark and mixed hon- ey, excepting buckwheat. 7. We prefer barrels and half-barrels for all kinds of extracted hocey. They are the cheapest pack- age, and we can sell them just as readily as smaller packages. Where barrels or half-barrels can not be obtained to advantage, we would recommend kegs holding about 150 lbs. or more. 8. Comb honey should be shipped to our market <1uring September and October. Experience teaches 13 that the first season, the early season, is the best, regardless of short or large crop. Early in the season every one is in the market, and ready to buy at the prices established; while, later on, the stock accumulates, and buyers shop around more and hesitate in buying. In all our experience we have never seen the prices advance during Novem- ber and December; on the contrary, they generally decline. 9. We sell the broken-down honey to the best ad- vantage, generally to peddlers and cheap stores, and as quick as possible. In many cases, when the combs are not much damaged, we repack it. We make more or less claims every season against the transportation companies, but as the shipper's re- ceipts are generally signed "Owner's risk," the company will not entertain the claim. We should like to say, always ship honey by freight, and never by express. It comes by freight in just as fine and often much better shape, and the charges are but i-alf. 10. Most decidedly the producer receives more when consigned than when sold outright. If we buy, we take all the chance of a decline in the market, consequently we want to buy as low as pos- sible, as we expect to make a larger profit on a pur- chase than on a consignment. If consigned, it Is to our interest to get the highest possible prices; the higher the prices, the larger our commission. HiLDRETH Bros. & Segelken. New York, N. Y., Aug. (i. THE3 SOLAR W^AX-EXTRACTOE. DR. MILLER GIVES SOME IMPROA'ED DIRECTIONS FOR USING IT. I HAVE made excellent work extracting wax by tearing open one corner of an old dripping-pan, putting it in the oven of the cook-6tove on a slant, and letting the open corner project out, with a ves- sel under to catch the dripping wax. The same pan arranged in a box with a window-sash over it makes a solar extractor, although rather clumsy. and not always very close. But I found, as time went on, that a good deal of wax was wasted be- cause not always promptly melted. When such things are left for some future time, that future time doesn't always come. Last spring I thought I would find out whether the Green extractor was as good as represented, so I ordered one. I have found it all my fancy painted it. If it were of no other advantage, the one simple fact that it does its work so nicely that you are tempted all the time to bunt up more bits of wax to throw in is suffi- cient to make it a paying investment. But why don't you send instructions with it, friend Root? True, it is so simple that any one can readily learn how to work it, but he would learn more easily if some things were told him. For instance, the mat- ter of cleaning out the debris after the wax has all drained out. I found that the hardest thing about the whole business. I commenced on a lot of stuff scraped from the top-bars of brood-frames, largely composed of bee-glue. Each morning, before fill- ing up afresh, I scraped out the shallow pan with perforated bottom. It had a layer of bee-glue about half an inch thick, and you can imagine what hard work it was to dig it out with a knife. Then I put it in cold water to make it brittle enough to break by pounding on it, and nearly spoiled the pan. A slip of printed directions would have been worth to me many times its cost. For the benefit of some who may hereafter get these extractors, let me give a few suggestions. Set the extractor where it will get the sun through- out the day as much as possible. If you want it to have the least care possible, set it facing south, with the reflector standing perpendicular, and let it thus remain all day long. If you want to get more work out of it, change its position two or three times in the course of the day, placing it each time so it will face the sun an hour or two aft- er you have placed it. By moving the cover con- taining the reflector up and down you will see the bright spot made on your pan of scraps by the re- flected rays of the sun. Set the cover open enough so that this bright spot shall be at the middle of your scrap-pan at the west end. As the sun moves it will work to the east end. To make the cover stand at any desired angle, take something like a piece of lath with holes bored half an inch or more apart throughout one end. Drive a nail in one end of the cover near the front edge, and another directly under it in the box, then slip your lath on these nails. Don't at- tempt to clean out your scrap-pan when it is cold. Wait till the sun warms it up melting hot, then take out the pan, and a thin bit of board or shingle will scrape it out easily. During the middle of the day, or later, you will find the wax in the lower pan in a liquid state, or at least part of it. Have stand- ing by the extractor a milk-pan or other vessel with sloping sides, into which you can pour the part that is liquid. Or you may let the lower pan remain without emptying till it is nearly full enough to interfere with the scrape-pan. Then set it in the oven of the cook-stove, and pour out when melted. When the glass becomes daubed with wax, rub it off with dry newspaper when hot. There, Bro. Koot, amendments and additions are in order in a foot-note. PREVENTION OF BURR-COMBS. I haven't made the experiments I desired with different top-bars, partly because at two different 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 589 establishments I coulda't pet my orders filled. I have, however, learned a little. Top bars X inch thick, accurately spaced /^ apart, do not prevent burr combs. Top-bars reinforced with separator stuff making- them 'g deep are a great improve- ment but not perfection. To my surprise, even after I have scraped top-bars off clean, I do not find slat honey-boards work as well as In former years. That makes me more than ever anxious to learn how to get along without them. Marengo, 111., July 21. C. C. Miller. Why, friend M., we do send out directions for using the solar wax-extractor — that is, we intend to do so ; but I presume during the rush of business last season, somehow or other the sheet was left out. The same directions, or essentially the same, are given in " Wax," under '' Solar Wax-ex- tractor," in the ABC which you have. But you have added some items which we are glad to have. Yes, sir ; when bee-keep- ers know more about the solar extractor they will use it more than they do. Ours is in use in the apiary constantly, when the sun shines, and we should hardly know how to get along without it now. Instead of having lumps of wax stuck about' here and there, and more or less litter in the honey- house, we have instead several nice cakes of yellow wax. We do not bother to have it re- "raelted in the oven. If your pan has slop- ing sides (and I presume it has) the cake ought to lift out after it has hardened. I am glad to get your testimony in regard to honey-boards and thick top-bars. I have not heard any thing positively against them, except that a few having never tried them won't use them because " they are too much wood." E. R. R. BEES AND CEREALS, AGAIN. PROF. KOON8 REVIEWS THE QUESTION; ANOTHER OF AGASSIZ'S BLUNDERS. My object in asking Prof. Cook a question through Gleanings, see page 449, was to get confirmation on the point of the usefulness of bees on wheat, etc. I ran across the statements of M. Jobard, a French writer, in his "The First Hive," where he makes such positive statements concerning the utility of bees on the cereals; and they were so contrary to my previous understanding of the sub- ject that it fairly stunned me. I jumped up, shook myself, rubbed my eyes, and gave myself a pinch just to reassure me that I had not been asleep. Rip Van Winkle like, all these years, and allowed the world to get so far ahead of me in the natural history of common things on land, while I, with oth- ers, during summer vacations and spare moments, have been poking our noses, or, rather, machinery, several miles down into the old Atlantic, to the bottom of the Gulf Stream, to learn what new and hidden treasures ocean depths contain. I think, by the way, that some time I must tell the readers of Gleanings something of our experiences and finds, out there, but not this time. Immediately upon reading Monsieur Jobard's opinions concerning bees and cereals, I said, "1 shall ask A. I. Root, or through him Prof. Cook, just for reassurance; yet I know that I am right, for I was reared among the Ohio wheat-fields, and have observed nature somewhat closely all these years, and have never yet observed a bee at work upon wheat, rye, oat, or grass." The statements of M. .Jobard run like this: "There are some districts in Saxony where the farmers raise no other crops than wheat; and a wheat of such superior quality as to be always sold at a high price as seea wheat. In these districts all farmers, without exception, have bee-houses; but these bee- houses, instead of being fixed, are mounted on wheels. Some days before the wheat blossoms, each farmer hitches his team to his movable bee- house, and conducts it during the night into the middle of his wheat-field." . . . "I have a bee- house in the middle of a field, and it is always the field surrounding my bee-house which furnishes my seed-wheat." But here, most likely, as is so often the case, the overzeal for a theory, or the want of a little re- search, led the writer to make these statements and others like them; and all the more pity, because some of his errors have been finding their way into some of the leading publications of New England, and my first step was to be absolutely sure of my ground, and then expose the errors. Like this Frenchman, the great Louis Agassiz once wrote a very learned (!) essay upon "The Mode of Motion of Certain Sea-Urchins," when if he had gone to the water's edge half a mile from his study-window, by a little judicious research he could soon have proved that all his theorizing was entirely erroneous. Zeal for a theory sometimes leads very great men astray. Some flowers produce only stamens, or the male organs, while others, sometimes on the same plant in certain species, and^in other species on entirely distinct plants, produce pistils, or the female parts of the flower; and still other species produce both stamens and pistils in the same flower. Those pos- sessing only pistils must, of course, have pollen brought from the stamens or they will not produce fruit; and, again, some of those possessing both stamens and pistils can not be fertilized by the pol- len of the same flower in which it grew; or if fer- tilization does take place it is very imperfect, hence must have pollen brought from another flower to Insure the perfect growth of the fruit; hence the need of the aid of insects or the wind to insure the productiveness of some of four plants. Ordina- ry red clover is a good illustration of a plant need- ing the aid of insects, and in this particular case the bumble-bee is the insect that performs the work of cross-fertilization. Again, there are other plants which reproduce by what Gray calls elose or self fertilization; that is, the stamens of any particular flower fertilize the pistil of that flower; and in these, bees can play no Important part; and conspicuous among these, as Prof. Cook well says, are^wheat, oats, etc.; hence we can readily understand the blunder of our French writer. I have no bee-men near me who have had a long experience, and my residence in the State is not sufficently long to enable me to judge of the merits of this year as compared with the best of the white- clover harvest In this State; yet this has certainly been a very good season thus far, as white clover bloomed early, and the rains have been sutticiently frequent to keep it fresh and in the greatest profu- sion, and bees have gathered ailarge quantity of houey. Basswood is so scarce here In Eastern Con- 590 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Al^o. necticut that we can depend upon it but little as a honey-plant. Bees wintered well in this State, and those who pretended to care for them at all had no losses. We keep but few here at t)ie Agricultural School. We wintered 8 in chaff hives. There was not a month during the winter that they did not have at least one good flight, and they came out this spring in splendid condition. B. F. Koons. Storrs, Conn., July 15. Friend K., we are very glai to have you take this matter up and stop it as far as possible before these blunders get the run of the papers. By the way, it does seem strange that our newspapers grab for a bhmder or falsehood, and give it no end of prominence, while true statements in great numbers are passed by. I have observed bees gathering pollen from the heads of timothy, several times, but never, if I re- member, on any of the grains. For some time past there seems to have been a sort of gulf between scientists, or at least a certain class of scientists, and practical industrial people. We trust, however, that this state of things is passing by. Our experiment stations are doing very much indeed to bring these two classes of workers together, and to throw out theory promulgated by so-called scientists without any practical knowledge. What you say about the sea- urchins reminds me of the time when Agas- slz and Tyndall undertook to teach about bees when neither of them had ever looked into a hive, apparently. H. D. CUTTING AS HONBV - EXHIBITOR AND EXPERT JUDGE AT FAIRS AND HONEY- SHOWS. Mr. Editor:— I am requested to give a brief ac- count of Mr. H. D. Cutting's work in connection with apiculture in Michigan. Although I am very much occupied at present, my friendship for Mr. Cutting, my appreciation of his valuable services, my knowledge of his enthusiastic work, and my desire that earnest, faithful, telling effort may be recogniz?d, all make me more than willing to un- dertake the pleasant duty, even though, in the hur- ry of the season, I may fail to do justice to Mr. Cutting and his valuable services. A word regarding Mr. Cutting as a man is neces- sary to understand his exceptional success. He is always a gentleman, and so wins the regard and confldence of those he may wish to influence. His pleasing' address adds further to his power of per- suasion. Most of all, he believes in his cause, and so acts with an energy and enth usiasm that attracts, then interests, and at last persuades. Lastly, he thoroughly studies any enterprise in which he en- gages, and so becomes a master, a leader as well. So in his work he never says "go," but, rather, "Come on, boys." In two capacities Mr. Cutting has shown signal ability in connection with Michigan apiculture; has wielded exceptional influence, and has achieved brilliant results. I refer to his position as secreta- ry of the State Society, which I think he has held since 1881, and his valuable service in connection with the State Fair, where, owing mainly to his ef- forts, the premium list has advanced from $5.00 to over $300, which, if T am not mistaken, is the largest and most generous offered in the United States. Our State Society stood high when Secretary Cut- ting assumed the duties of secretary. We had pre- viously had the benettt of such wide awake, capable officers as Bingham, Heddon, Benton, etc., and so it was no easy task to keep the interest and work up to the high-tide mark, especially during the dis- couraging seasons that have marked about a third of Mr. Cutting's term of office. Yet Mr. Cutting has more than achieved that distinction. Wbi!e I would not say that the interest and profit at some of the old first meetings, with Moon and Kood, Postman, etc., on deck, were ever sirpassed— those old meetings were delightful -I will say that, for the whole period together, the past nine j ears have stood at the front. The programmes, general spirit of the meetings, and valuable results achiev- ed, have been most admirable, as many can attest; and for all this, secretary H. D. Cutting should have chitf praise. H. D. CUTTING. Nor has Mr. Cutting's recoid been any less bright in relation to our honey-exhibit at the State Fair. In the old time, honey was sandwiched in between butter and vinegar, with somewhere about $5.00 offered for premiunrs. Mr. Cutting appealed, on behalf of the bee-keepers, to the authorities. His petition was listened to and granted, and now Mich- igan has a special building devoted to the apiary, and offers premiums to the amount of $300. For nearly all of this we are indebted to Mr. Cutting. Nor did he stop there. The revised list once adopt- ed, Mr. Cutting went to work with all his energy and zeal and secured an exhibit worthy a special building and a generous premium list. Few exhi- bitions compare with the honey-shows of Michigan in quality of exhibits and neatness of display. For all this Mr. Cutting should have chiefest praise, with Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson as a near second. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 591 Not only is Mr. Cutting- praiseworthy for his ener- gy and enthusiasm, which have accoinph'shed so much, but he is remarkable for his modesty and reserve. He nf ver pushes himself to the front, but is always urfilng others to places of honor and re- sponsibility. While he never pushes himself for position, he always g-ives most efficient service when called upon to act. Michigan bee-keepers can never be too grateful for the valuable work that he has wrought in our State. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., July 23, 1890. In addition to the well -written sketch above, of Mr. Cutting's career as a honey- exhibitor, and of his services in connection with bee-associations, we would add that our friend was born in Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y., July 22d, 1842. He attended school and worked in a printing-office till Sept. 9, 1.S.58, when he removed to Michigan. He began working for the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad, now known as the L. S. & M. 8., in the capacity of a bag- gage man. In 1861 he left this position and went into the army. In the spring of 18(>3 he commenced work at New burg, N. Y., building marine and stationary engines, lie was married to Miss Frances Gardner, Sept. 27th, ]865. lie now has a family of seven children — four boys and three girls. In 1867 he removed to Clinton, Mich., and started a machine-shop of his own, and he has been engaged in building machinery ever since. lie has been interested in bees for a good many years, and commenced the business in I86(i. He has not been a prolific writer, but, as will be seen by Prof. Cook's sketch, he has rendered valuable service to bee keep- ers, particularly those of Michigan. He was president of the South-eastern Bee-keepers' Association, also president of the North American Bee-keepers' Association for 1886, and is now superintendent of the Bee and Honey Department of the Detroit Exposi- tion. He has acted as an expert judge of bees, honey, and supplies, at many of the largest exhibitions. Besides bees, Mr. Cut- ting is interested in poultry and small fruits. He is also a student of the microscope, and finds great pleasure in all these pastimes. He is strongly opposed to the use of intoxi- cants and tobacco, and so far none of his children use them. So much for a good example. Friend Cutting paid us a visit a short time ago, and we found that he was not only en- thusiastic on bees and every thing connect- ed with tlie industry, but he enjoyed in- tensely talking about machines and ma- chinery. He is a very fine mechanic, and has a splendid knowledge of almost every thing connected with his trade. RAMBLE NO. 26. IN WAYNE COUNTY. The R. & W. R. R. conducted us rapidly into Wayne County. Tnis and several other counties bordering the shores of Lake Ontario for a distance of a hundred and fifty miles, are all noted for their fertility, and especially foi- the fruit interests cen- tered there. Large orchards of apple, pear, and other fruits, both large and small, are visible at all stages of the journey. Peaches are also grown to a certain extent. As a consequence, from so much fruit culture Wayne County is one of the pioneers in the evaporating industry; and taken up at first on apples, the industry now extends to all kinds of fruits and to many vegetables. Every village has one or more large evaporators; and many small ones, with a capacity of five or ten bushels per day, are seen in farmyards. We learned that pepper- mint i.= also raised to a great extent in this county. In fact, a great share that is put upon the market is produced here. In the pleasant village of Williamson we met Mr. Ashmead, who has kept bees quite extensively, but now has only a few colonies. Mr. A. fills out his spare time with taxidermy, and also in the fruit- business. He has spent several winters in the South, especially in Florida and South Carolina, and has had much experience in different localities, and thinks that westtrn New York, and especially Wayne County, will not give bountiful yields etough to warrant any one to make a specialty of bee-keeping. While the immense orchards may yield much honey, the weather is usually unfavor- able for bees td take full advantage of the brief honey-fiow, and it is only in an exceptional year that bees store any surplus from this source. After a brief call we sought the object of our journey into Wayne County, an old-time relative, and stopped over Sunday with him. We found him inteiested in fruit culture, but not in bees, and also found him, with the aid o£ the Free Thinker, trying to prove that Lincoln was an infidel, and also trying to demolish Samson. As to whether Sam- son rent the lion in twain or not, seemed to the Rambler a small thing to argue over. We do not pretend to understand all that happened over 3000 years ago; but we do know, both Coristian and in- fidel, that a new era dawned when the gentle Gali- lean came upon earth, and gave us a religion of love; and if it is a failure in any place it is not the fault of the teachings, but of the one who does not receive the truth. This stumbling over things we can not understand, and which are of no lutal in- terest to us in this era, was neatly illustrated in a sermon heard by the Rambler. Said the preacher, " When you eat a fish you pick out the bones and lay them aside and consume the life-giving flesh. So with the Bit Id. When we come to a hard bone, lay it aside; ihere is untold richness for the mind to feed upon without. But, my hearers, how.many are devoting their energies to the gnawing of the lifeless skeleton!" Our friend, though versed in the false doctrines of the Free Thinker, was not so well versed in the Scriptures; for while in Sunday- school in the afternoon, the teacher asked him for a passage of Scripture from Hebrews; and after fumbling through Isaiah and the Psalms, said he in the Rambler's ear, " Where in the Dickens is He- brews? " My opinion was clear, that more study of Scripture and less of the Free Thinker would have resulted in a far difl'erent moral condition of his mind. I found my friend putting much faith in signs and other superstitions; and his theory as to the cause and cure of fever and ague was peculiar. He claimed it to be a spinal disease, because the chills run up the backbone; and a sure cure for it is to crawl downstairs head first for several days in suc- cession. i92 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. Well, we left our friend •with his infidel tioolss and his theories, and wc next met with agrenuine sur- prise. We met, near Charlotte, an old friend who formerly peddled honey for the Itambler. His ex- perience in bee culture on his own hook had shown him tbe ups and downs, lilje all the rest of us, and we found him immense! j' enjoying the downs. His family called such spells tirades. His fit was the most exasperating- we ever saw. It had taken hold of him bad, both internally, externally, brain and muscle. We found him near the wood-shed, sur- rounded with bee-hives that had formerly been a joy, and he was just slivering them into kindling-wood. In our astonishment we cried out, " Why, friend JJlake, what on earth are you doing?" " DtJRN THE BEE-HIVES !" "Durn the bee-hives," says he; and after a final finish of the one under dissection, he rested on his ax-handle, and said: " See here, friend Rambler, you and I have always been good friends. We played In the band together. I beat the drum and you blew the horn. I know you have a tender spot for bee-hives; but, durn the hives! Ill smite 'em worse than I ever did the drum; " and he smote another hive all to flinders. " But, see here, friend, why don't you sell your hives? They are well made, of good pine lumber. You ought to get the price of the lumber out of them." "Yes, yes; I know all about selling hives. Let me tell you a little story. Five years ago I came to this portion of the State to work at the blacksmith trade. I started in the bee-business, and succeeded well for two years; got up this hive; it is different from any other you ever saw, and I was going to get it patented; but the seasons changed, and I have had losses ever since, and now I have only five colonies out of fifty. Nobody wants the hives. They are odd size, and even when I do find a cus- tomer he Is some poor shirk who never pays for them. So, here's the remedy; it is short and sure, and there'll be no danger of my spending any more time and money on the durned hives. I tell you, this bee-business is wonderful. You get more'n ten thousand traps on your hands; and when you want to get out of the business, nobody wants to buy. Why, I'd trade these forty hives for forty good milking-stools. T could sell them to almost any farmer." His tirade took strong hold of him again, and with a " durn the bee hives " his ax made havoc with the fixings. Our Hawkeye caught him. We are pleased with the result, for it is a reminder of some almost similar fits on the part of the R.^^mbler. Friend R., I am very glad you have given us a touch, with an illustration, in regard to the dark side of bee culture. If anybody should ever be tempted to go into bee cul- ture because Gleanings represented that it afforded better inducement for making money than any thing else, I should be very sorry. Bee culture has its capabilities, and there are, occasionally, favorable seasons or brief periods when excellent results can be made in a very short time. And it is also true that one who is full of enthusiasm, and has the good sense and judgment to succeed in almost any business, would probably make a /air crop during almost any season. At the same time, it has perhaps more dis- asters connected with it than almcst any other industry. Of course these may, to a large extent, "be averted by keen oversight and looking ahead. As with many other rural industries, the one who succeeds with bees will probably be the one who has a real genuine love for them. MOBE ABOUT FIXED DISTANCES. ANOTHER DEVICE. Notwithstanding the fact that I have not had much experience in moving bees more than in buy- ing and selling, nor that I know that I never shall, yet I have read all the testimonials in Gleanings with much pleasure. On p. 4.51 Dr. Miller has given Ernest what he perhaps considers a pretty good " dose." I thought I would come out and help him take it. I have pondered over each new device, to see if I could find something that would help me to space frames in a hurry, especially when I'm work- ing with a colony that takes delight in defending its home; but I have as yet found nothing that suited me. They all have the fixed distance indeed —so much so that one can't move the frames either way to get one out. Yet Ernest's remark, in his comment on Dr. M.'s article, is a very strong argu- ment in favor of some kind of spacer. As Dr. Miller says, that furniture-nail seems to be the nearest practical of any thing yet mentioned in the journals; but, hold on! I had forgotten to mention the new device I have invented. Now, Ernest, earnestly listen while I try to describe it. Take strips of heavy tin and cut them into 1%-inch lengths, % inch wide; round the corners of one end, and punch a little hole in it for a tack; cut the oth- er rather in the shape of a board sled-runner. From the long corner of this end, measure % inch and give it a square bend. Now for the way to use them. When you have 30 made— if your hive has nine frames that will be the number required— tack one in the upper left-hand corner of the inside of your hive, the distance from the end you want them on the frames, and even with the top. Now take the frame next to that side of the hive the spacer is on, and put one on the side of the top-bar next to you, as near the end as you think best. Treat each top bar the same way all through on that side. Now go diagonally across the top of the hive to the near right-hand corner, and tack one on the inside of the hive as before: then on the over side of each top bar, making one spacer at each end of each frame, but on different sides. You see, with the longer part of the tin tacked on the top-bar, one at each end on opposite sides, the short end with the 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 593 iie-inch eUipe bent out at ii?ht angles from the top-bar, that side of the bar at that end can not get closer than ^g inch to its neighbor, and the other end on the ojtposite side of the same. Now, as each frame is similarly arranged, also the hive, then the frames must stay just ?? inch apart until you wish to remove any of them, when all you have to do is to take bold of the spacer at the folded end, and raise it up, using the tack as a pivot; thus your frames can be moved almost as closely as if no at- tachment were present. You see, you can have frames spaced properly, and held for moving, or you can loosen the frames for miinipuliiting, at will, (arbondale, Kan. J. H. Makkley. Thanks ; but I hardly think that our bee- keeping friends would tolerate your device. The tins would take too much time to manipulate. EARLY EXTRACTING IN CALIFORNIA. EXPERIMENTS WITH THE DIBBERN BEE-ESCAPE. The following article from L. E. Mercer was overlooked, as it came with an order for goods. Though it is a little late we are glad to give place to it now. We commenced extracting the first of May, two weeks earlier than we ever did before since I have been in California. Honey is coming in quite freely for so early in the season. Our scale hive gathered 10 lbs. on the -oth day of May. On the 3d we ex- tracted 56K lbs. from it, all new honey. We have about 5(100 sections on and nearly finished. Honey is of a much finer quality than I ever saw before, either here or in the East. Several sample bottles of it are on the table before me that I would say were empty bottles if I had not seen my wife fill them with honey. I will send you one of them, and, if you want it, several tons of the same kind. Mr. Dibbern sent me two of his bee-escapes some time ago. We have experimented considerably with them, but they will not work for extracting. They get full of bees, especially drones, that seem to be lost, and the bees will not go through them. They worked well three or four weeks ago, before the hives were so full of bees. The drones seem to cause most of the trouble, but I have just received two more escapes from Mr. Dibbern that T think will work better, as they are only single, while the first were double; and the bees, especially the drones, would get lost between the two wires, and would fill up the space so full that they could not move one way or the other to find their way out. You know, of course, that we have three kinds of sage here, — the black, that blooms first; then the purple, that nearly all of our honey is gathered from; and then comes the white sage, that, judging from the way nearly all honey-tables in California read, produces about all the honey here, but which, in fact, produces less than either black or purple sage. The sample I send is all from black sage, which always produces the whitest honey. The honey-flow is good at present, but the crop must surely be a light one, as we have had no spring- rains. Although we had an abundance of rain in the winter, j et the honey crop is largely dependent on the late spring rains. L. E. Mercer. San Buena Ventura, Cal., May 7. The sample of honey from black sage is, I think, the finest we ever saw in appearance, and certainly nothing can excel it in llavor. It is certainly true, as friend Mercer says, if the bottle were filled it would be a very difficult matter to tell whether it contained something or not, without taking it up. Notwithstanding its perfect transparency, it is so thick that it hardly runs in warm weather. It seems to me that this honey should bring an extra price, for it is " gilt " if there is any gilt edge in the world. FIRST HONEY IN THE HIVE OR SEC- TIONS; "WHICH? THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE LOWER STORY CONTRACTED, AND FILLED WITH BROOD .IDST BEFORE THE HARVEST. Mr. Editor:— My attention has been called to your reply to question four, as asked by Mr. Naftel, on page 341. You there say, " Bees will be pretty apt, especially the Italians, to fill the brood-chamber first, no matter what the honey is; after that they will go into the supers if the colony is strong enough and there is a good flow of nectar. As a general rule, there will or ought to be enough in- ferior honey in the brood-nest to cause the first white honey to go above." Now, I seriously object to both these views, for on them hang all there is against the use of large hives for comb honey, as recommended by our fathers, and even by some oi' the present day, as opposing the contraction plau as recommended by myself and others, which to- day stands out prominently. No, sir! the bees must not fill the brood-chamber first with honey, and the sections afterward, Italian or otherwise, if we are to reap the best results from our bees. At the time the honey-flow commences, the brood- chamber must be filled with brood, with not to ex- ceed five pounds of honey in it, and niw pound will be far better than the five. If it is not thus filled with brood, the wise apiarist will take out all the combs not thus filled, and store them away where the bees can not have access to them at this time of the year: for if they once commence to store honey in the combs below, to any considerable extent, thus early in the season, instead of going into the boxes they will begin to crowd the queen with hon- ey to a greater or lesser extent, thus removing the boxes further and further from the brood, till at last there will be little brood in the hive, little hon- ey in the boxes, and the colony in very poor shape for winter on account of the fewness of the bees left, owing to this same crowding-out of the queen from the brood-combs. The work of every bee- keeper should be, during the fore part of the sea- son, to see that his combs are being rapidly filled with brood, and all that inferior honey spoken of used up and turned into brood which is to make the bees for the harvest, till the hive is literally filled with brood; when, if there is a pound of honey comes in after this, it must go into the sections or no, where. Here is the rock on which those favoring the Italians and those opposing them as comb-hon- ey gatherers split; for, if managed as given in yoiir editorial, the Italians will be unprofitable every time; while, if managed as I propose, they will outyield the blacks as to honey every time; while at the end of the season they will have honey enough in their brood-combs for winter- when Ihe black bees will be almost in a starving 594 GLEANINGS IN IJEE CULTURE. Aug. condition. This is not mere theory, but something any one can prove tf) his or her satisfaction in one year by working a few colonies on each of the two plans. This seaFDn I have been working' some bees five miles from home; and as the party where they are helievtd that the bees should not be robbed too close. 1 left the whole number of combs in these ten-frame Langstroth hives, to please him. The result proves just what I have said above; for after a short honey-season I have about 50 pounds of honey in the brood-chamber of the hive, with per- haps an average of 10 pounds in the sections. If these combs had been cut down to about seven, and those W( II filled with brood at the commence- ment of the harvest, the result would have been about 45 pounds in the sections, and 15 pounds be- low, had the bees been Italians; or if blacks or hy- brids, 40 pounds in the sections and 5 below. One of the many things about the Italian bees which please me is their desire to store honey in the brood-chamber; for if rightly managed they will give a good crop in the sections, and at the same time generally have stores enough, or nearly so, below to winter upon. .Just as soon as they be- gin storing honey in the sections they begin storing to a limited extent in the brood-chamber; and as the honey-season draws toward a close they seem to be on the aleit as to their own interest, and the queen ceases to lay as prolificly as at first, which allows of their storing the later honey in the brood- combs for winter storrs, while their keeper has plenty of the most salable honey as his share of the season's work. With the Germans, Syrians, and Carniolans, the case is different; for they continue to raise brood right along at a rapid rate so long as honey comes in from the field, so that, at the end of the harvest, we have no honey to speak of in the hives, and a host of useless consumers on hand as the result of this out-of-season breeding. I wish to go on record as saying that one of the greatest secrets of successful bee-keeping is hav- ing the brood-chamber full of brood at the com- mencement of the white-honey harvest. I would certainly have it thus, even if I had to take all the combs out of the hives but three, leaving the bees but three combs below till after harvest, when I would at once supersede a queen that would not keep a greater number than that filled with brood thrie weeks previous to the harvest. If lack of brood is caused from weak colonies in the spring, then I would unite all colonies which were thus weak, three weeks before the honey-harvest, even if I had to divide afterward, considering that I would be a gainer by so doing, should I wish a greater increase than this doubling would allow of. Borodino, N. Y., Aug. 3. G. M. Doolittle. Friend D., you have misunderstood us this time. We had no idea of recommend- ing that the space for brood in the brood- chamber should be tilled with honey ; nei- ther did we think of having more room in the brood-chamber than is needed. You know that, for some time back, 8-frame hives have been taking the place of 10- frame. Now, after these 8 frames are as full of brood as we can manage to get them, there will be some space for honey left around the corners ; that is, when white clover opens there is generally room to put quite a little in the brood-nest without at all interfering with the brood. And this space is usually filled before honey is stored above, especially if they are Italians. Er- nest made the answer you allude to ; but his idea was simply this : That we should man- age to get the white honey into the sections as much as possible ; and in this you are in perfect agreement with him. No one nowa- days would recommend any method of man- agement that would fill the brood-combs with honey in place of eggs and brood at the commencement of the season. In fact, the great effort and aim all along the line has been to get our clover and basswood honey into the sections. When it comes time for the bees to till up for winter, of course we have a different matter to consider ; and if we can so manage as to have only one pound or less in the brood-combs, and all else in the sections, all the better. But with us. there will probably be a pound or more scattered around near the pollen ; and, of course, the pollen is to be all in the brood- combs and n(>t in the sections. CALIFORNIA RUNAMTAY SWARMS. AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF HOW THESE SWARMS WILL LOCATE IN QUEER PLACES. The strange homes that bees sometimes take up with in California make an interesting feature of study to the eastern visitor. In Los Angeles I saw a large swarm busily storing honey in the cornice of a large building on a principal street. Although there is a fine of $50;) for keeping bees within the six miles square of the city limits, yet this " hive " did not seem to fear it much, and the police did not arrest them in their lofty home. Perhaps it was these same bees that I saw working away on the ripe fruit in the stalls in a crowded street when in the city the other day. Do you have city bees in the East? There are more QUEER PLACES FOR BEES TO LIVE here. A man plowing a vineyard told me he found a swarm in a vine, and they had quite a bit of comb built. I myself have seen comb in a bush where a swarm had evidently started a location, but had become discouraged, and left. I have also seen a swarm hanging in a bunch while some of the members were bringing in pollen and depositing it in the center of the mass of bees. At such times they would defend their branch like a hive, and I like to be careful in handling a chance swarm until it is discovered whether they have located or not. Bees often deposit honey in the rocks in Cal- ifornia. Quite often it is in almost inaccessible places. Several have told me of seeing it run down the rocks in hot weather. There was a newspaper account, last year, of 60 tons being taken from one place in the rocks. Much of this may have been old honey that would bring but a low price. Per- haps what would strike the eastern bee-keeper as being as novel as any thing would be to find A DESERTED BUIL,DING ALIVE WITH BEES, under the shingles, in the cornice, between the chimney and wall, and odd spaces wheiever they could get. We once came on a large frame farm building that had for occupants ten or eleven swarms of varying sizes, accordicg to the fpace they could get to build in. We tried to take some of them that were in particularly exposed positions, but it was too near sundown, and we had to give it 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 595 up. We were at the time coming home from a neighboring- village, with three or four swarms, and some honey we had taken from the attic of a hall building. The bees do not always wait for a building to be unoccupied. A sight that had quite a funny side to it was one we saw on the same trip. A "section" man on the railroad lived with his family in a house that was something like a bee- hive and dwelling-house combined. Bees were buzzing all around on two sides of the house, so that the children and everybody kept out of that part of the yard. There were, I think, seven swarms. What had been the pantry was covered with bees on the windows inside. One door was fastened up, because, should you open it, a hive of bees would be a foot above your head. We went upstairs to make an examination, and found bees in the windows inside. The whole place was won- derfully suggestive of a big bee-hive, and the hu- man inmates had learned to take the matter as coolly as could be expected. We offered to pry the boards off and take the bees awaj ; and although we left our addiess, and they were very willing to get rid of them, we have not heard from them to date. It may be because they think it less trouble to stand the bees, now that thf-y have become used to them, than to write us a postal card. But we must go over and see about it, for I know they would thank us to take the bees away. BEES IN CHIMNEYS. Several have told us of bees coming down their chimneys, in their efforts to find a home. I once saw a hive with a comb in, placed on the top of a chimney to coax some bees out that had taken ref- uge there, and let the family breathe freely again, for they were not used to bees. It is often that bee-men are called upon here to remove a swarm of bees that have found a lodging in some dwelling. We keep a large strong cold chisel for that purpose. It must be remembered that the dry climate here has given us a country without trees, except the live-oaks, in limited numbers. The bees have very little chance to start new homes in the trees, and must get into some building if they can, or take to the mountains. What cavities there are in the trees soon get filled with bees, and they are not large generally. We have got into the habit of calling small swarms " tree swarms," if we don't know where they came from. I could take you to a dozen trees with bees in, within a short mile of here. One is in an oak under which the public road to the railroad station passes. It has two small swarms. As the trees are valued for shade and ornament, it is rather ditflcult to get permission to cut into them. We were rather pleased to see the swarms com- ing from the lowland to the highland at the base of the mountain, where our apiaries are. The black sage around us was just in bloom at swarming time, and it called the bees our way, and it seemed as though all our empty hives and boxes would catch bees. We had five or six on the horizontal limb of a large live-oak, with a cleated plank running down to a ledge of rocks near by; and I several times walked down that plank with a hive of new bees, direct from the Lord, so far as I could know. We got a few swarms also by putting some store-boxes, with old honey inside, in the trees. So it came about in some wonderful way that a large apiary for a beginner has been built up. It seems very strange, when I stand in the midst of the eager, buzzing throng of bees, scurrying in all directions, that four short months ago I knew noth- ing, practically, about bees. My experience then was confined almost entirely to seeing my dear mother, years ago, when I was a child, take the old- fashioned glass-ended boxes of honey from the hives. I remember with what intense delight I watched the bees and looked at the wonderful comb filled with that nectar that every child likes so well. This feeling all came back to me, just as it was then, when I saw some hives of bees at a friend's near Los Angeles, and decided to leave the strife of the city and deal not with men so much as with these little creatures which the great God had made, and which seemed to understand him better than the mass of seeking, bargaining men in the city. It would be hard to give you a correct idea of the relief with which I turned away from the strife for exis ence in commercial circles in Los Angeies, to watch for a half-hour these busy workers; but busy it seemed to me in an (iitirely different way. I never want to forget that day. I promised God, that, if he would let me have some of those pretty bees out in the beautiful clean country, I would never try to be rich again. If you have never tried to run a race with the sharp busi- ness men of a large city, be satisfied with your bees until God calls you into some other sphere. Since our apiary has increased so rapidly in these short months since spring, there have been several critical times. But the most critical of all was when Henry and I both got to taking credit for the success we had met. During this period, before we got this feeling driven away, I believe nothing flourished about the apiary as it did before. Dis- trust in each other sprang up, and we might have been foolish enough to separate had we not realiz- ed where the trouble was. How strange that wo should feel so humble and so happy in beginning, and that we should come near forgetting it when success came, and so spoiling it all I We have extract* d so far, up to July 20, about 27 of the tjj-lb. cans. Of the comb honey, we have had but 130 lbs. This is a small showing compared with some California apiaries, and we have at times been ambitious to have several hundred stands. But perhaps we have enough for the first year. Had we more, we should not have the time we now have to spend in the study of the Bible, which is the most delightful book of all, when understood. We learn there how man came to be out of harmony with the happy order cf creation, and how to get back into place again. As you may well suppose, we enjoy this study far above bee-keeping. When I came out into the country in California there were so many new and strange things that I felt almost like a child commencing to learn every thing over again in a new world. The wonders of the mountains, the trees, and the fruit, made a deep impression. Figs, prunes, and peaches, are now ripe. We have a long stick to poke the figs down from the trees in our yard. Apricots are about gone, but the scattering ones that are left are good. The fruit is like the peach, but the tree looks like a cherry-tree. Banana, palm, pep- per, eucalyptus (or rubber-tree), and many species of the cacti, are here. Geraniums grow higher than my head, and sometimes they make hedges of them. The " daisy," that the Ohio farmers are so afraid of, grows into a tree here with wood and bark. Sierra Madre, Cal., July ~'4 W. S. Ritchie. 596 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. Friend 11., like yourself I was greatly in- terested in the strange places that bees choose for homes in California. When I was there we found them in holes in the ground, in the dirt, and in the side of a bank ; and one friend with whom I stopped was in the habit of getting a slice of honey for his dinner out of a hole in the rocks. As fast as he broke off the chunks they built more comb and put in more honey. It does me good to know that you find enjoyment just as I do, in studying God's works off alone by yourself. I like the great cities once in a while, with their crowds of hu- man beings ; but I very soon long for the quiet of my creek-bottom garden, with its beautiful little spring, and strawberry- plants with their vigorous runners ready to be trained (and almost taught what to do) by my hand. The very thought of it is rest- ful to me ; and if it were not for these en- joyments, and the restful feeling that comes to me, I do not know how I should ever bear my daily burdens and responsibilities. The man whose life is too full of business to give him time to study his Bible and to become acquainted with his God through God's vv'orks is to be pitied. I, too, poked down figs and English walnuts with a long stick. But that was in December, and you talk about figs in July. Truly one must visit California to get the hang of the many things that are so queer and strange. FOUL BROOD. THE FORMIC-ACID TREATMENT; THE SAI.ICYLIC- ACID TREATMENT GENERALLY REGARDED AS A FAILURE. Mi: Root .•—As far back as 188'2 I treated foul brood successfully with formic acid, being, as I believe, the first bee-keeper to use it for this purpose. At that time I had just succeeded in getting- my apiary into a healthy state after a struggle of several years' duration with a most virulent form of foul brood. As I happened to have only a single foul- broody comb whereon to experiment with the formic acid, I did not feel justified in speaking or writing of it as a remedy for this destructive disease. However, in 1887 foul brood was reintroduced into my apiary from a neighbor's (in which it had been and is still rampant); and as I had a favorable op- portunity of giving my new remedy a trial, no time was lost about it. My first proceeding was to mix two teaspoonfuls of formic acid in a quart of syrup; the syrup thus acidulated was dropped on or into all brood-cells, whether diseased or healthy, twice a week.^until the middle of June, when honey-storing begins in this district. An undesirable result of this rough-and- ready treatment was, that the smaller larvte were floated out of the cells, and the loss in this way was very considerable; but every hive became healthy. To make matters sure, 1 fed all my bees in the autumn with acidulated syrup, the proportion of acid to each quart of syrup being doubled, or four teaspoonfuls to the quart. Although the acid fla- vor was very strong, the bees took it readily; and in the warm eveninjis, when the bees were hard at work fanning at the hive-entrances, the smell of the acid was ver.\ perceptib'e: and so far I can safe- ly say iin apiary was never cleared of foul brood without destroying a bee, frame, or quilt, in as short a time as in this case. I may add that a friend who keeps a dozen frame hives eradicated foul brood by the same treatment. In regard to the trouble of using formic acid as I have described, and also the resulting loss of brood, it occurred to me to try it by pouring it into one side of a clean empty comb, which was then placed in the hive as far as possible from the entrance, and this plan of using it has proved so successful that I question whether any thing better can be devised. When useda in this way, with a strong stock and warm weather, the evaporation of the acid is so rapid that the fumes, on removing the quilt, "take one's breath away" for the moment, but the bees don't seem to mind this in the least, as they cluster on and Htore honey in the comb con- taining the acid. The first thing which will strike the experienced bee-keeper on opening a hive in this condition is, that the offensive odor peculiar to foul brood has passed off; and if he examines the once foul-broody combs he will find that the bees have cleared out all the putrid matter, and that all the brood is in a condition of perfect health. A second application of the acid in this way will in most cases suffice to get a hive clear of foul brood. Asa remedy for foul brood I do not think any thing in the British Pharmacopt 10 lbs. per colony; b'. not to exceed 10 lbs. J. W. Bittenbender. Knoxville. S. E. 7-25. a. All dried up; b. 0. Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon. E. 7-21. a. No prospect; b. none taken; perhaps 15 lbs. A. Christie, Smithland. W. 7-22. a. Fair; b. about 40 lbs. INDIANA. Mrs. A. F. Proper. Portland. E. C. 7-26, a. Good; b. about .50 lbs. I. R. Good, Vawter Park. N. W. 7-2.5. The honey crop is a failure in this part of the country. KANSAS. B. F. Uhl. Boling. 7 23. a. Not good; too dry; b. 24 lbs. Frank H. Howard, Garden Citv. 7-26. a. Good, it the grasslioppers let the alialfa alone; b. 50 lbs., half comb and half extracted. J. B. Kline, Topeka. E. C. 7-29. a. Poor; b. not any. KENTUCKY. D. F. Savage, Hopkinsville. S. W. 7-24. a. Early crop unusuall.y large; b. 50 lbs. J, P. Moore, Morgan. N. 7-22. a. The drouth has brought the season to a close; b. ISO lbs. Jno. S. Reese, Winchester. C. 7 21. a. Above the average; b. 75 lbs. ; season ended. LOUISIANA. J. W. K. Shaw, Loreauville. S. C. 7-22. a. Poor; b. no sui plus yet. St. Julien T. Moore, Monroe. N. C. 7-23. a. Honey crop late, but hives filling rapidly now; b. trom90 hives, extracted, average 30 lbs, MAINE. John Reynolds, Clinton. S. E. 7-24. a. Very poor; b. crop not off yet. I should judge less than half a crop. C. W. Costellow, Waterboro. S. W. 721. a. Good; b. 33 lbs. MARYLAND. Simon p. Roddy, Mechanicstown. 7-28, a. Poor; b. 10 lbs. S. Valentine, Hagarstown. 7 26. a. Not very good; b. about 25 lbs. MASSACHUSETTS. A. A. Sanborn. Westfleld, Mass. S. W. 7-25. a. Poor; b. I don't know. E. W. Lund, Baldwinsville. N. C. 7-23. a. Good to date; b. 25 lbs. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 599 "Wm. W.Cai-y, Colerain. N W. 7 21. a. Prospect poor; b. about '~0 lbs. MICHIGAN. George E. Hilton, Fremont. W. 7-23. a. Never so poor; b. not to exceed 1 lb. A. J. Cook, Lansing. C. 7-21. a. The crop of lii^ht honey is ahnost a total failure; b. I •can't say, but I don't think itis 20 lbs. I doubt whether it is 10. James Heddon, Dowagiac. S. W. 7-24. a. For this jiart of Mieliij^Mn, I think the surplus crop is not over 36 per cent ; b. not to exceed 35 v>er cent of our average yield so far; and now the drouth upon us makes our prospects for fall crop look poor indeed. H. D. Cutting, Clinton. S. E. 7-21. a. The poorest in several years; b. I have not taken any off; but from present indications, about 15. R. L. Taylor. Lapeer. 7-22. a. An indelible blank; b. 0. White clover and basswood liave been a total failure. MINNESOTA. W. Urie. Minneapolis. E. C. 7-24. a. 1 have not one pound of white honey made in boxes, and very little extracted. About the same report all over the State. I'p to date, the i>oorc.--t season for tlie past ten years; prospect good for a fair croi> id dark honey; there "ill be no white comb honey, so far as I can learn, in tlie State. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa. E. 7-25. a. No prospects whatever; b. not a pound. N. P. Aspinwall, Harrison. C. 7 22. a. Good with me; b. none taken; too early. D. P. Lister, Lac Qui Parle. W. C. 7-23. a. (food; b. 20 lbs. MISSISSIPPI. Jas. M. Lewis, Osyka. Miss. E. 7 23. a. The prospect for an average crop is very poor, owing to so much rain The honey is very poor; b. about ib lbs. MISSOURI. E. M. Hayhurst. Kansas City. W. 7--:6. a. Half a crop; b. 35 lbs. comb honey. Chas. L. Gough, Rock Spring. E. C. 7-24. a. None at all; b. 12. S. E. Miller, Bluffton. E. C. 7-21. a. Very poor; b. extracted, 201bs. Comb not worth mention- ing. James Parshall, Skidmore. N. W. 7 21. a. Tlie i)rospects are bad; b. we may get about '25 lbs. Jno. Nebel & Son, High Hill. E. C. 7-21. a. Prospects to date have been poor; good, though, for an average fall crop from Spanish-needle bloom; b. not more than 5 lbs. per colony. NEBRASKA. J. W. Porter, Ponca. N. E. 7-21. a. Very poor; b. about 20 lbs. J. M. Young, Plattsmouth. 7-21. a. The prospect for a fall harvest is good; plenty of rain now; b. 1 can not give any definite result. F. Kingsley, Hebron. S. C. 7-21. a. Good; b. our surplus How begins in August. Jerome Wiltse, Falls City. 7-22. a. The prospects are poor; b. nothing. NEVADA. E. A. Moore, Reno. W. C. 7 23. a. Very g'ood ; b. about 50 lbs. NEW HAMPSHIRE. S. F. Reed. No. Dorchester. C. 7-28. a. Very poor so far; b. about25 1bs. C. E. Watts, Rumney. C. 7-26. a. Fair; b. have taken but little so far. NEW JERSEY. Watson Allen, Bernardsville. N. C. 7-21. a. The prospect is not good; b. about 12 lbs. J. D. Coles, Woodstown. S. W. 7-21. a. (iood; b. iOlbs. ^ NEW YORK. H. P. Langdon, East Constable. N. E. 7-25. a. Poor, at 150 per cent increase; b. none. G. H. Knickerbocker, Pine Plains. 7-25. ;i. Not more than >f to M a crop in this jiart of the State; ii. not to exceed 25 lbs. F. Boomhower. Gallupville. E. C. 7-'i2. a. Very poor; b. 0. O. M. Doolittle, Bor&dino. C. 721. a. Poor; b. not any. Basswood is in full bloom, but itis so •cidd, cloudy, and windy that the bees can not work. NORTH CAROLINA. Abbott L. Swinson, Goldsboro. E. 7-29. a. Poor Indeed; b. none. OHIO A. B. Mason, Auburndale. N. W. 7-23. a. Poor; b. about 20 lbs., extracted. Ch.as. F. Muth, Cincinnati. S. W. 7-24. a. The honey harvest was below medium in southern Ohio and Indiana, as far as it has come under my observation; b. 1 don't tliink that the average yield per colony was 25 lbs. of honey. My own average was not quite 15 l1j-:. of extracted honey. S. A. Dyke. Pomeroy. O. 7-26. a. Very poor; b. 23 colonies, surplus fio lbs. Dr. G. L. Tinken New Philadelphia. N. E. 7 19. a. Not favorable; b. of extracted and comb honey together, ab(nitS5 lbs. Dr. H. Besfe, Delaware. C. 7 23. a. It has the appearance of being good; b. about 25 lbs. OREGON. George Ebell, Baker City. E. 7-26. Mv bees all died last winter. PENNSYLVANIA. Thos. C. Davis, Pittsburgh. C. 7-25. a. Prospects arc not good; b. about 25 lbs. Geo. A. Wright, Glenwood. N. E. 7-26. a. Total failure; b. 5 lbs. 5 oz. from 130 colonies. J. P. Watts, Murray. C. 7-2J. a. Poor; b. nothing. S. W. Morrison, Oxford. S. E. 7-21. a. Our honey season is over; b. about 50 lbs. comb, or 80 lbs extracted. A. A. Harrison, McLane. N. W. 7-25. Worse and worse. Basswood is gone. I may get 200 lbs. white honey from 80 good colonies. June 15, only 16 had swarmed. RHODE ISLAND. A. C. Miller, Providence. E. 7-24. a. Crop so far is above the average; b. about 50 lbs. SOUTH CAROLINA. J. D. Fooshe, Coronaca. 7-21. a. Poor; b. no surplus. W. J. Ellison, Stateburg. C. 7-22. a. Poorest for many years; b. about 15 lbs. H. T. Cook, Greenville. 7-26. a. Very poor; b. 0. TENNESSEE. W. H. Greer, Paris. N. W. 7-21. a. Poor; b. 20 lbs. TEXAS. L. Stachelhausen. Selma. S. C. 7-22. a. Not good; about 25 per cent; b. iO lbs. B. F. Carroll, Blooming Grove. 7-24. a. Prospects good tor .\ugust. for cotton; b. horsemint all plowed up, hence no more mint honey near me. J.E. Lay, Hallettsville. S. W. 7-20. a. Bad: too wet in May and June; b. 'iO lbs. VERMONT. A. E. Manum, Bri.'Stol. W. 7-22. a. Poor; b. not over 8 lbs., and season ended. F. M. Wright. Enosburgh. E. 7-25. a. Very poor; b. no surplus as yet. Howard J. Smith, Richford. N. C. 7-23. a. Poor; b. 25. J. E. Crane, Middlebury. W. 7-!;0. a. Half an average; b. 20 lbs. VIRGINIA. J. W. Porter, Charlottesville. C. .5-24. a. Fair average crop; b. can not report. H. W. Bass, Front Royal. N. 7-25. a. About two-filths oi' an average crop; b. 201bs. comb. WASHINGTON. W. W. Maltby. Port Angeles. 7-25. a. Medium; u. 60 lbs. J. H.Goe, Mossy Rock. 7-24. a. Good; b. 40 lbs., comb. WEST VIRGINIA. J. A. Buchanan, HoUiday's Cove. N. 7-22. a. Away below an average crop; b. 25 lbs. Will Thatcher. Martinsburg. W. C. 7-21. a. Good; b. 60 lbs. Jno. C. Oapehart, St. Albans. S. W. 7-;:0. a 01 late years I am in the habit of expecting the bulk of it in November; b; I squeezed 40 lbs. from the clover yield. M. A. Kelley, Milton. S. W. 7-21. a. Good; b. 'Z7}4 lbs. WISCONSIN. Frank McNay, Mauston. C. 7-25. a. Very poor: b. 0. J. C. Sayles, Hartford. S. E. 7-19. a. Very poor; b. not more than 10 to 15 lbs. S. I. Freeborn, Ith.aca. S. W. 7-2.5. a. Vei'J' poor; b. 20. Joshua Bull, Seymour. E. 7-23. a. Very poor for wliite honey; not more than half a crop; b. 1 have not yet removed any from the hives. E.France, Platteville. S. W. 7-22. a. Very poor; b. 4>i lbs. With very fe-w exceptions, as we stated in our last issue, the prospects are poor, and the average yield per colony is excedingly moderate.' But as the reports were sent out a little early, as indicated in the circular let- ter above, it is not impossible that things will brighten up a little, even yet. In fact, as stated in tlie last issue, white clover seems to be hanging on in some localities, where it was expected that the yield from that source had entirely ceased. California looms up with a large crop of honey, and that means a good deal, for this State pro- 600 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Aug. duces not a small percentage of all the honey produced in the United States. Colorado has one reporter, and he says, " Fair to good." Arizona, the State where alfalfa is produced, reports about i)0 lbs. per colony. Minnesota does not seem to be uniform. In the east - central and eastern part of the State there is but very little honey ; but in the central and west-central parts, the yield seems to have been good. Wisconsin, an- other usually good State, has also no honey of any account. Indiana, California, Ari- zona, Virginia, West Mrginia, and Wash- ington, report the prospects good. Almost all the rest of the States are reported poor. If any one thinks Gleanings is puffing up the industry, and showing only the silver lining to the cloud, let him read the Re- ports Discouraging in the August 1st and present issues, and then take a glance at the Honey Statistics. As we said before, fruits will be rather scarce, and the bee- keeper has not fared any worse than many of those engaged in kindred industries. ^ I ^ A CHAPTE3R ON "WASPS, ETC. PROF. COOK TELLS US ALSO ABOUT LOCUSTS, KATY- DIDS, ETC. I HAVE just received a most beautiful wasp from H. H. Hilller, Passadena, Cal. It Is a deep rich blue, with red wings. It is a digger wasp. It digs a hole in the earth, swoops down on a tarantula or other victim, stings it with its murderous sting, then bears It away to its hole. It now places an egg in its \ ictlm, and buries it. The spider is not dead, but only paraljzed; so when the egg hatches, the younji-, or baby wasp, has not only fresh but living food on which to break its fast. Mr. K. says they call it the tarantula-bawk. In Texas a similar wasp is called tarantula-killer. Smaller species are com- mon here and in Ohio. While these wasps sting with powerful effect, yet I do not suppose the effect of the sting is ever likely to be fatal. These are very quick, have very hard bodies, and rarely sting one if left undisturbed. This one is very large. I am glad to get it. I should like to get many California insects. WASPS AND BUGS. Mr. Edward J. Knebel, Spring Branch, Texas, asks if I will describe in Gleanings some wasps sent by him from Texas. These are paper making wasps. They look like our PnUstcs Annularis, so common in houses in late fall and early spring. Like all of this family— Sfspeda'— they have a longitudi- nal fold or a way of doubling up their front wings when at rest. We often boast of our attainments, and sneer at insects; but these wasps have built their large paper nests of wood pulp for scores- may be hundreds of years, while we have just " caught on to that trick." Like the digger and all other wasps, these insects people their cells with other insects on which the larval wasps subsist. I have often seen wasps catch and kill currant- worms, tent-caterpillars, etc. Wasps do us much eood in killing our noxious insects, and do no harm except in the use of their stings, and very seldom this unless provoked to it. CALIFORNIA COW-KILLER. I have received an ant-like Insect from J. G. Gil- strop, Hanford, Tulare Co., Cal., which is covered with thick hair, which is of a rich carmine color. The legs and antennse are black. The insect is very pretty. Mr. G. says, " I suppose it is a spider." He adds further, " It is rumored that It is very poison- ous. Please name it in Gleanings." This is one of the cow-killers. I have one illus- trated in "Bee-keepers' Guide," p. 427, Fig. 316. These belong to the family Mutilida, so called, I think, because neither males nor females have wings. They are said to have a powerful sting. Possibly this is why they have taken the name of cow-killers in the South, where they are quite com- mon. They are closely related to the ants, whicb they resemble not a little. In the South they kill bees. This one is a little smaller than the one that is called a bee-killer, which I have received from several Southern States. Has Mr. G. ever known of this one killing bees? This insect is very handsome, I am very glad to get it. The larger bees with light bands and large yellow hind legs, received from Jno. Longwood, Highland^ Minn., are Melissodes Pcnnsylvanica. The hairy hind legs are used to carry pollen. These bees dig- holes in the ground, and put in pollen and honey, may be, as they have long tongues, and lay their eggs in this food. Thus the brood matures in earthen instead of wax cells. These bees are very handsome; and though I had them in our collec- tion before, I am glad to get them from Minnesota, I thank Mr. L. for Ihem. THE COMMON CICADA (C. tibicetl). I have received from Mr. K. F. Beach, Olean, N. Y., a specimen of our common cicada (C. tibicen),. with the request that I name it through Gleanings. This fly is just the form and about the size of the seventeen-year cicada— often called, incorrectly,, seventeen-year locust. This, however, has green veins to the wings instead of red. It Is probable that the seventeen-year cicada exists so long as a larva, from the habit of burrowing deeply in the ground. A taste which would make such a home pleasing would place the insect below danger, but would delay development, as both warmth and food would be too scarce for rapid development. Our common cicada, tibicen, I presume lives nearer the surface, and so develops, presumably, in a year. The song (?) of the male cicada is very familiar. It is the long, shrill, high-pitched rattle-like whir, heard all through the day every few minutes in July and August. Except for i ts higher pitch, it is strikingly like the whir of the angry rattlesnake,, as I have often noticed this summer, as our rattle- snakes and the cicadfe in the oaks, just out my win- dow, were running opposition. It is not easy to And the cicadfe, even when we hear their song, as they usually stop their noise upon our approach. Yet the other day I found one so entranced with its own music that I approached, caught it, and yet it continued its song for some time after I had it se- cure in my grasp. The seventeen-year cicada often come forth from the earth in multitudes, and make all outdoors clamorous with its high-pitched notes. The only harm that comes from the cicadae is in the unskillful pruning they do in egg-laying. They cut into fruit and forest trees to lay their eggs, and often do great harm. I have seen orchards that looked as though they might have been burned, so thick were the weathered leaves on the wounded twigs. As the eggs hatch, the larva falls to the ground, which it enters, and in its cold dark home feeds daintily on roots, may be, for near seventeen years. When nearly matured it changes to brown,. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. fiOl active pupa, which at last comes forth, crawls up some twig or tree, splits open on the back, and the beautiful mature cicada goes forth to enjoy its nuptials with song and merry-making. Agricultural College, Aug. 6. A. J. Cook. THE RATTLESNAKE THE EMBLEM OF A NATION. SOME OF ITS peculiarities; by one who has SLAIN OVER 1100 OF THE REPTILES IN ONE season. I SEE in Gleanings of July 15 that Prof. Cook is delighted with his pet rattlesnakes, and wishes all of the readers of Gleanings could walk into bis laboratory and take a peep at them. I have, per- haps, killed as many of these " varmints " as the average western man, having herded cattle in a very early day on the wide wild prairies of Central Illinois and Iowa. As my diary shows, I actually killed in one season 1100, having destroyed as many as 33 in one day. They were of the small prairie variety, but still they were poisonous, and would often bite the steers. I wonder how many of the readers of Gleanings know that this reptile was at one time placed upon the flag of the nation The great union flag of Great Britain was brought by the colonists to America: and when the thirteen colonies began to feel the pressure of British rule they placed upon their banner a rattlesnake, cut in thirteen pieces, representing the thirteen colonies, with the words, " Join or die."' But when the thirteen colonies be- came more united in their purpose of resistance to British tyranny they placed upon their banner a large well-formed rattlesnake in the attitude of one about to strike, with these words: " Don't tread on me." The rattlesnake is truly an American " bird," found only on this continent; and how fitting the choice for an emblem! In many countries the ser- pent is considered as an emblem of wisdom, and, in some attidudes, of endless duration. Its eye is ex- ceedingly bright, and without eyelids— an emblem of vigilance, and it never begins an attack; and it never surrenders, which is an emblem of magna- nimity and courage. It never wounds even its enemies, till it generously gives them warning not to tread on it, which is emblematical of the spirit of the people who inhabit this country. It appears weak and defenseless; but itsVeapons are nevertheless formidable. Its poison is the necessa- ry means for the digestion of its food, but certain destruction to its enemies, showing the power of American resources. Its thirteen rattles, the only part which increases in number, are distinct from each other, and yet so united that they can not be disconnected without breaking them to pieces, showing the impossibility of an American republic of the original thirteen without a union of States. A single rattle will give no sound alone; but the ringing of the thirteen together is sufficient to startle the boldest man alive. It is beautiful in youth, which increases with age. Its tongue is forked like the lightning, and its abode is among the impenetrable rocks. This description has reference to the large moun- tain rattlesnake, which was known only to the East- ern people. They are many times larger in body. You can hear the sound of the rattling to a greater •distance than the small Western prairie rattlesnake. Perhaps when Prof. Cook gives the article he has promised he will tell us more about the little pets. A GOOD MANY CrXtES READY TO COME OFF. My bees are doing fairly well. It has been almost too dry and cool a part of the time. Some late showers have started up the white clover afresh, and the bees are still at work. I have a good many crates just ready to come ott'. I have taken some new honey. I have had more trouble from robbers than ever before. I live near the big timber. I have thought the robbers came from there. I had two swarms come to me from there, I suppose. Atwood, 111., July 30. J. W. C. Gray. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, THE DETROIT EXPOSITION. The following is a copy of a little slip written by U. 1). Cutting, and which we take pleasure in presenting to our sub- scribers : I should like to call the attention of all bee-keep- ers to tnis fact: It being an extra poor season for honey, an extra e.xertion must be made to secure a good attendance of exhibitors. The Exposition Company have granted every thing we have asked for— given us an extra space to show our products, the lareest premium list ever offered in this country for this department, also an expert judge with a "world-wide reputation." If we do not make a good exhibit, and fill the space al- lotted to us, next year the list will he reduced. They have been very liberal with us. with the ex- pectation that we are to make a large, fine, and at- tractive exhibit. Now, fellow hoe keepers, do not let this Hp a fail- ure, but show the penp'e that, in the face of a crop failure, we ean and will sustain the good reputation already formed, and make this a fine and attractive exhibit. If you do find it impossible to be present, and have any thing pertaining to this department that you wished placed on exhibition, you can send it by express, charges prepaid, to H. D. Cutting, Superintendent of the Bee and Honey Department, Detroit, Mich. It will be delivered to me in the building, when it will receive good care, and be placed on exhibition. Also send me instructions what to do with articles at the close of the exhibit. Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson, of the Review, has suggested that all bee-keepers intending to visit the Exposi- tion, meet "just after the judging" on the first week, and visit the Exposition in a body. You will be received by a committee at the bee-keepers' headquarters, and shown over the buildings and grounds, taking in all objects of interest. Please be with us as visitors, if you can not come as exhib- itors. Bee-keepers' day will be Friday, Aug. 39. H. D. Cutting. We trust that the Detroit Exposition may not be lacking in a honey display, even if, as friend Cutting says, the season has been extra poor. HOW BEES BRUSH THEIR EYES. Mr. Root.— In watching my bees I have noticed that every one, when leaving the hive, rubs its fore legs over the head, and so on down over the horns, or feelers. The old ones will perhaps give only one brush over, but the young bees will stand and rub for a minute at a time, the drones also do- ing considerable in the same hive. I should like to know if any one can tell the reason for this, as it is evidently for some purpose, as the Creator never made any thing in \ain. E W. Howes, M. D. Chatham. N. Y., July -ZS, 1890. AVe referred the matter to Prof. Cook, who replies : (iOJ GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. E. W. Howes, M. D., wishes to know why all the bees rub their heads and antennne with their fore legs as they come out of the hive before taking flight. It is to dust their eyes and antennse, or " horns." Their eyes are for light, their antennfe for smell, and both must needs be clean. Hence the bees brush the eyes and dust the antenna' by use of the antenna'cleaners. Dr. Howes can easilj- see that this is true by putting a bee or wasp on the window, and dropping some dust from the road, or fine chalk or flour, on the antennse. He will see the bees use the curious antennas cleaners to clean the antennse, and then the middle legs to clean the cleaners, in case it is a bee, or the jaws to do the same in case It is a wasp. The antennfe-ckaners on the front legs, described and beautifully illus- trated in my book, are wonderful organs. A hollow, bearing a dt licate fringe of hairs, and a duster with very fine membrane, together grasp and draw over the leg. A more beautiful and tffective organ it is hard to find. A.J.Cook. Agricultural College, Mich. town, D. C, is a signboard over fifty years old. The old board seems never to have been painted. The bridge regulations are painted in large black letters. The face of this board (4 x 6) is so worn away by the action of the weather that the words seem to have been carved in relief, and a blind man could read by the sense of touch those raised let- ters which the black paint has preserved. The face of the board has left them at least a sixteenth of an inch high. Arthur T. Golbsborouqh. Washington, D. C, May 28. A BIG TESTIMONIAIi IN FAA'OK OF THE NEW THICK TOP-BAKlS. Well, Uncle Amos, the queens are doing well. One of them has proved to be an extra layer, but the other has had no chance on account of the large flow ot basswood nectar, which is at this writing in full blast. It blossomed so the bees worked on some trees July 13, and it is coming in so fast that they do not stop to build comb in the sections, but cram the brood-combs full in some colonies, which is the case with one that T introduced one of the queens to July 13. Well, I am one, perhaps, of the many who are trjing the heavy top-bars, and the exact spacing I do by the use of the furniture-nails. I have 29 stocks so arranged, and am experimenting on 3 oth- er styles and widihs of top bars on 18 different stocks, and so far 1 am well pleased with heavy top- bars spaced i%, or, rather, a space between frames i^B of an inch. I have just looked them over, and I do not find any signs of burr-combs except on two hives, and there is only a little on them. On some of my Simplicity hives with thin top-bars they have got the zinc honey-board plastered nearly full, and I tore it off and scraped off a quart of burr-combs. I like the slatted wood break-joint honey-board bet- ter than the zinc ones, but I am grtatly in hopes that, with my new hive, I shall be able to discard them altogether. The heavy top bar that I speak of is 1% thick and % wide, and is used with my new chaff hive, which suits me better than any other hive 1 ever saw. Frkd C. Smith. Thanks for your valrable testimony. Our experience with the heavy bars has been so far exceedingly satisfactory. Did you no- tice, friend tS., whether the colonies with thick top-bars stored less honey than the colonies with thin bars V why hives SHOULD BE PAINTED; A GOOD ILLUS- TRATION. I have been waiting for some one to haul one of your contributors over the coals for asserting that paint does not protect wood (hives) from decay. You let him down easily by not noticing it editori- ally. Now, paint does protect wood by exclud- ing moisture; and when white lead is used, the sur- face is hardened against the wearing effect of wind and rain. Over the old aqueduct bridge in George- WHAT SORT OF PUMP IS BEST, FROM A SANITARY POINT OF VIEW ? Is a bucket pump, with buckets on that will hold a pint or more, better for the water in a cstern than the common chain pump with rubber buckets? The claim made for the former is, that the buck- ets carry air to the bottom of the cistern, and purify the water. E. E. Lawson. Stanberry, Mo.. Aug. 7. Friend L., I do not think the kind of pump you describe has much, if any, advan- tage over the chain pump. The theory that carrying the air under the water makes the water more wholesome, came from the vender of a certain kind of pump ; but I hardly believe it is supported by true science. Very "likely the water of the cistern will be better where there is considerable agitation, as this will disturb the settlings and tend to keep them pumped out. We have had very fine cistern water during the past summer, that has been used all through the factory, in preference to any of the well-water, for drinking purposes. But this cistern water is drawn through a tin-lined lead pipe, the pipe being tinned both inside and outside ; but in order to prevent settlings from get- ting in. the end of the pipe is turned up so as to take Avater a couple of feet above the bottom of the cistern. The cistern has, however, a chain pump also, out of doors. The chain pump goes lower down than the other, and is used often enough to keep the water agitated and " aerated,'' as the patent- pump man would term it. A GOOD REPORT FOK THE NOVICE EXTRACTOR. Seeing a notice in Gleanings, August 1, of the work done by T. H. Mills, of Cameron, Tex., with a Stanley extractor, I will state what I did for F. McNay, of Mauston, on August 10, 1889. With a Nov- ice extractor I extracted 60 gallons of honey, hived eight swarms of bees, and did it all alone, anJ went seven miles to town before sundown. Mauston, Wis., Aug. 6. E. W. Prosser. Uretty well, friend P., only we should pre- fer to have the amount of honey stated in pounds rather than in gallons. If it is good thick honey, however, we can safely esti- mate 11 lbs. to the gallon. I wonder if you didn't leave things scattered around some that night. THAT FKAC.^S IN OUR OWN APIARY; DOES IT PAY TO KEEP CROSS BEES ? Reading Gleanings for July 1, about a fracas with cross bees, in Our Own Apiary, raises the ques- tion with me as to whether it pays to keep black or hybrid bees at so great an expense of time, labor, and suffering from stings, though we have the courage to battle with them and the good fortune to survive their frequent attacks. As for me, I have 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 603 no time for all this labor and risk. Also, friend Root, how do you nianajre that queens are purely mated, having these black, cross, selBsh btes in the apiary or vicinity with your Italians'? Mechanicstown, Md., July 11. S. P. Rodddy. We were short of bees last spring, and ac- cordingly purchased a few colonies of some neighboring farmers, a part of which were hybrid, and of a rather bad sort. How did we prevent the hybrid droLes from mating with our young queens? Easily enough. The old hybrid queens were soon removed, and Alley traps were placed over the en- trances to catch all undesirable drones. All this we have explained in Gleanings. But a few of the old ugly hybrid bees are with us yet. They can't do any other harm than to sting, and next year we won't be pestered with them. We would hardly take hybrids again as a gift for our purpose, though they are just as good for honey. WHAT A BOY HAS HEARD AS A REMEDY FOR BEE- STINGS. I have heard that, if a bee tries lo sting you, and you hold your hreath, it can U'>t sir g you. If this is true, it is a good discovery. I like bees and like to handle them; but sometimes they sit down too hard to please me. I like to read Gleanings, and some time I expect to raise bees. Huron, Cal., July 19. Albert R. Gilstrap. Yes, we have heard this before. It is an- other relic of old-fogyism. The best way to prove or disprove such foolishness is to try it when bees are awful cross. Send the old fogy up here ; and if he doesn't recant, it will be strange. CAN bees live in NORTHERN MICHIGAN? Do you think bees would thrive here where it is not uncommon in winter for the mercury to go 15' below zero, and sometimes 25° to 30° below? It has been known to stand below zsro continuously for nearly a week. E. W. Allen. Mai-quette, Mich., July V. Yes, bees will do well enough, we think. Perhaps some bee-keeper in the vicinity can inform our friend. The only trouble will be in wintering; but if you use the Ijest meth- ods of indoor, or even outdoor, you ought to succeed. TOBACCO AS A BEE FORAGE PLANT. I feel rather timid in recommending you to try tobacco. In Its manufactured state it is, of course, used to the injury of many, but in its original and beautiful form I know of but few, if any, plants superior, if one may judge from the vim and indus- try with which the bees frequent it from morning light to close of day, from one year's end to the oth- er, winter and summer. We have a temperate climate here, scarcely any frost, and some of the General Grant Virginian kinds are now growing spontaneously (that is, without cultivation) about my poultry-yards and stock-yards, attaining the size of trees, almost, having stems three and four inches through, and flowering every day in the year. C. T. Wren."' Mt. Hobsoii, Remucra, Auckland, N. Z., March :U. from work. After practicing upon myself for about two months, with the remedies usual in such ca^es. and getting no relief, I concluded to try the bee remedy, and commenced applying from one to two to the part affected, three times a day. The effect was so very beneficial, that, after the first day, I was enabled to resume my work upon my place, and after two weeks I was entirely cured. I used Italians hypodermically, making them do the work themselves by holding them with a small pair of forceps to the part selected for the operation. It is nt edless to say, that the bees seem to understand this practice thoroughly. Villa Franca, Fla., July 2V. J. V. Harris, M. D. IMPOTENT QUEENS. Mr. Root: The queen that you sent that lays ster- ile rggs is not very exceptional. I have had many such. Even a microscopic examination shows no defect. The ovaries are plump, the spermatheca full, and all seemingly in proper condition. But the eggs are impotent. Tiiis is interesting as bear- ing on sterility in our higher animals. It is not only necessary that eggs thould grow and pass from the ovaries, but the eggs must be potent. Thus, higher animals may pass the period of oval- lation regularly, and yet be sterile. The eggs in this case are sterile, or impotent. SAND BEES. I have three more beautiful sand bees from S. H. Crowell, Rockford, III. These are Mdhsodes Pemi- sylvanica. They are much like drone bees in size and form. They are black, beautifully ringed with light yellow. The hind legs are so clothed with hair as to resemble a brush. This enables them to gather and carry pollen. They are mason bees, dig- ging holes for cells in the earth. Here they store pollen, in which they place an egg or eggs. They do good work fertilizing flowers. As Mr. C. re- quests, I write this to Gleanings. Agricultural College, Mich. A. J. Cook. j^EPei^i^^ Dipc0n^^6iN6. BEES FOR rheumatism A SUCCESS. A few months ago I was troubled with a very se- vere attack of rheumatism, affecting principally the left arm, and almost entirely incapacitating me POOREST SEASON FOR FBEKCHVILLE, WIS. Season for white honey is about over, and not one-tenth of a crop. So far this is the poorest sea- son for bees, and bee keepers too, in many years. Frenchville, Wis., July 28. Geo. Rall. HONEY CROP A TOTAL FAILURE. The honey crop is a total failure in this vicinity. It is doubtful whether the bees will gather enough to winter them. If there is a good fall crop they may pull through the winter wi hout feeding. Lavonia, Ga., July 2H. J. J. Hardy. PROSPECT POOR. The winter was severe, and the loss was about 40 per cent on account of dry and hot weather, with no dew. Bees gathered scarcely any thing from basswood. Up to date, July 10, only three swarms from 32 colonies. Fall prospects poor; in fact, it looks like a total failure. Geo. W. Baldwin. Forest City, Mo., July 10. A good SUPPLY TRADE, BUT A FAILURE IN HONEY. This has been my very best season in the supply trade. For a time I was three weeks behind with orders; and now to spoil it all. my customers will hardly get a pound of surplus honey to the colony^ 604 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. as the season is almost a total failure, and very many of those who were so enthusiastic a month a.go are disgusted with the whole business. This is the fourth year that the white clover and basswocd have failed to secrete honey. A. B. Herman. Burnett's Creek, Ind., July 25. CROP WILL BE LIGHT. Our crop of white honey here on the Missigsippi bottom will be very light. Clover never promised any better, but we had one hot week the last of June, and the bees don't seem to get any honey from it since. Basswood is about done blooming. Bees get honey from it early in the mornirg, but very little comes in through the day. Savanna, 111., July 11. John Handel. UTTER FAILURE OF THE HONEY CROP. Bee-keepers in this vicinity report an utter failure of the honey crop. There are plenty of flowers, but there is no honey. We never had a better outlook for honey than we had in fruit and dandelion bloom. The bees began storing then, but they have been making only a living since then. There was an abundance of white clover here, but it yielded no honey; and those living along the timber re- ported no basswood honey. Bees are very strong, but they consume all the honey they gather. If fall bloom does not jield more honey than we have had so far, we shall have to feed our bees for win- ter; but I look for a better fall, as there is lots of buckwheat in this vicinity. Bees swarmed but vf>ry little here. The honey crop is reported better in the south part of the county, and swarming was better. O. D. Nichols. Owasa, la., July 26. BEST SEASON EVER EXPERIENCED IN MASSACHU- SETTS. This has been the best season for clover that I ever experienced. It is so dry now, however, that the bees are robbing, and cross as blazes. If we don't get rain soon, our buckwheat and fall honey will amount to nothing. Allen Latham. Lancaster, Mass., July 24, 1890. A BEGINNER'S SUCCESS. One year a?o last spring I had one swarm of bees given me. It swarmed three times, and the 20th of August they had no surplus honey, and last fall we took from them 256 lbs. of honey, most of it being in pound sections. The honey was very nice, and looked like white-clover honey, but it was made from horsemint. I now have 15 swarms of bees, so I begin to think I am a bee-keeper, though they have no surplus honey now. Carrie Kesler. St. Anne, 111., July 30, 1890. A GOOD YIELD FROM BASSWOOD AND CLOVER. In this locality the bees have had plenty of clover and basswood to work upon, and I have hives that have already, no doubt, 100 lbs. of clover and bass- wood honey stored in 1-lb. boxes. But the increase with me has been very small. I had T old colonies, all strong, I placed the supers on early, and have, for the number of swarms, lots of honey, but only one new swarm. This may be peculiar to my bees, and the way I have dealt with them, as my neigh- bors have had, some of them, quite an increase. The honey is superb, and clover and basswood not gone yet either. Milton L. Bissell. Gerry, N. Y., July 28, 1890. 0a^ QaEg3Fi0]\[-B0^, With Replies from our best Autliorities 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 or paper, and marked. "For OurQuestioii-Box." Question 166 —1. Can I. hy feeding, raiise as gnod qneen>< licf ore the general swarming sea wn as during tfiat timef 2. Can as gnnd queens he raised after the swarming season? 1. 2. Yes. Ohio. N. W. Yes, every time. Ohio. S. W. A. B Mason. C. F. MUTH. 1, 2. Yes, if the colony is strong. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. 1. Doubtful. Ohio. N. W. Still more doubtful E. E. Hasty. 1. Yes, I think so. 3. I say yes. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boardman. Theoretically, no to both. Practically, yes to both. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. I should slightly prefer queens reared in swarm- ing time to those reared either before or after. California. S. W. R. Wilkin. 1. I do not think you can, quite. 2. Yes, they can or can not be, according to circumstances. Michigan. C. James Heddon. 1. Yes, but attend closely to the feeding; feed regularly every day, and have the hive or nucleus box full of bees. 2. Yes, by the above plan. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. Some of our best queens have been reared either before or after swarming; but as a rule they are not quite as uniform. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. Yes, to both, if you put the colony rearing queens in the same or a similar condition to what they enjoy during the swarming season. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. 1. Yes, if your colonies are strong enough and weather is warm enough. 2. Yes. If the conditions are favorable, just as good queens can be raised in August, or even September, as earlier. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. I don't know. I have never raised queens after the middle of July; but having so many young queens to clip every spring, I know that the bees do supersede some queens after the middle of July. As for the goodness of those late queens, I think they are all right. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. Yes, select your strongest and best colonies, and by regular and systematic feeding stimulate them to the swarming-point. The best queens we have ever had were raised that way. 2. I can not speak 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 605 positively; but reasoning- from general priacip'es, I should say not. Illinois. Mrs. L. Harrison. I doubt whether as good queens can be raised either before or after as during the swarming sea- son. Still, if the bees are fed bountifully, and the weather is favorable, it is possible that good queens can be raised any time. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. I think not. Weather is too changeable, and I doubt wholher we can supply to the bees, when confined to the hive, food for queen-rearing that will equal that which they are able to provide when weather is warm, and they are flying freely. 2. Yes, with good weather and plenty of honey com- ing in. What is to hinder? Wisconsin. S. W. S. 1. Freeborn. Just as good and just as prolific queens as I ever had in my yard have been raised at both extremes of the season. Liberal feeding and favorable weather are needed. This season, 1890, with us has been so cold that queens could not be raised to ad- vantage. Hot weather and a good flow of honey, or feed, and care on the part of the apiaiist, is all that is necessary to raise good queens. New York. E. Rambler. I am glad to see so many of the opinion that just as good queens can be raised out- side of the swarming season, and I am glad, too, to see so many suggest that all the con- ditions must be complied with. The finest queens I ever reared in my life, and the most satisfactory work in building up col- onies I ever did, was during August and September, when we were compelled to keep things moving by daily feeding. Of course, bees got pollen plentifully from corn and other sources ; but they obtained so little honey that brood-rearing would have stopped almost entirely had it not been for the daily rations of sugar syrup. Nature is good ; but the keen, energetic, and enthusi- astic student of nature can make nature boom in a way she rarely if ever does boom without man's assistance. 0aR 0WN ;^pi^^Y. CONDUCTED BY KRNKST B. HOOT. STINGLESS BEES AT THE HOME OF THE HOXEY'-BEES. Two or three weeks ago we were notified that a box of bees was at the express office. As they had come from Cuba, we suppos- ed, of course, they were all dead, and were questioning whether we should accept them. We pried off the cover, and on peering through the perforated tin we saw, not a lot of dead bees, but a few dozen little insects that looked very much like what we call " sweat bees.'' Surmising that they might be the stingless bees, we accepted them at once. Mr. Spaflord and I did not know what to do with the things I was a little afraid that they might not be able to defend themselves against the ordinary Italians; and although they were stingless, I had read somewhere that they could bite fear- fully hard. Mr. Spafford was requested to fix them up and make the entrance so nar- row that the ordinary bees could not pass through. In the mean time the following letter came to hand, which explains itself : Mr. Rudt:— With this I send the stingless bees that I wrote you about. I hope they will reach you in good condition, as they are queer little fellows. Some time ago we had ten days of very rainy weath- er, and the top of the box that they are in had a large crack, and let the water into the box. When the weather was good I went out to see my bees, and I noticed that these little fellows were bringing^ water up to the door, each one two drops at a time; and as last as one would back into the hole there would be another. 1 took off the top, and, to my surprise, found it about half full of water. They were pumping it out as fast as they could. There is not any thing known about these bees. No one has ever seen them swarm. These have been in this box ten years. You will see that at first it was a one story ; but as they filled that up to give them more room, the other piece was put on. I hope you will be able to enlighten us about them. Havana, Cuba, July 16. James Warner. Yes, indeed, they are "queer little fel- lows." We caught a few and found that they could not be made to sting, and for the very good reason that they could not use a weapon that they did not have. The facts related by friend Warner are interesting. Just think of those little fellows carrying the water out, one by one, in little bits of loads from the bottom of their box ! When the box arrived I noticed that it was a little damp inside, and this was doubtless because of it. No, friend Warner, there is not very much known about these bees. In some of our back numbers, two or three subscribers have mentioned seeing them in Mexico and elsewhere. I have been vainly looking over the indexes in our back volumes, but I fail just at the moment to find any thing regard- ing them. I have, however, been watching them very closely. I will say to our readers, that these bees are about two-thirds the size of the ordina- ry Italian bee ; and as I said at the outset, they look very much like our sweat bees of the North. On the whole they are rather pretty and sprightly, and exceedingly quick on the wing. What they lack in a sting is made up in powerful mandibles, or jaws ; and 1 amused myself considerably by poking long timothy straws into their entrances, to see the little fellows get hold of the grass and fairly bite it in two; and when their jaws went together I could hear them snap. I wanted to put my finger into the hole and feel them bite, but I could hardly scrape up courage enough. Finally when a triend came around 1 called him up to the hive and told him we had some stingless bees, and suggested the propriety of putting his finger in at the entrance, to see what they would do. Nothing daunted he did so, but they seemed to think there was no use wasting their strength on such a big object, and sim- ])ly backed into their hole and allowed his finger to remain unmolested. After assur- ing myself that they would not hurt him, I tried it. Very soon some of our Italians began to buzz around, because the box had a strong odor of Southern honey. While ■606 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE. Aug. watching I noticed a big tly come up and peelc in at the entrance. He had no sooner done so than one of the little fellows jumped out like an arrow, and Mr. Fly absented himself, and that right speedily. I took up an Italian, disabled him, and put him in at the entrance. The little stingless fellows seemed to recognize that he was crippled, and so they simply pushed him out, as they did others that I put in in a similar condi- tion, for I could not get a bee not crippled to even smell at the entrance. One day, while I was chancing to go by, 1 saw an Italian down in front of the hive. One of the stingless bees was cm its back, and with its powerful mandibles was nipping away at the little cord which connects the abdomen with the thorax. I did not see him bite it in two, but he gave it such severe pinches that the bee irom Italy finally gave up struggling, and very shortly afterward died. Whether this is a trick of the stingless bees or not, I am not able to say. If so, it is ex- ceedingly cute ; and it is something that I wish our Southern subscribers, or those who are favorably situated, would report upon. Be that as it may, we have not been at all afraid that any thing would rob them. They seem fully able to hold their own. WHY NOT rUT TIIEM OX MO \' ABLE C03IBS ? Later in the day, after they were received. I told Neighbor IL that we had just come in possession of some stingless bees. He asked me a number of questions, but I could not give him any thing very definite then, " Why don't you transfer them," he said, " and put them on movable frames V " " Come with me and 1 will show you why we don't." " Why," said he, " they build their nests about like bumble-bees." " Yes, only more so," I replied. Their honey-cells are about the size of walnuts, and very much the same shape. They seemed to be in a jumbled-up mass in the center of the hive. Clear down in the center, through a slight opening, I noticed that they had brood-cells about the size of peas, very much in the same mixed-up con- dition. Their honey-cells will hold perhaps a couple of ounces of honey. ARK TIIEY OF ANY PRACTICAL UTILITY ? Although I have been watching to see whether they bring in honey, I have not yet been able to discover that they do. On the contrary, scarcely a bee emerges from the entrance. There can not be more than four or five dozen bees in the whole colony. It is true, we have not been having honey com- ing in to any extent ; but on the day they came, and two or three days after, the Ital- ians were gathering quite a little honey. It would seem that they have gathered all that they think they will need in their southern home, Cuba ; and as their numbers are comparatively small, there is no immediate danger of their starving. I am sorry that all our readers can not see them, because they are really interesting if not really serviceable to man. THE DIBBERN BEB-ESt'ArE, Our later experiments with the star-shap- €d horizontal escape were not very satisfac- tory. There were too many openings, and the consequence was that the bees would find it and get back through. Still another trouble, the openings were too small, and drones and workers would clog the thing up and shut off the openings altogether. Mr. D. and myself have been having some corre- spondence back and forth. The result was, he sent me an escape that had only one opening. It is like what we originally illus- trated on page 5, 1590, being pear-shaped. The openings in this were much larger, and I am pleased to say that so far it seems to be a success in every way. It will rid an ex- tracting super of bees in short order. It does not clog up, and so far promises to be a success. The first time I put it on the hive I made a mistake and put it on upside down The result was, that almost all the bees abandoned the bruod below and went up into the extracting super above. A few hours afterward we turned it the other side up ; and when we came to examine after- ward, we found scarcely a bee in the super. I hope that Bro. Doolittle will try one of these later ones. NOTES OP TRAVEL AMONG YORK STATE BEE-KEEPERS. FROM MEDINA TO BORODINO. I start to-day, Aug. 6, on my trip among the bee-keepers of the Eastern States, I take the train to-night, and go as far as Syracuse, when I expect to get off and make the rest of my trip through York State on the Victor wheel, I may be very sick of wheel- ing or bad roads. If so, I shall seek the aid of the locomotive ; but it is a fair average for bicyclers to make about .30 miles a day, with reasonable stops, on fair roads. Day before yesterday morning, before breakfast, I took a run of twenty miles in two hours and ten minutes. I enjoyed my ride exceed- ingly ; and after taking a refreshing drink of new milk, and after eating a little cracked wheat, I felt ready to take another run. This distance was made over somewhat hilly country. I say this, that those of our readers who are unfamiliar with what may be done with the high-grade bicycles will not ccmclude that I am rather foolish in un- dertaking what may seem to iJiem a wild and impracticable scheme. One of our em- ployes. Mr. Jacob Borger, traveled last sum- mer 4(10 miles ; and after finishing the last mile he seemed to be as hale and hearty as when he started out. So much for the improvements that have been made in cycling within the last seven ox eight years. I hope it won't rain. If it does, there are some bee-keepers I may not be able to call upon. Wednesday, 67/i.— Here I am waiting for the train at Medina, rigged out in a bicycle suit; i. e., a blouse, black shirt and tie, with short knee-breeches, black stockings, and low cloth shoes. I wonder if it is un- dignified to visit bee-keepers in such a hab- it. No, I am sure it is not. For cycling I need a light and cool suit, and trousers with- out any flopping edges to catch in the spokes of the wheel or pedals. Besides, I have 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 607 strapped to the machine an ordinary suit of clothes for Sundays, and— yes, there is the Kodak under the seat. There goes the whistle, and the train is here. Jacob, who traveled 400 miles last summer through Michigan and Ohio, is ready to help me get the wheel on the train, for most companies won't check bicycles. There, the train is moving, and I scramble for the car-steps. Father gives me a paternal grasp of the hand, and looks a little worried. Mother remarked at the table that she was afraid that I would overdo on the bicycle ; or, from the frequent change of drinking-water, become sick. Perhaps father is thinking of the same thing. I will be very careful. I am in Cleveland now, and my bicycle has been checked as far as Buffalo, on the Lake Shore. The agent says he doesn't know whether the N. Y. C. will or not from Buffalo to Syracuse. I get a sleeping-car ticket, and then delight (V) myself with the thought of how nice it will be to get up from the sleeper a little after midnight to have my wheel re-checked or something else. I don't sleep very well, for fear the sleep- ing-car porter will forget to wrjke me up at the proper time. I yawn and stretch, and think how nice (?) it will be to make a bi- cycle trip from Syracuse among bee-keepers, with my wheel in Buffalo. The weary hours wear by, and finally, by squinting at my watch by the dim light, I guess it is about time to get up. I am all dressed when the porter punches and says, " Hurry up and get up, boss, for we're near Buffalo." The train has no sooner stopped than I glance at the name of the car 1 am on, and then run forward to the baggage-car. The train waits but a few minutes, and the baggage- man says the wheel can't be taken if there is lots of baggage. I hang around and par- ley with him while 1 try to keep watch of my sleeper, which I see is switching on to another track. Finally the railroad official asks for the check on the bicycle, which had been put on by the Lake Shore Co. Oh dear 1 oh dear '. I can't find it I Yes, here it is. I remembered then that Jacob said, '•'• If the agent is ' obstreperous,' offer him a quarter." I did so, and then handed him another quar- ter to take good care of it and not bang it around. The baggage-man is very obliging. His face shows that there is plenty of room in the car, and that he will see "that it is safely delivered in Syracuse. The other baggage-man called out, "You didn't give me no quarters, and I brought it to Buffalo.'" " Yes," I say, " but your company checked it." I have no time to settle with another man, for my sleeper is — where ? I am on the other horn of the dilemma; viz., a bi- cycle in Syracuse, but the rider still in Buf- falo. I race up and down that immense depot, looking for a sleeper with the right name. Over there is one just going out on the end of a long train. Yes, it is the right one. In a few minutes I am asleep, because both horns of the dilemma are out of the way. Thursday, 7th. — I am in Syracuse on my bicycle, both of us unharmed by the contin- gency of the night before. The roads and scenery are beautiful. The wheel makes not the slightest noise ; and if ever I felt enchanted, it is on this bright cool morning, riying, as it were, to Skaneateles, 25 miles distant. 13 MILES OUT. Oh dear ! There's a hill a mile long, and a steep one ; and, worse than all, it's stony and rough. I dismount and push up hill. 1 don't feel very much " enchanted" now. The sun is hot, and I am sticky with sweat, and the exhilaration of " fiying '" is well nigh spent. I am on top of the hill now, and am spinning through the country. It's lots of fun to cycle. AT SKANKATELES. I have gone 25 miles in a little over three hours. I am not fatigued. The beautiful Skaneateles Lake is spread before me. The air is delightfully fresh after a ride. The water at the dock is as clear as crystal, and I can see good-sized fish in the water 12 feet deep. A beautiful little steamer will leave soon, and I board it for Jiorodino, the home of G. M. Doolittle. On the right are pleas- ure-resorts on the rising shores ; over to the left is Borodino. It looks as if it might be a pretty place. It's too dark now, or I would take a photograph with the Kodak. Ernest. 5F@B^CC6 C0MMN. THE INFLUENCE OF THE TOBACCO COLUMN IN THE FAMILY. I notice in Gleanings that you give a smoker to any person who stops using- tobacco. I have stop- ped, and I thought I would ask you to send me one. I agree to pay you 75 cents for it should I again commence. My father is a subscriber to Glean- ings. He has about 20 colonies of bees, and a smoker would be a welcome present. Waverly, Neb., June 20. Chas. D. Gillham. I like your efforts to get people to quit using to- bacco. After seeing your offer to give a smoker if any one would quit using tobacco, I have made up my mind to quit using it in any shape; and if I evCF break my pledge I will send you $1.00 to pay for it. Darien, N. Y., July 1. F. L. Wotton. PLEDGES NEVER TO USE THE WEED AGAIN. Mr. A'irgil J. Seymour, who Is a man of 60 years, pledges himself never to use tobacco in any form. Please send him a smoker; and If he uses the weed again he pledges himself to pay for the smoker. Nunica, Mich., July 3. Mrs. E. C. Reid. ONE WHO HAS USED THE WEED 3d YEARS, AND QUITS. Having taken more interest each time I have read your Tobacco Column, I have made up my mind to give up the use of tobacco. I have used the weed, in smoking only, for the last 20 years, and will pay you for the smoker if I touch it again. Sydney, Australia, June 3. N. LeRoy Tracy. I have quit the use of tobacco, and I promise to. pay tor the smoker if I ever use it again. Camden, Mich. Frank Kunkle. 608 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. That art on which a thousand millions of men are dependent foi' their sustenance, and two hundred millions of men expend their daily toil, must l)e the most important of all — the parent and precursor of all other arts. In every country, then, and at «very period, the investiffation of the principles on which the rational practice of this art is founded ought to have command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds. James F. W. Johnston. t.:—\n your understanding that I refused to pay the charges on your express packages, you are not correct. I never refused to pay the charges, but simply said that they were excessive. The package lay in the office during my confinement by sickness, some two weeks, but I sent the money to the agent before I was able to go for the packages. I had Mrs. EUwell, of Pueblo, send last spring, a year ago, for your hives and fixings, which I am using. But your fear that you can not make the charges out of me will prevent me hereafter from getting my friends to patronize you, lest their deal with you be no better than mine. Rye, Col., July 30. E. M. Beckwith, M. D. You will see from the above that our friend did not refuse to take the goods ; and, furthermore, that he has been for some years a friend of Gle.vnings, and has in- duced different individuals to send orders to us. No wonder he felt provoked when he received such a sharp letter as ours, simply because sickness prevented him from going to the express office. Do you not see how much better a mild letter of inquiry would have been in the first place V You will notice that the letter opens up with '• Dear Sir." Most of our correspond- ence, as you may have observed, commences with " Friend." But as we were vexed be- cause the goods were refused, as we had been told, I presume the "Dear Sir" ac- corded more with our feelings. Looking back at the transaction now, it is very easy to see how much better something like the following would have been : Friend Bechwith: — 'We are told by the express agent at your place that you have refused the pack- age of June 23, on account of excessive charges. Perhaps you are not aware that we shall have to pay these charges if you do not. Of course, we do not know you; but we can hardly believe that you would willingly let the whole burden of this expense fall on us when we simply did exactly as you direct- ed us to do. Will you not please let us hear from you at once? Now, if such a letter as the above would not bring a courteous and gentlemanly ans- wer, then it would have been time enough to suggest to him that he was legally re- sponsible— that is, if he was a responsible man — for the consequences of his blunder if it was a blunder. A little incident in the papers a few days ago read something like this : A little girl propounded a question to her mother. "■ Mother, which do you think is the worse —stealing, or telling lies ? " Her mother was somewhat puzzled, and asked her little daughter what she thought about it. She replied something like this : " Why, I rather think that telling lies is worse than stealing ; because, you know, if you steal any thing you can carry it back or pay for it ; but if you tell a lie it just stays there for ever." Now, my friends, there is a sad moral to the wonderful truth expressed by the little girl. We can atone for the loss of property by an apology ; but when we hastily give way to the temptation to speak harsh or un- kind words— words that cut and sting— it is a pretty hard matter to take them back. The express company thought it very likely that our friend refused the goods because of the excessive charges ; and we, in a like manner, took it for granted that we had got to pay the tremendous express charges this long distance, and then get them home the best we could. " Is not easily provoked ; thinketh no evil." What a grand little text this is, in view of matters like the above ! Below is our letter of apology, but W3 feel that it will hardly heal up the wound we unwittingly gave to a friend of ours : Friend Beckwith: — We beg pardon for having worded our letter quite so strongly. We have had quite a little trouble recently with parties refusing express shipments because they thought the charges too high; and from the way your agent Slated the matter, we thought you presented a case of the same kind. We are glad to know that in this we were mistaken, and beg your pardon for having accused you falsely. We trust you will not cherish any ill will toward us because of this. Another productive cause of trouble is returning goods without first writing to us and asking what disposition to make of them in case they are not wanted. It is very ex- pensive shipping goods long distances, either by express or freight ; and our trade is scat- tered so thoroughly that we can almost al- ways order, to somebody near by , a thing that is not wanted, and thus save losses ; where- as if the goods are sent back here, we are obliged to pay transportation two ways if the mistake is ours. If the mistake is our customer's, he is needlessly out of pocket ; and I do not feel a bit better to see some- body else lose money than I do if I lose it myself. May be that is a pretty strong statement, but I hope it is true. Sometimes when I am vexed or provoked I am tempted to say, " It teaches them a good lesson ; " or, " Perhaps it will help them to remember next time." But I always feel bad to see anybody lose his hard-earned money. I know what it is, dear friends, to work hard; and I am willing to work hard, but I do want a proper compensation for my labor. When I work hard and get nothing for it, it vexes me ; and when anybody else works hard and gets nothing for it, it vexes me just as much, I am sure. And when some- body is so bad and wicked that he will, with- out scruple, take another's hard earnings without recompense, I am tempted to get into a fighting mood. At such times I might make haste to pull out the tares, and root out, also, good wheat. Well, in our price list we very emphatically request that noth- 612 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. ing be returned before first writing for in- structions in regard to it. When you get something that does not please you, the proper thing to do is to write and say so, telling the sender the goods are subject to his order^ and asking for directions for disposal. Now, please, friends, bear this in mind : If you decline to receive the goods, they are not yours; and if not yours, you have no business to send them anywhere. Just think of taking the liberty of sending goods that do not belong to you, without authority! Even an express agent has no right to return goods until he has instructions so to do from the owner. If he does, he is responsible for all charges. This we have settled by actual test ; therefore please remember this, that, when you receive something that is not up to contract, or that, for some reason or other, you do not want, or did not order, neither you nor your express agent has any right ichatever, nor any authority whatever, for sending the goods anywhere. Write to the real owner of the property in question, and ask him his pleasure in regard to it. If he does not reply, and the things still remain on your hands, you can, if you choose, make out a bill for storage and care for them. But until he does reply, they are his property intrusted to your care. You may leave them at the railroad depot or at the express office, if you choose, and while there the owner must pay for storage, if he does not give orders in regard to their disposal. Some years ago some very good friends of ours— Christian people too. if I am correct- received something they did not order. In- stead of waiting to hear from us they made haste to send the goods back to us by express. Now, it happened that these goods were the product of a manufacturer who agrees to make good every imperfection in regard to them ; and his instructions are that every thing shall be shipped back to the factory. Our customer, without waiting to be inform- ed of this, sent them back to us with heavy charges, when they could have been sent more cheaply to the factory where they were made. We had to pay the express charges on receipt of the goods, and then they had to be reshipped to the factory. I was provoked, and wrote him that we should have to ask him to pay the expense of his folly in ex- pressing them to us without any instructions from us to do so. It was the old story— be- cause of the loss of a small amount of money I pulled up the wheat with the tares. He became angry, and said that if such a letter as that was according to my ideas of Chris- tianity, he wanted no further deal with A. I. Root, and never wanted to read Glean- ings any more. I wrote him, explaining matters ; but he was soured, and has never traded with us since (several years have passed), until I saw a small order from him during the rush of the past season. How glad I was to see the old familiar signature ! Eriend , if this meets your eye, please forgive me for my hasty letter. I should have remembered that you had been for many long years a friend of ours, and a friend of Gleanings ; and if you were hasty it was my duty to have reminded you of it in gentle terms, at least before writing harshly. Most of you can recall instances where those who have been excellent friends for years have had trouble over some trifling matter, and, for some unaccountable reason, former friendly terms have never been re- newed. I have seen people quarrel in a good-natured way as to who should be per- mitted to bear the expense of some little sum. Each one held the other in such friendly esteem that it became a privilege to pay 25 cents, or even a dollar or more, to show his friendship and good will. This state of af- fairs exists because the two parties have unlimited /ai7/i and confidence in each other. You, perhaps, have friends whom you feel so sure are the very soid of honor that you would entrust them with almost any amount, without even a thought of anxiety. You hsiwe faith in such a one. This kind of faith is beautiful to behold, and I am sure it would be better if there were more of it. When the two are brothers in Christ Jesus, such confidence and perfect trust are still more beautiful to behold. It is one of the things in life worth living for. Well, now, such a faith and such a trust may be upset and demolished, and ruthlessly torn to shreds by just this thing I have been talking about to-day. Even such people as the ones I have described, who are the soul of honor, are still human, and have their imper- fections. As a faithful friend it is your duty, no doubt, to labor with them in regard to their faults and failings, and they will think all the more of you for it, providing you do it with a careful and loving hand. I re- member one such friend now ; and the very thing that makes him exceedingly near and dear is because he talks to me plainly. He says to me things that I would hardly dare to say to anybody else, and that perhaps no- body else would be plain enough to say to me. But he says them with such exceeding kindness that I never feel vexed toward him. Now, suppose he should some time, when vexed, or sorely tried with me (or per- haps with somebody else), forget himself so far as to speak to me in anger. Even if he did, I hope and pray that God would give me grace to remember the years when he has given me only sympathy and kindness and gentleness. It wants a Christian spirit on both sides. We ought to be ready and willing to bear with our friends, even if they do forget themselves; and they on their part ought to be very careful about forgetting. Every Christian should be prepared to do more than his part both ways. He should do more than his share of forbearing, and he should do more than his share in forgiving. In this way these misunderstandings, and words that hurt and sting for years after- ward, may be avoided. In this same line let us be slow to think evil. I told the friend who expressed the goods back to me that we should have to ask him to pay the ex- pense of what he had done without orders. Under other circumstances I would have paid the amount twice over rather than ap- pear ungentlemanly to one whom I had known so long, or rather than to appear small in deal. A dear friend of mine, who is not a Christian man, once saw a store- keeper and customer using hard words ove 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 613 a matter of 25 cents. He commenced to reprove them, when each party began to tell his story. lie interrupted them something like this : " But, my friend, the amount in question is only 25 cents.''' One of the two asked him if he would be willing to be beat out of 25 cents. lie re- plied, " Why, I would lose 2-5 cents any time rather than to use hard words, and talk to each other as you have been talking." They were both silenced, and hung their heads in sharae. The two who were quar- reling were Christians. The man who said he would give 2-5 cents any time I'ather than have a "wrangle," was not a Christian. I often think of his words, and they have done me good. Let us look out for our rights, and in a good-natured wav defend ourselves, even in small matters. But, dear brethren, do we not often make a great ado over something comparatively small and unimportant ? Sometimes I get hold of let- ters written by the clerks, where the circum- stances are aggravating. Sometimes I say, "Look here, my friend, all you say is no doubt true ; but will it not be a great deal better to cross out this sentence, and that, and that? The letter will be just as well without it, and I know by experience that it will save hard feelings. Let us never stir somebody up needlessly. Let us not say severe things, even though they may be true, unless we are certain that some good Is going to come from them. If it will be the means of leading this poor friend to Christ Jesus, by a^ll means let it go; if not, strike out these passages, and have the let- ter written over again." Kemember the wheat that may be rooted up and destroyed when we undertake with ruthless hand, and without due thought and proper care, to pluck out the tares. Editorial S. W. MORRISON IN COLORADO. Friend Morrison desires us to state that he is now located in Colorado Springs, whither he has removed on account of his wife's health. He also says he is out of the queen-rearing business. GARDENING FOR AUGUST. If you have good ground, well enriched, worked up fine, there are several crops that may be put in now with profit. Eclipse beets; celery, if you have good strong plants; Grand Rapids lettuce, but the plants would be better than the seeds if you can get them; Egyptian onions; Early Frame and Chinese Rose Winter radish; and purple-top turnip. The latter may be somewhat doubtful; but with plenty of rain they will doubtless make a nice size for table use. Last, but by no means least, winter spinach. Last fall we sold bushels and bushels of spinach at from 5 to 10 cts. per lb., and didn't have -enough. Few if any one in our community had used spinach until we introduced it, and now it is •quite a staple article. It will probably take a full acre to supply our demand during the coming fall, winter, and spring. If sown now it will get to be large and stocky, well prepared to stand the winter; yet there will be no danger of its starting to seed until in the spring. And, by the way, spinach is an excellent feed for poultry. They will feed on it all winter, as you may find to your sorrow, if you don't have your patch far enough away from their range. We can furnish the best American Savoy or Blooms- dale seed at .5 cts. per oz., or 30 cts. per lb. ; 6 lbs. or more, 25 cts. per lb. It needs about 10 lbs. per acre. We sow it with a common wheat-drill, using phos- phate, just as we do for wheat. Southern Prize turnip may be sown this month or next. THE feTRAWBERRY-PI^ANTS WE SELL, AND THE WAY WE RAISE THEM. The demand for the four kinds of strawberries we offer has been beyond any thing heretofore known; but so far each order has been filled by re- turn mail. Perhaps you would like to know how we raise the plants. The original plants were set out just about a year ago. This season, just before the runners began to set, the ground was harrowed between the rows until very fine. Just at this time our large compost-heap had to be removed on ac- count of our new building. In order to avoid handling the stuff twice, I told the boys we would put it all between the strawberries. Then we har- rowed the ground again to work in the manure. After that, about two inches of ashes were spread over the surface, and this was again thoroughly raked into the soil. Then the boys went to work and spread the runners out so as to cover the ground, putting a lump of dirt (or manure if they could get hold of it) on every runner. As soon as they were rooted sufficiently to fill orders, we went through, took all that were rooted enough, pulled the others up, and swung them around in order that we might give the ground another tremendous har- rowing. Then the boys went through again, placing the runners that had been pulled up, as before. It was a great amount of work; but had we not done it we should never have been able to meet the tre- mendous demand our friends are making on us for plants. The Gaudies and Haverlands seemed to catch hold of the idea at the same time their roots caught hold of the manure and ashes; and, oh my! how they have just put in the time and made roots and runners! About the middle of July some of these first plants were taken up with the transplar-ting- tubes, and moved to a new plantation, and some of these young plants in the new plantation, in just four weeks have now four or five strong plants of their own. All the plants have been grown so far without irrigation, as sufficient harrowing has been made to take the place of it; but unless it rains very soon, the windmill will have to be called in to help fill orders for plants. Please remember that both Bubach and Haverland are pistillate varieties, and must have a row of Jessies, or some other stam- inate variety, near them. ALFALFA HONEY. We make the following extract from the Lakin Index, published at Lakin, Kansas: How doth the little busy bee improve each shin- ing hour, and maketh honey every day from the sweet alfalfa flower! Farmer John Troutman, be- ing the pioneer " bee-man " of Kearney County, drove into town on Saturday last, and disposed of a nice lot of that fine-haired luxury called comb honey, retailing the delicate golden sweet at 15 cents 614 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Aug. per pound. He did not wait for customers, but his stock was eagerly taken. Our eastern friends may talk about their basswood and alsike-clover lioney, but the Western Kansas man, with his fields of constantly blooming alfalfa, can exclaim, " Eure- ka!" and down all competitors with a marketable product of the industrious bee, made from the alfalfa bloom. It is true, that alfalfa honey is destined to take the front rank. It has a most delicate and beauti- ful flavor, and all who taste it are quite willing to acknowledge that it has a little the finest flavor of any honey they ever tasted. One peculiarity of it is, it leaves no burning sensation to pensitive throtvts, of which some people complain. We are negotiating for a carload of comb honey to arrive from Reno, Nev., between the middle and last of September. This is to come from W. K. Ball, from whom we received some alfalfa of last year's crop several months ago, which is the mildest, most palatable honey we ever tasted. The honey offered above is very much like it. JUDGING A QUEEN BY HER LOOKS. We had supposed that the day is passed when any one would undertake to decide by a queen's looks whether she produces pure bees— whether she was imported or not, etc. But, twice this sea- son we have had customers who claimed and pre- sumed to call a queen not what she was represented to be, simply from her looks, after an exhausting trip through the mails. One man says he showed her to all the best judges in his neighborhood, and they all pronounced her to be a hybrid. In the oth- er case, our customer had received an imported queen, which, after a while, failed to lay. On be- ing informed of this we at once sent him another best imported— in fact, one of the best queens we had in our apiary. Without introducing her at all, he looked at her, then carried her to a friend of his who was presumed to be a judge, and they together looked at her, and decided that she was just like the old one, because she Jnoked like her; where- upon these two wise friends mailed her away to Medina again. We are glad to say that she came through all right. We do not propose to take any more risks in trying to satisfy such unreasonable people. Now, please let us have it understood, that, if you are going to judge of a queen by her looks, you had better not send to us. Our queens are to be judged by the workers they produce, and the work that these workers do. Of course, we like to have a good-sized queen; and if she is light in color, we are well aware that it goes a good way with some people. Very few queens, after a long trip through the mails, look very bright or large. When the queen is received, if there is any life in her at all, give her a chance, and do not complain until there is something to complain of. 3foraL— When anybody claims to be so wise as to be able to tell what a queen is worth, simply from her looks, set him down either as very ignorant in bee culture or very dishonest. gPECI^L ]S[0¥ICEg. COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY FROM ARIZONA. We hav3 just received from the Bee-keepers' As- sociation of Maricopa Co., Arizona, a carload of very fine extracted and comb honey. There is only about a ton of comb and about 16 tons of extracted. It is principally alfalfa, and of very fine flavor and color. The comb honey is in 34 and 48 lb. cases, with no glass, and the price is 17 cts. per lb. In lots of 5 cases or more, 16 cts. The extracted honey is all in 601b. cans, 3 cans in a case; the price is 10 cts. per lb. by the case of one or two cans; 3 cases or more, 9 cts. per lb. Those wanting 1000 lbs. or more will please write us for prices. From the number of inquiries for comb honey that we have, you will have to speak quick if you expect to get any of his. SOME STATISTICS IN REGARD TO BUSINESS AT THE HOME OF THE HONEY-BEES. It may be of interest to many of our readers to learn something of the extent of the bee-ktepers' supply business as carried on at the Home of the Honey-Bees the past year. As we have had to col- lect statistics for the census bureau, we give jou pome of the results of our investigations. We give figures in round numbers, within a very few of the actual count, and more easily remembered. The whole number of hives of the five styles we make was a little over 36,()00, of which we sol 1 30,010 Dove- tailed, 10,000 Simplicity, 3000 Portico, 1700 two-story chaff, and 14.50 one-story chaft'. The previous year, when the Dovetailed hive was introduced, about March, it reached a sale of 4200, and 13,030 Simplici- ty were sold. This shows that the Dovetailed hive has taken its place rapidly at the head of the list, and made the whole number of Simplicities dimin- ish when every thicg else has increased. For convenience we will arrange the statistics in the form of a table, comparing a few items with the number produced a year ago, which was our largest year until the present. By this you will see the great increase, and the reason for our being (for a time) so behind on orders, and having to run day and night to fill them. Quantity produced and sold from Sept. 1888 I Sept. '89, to Sept. 1889. I Aug. '90. Dovetailed hives I 4 200 I 20,000 Simplicity hives 12,000 10,000 Portico hives I 3.000 I 3.000 Twostory Chaff hives I 1,100 I 1,700 One-story Chaff hives | 900 I 1,4.50 Brood frames. Simp, size 360,000 I 500,000 One-piece sections 5,000.000 | 6,,500,000 Weight of freight shipments. . I 1,350,000 lbs 2,25'J,000 The number of shipments by freight or a year is about 7000, and by express 3000. The average num- ber of hands employed for a year has been 100, and the amount paid them, 140.000. We have turned out 30,000 Clark's smokers in a year; and 75 casks, of 600 lbs. each, of sheet zinc, has been made into queen-excluding metal, making about 80,000 sq. ft. Of the six and a half million sections sold, we bought from other makers 1,310,000, and would have bought many more if we could have got them, rather than send out many made from dark and poorly seasoned lumber that we had lo send in or- der to fill orders at all. PREPARATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. We have now well under way another two story brick building, 37x100 ft., to be used on first floor for making comb foundation and for a machine- shop, and on the upper floor for tin-shoo, japanning room, and making smokers. This will jiiveusthe whole of both floors in the building 44x96, erected in 1886, for wood-working machinery. As our 90 H. P. engine is inadequate to run so much machinery we are putting on a larger cylinder to increase its power to about 150 H. P. Our Mr. Warner has been to Michigan and secured a shipload of pine lumber from which we expect to make a better quality of hives than some we had to send out the past few months. We are trying to secure suflicient bass- wood lumber so that we may not be caught again as we were last spring with the season before us, and not half enough dry lumber. We are begin- ning already to make up a stock of goods for next season's trade, and as usual we will from this date allow a DISCOUNT FOR GOODS FOR NEXT SEASON'S USE. The terms are just the same as they were a year ago. You can refer to back numbers of Glean- ings, or old discount sheet; or If you write we will mail you terms. The discount will be 5 per cent up to Nov. 1, when it will drop 1 per cent each month till it has all vanished. The discount is allowed only on goods of our manufacture, bought now for next season's use, and does not apply to honey-packages, counter-goods, and the like, that you will use this fall, and which are already sold at close prices. 1S90 (iLKAXINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 619 Contents of this Number. Ailulterationor Honey. Apiary, Halx-'l's Bees in Palestine Bees Cli iiifii'pj Nectar. Bee-escape Discisjecl.. Blaclis and Disease Boys Bad A ■ Kriinston'ng H mey .(Q.B ) 6(9 Bumble bees in Disprrace ...6*' Oa^es L'>nir Distances 6S8 Camels and Bees 6-.'7 Cicada, Common ti3(l Cobea S<'an'lens fi:ifi Cole's Atrriei irure 613 ContiMiv t.> Nature ...(>:« Dodeealieilrous ; . ...626 Ernest in New York 640 Foul-broody Hives 629 Hart's Apiary 624 Hoffman Frame 6.36 Honey Sold by Section 638 Honey, Pine tree 635 M.-lntvre's E-ctraetor 626 Moth Luni 63(1 Niuls as Spa/'crw 6,38 Newman's Vi -it 649 N'orth C.irolina f ' ir Bees .. 63t P..p'ar 635 637 Piofanify 645 Queens L-avinu the Hive. 636 Queens L ist on Flight 63" Queens, Catching: 637 Oueenless Cols, in Sept 619 R imbler at the Falls 631 Kent for Bees 63S Se liniJ- Se -rets 623 Space Between Frames 639 Success of Mrs. Monaghan. .628 Tobacco Ci dumn 6i>l Top-bars. Thick 639 WalkiuB-sticks 630 Windmills and Tanks 613 Zinc, Queen-excluding 630 Zinc, Perforated 636 CONVENTION NOTICES. The Southwestern Wiscon.-in Bee-keepers' Affiliated Associ ation will meet Oct 8. 1890, in Platteville, Wis., at the residence of E France, to commence punctually at 10 .i.M., sharp. There will be a large turnout of prominent Ijee-keepers of the State. A question-box, free to all, in which any subject you wish dis- •cussed can be presented and answered. Let every one be on hand and bring in his report for 1890 starting at spring count, or May 1, There will be blanks sent to each member for this purpose, in due time, by the secretar.y. N. B.— The date of the above convention has been changed from the 1st to the 8th, Boscobel, Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec'y. SHIPPIITG-CRATES. AVe lire making- them cheap and nciit. Write for priL-e.^^, C. B. LEWiS & CO., WATERTOWN, WIS. I^fln responding to this ad^ unt mention Glkanings. DADANT'S FOUNMTION Is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowapiac, Mich.: (3. G. Collier, Fairbury, Nebraska; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, Ohio; E. S. Armstrong, Jerseyville, 111.; E. Kretchmer, Ked Oak. Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewie & Co., Watertown, Wisconsin; J. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa: C. Hertel, Freeburg, Illinois; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. €lark & Co., 1.517 Blake St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111. ; E. L.. Goold A Co., Brantt'ord, Oiit., €aii.; R. H. Schmidt & Co., New London, Wis.; J. Stauffer & Sons, Nappa- nee, Ind.; Berlin Pruit-Bnx Co., Berlin Heights, O. ; E R. Nnwcomb, Pleasani Valley. N. Y.; L.Hansseu, Davenport, la.; C. Theilman, Theilmanton. Minn.; G. K. Hubbard. Fort Wavne, Ind.; T. H. Strickler, Solomon City. Kan.; E. C. Eaglesfleld, Berlin, Wis,, Walter S. Ponder, Indianapolis, Ind,, and numer- ous other dealers, LAN6STR0TH on tlie HONEY-BEE, fL:E:xrxs£:33. Thf. Booh- for Brf/i utters, tin- ^Tn.st ComplHe Text- Iioo7x- on tlif Hiihjt'ct in tin- Kitt/lish Ijn»(/iiA?JT A «MISTON, Adrian, Leiiaivee Co., Midi. ■'.I .^..^...jndi'ipt'J tliis advertisement nuiiti..n (Ji.ka.m.nv; ^. Bee-Keepers' Supplies. WHY SEND V LONG > DiSTAl^GES ? SEND NAME ON POSTAL CARD FOR MY NEW PRICE LIST TO C. P. BISH, Grove City, Mercer Co., Pennsyl'a. rurtnerly «/' St. ,/(,<■ Stii., ISntler Ho., I'li. RSTABLISUKD IN !fiS4. Otfdb Please mention this paper. 620 GLEANINGS IN 1!KK (Tl/rLKK. Sept. Wants or Exchanc^e Department. WANTED.— To exchange .voiin,y Italian queens from imported 8tocV, for pair of 1 lat k squir- rels, pair of ierrets. or thoroughbred female pug- dog'. J. W. Keek AN, Elcomington, McLean Co., IlL 17d ■yiT ANTED.— To exchange fruit-trees f ( r currant Vi plants; send prices. J. L. Hallexbeck, 17d Altamnnt. N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange pure-bred iioultry for white extracted h Bee Journal Edited by I). A. Jones. 75c. Per Year. Poultry Journal Edited by W.C. G.Peter. 75c. Per Year. These are published separately, alternate weeks, and are edited by live practical men, and contribut- ed to by the best writers. Both Journals are inter- esting, and are alike valuable to the expert afad amateur. Sample copies free. Both Journals one year to one address 11. Until June Ist we will send either Journal on trial trip for 6 months for 26 cts. The D. A. Jones Co., Ld., Beef on, Ont. (^"Please mention Gleanings. 6-lldb MUTH'S HONEY - EXTHACTOH, SQUARE GIjASS HONEY-JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY- SECTIONS, &c., A;c. PERFECTION COI^D - BLAST SMOKERS. Api)ly to CHAS. F. MITTU & SON, Cincinnati, Ohio. P. S.— Send 10-cent stamp for "Practical Hints to Bee-keepers." ^^~Mention Oleanings. Itfdh SEND for a free sample copy of the BEE JOURNAL — 16-page Weekly at $1 a year— the oldest, largest, and cheapest Weekly bee-paper. Address letfdb BEE JOURNAL, Cliicago, III. Please mention Gleanings. Itfdb SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1, 1890, we will sell our No. 1 V- groove sections, in lots of 500, as follows: Less than 3000, $3.50 per 1000; 2000 to 5000, $3.00 per 1000. Write for special prices on larger quantities. No. 2 sec- tions at 12.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives, foundation, cases, etc. J. STAUFFER & SONS, 16 tfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind. twin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. idinK to this advertisement mention Gleanings. TAKE NOTICE ! BEFORE placing your Orders for SUPPLIES, write for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sec- tions, Bee-Hives, Shipping-Crates, Frames, Foun- dation, Smokers, etc. Address R. H. SCHMIDT Sc CO., 21-20db NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co., WIS. ^^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. HOME EMPLOYMENT. — AGENTS wanted everywhere, for the HOME JOURNAL— a grand family paper at $1 a year. Biy cash premiums. Sample Free. THOS. G. NEWMAN & SON, 246 East Madison Street, - - CHICAGO. ILLS. KIND WORDS FEOM GUK CUSTOMERS. The queen and bees you sent arrived in good con- dition, after their long journey. In my estimation they are worth twice as much as they cost. St. Johns, Ariz., July 3. C. P. Anderson. BUCKWHEAT IN BLOOM LESS THAN 30 DAYS PROM SOWING. The buckwheat I bought of you was sown on the 20tli of June. It is now in bl(K>m, and the bees work on it from morning until night. L. C. Benton. Ludlersville. Md., July 19. QUEEN RECEIVED AND SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCED. The queen was received all right and in very good order. I pinned her on the combs the 4tli, and she stayed there until the 6th. I lost the cage, and she crawled down the combs all right; and on the 7th she had laid a dozen or so of eggs. The work was done according to the ABC. G. C. Lewis. Marvinville, Ark., July 7. GLEANINGS AS AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM. I think this is the fifth or si.\th time I have adver- tised in Gleanings, and I have never yet failed to get plenty of replies to my "ad." I am all sold out now— needn't insert again. I. Ferris Patton. Laurenceburg, Ind., Aug. 20. [So it seems that Gleanings is not always a fail- ure, after all. In looking up the adseitisement we see that friend P. advertised to exchange canary birds for Italian bees or queens. Now, very likely among the readers of Gleanings there are more who have Italian bees to trade or swap than who wish to buy bees or queens.] 622 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. pe^EY CeiiaMNv CITY MARKETS. Albany.— Honey.— White, selected, Mb., 18(rr-^Q: ~-lb., Ii@,l8; white, as runs, 1-lb., 16@I7; 24b, lo(3)16; mixed, selected, 1-lb., 15(cBle; S-lb., I4@.15- mixed, as runs, 1-lb., 14@1.5; 2-Ib., 13@U; dark, se^ It^fo' l'}}^- W^^^'^ ~-l^-' 12@13; dark as runs. Mb.. imm; 2-lb., 12@12Vi. Glassed sections usually sell Ic less. Extracted, white, small pk^s., 12c; 60-lb tins, kegs or barrels. 8@9; mixed, or amber, small pkg-s., 9; 6J-lb. tins, kegs, or bbls., 7@S; dark, small pkgs., 8; biMb. tins, kegs, or bbls., e®?. Keceiijts of lioney light, also demand being early; but some at- tractive lots bring good prices, owing to the light receipts H. R. Wright, ^ug. 20. ^^ Albany, N. Y. New York.— Honej/.— New comb honey is now aiTiying and finds ready sale. We quote: Fancy white 1-lb. paper boxes, 16(518; fancy white, Mb , glassed or unglas.sed, 1.5@17 ; fancy white, 2-ibs., i4®ir) Ofif grades. Mhs.. 13@14; do. 2-lbs., 12@14. Extracted, basswood 7'2'@8; California. 6,',-(f47; Southern ex- tracted 6o@70 per gallon; Southern strained, 6U@6.5. Aug. 25. HiLDHETH BkO.S. & SEfJELKEN, 28 & 30 West Broadway, New York. K.\NSAS City.— Honey.— Receipts of honey very light at present; the demand is fair for comb. Faii- ?»^ l-lD-wliite- clover, 14@1.5c; same, 2-lb.. liaiS. IMrk, 1-Ib. comb, 12@]3; same. 2-lb., 9fr/ll. Extract- ed in very little demand at present. Beeswax, 2,5(«)27 ■^^S. 20. Hamblin & Bear.ss, 514 Walnut St., Kansa.s City, Mo. Milwaukee. — Horiejy.— This market now offers g-oou encouragement to shippers of honey. The old stock ot wliite comb is all goiie, and new choice Mb. sections will meet with a sweet rccciilion Will now ?i^it ;'n- ^'V**'' choice, mrm; Mb. white, good, iS' fe'^.- ^^''ite.. fair, 13(5a4; 2-lb. white, choice 13(3)14. Extracted in bbls., wliite, choice. 7(@8; in kegs and tin, choice, 8m%; in bbls., dark, 6J@7i tfeetnvax, 26(§j28. and 30. A. V. Bi.shop ^"S-. 23. Milwaukee. Wis. Boston.— Hojtey —New honey is commencing to fhS^t/'^' '""^ ^■'^ 'i''*' celling at 18c. We aie advised that the crop is short, but thought it besl to start at 18c and work It up a little as the demand increases. fiXtracted, 7®8. Bee,swrt:r.-Sold beeswax to-day at 3i)c for fancy ^ i \. Blake & Ripley, Aug. 15. Boston, MiLSs. 'New Youk.— Hone tj.—Ot comb honey there is neither old nor new, in this market. Wf have in- quiries repeatedly for fancy Mb. new; and IKffll.oc could be realized probably. Common st7-ained. Southern, 6(ic per gal.; extracted, fir)(5i7o. Palmetto and mangrove, well ripened, 7@,7X per lb. Califor- nia, (>i4®7. Beeswax, scarce, 29. Aug. 21. F. G. Strohmever & Co., New York City. fiiiu f^i.iB,-,vn rMi_-i]tiii>, irum na).ic ICSS Inau price. We haAe iv( eivcd 22 half-bbls. of ex- l lioney which the consigner wi.shes lield at 7c Ji'd. ChAS. iMcCULLOCH & Co.. 20. ;J39 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Cincinnati.— H())ifi/. — Demand is good for all kinds of honey. All of last year's crop is sold, and new arrivals don't keep pace with the demand. We quote 14@16 for best comb honey, in the jobbing way, and 5@8 for extracted honey on arrival'. Bceswaa;.- There is a good demand, at 24(§i26, for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth, Aug. 26. Cincinnati,' Ohio. New York.— Honej/.— The comb-honey market is in fine condition— never saw it better, as the old honey is completely sold out. We quote the follow- ing; can sell at the following prices: Fancy white Mb., paper caps, 16(^18: fancy white, 1-lb.," glassed or ungla.sscd, 1.5(@17; fancy white. 2-lb., glassed, :4®15; off grade, Mb., 13@14; off grade. 2-lb., 1]@]2. Aug. 25. Thurber, Whyland & Co., New York. Kansas City.— Hojiew — Hecefpfs of comb honey- light; demand good at 14(5;15 for Mb. white; no 2 lb. comb or dark comb in the market. Very little de- miind for extracted at picsent. We quote white, 6>^(gi7; dark, 5®6. Beesirax. mjiie in the market. Aug. 21. Clemo.vs. Mason & Co., Kansas City, Mo. Cleveland.— Ho/iej/.— Very little honey coming into the market now. White-, lover and'basswood honey in Mb. sections .sells readih- at 15(V^r Iffr-. Aug. 19. A. C. Kendel, Cleveland, Ohio. St. Louis.— HoHcy.— We have sold thus far of this sea.son's crop about 18 tons, and find trade excellent. \Ve quote: E.xtracted, in barreLs, 5>^(p)-6; cans, 7>2@8. White clover, comb, Mb.. 13)^(5),14X; inferior, 11@12. Bt'cswaa-, prime, 27^/4. D. G. Tutt Gro. Co., Aug. 20. St. Louis, Mo. Detroit.— JToney.— New comb honey is selling at 14(rnl,5c; very little in market. Extracted. 7C»Hc. B^e^wax, 26c for prime. M. H. Hunt. Bell Branch, Mich., Aug. 21. For Sale.— ,50,000 lbs. of extra fine sage honey in 60-lb. tin cans. Mercer c& Sons, Ventura, V^entura Co., Cal. Ff)R Sale.— 400 or 500 lbs. of white-clover honey, put up in 12-lb. shipping-bo .ves, glass on two sides, for SI. 75 each. Three 5-gal. tin cans, two in box, of extracted white-clover honev, holding 5 gals., which I offer for S5.00 each, put on 'l)oard cars. R. Gaines Robertson, Box 774. Marshall, Saline Co., Mo. For Sale.— Fine white -clover and blue-thistle comb hone3^ 4i4xl'8 sections, with separators; full weight, and fine goods. I can pack in crates of 120 lbs. each, so as to go safe by freight. I want J 7c for it here. H. W. Bass, Front Royal, Warren Co., Va. FoK Sale.— About 500 boxes of white-clover honey, in Mb. boxes; price 13c on board of cars. L. D. WcjRTH, Reading Center, Schuy. Co., N. Y. For Sale.— 2000 lbs. well-ripened extracted honey. W. H. S. Grout, Kennedy. Chaut. Co.. N. Y. For Sale.— 1000 lbs. of choice extracted honey. F. W. Moats, Brunersburg, Ohio. For Sale. — Alfalfa honey, comb and extracted, quantities to suit. Address Chas. Adams, Greeley, Ohio. For Sale.— 2000 lbs. extracted clover honey in 10- gal on ash kegs; 12U lbs. net, at 10 cents. 2o00 lbs. comb honey in 1-lb. sections. M. Isbell, Norwi h. Chenango Co., N. Y. For S.4LE.— Forty-five 24-11) cases of white honey, tii-st quality, at 1.5c per lb. cash, on board cars. C. & F. Olm,stead. Ea.st Bloom ileld, Ont. Co., N. Y. M^.^NTED. — One or two thousand pounds of nice cofnb honey. Write, giving amount on hand and price wanted. A. D. Ellinowood, 17tfdb l!erlin Falls, N. H. Wanted.— White comb and extracted honey; state price, package, etc. B. Walker, 17tfclb Capac, Mich., or Prairie du Chien, Wis. ARE YOU GOiira to attend the MICHIGAN STATE FAIR? If so, please call at ''Bees & Honey H*ll," and examine the ''Golden Italian Bees." on exhibi- tion by JACOB T. TIiVIPE,of Grand Ledge. Mich. For prices on Queens .see OL-t. 1st. Gle.vn- INGS. Don't forget to call while at the FAIR. I shall also have other races on exhibition. Do iiVANCK; 1 V' i>4- r,l.l T .^Tn n /I I'-n 7 5?'^'? f Clubs to fiifferent postofficos, NOT I.K88 2(;'opie>.for81.90; 3tor*2.7f>:5for$4.00; I Cifil (.11) I IS llf Ih I li JO t O. | th.-in 90 ots. each. Sent pustpaid, in the 10 or more 7S,:t.s HK.-h. Sm^ie nur., \ pvbi.ishkd skmi-monthlt bt Tl'-.S- »"/ Tanadas. To all other coun- Der. Sets. AflrtiiioMM to ehihs in a v be tnes of the Universal Postal Union, 18 made at elub rates. Above are all to ^ / n/l/lT li^l C D I M A nUI/l ''*>< per year extra. To all countries be sent to ONE posTOFFTCK. )n. I. nUUI, iriLU/lVri, (//7/l/. I NOT of the UP. U. 42 cts. per year extra. SELLING SECRETS, ETC. I)I{. ('. C. MII.LKI! (ilVICS ITS SOMK FAf TS FKOM THE STAXDPOIXT OF A PHYSICIAN. Friend Root:— It is so many years siiicp I had any thing to do with the practice of medicine tliat I hai'dly count myself one of tiie medical [n-ofession: hut I think I can help you a little to und<'i'stand why little or nothing is said hy them about what you evidently consider a tit subject for ventilation — the Dr. A. Wilford Hall matter. In the first place, his case does not stand out as i)i'i)minently to their minds as it does to yours. Ii is only (mi' of a hundred. In- deed, in some respects it is of a better type tlian common: for at a guess I should say that in many cases thi' man who pays ?4 for the secret gets the worth of his money, or at least is not harmed by it. I have just now j)icked up the tii-st religious pai)er that comes to my hand — and it is one of the best of its class — and looking at its advertising columns I tiiid a medicine offered as a sure cure for consumption. I very much doubt whether any one ever was or ever will lie cured of coiisumi)tion by this medicine: and I suspect that it may do harm in a gi'eat many cases, where the Hall treatment will not. These things are common. You .s(>e them every day. and every day the people are paying out a good many four dollars for things worse than the Hall business. If a physician should try to expose every thing of this kind he would liave his hands full: and. moreover, people would say he had an ax to grind in so doing. (Jood honest people are found in plenty who believe in such things, and i-esent any word said against them. A somewhat similarca.secame within my knowl- edge in the sphere of bee-keeping. A certain party had been doing a business of .some extent, .selling at ?:.'() a colony of b(>es not worth half that, and othei- things as bad or worse. I felt that something ought to be done to prevent people being defrauded, and I wrote some very idain words about it for an influential publica- tion. Would you believe that the good editor, with mi.sdirected charity, squelched the thing, saying that he thought the party was doing better — a kind of " bettei'" that every thief uses wlio changes his tactics whenev<'r it makes him safer from detection? Perhaps Dr. Hall will do better— take $3 instead of $4 whenever he thinks he can make more by so doing. 15ut there is another I'eason why physicians don't say any thing against Dr. Hall: and that is. they don't know any thing about his treat- ment. Every one who gets the secret agrees to keep it: and. liowever strongly I may think Dr. Hall a humliiig. if I don't know positively what his treatment is I am not wise to say any thing about it. I rec(Mved from him an oftVr of the secret, practically free, on condition of my keeping it secret, and I suppose it is his tactics to ott'er it in the same way to all physicians. This heli)s to kee]) their nniuths shut, and some among them will act as "agents," thus increas- ing his I'eceipts. 1 admire your pluck, friend Root, in attacking error: and whilst there will always he those who are anxious to be humbugged, I suspect vour woi'ds mav l)e the means of saving to soin« theii- four dollars. , V. C. Mili.f.I!. Marengo, 111., Aug. 1(1. Friend M., very likely yon are riglit. This makes the matter sadder still. Is it inde<>d true, that the people of our naticm— those whi) are out of health, and possibly tho.se who are at the same time overworked — are continually investing vast sums of money for something that does no good whatever, and oftentimes, as you state it, a positive liarm? Why can't our experiment stations furnish some facts for the people out of health, just as they have furnished facts to tin' farmer who has been in the lial)it of paying over his hard earnings to quacks and swindlers? It seems that this matter of medi- 624 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. cine and medical treatment to the human fam- ily is as important as that of protecting our domestic animals from the errors of quackery. As an illustration of current superstition, I want to mention the following: A few days ago a very good and intelligent farmer, who is at present taking care of our cow, came to my wife for some salt and pepper. Then he wanted some turpentine. He said the cow had got the " wolf-tail," or something that sounded like it, and that the only thing to do was to split the end of her tail and put in some salt and pepper. Then some turpentine must be rubbed between her horns, and she would be all right. And poor bossy had to submit. When I heard of it I began to I'emonstrate. The man who drives the market- wagon, and who, by the way, has for many years taught school in winter, joined in, and declared that splitting the cow"s tail was " orthodox " and right. He said he had a cow in that same fix, and a good farmer told what the trouble was as soon as he saw her, and the treatment cured her right stiriight. Now, the probability is that the poor cow had been overfed, and that is why she could not eat her supper. If simply let alone, she would have come out all right. The question that occurs to my mind in such matters is this: Who in the world had the wonderful acutcness to discover this remedy? Through what process of study, invention, and rensotiimg, did any human being arrive at the astoiinding fact that salt and 2)epper (nothing else will answer, mind you, and one alone would not answej' — you must have both), are needed? Furthermore, the applica- tion must be made to the end of the cow's tail after it is split open. Theft tiu'pentine (nothing else here would answer, mind you) must be ap- plied between her horns. In the present case, of course no money was wasted; but if it is really true that the laboring classes of our land are continually paying out a large part of their earnings in a blind and senseless way, and for that which does little or no good, is it not a sad thing to contemplate? By the way, Dr. Hall has occupied a large space in his periodical for August, to call myself and Dr. Kellogg names. He has, however, paid me so great a compli- ment in putting me side by side with so cele- brated a physician and author as Dr. Kellogg, I feel well enough i)leased to let the matter drop where it is. Yes, it is probable that (Jleanings has saved whole neighborhoods from investing their money. I hear of it continually from agents who have, like Othello, found their " oc- cupation gone " ])ecause somebody got hold of a copy of Gleanings, and carried it around, be- fore the agent got in his fingers the four dollars fi-om each family. Now, please do not gather from the above that I do not appi'ove of Dr. Hairs treatment. I feel sure it has done and will do much good; but it is not his invention, and he has no legal nor moral right to receive money for something that does not belong to him. A GLIMPSE OF FLORIDA IN JULY. AN AI'IAIJY rNI)P:i{ THE GKAPEVINES AND PALMETTOES. Friend Root: — I send you by this mail a ]jho- tograijh of a corner in my bee-yard, taken tVoni a window in my bee-house. My object in taking the ]>icture was to give Pi'of. Cook a plioto of the cabbage palmetto in full blocmi, but I haven't done it. Tliis jjicture was taken last Thursday. July 17, to test my plates, pre- jjaratory to taking some palmettoes when they come out in full flower, as I expected tliem to do in tliree or four days; but as the buds began to blight and drop imniediateiy. from the eft'ects of a seveiT droutli we have been haviug. I made this negative auswei- rather than to score an entire failure. The trees in this picture would have shown doiible their present bloom if they could have jjcrfccted the buds. I cut a sprig of lilooin from a nciglihoriug tree, how- ever, and. setting it on tiic ground beside me, held its top over my head. Tiiis will give you an idea as to its size and form. To my left you see a section of one of my bee- sheds, covered by scuppcruong gra|)evines. This family of grapes needs but little^ pruning, and grows enormously; and bears by the hundred bushels in some cases. You will notice that they are going over the palmetto-trees, shutting off the view beyond. They make almost a per- fect sliade for bees; and tlie Thomas variety is one of tlu' sweetest grai)es known. Having a rather thick skin, and growing iu bunches of ■4 to l:i lierries only, they can never comi)ete with the Delaware and other line bunch grapes for table use. though many i)refer the Thomas to eat out of hand. Tiie bei'ries ai'c \-ery larg(\ often measuring 3^4 inches in cii-cunifei-ence. on thrifty vines, and no insects or diseases trouble them, though the mocking-birds an- vgry fond of the Flowers variety, which is enough smaller so that they can handle it. This yeai', for bees, has been an abnormal one. The sjiring flow was very light on account of dry weather and the burning of the woods. Not a normal swarm was n^jjorted during the usini-1 swarming season from February to the middh' of May. and cousidei-ahle feeding had to be don(> in April to prevent loss of colonies. I liad many colonies that had plenty of honey in the hives to carry them tin'ougli. Init I fed all. as is my custom, in April, to incpare the bees for the summer flow. Probably my bees were in bettei' shape than almost any others here when the flow commenced. I started the sea- son with 9:^ colonies; worked 92 for exti'acted honey, and have taken 15.(M)0 lbs. to date. I shall i)robably make it 8 tons by the time I get through this i-ound of extracting. I have had 23 swarms right in the mangrove-honey flow (very unusual), and have had my bees draw out 400 frames of foundation duiing the past four weeks. Friend Popi)leton caught 3.5 colonies of black bees from the pine woods, where they had a lit- tle better spring forage, just at the beginning of tiie mangrove bloom, and he has taken ten barrels of 400 lbs. each from them. I think he had one swarm which absconded. The rest of the bee-keejjers have been quite successful about here, and are feeling in good spirits. The quality of the honey is even flner than usual this season, as there was very little besides the mangrove crop gathered, and the weather has been very dry throughout the whole flow. My own crop has gone through my evaporator as usual, and is A No. 1 in quality. Having never made a report of my crops for 1888 and '89, I will here state that, in 1888, with about 100 stands I took .WOO lbs.; and in 1889, with 9(i, si)ring count. 4,")00 lbs. Uoth years were AV. S. IIAirr S AJ'IAUY, IIAAVKS I'AJ{K. FLOKIDA. H2r) GLEANINGS IN BEE CLTLTURE. Sept. considci'cd xcry \hh)\: and my avcrajii' was as liish as was made. I ticlicvc. wliilc s(mu> hoiislil lionoy of me to feed in llic fall, luiving failed to got onougli to carry tlio l)oes tliroiigli. Hawks Park, Fla.. July 2:2. W. S. Haiit. Friend H., wo aro exceedingly obliged to yoii for the magniticoiit picture you have given us. We congratulate oui' artists on having copied the photograph so well. The palniettoos have always been a class of vegetati(m wonderfully attractive to me, both in my trip to N(>w Orleans and the late one to California; and I assure our readers that no picture can exaggerate the beauty of vigorously growing specimens of many of the varieties. Friend H., we are very glad to know that you have made so good a re- port during this season, while so many have given us such discouraging accounts. If your hives are not Simplicity. I should judge they come pretty near it, from their looks in the pic- ture. What a pleasant place that must be to work! I suppose the ground under the tre(>s and around the hives is sandy and clean, as it usually is in tlu' home of the palmetto. GLASS PAPEE-WEIGIIT SEOWING THE MATHEMATICS OF THE EONEY-COMB. A tki;k uodixahedhox. We have finally succeeded in getting a thou- sand glass i)aper-\\(>ights. such as are desciibed m our heading. ]!<'fore we could get them, the order had to h(> sent to (lermany to have them made, and it has taken a little over a vear and a half to get them out. The adjoining cut taken from the A H C book, shows what tliev are like. A TliUE I)01)ErAIlP:DK0X. This beautiful figure has exactly 1.'.' sides; (> of the 12 sides ai'e exactly on the angle of the cell of the hon(\v-coml): and the 12 lozenge- shaped sides are exactly the shape of the ligure the bees make in building perfect cells. The paper-weight is a little less than 1?-X inches through its longest diameter. It is made of beautiful crystalline glass, and is gi-ound so that it sparkles like a huge diamond. They are the prettiest objects that can be found to grace a writing-table, or even a center-table or ornamental bracket. The usual price is .50 cts. each. By having them mad(> to order in thou- sand lots, w(> are enabled to sell them for 20 cts.; 3 for 3.5 cts. ; or in lots of 10 or more. 15 cts. each. If wanted by nuiil, the postage will be 3 cts. each, or we will furnish one as a premium to everybody who sends us a subscription to Gleanings from some one who has nc^ver taken it before. This beautiful figun- will be of inter- est to bee-keejx'rs. as it exeniplilies and illus- trates so clearly the ijroblem the honey-bee solved in making this lozenge-shaix'd figui-e with its angles so mathematicallv exact. In giving lectures, oi' even in giving a talk on this, wonderful ijrolilem. this little tigurc illustrates th(> suliject most beautifully. Si'c the A li C book for full i)articulars. ANOTHER REVERSIBLE EXTRACTOR. THE liEVERSING DONE AFTOMATICALEY WHEN I'NDEIi FULL MOTION. There is a demand among bee-k(>epers who run business on a large scale, foi- a high-grade <'xtractor that will extract the combs on both sides without stoi)ping to rev(n'se tli«> baskets. Som(> attempts have becui made to get uj) such an extractor in this countiy, but so far they have not been a success, because they tried to reverse tli(> baskets a(i honey is out of the combs; but a brake can be put on if thought necessary. It will have to be geared, because the radiua distance is much less than in the old-styl« I'eveisible, even when the baskets are out, as in Fig. 1. It will require a can about the same siz« as the Stanley extractor. The large wheel in the center is 11 inches in diameter, and the wheels on the axles of the baskets are 4 inches in diameter. The baskets should be l%xlOxl7X inside for the L. fi-ame. The readers of Gleanings will understand that this (extractor has never been manufac- tured. The figures are drawn from imagina- tion; scale, ^ for the L. frame. I am not in the supply business, and never expect to be. If any- one should manufacture them, and find them a good thing, a complimentary extractor will pay the inventor for tiie idea. J. F. McIntyue. Fillmore. Cal.. July 1. The Idea, friend M., is quite ingenious. Of course, it remains to be seen whether it will woi'k as well in practice as it does on paper. Yes. there is a demand for an extractor for large honey-produc(>rs. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 627 AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE OLD WORLD. TEMPKIt OF THE EGYPTIAN AND OTIIEK OHIEN- TAI, BEES. Mr. Runt. — In (teeaninus for May lo. you say you are surprised that I say nothing about the vindiftiveuess of the Egyptian bee. I think most bee-keepers will agree with me in what I am going to say. In th(i tirst place, the bees I saw in Egypt.'and some in very considerable apiaries, were very quiet, not to say docile, though we did not handle them: all we did was to \\alk in front of the hives and look in at a hive. They showed no more disposition to sting than our Palestines. I fully agree that our Ori- ental bees — Cyprians, Syrians. Palestines, and Egyptians, are more difticult to handle, espe- cially for the beginniM'. but they am be handled after all: and wlivn we remember it is not more than ten years since these races have been imported largely (except the Egyptians) there has hardly been time enough to weed out the most vindictive, and strike just the good qualities required — docile, prolific, large, yellow - tailed. Mr. F. Benton and myself laughed one day at a man desiring all such qualities. It is rare to find all these combined. I know some one will say, " Why did you not do it?"' Because, in the first plac^, Benton was the only man I know of who worked to any ex- tent in the raising of Oriental queens; and al- though he may have weeded out the worst, he never stayed long enough in one place to find out all the desired qualities: and then, again, a nucleus may be handled without smoke and veil: but as soon as this same nucleus has grown to be a full-sized colony, things take another tui'n, and the bees seem very angry and almost impossible to handle, if all necessary precautions are not taken. A full-sized colony is never to be handled without smoke, though you can a nucleus. A few puffs from the smo- ker will i)erfectly subdue the same colony at one season of the year: while in another, a good Bingham is necessary to blow almost con- tinually while manipulating. It is only four months since I saw the first Bingham smoker, which I received from the Home of the Honey-bees: and it is only half the work to subdu*; our bees during the orange- blossom honey-flow, when with us the bees are wildest. We could not work them at all without veils while extracting, and it was very difficult to do so even then without gloves during the orange-blossom season: but we do it, and ex- tract orange honey and feel well protected all the while. MOVIN(i UEES WITH CAMELS. Ill May and June we moved our apiaries to the land of the Philistines, in the tribe of Dan. Owing to the scarcity of thyme in one place, I divided my apiary, consisting of 100 hives, into three. They are about HJ miles apart, very near the village of Eki'on. You know the cam- els kneel down, and the hives are put on their backs without a stir from the camel, and then the clay hives, or those made of mud, as in Egyi)t. are exceedingly strong, and would bear any thing. The only danger is the bees getting out. We also move all our b(^es on camelback, and I su|)pose we iuive just as much or even more trouble than you have with horses and wagons. When it is time to move we put a spac- ing rack in the l)ott hive, and two in the center, made so as to hold the frames below as well as the frames of the su|)er. Thei-e are 13 frames in each hive and in each su|)er. Then the super is put on and fixed on both sid(>s by clasps, the clasp being screwed on the super. and a hold for the clasp is screwed on the hive. A quilt is now put on, and the cover screwed on. The hive has ventilating holes covered inside by wire screen. In years gone by we moved to the mountains, and it generally took us two or sometimes three nights to arrive at our destina- tion. Only two nights the camels had to go faster, and we traveled an hour or so by day- light, which plan we left altogether, on ac- count of some terrible adventures we had to undergo. One evening in the last decade of June, on Thursday, we started from Jaffa with 13 camel loads of" bees (104 hives). The hives were all supposed to be well arranged: and with a good supply of all necessary implements we followed on horse and on donkey. We lost a good deal of time loading. The night was far advanced; and with the slow movements of the camels, morning came before we had got far enough, so we decided to continue by daylight. I shud- der when I think (jf it. Somehow or other one hive got loose, and every one had to flee for his life. The camels got wild; some threw off their loads: the hives were tumbling about: my friend and myself were running about with open knives, cutting ropes, and helping the poor animals away. When all the animals were galloping away in the distance, together with their drivers, we had to look out to our- selves and hives. We were stunned with stings, being unprotected. Our veils, gloves, smokers, etc., availed us very little, for not only had all the hives to be lifted up from the ground, but a good m^ny were cracked, and bees were furi- ously streaming out; but we had also to open the hives; for in the boiling sun, surely they would have been suffocated by night. It was not before four o'clock in the afternoon when the bees had forgotten about the terrible events of the morning, and we had rested, and again neared the hives with " fear and trembling." We repaired all the damages, and started again to loading camels, the stung camels being very Hdgety. After a good deal of tying, screaming, howling, and what noises imagination alone can conceive, we again drove fast in the direc- tion of Jerusalem. We arrived in this town at daybreak: but we had to go beyond Bethlehem, four miles distant. We decided to go. not hav- ing had enough of our lesson the day before. It was Whitsunday morning, and we had hoped to arrive early enough to take our rest. We. hurried on. The camels were walking behind each other, when we had just passed the con- vent of Elijah the Prophet, a place held in great veneration by Christians and Moslems. In the rock is the place where the great prophet slept when he fled from Ahab, king of Israel; for from the holiness of his body tradition made him sink into the rock, as though it would have been a bed of down. No Christian passes but mak(>s the sign of the cross, and stoops down to kiss the hallowinl place. The road is now closed in by high stone walls, to prevent ani- mals or people getting into the olive-yards be- longing to the convent. The last of the canuds got frightened and leaped toward its fore-cam- el, and a hive got loose. The bees streamed out furiously, and attacked the camel, thi'u the one before it; but the other eh^ven could flee to- gether with their burden.s. I sli])i)e(l on a veil, handed the donkey to my brother, and witfh open knife I ran for the camels" lives. The ropes tying the iiives were cut; they fell off, and only If) hives were now tiirown on the ground. " My brother put the animals hardly 200 paces away, and came running to hel]j me. The camel got countless stings and galloped off. When we had set up the hives we just climbed the walls, jumijed into the olive-yards; and, folding all our clothes faster, we had to remove tlu> bees from the main road. The Christian 628 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. inhabitants of Betlileliem and Bptjala were go- ing in numbers to Jerusalem, while French pil- grims were on their way to Bethlehem. Our animals now got loose and galloped toward the bees. The horse galloped past: but (xrey, find- ing the upi'ight hives a good opportunity to rub ofT the bees, roused the interior bees more and more. I jumped back and tried with all my might to send him awav. Beating and push- ing availed nothing. He was now literally covered with bees; and althougli only five minutes had elapsed, he could hardlv move on. We now got him far enough to put him near the stung camels, and had now to carrv the hives over the walls to clear the I'oad. They weigh between 70 and 80 lbs. per hive. We managed to clear the road, but the bees were still more furious: and with veil and thick leathern gloves on we stopped the pass- ers-by, one at either end of the lane. Some protested, some asked why, and manv. in fact, were frightened by our strange looks. The most of them could not understand the trouble. We had to call out in all languages at the top of our voices, "Bees! danger! destruction! get away!" and gesticulating meanwhile to indi- cate what we meant. They had to turn round the olive-yard, taking considerably more time. One Turk could not understand the trouble; and although I could find a few Turkish words, he insisted on its being the Sultan's road, and I had no right to interfere. But the bees inter- fered with him, and he understood that lan- guage better, for he turned round and flepd. It was late in the afternoon. The bees had quieted down so that we allowed first one and then all to pass. I was expecting some govern- ment notice, but it passed unnoticed. We ar- rived at our destination. The donkey died two hours after he got stiuig. The first camel died a fortnight after. 1 could not beai- to hear any- body shouting, and for numy weeks I started lip from sleep by imaginary sounds, as knives, camels, bees, and such implements as we had to protect ourselves. It was very ruinous, those dreadful adventures. It decimated the bees, unnerved us, and several animals were killed. Happily we found good pasturage in this vicin- ity, and it is here I now move to every vear. It takes the camels only one night. At d"aybreak they put down their loads; the hives are put in rows, and the bees not yet roused, so the hives are opened, and all goes on peacefully, of course. In the evening, while loading, the bees now and then got out by some crack, or badly fitting super. It was then quickly un- loaded and rearranged. Stinging is, of course, a secondary matter, for both man and beast get their share; but these disagreements will have to be overcome as long as we have hives and supers; and there comes in a question. I hope some of our bee-keepers will tell us their opin- ion: Will a hive give the same amount of hon- ey if the 36 combs are on a level instead of be- ing on halves above each other? or if a frame is made bigger, so as to give 15 frames the same amount of square inches in comb. Ph. J. Baldknsperoek. Jaffa, Syria, July 24. Friend B., I believe you have had more ex- perience, or at least more disastrous experience, in moving bees, than any one else among us. If any reader of Gleanings has ever had any thing to match this, let him stand up and speak. Having a row with bees and horses in your own country, where you can use your own language, is surely bad enough; but among a traveling people, who speak all languages, who can imagine your worry and trouble? I think, if I had been you, I should have declared, with considerable vehemence, that I never wanted to transport bees any more. I can not help pitying the poor camels. I suppose you do not have any humane society around there to ar- rest you for cruelty. By the way, how mtich is a camel worth, say compared with our horsi^s? Friend B., I know exactly how you were un- strung about the time you dreamed of the melee as soon as you went to sleep. Our new- east and west railroad has just been invading my market-garden grounds. They go entiifly through it the longest way; and the cut they make is from 6 to 13 feet deep. I made friends with the bosses at the outset; but the teamstere, a great part of them, are a reckless, blasphe- mous lot. I tried a little to stem their torrents of profanity; but when the boss got mad and swore too, it was pretty up-hill work. Finally when a dozen teams with drivers and helpers invaded our gi'ounds, and threatened to spread their poor clay soil from the deep cut all over my enriched land, I fought for my property and my gardens. Of course, I had plenty of helpers, and our own teams kept just before them moving the rich surface soil outof their way. But when night came I was not only thoroughly tired, but I caught cold by being out in the rain without any coat. I woke up in the middle of the night, with a headache; and as soon as I tried to sleep, the curses of the teamsters, the rattling of the scrapers, and the general clamor, follow- ed me in my dreams until there seemed no peace, either awake or asleep. I opened my eyes wide and tried to consider the matter with reason; and when that did not stop the noises I tried to drown them in sleep. Then I began to think how thankful I should be if I were once again just free from that racking pain in my head. And I began wondering if I had not for- gotten, in the many long years, of the blessing of ^(e«ft?i., and the ability to sleep sound every night. I did finally thank God then and there. and in a little time peace stole over my troubled senses. In the morning I awoke, refreshed and free from pain, and nothing remained but the memory of a couple of hours' misery in the mid- dle of the night. Your mention of starting in your sleep reminded me of it. AN A B C SCHOLAR'S EXPERIENCE. A LADY WHO HA.S HAD SUCCESS WITH BEES. I sent to you for two Simplicity hives about two years ago. I have had six more made, and now have them filled with bees. I had three swarms last month. There is little or no white clover here, but lots of willow, plum, grapes, and basswood, in the ravines close by. Then the prairies are full of different varieties of goldenrod, besides the immense plots of corn and pumpkin blossoms grown by the farmers; also the buckwheat. There are only two peo- ple besides myself who keep bees here. One is a farmer about two miles out. He has only box hives, and his bees swarm a great deal, but he 1890 GLtiANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 629 gets no surplus. He turns a snuill box over the hives for the surphis. and luis a small hole through the top of the hive for the bees to pass to it. but the tenii)erature then^ is so low that the b(>es do not even go into it to r(>st. He had tliree large swarms come out nearly all at once, and tiiey all clustered together. After hanging about half an hour they took' Fn^ich leave, and went into a hollow scrub oak in tiie ravine near his house. He told my liusband, about two weeks after they had swarmed, that he might have them for J^l.OO. as he did not know how to get them out. So we went at once, and my liusband cut down the tree and split open the trunk, which was about a foot in diameter, and ten feet long, and all hollow. They had about 15 lbs. of lovely honey. I took out some of the comb, and all the brood; and having a Simplic- ity hive at hand we fastened all in. took it home, put a 30-lb. surplus box on top (without any bottom to it), putting starters of foun- dation in top. and in about three weeks it was tilled with white basswood honey. I took it off and put another on, which they again filled. So you see our dollar was W(>11 invested. I winter my bees in the basement of our barn. We liad one end partitioned oft' for them, where it is dark and quiet. The temperature is ap- parently about right for them. I put chaff cushions on toj). I sold a colony this spring for just \\hat I paid for them — ^G.OO. Clark's smoker works all right, but I seldom nse smoke in opening hives at this time of the honey season, for the bees pay no attention to me. It does not take to exceed ten minutes to move the frames from one hive to another, for I ke(>p my hives perpt'iidicular, and the combs very seldom require any attention in straight- ening. I do think that bee culture is a delightful oc- cupation for any one. It is not too laborious for a lady: besides it is such a pleasing study, and the returns are very large in comparison to the outlay. I began with two colonies two years ago. They were in old boxes when I got them, so I just let them swarm (got 3 swarms), and sold the old coliinies for what I gave for them. So you see I am considerably ahead. Mks. a. C. Monaghan. Gary. South Dakota. July 1. CLEANSING FOUL-BROODY HIVES, ETC. FlUENI) DOOI.ITTI.E TKLLS HIS OPINION AND KXPVAUKyiCK. A correspondent writes: "I have had foul brood in my apiary, and, as far as I know, I have eradicated it by the j)laii given by the late M. Quinby, which is similar to that recom- mended by D. A. Jones, of C'anada. The bees were all placed in new hives, and now I want to know what to do with the old ones, so that I can use them again another year, for I do not feel abl(( to lose them." In replying, I beg leave to answer this ques- tion through (Ji.KANiNGs, as such answer may be of use to some of the I'caders besides the cor- resjjondent. The plan I used on the most of my hives, when I had foul brood during the seventies, was to scald the liivc^ by plunging it all over in boiling water, in a large kettle which was used on the farm for cooking food for the hogs, heating water for butcliering, etc. The hives were put in first and scalded, and after- ward the frames of coml)S, thus scalding the frames and making the combs into wax at the same time: for as I made all of my frames by hand then, I thought I must save them. How- ever, in these days of machinery I do not think that it would pay to bother with the frames, for this scalding" iH'ocess makes them untrue and in poor shape for use again, so that new fram(>s are much the cheaper in the long run. Later on, a bee-keeper living several miles away calhnl me to his apiary to see if he had foul' brood. 1 found it in seVeral of his hives, and told him how to treat it. After he had cured it he scalded the hives by pouring water from a boiling tea-kettle on to the inside of the infected hives, and no foul brood was the result afterward. If you are sure that the hot water hits every nook and corner of the hive, I do not know why this plan \\()\ild not answer where nothing holding boiling water is at hand large enough to i)ut the whole hive in. The first would be the safest, however. Some claim that the hives do not lu^ed scalding or doing any thing else with them, if they are allowed to stand outdoors exposed to the weather through one winter. Tlu-y say they believe that the freezing and thawing of one winter is amply sufficient to destroy all the spores or germs of foul brood about "any hive. I should be in- clined to go slow on this, trying only one or two till I had proved for myself that there was no danger from such hives. While I am on this subject of foul brood I wish to esi)(>cially emphasize what has been latelv said in our" bee-papers against sending samples of supposed foul brood to different bee- beepers for their judgment in the matter. Only lately I received such a sample, which might have worked me untold injury, if not some one else near the postotfice. IJeing very busy that dav I did not go for my mail till late at night; and as a friend brought out the mail for me it was placed in the buggy without much thought, save to take it home. 1 came near leaving the mail in the barn with the buggy, but finally thought to take it to the house. In taking it out in the dark, I felt a package in a dilapidated condition; but not wishing to strike a light it was left on the table till morning. Imagine mv feelings when I found, the next morning, a pa"ckage of toi-n and soiled paper, saturated through in places with thin honey and mashed brood, giving off a scent while being undone which told me at once what it was. I was not long in consigning it to the fire and thoroughly washing everv place where it had touched. As it was a time "of scarcity, if I had left it in the barn, as I came near doing, in all probability the bees would have found it before I went out to feed the horse, as I do not feed him early, feeding but twice a day. Then the postoflice window is near where the mail is distributed, where again a neighbor's bees, who lives in the village, were exposed to this same contagion. Now, friends, whoever reads this, don't do such a thing as to send foul brood in the mails as samples, for by doing so you are liable to expose your brother to the same ills which you are so anxious to be rid of yourself. The books of the present day are sufficiently explicit in describ- ing this disease, so you should be able to tell it yourselves without" a reasonable doubt, with this additional test: Whenever you find some- thing which you think is wrong about the brood in any hive iii your yard, the first thing you are to dois to close' that hiv(^ as quickly as possible, so that there will be no chance for other bees to get at the honey, and go and wash your hands and all else which you have used about the hive. This examination will tell you whether the bees are strong enough to rei)el robbers; and if so, the entrance should l)e contracted so you are sure no robbing can occur. Now leave the hive entirely alone till near niglit some day, about ten days from that tinu'; and after the other bees an^ done flying, open it and examine it closely, washing your hands, etc., as before. 630 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Seit. If yon still think there is a chance of its being foul brood, leave the hive closed again for two or three weeks, providing it has i)lenty of bees to resist robbers, when you are to examine it again. Now bear in mind that genuine foul brood is agyressive. and never retrixjradlncj. so that, if you find more of it than you did at first and second, together with the symptoms the hooks describe, that colony should be burned up at once, and gotten out of the way. before any of the rest have a chance to carry off any of the honey. If. on the contrary, it does not percep- tibly progress, or there is not as much as Ix't'ore. keep watch of it till you are assui'ed thei'e is no harm in it. In no case change combs with any other hive, or exjwjse any of this honey till you are sure it is not foul brood. Unless at least one-fourth of the apiary had foul brood. I should not attempt to cure it save by burning all \\\). fur I do not think it would ijay any one to run the risk he would have to in trying to cure the disease for less than that number. G. M. DOOI.ITTLE. Borodino, N. Y.. Aug. 18, 1890. In Ernest's absence I should say that we heartily concur witli all that has been said in the above. The principal ditticulty in curing the disease is that the average bee-keeper has no comprehension of the care and nicety re- quired to avoid spreading the contagion. ftUEEN-EXCLUDING ZINC. ITS USE IN FINDIXU (^I'KKXS AND PKEVENTING SWAKMS. Since the in\'ention of the queen-excluding board, many new and useful ideas have pre- sented themselves, and many more will in time come into use. I conceived th(M)ther day that it might be made useful in finding the queen, and made a box the size of the hive, \}4 inches deep, with bottom, but one end out. I nailed on top a piece of zinc. We now have a box \% inches decjj, of the size of the hive, with one end out. To use, set it in front of a hive witli the open end near the entrance of the hive in which we are to find the queen: lift the combs carefully, and shake into an empty hive without top or bottom, \\hich is placed on the excluder- box, and you will smile to see the workers slip through, and, attracted by the noise in the hive, march in: and you will smile again to see the queen examining the different holes to see which is the largest. Why, all you need to do is to shake down the bees and help yourself to the queen. Another plan works equally well: that is, to place between two hives a piece of zinc board, and shake the bees in the upper hive as before. For non-swarming extracting, when the hive is full of brood, and honey begins to come, place a set of empty combs or foundation below with the queen, thi? brood above, and the zinc board between, and they will roll in the honey if it is to be had, and will till the upper story as the brood hatches, and the outside coml)s below. By extracting and changing ev(>ry two or three weeks as above, we need not fear swarming, and we can rear queens above very nicely with- out cost. I have a numbei' hatched out in the ixpper story, with their entrance in the opposite direction to the hive below. With this plan I believe we can requeen and increase or not, as we desire, and have no swarming. Oswego, N. Y.. June 13. F. H. Cykenifs. Both of the uses of zinc (viz., in finding queens and preventing swarms) have been before sug- gested, but that does not alter their usefulness. With black colonies the zinc method can be used to pretty good advantage at times. In Italian or Carniolan stocks it would not par to bother with the zinc, as the queens can usually be found on the second or third frames i-emoved. WALKING-STICKS, ETC. PROF. COOK TELI-S t'S MOUE AF.Ol'T BUGS ANI> INSEf'TS. The insect sent by James Crafton. Canada, is the common walking - stick. Diaphcroinent Fcinonttd. At Mr. C."s request I send a de- scription for (Ji,eanin(tS. This insect is well named, as it looks like an animated stick, with stick-like legs attached. It never has wings. When young it is green, and rests upon the green leaves on which it feeds. When older it assumes a more sober, gray, or bark-colored hue. Now it rests on the twigs which it st> strongly mimics both in form and color that it is very difficult of discovery. This specter-like insect feeds on vegetation, but is rarely com- mon enough to do any appreciable mischief. Sometimes they are so common in forests that the falling of tlieir eggs, which are let drop, are said to resemble, as they strike upon the leaves, the falling of raindrops. These insects, like; the crickets and locusts, to which they are related, are possessed of jaws. They are entire- ly harmless, and may be handled with no fear of harm. THE LUNA MOTH. S. C. Gordon, Georgetown. Ohio, writes: " I have no'snaix'to send you, but I send by to- day's mail a couple of moths and some of their eggs. Please, if your busy life will permit, give histoi'y and description in Geeanixcjs." These beautiful, green, long - tailed moths are the luna moths. Acthts hiva. They are- our handsomest silk-moths. The larva is a tine green caterpillar, \\ith hairy tubercles, and ob- lique yellow bands. It feeds on walnut, hickoi'y, maple, etc. Although each moth lays scores of eggs, yet so few escape their bird and insect enemies that they do no perceptiljle hai'm to our finest shade-trees. The cocoon is rounded, and much like the cocoon of oui' oak silk-moth. The moths are of a very delicate gi-een hu(>. and each hind wing has a long tail-like pro- jection. I think these are by all odds our finest .silk-moths. It is difticult to conceive of an in- sect more beautiful, either in color or form. THE COJIMON CICADA. AGAIN. Mr. M. J. Langord. Highland. Minn., and H. C. Grover, Loyd. Wis., each sends the com- mon cicada (V. Tihicoi), the same that I de- scribed for Geeanin(;s yesterday. These cica- dte are very common this year. I took my class a few days since to Grand Ledge, a dee^j cut through the rocks on Grand River. We found these cicada very noisy and cemmoii at that place. BITMBEE-UEES IN DISGRACE. The black nude insects received, one from R. E. Ashci'oft. Brookside. ]\Iich., and the other from M. J. Langord. Highland. Minn., are bumble-bees that have got into the bee-hives, pi'obably while the hives were open: and the bees, in di'agging them from the hives, have pulled all the hairs out of them. I have often seen just such cases in our own apiary. Ofteit the bees in their rage will not only strip the poor bombns of its hair, but of its, legs and wings as well. '\ The long black handsome beetle, with paral- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 631 lei sides and impn^sscd miiielured lines on its wing-covers, sent by J. E. Dart, Connesauga. Ha., is Pafisalus Coniatus. The last name is given because of the horn on the center of the head of the male. This beetle is common in Michigan, and extends to the Gulf. The grubs live in and feed on rotten wood. This insect is •closely related to the common stag-beetle, or " pinch-bug." and has similar habits. I com- ply with Mr. D.'s request and answer in 'Gleanings. A. J. Cook. Agricultural Colleg(\ Mich., Aug. l.">. RAMBLE NO. 27. NIAGARA FALLS AND STEUBEN CO. Our continued journey led us through Char- lotte, on Lake Ontario, a famous summer re- sort for the Rocln^ster and W(>stern New York peoi)le. Our westward career was to end in Rochester: but being so near Niagara Falls, and thinking we should never again have the •opportunity of seeing them, we I'esolved to spend a day there, and were jn'ovidentially fa- vored with a beautiful sunny day. and rambled and pliotoed to our hcai't's content, making some tine shots, witli which we can revisit Niagara while cosily seated in our study. Our stroll across the bridge, with camera in hand, was interrui^ted on the Canada side with the •question, '" What is that ere camera thing you have in your hand?" " Yes, sir." said we. "this is a camera thing. Any objections to my taking views?" " Not the least, sir. if you are going to return soon: but if you an^ going on you must pay •duty." I gave him my jn'oijused route to Horseshoe Falls, then down to tlu' railroad Suspension Bridge, and back to the American side. He looked us critically in the face, and as much as said, ■• I know you are an honest man:" then audibly, " You can pass, sir." We felt very hapi^y. and smiled so b(Miignly •on the next hackman we met that he offered to carry us for 10 cents. We had been mad all day at hack-drivers on the American side for try- ing to i^revent us fi'om earning three dollars with our good walking apparatus. We had made up our mind. ho\vev(M', to keep out of hacks, and did so to the end of the day. About as restful an exi^erience as we had at Niagara was riding ui)hill backward on the in- clined railroad. We felt so well over it that we were on the point of walking clear down the long stairs to rid(> up again: but a quarter for a ride was too much for us. and we gave it up. Our honest looks let us across the other bi'idgc^ without an episode, and late in the evening we were landed in Rochester. We have no regrets for our Niagara visit. It is a work of nature that grows uijon a i)erson as he contemplates it in all its magnificent proportions. After brief stops in Lockport and Rochester we were safely transported into Steuben Co., and dropped down at a little deserted way sta- tion near I}ath, where silence and the darkness •of a moonless and cloudy night wei'e our .sole •companions. We felt somewhat discourag(>d; but when we made a dive for somewhere and ran into a barbed-wire fence, we f<'lt most wretched, especially where we ran against the fence. We collected ourself togc^ther, so to •speak, and after meditating around in the mud and against various kinds of fences for an houi", we at last found the house we were seeking^ — the poorhouse. We were saluted with a husky, :spasmodic bark of an overfed dog, who said, "Tramp! tramp!" just as plain as talk. Tramps of all sizes, and variegated colors and conditions, call nightly upon this institution; and as the dog could not see our honesty he was perhaps excusable for calling us " tramp, tramp." We turned our camera up endwise and sat down on it to rest and consider. The governor of the institution, however, put in an appearance, and learning that the Rambler was th(^ benighted traveler we were happily entertained, and all owing to the fact that the keeper's wife was the Rambler's cousin: and we found a home here, off and on, foi' nearly two weeks. Bath is conceded to be one of the pleasant villages of Western New York. It is character- ized by broad shady streets and many beautiful residences. The town is chiefly noted from the institutions established here, among which may be mentioned the Daveni)ort Orpliaii Asylum and the New York State Soldiers" Home, the latter accommodating in its many fine buildings about 1200 old veterans, and the beauty of the grounds and cleanliness of the buildings, and abundance and (]uality of the rations supplied, it is a home indeed. Be('-keei)ing is not a very extensive industiy in and around Bath. Mr. J. H. Hadsell has an apiary in the suburbs of the village, where he attends to bee-keeping and fruit culture. His small farm is almost en- tirely devoted to small fruits. He uses the old- time Kidder hive, which in external appear- ance is much like the Dual hive recentlv advi>r- .1. H. IIAD.SELL S APIARY. tised in (iT.eanings. He uses the hive both single and double walled, and winters on the summer stands. Mr. H. uses an old-style 1}4- Ib. section in pairs, which must be sawn apart before putting upon the market. Comb honey was selling at 10 and 12 cents per pound. Mr. H. was very pronounei'd in his opinions about small bee-keepers who allowed grocers to set the price upon their products. He could sell I'X- tracted honey at as good prices as comb honey, and proposed to raise more of it in the future. He said sulphured honey was liable to i)roduce colic, and cited several instances to prove his position. As a substitute for fum^ing, he pre- vented miller-worms by k(»eping comb honey in a cool dry I'oom, in a temperature not above 60°. Mr. H. invented and ])atented a honey-!strainer several years ago. but the sales did not amount to much, and he evidently looked upon it as a past folly, and did 7iot wish to say much about it. Thns. how (tften our pet schemes of one period become a thorn in the flesh later on! Thei'e were other bee-keepers in the vicinity of Bath, but mud and rain prevented the exten- sion of our acquaintance in that line. Mr. Henry Peacock, a helper at th<' county house, should not be passed, foi' his apicultural expe- rience was brief but thrilling. A few swarms of bees, were under his maiuigement; every thing weqt well until one day. while hiving a swarm, an old dead apple-tree limb caught the hat and 682 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. SEtT. veil from his head, "and," said he, "it seemed as thougli half the swarm made a dive for my head." [^ " I suppose you rushed for the nearest bush- es, or tlie cellar, to get rid of them." 'V^l "hen" peacock IX the WATEIUNG-XIiOrGII. "No, I didn't. I went foi- the nearest thing, and that was the watering-trough, and plung- ed in all over." "Ha. ha! that was splendid. Did it get the bees off?" "Oh, yes! it cooled them off. and me too. I soon crawled out and ran foi- the barn, where I combed a few out of my hair. I have never managed bees since, and want nothing to do with them." " Lucky Peacock!" thought The Rami5I>ek. VERTICAL VS. HORIZONTAL BEE-ESCAPES. THE DIBBERN ESCAPE A FAII.UKE WHEKE THE OLD-STYI.E KEESE SUCCEEDS. Since reading friend Doolittle's unfavorable opinion of the utility of bee-escapes in Geean- INGS for Aug. 1, I feel it a duty to give my ex- perience. After a fair trial I found the horizon- tal has been a failure; while the vertical cone, as I use it, is all that I can desire. Without its aid I could not have managed my bees without assistance. I am a practicing physician, and it so happened this summer, that, just as white clover opened (our only source of surplus), an epidemic of measles and dysentery visited us, keeping me on the road almost continuously during flow. Only a few of my queens being clipped, most of my swai'ms went to the woods. But, to my subject, bee-escapes: Having given Dibbern's horizontal repeated trials with failure, and being compelled to have some aid along that line. I at once made several vertical (after Reese's plan). With these I find two things necessary for perfect work: First, there must be an air-space between the escape- board and brood-nest. Second, the opening at the apex of the cone must be of good caliber, not less than ^^ of an inch. Take a board the size of your section-case, and in its center insert a wire cone having a 2}4- inch base, 3 inches deep, with an opening for exit at the apex not less than % of an inch. Tack the board on an empty case, and you are equipped for business. Now, just before sunset go to your hive having sections ready to come off. Don't take a smoker with you; lift off gently the full super, bees and all. Set the escape in its place on the honey-board, or, in its absence, on the brood-frames. Set the full super on the escape, then put on the cover. Very early next morning, take off your case and take it to the hoiu^y-room. Now rc^nove the escape, and with a gentle puff or two of smoke drive the bees below the honey-board. Put on your case of empty sections, and the work is done, and witli no loss of time to the bees, and comparatively none to you. I would say to friend Doolittle, that there will he no young bees remaining behind to be lost. In taking off over .500 lbs. by this method I do not think the average was half a dozen bees to tiie case, sometimes only one or two of what my wife fondly styles "baby bees." lam possibly over- sanguine, but I really b<>lleve that, in the near futui'c. even now, the procuring of comb honey will ])e attended with less trouble and expense than extracted. Wm. S. Adams. Guys, Md., Aug. 18. BEE-ESCAPES A SUCCESS. I have been looking for some time in the dif- ferent bee-journals for some reports of the horizontal bee-escape; but as yet not much has appeared; and lama little surprised to learn that some have met with failure. I became much interested in them last winter, nhen so much \\as going the rounds in the bee-journals, and looked forward with much interest to the time when I could test them. I thought if they would work as represiMited they would be a great help in taking our surplus honey. I sent 50 cts. to Mr. Dibbern, and procured a sample of his horizontal escape. It was very nicely made, and looked as though it would do all that was claimed for it. But I did not like the exits being on a level with the tin, to which it was soldered; and I could not see but that a single cone would work just as well as a double one. I made Ave or six after my own plan, with single cones, the cones projecting away from the tin, with the intention of testing all of them when the time came. Now for the result: In the morning, while it was yet cool, I took my smoker and escap(^s, and went into the bee- yard. I went to a hive on which was one or more cases filled, or partially filled, with honey, which I wished to take off. I removed the top case, and placed the escape on top of the other, or on the top of the hive, as the case might be. I then replaced the case of honey on top of the escape. I proceeded in this way till my supply of escapes was all gone; and then in the after- noon, or late in the evening, I went around to each hive on which an escape had been placed, and took off the cases of honey, and carried them to the honey-house, a great many of them without a single bee in, and some with a few bees in, with the exception of three or four cases. These I left on for two or three days, and then took them off' \\ith a good many bees in. I can not tell why the bees did not go out of them, unless they were mostly young ones. I had the Dibbern escape in use all the time with the ones I made myself. The Dibbern escape did not seem to clear up a case of bees as soon nor as clean as my own make. The bees seemed to find their way back in. On one occasion, wheu I had taken the Dibbern escape off a hive, a considerable number of bees were on the under side of the escape. I held it in my hand a few minutes to see if any of the bees would find their way back through the escape, and in that short time four or five bees found their way back through the escape. The exits being on a. level with the tin, and the exits of both the cones being directly opposite each other, and so. near each other, if a bee finds its way in through the first cone it passes on directly through the other cone and back into the super. In my escape the exit is away about a bee-space from the tin; consequently it is not so easily found by the bees. Perhatps I should say just here, that I made I89<) GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 633 another osoapc that wdrkcd very woll. It is simply a frame the si/.c of tlii> top of tlic liivo, and about 114 iiiolu'S higli, with two or thnn' cones made of common w ire cloth tacked over so many tliree-fourths-inch lioles in one end of tlie frame. The cones were made about 1^' inches long. These escapes were put on the same as the others, with the cones turned to the front of th(^ hiv(>. In atumt half an hour thc^ bees could be seen rolling out of the cones as fast as they could get out, and down over the fnmt of the hive, into the entrance below. The only objection to this kind of escape, that I could see, was, robbers might find their way in, but I think not to amount to any thing, and they are not so easily taken care of, as tlie cones are' in the way, and are in danger of being mashed. I regard the bee-escaj)e as one of the best inventions of the day. ^^ hat the improvements will be in the future, remains to be seen. Millsboro. Pa., Aug. 14. Osmax McCahty. FUKTIIEIJ TESTIMONY. In response to the editor's call for experience with bee-escapes in getting bees out of supers, I am able to report that the new Dibbern hori- zontal bee-escape is a success. The escapes are to be adjusted under the supers, and left on over night. In the morning the supers will be foimd nearly or quite rid of bees. In one case, three stories of my hive full of honey and bees were cleared in one night, so that there were only a dozen or two bees remaining. There seemed to be no disturbance to the colony, and work was resumed as if nothing had happened. The supers are, however, not so quickly or so completely emptied, as a rule, when the escape rests only ;?s of an incli above the frames as where a rim one or two inches deep intervenes between the escape and the hive. With the shallow rim beneath the escape, the supers will generally be found cleared of every bee the next morning. The rims I used were 2 inches deep, and have various other uses in the apiary, as in the introducing of queens, in shipping, etc. It is somewhat remarkable that the bees do not bite into the cappings of the honey by the new mode of clearing supers. This fact alone is worth considerable to the bee-keeper, as by no other method except one can the bees be pre- vented from mutilating the cappings. Every one of the plans recommended by friend Doolit- tle, on page .5.55, are open to this objection, and are regarded as impracticable to bee-keepers in general where the honey is to be taken expedi- tiously and in good order. There is but one plan I know of to get bees out of supers with smoke successfully, and it is as follows: Make a frame 4 inches d(>ep for a stand, and wide enough so as to stand the supers up endwise. Nail at each corner a leg one foot long. Place this stand near the front of the hive. Now light a good smoker, lift the cover of the super off, and smoke the bees down. Hand the smoker to an assistant, and lift off the super and place on the stand. While the assistant works the smoker, vigorously throwing the smoke through the sections, the apiarist takes a hand brush-broom, and by quick move- ments brushes off the bees in front of the hive as fast as they come out of the super. In less than two minutes every bee can be driven out. The assistant then carries the super to the honey-house, while the apiarist takes off an- other super and places on the stand, or moves to the next hive. By this plan the surplus honey of a large apiary can be taken off in one day, and in the best of order, and without bother from robbing. The objection to the plan is the rough and cruel treatment necessitated to the bees. I con- fess not to have been in favor of the introduc- tion of b(>e-escapes: but the Dibbern b(M'-(>scape overcomes my anticipated objections; and be- lieving that o"ur bees deserve humane treatment at our hands, I shall use it hereafter in taking off my honey. Dk. G. L. Tinker. New Philadelphia, O., Aug. 15. STII.I. Fl'RTHEU TESTIMONY. On page .5.56 I find the following: "I hope, if they are not already what they ought to be, that some inventive genius may find out where the trouble is, and give us an escape that can be placed under a case of sections or an extract- ing-supei- at night, and rid it of bees before morning." While I think that Mr. Doolittle will find that we can n<'ver get an escape to work just as he has stated in the above sentence. I wish to say that that "'inventive genius" has already put in his appearance. I have been using bee- escapes all summer, and they have given me such satisfaction that I feel safe in saying that such escai»es as I am using will give as mnch satisfaction in a practical way as T supers or bee-smokers. While bee-smokers will occa- sionally go out or burn out just about the time we need them most, they are indispensable to success in keeping bees. So with T supers: while they are objectionable in some respects^ we can liot dispense with them until we find something better to take their place. And we have a bee-escape that will get the bees out of. surplus-receptacles, and keep them out; but I have found, that, when the escapes ar(» placed on the hives late in the evening, or even after the middle of the afternoon, but very few, if any. of the supers will be cleared of bees by daylight or sunrise the next morning, simply because the bees appear not to be inclined to change about or leave the supers during the night. I have taken off over 1800 lbs. of comb honey with as little inconvenience, and less trouble with bees, than I usually experience in taking off 100 lbs. Hy adjusting the boards in the morning, say from 7 to 9 o'clock, the supers will usuallv be ready by 1 or 2 o'clock in th(^ after- noon: "and. if the boards are immediately ad- justed under another set of supers, these can be removed early the next morning, thus using the same escape twice in one day. The honey-ttow, conditions of the weather, and the disposition of different colonies of bees, all these have their influence, and tend to make up a varied experi- ence in the use of bee-escapes. Coloni(>s that are quiet and not easily disturbed are slow to move out of the supers; and hives that are overcrowded with bees, if the weather contines^ them to the hive, will so choke up the outlets of the escapes that the bees in the supers appear for a time to be unable to force their way out. But these are exceptional cases; and in the latter, two escape-boards, placed one on top of the other, soon clear the super. The cone escapes can not be mad(> satisfac- tory. I have used cone escapes that an^ much superior to the Reese or DibbiMn i)atterns, which have worked reasonably satisfactorily under ordinary conditions, but "in every-day work the bees find their way back througli them more or less. What is wanted, and what I have been using for nearly three months, is an escapi^ that will permit the bees to pass out easily and rapidly, and at the sam(> time allow no bees to return. The inventor of these escapes is a bee- keeper of this county; and while he is endeav- oring to get up something that is of practical utility, he is in no hurry to offer escapi^s for sale, preferring to give them the test of a whole season's operations. S. A. Shuck. Liverpool, 111., Aug. 23. 634 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. MORE ON IIORIZONTAI- BKK-ESCAPES. In regard to the working of the horizontal bee-escape, friend Dibbern's four-point escape is not a success. Mr. D. has a new tin escape that worlts nicely. I have been testing it for two weeks. It will rid an extracting-super in two to three hours, and the bees stay out. It will clean the bees out, even with brood in combs; but they are longer in leaving. The hives were full of bees, and I did not put on an empty super, so you see they w(>nt down into the hive already crowded with bees. I was much pleased with the first one Mr. D. offered for sale, and I made up a lot of 2.5: but I was soon disappointed, for they did not clean a case of honey in a week. But I found a use for the boards, and will keep them for introducing queens, feeding, and covers for super cases. Unionville, Mo.. Aug. 16. E. F. Quigley. HORIZONTAL BEE-ESCAPE A SIIC'CESS. You ask for accounts of the use of the hori- zontal bee-escapes. I am very much pleased with the working of mine. With them I can take off my honey without any use of smoke or disturbing the bees, or exposing the yard to robbing. I prepare the board to tit in the inside of a super, resting on the tins which support the frames. An assistant takes the super thus prepared, and stands ready to slip it on the hive as I lift the super with honey, and then place it on the super containing the escai)e. The whole operation takes but a moment. The next day I take the top super away undisturbed, and leave the escape till I prepare them for winter. A small piece of burlap takes the place of the tin; and this covered with a woolen quilt, the winter work is done. G. A. Adams. Perrysburg, O., Aug. 14. IIOKIZONTAI. BEE-ESCAPE AI.I> RIGHT. I see by Gleanings that the horizontal bee- escape is not working satisfactorily for friend Doolittle and others. I am using it, and with good results. I made my escape-board so as to give a double bee-space between it and the sec- tions or frames below. The escapes were made so as to give % of an inch space between the sides of the inside and outside escape. If I make any more escape-boards I shall try a full inch space between it and the hive or case of sections below. The bees will not cluster so thick on the escape, and will not be so apt to Hnd their way back into the upper case of sec- tions. My bees are doing well. I liave secured 150 pounds clover honey (comb) from five colonies, spring count. I expect twice that amount from buckwheat and fall flowers. D. I. Wagar. P^lat Rock, Mich., Aug. 8. ANOTHER FAV0RABI>P: REPORT. As you ask for reports on bee-escapes, and as I used six Dibbern improved escai)es, I report that I found them a success under section hon- ey every time. When used under extracting- cases I inet with two failures; but on examina- tion I found in one case there was brood; in the other case, no perceptible cause, so I count only one failure. Of course, there were sometimes from 12 to 20 bees that had not worked out — never more, and frequently none. Few inven- tions are perfect. With me the bee-escape is as. near perfect as the bees themselves, for they, have failed here right along. From 40 colonies; spring count, I have 1200 lbs. extracted and 350 lbs. comb, and no rain to insure honey. Never before have I had unfinished sections of comb honey enough for bait the following spring; but I have them now to spare. Well, they are not the trouble I expected them to be. I cut them out and till the cracks with extracted honey, and they go like hot cakes in my home trade. I shall have no other this year. In fact, I shall lack at least one ton of enough extract- ed honey, and probably be 1000 lbs. short on comb honey. I have been trying to buy, but so far I have not succeeded in getting an article that I felt justified in buying at prices asked. Moberley, Mo., Aug. 9. J. Richardson. BEE-KEEPING IN NORTH CAROLINA. A VISIT I{EVE.\LIN must say that he owned up to having had a copy of King's text-book, but that he had not seen it in years. We will take leave of our good host when we say that his success in bee culture is not the kind that succeeds, taking his own statement for it. We made a few minutes' call on another bee- brother who has about 20 colonies in the Amer- ican hive. His bees were too high for the weeds to trouble. His crop of honey last year was fine, but had in a measure failed this season. On b(>ing asked if a good crop once in two years did not pay him to keep bees, he said it did. We gave this friend a copy each of the Ameri- can Bee Journal -awA Gleanings. These men are about a type of the bee-keepers of this, as good a field,' all things considered, as can be found south of the Mason and Dixon line. Al- most all have the black bee. We heard the most remarkable stories in regard to the fall of honey-dew during last winter. One reliable man told of his pants be- coming coated while rabbit-hunting in the sedge-fields. We should like to hear what Prof. Cook has to say in regard to a winter crop of honey-dew. Oui' bees had begun to nose ai'ound the cotton bloom befoi-e w(^ left. and. to our pleasant sur- prise, we found them fairly rich, all from this source. One-third of this time was very rainy too. so bees had only about ten days to get from a starving condition to a comparatively pros- perous one. This was so only with colonies that kept broodrrearing right along through Junp. I8w0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 636 I am glad to say my dish was nearly right side up. Our cotton honoy is excellent in quality. I will mail you a sample soon. The I)ove"tailed hive is being introduced here, and will, I think, become pojmlar. Friends Cauthen. Simpson, and myself, have been using this hive for several years — the same except the dovetailed corners. A. L. Bk.vch. Pineville. N. C. Aug. 14. POPLAR. CAN AVE FIND A SUHSTITUTK FOK KASSWOOI) FOK SECTIONS? I have noticed considerable stir among our Northern bee-writers in regard to the consump- tion of basswood timber for sections and other purposes: and some are taking measures to withhold this rapid destruction of the timber, and suggesting substitutes for it. This is cer- tainly tlie proper thing: but we should nu)ve slowly, he sure we are right, and tltcti we can go ahead with the minimum of friction. I greatly fear that those who have discontin- ued the use of basswood sections, and adopted poplar (or tulip) as its substitute, have not bet- tered the nuitter very materially, so far as the general welfare of the bees is concerned. Our Northein fiiends do not seem to realize fully the real value of the poplar as a honey source, perhajjs on account of its scarcity there. While basswood is very scarce here in Southern Ohio, poplar tills its place, and Jills it well. I do not kno\\' \'ery much aiiout basswood as a honey- producer 'except as I read what is reported through the journals; but I should not hesi- tate to say that poplar will at least '* hold its own" \\ith basswood. evei'y time. White ck)ver is jieuliaps at the head of the entire list of honey-producing i)huits. as A. I. Root says in his A I{ C. Yet bees in this locality gather as much honey from iK)))lar in fourteen days (the average length of time of poplar bloom) as they do from clover in fifty days (the average length of time of white-clover bloom). I feel certain that the fully developed lilossoms will average half of a teaspoonful of nectar: and when the trees are in full bloom, the bees get themselves all daulied. just as they would if they were tak- ing hoiu'y from a dish. So those to whom the poi)lar is a stranger can form some idea of its iioney-yielding projjerties. liut the honey is not such a fancy article as that from white clo- ver or basswood. In color, it is a little dark, or golden. After all. this is no serious thing: for coming, as it does, between fruit and clover bloom, the bees make use of most (jf it in tilling up the brood-chambei', so we do not gi't a great ■deal in the sections. But here is the point: There is a period of about three weeks between fruit and clover bloom, during which the bees could not get enough to run them, and would have to be fed ■during the whole tinu' to make them prosper properlv. Hut as it is, we ai'e not compelled to feed. \\'.' have just the thing we want. In- stead of feeding to keep up brood-rearing, the bees are rolling in the dark poplar honey until they have the bi-ood-chamber crammed full, and nuiny are already up in the sections I'cady for the whole crop of clover honey, which fol- lows close, for surplus. It is hardly worth the space to say that o>n' poplar is. and has been for scmie time, meeting tlu^ sanu' fate as the northei'ii basswood: in- deed, a ivorse fate. for. as every one knows. po])lar timber is being used for purposes almost innunu'rable. J. C. Atkinson. Nelsonville, Ohio. Aug. 18. Friend A., youi- points are well taken. Tlie destruction of the forests is certainly going to have a marked effect on bee-keeping as an in- dustry; and unless forests are planted, or fruit, or some other honey-bearing trees, in sufficient quantities, there is trouble ahead. ^ I ^ DO BEES CHANGE NECTAR1 riNE-TKEE HONEY. In yoiu' reply to D. A. Rothrock, July 1, you say that bees do not change the nectar in car- rying it from the flow(>i's to tlie hive. Last winter I sent you some samples of pine-tree honey-d(>w. and I now s(>nd a sample of honey made fnmi it. I know it is genuine, as I placed an empty comb in the hiv(\ and extracted the lioney from it; and as it was in the winter, there was no i)ossibility of their getting honey from any other source. Yo\i will observe that it has a "honey'" taste, while the honey-dew tasted more like sugar syrup. It is darker (it was not as dark, however, when first extracted), having stood in a bottle since March. The honey-dew I had collected in vials soured: this does not. ^Vhen the honey-dew had colli'cted on the balk and evaporated, it left a lumi) of what looked and tasted lila^ white sugai'. I don't think this will. If you feed bees honey, what can they store but honey? and if it is scorched, or bad in any way. of course it re- mains so: but I can not tliiiik they store any thing but honey, no nuitter what they collect, and said honey is of different quality and taste, according to the substance from which it is made. You are very positive and earnest in denying charges of the ADULTERATION OF HONEY by feeding bees. Are you sni-e that some of the large (luantities of sugar that we read of some apiaiists feeding to their bei's is not taken out and sold as honey, and that there is not enough margin foi' a fair profit between the prices, when sugar is bought by the wholesale? We hav(^ had no surplus honey as yet. as there was but little of any kind of bloom in the spring, and the honey was mostly consumed in bre<'d- ing. which was very early and profuse. The honey-dew appeared again, however, about Ju- Iv 1.5. and they are now booming. Amherst. Va.. July 31. J. Osbohn. Friend O.. we are all very well aware that bees evaporate, or ripen, honey in the combs: and we also know that well-ripened honey is very different from the raw nectai". as gathered from the flowers. This ripening process can be done artificially, nearly if not quite as well as the bees can do it. The raw nectar from the spider plant has a green, sickish taste, or some- thing that way, when you gather a spoonful or two; but hold it in a spoon over a lamp until it evaporates, .so as to be as thick as thick honey, and it has a vcny delicate, pleasant flavor. In regard to feeding be(»s to get honey, all that is needed to show the folly of such a course is to try it. See what is said in tlii* A B (' book in regard to feeding honey back ttf get sections tilled up. I don't think there has ever been a time wlien any bee-keeper could make it pay to feed his bees sugar so as to sell it for honey after they had .sealed it up in the combs. Th<' mattcM- has been discussed in our journals for :iO yeais back. We may feed cheap 636 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. sugar to keep the kees raising brood so as to make it pay, without question; and many bee- keepers do this, but no bee-keeper is now feed- ing sugar in order to get something to be sold as honey. He will surely become bankrupt if lie keeps on at it. QUEENS LEAVING THE HIVE. DO THEY I)f> IT? Do laying queens ever leave the hive, when not accompanying a swarm? My experience is, that they sometimes do. The present season I have about thirty hybrid colonies that I bought last spring; and wishing to raise queens to sell I am using an Alley drone-trap on each hybrid colony, to keep the drones shut in. In the" past week I have found the queens of four colonies dead, in the upper apartment of the drone-trap. It is possible, but not probable, that the queens died and were carried then^ by the bees. They were all young laying queens, raised this year, and were purchased of oue of oiu- most eminent queen-breeders, and had been introduced and laying at least three weeks. My bees have been working on buckwheat, and swarming, the last two weeks; but I have never been out of sight of the bees long enough for them to swarm without my seeing them, so I do not think it probable that they got into the trap by going out with a swarm. By removing the wire nail that closes the opening between the upper and lower apart- ments of the drone-trap. th(^ que(>n could return to the hive; but that would let the drones back too, and one would be obliged to keep the traps on all summer to keep the drones in. In C. C. Miller's article in Gleanings, Aug. 1, page 559, he asks, in conclusion, why the queen does not lay drone eggs in incipient queen-cells where they surely would have elbow room. In my eight yeai's' experience in queen-rearing I have found queen-cells built on drone comb several times, and that, too, when the bees had worker eggs in plenty to build cells on. As I was anxious to know what kind of an animal they would hatch, I watched them closely, but they invariably failed to hatch at all, the larva always dying in the cell before hatching. Elmek Hutchinson. Rogersville, Mich., Aug. It). NOTES FROM RHODE ISLAND. THE HOFFMAN FUAME, ETC. Although '* Little Rhody'Ms not much of a honey State, its bee-keepers pride themselves on keeping abreast of the times in the apicul- tural world. They are constantly trying new paths and short cuts, and endeavoring to out- strip their neighbors of "wooden nutmeg" fame, and leave behind " ye pilgrims of ye olde Baye State." We bee-keepers about the shores of beautiful Narragansett lind we must modify systems successful elsewhere, to tit our climate and flora, which, to say the least, is often er- ratic. This year there was a good flow of honey all through July, coming from an early variety of goldenrod and two varieties of spirea. This July flow is unusual, bees generally having to live on what they have laid away. To be al- ways ready for these irregular flows we have to keep the queens constantly at work. August and September seldom fail to bring good flows. Perhaps when I say that, in three of the best apiaries in the State, the Hoffman frame is used to the exclusion of all others, you wilf think some of iis are progressing backward. Be that as it may, the owners of these apiaries^ will now tolerate no other style, except for ex- periment. If you will try the standard Hoffman frame beside your modified style, you will, I think, be convinced of the points of superiority of the standard as explained by Mr. Hoffman in Gleanings for July 1st. I find the same trouble with a deep (IK inch) space under the frames as does Mr. Hatch (Aug. 1, p. 561). During the past three seasons, with from 1 to 30 colonies so arranged, the result was always the same. If Ernest will take foundation partly drawn out, and try his experiment of stretching while- it is yet warm and soft from the heat of the hive.' the result, perhaps, will be different. As for the way bees build their comb, they do- not always go "according to Hoyh'." I took from a colony a few days ago a new comb, one- third of which was built as it should be. and the other two-thirds as it is said it should not be. It was built on a new clean frame without any foundation or guide whatever, and by a good thrifty colony in normal condition. That colony evidently needs educating. But once have I had drones driven out in June (1S89) when honey was fairly plentiful. I ascribed it to an unusual scarcity or pollen; for as soon as- that became abundant again, the drones were- undisturbed. Arthur C. Miixek. Providence, R. I., Aug. 9, 1890. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. HONEY FROM COBEA 8CANDENS. One fine morning I noticed on my porch somo drips that I couldn't account for; porch rather dusty, and there were the drops, eight in num- ber, and not a sign of any thing to show from whence they came (I thought). It was myste- rious to me, as my folks had been away from home some two months, and I thought more or less about it all day. The next morning I found the porch fairly spattered with it; and tasting, I found it honey. In a moment it flash- ed on me (flowers). Covering all the porch are luxuriant vines of Cohen Seandens, whose bell- shaped flowers are daily loaded with honey, clear as crystal. It took the bees about two days to " tumble;" but now as many as five at a time can be found in a single flower, and every morning the drops hang and glisten so plentiful- ly you can gather it with a spoon. It is some- thing new to me, or at least I've failed to notice- it heretofore. The season is poor for surplus, fair for in- crease; some few swarms coming, even this late. As usual, Italians in the lead. Portland, Or.. Aug. 7. E. J. Ladd. A NEW USE FOR PERFORATED ZINC. The honey crop is small this year. From 200 hives, fall count, I have extracted 1.500 gallons; cause, too much swarming late in the season, v/hen they should have been gathering honey. I have found a new use for your perforated zinc. I place one on a weak two-story hive. I hive the small swarms in the common wooden water- buckets, and set them on the zinc. The bees will go down through the zinc and leave the queen on the zinc. By doing this, weak hives can be made very strong. I then keep putting on top hives, and hiving small swarms, and I have no trouble about fighting, as the bees are 1890 GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTUKE. 637 gathering lionoy. Tlio ahov(> is v<>ry old to tho vot(^rans, hut now to the A B C"s. I seo miK'li in tho hoc-jjapcrs ahout ijhaiiting for hcos. Almost all say it doesn't pay. I have been experimenting a litthMin that line. I got lialf a bushel of white-clover seed of you. I sowed it in February and Marcli. 1889. " Not a seed has been seen since. Wliite clover does grow here. Bees work a great deal on mustaixl. It is almost a constant bloomer, if {)lanted. say. every 1.5 days. J. \V. Pai'.k. Columbia. Tex.. Aug. 14. like the willow as the ros(> is like the milkweed family. Prof. Asa (Jray says, that in the West the tulip-tree is wrongly called the poplar. There is no tree named wl'iitewood, but it would seem as if all trees whos(> wood is white are in certain places called whitewood. Geneva. N. V.. .July 25. Pattik INIason. FKOM 2 TO 7. AND 100 I.BS. OF HOXEV. I received the queen in good condition. She now has the hive full of brood and eggs. I was much surprised to find I had sent too much for liei'. I liave never had a pun? Italian before. I started last year with t\^() colonies of blacks in rack hives. I got from them 7 swarms and 100 pounds of box honey. They wintered w ell, but I lost one this spring. I have had 12 new swarms this year, but will get no surplus, on account of the dry weather. It has been very dry. I had to feed during white clover. I think they will winter if we get some rain. My bees, both blacks and hybrids, are very gentle. They hardly ever sting unless I pinch them. If my queen lives I am going to try Italians an- other summer. I hear them praised so highly I will report how I like them. E. J. BAiir.Ei:. Corinth, Miss.. Aug. 13. ARE BLACK BEES I.ESS LIABLE TO DISEASE? I liave 100 hives of black bees. I don't doubt but that the Italians would make more honey. I have never seen a case of foul brood, nor heard of any in this part of the country. Possibly there is no connection between having all black bees and no foul brood. Won't you please an- swer briefly the following questions'? Are not black bees proof against foul brood, sometimes, when Italians are not? If Italians are more prolific than blacks, are they not also more inclined to swarm frequent- ly? J. S. Caeebkeath. Rock Rift, N. Y., July 4. Black bees are no more proof against foul brood than Italians. In England and tTermany. where black bees are the prevailing race, foul brood has made its mischief for many years. As Italians often get honey when common bees do not, they sometimes swarm when com- mon bees do not. \ correction IX NOMENCEATI'RE. I have just been reading Gleanings, and I notice an article on page 526 upon "Apicultural Nomenclature," in which the writer, in trying to correct one error, has fallen into another. The writer states that " cottonwood, balm of Gilead, and quaking aspen, are all different trees, though very nearly allied to each other. The poplar is of another and distinct type." Partly right and partly wrong. Botanists, for convenience, have grouped all plants, including trees, into families; and again some of these families are divided into sub-families. The willow family is one which has a division, and one of the parts, or sub-families, is called Populus. In this division are found several members — two aspcms, the American and large- toothed; five poplars, the downy, balsam, white. Lombardy, and necklace (the last of which is called Cottonwood), and tin? balm of Gilead. These are all different trees, but closely allied, as Mr. T. states, only he should have included the poplar. He says th(» poplar and tulip-tree are the same. Now, the tulip-tree belongs to the magnolia family, and that is about as near making hives and fixtx'hes by hand; best HONEY season. I have made 100 hives, all of the frames, and 2000 sections and Itioo separatoi's, all sawed by hand power, so you can see that I wished I had a good engine more than once. I have now 118 stands of bees. I took off 340 lbs. of lioney, and have about 1000 lbs. to take oft' this week, all in 1-lb. sections. The hon(>y is the whitest I have had since I have had bees, and the best honey season so far. the work of bad boys, again. I had to go out and fix up a hive that two boys were trying to steal honey from abo\it an hour ago. It is 12 o'clock at night now. I hope you have not any boys of that sort out there. If they had wanted honey, and had come to the housed I would give them all they wanted to eat. As it was. the bees were not asleep, and they lost their honey, and had a lively run. Dover. Mich., July 28. A. N. Whitlock. QUEENS LOST ON RETURNING FROM THEIR WED- I)IN(i FLIGHT. I have 1 ei'u losing a good many virgin queens during mating this summer. I had a nucleus in an observatory hive, and saw the queen take a flight about four o'clock. She came back in about five minutes, successful. Immediately on entering the hive she was balled; and as I did not suspect any thing wrong she was killed in a few minutes. Is it a common occurrence, and is that the reason I have been losing so many virgin queens? The horizontal bee-escape has worked well with me this season, nearly all the bees being out of the sections in the morning, if put on at night — perhaps a few in ont? or two sections. Lloyd Sechrist. Pleasant Home, O., Aug. 6. Friend S., such things are not very common, although they do happen, especially when there is a dearth of honey. I have never known it to continue long enough to do much harm. I have sometimes thought it was caused by plac- ing hives so close together that the bees were in the habit of mixing, until they get into a quar- i-elsome frame of mind. CATCHING QUEENS BY MEANS OF THE PERFO- r.ATED ZINC. Here is a quick way to catch black queens, and it will work equally well on any kind of queens. Take one sheet of your queen-exclud- er, say 13x20. make a box two inches deep, with bottom and sides of thin stuff— no cover. Now make one the same size out of 1^4 stutt', X wide; now nail on zinc excluder for the bottom, and the thing is made. Take? it out into your bee- yard; set it down about a foot in front of a hive, the deepest part first; then put on the zinc with th(> rim up, to keep the bees from run- ning off the sides; then use a little smoke. Pick up the frames with the bees all on. Now. do not stop to look for the queen, but give it a quick shak(> in the box on the zinc, then take another the same, and so on, as fast as you wish to, and you will soon see the queen on the zinc. The bees have gone througn as fast as shaken on in the box below, leaving the queen in plain sight. Pick her up. shut up your hive. 638 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. pick up your zinc, shake it in tVonl of the hive, the box the same. All can be done inside of two minutes. It is quick, easy, and robber- bees have no time to find what you are at be- fore the thing is done. We have caught 16 in two-story hives, in 38 minutes. Try one; and if you do not laugh, charge it to me. Fulton, N. Y.. Aug. 13. Oscar Dines. Friend D., the use of sieves with a bottom of perforated zinc is very old. Quinby described it, if T am not mistaken, in one of the first edi- tions of his book. Your arrangement, however, seems to be a veiy convenient one. We have used such devices to some extent; but as ive ordinarily find our queens in less than a minute, it would hardly pay us in our business. Our colonies, for the purpose we use them, and with the meUil corners, are very easily looked over. AVHAT WOULD HV, PKOPEl! KENT FOR 500 COI.- ONIKS? If I should own an apiary of .5(K) or 1000 colo- nies, and should not desire the care of it. for what could I rent it in cash, the renter to have honey yield and none of the increase? Would it be best to have so many colonies of bees to- gether, or would it be best to separate into apiaries of .^(X) each, several miles apart? My Hpiai'ies would be in Colorado. Miss Lida Winsi.ow. Carthage. Ind., June 38. My friend. I do not know how we can answer your question. In the first place. I do not be- lieve in renting bees. Sell them outright at some price, and have it done with. If, however, nobody around you is willing to buy, but is willing to rent, I would put it like this: For instance, the renter is to take .500 colonies of bees, and turn them over to you in one year, in as good condition as he found them. Let him pay you as rent the ordinary rate of inter- est on the value of the b(>es. as nearly as you can give on a fair valuation. Then let him have every thing he can get out of it — honey, increase, wax, and every thing else. If you undertake to put in a lot of conditions you will complicate the matter and open the way to no <'nd of dissatisfaction and com])iaint. perhaps on both sides. SEM,IN(i llONKY IIY TIIK SECTION : WIRING FRAMES, ETC. The grocers in Middletown, this county, so far as I know, buy honey in sections by the pound, but many of them sell by the section, and not by weight. I have ti'ied to convince some of them it was not a fair way of selling, but it is less trouble, and that suits them. I have a nephew in business in Honesdale, Pa. I was there last winter. He was selling sections at 1.5 cts. each; paid 13 cts. per pound for them. They did not aveiage near one pound ill weight. As far as my observation goes, fully as many sell by the piece as by weight. In using tin bars in wired frames I set the edge of the bar against the foundation and not the flat side. It takes up little room, and is not in the way. for the bees build up to it and cover it all over. I use 7 instead of 6 upright wires, liaving one in the center, the tin bar on one side of the sheet, and the wire on the other. Your old way of wiring fi'ames can't be bet- tered. Will some one who can do it. please tell in Gi.EANiNGS how to get the bees to carry the honey from partly filled sections to the body of the hive when they need it for winter stores? I have a fair crop of honey this year. I have been in the business here for 11 or 13 years, and in that time have always got some surplus, and, with the exception of " two seasons, have had good crops. E. D. Howem.. New Hampton, N. Y.. Aug. 8. Friend H.. I fear I shall have to give up that honey is sold by the section a good deal. Not- withstanding, I think it is a wrong way of do- ing business. But it seems to me that the dis- honesty lies on the grocer and not on the bee-keeper. We can not well make our sections to average a pound, very closely, or any thing verv near it. ]\[0¥Eg W^ QaE^IE?. DIBBERN. BEE-ESCAPE— A GOOD REPORT FROM. I would say I have us(^d the Dibbern bee- escape, and it gives good satisfaction by putting it on in the evening. The bees were all out of the T super excepting about ^i dozen the next morning. D. BeckmannJ Wheatland, Iowa, Aug. 7. HANDLING BEES AVITHOUT SMOKE. You speak of handling bees part of tlie time without smoke. I believe that with a little; practice, any person could get along without smoke. I can handle hive after hive without it. Lewiston. Mo.. June 30. H. MANSPp:RITTLP: TO CRACK. Not long since a pioneer bee-keeper was pass- ing through my apiary; and observing a large bee (it was a drone) he said they were the she bees. He said he did not believe in killing such bees, as it was " against nature." Shades of Doolittle! Somebody is certainly behind the times. Doolittle says he cuts their heads off in the combs. Leading lights sometimes disagree. Shiloh, O.. July 19. T. F. Kimee. [Friend K.. I have- got to be a little suspicious of anybody when he goes to preaching " against nature;" that is. when somebody complainSi- that you are against nature because you use the intelligence that God has given you.] NAILS AS SPACERS FOR FIXED FRAMES. I have watched the discussion on fixed frames, to see the different methods of spacing. I take some of those wire nails, drive in the top-bar about an inch from each end, just far enough to space the frames. I have a gauge, and lay it beside the nail and drive until it is 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 639 f'VfMi with my gaugp. I do not romombor the width of the gangf witlioiit going to measure, but tiuit depends upon the width of tJie top- bars. The nails answer everv purpose for me. Siireve. ().. July 18. C. B. Way. thp: nkkd of thick top-baks. I lost a valuable colony of Italians by the Simplicity hive becoming so sealed between the tirst and second story, and not being able to separate. When the bees were dead I took se- vere measures; and after separating, I found the worms had taken possession. This colony had given me over 50 lbs. of box honey each season. A. Famariss. Beverly, N. J.. June 14. [This is why we look foi'ward to thick top- bars as doing away with all this trouble. The trouble was not in the hive, but in the thin top- bars which allowed burr-combs to be built.] SPACE BETWEEN FRAMES; IN FAVOR OF NAR- ROW SPACING. In getting brood into my little combs for fer- tilizing hives. I have experimented a great deal on sjjace between combs, and have come to the conclusion that % (a little scant) is about cor- rect. At this space all the combs are tilled to the top-bars perfectly fiat and smooth. In or- der to maintain the space accurately we use little spacers to attach to our linger, like a thimble. All our frames are one inch all around, and cut with perfect accuracy. Marlboro. Mass. E. L. Pratt. [Thanks for the rc^sult of your experience. I am pretty sure that l'^^ from center to center is not too wide, and perhaps w(> can do with less.] 0a^ QaEg3Fie]^-B@^, With Replies from our best Autlivrities on Bees. Question 167.— VFin it he safe for me to ship off roinh honey without hrimstoning it? 2. Did yver brimstoned any. 2. Y(^s, brood will bring worms; occasionally a worm without. New Y^ork. ('. P. H. Er.W(^)i). Usually, yes; occasionally, no. If eggs are laid on the combs they will iiatch with or with- out pollen. I do not think tlii' larvio would mature without pollen. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. Thp least honey we get is brimstoned. I would not brimstone my honey unless it wei-e necessary. 2. I generally found pollen in the combs that had bee-moth in. Ohio. S. W. C. F. Muth. Yes, sometimes: sometimes no. 2. Thou- sands of them, where there was no visible pol- len; but the microscope reveals pollen where it is not seen bv the naked eye. New Yolk.' C. G. M. Doomtti-e. I have not found it safe for me to do so. 2. Oh, yes: lots of times. They are very apt to come on the edges of cells close to the wood. 1 have even seen them com(> on foundation. Illinois. N. C. C. Mim.ei:. I think so. I have raised and shipped a num- ber of tons of comb honey, and I neviM' brim- stoned a pound of it. 2. No. nor did I evcM' see fifty sections with worms in from any cause. Illinois. N. C. J. A. CtReen. If it has been kept for some time in a warn* room I should prefer to fumigate it before ship- ping in very large quantities. 2. Yes. excei)t what was contained in the honey. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boakdmax. I am not an extensive comb-honey producer, but I have not bi'imstoned what little I have had. I heard no complaint from the 2.i()(J lbs. that I sent out last season. 2. To some litth- extent. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. Freehorx. If taken off in hot weather and shipped im- mediately there would be danger of worms un- less brimstoned. 2. I have kn(j\\ n the surfact- of sections to be webbed oyer and the cai)|)ings destroyed in many crates where thei-e was ut\ trace of pollen. New York. E. Ramri.ei!. No, not at this season (early summer). 2. Y'es! i. e., where there was no pollen practically— n(k cells of pollen: but there is a little floating pol- len in most, if not all comb honey. Sometimes the amount is so small as to be undiscernible to the naked eye, and wo\ild probably cut no fig- ure in the moth or worm question. Illinois. N. W. C. Mrs. L. Harrison. Y'es: if you liav(! the right kind of bees, such as we thiiik we have, and use proper care about your apiarv and buildings, you will have na use for brimston(\ I do not think I have seen a. worm in any of mv comb honey for many years, I believe it is a physiological fact, that the; moth-worm can not develoi) without the use of pollen. Michigan. S. W. James Hei>I)<)X. I think that in most apiai'ies the sections an^ rarely troubled with worms. I would not fumi- gate'unless thei-e were reasons to apprehend trouble. 2. I do not positively know it. but i have the impression that they do sometimes (jc- cur. I believe it is several years since I have' noticed a \\orni in my comb honcn^ at all. I lay it to my farming neighbors not keeping bees, and tolerable care on my own part not to breecE the mothers of the mischief. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. I think I have said in i\w ABC book, that I would ne\n- go to the trouble of brimstoning- honey until I discovered the minute worm.s. somewhere about the honey: and I have also, said, further, that with the Italian bees the- fumigation is seldom if ever necessary: and I believe that a majority of the answers abov(^ pretty nearly agree to this. It just now occur.<. to me. that, if the moth-worm can not mature- without pollen, is it very strange if the larva of (i40 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. the bee can not, in a like manner, mature witiiout pollen as well as lioney for, tiie nurse- bees'? NOTES OF TRAVEL AMONG YORK STATE BEE- KEEPERS. AT G. M. I)0(>I,ITTI.E S. The ride by boat on the beautiful Lake Skaneateles to Borodino was tine. The water was so clear that, just before starting. I could see large fish at a depth of l:.' or 1.5 feet olf the dock. As we steamed out into the lake, the beauty of the scenery became more and luore manifest. The shores rise gradually from the water's edge, and off in the distance little towns are pointed out. " Over in that direction." said the captain, in answer to my inqtiiry, " is Horodino." Doolittle has a beautiful location, I thought. There are never any mosquitoes around this lake, I am told: and the water is so clear, and the shores so inviting, it is a wonder that the lake is not more visited by pleasure-seekers. In about half an hour I was landed on the Eorodino dock. As it was rather late I put up at the hotel. The following moi'ning found me on the wheel, sailing toward the home of Mr. Doolittle. for his place is about a mile out. I looked along the road to see if I could i)ick out Mr. D.'shome. That place doesn't look exactly like it. Finally, from the top of a hill I see a very pretty country residence. Every thing about the place shows neatness and taste, and the buildings are well painted. I wonder if this is not the place. As my bicycle travels noise- lessly along, suddenly an apiary looms up in the rear. Yes, there is a bee-cave. This /ai/.s-t be the place, and so I turn in. I lean the bicycle against an overspreading apple-tree by the side of the hotise. " Is Mr. Doolittle in?" I inquired of a man in the barn. " He is in the shop and will be out presently." I strolled into the apiary meantime, wonder- ing whether my friend would recognize me. After waiting a moment somebody steps from the shop. He has a sandy beard, and he looks like a portrait I have seen somewhere. "Good morning!" I said. "This is Mr. Doo- little, I suppose?" "And is this Ernest?" said he, grasping my hand. " I had not expected to find you wearing glasses." "I have been using them ever since I left school, five years ago, and ought to have begun wearing them sooner." Together we went into the shop. I noticed he was very careful to close the door after him: and the fact that there were no robbers about was pretty good evidence that this was his habit. As I expected, every thing was orderly. In one end of the shop was a small boiler and engine; near the center of the room, a saw-table; be- side the windows, a work-bench. Two rooms were partitioned off. One was a bee-proof hon- ey-room, and the other a general study, or sanctum, where he can be in seclusion and write his articles for print. In the latter room he showed me his Hammond type-writer, the machine that does the nice work he sends out. I found it was very simple, and easily operated. A large telescope, mounted upon a substantial tripod, occupied a space upon the floor. The owner not only studies the handiwork of (iod as he finds it aiiaong the bees, but he is delight- ed with what he learns and sees beyond the vale of this world. " Mr. Doolittle," I said, " I notice you are in- terested in one of the branches of optics. Why don't yoti take up photography, and so illus- trate your articles occasionally?" "Well," said he, laughing, " I had thought of that very thing, but I came to the conclusion that Doolittle had no time with all his other work, to fuss with it." When it is remembered that he does (til his work in the apiary, wraps and directs all his queens, answers all his correspondence without the aid of a stenographer, writes regularly for several periodicals, makes all his stipplies, keeps up a good garden, takes care of a horse, to say nothing of the services he renders to his chui'ch and town, we comprehend somewhat the force of the remark, that " Doolittle has no time " for another branch of optics. He is precise and methodical in all his work, especially so in queen-rearing; and as it is not an easy inatt(>r to get help possessing all these requirements, Doolittle prefers to do Doolittle's work. Upstairs in the shop Mr. D. has a collection of bee-implements, old and new. He showed me a box containing some old - style honey- boxes, which a few years ago, out of the kind intentions of a supply-dealer, had been sent him by c.rpresN. The charges were $1.^0. There was no letter of explanation. Mr. D. paid the charges, and the boxes he has used for kindling- wood. At other times hives and other imple- ments had been sent him, charges paid. He had never even opened some of these packages, as hi' had no use for them. I take pains to mention this right here, as we have been many times served in the same way. While all this is prompted by kind intentions, don't send stuff without first writing to see whether it will be acceptable. But. to retiu'u: Mr. Doolittle lighted his smoker, a Bingham. " I suppose," .said he as we started, " you don't wear a veil." • "Oh. yes, sir! I do. It's my father you are thinking of." At this I pulled out my veil, for I carry one with me everywhere, and we together wont among the bees. We looked at the progeny of some of his breeding queens. They were very beautiful. The bands were of a deep yellow, and four in number. Although our friend made no claims as to the fifth, the latter (or what looked like it) showed faintly. The bees from his breeding queens were as handsome as any I ever saw. He did not claim to have originated them, he having obtained them of a bee-keeper who is now out of the business. Mr. L. C. Hearn ob- tained one of these queens of Mr. Doolittle, and Mr. Timpe, in turn, of Mr. Hearn. "Now," said Mr. Doolittle, "what next would you like most to see?" " Huppose we look at some of the cells reared in upper stories. I have my camera here, and I should like to see and show to our readers whether you practice what you preach." We selected cell-building colonies at random. In the first one we examined there were almost perfect rows of cells built on the artificial bases. " Hold on a minute," I said. " and I will take a shot at it with my camera. There, I've got it." " Why," said he, " as quick as that?" " As quickly as you can snap your fingers," I replied. So on we examined and photographed four of five other lots of cells; and as soon as I can I will pi-esent you with a fair sample of cell- building, in the shape of a half-tone engraving. And so all through, Doolittle practices what he preaches. " You have your apiary in an orchard. I be- lieve I like that better than grapevines." 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 641 ■' I doirt like too imu'li shad*'." said Mr. I). "" 1 have noticed that tliosc colonics uiidci- those very lieavy shade-trees do not l)re<'d up as early, or do as well as those less shaded. There ai'e two trees" (pointing to two very densely foli- aged ai)ple-trees) " that I shall have to cnt out." About thus time Mrs. Doolittle desired him to get some vegetables from the garden. In the meantime I got off upon liigii gi'ound and took views of the apiary, house, and general prem- ises. The bee-cave had "caved "in recently, on account of the moisture from the bees rot- ting the boards. To prevent any reoccurrence of such a thing. Mr. D. proposes to use flagging for roof-boards, and then cover with dirt as be- foi-e. At dinner we had one of those unconvention- al bee-talks, in company with another bee- kee])er whose name I do not now recall, but who happened to be visiting Mr. I), at the same time: and even after dinner there were so many things to talk about that it was hard to break away. ox THE WHEEL A fam- ily; and it didn't matter at all, even if their de- nomination was different from mine. We all love the Lord, and we differ only in unimpor- tant details as to beliefs. I enjoyed the ser- vices, and enjoyed, als((. being in a (iod-fearing family foi- the Sabbath. The scenery about Starkville, to an Ohio boy, is grand. While the country Is not really mountainous it is very hilly. From many of the higher summits the whole Mohawk Valley spreads out befoi-e you. and off in the distance the dim outline of the Green Mountains can be seen. Mr. Elwood kindly oflfered to take me around the country: and accordingly, the following Monday mt)rning. one of the bee-wagons was hitched up. and we took a ride through the surrounding county, to take in some of the sights, and of course, in the course of the day, visit bee-yards. After driving to the top of one of those high hills and taking a general siu-vey of the Mohawk Valley and adjacent country (a maguilicent view, by the way), we visited a beautiful glen where there were some very cu- rious rock formations — caves, waterfalls, and r\uniing springs. My Kodak was in readiness, and I took a number of shots (i. e., views). Vegetable mattei' that remains for a few years in the water of this glen petrifies. Among the specimens we selected were almost perfect pet- rified beach leavcis, fragments of moss, etc. It was here first that I noticed what .seemed to be true of all this section of country: namely, that the basswoods seemed togiow much more thrifti- ly than in Ohio. The leaves were enormously large. One we nu'asured was 14 inches long, nor did this seem to be exceptional. At Mr. Doolittle's I noticed that the basswoods were of larger and better growth than with us. while on the sidehills of Starkville they were even more so. We. started on our jcturney again, and \\ ere discussing as to whether the large-leafed l)ass- woods w(!re any better for honey than thesnuill- er-leafed trees, when we drove up to the apiary of J. R. Tuniclilf. of Vanhornsville. Mr. T. owns some 400 coh)nies in three or four out- vards. He fornu'rly used the ordinary hanging frame; used it faithfully for 50 years. Finally, in 1878, he adopted the chjsed-end frame, which lie is still using. This frame, instead of sUiiul- 642 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. iny xipon a flat tin on the bottom of tho hive. hangs in an ordinary wooden rabbet by means of a projecting headless wire nail jutting out from the top-bar. In other words, it is a hang- ing frame with closed-end bars. In connection he uses a wooden thumb-screw to reduce pro- polis accuTuulations. M)-. Tunicliff was very enthusiastic over this arrangement. He de- clared it the best frame extant. As to the thumb-screw, he owed Mr. Heddon nothing for it. for he borrowed it of Mr. Manum, who had used it for many years before Heddon. He did not consider Mr. H. the first one to use closed- end fram(»s in a tight-titting box. for he had used them both in combination since 1878. He had 4(X) colonies on these frames; and to show me how nicely they worked he handled several hives. They certainly did work nice, and. as Mr. T. said, "he adopted them to save time in handling. The swinging frame took too much time in spacing and too much time all ai'ound. He was veiy enthusiastic over his hive. I took a Kodak view, and will perhaps give you a pictuic of it later. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. That art on which a thousand inillionK of men are dependent for their sustenance, and two hundred minions of men expend their daily toil, must be the most important of all— the parent and precursor of all other arts. In every country, then, and at every period, the investigation of the principles on which the rational practice of this art is founded ought to have command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds James F. W. Johnston. THE VAIATK OF STRAWBERRY -PL.^NTS TURNED UNDER. On the 1.5th day of July we plowed under a bed of Sharpless strawberries that had borne an excellent crop of fruit, and had made a prodig- ious growth of foliage, runn rs, etc. Before turning them under, however, the ground was covered with a heavy coat of stable manure. With the manure and vines together, the plow- man had considerable trouble in getting them all turned under nicely. In fact, a man had to follow (with a hoe or similar tool) to push the tangled vines from under the plow-beam. When it was all turned under, however, it was harrowed and rolled until tine and compact. Then a heavy coat of ashes from our steam- boilers was put on. These ashes were mostly from coal. Considerable basswood and pine, however, goes in with the coal. In order to get out the coarser portions we run it through a sieve, or riddle, such as is used for sifting sand or gravel. These ashes were put over the sur- face, from one to two inches deep, and harrowed lightly into the mellow surface soil. In this we sowed, the same day, radishes, lettuce, and tur- nips. Well, on the 1.5th day of August, just thirty days from the day the seeds were put in, beautiful radishes were ready for the market — in fact, the finest I ever saw. A nice shower fell soon after the seeds \\''ere sown, and the ashes had sufficient strength to destroy all iu- sect enemies. Not even a flea beetle punctured the first leaves of the young radishes. They grew with a rich dark green, and a rapidity I never saw them grow with befoF(\ Neither have I ever had rjoochstzed radishes fit for mar- ket in just thirty days, before. The varieties were Early Frame, Chartier, and Chinese Rose. The root's were beautiful, glossy, scarlet, straight, and true. In fact, we could easily liave made a bunch of Chartiers equal to the colored plates sent out by the originator. The Early Frame may have been a little ahead of the Chartier; but three days later, the Chartiers were much the larger and finer. In three days more (thirty-three in all) we had Early Blooms- dale turnips fit for the table. They, too, were wonderfully handsome, both radishes and tur- nips being crisp and sweet, far beyond the ordi- nary. The (xrand Rapit lettuce. How much of this is due to the strawberry-plants and how much to the manure and how much to the ashes, we can not tell; but I think just about the combination was needed for the results noted. Mr. E. C. Green, of the Ohio Ex- periment Station, looked them over yesterday, and he said he had never seen any thing to excel it in the way of a crop, in only thirty days. It should be remembered, that the ground was our best creek-bottom ground that had been enriched and worked over for the past four or five years. Adjoining the above jjatch are .some of our rows of strawberries which were also put out with the transplanting-tubes on the 15th of July. We did not think best, however, to put strawberries where strawberries had been the season before. These strawberry-plants, in 30 days have sent out runners and made little plants so that some of tli<>m are well enough rooted to bear removing from the j:)arent plants: that is, by the aid of the tubes. Now, these few results give one a glimpse of what is possible in market-gardening, as well as in strawberry- raising. In forty days the radishes can easily be cleaned off, aiid another crop of something else can be turned off before winter. I am planning to transplant scmie of the Grand Rap- ids lettuce where the radishes are taken off, and thus get large heads before wint(>r. With this high-pressure treatment, manuring, and tilth, there are quite a few crojjs that can be taken off the ground in forty or lifty days. TJie energetic, go-ahe
    have be- come matured enough to grow; for if you do not, you will seed the ground with weeds. Keep your eye carefully on the weeds, and a good many times you can have a heavy growth to turn under, almost as well as not. Be careful, also, that this heavy growth does not take anj^ thing from the maturing croiJ. A great many times it is better to wait a little until the crop is mature enough to be gathered, rather than to undertake to clean out the patch from weeds, etc., .just before inutiiiity. In fact, the nicest way in the world to make sure with purslain is to turn it under out of sight. Keep the cultiva- tor going, however, so that no chance sprig stiick up through the dirt shall get on top of the ground and grow again. At this season of the year (Aug. 21). if any piece of ground, en- riched as we have ours, is left idle for a week or ten days, the weeds will make their appearance. I would rather have the Acme cultivator go over the ground, say once in five or six days, if we can jnanage to have it. 1S90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUIJE. G4H (iAi!i)Kxix(; von .ski'tesidki:. During this month is the time to i)ut oiil cabbage - S(H'd for cold - franips. Tiic .Jersey Waketiekl is tlie only kind we use for tills pur- pose. Sow the seed in good rich soil, rather thinly, so as to get nice plants. WIhmi the leaves ai'c as larg<'. say. as a half-dollai'. they are ready to transplant to cold-frames. I al- ways enjoy this kind of gardening in the fall of the year. It looks nice to see these plants, so fruitful and bright and fresh, just when frost is I'uining so many other things. If you have not put out youi' sijinach y(>t foi" over \\int(M'. now is a good tiiiu' to sow it. I'orn salad can b<' jiut in at the same time, and ixith nuiy lie transplanted to cold-frames for use during win- ter. Now is a good time to sow (Jraud Rapids lettuce seed in view of having lettuce foi' Thanksgiving. In cities, nice cris]) lettuce at Thanksgiving has gf)t to be (luitc the fashion. Now. we nro (juite willing that people should follow the fashions just as far as they like, pro- viding it runs into juce garden v(>getahles. Winter onions can be put out now tiptop. It is too late to sow turni|)s: but if you have gi'ound in nice order, and tui'nii)s that need thinning out. you can get very nice ones by transplant- ing. One season we raised nearly a hundred bushels of turnips by ti-ansplanting them into cucumber ground aftei' the frost had killed the cucumbers. cole's XKW A<;UIf tl/ri'IiK AT Tl'lK I'liESKNT TIMK. In excavating for our new building, it be- came necessary to go I'ight down through the reservoirs of the new agriculture. Now, as you may know, 1 have been somewhat disap])ointed in the working of the reservoirs that cost so much money. A good many plants do not seem to do very much better over- these resei'voiis than anywhere else. Hut I have every year no- ticed this: Aftei' we get through with them, and they are abandoned on account of th(> late- ness of the season, squash and melon vines are sure to sjtriug up and grow with unusual luxu- riance. This year a single sciuash-vine was growing with d rapidity, right under the glass. subject to the intense heat of the sun. tliat I rarely if ever have seen eqiuiled. Although it had no water at all. and the top of the ground was intensely hot and dry. this vine scarc through at least 4 feet of earth, and then be- tween the loose stones, to find wat<'r. This vine has now 1.1 great Hoston Marrow sijuashes. and is still growing at a tivmeudous rate. A single banana muskmelon-vine ueai' by has now covei'ed perhaps an area of KJ fvo\ sciuare, and 7 great melons lie almost touching each other. When Fathei- Cole spoke about having the reservoirs (> feet deep, I thought he was down altogether too low: hut I now discover it is not a bit too low for certain kinds of vegeta- tion: and, furthermore, that at this depth th(> reservoirs in the clay soil will keep constantly tilled with water: that is, if inad<' with the overllow so as to k'eep just two feet of water in the bottom. It looks funny to see such i"ink vegetation growing up thi'ongh a soil parched with intense heat, and as dry as dust. ago I cut a lot of runners anil put them in a 4- inch soap-box near the well, aiul they ari' doing lucely. \Vhy would not tliis be better for some of us than taking up the plant, as you sugg(>st- ed in Aug. 1 issue? S. T'. \Vai,ki-:i!. Forest Crove. ()i-., Aug. 11. Frieiul W.. your plan is ali'eady in use. ]>y shading tin' ground and keeping it constantly wet. you can make the buds start before they show any root at all. This, however, requires consid(>rable care and skill. After very small roots have formed, they may be put out in beds. Hy keeping them watered and shaded you will very soon get nice plants. You do not say that you watennl them often, but we infer this from your <'xpression of putting them n(>ar the well. The advanta.ge o\-er setting at once in the tield is. you can put a good many |)lants in a snuill bed of very rich groiuid. After they get strong roots they can then be put out in the field. STI!AW15EI!i:V-l'EAXTS FOR THE (tAKDEX: HoW fEOSE TAX TIIEV HE ITT? I want to plant a small strawberry-patch for fainily us(>. about .It) by 40. How close can I plant them? I will fertilize them well. How will it do to mulch them with tine straw so deeply that not a weed can show its head? L. A. I)r(;oAX. Cnthbei't, (4a., Aug. 21. WM. Terry, in liis strawberry book, directs to thin the |)lants out in the fall, so that none of them shall be nearer to each other than 6 inches. From this I gather that, where ground is val- uable, plants may be .set in the fall as near as (> inches, leaving a path one foot wide between beds ."5 feet wide. When put so close, howevei-. you would need to keep oflf every runner; then mulch the beds with cut straw, and the paths with long straw, and you will have pretty n<'ar- Iv the Terrv system. OETrix<; sTi:Awrw;i:itiEs kkom lifxXEUs ke- FOHK TIIEV AKE HOOTED. One suggestion in respect to strawbei'ry- plants. It is almost always so dry liere that we can not get any plants, and I have wished there might be some wav to do so. About two weeks WIXDMIEES AXI> TANKS: SOME SI(iGESTIOXS. I am thinking of having a windmill and tank. I see from (iEEAXTX(is that you have one of each, and I desire, if you please, to have your opinion as to the kind that is best: and is there any solution of the difticulty with wooden tanks, that, if they get even partly emi)ty, in a slutrt time the upper poition of the staves shriidvs, and they leak when the water is pumped in again? Do you find that to be a drawback? E. C'Ai.VEirr. Nashville. Teiin.. Aug. 1:.'. Friend C. ahnost an>^ of the windmills adver- tised in our agricultural papers, made by re- sponsible nuMi of good standing, will ausw(>r your purpose. The first one we bought was th« Eureka, nuide by .Smith it >\'oodward, Kala- mazoo, Mich. Our large)' one is the Eclipse. mad(> by Fairbank.s, Mor.se it Co.. Cleveland, O. During a very dry spell this summer, when there were several days that no wind blew, out- big tank did get a little dry around the top: and when a brisk wind came up suddenly I no- ticed the water coming thnjugh the cracks so as to run a small sti'eam in several places. This was on the south side, where the sinr struck the staves. As soon as the sun went down, howexci'. the leaking was n diiced to 644 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. ■tlrups. ami by the next morning xhcro was not a single drop. If the tub is properly i)ut up, and the hoops di-awn up with approi)riate bolts, I think there will be no trouble. Don't drive the hoops to get them tight. Have them drawn up witli good heavy bolts. 1:20 I.BS. FKOM ONE COLONY. I took off 130 lbs. of comb honey from one >\\'Hrm last season u]) to August 31. Wiiifred, 8. Dak.. July ;.'3. J. W. Ciiapin. A GOOD REPORT FROM CALIFORNIA. The flow of honey is good here now. I get from KKX) to 1300 lbs. each week from 180 col- onies. My crop will be from S to 10 tons this year. (I. W. Camp. Armona. Cal.. Aug. I'.t. 1.5,000 I.BS. FROM 300 COLONIES. I have taken this season from 300 stands. l.j.OOO lbs. honey, princi|)ally extracted. Riverside, Cal.. Aug. 1'.). L. 8arlp:s. FROM 39 TO 100. AND 3000 LliS. OF HONEY. I have taken 3000 lbs. of extracted honey from my bees this year, all white clover— the nicest honey I ever got. I had 39 colonies, spring I'ount; increased to 100. Fr.\nk M. Jones. Tiuffalo, N. Y., Aug. 3. IS'.K). 15.000 LBS. FROM 80 COLONIES. I am working about 80 swarms for section iioney. and it looks as if I would make pretty near 15.a)0 sections (1 lb). The bees are woi'k- ing well now. and have been working in the sections since the last of .March. I am working about 15 swarms for extracting: thev are doing well. A. J{. Mellen. Acton. Cal.. Julv 35. 198 LBS. FItOM ONE COLONY. I began this spring with 15 swarms, and now have 30. and have taken nearly 30(X) lbs. of honey up to the 9tli inst. From oiie hive I have taken 198 lbs.: beginning to extract July 1. 60 lbs.: .July 11. 40 lbs.: July 33. 33 llxs.: July 30, 37 lbs.: Aug. 9, 38 lbs. E. Stevenson. Salt Lake City, Utah. Aug. 11. A (iOOD REPOIiT FltOM NEW .lERSEY. I have taken Gleanings .since last P'ebruary. and in that time I have not seen any thing in it from New Jersey. I see it stated in your last issue that the honey croij \\-ould be short. Well. 1 have some bees here. Tliey are Italians and albinos, and I have one of Sibeiian. Tiiey have done very well so far this season. Some of my swarms have made over 1(K) lbs. this season, and none less than .50 lbs. We iiad no swarms in May this year in this [jart of tiie State, that I can hear of. Otu' wliite clover has been a good ci'op. It ran about six weeks, and now our fall flowers are coming out, with ijrospects of a fair ■crop. I have four swarms from three last year's •colonies, and I had to use a bushel basket to take them from the tree in, and they filled it within two inches of full, which is the largest swarm in South Jersey, that I can hear of. One swarm of albinos swarmed twice; second i^warm not so large as the first. My Italians have swarmed but once this seas(m. Our bees in this section have been carrying pollen since last Christmas. The man I got my bees of has been in the business, oi' had bees, for 16 years, and this year, he says, beats all he has seen for work. IJees do not swarm this year until they fill tiieir hive, pound sections and all. AVe do not extract any honey here, but all pound sec- tions is what we want. It brings a fair price. There are some black bees in this section, and we are ti'viiig to get I'id of them, which will be a good thing if we siicceed. There are not many here that keejj more than ten colonies over winter, but I intend to see what can be done here with the little workers. I intend to have about 75 colonies, and then I can tell what thei'e is in the business here. I think I am on the I'ight road to make it pay here. Vineland. N. J., Aug. 11. " L. S. .Iones. ^EPe]^¥g Digcen^^eiNQ. The honey crop is very short, one-fourth of what we had last vear. . Austin Dexter. Eoscobel, Wis., Aug. 30, 18V(0. If bees in our- part of Nebraska get enough honey to winter on they and their owners will be in' the biggest kind of luck. So far they have not got one quarter enough. Dorchester. Neb., Aug. 17. C. F. Thojlvs. Honey crop a failure this year with us. I don"t think we shall have over 500 lbs. of honey from 300 colonies, spi'ing count. Randall i<: Sevres. (Mrard, Pa.. Aug. 18, 1890. Our honey harvest this year so far is very poor. Easswood not a quarter of last year's crop. Clover is worse, if any thing. We have a very juior show in Fayette Coiuity, for 1890. A. F. Randall. Randalia. la., Aug. 1, 1890. The honey crop here is a complete failure. I shall not tai come down and gaze upon the ruin this railroad has made through my market-garden. The finest cro]) of busli lima beans is right in its i)athway. and they would have been ready to jiick in a week or ten days. Hut tlie men and teams could not wait. One of the tinest ])atclies of Ford's Early corn I have ever rais(^d was also right in the i)athway. and this would have been tit to pick in a week. Hut it had to go. When peojjle exi)ressed sympathy, and said it was too bad. I told them that we were glad to remove the garden-stuff for something so much better. "Why. do you consider th(» railroad so much better than a garden?" I have exitlained the matter so much that I fairly get tired of talking it over. To be sure. I consider the railroad better than a garden, or else I would not have given S'i.50t) to have them come through. Not only this. I gave them a strip of ground right thiough the center of our grounds, that was worth to me. under the cir- cumstances, nearly if not quite fc'.")00 more. For six months back I have been expecting the work; and while 1 have becMi anxious to see them, there has been at the same time a feeling of dread. In some way. from what I had heard I had got an idea that tlu' railroad-construction folks wei'e a class of people without liearts or souls: but in some res|jects I have been agree- ably disappointed. The chief engineer and the surveyors are very nice peoi)le indeed. In fact, some of them are boys who graduated fi'om our own town. The chief engineer kindly consent- ed to spare my carp-pond, although the right- of-way line went right through the middle of it: and they also arrang<'d so as to .save my fruit-trees. Not one liad to be cut down or re- moved. In Ernest's absence I fear I neglected business somewhat, in order that I might im- prove the oi)portnuity to get as well ac(inainted as possible with these people who carry the lines of i)rogress in their hands. It was two weeks ago tliis morning (to-day is the ;,'7tli) since they c(nnmenc<'d. I had just finislied my breakfast. We had read our IJible-lesson. and I had prayed for grace and sti'cngth to take up whatever trials tiie day migiit bring. As I passed down the walk toward the factory I kn<'W there might be trials in store for me. greater than I exjjected. but I was glad tliat I did not hnoic w hat they wei-e. Before I reach- ed tlie factory, however, one of the boys said, "The railroaders, with a great string of plows, scrapers, and other tools, are marching down to your gaiden." 1 made a shoi't cut. found the boss, and told him that, while every thing was at his disposal, I should be very glad if lie would help me a lit- tle in protecting my crops, and also asked of him the privilege of removing the surface soil be- fore they commenced their excavations. In a few minutes he surprised me by his hearty good will and emphatic directions to the team- sters. "Why. Ml'. Root, we will do evmy thing we can to avoid unnecessary damage to your stuff; and as to tlie surface soil, if you will stay here and boss it we will remove it for yon." From that moment pleasant relations have been k'ept up until the present time. May be. you begin to wonder why I go into all these de- tails about .something comparatively unimpor- tant. Perhaps you wonder \\'hat it has to do with the text. Just this: I knew by past ex- perience, tliat. as soon as the men got well at work, cursing and swearing would be the order of the day. and I was not mistaken. I had re- solved to lie with the miMi in the outset, and get acquainted with as many of them as possible: and I wanted, if I could, to manage to remon- strate at the first oath that \yas uttered. I think I did. and for some time I was greatly eii'- coiiraged to see how pleasantly they agrer>d with me. and gave me a soi-t of half promise not to swear, even if things did go wrong. It was not \('ry long. howe\'er. before some pi'etty loud calls came from the factory and different parts of tlie grounds. I could not give my whole time to the new railroad. Hefore tlie men got thirsty I showed them my little spring, and got one of onr boys to carry around w ater. with a dipper and jiaii. I lent them an a\ and hatchet, a chain and a pick, and a shovel: and I kept men near by to assist them. I turned the cow and the poiiy outdooi'fe. and let the men have the use of the cow-barn to stable their hoi'ses; and I succeeded without ditticully in winning their friendliness and good will. Hut, alas! it seemed like a drop in the bucket to at- tempt in my own feeble strength to teach men that a railroad could be Iniilt without cursing the (lod who made them. The scraixM' W(^ brought on tlie grounds to remove the surface soil was rather small foi' a big team, and not exactly the right shape. Tlie boss suggested right away that we could have one of his if we would have a little repaiiing done on it. Our blacksmith soon did the repairing, and, in fact, we have had ijuite a trade in reiiairing their tools foi- them right along. When 1 took their scraper I removed their clevis, as we had one of our own. That it might not annoy anybody. I hung it on a stake. Somebody else took it and laid it in one of the wagons. Finally somebody drove his team up to the scraper to hitch on. The clevis was mi.ssing. I{y the way. dear friends, have you ever liad any experience in the amount of swearing that has been called forth l)y the lo.ss of a clevi.s? We do not swear here on oui' own grounds, but I have been sorely vexed many times to find tiie team away off in the lots, tlie plow or harrow all in readiness, doubletrees on hand, and no clevis. On this account w(> have a lot of them hung up in a special place in the tool-liouse. Well, this man began to swear about the delay, and then In- cursed the one who took the clevis away. \i\ this time I was right iiefore him. with my hat off. '• I>ook hei-e, my dear friend, it was I who took that clevis." I ining it on that stake, in G4() GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Skpt. plain sight, but soinchody else lias talo'ii it since tlien. Now, please do not swear tiiis bright beautiful morning. Before night we shall have many other li:ials and vexations. Wouldn't it be a great (h'al belter to take evi>ry thing coolly and ijatiently '.' You know that the Bible says,' 'He that rnleth his own spirit is greater than lie that taketh a city."" He soft- ened down, and lauglu'd a little. i>y the time the nuiii who |)ut the clevis in the wagon had fetched it he was disai'nied. and the victory was mine for the time being. Oh how I do love such victories! I like to come out ahead in any thing. When I used to ligiit by my own strength 1 \\(juld almost die lathiu' than to be wliipped. especially is I felt that my cause was right and just. But. how much hi tt;() a oushel. It was tSunday moiii- ing, and the campers had no means oi buying any more. I tokl them to go into the gai'den right close to their camp and dig as many po- tatoes as the pony ate. But they declai<'d it was their ow n carelessness, and 1 think not a potato was taken. Please do not think I am boasting of my skill in such matters. 1 boast not of myselt, but of Christ Jesus. Paul says. ■■ Yea, of myself I will not glory but in mine, intirinities." I am glad to witness and testify to the pow<>r of the spirit of Christ Jesus, even amid the din and clamor of ungodly men. I now want to s|)eak of a subject that lies. very close to my lieai't during the time of this matter of raili-oiui-lniilding: It is. cruelty to- the mules and horses that construct our rail- ways. And, dear friends, I have just made a discovery. The discovery is this: The key tO' most if liot the cause (jf all the cruelty shown to horses lies in profanity. Profane swearing is at the root of tiie whole matter. One teamstiu'^ gets mad and begins to curse his team. Anoth- er one takes it up, and by and by a dozen team- sters are striving to outdo each other in horrid oaths and curses. Then the whip begins to be used, and finally clubs; and these poor over- worked dumb friends of ours are urged beyond, reason, w hen if the oaths and curses could hav« been stopped they would have worked reason- ably and not b(>yond their strength. I wonder that those who own the teams do not see thi.s. Now, I do not know how many of the readers of Gi.EANiNos are in tlu^ habit of swearing: but the idea may be new to you, that it costs you money every tinier you take God's name in vain. The money is a small part of \vhat it costs, but it is a point where great corporations may b(» appealed to if no other. Where their pocket- books suffer, they are interested. I may as well tell you that I hiid to give up, mostly, trying to stop' the swearing. When they had only four (jr tiv(> teams there was not any of It when I was in sight; but when it came to :.'() or 30, where they werc^ backed uj) by numbers, some of them seeined really to take a kind of pleasui'e in let- ting me know that I was whipped out. Oh, but I am not whipped out, dear friendsl H' yon will not listen to my w(n-ds, the great God abov« will hear my prayc-rs. I know there is a tima coming wIkm'i railroads shall be built without swearing. Yes, I f(H'l pretty sure there are godly contractors and bcjsses who are doing this very' thing now: and I expect to hear some of the readers tell me of instances where it has b(>en done. The horses would do more work. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CLOTURE. ()47 -iiiiil tlic men would (hi more wtn'k. and God's hlcssiiifi would follow in every drpaitnicnt of railroad work if it docs not follow now. Ac- eidcnrs and loss of life would !)(• a\<'rt('d, and llic pi'aec of inintl that follows a oousoicnco at peace with its ^Faker would gi\'e an en- joyment that is woi'th more than all else in this world besides.* On aecount of the .Sunday--ehool picnic to be held to-day. our regulai- weekly Thursday eve- ning nu'eting of the Endeavoi' society was changed to last evening. This appointment was matle without considering that the last Wednesday evening of every mouth is the reg- ular tinu' for a union prayer-mei'ting of all the churches of ^lediiui. It was not discovered until it was too late to have either of the a|)iJointments changed, and therefore i)art of us must go to one meeting and part to another. Toward the close of flie Eiuleavor meeting, however, I suggested that we atljonrn and all go over to the^ union prayer-meeting at the Disciple church. By the way, there Is some- thing fresh and reviving about the Disciples and the Disciple church. I have sometimes thought that their services were a little nu)re in the line of every-day exjjei'iences than most of the other churches; and their hymns, some way, seem to wake one up, and give him a feel- ing of enthusiasm that he does not always find. You know, of course, without my telling you, that I am an earnest advocate of union nu'et- ings. •• By this shall ye be known of all men that ye have love one to another." If our churches could not act in accordance with the above, what a sad thing it would be! So many were coming in toward the close of the meeting, the leader was again induced to men- tion the subject. It was something like this: The way to get good ourselves is to be busy doing good toothers. I told the friends briefly ■of my experience in fighting profanity among the railroaders. The leader remarked that it was di'inoralizing, and almost dangerous, to hear such constant blasphemy. By the way, here is a point I havi' not emphasized. I know by experience that it is terribly demoralizing to be obliged to be present where such talk is going on. Why, I am really ashamed to confess that, aftei- the conflicts I "have been telling yon of, sometimes, when tiicd out and sorely vexi'd at somi'thing, these foul words intrude theinsidves n|)on my thoughts, and I can hardly resist the temptation of thinking how some of those hor- rid oatlis would tit under peculiarly trying cii'- cumstaiici's. Unless you ar<' f(jrtiti."d by con- stant and earnest prayer, and unless you fight with all your might and mental strength against it. your peace of mind will be in danger by simply binng obliged to/iea/'such blaspliemy. Somebody suggested that our Medina boys, numy of them unused to such talk, wei'e obliged to hear it. And another suggested that the con- tagion had already got into our streets, and was jjossibly kt'cping away young converts from the regidar appointed meetings. Then came u|) the subject of our text: vShall we be nu)re puic in heart liy keej^ing awa.\ fi'om these places, and closing our ears to what is going on? Tiien suggestions came, that I siiould k'eepon laboring anning these ix'ople, while others should slay away. The meeting was (jrolonged beyond the *Tiie time lias come sooner than I expected. Snice the al)<)ve was put in type, I am told that in the iieishlioriiif-- town of Lo(H, this county, there is a ti-.uifiof men and teams with a lioss wh(» is aClu-isti.in man. This boss told them, when lliey liired oiU, that (here was to be alisolulely no sweariufi'. The fraiiK- is doinff e.xeelleiit work, and theio has lieen no trouhle ill lieepiiiK out bad words entirely. They simply Ktartid right, witli a Christian man to watch over them. May God l)e praised for it. usual closing hour. The real point of our text was the mattei' under discussion: Shall we go right into the clamoi' and turmoil and wicked- ness of the great business woi'lil, or shall we keep ourselves pure in heart by holding aloof? The answei- that conn's to nu' is something like this: The one who goes among these nnni and undertakes this work should be fortified and clad in th(> Chi'istian arnujr, by an hom'st and sincere purpose to do these nnm good, and he should be fortilied by earnest prayer in his closet by himsidf. He should go with the love of God tilling his heart to overHowing: and he should |)i'ay meanwhile to be kept from vSatan"s strange power over those who even hcur blasphemv against (Jttd. Unless one has this preparaticin lie should keep away from scenes of this kind as much as possible. To go out of idle curiosity, and because one has heard of their goings-on, is dangerous; but to shirk duty, or to neglect necet^xanj huslnesfi. because we are thi'own in contact with such scenes, would b(> foUv. (hid's grace is amply sufficient to sustain his devoted followers through any such trial. I have told you of my many oft- recurring temptations. Now. when I am en- gaged in revival work— when I am pleading for souls— then mv hear't is filled with that gift of the Holy S|iii-it w liich is so abundantly promised, and I am out of danger. Satan's old tempta- tions and allurenumts sink into nothingness. And right here lies the secret of being delivered, I think, all at once from the great besetting sins. When the heart is full of love to Christ, Satan can find lu) lodging-place, and can make no headway. At just this jioint in our meeting, when I was praying that God might put into my heart some of these bright promises in the shape of a pertinent text, the organist, who is one of the leaders in the Endeavor society of the Disciple church, suggested the old familiar hymn, " Am I a soldier of the cross? " All at once it was taken up as the audience realized that h(>re was the true solution of our' discussion, and the plain and unmistakable hand of God pointing us to duty. As I look over the words I discover thev were written by Dr. Isaac Watts in 1720. The tune. Mount I^isgah. was one I liave heard my father sing over and over again, away back in the days of childhood. Memory came rushing fast as I listened. My poor old father, as I well remem- ber, was sorely bes(>t at times by Satan: and the reason why he loved these words was be- cause thev canie to him bidding him gird up his loins and '>«(;• the cross. Here are the words: and I am also happy to be able to give you the. '•air" of the music. This was engraved spe- cially for the occasion by one of our own peoi)h'. The plan is one of his own originating: Am I a soldier of lln^ cross— A foU'werof tlie l.amli,— And shall 1 fear to own his cause, Or blush til speak his naiuey Must I be carried to the skies On tlowerv beds of ease. While others fouRht to win the prize, And sailed throujih bloody seas ? 64S GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept, Are there no foes for me to face ? Must I not stem the flood ? Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God V Since I must flght if I would reign, Incrense my courage, Lord; I'll beartlie toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy word. Now. If you have not learned tliis good old tune, please do so. If you aic afraid to sing around other folks, go off in tlic lots and sing it by yourself until it brings the blessing to your heart it has brought to mine. Then sing it to your friends. Do not be bashful or backward. Be a hrnve soldi(M-. A simple little hymn like this, sung in your own way, and after your own fashion, will have a power you have no concep- tion of. if you shnj for Christ Jesus:. Use the liynin to vary the usual jjlan of asking a bless- ing at the table. Get nuimma to sing, and the little ones, and afterward explain to them what it means to be " a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb." Tell them that good soldiers do not get mad and swear, nor quarrel, nor speak bad about their neighbors. Tell the boys that, if they want to be manly, they must get up and woi% and not be carried about. Tell them that we want men How to flijht for God and the right, as we never want<'d them before. Tell them that, before they can be bosses, or have command anywhere, they must learn to rule their own spirits. Tell them this hymn was written more than 170 years ago by the same good man who composed the little verse commencing, " How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining- hour! " Tell them it is the hymn that is making Uncle Amos happy just now as he fights his battles and takes up his burdens. Tell the boys that Uncle Amos is praying for them. And that they may fight against this sin of our national profanity and irrevei'ence to God, bid them be "brave soldiers in the battle for the right, and tell them it was Christ Jesus who prayed, not that they should be taken out of the world, but that they should be kept from the evil. 3F6B^CC0 C0MJI]\[. CONDITIONS UNDEE WHICH WB GIVE SMOKERS TO PERSONS WHO STOP USING TOBACCO. First, the candidate must be one of those who have given up tobacco in consequence of what he has seen and read in this department. Second, he promises to pay for the smoker should he ever resume the use of tobacco in any form, after receiving the smoker. Third, he must be a subscriber to Gleanings. Any subscriber may, however, have smokers sent to neighbors or personal acquaintances whom he has 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 for the smoker. The one who receives the smoker in this case need not be a sub- scriber to Gleanings, though we greatly prefer 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. HAS Qt'IT, AND EXPECTS TO STAY QUIT. I believe I am entitled to one of your smokers, as I have used tobacco ever since I was eight years old. I was thirty-eight last Friday. I quit last January, and still expect to hold on. Lewistown, Mo., July 28. H. Manspekgei!. A NEW SXJBSCKIBEPv QUITS THE USE OF TOBACCO. Mr. E. L. Yarbrough, of Buffalo, Dallas Co., Mo., desires you to send him Gleanings. He has abandoned the use of tobacco, and desires you to send him one Clark's smoker. He says he will pay for it if he ever uses the weed again. Bolivar, Mo., May 19. A. J. Lowek. A smoker FOK a FKIENI). I want you to send a smoker to me to give to brother Cook. He has quit the use of tobacco. He used it over 4.5 years. He is a good man, and class-leader tof). I will pay if he begins using it again. A. C. Buknam. Camden, N. Y.. July 22. A user for 20 YEARS QUITS. In couseqiKMice of what I have seen and read in this deijartment, I determined to stop using tobacco, which I have used for 20 years. I gratefully promise to pay for the smoker should I ever resume the use of tobacco in any form, after receiving the smoker. Mikado, Mich.. June IB. Wm. R. Cummings. TWO SONS-IX-UAW WHO IIAVP: QUIT TOBACCO. If you still giv(» smokers to those who quit the use of tobacco you can send one each to Willie Godbold and Ralph Watson, both of Bowerton, Copiah County. Miss. They are both my sons- in-law: and if they ever use tobacco again I will pay for the smoker myself. Wm. Boles. Bowerton. Miss., May 12. snuff-i)ippix(; .\.moxg the colored womex. I see in the Tobacco Column that a lady has quit smoking. I wish that by some means the ladies of this section could be induced to quit the very disgusting habit of snuff-dipping, which is so prevalent h^re among both \vhite and black \yomen, and thereby elevate them considerably in the estimation of many good people. S. F. Hei'.man. Tuscaloosa, Ala., July 21. Dear friend H., I have heard a good deal about the snuff-dipping habit: and I should be very glad indet^l if something could be done to awaken and rouse up these sisters to a sense of what they are doing. A SMOKER For, A FATHER WHO HAS QITIT. I am very glad that I am able to ask you for a smoker, as it is just what we need. My father has quit using tobacco, and says if he ever uses it again he will pay you for the smoker, and give you all our bees, which are fourteen nice colonies. I don't think you will get the bees. Please send it to John Woods, Ayr, Adams Co., Nebraska. Cora Woods. Ayr, Neb., July^iS^ throws THE OLD PIPE AAV AY. I will throw my old pipe away if you will send me a smoker, and I will not use the pipe again as long as my name is Mary. I can use rags cheaper than' tobacco. If you ever hear of my using the pipe I will pay you for two smokers. Mrs. Mary. A. Morrow. Stromsburg, Polk Co., Neb., July 21. We suppose, friend M., that by throwing away the old pipe you mean not to use tobacco in any form, and so we sent the smoker. A SMOKER FOR AN ORPHAN BOY. Three months ago I quit the use of tobacco through the influence of Gleanings. I do not need a smoker, as I have one; but if you wish to send one I will give it to an orphan boy to whom I have given a colony of bees; and if I ever resume the use of tobacco I will pay for the smoker. J. B. Alexander. Hartford City, Ind., Aug. 7. We take pleasure in sending the smoker for the orphan boy. We hope the boy will be in- formed of the circumstances, and never use tobacco himself. lcS90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 64^ EDiwewii. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.— 11. Tim. 2:3. (ii,KANix(is" np:w DHESS. Foi! foar you might not have noticed it other- wise, we call attention to onr lirand-new type and our "bigger" and plainer letters. How do you like it? I'liOFANITY. Are any of the readers of Gleanings rail- road men? If so, do you have swearing at your daily work? and won't you lend a haiul in this battle for the right? EIJXEST S HETrKX. Eknest drops in upon us just as we go to press. Sept, 1, and his father is very glad to see him, and quite willing to turn over to him his share of the editorial burdens. THE UAVEHLAXI) STJtAWBEKKY, It has turned out somewhat as I exjjected. The tremendous demand for the Hav(M-land plants has run almost every plant-grower into a corner. Our own stock is just exhausted, but we have found a place away off in New Jersey where we are told they can be bought. Before using them to till orders, however, we shall set them in our plant-beds and wait until they have made good new roots, so your Haverlands may be delayed a couple of weeks: All the others will go as usual by the first mail. By the way. if any of the readers of Uleanings have any of the Haverlands for sale, will they please tell us how many they can furnish and at what pric(>? ADVERTISING THAT DID NOT PAY. Just two more report that their advertise- ment did not bring them a customer. One is II. L. Fisher, of Milford, Ind.. who advertised three-frame nuclei for $2.2.5 each, in May and June. He paid us $3..50 for the advertisement; but as it brought him no customer we return him the money. The other was T. L. Thomson, of Blairsville, Pa. He advertised bees at -W.OO per colony. As he made no sales we returned his $1.20. There is another fact that begins to come out here, friends; and that is. that a new comer in the advertising Held is not as likely to receive orders as somebody with whom the peo- ple have become somewhat acquainted; there- fore there is an advantage, to a certain extent, in getting people familiar with your name and address. THE STRAAVI5KHRY, AND ITS ADAPTIHII.ITY FOR INTERESTING INVAIJDS, AND KEEPING THEM IN THE OPEN AIR. I DO not know of any other plant that grows that one can work with, propagate, and se(^ grow almost every month, when the ground is not frozen, like tlu^ strawberry. As cold weath- er comes on, confine your opt^'ations to a piece of ground protected by hills or buildings, or both; and if you still wish to have them make, runners and start plants, cover your bed, or a portion of it, witii sash, when the frost is severe. Whenever the weather moderates so as to en- able you to move the sash safely, do so; and whenever it rains, the sash are better off than on. By taking pains you can see them thrive almost all the year round, and you will have your reward in getting fruit a month earlier- than tlu)S(> not protected. Of course, by the aid of artificial heat you can make them bear fruit in the winter time; but this is a more difficult operation, QUEEXI.ESS COLONIES IN SEPTKMHKI;. This month and the next are the ones during which the average novice gets frightened be- cause he can not find eggs or brood in the hive. In many localities the queens become .so small and insignificant after they stop laying, that they are difficult to find; therefore the beginner sometimes even orders queens when every thing is all right and no queens are needed at all. Where honey is coming from fall pasturage, of course queens keep right on laying; and if you want your bees to raise brood this month, you can easily start them by daily feeding in small quantities. If the colonies are already populous, and have plenty of stores to winter them over. I do not believe it will pay to feed. If feeding is, to be done, however, and no honey is coming in, I would do all the feeding during this present month, so that it may be \\ell ripened and sealed up before cold weather comes on. A VISIT FRO.M THE EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Last Saturday morning. Aug. 23, while dic- tating matter for (tLeanings, I was agreeably surprised to see the genial face of our co-worker, Mr. T. G. Newman, editor of the American Bee Journal. He remained with us only a few hours, but they were very pleasant hours, I assure you. We felt sorry to have our friend see so much disorder all about us, consequent upon the new railroad and the new building, but I presume he knows how to make allow- ances. It was a privilege to us all to have him occupy the time and take charge of our noon meeting; and. by the way, every time I think of it, it gives me a new thrill of joy when I think what a grand thing it is to have such pleasant and brotherly relations between tlit^ editors of at least two of our i)rominent bee-journals. By the way, why sh- queens, reared from pure Italian mothers, but their jirofieny does not show the full markings of Italians, and lieni-e they have to go for hybrids. Price 3.5c each, or 3 for $1.00, while they last. EXTRA WHITE COMB HONEY. We have secin-ed about two tons of very fine wliite ■comb honev fnmi Matthias Schneider, Jr., of Iosco County, Mich. About half of it is in 12-lb., the rest is in 34-lb. glassed cases. The net weight is about 11 and 32 lbs. each. We otfer this at the fol- lowing prices: Less than ten 13-lb. or five 24-lb. cases, 18c per lb. From 10 to .50 of the 13-lb. and 5 to 25 34-lb., 17c per U). Above this amount, 16 cents. HENIS FRUIT-PRESS ADVANCED. We regret to be obliged to withdraw the present low price on this very convenient and useful house- hold utensil that has met with such favor. Since we first ottered it for sale about a year and a half ago, we have sold nearly 10 gross. Kecently a new firm lias taken hold of it; and as it is pa'^en ted, they, of course, control the price. Their first move is to ad- vance the price to nearly doul)le what it was. Foi- the present th'. price will lie 35c each; $3.50 per doz- en, or .fO.OO per box of 3 dozen. SEC^OND-HAND TYPE FOR SALE. (^ur re;ideis will discover that this issue of Glean- ings is in a new dress of tyiie. Instead of setting- part in nonpareil and part in brevier wc have fallen in with the general custom, and use only one size, called minion, the articles being set solid, and the answers leaded. This leaves us with aboul 3.5ii lbs. of second-hand brevier type in fairiy good condition, which we otter for sale at 30c per lb., which is about THE ILLUSTRATED HOME JOURNAL. This excellent monthly home magazine is published by Thos. G. Newman & Son, the editors of the Ameri- (■(in Bee Jnunml. It is a 32-page monthly, fully il- lustrated on nearly every page, and brimful of good, clean, interesting reading. Every number, we no- tice, also contains a song- with music. It is a journal that ought to be in every home; and to make it still easier for you to place it there, the publishers have made us a proposition whereby we can club it with Gleanings one year for only $1.35, and all new sub- scribers will receive the Home Journal lor the rest of this year and all of 1891. Just think of it! If you subscribe now for Gleanings and the Illustrated Home Journal, sending $1.35, you will receive fifteen numbers of the journal for the extra 35 cents — only a little over 3 cents each. This is a magnificent otfer that many should accept. We will club the Ame7'ican Bee Journal along with the two for $2.25. KIID WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. I received the 24 pumps all right from Canton, and thev give satisfaction. John A. Sarver. Morton, III., Aug. 31. PROMPTNESS IN SENDING QUEENS. The dollar (jueen ordered about July 18th came in good conditio]!, and two days sooner than I expected. I am liiglil.> jileased with her, and with your prompt- ness. ' W. J. Taylor. Palo, Linn Co., Iowa, July 34. THE DAISY WHEELBARROW. We received the wheelbarrow all right. It pleases the whole family very much. We have iill taken a ride on it, even to Mrs. K., who enjoyed the wheel- bai-row very much, but thought her horse a little frisky and unsteady. Arthur T. Reed. Oberlin, Ohio, July 39. OUR METHOD OF SHIPPING STRAWBERRY-PL.4NTS. The 200 Jessie and 50 Bubach plants are at hand, and set out. They could not come in a better shape. You certainly deserve everj' order sent you, if treat- ed as mine was; all are living, and I am satisfied with your exertions to do as you would be done by. Thanks for the few extra ones. Geo. W. Baldwin. Forest City, Mo., Aug. 20. pleased WITH OUR FOUNTAIN PEN. I am just in receipt of the Bateman fountain pen, ordered of you, and I herewith wish to express my satisfactiouin using it. Fountain pens have been very extensively advertised in the papers for some years past, but I thought I could not risk to invest hi one, until I saw the one recommended by A. I. Root. Then I was sure I should find one just as rep- resented, and I ordered one forthwith. I can say that T am well jileased with it so far, and have no doubt but that it will continue to do good service for a long time. Samuel E. Miller. Bluttton, Mo., July 36. 1«90 GLEANINGS [N 15EE CULTl'UE. (>>5 Contents of this Number. -^I-BEST OIT EiiKTS-f^ Ants. Roil 666 Apiary, Aspui wall's 661 Asafetida in Robbing 677 Bee Botany 668 Bees EmiJty'g Sections 6B0 Bees, Taxing 6&i Bee-escapes 662 Bi-sulphide of Carbon 660 Breeding. In and In 66.i Buckwheat, Japanese 677 Cloth in Hotbeds 679 Cotton t.irll.uu'y 677 Drones, Til Destroy 676 Ernest at K. wood's 669 Fixed D.Stan es (Q.B.) 67.i Foul Urood in Canada 665 Gleanmirs for .July 1.1 661 ( Joldenrod 674 Grape Sphinx 660 Hives, Odd-sized 668 Hoffman Frame 666 Italians v. blacks 677 Mercer's Scale Hive 679 Moss 6X0 HIantintr St'bcrries in Fall. .680 Ranililer in Steuben Co 667 Rocky Mountain Plant 676 Skunks 66-' Sneeze-weed 673 Soac.ng, 1% 673 Spacing. Close 6S9 T Super l)iscobel. Comb Foundation, Belli. E. Rice. Bo.scobel. Best Way for Hives to Face, B. Bartholomew, Boscobel. R.-ices of Bees. N. E. Fran..e, Platteville. Wintering. In doors or Out, Charles Zelmer. Wauzeka. Feeding Bees. M M. Rice, Boscobel. Location of Apiary. Court Main. Boscobel. Size of Hives, W. H. Prideaux. Bloomington. Queen-raising, Introducing, etc., A. Arms, Hurlbut's Corn's. Marketing Hone.y. H. Evins. Wauzeka. Hell) by our Soeiety, National. State, and Local, N. E. France. Honey plants. .J. W. Van Allen. Haiu-v, Wis. How to Extract our Beeswax, Edwin 'Pike, Boscobel. Robbing-— Cause and Cure, A. E. Collie, Mount Hope. N. B. The date of the above convention lias been changed from the 1st to the 8th. Boscobel, Wis. Benj. E. RlcE, Sec'y. The Capital City Bee-keepers' Association will meet at 10 A..M., Sept. 26, 1890, in the supervisor's room, at Springlield, 111. All are invited, especially the ladies. C. E. YocoM, Sec'y. ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL. AND THE STAND ARD IN EVKRY CI VI LI ZED COUNTRY. Bingham & Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Prices. Doctor Smoker, 3)i in., postpaid ...13.00 Conqueror " 3 " " . . Lot Lartre " 34 " " ••■ l'">" Extra (wide shield) 3 " " ... I.:i5 Plain (narrow " )3 " " ...100 Little Wonder. IM " " -. 65 UncappinK Knife 115 Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledf^eville, Til . March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-duy. nnd count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If oi hers feel as 1 do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S Dak.. Feb. 17, 1890. StRS:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 > ears' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio. March 12,1890. Sirs: — The smoker I have has done tfood service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to ; Itfdb BmaHAU Si HETHEsmaTON, Abronia, Mich. ' ^9"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. DADANT'S FOUNDATION ' Is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati. O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac. Mich.: O.G.Collier, Fairhury, Neb. ; G. L. Tinker. New Philadelphia, O.. E. Kretch- mer. Red Oak, la ; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, Ta. : C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.: G. B. Lewis & Co.. Watertown, Wisconsin; J. Mattcon, Atwatcr. Ohi^CHOICEk- •^XHONEYK^ FOR S-ALE ^■ICHEAP)^ ADDRESS JAMES HEDQON, DOWAGIAG, MICH. ARE YOXJ GOlira TO ATTEND THE MICHIGAN STATE FAIR? If so, please call at "Bees & Honey Hall," and examine the "Golden Italian Bees," on exhibi- tion by JACOB T. TIMPE.of Grand Ledge. Itficli. For prices on Queens .see Oct. 1st. Glean- ings. Don't forget to call while at the FAIR. I shall also have other races on exhibition. Don ot fail to see them. 80 COLONIES OF BEES FOR SALE, In ten-frame Langstroth hives, f3 per colony plent'' "* i..^"n.r t^ „.,-.,+«« ,^., » 1 — i~i -* 1 plies. Havi plenty of honey to winter on. Also a lot of bee-sup- -•'-•- JOHN CROMBIE, Columbus, Wis. Good farm, >4 section, on ten years' time, 8% inter- est. Small payment of principal, one or two hun- dred dollars, and the 8% in advance yearly, or semi- annually. Has fine grove; 6 acres, 100 bearing apple- trees; small fruits; nice evergreens in yard; good well; house 14x26, with L 8x16; barn l«x32; board- roof granary 16x16; all fenced; 3 and 4 fields, allln cultivation; no waste land; 3 miles to P. O.; 1 mile to school; 3 miles to 5 churches. This is fine farm; price $4000. Also 80 acres finely improved ; all kinds of fruit for this latitude; for sale on as good terms; 80 rods to school; Di miles to M. E. church; good locality; all American settlers; also good stock; horses, cattle, hogs, and 100 col's of bees in Sim- plicity hives. A line chance for some one w^mting to locate in Neb. Reason for selling: We wish to go to the Pacific coast. For further information, call on or address R. B. Rvan, Bradshaw, Neb. C^ln responding to this advertisement mention Glkaninqs, Black and Hylirid Queens For Sale. About 12 choice hybrid queens for sale, at S5c each, or 5 for $1.00. Geo. H. Denman, Pittsford, Hiilsdalt Co., Mich. A few Carniolan queens bred from imported mothers and mated to Italian drones and vicevcisa, for sale at 25c; also 2 blacks at 15c. C. Brown, Box 61, Dayton, O. I have a few dark three-banded queens for sale, at 60 cents each ; two for $1.00. First come first serv- ed. George J. Hall, Rumney, Grafton Co., N. H. I will Bell a few more mismated Italian queens at 25 cents each. C. G Fenn. Washington Litchfield Co., Conn. Mismated Italian queen.s, 20 cts. F. C. Morrow,. Wallaceburg, Ark. I have 30 nice hybrid and 35 young black queens for sale. Send me 50c and get one of them. 16-lV-18d A. D. Ellingwood, Berlin Falls, N. Y. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 657 ->iYICTOR t SICYCLESK- Will carry you up hill easier and do^/vn hill faster than any others you ever mounted. ALL INTERCHANGEABLE. ALL HIGH GRADE. ALL RIGHT. Send for Catalogue. OVERMAN WHEEL CO., Makers, Ghicopee Falls, Mass. t^In responding to this advertisement mention GLKANlNoa. EUREKA FRAME MAfiHINK ^ Italian queens cheap. liV/lLiJiVn 1 Ainillii lUnvtiAllUi | We will sell Italian queens at the following low prices: Tested, 85 cts.; one-half doz., $4. 75; untest- ed, 65 cts. each. Satisfaction guaranteed. Leininger Bros., Douglas, Putnam Co., Ohio. Soiiietliiiig every bee-keeper sliould liave. For price and particulars address 24-2.3db F. W. I^AMOT, Box 106. Soiuervllle, Butler Co.«0. Please mention this paper. 24-23db BEES SEND for a free sample copy of the BEE JOUBNAL — 16-page Weekly at $1 a year— the oldest, largest, and cheapest Weekly bee-paptr. Address letfdb BEE JOURNAL, Chicago, 111. Please mention Glbaninos. Itfdb SPECIAL CHOPS. A magazine for advanced agriculturists; 25 cts. per year; sample 7 cts. Also, Black Minorcas, B. Leghorns, and S. Wyandottes; eggs of either, per setting, 75 cts. ; 26 at one time, $1.00. 4-50d €. 91. GOODSPEEU, Skaneateles, N. Y. |^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Glkanings. NOW is the time to set $iTRAi;WBERRIES for next year's fruiting. Write for fall price list of plants and Secrets of Success in Growing Small Fruits; sent free, on application to I. A. Wooll, 16tfdb Elsie, Mich. WILiL SELL APIARY OF :« COLONIES IN fine condition (good location). Also 40 acres of land one mile from lively town. Address all in- quiries to BOX 98, White Cloud, Mich. 16-17-18d NOW FOR A BARGAIN. I will sell cheap my entire stock of good Italian bees, one honey-extractor, and all my bee-flxtures; and if sold soon will sell the honey also, as I wish to retire from the business. Mrs. Rebecca Kinney. 16 19db Bloomsburg, Col. Co., Pa. I^rin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. FOR LIGHT AND DARK FERRETS, and i>ure Poland-China Swine, address N. A. KNAPP, Roche>4@8c; Common Southern, 65c per gal.; California, 6'/i@7c; Basswood and white clover, Vi4@8c. Demand IS very good.— Beeswax, 27@28; stock small. Sept. 11. Y. G. Strohmever & Co., New York City. Chicago. Hoficy.— Comb is now held firmly, and sales are being made at fV(a)l8c for best grades of white. Up to this time there has not been more than the trade has taken from day to da-\-, and as the weather is now cool an active trade will ensue Ev- ti-actcd honey also sells well at T(5Sc foi- barrels and cans. Mail orders are filled at above prices f. o. b Chicago. R. A. Burnett. Sept. 10. 161 So. Water St., Chicago. 111. St. Lons.— Hoiif)/.— The demand is excellent for both comb and extracted, while the market is well supplied with the lattei, the formei' is .scarce We quote: Choice white clover, comb. i3@Mc; inferior i;.@13. Exti acted and strained, in barrels, 5@6; cans, *i4®o>^. iScenwax. prime, 27. D. G. TUTT Gro. Co., Sept. 11. St. Louis. Mo, Kansas City,— Hoftey —The demand for comb himey continues good; supplv light. We quote- 1-lb white comb, l.-i@i6; daik, ]3@14; 2-lb.. white, 13(ai4- dark, 12@]3. Extracted, white, 7c; dark, .5@6. Bees- wax, 2J@25. Clemons. Mason & Co For Sale.— 1000 lbs. white-clover honey, in 1-lb. sections. Will pack in 25-lb. cases, crated to suit purchaser, and to go by freight, I want 18c for it here. J. M. Akek, Smithvillc, Clay Co.. Mo. For Sale.— 100 lbs. of white-clover honev, at 15c per lb., on board cars. Lucy Noyes, Geneva, N. Y. Wanted.— A barrel of whitt^clover honey. Address Edgar Bkiggs, Manchester Bridge, Dutchess Co., N. Y. For Sale.— 2000 pounds of very nice white-clover honey, in 60-11). cans. H. Van Yranken, Union City, Branch Co., Mich. For Sale.— .5000 lbs. well-ripened extracted honey, in 60-lb. cans. C. H. Stordock, Durand, III. 18-23clb For Sale.— 1200 lbs. extracted clover honey, in 60- lb, cans, at 10 cts. here. R. H. Bailey. Box 81, Ausable Forks, N. Y, For Sale.— 8i 0 lbs. extracted clover honey at 9c. M. Isbell, Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y. Sept. 5, Kansas City, Mo. Wanted.— Honey, both comb and extracted. Give kind, quality, and price. Address H. G. Camp, Winona, Ohio. Wantrd.- To know who will furnish me about 700 lbs. buckwheat hone.v, f . o. b. State price and size of packages. Address G. N. Cornell, 91 West Main St., Battle Creek, Mich. To BEE-KEEPERS! TN ADDITION to our New England Hoiiey Trade 1 we have leased a Store in New York City (in the best possible location to catch the Grocer.y Tiade), and propose handling COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY there. As we have been practical Bee-Kcepers and have hiid some 12 years' experience in the Honey Trade (during which time we have handled MORE HONEY than any House in New England), we feel justified in saying that we understand the Honej- Trade, tiiid think we can handle your Surplus Honey to the very best advantage. We shall endeavor to make Quick Sales at the very lii^liest priees, and by making prompt re- turns we hope to merit your patronage. Adv;inces made when requested. Stencils furnished — also printed instructions for Packing and Shipping, giv- ing valuable information gained by our experience in Shipping Honey by the Ton and in Carload lots. Correspondence, Visits, and Consignments Solicit- ed. Address F. I. SAG-E & SON, New York.— Hojiey.-Honey is in excellent de- man.l and finds quick sale at the followin"- prices- Fancy white, 1 lb., 16@18; 2 1b., 14(«),15; oH' gi-ades' i b., Kifiilo; 2 lbs., 12(a!l3; buckwheat, I lb., 11(0,12; 2 lbs., li%U. Extracted, basswood and clover 8c- buckwheat, 6c; Califoiifia, 6-4(§>7, Sept. 12. Hildreth Buo.s. & Segelken, 28 & 30 West Broadway, New York. 183 Reade St. New Y()I!K. N. Y Kansas (ity.— Honey— Demand for comb is larger than receipts. We quote: 1-lb. white comb, 16l-; 2 lb., 14c; 1-lb. dark comb, 13; 2-lb, dark comb 12. Extracted, white, 7; dark, 5@t). No beeswax on the market Hamblin & Bearss, Sept. 11, 514 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. Boston.— Ho)!c,y —Honey is selling fairly well, trom 16@18c tor white clover 1-lb. comb. Extracted 7H@9. No beeswax on hand. Blake & Ripley ' Sept 11. Boston, Mass. DETROiT.-Hofie^.-Corab honey is selling at 14® lec; very little in the market. Extracted, 7®8c Beeswax. 26c, M. H, Hunt Bell Branch, Midi., Sept. 12. Jf^" No Consignments received at ■V\'ethersfield. (^onn. References.— Bradstreet's and Dunn & Co.'s Com- mei'cial Reports, and the numerous Bee-keepers whose Honey we have handled the past 12 years. 18-23db Please mention this p.aper. NEV^ FACTORY. We will soon be in our new factory, which will bi- the largest and most comjilete in the world. We shall make the best of goods at lowest prices. We are read.v tor contracts for next season's supplies. Write us. C. B. LEWIS & CO., 17tfdb WATERTOWN, WIS. l^~In responding to this advertisement mention OLEANlNoa. >URE3 ITALIAN QUEENS, 50 CTS Tested, young, and producing nice banded w'orkeis. F. C. MORROW. Wallaceburg, Aik. Vol. XVIII. SEPT. 15, 1?590. No. 18. TERMS: «1.00 Per ANNUM, IN ADVANCE;! T? c>+ r^J^l n oTn n /I TT/l 1 Si 0" ^ 2Copiesfor«1.90;3for$2.75;5forM.OO; -C'Ot'Ct'C't't'OAt'tJCt/ LfV ±OiO. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BT 10 or more, 76 ets. each. Single num- 1 ber, 6 cts. Additions to clubs may be ( rs^^nftS'J>'NV^P^JIxoETc^^^'^'^^^'*°J>l. /. ROOT. MEDINA, OHIO. { Clubs to different postofflces, not less than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the J U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- 1 tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 1 cts. per year extra. To all countries t NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. TOO CLOSE SPACING, ETC. GKTTING WAX OUT OF EXTH.VC TOItS. On page 589, friend Fioot. you say you doirt bother to re-melt the wax to get it out of tiie extractor-i);in. Th<'n your pan must be differ- ent fi-om mine. Mine has a screw-cap that would not allow the cake of wax to come out. I wish it wer<>n"t there. lint the wax I have been getting would have to be re-melted any way. because there is so much bee-glue mixed ull through it. Wlien the mass tiiatispiitin to be melted is half bee-glue, a good share of tiiis latter runs thi'ough the strainei-, and I don't know any way to prevent it; for when hot i'uough it is just like molasses. Fortunately it takes more iieat to melt bee-glue than to melt wax. So when the pan is full as it can con- veniently be. I set it in the oven of the cook- stove till tlu^ wax is melted, tluui pour it off, leaving the bee-glue to be sci'aped out of the pan. FKEI) C. smith's T0I'-B.VI{.S — .SEE PAGE (iO^. They are % wide, with {^ between them. That makes 1,-^,; from center to center. Isn't thei-e danger of running close spacing to ex- tremes? The harm dom^ by it may not always be seen. In cool weather the spacing may l)e so close that a sufficient mass of bees can not get between the comlis to get up the recpiisitc heat. This might continue for years, and not be notic(!d. But thi^nMS one thing that can be noticed, if one takes the iiains to look. I have had some closer spacing within the last two years than I luive evi-r had before. Now and then I have found a comb, on one side of which there was no brood throughout a large part of it. It was worker comb, black with age. the cells empty, and every thing api)eared right about it. only the (pieen laid no <'ggs in it. I think the oiily trouble was that there was not room enough between the combs. The spacing of to])-bars was no closei- than for othei- combs —why should there be any difference? Well, the spacing of the top-bars doesn't tell the whole stoiy. vSuppose you examine one of your hives with "common hanging frames. First see that the spacing of the toi'-bars is i)erfect, each space just exactly like the othei'.s. Now tip up the hiv(> and look at the bottom-bars. Don't you see how iiregular the spacing is? Some spaces are two or thi'ee times as large as othei's. But there is another reason for irregularity. Even with wired frames, the septum (jf the comb is not always exactly in the center. Sup- pose one comb has the septum '« of an inch to the right of the center, and the adjoining comb has its septum '>, to the left of the center. That may make the distance between the comb sur- faces H of an inch less than the average. In friend Smith's case, that would make the combs less than one inch from ceiiler to center. The only thing, then, for the bees to do is to leave oiu' surface of coinb unused, cutting down the cells as much as may be necessary. Of course. I have taken an extreme case, but I think it shows that we would better space too wide than too close. Qri;EX-KXfi-ii)ix(i zixf foil x()N-sw.\i:ming KXTIiACTINMi. On page <).'50. F. II. Cyrenins says: " Foi' non- swarming extracting, wlien the hive is full of brood, and honey begins to come, place a set of empty combs or foundation below with the (lueeii. the brood above, and the zinc luiard between, and thev will roll in the honey if it is to be had. and will till the u|)per story as tin' brood hatches, and the outside combs below." I tried sevi-ral precisely as directed al)ove. In each case the (pieen stoi)pe(l laying. In all but one case I |)Ut a fi-ame of brood below after waiting two or three days, and then the (lueen went to laying. In the remaining case the (pKHMi was put below the excludei' -May :i4, and left till .June:?, when I found only eggs below, showing that the (pieen stopijed laying at least a week. Now, I'm not sure that it is always i)ad to havi' the queen stop laying: I only want 660 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Sept. to call attention to the fact, that, if you want to make sure of her laying I'ight on, you must give her one frame of brood as encoui-agement. Possibly bees do not always act as mine did, but I suspect they generally do. GETTING UEKS TO EMI'TY SECTIONS. On page 038, E. D. Howell asks how to get the bees to carry tli(> honey from partly tilled sections to the body of the hive when theV need it for winter stores. If they need it for ^\inter stores they will carry it do\\n if the sections are left on the hive: but sometinu'S they make vei'v slow work of it. To hasten mattei-s, if vour hives admit of it put the super of sections under the hive. If the w(jrk doesn't then go fast enough, put the super of sections on the stand, on top of it an empty super, and on top of this the hive. Look out for robbing. Leave no en- trance at the bottom of the supei; and, if necessary, contract the entrance in some way. If robbers are troublesome, make the change in the evening. If you merely want the sections cleaned, without caring what colonies get the honey, put several supers in a jMle awav from the hives, covering up secui'elv. leavlnq nxnn for rml]i one bee to enter ly tit foi- market were it not foi- its shape. But, about that propolis, it must be that you have more than we.— Yes, I think there is danger of can-y- ing close spacing too fai': but instead of having frames further apart, why not use fixed dis- tances, and then the bottoms of the frames will be spaced as accurately as the tops? It would have done you good to see some nice combs at Elwood's and other i)laces where they us(> fixed distances. E n BI-SULPEIDE OF CARBON FOE WAX-LARVJE. rsEFUI, ITEMS FROM I'lIOF. COOK. Can you inform me, through ti leanings as to the advisability of using bi-sulphide of car- bon tor destroying the wax-worms in emptv combs? Is it safe to use it for the same pur- pose with comb honev? Sulphur I dislike to use with comb honey, as it is so easv to use too much and injure the color and flavor. „ .^ ,^ Aktiiik C. Miei,ei!. Providence, R. I.. Aug. 27. Prof. Cook replies: In reply to Arthur C. Miller. Providence. K. I., regarding the use of bi-sulphide of carbon to destroy the bee-moth larvit, I can say unhes- itatingly that it will kill them. and. unless turn- ed on the comi), could liann nothing. It might dissolve the combs if turned on them, hut would not harm them otherwise. If the c(jmbs are put into a tight box or barrel, the liquid turned in. It could be turned against the side of tlu' box or barrel, so as lujt to touch the combs, and the box at once covered tightly by the use of oil cloth or other close fabric, the insects will speedily succumb. In case of comb honey it would be entirely safe if used in the same way. I do not suppose it would do any harm to turn it on to the combs. I will at once try it and re- port. The only danger in the use of this liquid is its explosive character. Of course, safety demands caution that no fire be brought near. The vapor is very inflammable, and, when mixwl with the air. quite explosive, so we must keei> all t\vt\ like lighted matches, cigars, etc., away till the vapors have escapcni. The odor is so marked that it is easy to tell when it has all es- caped. This volatilizes so entirely that we can turn it on fiour and no harm will follow. It passes wholly off'. Bought at wholesale it is very cheaj). and I S(>e no reason why it may not be used very satisfactorily by the b(ie-keeper. the TEXAS C'OW-KIEEEK. W. O. Victor, Wharton. Tex., sends a cow- killer. This is illustrated in my Kee-Kecpers' Guide, and has been frequently described in Gleanings. It looks like an ant. except it is hairy, and is a rich carmine red, bounded with black. It is wingless, though a female, hence the generic nann*. MutUUi. It has a very pow- erful sting, as Mr. V. says he knows' from ('Xi)erience. Will h<' tell us how its sting com- Ijaics with that of the bee? I suppose it is mucii more painful. The insect is a fine one. though badly crush(^d in the mail. If put in a box or hollow stick with cotton it would have come in good shape. It is not found north. THE GKAPE SPHINX AND ITS PAKASITE. INIrs. ,1. 11. Peatty. Massilloii. O.. retiuests me to explain llie relation between a large green caterpillar found on "ivy" — doubtless Virginia creeper — that grows on her porch, and several white egg-shaped masses which stand side by side on its back. Tiiese large, fine, green larva^ develop intf) a liandsome moth, the grape si)hinx. This so-called worm resembles in form and color the "tomato sphinx" larva, with which all are familial'. This larva is lighter green: the caudal horn is green instead of black: the spots marking the spiracles or breath- ing-mouths along the side of the body are much more obscure: and iiist(>ad of several oblique yello\\ish striiK's along the sides there is a near- ly white stripe. These larvie are very common this year, both on the ampelopsis — Virginia creeper — and also on the grai)e. I think Bertie has had nearly twenty of these in a breeding- cage on our porch during the i)ast U'W weeks. Indeed, did not nature lay a heavy hand on these larvie they would make sorry work witii tlui plants whicli they infest. Now to answer Mrs. B."s tiuestion regarding the egg-shaped bodies on the back of this sphinx caterpillar: These are the cocoons of minute braconid fii(>s — Ai)(intelej< rtnujreiidtKs. Say. These little flies lay their eggs'in'the sphinx larva?. The minute i)arasites which hatcli from these eggs feast on the caterpilar as it feasts on the grape or ampelopsis leaves. With so many little mouths feeding on its vitals, who can doubt but this larva is a believer in "internal improvement"? The braconid larvio kill the sphinx larviB, save our vines for us. and coined forth to spin their cocoons on the back of their victim. Thus he bears about on his back his own destroy(»rs. and the parents of other i)ara- sites that will do a like good work in the future. Wln'u the box arrived, the little flies had come forth from the cocoons, much as a queen-bee comes from the cell. It is to b(> hopc^d that Mrs. B. and the children of many bee-keepers will l)ut these larva^ in glass cans with cloth tied on for a cover. P'eed them grape leaves, and so rear the i)arasites or the beautiful moths. The moths will not come forth from the pupa 1890 GLEANINGS IN 15 EE CULTURE. mi till next suininiM-. Ucrtic expects to rear several moths, as he thinks he has several larva? that are not parasitized. A. .7. Cook. Agrieultura] College. Mieh. A MINNESOTA APIAKY. BKES AXl) <;AI!I)i;NIX(i T .send yon a photo of onr Dovetailed hive apiary. Althongh the hives are not all dove- tailed, they will be another season. There are 3(5 colonies in all — 30 in Dovetailed hives. The artist took the pictnre dnring onr swarming season. You will see my swarming convenienc- es, from a barrel of water to ^lanum's device. Your humble servant sits in his old army-chair at the table, in the act of putting foundation into sections. His better half is at his right, and; their family of five to the left, near the hammock and swing. Our help (brother and sister) are in front of the house. There are two rows of raspberry-bushes, and some rows of po- tatoes in the foregrouiul. not shown. The foi'- accountof its small size, sti-ong and close-fitting joints, just a(la|)te(i to tills cold climate. If thr hive were any larger 1 could not have handled it without loss. I have a very line bee-escape in my cellar, with screen windows. The tilled supers are taken from hive to cellar neai- a window. The bees all leave the same night. The wax and propolis are so hard in the morning that you can .scarcely take out section-holders and .sec- tions. The honey is not allowed to remain in the cellar any length of time, but is taken to a warm room to be more thoroughly rii)i'ned. If the editor (jf (ri.KANixos, oi' any of his assist- ants (they would all be welcomed) should visit us another fall, they will find a much larger house, better adapted to the \\ants of a growing family. WIDE ANT) TinCK TOP-BAKS A SVCC'ESS IN THE BOVETAII.ET) HIVE. .July 19th I took off the first case of honey fi'om the Dovetailed hive with thick and wide top-bars. Tlu>re was no sign of burr-combs between the top-bars of the frames or on the bottom of the sui)er. The honey was taken .\ DOVI-rrAII.El) IIIVE-AI'IAIJY. mer. when grown, will make a nice windbreak for the apiary, which is located in a grove on the edge of the ])rairie. At the I'ight is my main garden, extending down to a small lake. At the rear of the house is a belt of timber more than a mile in widlh. bordering one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in the coiui- ty, called Green Lake, from the color of its waters. This section of Minnesota is called the "Park Region." as it is intersp(>rsed with lakes. groves, and prairie. Prol)ably no finer section of farming land is in the Northwest. Our soil is a rich gravel loam, with subsoil of clay. We can cultivate our gardens after heavy rains. Our garden (for fj years adjoining the bee- yard) has been cultivated by horses on two sides of the apiary since its location, and they have nevei' been stung. Of course, our liees (hybrids and blacks) ar<' handled with care, and honey is never left around to start rolibing. We should all feel it a gi'eat hardslii]) to be de- prived of (jur liees, and we should as so(jn think of being without milk as honey. I was first led into keeping bees through failing health. It has l)een a pleasant occu|)a(ion for mind and body, and has jjaid bettei- for the amount of capital invested than any otliei' inNotinent on till' farm. I am following diversilied farming- raising iiorses. cattle, growing grain, and a sniall dairy, I adopted the Dovetailed hive on from a strong colony of bees in the middle of a heavy f1o\\ of basswood. There was no sagging of the top-bars. Last year was my first experi- ence with burr-combs and slatted honey-boards (having used ))reviously a closed-top frame), and I hoi)e it will be my last. N. P. Asi'lNWAI.L. Harrison. Minn.. .lulv 31. fSiiO. JULY 15TH GLEANINGS. ITEMS FHOM KXI'ElilKNfE. KItOM .\N A H f sniOEAl!. Mr. 7?of)f;— The contents of No. 14 of Ole.'^n- iN(is ha\ing b(>en dex'oni'ed with my usual keen a|)petite for good things. I am now ready to offer my little mite towai'd spreading another feast. If my offei-ing is i)alatal)le. give it a |)lace on tlie tal)le; t)ut if not. cast it aside. First, in ix'half of the A {{('class. I wish to say thai we ar<' thankful that oni' reverend friend St uger is not the editoi- of (JLi':AMN' on the su!)ject, and are doul)ly thankful that we luive such itatient instructors as we find in both the Roots. Much as I detest 662 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Sept. the tiltliy. sinful liabit of tobacco-using, I can not indorse Bro. [Stenger's last sentences "To- bacco does even more harm tlian the lieavy hinl\s.'" Tlie tobacco vice is money, and pos- sibly health, wasted on tilth and general nasti- ness, and is, in the winter's j\idgnient, jjosi- tively sinful. Knt alcoholism is reason de- throned, morals debauched, health destroyed. Iiope blasted, money wasted, and souls damned. Tobacco robs home of cicanliucss. and gives to a wife foul lips to kiss, while di-ink robs iiome of hapjjiness. and for kisses gives blows and dire distress. f'OVKKS FOl! CHAFF HIVES. I want to tell you how I have made some cov- ers for chatT hives that suit me exactly — hand- some, light, ti'ue. and tight. I found the comb, or two-piece cover, almost sure to warp, so that moths, robbei's, etc., could readily crawl undei'. After considerable study Idecideil on the follow- ing: After tlu^ hive was furnished ready for cover I fitted and nailed strips on to the hive- roof so as to raise the npper story or surplus chamber one inch at the back, and three inches at the front, with sides sloping from three inch- es to one inch, thus giving two inches jjitch for roof. I made my roof of very narrow half-inch matched linn, by nailing same to %-inch-sqiaare cleats, so that these cleats would lit neatly over the end-pieces, front and back, mentioned above. I also nailed similar cleats under the edges so as to tit down over sloping sides, thus forming a complete cap-cover. 1 leaded the matched joints, and painted both sides. I bored a hole in the three-inch piece under the front end of the cover, and tacked a wire net inside and outside for ventilator: and now I think I have a perfect cover, keeney's method of wikinc; a sucrEss. I have tried Keeney's plan of wiring, with Ernest's suggestion of wii'e-nail hooks, and I regard it as just the thing. I tilbnl some of these frames with stri|)s of four-inch section founda- tion by turning the edge of the foundation over the comb-guide so as to cover the guides on both sides. These have been built out beauti- fully, and I think it would take considerable pounding to knock out the combs, and I feel sure the top-bars will never sag. SKUNKS AND BEES. Your answer to E. W. Easter, as to why the bees dwindle, is most probably correct: bnt had I asked you a similar question a few weeks ago. and had added the fact that they had a prolific queen, what would have been your answer? In fact, I have had quite a remarkable case of dwindling, which I fancy might have puzzled some of th(^ veterans had they not. like myself, by accident discovered tlie cause. And now I want to say to the A B C class, and mav be the veterans might do well to lend an ear," beware of .skunk dwindling. These little varmints nearly skunked me out of one good strong colo- ny, and .seriously damaged several others; and had I not tumbled on to their depredations ear- ly in the game, I don't know what the result would have been. I happened to use some coal ashes to level up a place for a hive: and shortly after, and while the ashes wei'e still fresh. I discovered one morning after a rain, tliat the alighting-board was smeared over with wet asln s, and the ash- <'S in front ti-unpled down in a sus()icious man- nei'. Having gone carefully through my A BC. I at once recalled the few lines on skunks as among the enemies of bees. I kejjt watching for furthci' evidence of their misebief, but saw nothing for several weeks, and had almost for- gotten the matt(M', But while I was absent from home, Mrs, B. discovered one of our best colonies dwindling rapidly from day to day: and recalling what I had said of skunks, she set our lr2-year-old boy to watch at night; and, sure enough, he ('ii it. In the meantini(> I am doing all I can to learn how to oven-come the objections to it. I susjject that some who have tried it have not known how to use il jiroperly. Certainly I have leainefl something in this direction sincc^ tirst using it. A very fair summing-up of the disadvantages of the T super may be found on page ()'.i of the latest edition of the'A B C. They are given undei' three heads: and a fourth, un- til lately, wonld have been added by me. I will speak of it again. Tnder the tirst head, friend Root says: "Open-side .sections, which of late (1889) are growing in favor, can not be used in it." If I remember I'ightly I have seen it stated that of late the call for open-side sections has not been large, and I have had the impression that they were rather growing out of favor. How is it now. friend Roof? In any case. I think there are some who. like myself, have tried and rejected the open-side sections, and for such this tii'st objection to the T super does not hold. A B (.' gives objection ;.': " As the upright of the T takes about ^ of an inch, it leaves spaces between the rows of sections, which the l^ees are inclined to fill with propoli.s One- piece sections have a tendency to lie dia- mond-shaped: .... they come out of the super a little bit out of square." This is putting it very mildly. Instead of j^, the upright of my T tins has i"„. The sui)er is 17i^ long, inside measure, and four of the 4I4 sections meastire 17 inches, leaving '^s space for play. And the sections do play. They slouch around in all sorts of shajjes. iea\ing sjjaces anywhere from nothing to -'h of an inch for the bees to till with glue. Often tin,' side of a section for more; than two-thii'ds of its length will be entirely covered with propolLs. some of it a fourth of an inch thick. I am liap])y to say that I have entirely overcome this objection. In getting ready for the harvest of 18ctioii generally strikes on the upright of the T. and you can"t push it to one side enough to slide it down. The two sticks make a play-space of J4 inch all the way from the sticks to the T, allowing you to move the bottom of the section back and forth to strike the right sjmt. I don't know by what sort of bungling friend Root sent sticks S thick when I asked for sep- arator stuff, but I"m sure I don't w'ant them any less. The third objection the A B C makes to the T super is. tliat it is not an easy matter to make the central and outside rows change places. Friend Root, would you make such change if it were easy? Is there any advan- tage in it? C. C. MiLLEi!. INIarengo, 111.. Aug. 2.5. Yes, friend M.. open-side sections, in the early part of 188U, seemed to be growing in favor, but, for some reason or other, have been growing le.ss and less popular. We made special auto- matic machinery, so that we could make tlu^m at the same price as the regular two-beeway section; but now there is scarcely a call for them. The tirst objection, then, does not bear very hard against the T super. Objection No. 2 can be obviated by the little sticks, but it seems to me as if they would be a good deal of a nuisance. We have three loose T tins, and then, after that, three more sticks — six pieces besides the'T-super shell itself to hold the separators and sections. I do not know, friend M., unless it was the great rush during the past season, how we came to give you separator stuff thicker than you ordered. I am very glad now if our oversight was a blessing in disguise. The last objection still holds. On my trip among the York State bee-keepers I found that those ex- tensive bee-keepers, many of them, prefer some arrangement whereby they can shift the out- side row of sections to the inside, and v/cc versa. That is wliy, fricmd M.. I like section-holders. By the way. Elwood uses almost identically our section-holder: or perhaps, rather. I should say, we are using his. See Notes of Travel else- where. Hethei'ington uses tl^e T-snper arrange- ment. ^ — • — ■ IN-AND-IN BREEDING. IS IT IN.TI'HIOl'S? A correspondent writes, that in his apiary of 7.5 colonies he has two colonies which cap tluMr honev very white, with very even combs. IRi says that he would like to propagate these bees for this sp(>cial (imility. and desires to know whelhei' the rearing of (lueens from one ami drones fiom the other will do. as the twotiueens are sisters. He thinks that such in-and- in bleeding might tend to make the future generations of his l)ei's weakly. If we were sure that both ])arentages were alike, there might be some chance of making our bees weak by in-and-in lireeding: but as it is almost cer- tain that they are not. such breeding as he proposes could not be directly in-and-in breed- ing. \Viiile 1 do not indorse the Dziei/.on the- 664 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTLEE. Sept. ory to its fullest extent, yet it is sut'liciciitiy accurate so tiiat, practically spealdng. the drones and {]ueens from any motlier-(iueen can not be Ijrotlier and sister. Now. if oiii' corr(»s- pondent. raises his queens and drones from t]i(> same motlier. the queens can do no more than mate witli a lialf-brotlier. unless this motliei-- (|ueen mated with a drone from her own moth- er. In tliis case lie would get only thi'ee-fourths blood, unless the grandmother to our young queen mated with a drone produced by her mother. Should such a thing as this happen,- he would get only seven-eighths blood by breeding drones and queens from the same mother. Here is a point not generally luider- stooil by many of our bee-kee])ers. and one which sliows tlie wisdom of the Creator of the bee. To return to the original question: Suijpose he rears his queens from one (jueen and the drones from the other as he proposes. It is no way likely that both of the queens mated with brother-drones; henc(^ the young queen will be only half-blood relation to the sister of the mother-queen: and as the drones will be only lialf - blood relation to the mother of tlu' queens, he can not possibly get a relation nearer than one-fourth. Hence it will be seen that, with no control of the drone, our iraproviiig our bees in any one S]jecial direction must be only a slow alfair at the best, and one in which in-and-in breeding has no veiy im- portant bearing. Now, su)jpo.se we have it all arranged as we \\ish, and on July 1st we com- mence to rear oui' queens, we having plenty of drones flying from the aunt of these young queens. And to make matter.s more siu'e. sup- pose that we have drone-traps on each hive in the apiary, except the one we have selected for our drones: what proportion of these young queens will mate with the drones we wish" them to? Well, that will depend upon how neai' there are othei- bees to our a))iary. If. as we find it usually, not one queen in five will mat(» the d( siriMl diones at this time of year. It is a rar(^ thing to find an apiary where there are not some bees kept w ithin three or four miles of it. or where there is not some tree in the \\'oods that contains bees. This tree, or one of the hives ke])t l)y most bee-keepers, will fui'uisii mor<' di'ones than the breeder will get from his selected colony, as a rule: for colonies that have no attention given them are very proliflc in drones. I am satisfied that all the di'ones of one vicinity have a certain |)lace where they congregate, and that the queens go to this con- gregating-place when they fly out, which re- sults, as I said before, in the chances being against queens mating as the breeder wishes. To illustrate: In 1873, Italian drones were reared U)v the Hrst time as near as three miles of my apiary. That season I purchased an Italian queen, but she gave no drones, as I did not get her till July. There were none but black bees about me up to this time, and no qu(>ens had evei- shown any yellow in their ott'spring. This year, about one queen in eight gave workei's that wei-e hybrids, many of them being flnely mark- ed Italians. With this positive proof before inc. that bees mix to a large extent \\hen sepa- rated three miles. I can hardly feel pheasant when reading the statement of some, that half a mile in distance is enough to k(H^p two races of bees pure. I find that this congregating of drones and queens occurs only during our sum- mer rnontlis. with perhaps a i)art of September. As the weather becomes uncei'tain. thi' loud humming that has been heard on all jjleasant days, at a certain place, between the hours of noon and three o'clock in the afternoon, ceases. I find tlutt from then out I am much more sni'e of having my queens mated with the desired drones than at any other time of the year, un- less it be in early si)ring. Again, at this season of the year nearly all the drones are killed off except those especially kept by the ajnarist. so that, when it is possi- ble to rear good queens at this season of the year, and we have a few jileasant days, in-and- in breeding can be more neai'ly accomi)lished than at any other time: yet, as I have shown above, not enough so to cause our bees to dete- riorate very much in some time. If, after we And all drones killed off (>xcept those we have ]jreser\'ed. we go to the hive having our drones, some ratlu'i' cool cloudy day when the hives can lie kept oijen as long as we choose without dan- ger of chilling the bees, and without danger from robbers, and pick out all the inferior drones as to size, color, or any other imiierfec- tion. and kill them, we shall then have some- thing from which w(> can impi'ove our stock' in the way we ai'e desirous of doing, and still have it becoming more valuable along other lines as well. I admit that this is a sort of rambling talk, but perhaps the reader may flnd sonu'thing of interest in it after the chatf has been sifted out. G. M. DooI.ITTLE. Borodino, N. Y.. Sept. 2. 1890. You are doubtless right, friend D. Queens are very apt to be fertilized at a distance from home, and they no doubt seek a place where drones congregate. An interesting point comes up here. There are a good many now who are breeding untested queens for market. Those who have just begun in a new locality will probably find that a very large percentage of their queens will turn out to be hybrids. It takes years for a locality within three or four miles of the breeding-yards to become so thor- oughly Italianized that nine-tenths of the un- tested queens reared and sold will prove to be purely mated. There will be bee-trees con- taining blacks or hybrids, and it will be a long time before thes(^ will be Italianized by the slow process of sujiersedure of old queens or the infusion of new Italian blood in the progeny of young queens. . -^ — ^ — ov**^ — BEES TAXABLE PROPERTY, AND FOl! (iOOI) ItKASONS. A. I. Root: — Your name has become quite fa- miliar to me through the agricultural press. It seems that your interests nmst be varied. I have a friend who frequently sends to you for bee-supplies. I S(>e notices of your opei'ations as a farmer, and. if I mistak" not. a few years ago I saw an item telling of your experiments with A. N. Cole's sub-aqueous culture, in which I have tak(m a deej) interest. Have you given to the public the results of those last experi- ments? What could have suggested the discussion of the advisability of taxing bees, now going on in your columns? Is some bee-ownei' trying to es- cape bearing his just share of the burdens of government? The theory of the law in this State is. that every thing that can he converted into i)roperty, and that nuiy be made useful to nuin. shall bear its pi'oijoi'tion of tax. There are no exceptions. Every \ng, chicken, horse, or ox, must be listed: every bushel of grain, every pound of wool, every yai'd of cloth, every wagon, cart, watch, or clock must be put down in the list at its true market value, and to its 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 665 iriith you mako oatli. Why cxcniut bees'? As Aaluublc and useful as tlu^y are, tliey are cer- tainly not more useful than horsc's and cattle, than corn and %\heat. than a|)|)li's and grapes. If l)ees are to be (exempted, why not these? I will go further: If bees are to be exempted, why not exempt tlie houses and barns, and all other imijrovements that are the i)r<»ducts of hunuiu labor? If you were to ex(nnpt tiiese last from taxes, would not more and bett( r liouses be built? Would not better improvenu'ufs be ))ut on farms and lands? Certainly thei-e would, by the same logic by which you siu)W that freedom from taxation would impi'ove the bee-industry. Let us look at it first from a selfish point of view, from that of the bee culturist. Would the pi'osperity of the farmer, the merchant, or numufacturer. which woukl certainly result from freeing them from the burdens of taxa- tion, injure the bee-man? I think not. Their improved condition would enable them to pat- ronize the bee-nu\n more liberally. The demand foi' honey would be greater, and. of course, pric(>s would be higher unless the sup])ly were '/reatly increased. It seems to me that the bee-nuin should look at this qu(>stion with a broader view than that of his nuM'e ])ei-sonal interest. He should sur- rend<'r the w hole q\iestion of the taxation of personal projierty. if he claims exemption for his own business. If he insists on the taxation of |)ersonal property at all. he must be willing to patriotically bear an equal share of the bur- dens of taxation. W. (). Foley. Greensbiu'g, lud.. Aug. :.'3. We think you are right, friend F. Bees are l)roperty, like any thing else, and we do not see any reason why a bee-keeper should not bear his just share of the general expenses of the county and State aflfairs. And now we think it is best to drop the discussion here, for there will lie two sides to the question until the law set- tles the matter. FOUL BROOD. AX ACT For, THE SVPI'ItESSIOX OF THE DISEASE IX f AXA1).\. Hy this mail I send you a co])y of our foul- brood pamphlet, in the form of an t>tticial gov- ernment bulletin, which has just been issued under the direction of our Minister of Agricul- ture, and a co])y sujjijlied to every bee-keeper in this i)rovince whose name and address could l)e obtained. An edition of from seven b) eight thousand has been printed, besides a (iei'nuin edition for the use and benefit of bee-keepers who can not read English. From this pamphlet you will see what we are ■doing here in Ontario toward the supi)ression and extermination of that curse of the bee-yard, foul brood. In six short months after taking the initiative a tour last annual nu'eting we have a government "Act for the !Suppression of Foul lirood amtjug Hees." which is. jierhaps. the best of its kiiul in the woild. and have already got in under its pi'ovisions a gi'eat deal of effective work. I ti'iist our Anu'ricau brethren of the bee-craft may follow our example, and earnest- ly set about the eradication of foul brood from their country. As there is considerable inter- change of bees and honey between the two countries, we are concerned in your action in these iiremises. as you are in ours. Our foul-lirood inspectoi- has been busy in his official capacity diu'ing the i)ast two months, having overhauled hundreds of diseased colo- jues in ilifferent sections of the prosince. and ai)|)lied remedial measures which are eminently successful. While the act under which we are working authoi'izes us to destroy hy fire all colonies with the malignant form of the disease, and although some of the apiaries dealt with \\'ere faii'ly rot- ten with the ilisease. our inspector has not yet found it necessary to crenuiti' a single colony. We cure the worst cases and forms of the dis- ease, and we wish all concerned to know it. One indisputable antl clear fact is worth a large numliei'of theories, rnderthese cii'cumstances I may be pardoned h)r suggesting to our Amer- ican friends the wisdom and piopriety of now ceasing to discuss iuii)rofitable hypotheses, and settling down to woi'k on this foul-brood ques- tion. Foul brood can be cured, and cvu'ed every time, by a simple hygienic i)rocess, and without the aid of the chemist, the druggist, or the drug doctor. This is a broad and radical statement, but I make it deliberately and advisedly. In the bulletin referred to. you will see how we do It. Two methods are given there— one by D. A. Jones and another by Wm. McEvoy. our in- spector. Substantially they are the same, being both predicated on the same principle. ^^\' have faith in our works, and we wish to inspire you with the same faith. "'Go thou and do likewise." Without undue presumption I would further suggest that Gleaxixgs summarize the two plans of treatment of foul brood given in our pamphlet, for the benefit of such of its readers as mav need the information: or. what may be better'still. give tlie nuittei' in full. The bulle- tin, as you will see. also includes the <(ct. which would also. I doubt not. he interesting and prof- itable reading for them. Allex Pi:iX(iEE, Pres. O. B. K. A. Sell)y. Out.. Aug. 5. We have been informed that foul brood is very much more prevalent in Canada than in the United States, and hence an act for its sup- IH'ession became almost a matter of necessity. Our Canadian brethren are to be congratulated for the vigorous manner in which they have taken hold of the matter. The "Bulletin" referred to above is before us. It is issued by the Ontario Department of Agriculture, and is, therefore, under the official insignia of the government of Ontario. The method of cure is, briefly, the starvation plan— the one, and only one. in our large experience, which we practiced with success; and the same has been incor- porated in the last three or four editions of our A B C of Bee Cidture. As it has been already given three or four times in these pages, it will not be necessary to repeat it again. The act for the suppression of the disease, bi'iefiy stated, is as follows: The Ontario 15ee-ly fire, or be treated by any method wliicli llie inspector may deem reliable or sate. Any owner of diseased colnnies who sliall sell diseaseii t)ees, sliall, on (•on\-ict ion. be fined not. less tliaii $•'>.) nniiiioietliaii $11)0, or lie iiii))! isoiied for any term not exeeedint;- two moiitlis. If any owner shall refuse to allow tlie inspector to I'Xamine his apiary, or should sucli owner i-efuse to destroy any infected bees and apimrtenances. he shall be liable to a tine of $51) for the tirst offense, and $10:) forthe jjecoiid and each snlisc(iuent offense. The ( ). H. K. A. '.hall include in its annual report to the Mini.ster of 666 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept, Agrieultuie a statement of the inspector's work- number of colonies destroyed, etc. For a complpte copy of the act. apply to A. Blue, Toronto, Ontario. In aiiotlier part of the bulletin, before di.scusslng tlic method of cure, the cause of the disease is assigned to rotten or decaying bi'ood, eitlier from chilling or otherwise. In fact, the inspector, Mr. McEvoy, lays particular stress on this. We can not believe that foul brood starts without at least the germs of that disease. We have had a great many colonies in the apiary during the spring that liad more or less chilled brood: but they never developed into any thing serious. Rotten brood may be a favorable medium for the growth of the genus if tliey are (iJready present in the hives; but we can not think that this is of itself a cause. We may have the very best of land in which to grow corn: but com will not grow unless there is first the seed. Further on in the bulletin we notice that there is a difference of opinion as to whether it is necessary to scald or disinfect diseased hives. We have tested that matter very thoroughly in our apiary. At one time we took twenty that had contained diseased bees, and put in healthy bees on frames of foundation. In ev€'ry one of the twenty, foul brood broke out in from oiie to two months. At the same time we tried anoth- er lot of about an equal number, putting dis- eased bees on frames of foiuidation in hives that had been scalded, and a complete and permanent cure was effected in every one. Where hives had not been scalded long enough, the disease reappeared. We are very certain that Mr. McEvoy is wrong in thinking or ad- vocating thatdiseased hives taken fi'om diseased colonies are harmless: and we are equally sure that iMr. Jones is riglit in advocating that all such should be disinfected. If the bee-keepeis of Ontai'io get the impression that hives from foul-broody colonies will not again transmit the disease, they will find, sooner or later, that they are making a most fearful blunder. As Mr. Pringlesays, it is better to be on the safe side: for. "if th(» disease might in one case in a hundred be so proijagated, the precaution of disinfection would be amply justified." We an^ glad to notice that the act itself directs that all hives and appurtenances in contact with foul brood shall be disinfected. THE HOFFMAN FRAME. A (iOOI) TI-:STIM()NIAI> FOU IT. I should like to add my expei'lence with the Hottinan frame. Some l:i years ago I was keeping bees near Haptisttown. N. J., and used a frame X X '^i. I bongjit some bees of A. W. Lundv, living at Fi'enchtown, N. J., the i)ioneer bee- keepei' of that section, 1 think, in 1878. The tVames had a bottom-bar i._; x -^f,. I liked them so well aftei' using, that I made mine 9fix%. Soon after, Mr. Lundy made the ends of his frames 1,"^ or 1\<: wide, the top % wide, for % of an inch, with a top-har 9^'x%. The bottom of the end-bar was cut down to K. like a Hoffman end-bar. About this time I adopted the Hoff- man frame, made with a bottom-bar /^x^ii. and used them until I came to Florida, in- 1885. Some of the atlvantages are, moving from one to any number of fi-anies to one side to get at a central frame by using a sci'e\\' -driven' as a lever: can pick up one to four or five frames- and carry whei-e you wish, and no danger of mashing bees. In moving a hive with empty frames, foundation, or. when full of bees, tln^ frames do not slitle together, nor do the bottoms strike, nor are they ever stuck together. The bees are moi'c easily confined at the top of the hive, as the (Mids of the top-bars are close fit- ting, and in the winter and spring the top coi-ners of the frames, the hardest part of a hive to protect, forming virtually a dead-air space. while the narrow bottom-bar allows dead bees and debris of all kinds to drop to the bottom- board. To be used without reversing for box honey, I believe it has no superior. I forgot to- say, that, w ith a narrow bottom-bar, combs are built clear down to the bar. The bees built very few mounds from the- bottom-boai'd. The top-bars form practically a queen-excluding iioney-board, and much less comb is built between fi'ames and sections than where plain K top-bars are used, and much l(>ss propolis is used. When used witii a dummy at tlu> side of tlu'- hive there is no difficulty in getting the first frame out; or where side boxing is practiced. Many otlier advantages that have been mention- ed I need not recall; but for certain localities, methods of management, and certain individu- als, I think thi'v are the best. Jxo. B. Case. Port Orange. Fla.. Aufir.;.'-3, 1890. BEES ATTACKED AND DRIVEN OUT BY REI> ANTS. TIIK I!KI) ANTS OF TEXA." On the 2~d (jf July, bees commenced ro])bing' a hive that was strong but (jueenless. early in the morning. I closed the entrance to about }<> inch, and left to go to my work. I got back about 11 o'clock, and found the combs broken down and honey running alwut the ground. I had to open the entrance to give more venti- lation, and by night they were comi)letely whippcKl out. The next day we had a lu^avy storm. The wind blew two I'J-inch boards that \vere fastened together in among my hives. S])read the contents of four all over my ground, and broke the cover and side of another. It may have been some minutes before I discover- <'d the mishap, and it was raining and blowing so hard that it was a hard mattei' to stand un- der it, and some litth^ tinu^ before I could get the hives set up and the frames of lower and up|)er stories in jjlace. Vei'y few frames had bi'oken combs, but most of the bees lay di'ench- ed on the groiuid. Upon examination I found two queens missing. Next evening I was call- ed up. Bees were swai'ming. I found a colony of I'Pd ants had left their nest and invaded one of the hives tluit had lost its (jueen. Ther(>- were ten ants to one bee. I should think. The bc^es liad no chance. The hi\'e \\'as full of ants, covered with them. The ground for yards arotuid was covered. Thousands had wings and thousands without. Their sting is worse than a bee-sting. They were evidently mad. and to go among them was to have them all over you. The hole into tluMr nest was clos(> tO' the hive. Several times I had buried a bottle and caught a lot of the ants, trying to destroy them. It seemed a pr(Mneditated plan of i'<^tal- iation on the bees. The ijees went into a tree. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE UULTUEE. 667 I liivcd tliciu several times, hut they refused to stay ainwliere hut iu the tree. I phiced a Ixix over them, and at'tei- several days of \viny must be much larger. I presume, than any ants we have here. Perhaps Prof. Cook can tell us something about it. Why didn't you [lOur coal oil on the ant colony? Surely that would have '• fixed ■' them. — Your testimony in regard to preventing new swarms from ab- sconding, just about accords with our experi- ■ence. — About the spiders, I should not call it either reason or instinct, but only an accident. I can hardly believe the small spider " ligured •out" that cutting the rope would give him the advantage. RAMBLE NO. 28. i\ sTKruKN rorxTY. We found, after a few days" trial, that the c(junty-house of Steulien Co. is a model institu- tion. Mr. Eli Carrington. the keeper, has held his |)osition foi' eighteen y(>ars. The inmates are well fed and coinfortaV)ly clothed, and their spiritual wants are attcniled to by hearing the gosi)el preached nearly e\ery .Sabbath. It is well known that temperance advocates lay much stress upon the poverty-producing i|ualities of a too free use of the bottle. In our inv<'stigations in this home of the poor we found substantial proofs of the statements. Mr. C. infoi-med us that fully two-thirds of the inmates were bi'ought there either directly or indirectly by th(^ use of intoxicants. Here is a man with a leg oft", caused by injury by cars, while drunk: here is an excellent car|)enter. al)le to earn the highest wages in his trade — is handy at repairing or making articles at this place: but just as soon as he earns money it goes for drink, and he becomes a most degraded drunkard. Hei'e is a young man, strong, healthy, and capable of earning good wages on a farm, and making himself an influence among his fellow-men; but the <'arningof a little mon- ey allows him to invest in degradation. So we might enumerate other instances of wasteil lives. But. oil! the saddest scene of all is a death and burial of the poor — no friends to shed a symijathizing teai'. A few men deposit the body in its Mnal resting-i)lace. where no mark is put up to indicate that a human being is thei'e buried. A minister preaches a short ser- mon to the living inmates, and they are soon foi'gotten. The sad lessons leai'iied fi'om tlii'se Itaupers. and the causi' which led to their mis- eiy. will ever be renieml)ered by the Rambler. Hath has several tine churches. We attended the IJaptist and Presbytei'ian. In the latter we found a vei'y lai'ge Sunday-school, and what is reported to be the largest young meii's Hible- class in the State of New York. There were over 150 in the class, taught by the editor of the leading paper of liath. We found one of the secrets of his success in the /)C/'.sn//((/ work he devoted to the cause. His religion seemed to be the every-day kind, and the seasonable word was spoken at all times and occasions. Would that Sunday-sclu)ol teachers would go and do likew ise all over our land I With the county-house as a center we direct- ed our rambles in various directions. One very interesting point visited was Hammondsport, on Keuka Lake, the very center of tlie great grape-growing industry of tJie State. The^cli- mate near these lakes in Central New York seems to be adapted to small-fruit culture, and especially grapes: but on the shores of Lake Keuka seems to be the natural home of this rich fruit, and thousands of acres are under cultivation. Thousands of tons of grapes are sliipped in baskets and crates to be consumed according to nature's way: but tons are also tised in the manufacture of the various wines known to the trade. The Pleasant Valley Wine Co. is the largest concern of the kind, and uses tons of grapes. The process in its first stages is much like making cider from apples. A similar grater is used, and for expressing the juice a Boomer & Hoschert press is used. The wine is then kept for a time in large tanks. It rinallv is put into bottles, and stored in a dark cellar. Candles were lighted, and we passed between long rows of bcjttles piled up like stove- wood, several thousand bottles in a [)ile. After some weeks they ai'e taken from this pile and inserte(l. cork down, in long racks, where they remain a long time, but being often disturbed, and put back again. In hot weather the men who handle the bottles have to wear wire nuisks over their heads, for there is danger of i)eing severelv cut by bursting bottles. Our guide had his hand bandaged from such a mishap; and though it was cool weather at the time of our visit, we could often hear the po]) of a burst- ing bottle. Our guide infoiMued us that al)Out UAfKS OF WINE-BOTTI-KS. thirtv |):'r cent of the wine and bottles was thus' wasted. Coming to the upi)er regions again, we were shown machinery for washing, for filling, corking, tinfoiling. and lal)eling the. bottles, until tinallv they looked so enticing the Ramblei' thought of getting one into his pocket: but a reconsideration prevented. We imagined how we should lik<'tosee the honey business just boom in this way. and see all of this work'done in a factory for preparing honey for market; but this, perhaps, is an idle dream, for honey does not pander to the perverted taste and passions of men. Oiu' guide finally led us into a little carpeted room with easv-chairs and a rouud table, :ind invited us to sit down. Sevei'al bottles wine - glasses were pi'oiMireil from the, room. and. said he. "(Jentlemen. what you lake?" My traveling comi)anion lie had no choice. The Rambler said iiis •hoice was n(jl to di'ink. A bottle of cham- |)agne was. howev<'r. opened, and the glasses filled. .Ml! it api)eared to be good wine; it and next will said 668 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. workod ariglit in tlie glaj^s, siiarkliiig like so many rays of light. It looked very fascinating. Our traveling eomi)anion used ii]) t\\() glasses. Our guide also helped iiiniself, hut the llani- RESTING-l!()()>r. PLF.ASANT VAIJ.KY WIXK CO. ble)''s glass was not enii)ti(>d. We learned that there was much drunkenness ab.out Ilani- mondsport. and we were pointed to a farm on the hillside where a nnm had such conscien- tious sci'ui)les about the manufacture of wine from grapes that he pulled u]) his vines and d(-- voted the land to other purposes. That the moral conscience of our wiiole land were ed- ucated up to this point is the earnest praver of the PvAMni'.iOK. BEE BCTANY. PItOF. f'OOK NAMES A FEW lIONEV-PLANTf Missorm. Prof. Coo?f.-— I send you by tliis nuiil a num- ber of flowers which I should like to have you name through (ii,E.\NiXGs, if not imposing too much on good nature. No. 1 is a weed that gi'ows )nostly on uncultivated or abandoned fields, and along roadsides, to a iieight of four t(j six feet. The tiowers commenced open- ing the last week, and will continue until frost. I feel certain that it fiu'iiishes the greater part of our autumn honey here. Friend Root savs it is a species of lioneset. No. 2 is a kind of creeping vine, not a native here. It blooms from about July 15 until frost. and the bees work on it almost continually when tiie weather is suitable. It is very hardy and thrifty. The roots seem to go a long distance under ground, and. where exjjosed. they spi'(jut out and grow into vines. No. :i I suppose, is a sjM'cies of mint. It does not s(-em to be indige- nous here, as I know of only one small patch. The bees work very vigorously on it. No. 4, I sui)i)ose, is the heartsease that in .some localities produces the jirincipal crop of autumn honey, and was desciibed son)e months ago by you. The bees work on it her(> occa- sionally, but it does not amount to much in the way of producing honey. We have twoor three more closely allied to it. which grow in i)rofu- sion on low ground. Imt bees seem to i)av little attention to tliem. Nos. 5 and (i are not honey-plants, but fni'- nish an almost uidimifed amount of forage for cattle on the islands in the INIissonri River. No. .5 is known here as sticktight or beggar-lice: it grows to a height of from 3 to 5 feet. On the sam])le I s(>nd thei'e are flowei's and seed not fully develo])e(l. When ripe, any one who walks through them, if he has on woolen pants, will ever after\\ard remember them. No. (5 is known here as peavine. but it seems to be more of a ho;\u. The |)od. \yhen i-ipe. has a peculiar habit of suddenly Hying open, each side curling up. throwing liie beans in every direction. As you will see. I have just taken pieci's of the yine. S. E. INIllJ.EH. Blutfton. Mo.. Aug. :.'(). Prof. Cook foi'ward(Hl the abo\-e to us. and re- |)lies: Xo. 1 \s Kii iKifni'iti in scriit'niii ni. or one of the numerous bonesets. all of which are valuable honey-plants. There are many species of this important genus in the United vStates. E. sero- liiiinii is said ijy (irny 1o grow in low gi'ounds from Maryland to Illinois, and .South. No- doubt Hro. ^lillei' is right in the oijinion that this jdant gives those in his vicinity the major part of their autumn honey. The bee-keeper who has ami)le nuirshes neai' his l.ee-yard is in luck, as the iiome of the eupatoiiums is in our mai'slies. No. 2 is nuitriniony vine. L]iriinn vuhjarc. This is introduced from Southern Europe. It is. l)lanted, aiul, as Mr. Miller suggests, has run wild in some .sections. It belongs to the night- shade, or jjotato family. I have oft(Mi heard of this as a valuable honey-plant. If Ix^e-keepers who live where this is hardy wish a shrubby vine, this is a good plant to grow. This taiuily contains the potato, tomato, night-shade, to- bacco, ground-cherry, etc. It is not VI ry rich in honey-plants. Mr. Miller is right again, for No. 3 is a mint. It is known as mountain mint. PyraiithemiDa inuticuiii. No wonder the bees work on this vigoiously. The mints are wonderful honey- plants, and it seems to me to be mor(> indeijen- dent of the weather than do most of our hoiu'y- l)lants. It occurs to me that, if any i)lants are worthy of cultivation exclusively loi' honey, they are some of the perennial mints. I am in hopes to cultivate, in a small way. numerous mints in hopes to find the best honey-i)lant in the family. No. 4 is* the famous heartsease. PoJiJuoinim Pcinislvdnicinn. It seems that this plant does not secrete in all places at all times, or else has rivals that attract the bees from it. No. .5 is tickseed. or bush trefoil, De^iuodhnn Dil Jen a. It is one of the members of the clover family. No. () is also one of the pulse, or clover family. It is P}i((seolas helvolus, or wild bean. It is rather strange that these last are not honey- l)lants, as so many of the leguminos:i? are. Agricultural College, Mich. A. J. Cook. ODD-SIZED HIVES. I'llE TltlALS OF ANOTIIEI! I)IS(il'STEI) HEE- KEEPEP.. We were greatly entei'tained with Rambler's account of Rlake"s tii'ade. Poor Rlake has oiu" heartfelt sympathy : for. next to a snuiKy chim- ney, an odd-sized f)ee-hive is the meaiu'st thing on earth, and this I know from an aggravated exjjerience. When we began bee-keeping we^ wei'c sweetly beguiled into buying "Control- lable" hives: l)ut what they controlled we have failed to find: certainh' not our temp<'r. for not a supply-dealer kejjt any thing to tit: every thing must lie made toorder. costing more.orwe must patch up as best w<' might, nuiking need- le.ss work : and when done it resulted in some amusing experiments — amusing now in the light of added exp(>rience. b.ut far from it at the^ time. Our next venture was. at a time when sw arm.s ai)peared fastei- than hives, to buy s( cond-hand Simplicity hives from an accommodatingtowns- nuin: but. alas foi- cjur ignorance again I We had no regular bottom-lioards. [)ut were told to let the hive |)roject just far enough ovci'theend 1^H(» GLEANINGS IN IJEE CULTUIiE. 669 of ii Ijoard to form an cutraiK-i'. Xoti' the I'l'- sull: III March, sonic evil spirit, citiicr in tiic form of a dog, cat. or mccldiiiig person. piisJKMl the iiivc foi'ward four or live inciics — of course cliilliiig a line strong s\\ ai'm of bees. It was no fault of tile lii\('. exce|it liie ]acl\ of a jiroper bottom, ami we decided to adopt the standard frame. i)ut in some secure hive: so this season we bouglit of a supply-deah^i'. not a manufac- turer, as we ougiit. a lot of hivi'S in liie Ihit. and. by liis unpar(h>iial>l(' lilunder. insK'ad of gix'ing standard fiames lie sent another odd-sized hive: and. as we had waited hito, and the swarming season was at hand, we accepted them. Well, vv(^ then had three sizes of frames in a small apiary. We could say with lllake. ■"Duin the hives." At last the head of the family, beingof a mechanical turn of mind, suggested a rcMiiedy. and we have just ado|)ted it. and now we breathe a sigh of reli(>f. We have uniform frames: we can unite or divide as we please. We cut enough off tli(> bottom of each frame in the Controllable hives to make them standard depth, the length f()rtunalely b(>ing the same, and cut enough otf the bottom of each hive to make it right. The new ones we found, after trying three (and not liking them), could be remodeled: and. by getting new frames, lie all right. As we have no suitalile place picpared for doing such work, the cutting of frames was done in the open air, with the bees still on. We placed the rejuvenated hive under the shade of a tree some rods away, jiutting in first an empty frame: then carrying a full frame from th»^ swarm to be operated on. we smoked as many as might be otf. upon the empty frame, saved the end jiieces. cut the c(jmb. nailed on the bottom, and. putting it in place, went for an- other. It took two of ns from half an hour to an hour to transfer each colony: but we think it will be worth the trouble and the time. Our bees have done linely this summer, none of them making less than :{.") lbs., and our best about 70 lbs. They are still working on buck- wheat, and have been for abont six weeks, as we sowed it for a succession, and wehoite to have very little feeding to do for winter. Mi:S. (}. M. HAIiKKK. Natick, Mass.. Aug. 28. Thank you, my good fri;'nd, for the moral you have given us against adopting frames and hives of odd sizes. Your remedy is the rational one — cut them down to orthodox dimensions or smash them n\). ERNEST'S NOTES OF TRAVEL AMONG THE YORK STATE BEE-KEEPERS. n.OSED-KXI) vs. IIAXGIXfi FKAMES. I may say at the outset, that one of the main reasons why I made this trij) was to learn some- thing about closed-end fi'ames. and. in particu- lar, frames at fixed distances, whether closed- end or otherwise. Mr. Elwood. Capt. lletlier- ington, and almost all bee-keejx'rs whom I visited among thi' York State hills, ar(> using lixi'd frames of some soi't. It will be remembered that Elwood and Iletlu'rington use the closed- end (^uinby fianie and system. Their frame, howevei'. is about 2 incli(>s shorter than the regular (^uinby, retaining, I believ(\ the original depth. Well, after leaving Mr. Tunlcllff, Mr. Elwood and I started cii route for one of his out- apiaries. and were discussing fixed distances and the lajjidity with which they could be handled, as coni|)ared with the common siis- piMidi'd or hanging frames. Said 1. "■ /,/' fixed frames can be handled as rapidl\. and at- tJie saiiH' time without killing bees as the hanging frame, they will lie the frame of the future.'" Mr. Elwood did not boast vei-y much what he couki do — ill fact, he did not make any very grcnit claims as to the system, etc.. which he was using. Some time ago. in an ai'ticle he said he could handle the cicjsed-end (^uinlis' as rapidly as we could the hanging frame. 1 well remember at the lime I did not doubt lii> veraci- ty, hut I did somewhat ([Uestion his kiiowledge as to the manipulation of the suspended frame. 1 told him. as we approacln^d one of the apiaries, that one of the privileges that I had longdc^sired was to see him 01' some other bee-kec^iier using th(> (i)uinl)y frame handle them as rapidly as the liaiigiiig frame, and not kill bees. By this time the yard which we were to visit loomed up in sight off in the fields at the foot of one of those big hills. It is located at some distance from llie roatl. partly because of the protecti'd position, and partly because it is se- cluded from those who might pilfer or mi'ddle with the hives. We drove u[) under a low- spreading evergreiMi not a great way from the apiary. We there nnhitched and led the horses a little bit further off and gave them their oats. As we did so, Mr. Elwood said there was a spring up on the hillside, and that. Ixd'ore eat- ing our lunch, jf I felt inclined we would go up and see It, and get a pail of water. After stroll- ing a little distance among the rich under- growth, suddenly a lieautiful spring of water came insight. Perhaps! miglitaswcll remark, by way of i)arentliesis her(\ that all the York State water, especially from the hillside springs, is clear and cold. In my own State of Ohio it is not very advisable for me to drink from dif- ferent wells or sjirings — at least to any great extent: but on my bicycle tour through New York I drank fi-eel'y from every roadside spring with imimnity: and. oh how good, pure, and cold it did taste! What would I have given if I could have transported one of these springs, that seemed so common in York State, to my own home in Ohio! Doolittle had water from one of these springs pi])ed to his house. I re- member how thirsty I was, and how refreshing the water. Just thing of it — a running spring in the house, of lieautiful water I But. to return: Mr. Elwood and I secured the lunch-basket; and after hunting around for a good log to sit on. we partook of a hearty lunch: w liich. being dispatched, we put on our veils and proceeded to the yard. I had exp(>cted to see large Quin- by hives: but. to my surprise, the brood-nest or l)rood - chambers were no larger, on the average, in cubic capacity, than are those ir. our eight-frame Dovetailed hives. I had sup- posed that the York State bee-kiH'iiers. like the Uadants, advocated and used large brood- chambers. So far as I was able to discover, however — in the production of comb honey at least — they practice contraction, and use brood- chambers no larger in caiiacity than an ordina- ry 8-frame Langstroth hive. The frame being :.''inclies shorter than the original Quinby. (> of these frain(>s would be about eipiivaleut to 8 of the Langstroth. I should say. without figur- ing. I was siiiprised to learn that all or nearly all of the bee-men of York State who have adoiited the Quiiibv closed-end fi'aine. like Mr. Elwood and C'ai)t. Iletherington. use it 2 inches shoifer. and it is no doubt a better frame for the reduct ion in length. Aftei lighting the smoker. Mr. Elwoo.l and I entered the yard, and he proceeded to oiien up a hive wliih' I was looking on with eager ex- jiectancv. The entrances wcr.' on tln^ under side of the hive. IJIowing a little smoke under to firive away the guards, he lifted otf a case of sertioiH. I expecti'd to see those frames come 670 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. apart with a snap and an onslaught of heos. Thci'c was no snap or onslaught. He |)ic'k('(l up and handled the IVanics as rapidly as you or I can handle suspended I'lames; and I am not sine hut he manipulates them more rapidly. Mr. Elwood then examined continuously 2.5or 30 other colonies: and when I came to think of the time he had sp fi'ames stick together? Scarcely at all: and yet tlu' hees were hybrids. Here was a large yard of. say. over a hiindi-ed colonies. I do not remember to have asked how long itrwould take him to examine each one: but at the rate he handled those before me he would have gone through the whole api- ary in four or five hours, and hunte(l ;ill the queens besides. He did not move very rapidly; on the contrary, his movements were deliberate, but they counted. I am well aware that this is a heavy testi- monial for the closed-end frames on the Quinby plan: but I deem it but just to give it. b<'caus'e I know the bee-keepers of the West, and those who have been using the lianging frames, have somehow got the idea into their Jieads that the closed-end frames were simply intolerable, and that the bee - keepers who were using them were either very much behind the tim(>s, or so stubborn as not to be ojx'n to conviction that there might be something better. Indeed, when we consider the fact that nine-tenths of the bee-keepers of that section of New York where I visited are using fixed frames, and are intelligent and progressive men: and when we consider the other fact, that they make bees pity, we must admit that their system is not so clumsy and awkward, after all. Capt. Hether- ington. years ago. used hanging frames faith- fully, and finally discarded them foi- tlu- closed- end (Quinby. Hetherington. with his three or four thousand colonies; Elwood. with his 13(X). and a great many others owning from 3(M) to 4(X1 colonies in this pail of New York, use only fixed frames, some Quinby and some Hoffman. NO BUlili-COMBS. While Mr. Elwood was examining the hives I was pleased to note that there were no burr- cembs on the tops of the frames. N\). I do not believe I saw a single small spur. When I came to inciuire into the matter I found he used top-bars fully an inch wide and %^ of an inch thick— perhaps in some cases 14 inch thick with fixed distdxccs. I emphasize this piu'posely. because I believe that this is one of the secrets. I could not discovei' that any of the b<'e-keepers who had used fixed distances with top-bars^ of an inch thick and an inch wide, in that sec- tion of country, had used honey-boards. No, a honey-board was a thing that none of them had evei- tried. With no burr-combs, what need had they of them? Now. if I am able to judge coiTcctly. with fixed distances we can have tliinncr top-bars; but with hanging frames and no aiTangement for automatic sjjacing, in order to do away with burr-combs there must be thicker toi)-bars. I examined into this nuitter very cai'efully all through this trip: and since myretui'u home I feel confii'med in what I have said above in regard to the presence oi' absence of buri'-combs, theii' cause and prevention. I am veiy well aware that I have given some flattering testimonials for the Quinby system. I am not sui'e. howevei'. that bee-keejx'i-s geiKM'- ally woukl not like the open or movable sides. The hive looked a little to|)-heavy also, and a good many bee-keepers incline ' toward the shaix'ly ai^pearance of a thing as well as its piactical utility with the two combined. I took some \iews of the apiary, and of the hives in particular, with the Kodak; and when the same are repi'oduced for Gleanings I will then explain in detail how and why Mr. Elwood can handle those frann^s so lapidly, which I can iu>t flo now without the aid of engravings. After leaving this yard we visited two or three others. All that I saw were located in spots that were pecvdiarly picturesque. The scenery — perhaps a big hill on one side, a valley beneath, mountains over in the distance, all combine to mak(» many of the locations grand in their outlook. .\s our time was limited we did not visit all of the yards, for one yard is largely a repetition of the others. ELWOOD'S mammoth BKE-CEI,LA1!. The next morning, as we expected to visit other bee-keepers, I took a walk around the premises. '-Oh, yes!" I said, •' there is that enormous bee-cellar that I w ant to see.'" 'Slv. Elwood conducted me to his Tiuunmoth reposi- tory under his lai'ge bank bai'u. If I remember correctly it was divided equally into two com- partments, each one capable of holding p(»rhaps .5(X) colonies. Just think of it— 1()(X) colonies, l)ractically. in one cellarl We l)ee-keei>ers who talk aliout wintering 50 or (50 colonies in a cellar successfully might find it another thing to bring through alive 1000 stocks in a single re- pository: and yet, if I understand correctly, our friend is generally successful. In this part of York State they have very severe winters: and, as a general rul(\ I found that bees art- wintered indot)i's. I iKjticed that Mr. Elwood uses a sub-earth ventilator, and he believes it to be a good thing at times. He does not,, how- ever, use it with its mouth outdoors open full width most of the time, but only on occasions. " What do you do." I said, "when it becomes too warm, and the bees get to roaring — that is. luieasy?" He t(xjk me out to the mouth of his sub-earth ventilator, and show<>d me how he could, by enlarging the opening, let in enough cold air to I'educe the tempeiature (uunigh to accomplish the desired end. The winters being so cold, he generally has no trouble from a too high tem- perature in the cellar. "Then you cart all your bees home." I said, "and finally put most of them into that cellar?" He assured me that they did. At the risk of letting the readei's of (Jleanixgs think (if they do not already think so) that I have gone pret- ty nearly crazy on fixed distances, I will remark again, that, were Mr. Elwood using hanging frames, or, as he calls them, "swingiiig" frames, the n(-cessary pi'ejjaration for getting a colony ready for moving — that is. so many of them, would reiuler moving impracticable. I do not wonder that, with their I'ough and un- even roads, and their terrible big hills, they all us(^ frames at fixed distances, even if there were no other reason whv they should do so. I should like to be on hand when th(> 1(K)0 or 1300 coloniesaiedepositeve I dii not exagger- ate wln^n I say that I must have seen thousands of acres of buckwheat. The farmers, instead i)f conlining theii' crops to the proceeds of a sin- gle acre, rais(^ it by the ten-acre fields: and 1 t)elieve it is usually a paying crop. I was pleased to notice, also, that the Japanese buck- wheat was being introduced very largely. The i)ees work on it just as industi-iously as they do upon any kind of buckwheat. Several fields that ^Ir. Elwood and I passed were fragrant with the aroma. In fact. I passed on the bicycle so many buckwheat-fields that the odor became sickening to me. as I do not like buckwheat honey. Hut the peojile in York Stat(\ I am glad to know, are not like me. At most of the hotels where I stopped, they had this black- looking honey on the table. By tnaking in- quiries I learned that some of their guests pre- ferred it. They like that rich dark-looking honey of their fathers. I personally came across a great many jx-ople w ho prefer buck- wheat to any other they had ever eaten: but I ven a snap shot at tho.so fellows — or. rather, at their hive. The first one planted a sting right on my nose. and. of course, the rest of them saw fit to visit the same vicin- ity, attracted by the poison. Now. you know I could not stand that. My ever ready veil was in my hind pocket. My eyes were sutt'iised w ith "tears, and I hastily laid the Kodak on th(^ ground, wliipped out the veil, and drew it over my head in some fashi(jn or other. Somehow or other I felt like running. How it would look for me, I thought, on the editorial staff of (Ji.EANiNGS. to i)ick nil my things and run in w ild haste out of the yard." The veil was pull- ed over, but those scamps did not stop to buzz in front, but with provoking delilieration crawl- ed up under and made things worse. I pulled out the Kodak, and said, " Now or never:" and w bile the tears were streaming from my eyes with pain. I managed to be able to see enough from one eye to get a vii'W of the hive. This time I did liot wait. ]^\\t touched the button, and the shot was taken. .As I did so I looked up to se(^ where my friend Mr. Elwood was. Presently I espied somebody running, and his arms were revolving about his head in a char- acteristic fashion. Now. Mr. Elwood is slightly i)aldheaded. and his hat was goiu'. As I saw him rub sting after sting out 1 did not blame liim for retreating. I understand from his men that he can stand as many stings without wincing as anybody else: but it did tickle them to see tluMr big boss run from the bees. One of Mr. Elwood's little boys was heard to cry out lustily alx)ut this time, for he was out in the yard bareheaded and barelegged. His father directed him to his mother, and then called out: " You didiTt catch me in that picture, did vou?'" "As you were running, I presume I did." I r<'pli<'<:l: at least, I was mean enough to say I hoped so. I took time now to rub the stings out of my nose, and mentally reflected how it would look togoaroiHid among the bee-keepers, the representative of Gleaxin(;s. with a nose somewhat immoderate in size. Itilid not swell, however, and after a couple of hours I felt no ill effects. As we started to leave that morning for anotlier ride among bee-keepers witli Mr. Elwood. this little boy who had been stung canu' out to greet us with a good-by. His face was considerably swollen, and it looked as if he had been stiuig" by a bee. My catneia was at- tached fast to the bicycle, or I would have been cruel enough to have taken his picture. Mr. Elwootl. although stung much worse than I, seemed to show no ill effects. In order that we might visit together, the bi- cycle was tied on to the wagon, and we started for the lunne of Mr. Julius Hoffnuin. by way of the Vail I)eusens, the people w ho make that beautiful flat-bottom foundation. We went over some terribly bad hills— hills that I should not care particularly to have gone over w ith a bicvcle: and I was glad there were some good iiorses ahead of me that were used to that sort of business. More beautiful scenery was pre- sented to me. and ere long we were overlooking the flal-hollom valley which has 1 n before desciiheil by our friend Rambler. AT sriiOt'T HHOOK, N. V. In a few moments more we were having a cordial handshaking with the Van Deusens. We laughed and talked about Ramblei' and his 672 GLE.VNIXGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. visit at tlu'ii' |)lac'('. In vicu' of liis cxixTiencc. I did not ask togu tlu'Diigli tlicii'ostablisiinient: but I was siiowii sonic of tlicir bcaiitifui foun- dation. They have qnitc a lai'ge factoiy. and evidently do quite a business. I tooli particular l)ains to notice tbat this country was very flat bottonu'd — an ajiproiiriate location foi" making foundation. We wei-e cordially invited to stay and take dinner: hut as my time \\'as limited. I explained tiiat I should luive to be moving along. SNEEZE-WEED FOJIEY. PKOF. COOK AI.SO TOTT'HKS I'POX THE MATTKH OF MKDKIXAL HOXKV. I have received from Mr. C. P. Cof'fi]i. Ponto- toc, Miss., a plant for name, together with some suggestions and questions which are of general interest, and so T am p!( ased to comply with Ids r<'(iuest and answer through Gi.KAXixiis. The i)lant is a si)ecies of "'sneeze-weed,"' HelenUim tcinil foliitin, which Dr. (xray says lias become a naturalized weed through the Southein Ignited States. It is one of the com- posites, and so related to the goldeniods, asters, bonesets, b(>ggar-ticks, etc. We can not wonder, then, that it furnishes a g' nerous amount of nectar. It comes of a sweet family. Mr. Coftin says this is very abundant in Mis- sissippi: that it occupies ail waste lands and commons, and is marching on to possess all un- occupied, vacant, and uncultivated teiritoi'y. It grows as tliick as oats oi' wheat, and crowds out all other plants. It is often the sole adorn- ment of cemeteries and front yards. We see, then, that it is like the ragweed and mayweed north, a monopolist of first rank. The [)eoi)le m Mississippi know it as " bitter we(>d." Tile bees store huge (piantities of hon- ey fiom this plant. Mr. Cofhn says it seldom fails to yield hoiuitifully, so that "the bees till their hives solid— both stories— with this honey. But this honey is of no value, except foi' winter- ing. " It fuiiiishes an unfailing supply for this purpose."' liut it spoils the goldeni'od and aster h(mey, which is also abundant, and valuable for tiie table as well as for the bees. Ml'. Cot^n quotes an article from a Boston paper, to the eflect that an English physician reports that a small bee of Tasmania gathers eucalyiitiis honey, which has special and pecul- iar i)liysical characteristics, and lias very valu- able therapeutic or medicinal jiroperties. Mr. Coffin asks if the Tasinanian bees could in any way add to the virtues of this eucalvptus hoiKn-. I should argue no. True, bees modify nectar, or change it into iioney: but there is no reason to believe tliat diflfereiit bees affect the honey dift'erently. I jiresume the honey varies because of the source from which it is derived, and not from the bees that store it. Mr. Coffin urges further: (iranting that the position taken by the Englisli physician is cor- rect, may we not reasonably conclude that honey collected by our oN'ii b(M'S from plants of known medicinal cliaracteristics would have like therapeutic virtues'? Eor instance, suppose an a|)iary to l)e near a large field of hoarhound. which is universally recognized as efficacious in throat and lung afl'ections. Would not the syrup thus made in Nature's laboratory by these wonderful chemists— plants and bees- containing the very essence of the plants, be superior to the syruj) which we may make bv lioiliiig the leaves with sugar'? Ill replv. li't me say: We must not put too much coiitid( uce in such r(>ports. As a people we overestimate tremeiidonslv the virtues of medicine. Nature is the great healer. Medi- cine may occasionally ludp. but I fear it as often hinders. Dr. (). W. Holmes once said — and who ought to know bett tissues that secrete them or the liquids from which the elements were derived. The milk of the cow is not blood or beef, nor like them. No more is the nectai' of plants — the secretion of plant-glands — like the sapor tissue of the iilaiit. This secretion is a new formation, of the gland- ular cells, for a specific purpose— to attract insects — and is specific in its character as well as in its function. Again, we have plants with poisonous juices. These often secrete nectar, but that is not poi- sonous. Were it so it would poison the very insects it was formed to attract, and so defeat its very i)uri)ose. Mr. Coffin continues: " Nothing was made in vain. May it not lie that this bitter honey has very valuable medicinal properties'? If so, a knowledge of the fact would be very inipor- taut. As this plant secretes nectar abundantly from July 1.5th to September 1.5th, when there are no other nectar-srcreting plants in bloom, the honey can be obtained unmixed with other kinds of honey, and could be ])ut on to the mar- ket very easily and cheai>ly."" I would answer, tliat morphia and quinine are vegetable products, and no one may say that any vegetable iiroduct is worthless or without virtues until he has demonstrated the fact. On the other hand, he should b(^ just as slow to- announce virtues till they are demonstrated by actual experiment. Such proofs — like all valu- able scientific facts — must come from induction, not deduction. We must demonstrate by actual test that this honey is medicinal: then, and then alone, can w(> recommend its use in thera- peutics. This honey might be extracted and sold cheaply for winter food, in ca.se it is good for that purpose in all climates, and could also be sold for such manufacturing purposes as form- ing printers" rolls, <>tc.. where the flavor is not an objection. In case we have many such sea- sons as the present, where in INIichigan the bees have not been able to collect enough even for winter. ther(> would be a good market for the first-named purpose. As this lioney is so sure and abundant, it could doubtless be sold at a very low rate. Possibly it would do to use in making cigars. wher(\ I am told, much honey is used: and then if it has medicinal virtues it wouUI be right where it would be needed. Agricultural College. ISIicli. A. J. Cook. Friend Cook. I am exceedingly glad to hear you give utterance to the sentence. ''As (x peo- ple we overesUmate tremendously the virtues of mecliclne.''' As I look upon humanity day by day, I am more and more forced to the conclu- sion that "we as a people"' are floundering in the dark mazes of superstition and ignorance. esp(>cially in this matter of dnsuKj ourselves. Just think of it! There are at present in the 18v<0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. fi78 United Stati's (or at least liave lieeu until (juile recently) ijinif factories huilt up lo make elec- trie lielts. medals, and eliai'nis. to e'liiv dis(nises. wliile every educated man Knows that they have not the remotest efl'ect whatever on dis- ease of any sort. In fact, there is not even any electncitij ahoiit them. Teoiile feel bad; and if they do nothing at all they almost always feel better after a while. In the meantime they pur- chase these advertised trinkets, and then give the triiihct the credit of the cure. Of course, we are a little ahead of th(> C'iiiuese. and the heathen with their signs and taboo, but I am sure that the large amotints of money that iiave been constantly paid for patent medicines, and, in fact, for almost all kinds of medicine, is a great mistake and a blunder. Peopl(> who take no medicine at all are just as well or better off. I wish those words of Dr. Holmes might be rung out over land and sea, until th(>y reach every household. A certain remedy or a certain doc- tor gets to be the rage, and nobody discovers that the whole thing was only a hallucination until thousands of dollars have been wasted and thrown away. Our friend touches on hoar- hound honey. Perhai)S he has not noticed that we have it for sale by the hundreds of pottnds. if wanted: and it is as strong of hoarhound as is hoarhound candy. To mo it is delicious with my bread and butter: but I have not a particle of faith that it has any remedial virtues what- ever: in fact. I can hardly believe that hoar- hound in any shape has any effect whatever on coughs and colds, but the hot water taken with it miiy have. Now. dear friends, it may be that I am going somewhat to extremes in this matter of medicine and remedies; but I think our intelligent readers must admit that there is at least a great amount of truth in my position. I do not mean to reflect on our regular physi- cians, for I believe that most of them under- stand me. and believe, at least to a great extent, just as I do. Take the advice of an intelligent and progressive physician of the present day. and von will not take very much metlicine. STRONG EVIDENCE FOE ONE AND THREE- EIGHTHS SPACING. TlIK TKSTIMOXY OF I'.AKOX UKIiLKI'SCII .\XI) OTIlKi: EMINKNT (iKIt.M AXS. I am glad to find that you give the matter of si)aced frames so much attention in your valua- l)le pajiei'. as I think' successful bee-lceeping de- mands a hrood-franie with tixi'd spaces. If so. we should ci-rtainly know the exact and right distance from center to center. Why the bee- keepei's of tills country differ so much yt-t in re- gard to tln> exact measure of spacing bi'ood- frames, I can not undei'stand. There is only one way to get this distance i-ight. It is. to lind how far th<' bees, \\hen left tu themselves, build their coml)s apart in the hrood-nest. About twenty years ago I settled this matter to my own satisfaction. I began by using a spaced frame of 1'.. inches from center to center, and found that distance too wide. At lliat time I used, in hiving natural swarms, only snuill starters in the frames, and 1 found the ))ees would, in building down their combs, invariably draw in the combs towai'd the center of the brood-nest, so that the lower part of tlu' comb would be built out of the frame. They would do so until 1 icduced the space so as to measiu'e only l-'s fr(mi center to center. As tiiis matter seems to me to be of great imi)ortanc<'. I will here quote from whom I believe to be the best authoi'ity on tln^ subject. The Baron von Her- lepsch. iii his iuie(|iniled work. Die Biciw mid ihre Zacht (The p,ee and its Culture), says: ■■ Dzlerzon, the inventoi- of the movable coml). gave IK; as the right distance, until Wiepi'echt* made exact nieasuremtMits on straw hives that were built out with straight coml)S. He found, that, although some variations were noticed, in 4!) measui'ements the average distance from center to center of combs was I-i^h inches. "The coi'rectness of this statement. I (von Ho'lepsch) can aflirm with the utmost certain- ty, as I, in company with Kalb.+ also nuule 4'.i measurements, the result being IfR inches as to the average distance." The (i(>rman foot is I4 inch longer than ours: therefore \{\. in. of l>('rlei)sch"s (iernuin mea- sure would he ('(pial to lU. or scant 1-*K. of our measure. But as the wood' of the frames will shrink, and also wear off some. I make the close-titting parts of my frames exactly l-'s wide, and 1 believe this to be the b(^st width. To mak(> the spaces more than 1'*m will l)e an- tagonistic to the nature and well-being of our bees. n we. for instance. S]jace th<' combs from cen- ter to center so as to meastire lli instead of \% inches, tli(>n we have an empty .space of % inch between two combs of brood instead of |. as it ought to be; and it will certainly re- quire more bees to lill and keep w arm a % than a i space. In a t-incli space, the breeding bees from two combs facing each other will join with theii- backs, and so close uj) the space be- tween the two brood-combs; if tliis sjjace is widened, however, to %. i\w bees can not do this, and 'more bees will be required to keep up the needed brooding temperature. What a drawback this would be in cool spring weather, wh(m our colonies are weak in numbei's yet, and breeding most desirable, can I'eadily be under- stood. My hives hold 11 brood-frames. If I siiace them ly, the bees would have to occupy an V" wide space of unnecessary and useless room between the brood-combs tlirongh the whole length and depth of the hive, as compared with 198-si)aced frames. Widei' spacing than \% will also favor and encourage the building of drone-cells and the raising of drones. In conclusion I will say. Use spaced frames, and have them not more than I^^h apart from centei- to c<'nter. .TxTLH-s Hoffman. Canajoharie. \. V., Aug. 23. :Many thanks, friend 11. The evidence that you present out of your long and exttMided ex- perience, for \'*H spacing, seems to me to be con- vincing. At first I thought Natiu-e was against us in urging 1% inches; but I am veiy glad to believe that she is on our side, although my good friend Doolittle may argue that she is on his side. If tiie lie(>-keepers ultimately adoi)t. fixed distances it is highly imi>ortiint thai this distance be settled accurately in the lirsl place. Berleijsch (whose most valuable researches we *A iiotod bee-l«'epcr and wiiter.— .1. H. +A prominent bee-kecixT. 674 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. value so highly), as we well know, was very careful ill his experiments, and his conclusion can not be liglitly esteemed. Unless some one else shall bring some incontrovertible evidence to the coiitraiy, let us consider 1% s]jaclng as the right distance for the average bee-keeper. Peihaps I should remark that friend Hoffman preparc^d the article above in response to my request made to him in person while I was vis- iting at his home. In my Notes of Travel I will give an account of my visit to his place later. Eunest. ZINC QUEEN-EXCLUDERS. TP:STIM<)NI.\I, FItOM A f'AIJFOIiXI.V APIA HIST. 1 have taken so much comfort with my 450 zinc (|uecii-excludei's this season. I am sure it \\ill be doing my iiciglibors a kindness to tell them how they work. My lii\es. and. in fact, nearly all the hives in Ventura County, are made witii a bee-space in the bottom and top of botli sui)er and brood -cliamber. wliich. when the supi'ris on. h'aves 'j of an inciis)ja,c(' lie t ween the sup<'r and the liiood-fi-ames. I have always thought tliis a mistake: but wlien I liegan to think of using queen-excluders. I saw that, if a plain unbound zinc excluder, the size of the out- side of the hive, were laid on the brood-chamber, and the super on the excluder, the bee-spaces would be all right. I ordered 480 of Root's No. 1 unbound zinc excluders, large enough to tit my hives. I think No. 1 the best, because they allow the bees to pass up and down more freely than the break-joint excluders. After trying 4."')0 of these unliound excluders one season, I am satistied tliat they ;ire better ill e\-ery way than the lioiind excluders. Tli(^su])eriseasi]y lifted olT the zinc. and. by taking liold of one end of the zinc and pulling up and out. they can be jieeled off almost like cloth; and if they bend a little, just turn them upside down when you jiiit- tiiem on again. I bought the excluders because I had a good main' drone combs in my siijiers: but I would not do without them now. if my sujier combs were all work(>r size. It makes a fellow- feel good to o]jen a suiter just before swai'ming conimences. and find about a square foot of drone comb all cleaned up for tlu' (lueeii to lay in. It is ever so much nicer to fool thi' bees in this way than to shav<' the heads off the drones. You don't always get around in time to shave the drones' heads off. and what a lot of honey is wasted in rearing tliem! When you havt' no excluder on a ten-frame L. hive, the bees will till about 7 ctmibs in the brood-chamber with brood, and tluui run it uj) ill the su|)er instead of (illiiigtlie brood-chamber clear across. This brood in the sup(>r is a great nuisance when you are extracting. In ("alifornia we leave our suix'is on all the year niuiid; and if the super is full of honey in the spring, the bees will build up fastei' than they woidd if the hive were contracted, .\nother point I did not nongh to trouble seriously. If I had my choice, how- evi'r. I would have the perforations iVki of an inch wide, instead of i^*^. I have been experi- menting by putting queens in a little box, and covei'iiig it overwith different sizes of perforated zinc. I found but few (lueeiis tluit would crawl through the j^;^-, perforations, but could not find any small enough to go through the -jVn, and I could not see that it made any difference to workers. It is easier to take honey out of a super if you have a qneen-exclnder under it, because the bees do not build so many brace-combs below the super combs. Other large bee-keepers around here are experimenting with them, and I think all the progressive ones, Mr. Mercer in- cluded, will soon have them on all theirextract- ing hives. Nearly every bee-keeper who comes here and sees how they work, says, "I wish I had them in my apiary." J. F. McIntyke. Fillmore, Cal.. Sept. 1, 1890. You have given us .some valuable testimony, friend M.. for the perforated zinc for extracting. This and the bee-escape promise to work al- most a revolution in the methods of producing extracted honey. You are exactly right, friend M., as to the size of the perforated zinc. By careful experiments which we have been mak- ing, we decided that iV^ was correct. Before us is some of Dr. Tinker's beautiful zinc, and it is a pleasure to us to say that his zinc so far stands at the head. By carefully measuring, we find that the width of his perforations strikes j^n'^ exactly. The fact that all three of us arrived at this conclusion independently — you in California, and two of us in Ohio — makes the evidence almost conclusive that i^ must be cori'ect. We are at work on a new set of dies. They are to be gaugiKl to this size as nearly as the best machinei'y can be made to do it. Mr. Alvah Washburn, who made the original comb- mills, and who. in fact, has done all our fine work, is to make the dies, and we hope ere long to have a zinc that no queen will go through. Our old zinc measures about ^fa. and that is the r(^ason why we change. t^uite incidentally, friend M.. you mention anothei' point. In a Langstroth hive, you say bees will fill seven frames of brood, and then go into the supei- instead of filling out the brood-chamber cleai' across. That is just the reason why I advise everybody to use the eight- frame hive. In the name of common sense, why have a hive any larger than the average brood-nest? We want the bees to fill the brood- chamber entirely with brood, or very nearly so; and then if they are able to get any honey we want to compel them to put it just where u'e want it— in the supers. E. R. GOLDENROD. !KKS AHK .irST " WIIOOl'ING VV HONEY FUOM IT IX MICIIKJAX. Our aged friend . I. L. Davis, of Holt, Mich., onc(^ said to me: " I am very fortunate in the large marsh" which extends" for some distance in front of his house. Many people would not apiireciate readily the wisdom of this remark. A marsh for a dociryard and constant outlook is not generally among the aspirations of those lesthetically inclined. But should such a one visit friend Davis at this season, and look out 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 675 upon his Held of autmiiii l)lo()in. with tlic fjold- enrod predominatiiijr. lie would liardly criticise our venorabie f'ricml. cNcn from tlie staudijuint of icstlietics. But ;ostli('tics was not in our friend's mind: lie was thinking of honey and his pocket-boolv. and well might he: for. many a yeai- his chief honey product luis l)een from these same au- tumn flowers. Friend Root, you and I have picttu'i'd to our- selves tlie joy wliicli must come to the desert pilgrim as iu' comes to an oasis. AVell, that is the jNIicliigan liee-kee|)er"s condition just now. who has a wealth of autumn bloom to draw upon. Our bees liave been idle tlie whole sea- son till now, when they are just •■whooping it up" as our boys say. VVe can snudl the honey in the <'vening for lods from the ajnary. I wisii. ]Mr. Editoi'. any skeptics on tin' mat- ter of goldenrod as a honey-plant might visit me now. Our bees an- just swarming on it. Yesterday I saw asters, 'goldenrods. bom^sets, and tlie tall sunflowers jusi alive with liees. I have never seen bees very much on the snn- tlowers {Hel iaiitli us}. -diKl so I was veiy inucli inUn'ested in this observation, ^\e tind the bees are not working much on the buckwheat. It may be because they i)refer the autiiinn flowers. If this is the explanation, we are glad of tiieii' jiicference. as we iirefer the goldenrod to the l)uckwheat honey. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College,' Mich. We are very glad indeed, friend Cook, to know that we are going to have some honey, even if it does come at the eleventh hour. 00^ QaEg3Fi@j\[.B@^, With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. (^I'KSTiox 1(J8. — / icdilt to start (uf (i}(t-laci'. It is a ver.\ short job to block the frames perfectiv secure. Ohio. N. W. II. R. HOAKDMAN. If I were hauling mv colonies I should lake care to have my flames stationary. A device such as we us(> for shipping bees. ])laced on top of the frames, at the front and back, ki'eping them apart, is sufticieiit. and is easily put on and taken off. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MiTH. I liav(> a hori'or of tixed fraines. and therefore advis<> the (luestioner to do a pile of thinking about other devices tirst. Perhaps for that style of gipsy l3(>e-keeping that keeps coiitiiiu- ally roving about, tixed frames mav be best. Ohio. N. W. E." E. Hasty. I would advise you to use my patented hive. There are two reasons why I riiight giv(> such advice — one that I am dealing in them, and tlie^ other that I think it to be the best for the pur- pose you mention and every otiiei'. I leave you to decide from which I gather my insijiratioii. Michigan. S. W. James 1Ii.;i)I)ox. Fve used movable frames a quarter of a cen- tury, and they have always been movahle. I never tried a tixed frame, and it seems to me I should feel hamjM'red with them. Still, in liauling, a hive W(nild he more movalile if the frames were immovable. If a somewhat exact distance is required to avoid brace-combs, tixed distances mav become a iiecessitv. Illinois. X. C. C. .Mii.i.Ki!. That depends upon w liether you handle your coiubs and bees or not. If you manipulate your combs as I do. I answer, no. but have spacers to apply when liauling. IJutifyoudo not over- haul yoiii' bees occasionally it is well enough to have the combs at tixed distances, or. what woukl lie as well, nail them (low n with lO-pen- iiy nails: or. what would be cheaper still, use old-fashioned box hives or log gums. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. That depends. If the frames are fastened to the (piilt or honey-board by the bees, and you use a spring wagon. I should say no. If a wag- on without springs is used, and six or eight inches of straw is placed under the hives, and care is exercised in driving, there will be no need of fastening the frames. I have taken them in the last way ten miles, and not a frame liroke loose. Ohio. N. \V. A. K. Masox. Yes. I would advise you to adopt (oi'. better yet. invent) some simjile (le\ice for holding the sus|)eiided frame when mo\ing: and if patented I should like an interest in it to the exti'iit of one individual right, for it has lieen a great bothei- to me to fasten frames wlien moving. If I could have tlii' (^iiinby closed-end in moving, and the (Jallui) after they were moved, I should lie suited: tnit I doiTt know of any sleight-of- hand whereiiy I coukl change them at will. Wisconsin. S. AV. S. I. Fkkkbohx. All the fi'ames of our liives have a space-wire to ke(^p them separated at the bottom, thus: / \ / \ — / \ — / \ — susjiended frames are glued to the rabbets, we haul our bees from one apiaiy to another, when necessary', without any other de\ice. //( spi-ijKj. Hut we would iiol liaiil them in the fall, when the combs are full of honey, without lixing tliem by small wire nails half driven in the arms. See pages KIT. 1(W. of oiii' book. Illinois. X. W. Dadaxt i<; Sox. If it is necessary to haul i>ees to and from the out-apiary I should t).v all iNeaiis adopt a close- litting vn(\ frame of some kind. We are just moving aiiout-a|)iary in which half of the hives liave closed-end frames, the others hanging. The closed-end frames can be jirepared in a minute without opening the hive. Tlii' loose frame re(iuii<'S any amount of tinkering and waste of time. Ifloo.se frames are used I should certainly apply some of the many devices for keening them at lixed distances. .\ny device 676 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Skpt. tliiit is to be pill into tiie hive and taken out again is a nuisance, and liable to get lost or brolcen. New Voik. E. 11amhi>ki!. For a hanging frame we don't use any thins to keej) the frames at fixed distances. Any de- vice to Iveej) tlie frames at lix(Ml distances would necessitate a movable side to tlie hive, ^^'hen we move bees in tlu' L. frames, ^\•e lay a piece of our frame timber f?& x y» flatwise across the ends of the frames, and drive 3 or 4 wire 4-i»enny miils down through the piece and the frame hi-low. intollie ratibetsof the lii\'e. Tiiat will liokl tlie frames secure. Tiien confine the bees as you please, and go ahead. Wisconsin. S. W. E. Fjjanck. No. I \\'ould secure witii staples across tfie center of the bottom-board a jiiece of No. l:.' wire, bent like a worm \ A A A A fence, or thus: This \—/\ — /\ — /\_/\- interferes but little in setting the frames in the hives, and previ'uts the swaying motion in hauling. Then I would keep a set of notched strips of tough wood the length of the width of the hive, }4 inch wide by % inch deep, cutting the notches 3'2 inch deej): place these down on each end of the top-bars whil(> luiuling. thus: Frames are tlius sjjaced and I — i — \ — \ — f-] — I — [— 1 Stationai'y. but fi'ee when ' wanted so. California. S. R. Wilkin. I am surprised to note that so many recognize the need of something to hold the frames at flxed distances. It is true, in some localities, hanging frames can be hauled without fixing; but even then, the hives must be on springs or loose straw, and, wo;'se than all, slow and care- ful driving is necessary. We have tried it. and know. Another thing, there are localities where hanging frames could not be hauled without fixing. See Notes of Travel at El- wood's, elsewhere in this number. If fixed frames, or, if you choose, closed-end frames, can be manipulated as rapidly and as easily as the hanging frame, why bother with the latter? Note particularly what Rambler says, and also what is said elsewhere, regarding the ra])idity with which Elwood handles closed-end Quinby frames. E. R. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, MIfllKiAN HEE-KEEI'EHS STATE MEETIXCi. I wish early to call attention to the Michigan State Association, which holds its next meeting on New Year's day at the city of Di'troit. It will be remembered that the Detroit meeting of tlie National Association was one of the best cts. returned, on account of clubbing with (Jleanings. This was alto- gether luiexpected. Is the inclosed sample of onr most productive honey - jjlants in this vicinity the si)ider-plant. illustrated on page ?,"):'. of said book? You will see that it differs soinewiiat. as this has only tlire<' leaves on a stem, and the .seed-pods all hang down, even \\'hen vei'y small; and instead of the flowers opening alxmt sunset they are open all day and covered with bees the whole day long; and in- stead of from 12 to ;.'() flower-stalks to each Ijlant, I should say from on(> to two hundred. The small stalk that I picked this sample from had 57 more like it, and is only about two feet high, while there are thousands of them from five to six feet high on high gi'ound. with no water. There is one peculiarity about the plant that you do not mention, which makes me think that they are not identical. This ])]anl with us is .something like the bee, being very sentnd R.. the plant you send is not the spi- der-plant, as you suppose, but only a near rel- ative. The spider-plant is Cletnnn Intajrifolia, while this is the Rocky Mountain bee-plant, or Clroinii piiiKjeiis. The flowei' of the spider- lrtV»U L.LEA.N1N(..:S IN 15EK CI LTL'UK. (,77 j)laiit is \('ry luiu-li lai'ii:i'f: besides it tliflVrs in otlifr ways. As ihey so strikingly fcseiiible each otlier they are often confused. Whih' the spidor-plant bears transplanting as well as a tomato, the Rocky Mountain bee-plant is very touchy, and it must 1)0 handled in transplant- ing with the greatest care, or it droops and dies at once. I have before noticed the sensi- tive peculiarity you bring out so vividly. It .seems to be one of the high-toned plants. I'rof. Cook has already tested it as a honey-plant by the acre: but it does not take as kindly to our soil and locality as it does with you. We shall be glad of any information as to the quality and quantity of honey it produces in its native wild. Some of tln^ seed-catalogues have been giving it an und<>served boom, under another name. ASAFirriDA TO STOP iiOHHi:i! ui;i-:s. I have used it two or three seasons, and tind it good, that is, on colonies that rob through a poor honey-t1ow. They go in and out without being detected. I had one colony that was going it strong this season: but after a o-cent cake of asafetida 'liad been on their bottom-board 1;.' hours they were challenged as soon as they en- tered a hive: and as they could not give the Ijassword they were soon ejected or killed. Their perfumery gave them away. SAMt'i<:i, Heath. Tidal, Pa., Aug. :.'3. 18<.)0. I am not surjirised at the result of your ex- periment, friend H. Asafetida has so pro- nounced an odor that it enabled the bees to tell their friends from their enemies without trying very hard. IIOXEV FItO.M TlIK f'OTTOX-PI-A\T. I have been out jx-ddling hon(>y to-day. T sold $27.00 worth at 11 cts. I send yoii a small sample of it. The sample is cotton honey: that is. it is from that source. In examining your A H C in regard to honey-plants you say notliing about honey from cotton. My bees made:.' lbs. per day for two weeks from cotton. I could give you an idea as to all of our honey-plants, but probably with no interest to you. I shall get about rib lbs. of surplus, on an averag?. from mv bees. .1. F. TioKi,. Ehnont, Texas, A\ig. 15, ISW. The sample of honey received compares favor- ably with clover honey, both in flavor and color, and is much above the averag(> (piality of southern honey. TOMATO .H'lfK K(>I{ l'l!()I'( »IJS. There is one thing I have just discovered that I never knew before, and that by accident. I had been taking off honey, and had my hands well stuck up with piopolis. As I had some tomatoes that needed lixing up I got some of the juice of the \ini'S on my hands. When I came t(t wash, and rub soap on my haufls. the propolis came off in a hui'i'v. If I had knosMi that years ago it wouki have savi'd me mucii trouble. .JAI'ANIOSK HlfKWIIICAT FOR IIONKV f'OMI'A ItKI ) WITH fOMAfON. I wish t(j wi'iti' a woi-d about buckwheat, as this is a buckwheat section, i^ast year there was some of the .lapanese buciy have filled their Inood-chambers to running o\('r. and thesnpi'i's have cauglit lots of it. I tool< off the supers that were full atiout a month ago, and supposed the season to be over as usual: but the bees refused to stop storing, and went up under the covers: and before I found them at it th(>y had built several pounds of honey in some of the hives. I i)ut the T supers on. and the bees seem to be hajipy. The honey this year is mixed with honey-dew, but the bees winti'r nicely on it here, and it will save feeding — a thing I have had to do for sev- eral years. S. S. L.\wixg. HendeiS)n. Mo., Aug. 28. 1890. Friend L., you also point a good moral. Keep ail eye on your bees, and see what they are about: even if they haven't done a thing for weeks, they need watching all the same. THE HOT W.VVE IX CAIJFOKXIA. In my last statistical I'eport. dated .Inly:.'."), I stated that the prospect for an average crop was excelhuit. The hot wave had then just reached us, but I did not at the time suspect its tiltimate effect. A few days after, the honey- flow stopped: and although the alfalfa has been in bloom during the whole of August, not a ])ouiid has been stored since the lirst week of this numth. The bees seem to be getting bare- ly enough for tlu>ir own use. My scales have lost a trifle in weight. The croj) will, tlu-re- fore, be considtM'ably shorter than expected. Much of the honey is dark, presumably from buckwheat-brush, gathered between the lirst and s(>cond blooming of the alfalfa. Wm. M ith-Kasmissex. Indep:'ndence. C;il.. Aug. ".".i. irALlAXS lTL!,lX(i rilKOfOH WIIEUE MLACKS ST.VIiVi:. ]Many ueigli'mrs in the Osagi' River region lust nearly half their swarms (blacks) from starvation and moths flnring the July and .\u- gu-*t drouth. Now that smartweed (or lady- tingei') and Spanish ne(>dh' are coming into lilooni. the surs'iving swarms are doing well. The swarms lo-;t were in old-fashioned liox hives, without frames. The few swarms I hav(^ (Italians) in Siin|)licity hives, pulled through the drouth nicely on a local siipnly of late- blooming sumac and buckiiush. Tney are just now making must of tlieir lutiiey from .lapan- ese buckw heal bloDiii. LfCTi's lioss. Connelv. Mo.. .Se|)t. 1. 67« GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sei't, ^EP0R¥f5 Dipc0ai^;«6iN6. IIOXEY CKOr A FAITA'HK IN NEIUJASKA. Tlie honey crop in this county Is an entire failure. All bees here will have to be fed for winter. W. V. At,i-ex. Rising Citv. Neb.. Aug. '.>. KS'.K). HONEY CROP ,WII-E HE VE1{V SMAI.E. The honey crop heiv is going to be very small, as the clover and bass\\()od are gone, and no surplus n\) to this date. IJut little buckwheat raised around lieic Lewis H. Kni'dson. St. Ansgar. la.. .'\ug. 4. ONLY ILT) EHS. FHOM 35 STOCKS. Put me down ann)ng the Reports Discourag- ing— 1:.'5 lbs. of honey from 35 stands, and some of them in poor shape t'oi' winter. I will not quit for one crop like tliat. It would take two or three like it. P. C. Ciiadwkk. Loi'ing. Kas.. Sej)!. 7. A POOR season; 10 I.BS. PEK COLONY. This has been a poor year for bees. They have not increased much, and som<> not any. and the honey is in about tiie same proj^ortion. I think it will average 10 lbs. jjcr colony, and the increase was about one in 10 all through the county. A. E. Bi!.\i)F(>m). Hammond. Wis.. Aug. s. bees have done pooiu.v am, the season. Bees have done jjoorly all the season, barely making a good living. Tiu>y killed off their drones in June, and there was no swarming to amount to any thing. I had four colonies in the spring: and of these, two cast two swarms each, making four all told. Two haven'tswaiin- ed yet. W. J. McAdams. Western. Neb., Aug. 38. POOR FOR IOAV.\. This has been oui' poorest season for honey so fai' for four years. Since basswood, bees have hardly made a living. We have so far taken about 5 or (5 cwt. of comb and 45 gals, of extract- ed honey. But as the old adage says. "It is an ill wind that l)lows nolxxly good." What little honey there is will bring a Ix'tter i)i-ice. E. R. A. l>R.\iNAin). Postville, la., Aug. l:.'. 181)0. POOR SEASON; RECORD OF SC.VLE HIVE. This has been a poor season foi' bees in this section. I have a scale hive which gained, .June (i to July hi, 30 lbs.; July Ki to 36. it went back 5 lbs. Our only hope now is buckwheat, of which there is a great amount. Tlie earliest pieces are already in full l)loom. Not one swarm in ten threw off new ones. I wintered 18, and got only one. The new hives may be useful next year. L. M. C.\'rpenter. Blooming Valley, Pa.. July 37. POOR CROP IN KANS.\S. Gee.\nin(is comes regularly, and I can say it does not come too often foi' me. I have received many good hints from it. It has been so dry in this part of Kansas this year that the bees will have hard work to lay by tlieii- winter stores. I have taken 4}^ lbs. of comb honey from one hive, and that is all I exjx'ct to g(>t this year. Tiie jiound of bees and tlie queen we purchased of you in May are now a strong colony; and if it had been a good honey season we might have liad two or tlire(> colonies more just as strong. Burlingame, Kan. Ernest (J. Terry. EAST YEAR. :')000 lbs.: THIS YE.VR, ONLY 300 l.ns. OF HONEY. I had 3(XH) lbs. of honey last year, but this year it looked favorable in tlie spring up till the mid- dle of June. Since then it has been very dry. I have taken only 300 lbs. so far. Biighton, la., Aug. 9. W. A. Shafnit. HONEY season SHORT. The summer honey season is over, and a very short one it was. I had 13 colonies, spring count, and have (extracted 300 lbs., and increased to 38 by dividing. I haven't had a swarm tiiis year. My bees are good and strong, and we hope to get a good fall crop. J. H. Hiee. Venice, Fla., Aug, 35. pool! HONEY season; BLACKS BETTER TII.\N ITALIANS. This is a very poor honey season. Bees have not swarmed in some places, and have not even gone up into the ni)per hives. My blacks have done better than Italians this year. I noticed in June there was a great slaughter among the drones, which will teach us hereafter what the harvest will or ougiit to be. Peosta, la., Aug. (>. Mrs. J. H. Allison. SHORT CROP. BUT 30 LBS. PER COIiONY. My sections came in time for th(\ basswood tlow. which was late. It commenced Jidy 30th, and lasted for three \\'eeks, Tli(» flow- was very light, about 30 lbs. per colony. There was no siH'plus honey from clover in this vicin- ity this yeai'. The prospect of a fall flow is good if the weather holds favorable. As there seems to be a shoi'tage all over the country, those who have a little will probably receive a good price. Frank Ditrand. Esdaile. Wis., .\ng. 11. CI,OVER A.NI) BASSWOOD POOI{, BX"r StTMAC good: SCALE hive; II4 lbs. per i).a.y. The honey crop is rather light. There was and is tiie most white clover I ever saw. and the fewest be(»s on it. Basswood did not blossom much, and yi(>lded scarcely any honey. The only plant that seemed to give a full crop was sumac, and 714 lbs, per day has been the best done by the swai'm on the scales (extracting) this y('ar. My b(>st hive (Italian), which was run for coml) hoiu'y. has filled 130 sections, 414x434 xlfl. Anotlu'r has filled 73, and are at work on 34 more, while about a dozen hives have done nothing in the sections, I have secui but 5 new swarms fi'om my 50 hives. Buck- wheat is in bloom, and bees are killing their drones. Too dry. C. Vt. I).\RLiNr. No more blacks for me. I expect to have to feed all my colonies an average of 10 lbs. each to carry them over until October, when our fall flow comes. This is somewhat discouraging. But I have not lost my faith in the business. I am at work now- getting out hives, supers, etc.. preparing to start two out-apiaries another spring. I believe in having every thing ready before it is wanted. I have had some experience in this line the past season. Arthur F. Brown. Iluutington. P'la.. Aug. 8. IHOO GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. (m HOXKY fJ!01' EXf'KLI.EXT. The lioiicy crop is cxcoUcnt in Quality, aiul fair ill (luaiitity. P^roiii .">4 stoc'lr c(>iit iiici'ease of b(>es. At times we have more increase of Ikmvs and less honey. Elsiiiore. I'tali. Julv :.'8. N. H. "Hai.dwin. A I5I<; llOXEV YIKI-I) Tins SEASON IX TEXXESSEE. We .have had a big honey yield this season. I find in some of my hives (aiul it has continued so foi' many months) many bees almost jx'rfectly lilack. and others almost pure Italians, seem- ingly the progeny of th(> same ([ueen. Is not •this contrary to tlieorv? .Iames A. IjYox. Clarksville. Teiiii.. Sei)t. 4. No: hybrids are often marked that way. A (iOOt) YIELD FKOM BASSWOOI) AXI) CLOVEK. In this locality my bees have had plenty of clover and basswood to work ni)on: four swarms liave stoi-ed. in :.'-lb. sections. :.'t;o lbs. This I took off at the end of the basswood flow. They are now at work upon biickw heat. Only one increase from these four swarms. Union City. Mich., Aug. :iS». S. D. Buell. A SMALL CHOP. BUT THE HONEY GOES OFF I>IKE HOT CAKES. This has not been an extra year in honey. 'Our ci'op was about , to sell this yeai'. We had only six or seven swarms. We do not expect to get any surplus this fall, as buckwheat will be a poor crop. Hell L. Dtncan. Black Lick, Fa., Aug. .'.'1. MEHCEK's .SCAI,E-IIIVE liEPOKT FOU 18iK). Inclosed you will find a report of my scale hive. This" is the same one that was on the ■scales last year, with the same queen. It did inot swarm," neither had it any h(dp from any APRIL. Gain in Pounds. May. Gain in Pounds. 16 2 15 12 16 i^ 16 16 17 1 17 18 18 0 18 10^ 19 K 19 lit 20 0 20 6-X 21 1 21 Fog— exfd BSlbi. ■22 4 22 8« ■23 4 23 13><; ^U 4 24 10 26 7!^ 25 10 26 *M 26 4-fog. 27 7 27 0-fog. 28 6 28 0— fog 29 Cold, foggy. Loss 1}^ 29 VA 30 Cold, foggy. Loss 1 30 8 May. 31 3K 1 6K 2 6k4 JUNB. 3 8 1 7M 4 6— ext'd 56K It's. 2 6-X 5 10 3 1^2 6 Fog. Loss 1 4 9 7 LobS IK 5 10— east wind. 8 bH 6 6 9 0 7 2 10 3'4 8 4 11 11 9 4 12 12 10 4J^— ext'd 59 lbs. 13 16K 11 2 U 12-ext'd 68 lbs. 12 ■X month. The hive weighed, when taken oft' the scales. July :.'0. 115 lbs. It is an ordinary S- frame L. iiive, with supers, each holding 7 frames. L. K. Meucek. Ventura. Cal.. Sept. :.*. HOXEY-FLOW (iOOl). The bees in this county nearl\' forgot to swarm this season. They were (|uit<' backw ard until the 15th of .luni'. when they commenced to work. The honey-flow is good, but the bees are so cross we can hardly get along with them. If you can assign any reasons for their doing .so when the |)asture is good. I should be pleased to hear from yon. .\. .1. ]{kll. Logan City, Utah. Aug. 13. 1890. Friend H.. the only reason lean give is. that the weather was cold, or else the pasturagi^ was not very good. Total,. TOl lbs. other hive. After June \:l they continued to gatherfrom H to :i lbs. per day for about one SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT. AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. That art on whiih a thousand millions of n\en are dependent for their sustenance, and two hundred millions of men expend their dail.y toll, must lie the most iiujiortant of ,-ill— the parent and precursor of all other arts. In cvrrv odiiutry thi'U and at every period, the investigation i>f tlie jivinciples on which the rationalpracticeof this art is founded ij\it;ht to h.nve command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds. James F. W. Johnston. USIXG CLOTH IN PLACE OF GLASS Foi; HOT- BEDS. COLD-FHAMES, ETC. A good many are making inquiries in regard to this matter, and they come to me. as I have had exijerience. At jiresent we have only one; bed covered with cloth: and if the money we liave expended in cloth frames had been put in glass sash I should have been very much better ideased. They answer very well in the fall and sijring to keep oft' frost, but for the snows of winter they do not answer at all. Suppose your cloth frames are covered with six inches of snow, converted into slush with a di'enching rain. Under such circumstances the glass k(H'ps its place all right, and is not haniu'd by the wet or dampness: but the cloth is soon made useless. Another thing, the cloth fiaines blow around unless fastened down, and this one thing has disgusted me with them. It is true. I might make tiiem as heavy as one of tlie glass frames: but if I am going to do that. I think I should i)ut in glass and have something sub- stantial, and good for a lifetime, if properly taken care of. It is true, cloth frames are light to handle, and can be cheaply made, but they do not begin to keep out fro.st like tight, well- made sash. I have thought sev(>ral tinn^s of having a cold-frame on the south side of some building, then have a cloth frame hinged on the north side, so it can be raised up and fast- ened against the building. This would kee]) it from blowing away, when they are down over the plants, or fastened up against the building, and might answer a very good puri)os(^ in the spring and fall. One fiieiid asks if there is any thing new that I have learned about green lioii.ses. Not much, unless it be this: We want a greeniiouse so as to get every bit of sunshine possit)le. It should hav(^ a locality where neither trees nor build- ings an^ going to obstruct the rays of the sun in the winter time. After we have secured ev(!ry l)article of sunshine ])ossible, from sunrise to sunset, then I would make pr'ovision for .secur- ing the rains from above. Removing the sash, and letting the gentle rain come right down on the plants, is the l)est remedy that I know of for insects or disease. Besides thi.s, if w<' wish 680 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept, to pusli things in tlic wintci' tiine, of course we want to kcc]) tlicni warm, l^'or this ])ni'])oso I am rather inclined to st(nim-i)i|)es. Som(>body asks how flat it \\U\ do to liave tlie glass. lii hotbeds and cold-frames the sasli are often so near level that there is only just incline enough for the water to run off. This is bad. however, late ill tli(^ spring, when the sun comes nearly straight down, for the heat at noonday is tre- mendous if you forget to move the sash or open the ventilators. Houses running north and south, with pitch enough to the roof so the sun"s rays can pretty nearly go straiglit thi'ough. morning and evening, give better results. In this case, when the heat is most inten.se about noon, the rays strike tlie glass at an angle. This equalizes the heat, giving us most of the sun's power morning and evening, and less at noon time. A more perfect arrangement would be to have one side of the house fronting tlie southeast, so the sun would shine straight through the glas.s. say at eight or nine o'clock in the morning; then have another side front- ing the soHthivcst. so as to have the same con- dition at three or four in the afternoon, and we should have it. Now. if these two sashes can be arrang(>d so as to s\\ing clear olT against a couple of posts, to catch the rain wh(>never it comes, it would be my ideal of a greenliou.se. A roof nearly flat .saves glass: for the same number of squar(> feet of glass will cover more square feet of plant-beds on a level, or nearlv level, than auv other wav. MOSS FOH PACKING PLANTS, fOVEKIXG SEEDS, ETC. Friend Root. -—If you are in want of moss, or should be any time in the future, write me for prices, as I think I can do better by you than heretofore: or I will refer yon to other parties whom I have encouraged to gather a supply, thinking it would sell, thereby helping the party to add to his not over-large income. I have (of course) a desire to gather money when the opportunity offers, but I can be charitable only on a small scale, because of mv circum- stances: but I will do what I can. Krumroy, O., Sept. 8. , C. H. Welch. The above conies from a friend who furnish- es us our moss for packing strawberry-plants, covering seeds, and other work in gardening. We purchased 40 barrels of him last spring, and it answers the purpose the best of any thing we ever got hold of. Now, my reasons for publish- ing the above letter are to call attention to the fact that this moss may be found in many swamps and marshes, and should be utilized. It has been advertised in some of our seed cata- logues as high as oO cents a peck. As it can. however, be compressed intoa very small space, it seems hardly fair to sell it by the peck or bushel; and as it usually contains more or less moisture, it can not well be sold by the pound. I would suggest, however, that, in order to save transportation charges, it be dried in tlie sun. It may then be S(>nt chea]ily by mail, freight, or exi)ress. The purchaser can moisten it to his liking. A pound of perfectly dried moss will go a great way, and makes quite a bulk: but in order to let you see what it looks like, and to start a traffic, we will offer it until further notice, at .'> cents per lb. If wanted by mail, add 16 cents for postage. Very likely some one can undersell me. In fact, T should like to see the price go down to a cent a pound' or less. But in our competition we should be- careful to send a good clean article. Some- time ago I purchased several barrels of peat and moss from Barnegat jMoss Co., Barnegat,- N. J. It was raked uj) without any sifting oi- sorting. some of the barrels even containing sticks a foot long. I wrote them, remonstrat- ing; but all the satisfaction I received was that they sent me just such as they sent to* everybody else. I notice that Mr. E. L. Roser. of Brittain. Summit Co., O., at the end of his- strawberry circular, advertisers it by the barrel! for $1.10. It is not only valuable to plant-rais- ei's. but where it is very plentiful it is the nicest- thing for bedding horses ever discovered, as it absorbs all the liquid manure, and the resulting compost is the nicest thing for greenhouses or- plant-gardens that can be imagined. You can. work it all up fine, and mix it with the dirt without any fermenting, or rotting at all. Our fri(Mid Eugene Davis, who gave us the Grand Rapids lettuce, says there is nothing better for raising lettuce in greenhouses than fresh horse manure broken up tine, and raked into the soil. Now to start this moss industry going, we will. In our next issue, give the names and addresses free of all those who are prepared to furnish- dried moss at 5 cents jier lb., and damp moss at a dollar a barrel, or less jirices if they choo.se. PLANTIN(i STKAWBEUP.IES IN THE FAEI,. Bro. Root: — One of your advertisers says: "Now is the time to set strawberries for next year's fruiting." Fiddlesticks! Everybody who makes a business of raising strawberries for market knows bettei' than to set tiii' plants in September for next year's ci'op; but tliose who have had no experience may be misled by such statements. Of course, if anybody wants to set a few plants in the garden by way of experi- ment, or simply for amusement or recreation, tlii're is not much harm done; but it is not right, according to my way of thinking, to induce people to plant strawberries in the fall, with the expectation of marketing a paying crop the following season. I could furnish you a nice lot of Haverland jilants: but as my experience would not justify me in planting so late in the season, I will not sell any plants for fall planting, even if our honey crop is a total failure, and I must wear my old coat a year longer. S. P. Yodek. East Lewistown, O., Sept. 8. Friend Y., you are, in the main, right. A person with little experience in strawberry cul- ture certainly should not set out a very large extent of ground at a?* y time of the year, un- less he has some old hand to guide him. Of course, there may be exceptions, but this is the- rule. Notwithstanding this, however, a skillfut and experienced niark(>t-gardener can put out half an acre in August or even September, and get a partial crop next season. By the aid of the trans|)lanting-tubes, if he has the plants on his own premises, or. say, if he can get them a few miles from his home, so he can go after them with a wagon, he can put them out in September or Octobei'. and have almost every 1H90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 681 plant live. Of c()uis(\ where we set out plants as late as Oetob<'r. they are to be treated as spring-set i)lants. The principal advantage will be, that you can do it oftentimes when you have more leisure. xVnother thing, there will then be no difficulty about getting in your plants early enough. We have i)ut out strawberry-plants by taking up a lump of dirt with them, when we could not go to work in the morning liecause the ground was frozen. Toward noon it would soften up enough so that we could dig so as to put the plants in. These plants bore .some fruit next year. I do not think we can too stiongly emphasize the advice given, of starting small and enlarging as you acquire experience. The beginnei' will very soon know what he can do. without asking anybody. He should, however, avail himself as much as possible of the expeji- ence of others around him. But as soils, local- ities, and circumstances always differ, theie is nothing like getting acquainted with youi' ow n surroundings. The earnest worker will soon get all these things under his tliumb, as it were. We received :.*.iO() Haverlands about ten days ago. Most of them \\ere put in our plant-beds, about six inches apart. We shall not use them to fill orders until they have made new roots and new foliage, and are nice strong plants. The most of the plants that we are selling and putting ujj now are in lots of from 2r> to ,50. We get a few orders for a hundred; but the great bulk of our business in jjlants is for lots of ten — sometimes only tive; that is. ten plants of each kind of all we raise, nuiking forty in all. These, of course, are for garden culture, and probably few if any of our readei-s will make a failure in this line. Next season they will have plants of theii- o\\'n raising, to i)ut in the field if they like. Later. — Since the above was written, our boys have initout a strawberry-patch for my daugh- ter, Mrs. Calvert, and another for my wife's sister. Mrs. Harrington. They were i)iit out Saturday. Sept. fi. As I was very busy I did not superintend tiie work at all. The boys took them out of our i)lant-beds, and carried them across the road, and i)ut them in mellow soil prepared according to my direction. Tlun' did not even use the transplanting-tubes. To-day. September 15, just nine days after, every plant out of the 600 (they had 300 apiece) is growing, and many of them are putting out runners. They look as fresh and bright, apparently, as those that have not been moved at all. Of course, we have had a very wet rainy si)ell; but such spells frequently happen in September. Now, these two strawberry-patches are going to bear a pretty good crop next season. I a)u sure of it. because I have had berries from plants set in September, more or less, every year for the past five or six years. One n^ason why we prefer to put out the plants in the fall is b<'- cause we have much more time and ground to spare, and bett<'r facilities for putting tiic gi'ound in excellent trim. MOSS FIJO.M TIIK SWAMPS FOK WIXTKH PACKIXO, I send you a sample of moss. I have be(>n using it for packing, over my b(>es for three win- ters. I think it is a good material for that pur- pose. It is to be found here in Northern Iowa in (piitc large (iiiaiitities in the sloughs, or ■'prairie ponds," and can be gathered in the fall of tlie year when very dry. and the water is all dried up from the poiids. " It is found lying on the surface of the pond in a solid mat, I should say from two to four inches thick, and it can be gathered up with a pitelifork very easily. Understand. I have none of this moss to s(>{|, but I think it could be gathered and shipped to dealers or to parties who wish to try it. This sample I send you is just as it grew on the pond, about two or three inches tihick. It does not mold or mildew. I have some in my cellar, which I hii\'e had for three years, just as bi'ight as it e\'er was. IJees have done |)oorly in this part of the country. I started this spring with (5.5 colonies. I got two swarms, but no sui'plus honey. It lias been very dry this summer, but we have had plenty of rain of late. Ackley. la.. Sept. .">. N. YouNfj. Friend Y.. I feel sure the moss you send will answei- sphMididly. It was sevcM'al years ago mentioned as being >ised for i)acking chaff hives. The sample you send is not exactly like what we use for packing strawbiM-ry-plants. but I think it would answer exactly foi' the jnir- jjose. See what fi'iend '\\'elch has to say on the Ijreceding i)age. THE BISII LIMA BEANS. ETC. At ijresent wc^ ai'e selling shelled beans on our wagon as follows: White kidney. 5 cts. per pint : bush linui. 10 cts. per i)int: and pole limas. 1.') cts. |)er pint. There is not. however. c|uite so much difference as tiiis in qimlity. The kidneys were i)ut on the market long liefore the others. and people had become a little tired of them when the bush linias first came. Then they got a little tired of the bush linuis. so that, when the great whoppers— the King of the (Jaiden limas — came they were a novelty: besides, their enormous size made everybody want them. The bush limas are fully two weeks earlier than the pole limas. The Kumerle and Burpee's bush linias are none of them yet large enough for table use. I am inclined to think that the large bush limas will always be later than the pale limas (at least during a damp season, when tliev need more sun), and this is going to be ratlier against them. Our first bush linias brought 1.5 cts. ])or pint, but it was a pretty hard matter to s(>ll many at that price. The King of the (iarden has been selling at this figure for a week, all we could |)ick. and they never bring any back on the wagon. Had the gi-ound not been so exceedingly wet. oui' Kumerles and Burpees would have been ijlanted rather earlier. Last y<'ar the Kumei'les were planted rather too eai'lv; but this year I fear I planted them rather too late. Although we have iiuite a lit- tle plot of Kumerles. I fear none of them will be mature enough to ])lant unless we ])ull the vines as we did last yeai-. and let them ripen in the greenhouse. SEEDS THAT f'AX 15E PI-ANTED IN SEPTEMHEU IN TIIE OPEN Gi:ol'NI>. First, cabbages, for setting in coiii-frames latei': (irand Rapids and Boston Maiket lettuce for the same purpose; winter onion-sets if you iiave not befoi-e: the same with spinach. In fact, it is a good plan to sow a lot of s()inach once a week all through Sejitember. So much dejiends on the winter it will l)e hard to tell just wiiat sowing will winter liest. 682 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. 0aR pQMEg. Foi'Iwill fiivo yoii ii mouth of wisdom, wliieh all your adversaiies sluill not he able to g-aiiisay nor re- sist.-Like 21: 15. A good deal has been said about the un- certainty of things pertaining to the life beyond.' Unbelievers boldly challenge us to prove what we claim and believe; and as God has not seen fit to tell us very mnch about this unknown world beyond, we can not always answer their (juestions. In fact, I have often thought it just as well not to say very much. Then the question arises. " Have we, after all, any well-detined faith or sure grounds for be- lieving there is a hereafter at all?" The text before us tiiis rainy morning (at least it is a rainy moi-ning here in Medina), however, gives us the promise that we shall be supplied with -wisdom suHicient to answer all our adversaries, ■and that they shall not be able to gainsay nor resist the truth wo shall be able to present to them. And now. dear friends. I have chosen this text for our talk to-day. because I feel that I have something in my possession that none of you will be abl(> to gainsay nor i-esist. I do not mean in tlie way of argument, for it is too sa- cred and solemn a thing to argue about. But I feel in my heart that you will not want to gainsay nor resist what I have to present be- fore you. Most of you are my personal friends; and even if you are not, I am sure you are open to reason and justice. We have been having quite rainy weather. From reports, I judge that it has been rainy al- most everywhere. We are so much in the habit of expecting a drouth during the last of August and first of Sei)tember that it seems a little funny to find the ground so wet that one ■can scarcely step on it. and to long for sun- shine as we often do in January and February. It has been raining more or less every day for a week; and after it I'ained st(>adily for so long, and we felt pretty sure that it was going to let np. it just turned in and rained harder and harder. I was up in the tnorning befoi'e it was ■quite daylight, as usual. Notwithstanding the rain. I looked over all the buildings, outdooi's and in, to see if the water was doing any dam- age. Although we are up above low ground, we have had considerable tiouble at different times by water coming into our basements; and in oiu' efforts to carry tlie water away, scnver- pi pes and tile have been laid so thickly under our grounds that one can hardly dig anywhere without striking them. In the' progress of our new building, many of these old outlets for water are tui'ued up; and as it was during the montli of August, no one exjMK'ted water enougii to do harm, even if they were not just then properly connected again. Well. I went around into all the basemeiits. and had the satisfaction of linding them all dry, sw(>et. and clean. No rush of waters poiu'ing in greet<'d my ears or eyes. We have had in times past so much of this kind of work — water covering the base- ment floors, damaging goods, setting things floating, etc., and then leaving a disagreeable, damp, moldy, musty smell for w(^eks afterward that I had got pretty thoroughly roused up about it. As an illustration of .some of my trials, let me r(>late a little circumstance. I think it was in the; month of .June. After dinner my wife i)assed down tiirough the wax- room and out thi'ougli the machine-shop. A very heavy thunder-shower was under way, and she came rushing to me a good deal out of pa- tience. She said the water was pouring into the door of the machine-shop like a small mill- race, and half a dozen men w(M'e standing ai'ound. laughing to se<' it come in. I was down there in no time, and gave them some pretty sharp I'cproof about not stirring themselves when they saw the damage to property that was going on. Some of them excused themselves by saying thai they did not work in that room — thi'y were only passing through after dinnei'. Others said they did not know what to do. •■Here! follow me," said I. Shovels and pickax were right in sight. There had boon some changes made in the railroad track in front of the door, allowing the w atcr that came down the ditch to come straight into the door instead of following its accustomed channel. With my hands and such tools as I could grasp hastily I commenced damming up the water. With three or four to assist me. in less than live minutes the Mater was stoijped. and tiu'ned where it ought to go. Then with scooiJ-shovels and saw- dust from the adjoining room we had the water removed. Hut tiie lioor was soaked, and a good deal of water had got under it: and it is not at all sti-ange, that, soon after, the Health Com- mission pronounced that aiiartment unwhole- some. Von can readily understand from the above why it is that I become pretty vehement when anybody by heedlessness lets water into any of the lower rooms. Please let us now go back to the moi'ning in (luestion. I felt haiJi)y to think that every thing was safe and sound. I assisted in getting the mar- ket-wagon off, and then went to breakfast. After breakfast it began to rain still harder, and T discovei'cd that a large r<'servoir we are making tosupply a sti-am-jiump for fire i)urposes had caved in on one side, and the outlet was sto]jped. When the workmen w<'re digging the reservoir. I was assured that the water-conductor from the i-oof of the saw-room was securely tixed so as to carry away any water in case of rain. And not only was tln^ outlet stojjped, but th,' horses had evidently backed the wagon against this temporary water-pipe, and it was thrown out of place. The water fnmi the roof of the lai'ge factory was pouring into the reser- voir, endangering the walls that supported our steam-boihn's. At such a time I generally fix my mind on some si)ecial man who knows how to'do the work under consideration. My special man had not come, and, in fact, nobody was around who would be of any particular use in such an emergency. It wanted somebody with rubber boots and \\ateri)roof coat. I soon found one man to heljj me; but before the outlet was opened, the rain l)ecame so severe that it was tilling ui) the cellar of the new building also. Finally, to my great relief, one of the men I wanted came ai'ound quite leisurely, asking me if there was something I wanted him to do. I felt provoked that he should ask such a ques- tion. But I kept the feeling down, and pleas- antly told him what was wanted. Before the passage was fairly opened here, I found that the water was going Into the basement of tlie sair- room building. It was the old story over again. A big sti-eam was pouring in. and the baskets and other things were beginning to float about. I felt as if I could not have this tlooi- soaked up with water again. I could not wait for rubber boots nor for rubber coat; in fact, I do not often have such things of my own, because I lend them to somebody before I have had them a week. 1 found a c()ui)l(^ of men. and gave them some shovels, and told them to stop the water from going into the basement. '• Well, how shall we stop it?" "Cut a little ditch hastily, and carry it along outside, instead of letting it run toward th(i building." •• But we can't make water run up hill," remarked one, by way of objection, while he stood still witli his shovel, out in the rain. 1890 G^LEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 68H " Vcs. we ciiti in;ik(> water ran up liill. if you will do exactly as I tell you." said I. Then the other one objected that it was all loose chips and sticks, and said the water would all run through it if used to make a dam. OhI why couUhrt tlies(> friends in this emergency, when the water was pouring into otir has(>ment. have a little more confidence in my wistlom and judgment? AVhy did they not reflect that I should never ha\'e had charge of all this prop- erty and these buildings had my judgment n(tt lieen at least tohnihUi good? I did nut say any thing, but went out and took hold of the tools myself, and showed th(>one who saifl that wat<'r \\ould not run up hill, that, by raising the em- bankment high enough, we could make it fill the depression and go over the higher parts. The one who said sticks and chi])S would not stop water was directed to take some soft mud out of tlie road and i)laster the sticks and chips until the\- would hold water. ^lud was in great plenty, and as soft as butter: and it did not take two minutes to " butter "over the porous material so it carried water nicely, and in H\<' minutes moi'f^ we had a big muddy streatn going off beyond the building to a |)lace of safe- ty'. How much can be done with a hoe and sjjade and sliovel. in a crisis like this, if you only have a man who is expert in their usel I love tools; and I (>si)ecially love hoes and spades and shovels. I love the man who is expert in tlu'ir use: and I have sometimes felt like raising my hat in respect to the man who knows how- to hau- this time caved in again, and that was rapidly tilling. The man who opened it the tirst time, and who knew just how. could not be found, so another one had to be instructed where to find the tile, and how to manage so as to prevent the mud from being washed into it. .lust then I I'einembei'ed the printers wei'e on the last page of tiie strawberi'y book. and. in fact, it was already on the pr'css. I had been in the ol'tice once or twice to see about it; but owing to the excessive rain, nobody had yet come around to whom I coulil sii\-e oi'ders. ^^■hen I did remem- ber it. it worried me a little. Sure enough, in som(> way the impix'ssion had got out that I was thi'ough with my corrections, and it was in the press, and several hundred impressions had been run off. I had ke|)t level until about this time, and then I fear I scolded some. There was nothing amiss, however, except some omis- sions in a part of the index; and if you find that a i)art of it is a little out of " whack." as some friend exi)ress(>d it. you will know how it came about. The press was stojjped. and I sat down to finish the pag(> where I left off the night before. The water was drii)i)ing from me all over, and runiung away down into my shoes. In fact, my hat was so soaked that the water kept running down my cheeks and running from the end of my nose on to the strawberry book I was trying to read, until I pulled my hat off. and then tlie draft was too severe on my bald head. I got the page finished, liowever, and went back to look after the water. One of the men I w anti'd could not be found anywh<>re. At last he turned up awav down across the creek, letting the water oft from the celery. When asked how he came tu go off there, he said it was because I told him to. After we got the waterstopped from goinginto the basement. I told him to help let the watei- off' from the vcUnr of the new building. I sup|)ose I stopped at the word "cellar." so many things were crowding me all at once, and he said he under- stood me to say " celery,'" and so jjut away off to the ci'cek bottom (witli his rubbei- boots and coat), w here almost the whole ground w as sub- merged. If there is any thing that will bear unlimited ([uantities of water without injury, it is celery. I have for s(nue months rather ludd back and objected to the new improvem<'nts that have been started. I wanted to have the new build- ing put off till another yea)'. The reservoir, with its attendant steam-pump. I objected to also. One reason why I objected to it was, I knew it must bring added respousil)ilities which 1 did not feel able to bear. But the boys, in their enthusiasm, explained that these tlungs were urgently needed, and will be an excellent investment. If we are going to ha\'e them, the soon(M' the better. They jjropose to take the I'csponsiiiility off from my shouldei's — at least a part of it. and look' after things. I jiresuine this rainy moi'uing must have been a gooil time to sleei) — at least, nobody seemed to be in much haste in getting aroiuid, and it is not to be won- dered at that 1 became a little cro.ss and im- patient. I did not say much out loud, but I declared mentally that things had got to come to a standstill until we could get ready to do every thing "decently and in older." (The last is Hible te;iching. but you know Satan can (piote Uible tii)toi).) I did not realize that I was getting into a bad and unchristianlike fi'aine of mind." A little incident, liowe\'er, I'emintled me of it. St)nH'body canu' along cpiite leisui'ely, and pleasantly wishetl me a good-moi'ning. Now. just at that time the •■good-morning" did not hit me just right. Wet and dripping as I was. and tired out, it seemed to me that there was no time foi' "■good-mornings." I answiM'ed back pleasantly, because I knew it was my duty. IJut— shall 1 dare tell you what was in my mind".' I think I will, that you nuiy get a glimi)se of the battles that your old friend has to light. Instead of saying good-morning back to him as is every Christian's duty, no matter what is und<'r the surface. Satan (I think it was) suggested that it would give nie rare pleasui'e to throw a club at his head. I shouldn't want a very big club. 1 think, but I felt just spiteful enough at evei'ybody and every thing, especially those who looked smiling and happ\'. Pei'haps sonu' of you begin to incpiire. ■' \Vli\-. 684 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sept. Bi'o. Root, whei'c was that little prayer of yours — tliat waniiug note that you tell us comes to remind you that dauger is near?" Well, it did come just about then, and it was n(!edi'd. and I prayed earnestly to be lifted from tlie slougli of despond into which I seemed to be sinking; and it was the answer to this sim])le prayer — a quick swift answer — that has i)rompt- ed me to tell you all I have been telling you this morning. You see, I had got into a way of thinking that I was an abused and injured individual. Were you ever there, my friend? And I was saying mentally that I was not going to bear everybody's burdens any longer; and the answer seemed to be a reply or rebuke or reproof to this attitude of heart. It came in the line of a cou])let of the hymn I have been singing so much of the time during the past two weeks. You will find the hymn on page 647 of our last issue. Her-e are the two lines that Christ Jesus held n\) to me. I'll beai' the toil, endure the pain," Supported bj' tliy word. Come to think of it, tliere hdd be(>n consider- able "toil," but not much pain: and then I remembered to thank God, not only for energy, but for strength and endurance to stand such a wetting without injury. Some of you may say that such a w(>tting is dangerous. No, it is not —at least not to A. I. Root. If I do not get .chilly after getting wet, it does not hurt me a particle. The last words of the lines, "Support- •ed by thy word," seemed to suggest something just then; and then my tiiouglits ran in line with the Savior's work here on earth; and that old favorite text of mine that has been music in my ears for so long came out shai'p and clear. "Not to be ministerc^l unto, but to minister." Wliy, it is woi'tli all my expei-ience that morn- ing to have such a bright and vivid practical application of tliis wonderfully inspiring text, to the true, faithful follower of Chilst Jesus. I was out of the mud and miry clay in no time — that is. I was out spiritually. ^ly fe(>t were still in my mud-.soaked siioes, and the water was soak- ing through my hat. saturating the few gray hairs that renuiin. Dr()))s of water were still on my nose and clothing, but what did it matter? Christ's promises were ringing through my soul, and a great happiness came over uw. I took up my old hymn, and it never sounded so sweet before — "Ani I a soldier of the cross?" I felt glad that I could answer that I inns (or at least trying to be), and that I had just withdrawn from a hand-to-hand conflict; and then came the words, " Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease?" I answered at once, ■■ No, no. Let me rather 'bear the toW and 'endure the pain,' if. by so doing, I can feel the Master's presence by my side, and my hand in his." "Are thcu-e no foes for me to face ? " Well, I think there are a, few — at least, judging from past experience. " Must I not stem the flood ? '' Well, well. We hail stemmed one " flood " unit- edly, and had come oft' victoiious; and A. I. Root all by himself stt^nmed another little flood, and he, too, came off victorious, and is now rejoicing. A word about catching cold. Dear friends. I never catch cold or come to harm of any kind when the blood is coursing through my veins stirred by tiu' enthusiasm of love for Christ Jesus and hunumity in general. When I went over at 11 o'clock to take my usual nap I did fear the consequences of lying down with my clothing so damp; therefore I put my feet into the oven just a, minute. My wife says she is sure I did not have them there more than half a minute. Then I slept half an hour, and awoke rested, well, and happy. We were planning to get off the strawberry .book that day; and it seems to me, as I look back, that T never saw work go along so rajndly and j)leasantly before. T told them we wanted a certain number before 3 o'clock. I i)resume I looked i)leasant and happy, and I guess the spirit in my heart must have been contagious, for everybody seemed to catch the spirit of enthusiasm iii getting the books mailed. It did not occur to me that any of the friends around me cared particularly for a book on strawberries, and I was greatly i)leased when the foreman asked how much I would charge them if all the printers clubbed together and took one apiece. I looked up in astonishment. Said I. " Why, bless your heai'ts, boys, if you will read the book through you shall all have one without cost, with the compliments of the author and publisher." Pretty soon the office girls heard of it, and wanted to know if they were included; and it gave me additional pleasure, not only to supply them on the same terms, but every one else in our employ. I have sometimes thought that these texts that burst suddenly upon us, or the memory of tlu'se old hymns, braces up the Christian some- thing like martial music in a battle. I have heard that, wIkmi an army was demoralized, and the foe fast gaining the ascendency, the sound of the drum and flfe, with some familiar inspiring air, would of itself rally the demoral- ized forces, and give new courage to the soldiers, to such an extent that they would turn round and gain a victory, even when, to all appear- ance, the cause was hopelessly lost. Now, the Bible promises, and these old hymns that have been almost a battle-cry against evil for ages past. oi)erate in just the same way. Only a few liours before. I felt like throwing a club at tlu' one who bade me good-morning. What a change just the little text and the lines of the hymn had brought! The events of the morn- ing had been only a wholesome school or drill to me. After I had come out victorious over a wrong spirit, it seemed as if the dear Savior de- lighted to pour out his si)irit upon my soul in a way he had never done befort^ As I passed arouiul from oiu' to another of my helpers, they never looked so good and so lovable as they did then. First I inwardly thanked God for giving me a certain oni> to Vie a comiianion and a help- er. Then I discovered that his next neighbor had also grand and nolile qualities; and so on it went from one to another, all over the estab- lishment. Even old Cluirlie. who draws the market-wagon, by the light of the new joy that was fllling my soul seemed a grand, good old faithful servant, notwithstanding some of his notions and que(>r ways. I told my wif'^ that such joy and peace and thankfulness seemed too good for any luiman being, and it almost made me tremble to think that I should prob- ably lose it very soon by some foolish act. I could not but I'cmember the lines ; 0 Beulali land, sweet Beuhih land, As on thy higliest mount I stand, 1 look away across the sea. Where mansions are prepared forme. And view the shinhig' glory sliore. My heaven, my home for evermore. And then that last verse: The zephyrs seem to float to me Sweet sounds of heaven's melody, As ang-els, with tlie white-robed throng-. Join ill the sweet redemption song-. Well, dear friend.s. I did stand on the "mount" for iu>arly two whole days; but I canu» down with a tumble Anally. It was not a very big tumble, h()\^■ev(n•, and t soon clamber- ed back pretty nearly but not quite where I had been. I presiune it is not well for us to stand away up entirely clear of Satan's clutches all the time. If we did, we might lose charity for those who are tempted and fall, woi'se than we 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 1)85 'da OiiL'o in a while the dear Savior thinl'(is that ever saw the light came fiom the press on her first birtliday. She is almost 18 years old, and so is CrLEANixiis. We feel A'ery anxious that she should go thi'ough college and linish her education. In many res])ects slie is like licr fathin', and will have tiie same kind ■of battles to tight. I fear, however, she is a little Tuoi'e ]n'one to give up and become dis- couraged. Now, what will ho\\i her? What will be the most helpful to any i)oor soul when it comes to bear life's struggles, and to fight life's battles? Why. there is nothing in the whole wide universe like thor ligion of Christ Jesus. There is nothing at nil to compare with it. Think of the text. " Not to be ministered unto, but to minister," to i)in to your banner when you need help, and then the woi'ds of the old hymn right in the same line, " Til bear the toil, endure the pain." It is not only boys and girls who become discouraged and give up, but it is grown-up men and women. It is not only those who are struggling against poverty, but those wlio have their tltou.soiids have the same battles to fight. Somebody has said that pros- perity is harder to bear tlian poverty. Suicides iire occurring constantly. Lo(jk at the papers. Human beings, with God - given powers and great gifts and capabilities, are giving way to evil piissions, and going down to shame and ruin. What is thei'e to be compaicd with the religion of Christ Jesus to help one to bear up? Have you a friend, a brothm- or sister, or son or daughter away from home, battling w ith life's dangers? What would you {live, my fiiend, to know that this loved one. this relative, was at this monu'iit holding fast to some Bible text like the ones I have quoted, oi' gaining new •courage from some old hymn that bids him — nay, inspires him — to tight on, as a humble soldier of the cross? May (Jod bless the words of my text to-day; and m;iy the divine influences of his Holy Spirit liel]) to make my meaning clear. .Vnd may the grand and glorious thought (which I have tried to give you in my poor way) come home to your heart in such a way that not all the adversaries of Christ Jesus (with Satan Jiiim^elf included) shall be "able to gainsay noi' resist " the great truths— truths to be foiuid only in that book that tells us of Him who came to minister and not to be ministered unto. like a paradox: hut the gain is made from the fact that the new type is set more compact. Editorial Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be vour servant. -Matt. 20 : 27. (iLKANINGS ENLAIUiEl). Wk find, nijon changing our body tyjx' for (ii.EAXiNG.s, that we have not only enlarged the face of the tyi)e, but actually added nearly one- fourth to tlie amount of reading-matter, with- out adding to the amount of |)ai)er. This seems A GOOD IIOXEY-YIEM) IX r.VLIFOKXI A. On page (JTii we liave a report of a hive on scales. It seems this .season our California friends have liad a continuous flow of honey from the middle of April till about the middle of July; and atone time th(> amount reached the nice record of 18 lbs. in a day. If all this great yield is equal to the sample sent ns by friend Mercer, he ought to be a happy man, A carload of the same kind is now on the way from V^entura to Medina, LOSS, DAMAGE, .VXD MISCAI{lMA(iE BY KAILROAD AND EXPKESS COMPANIES— WHO IS KESPON- SIBLIi; ? DuKiNG the past season there has been much trouble, first and last, in the above line; and quite a few with whom we have deal insist that we shall bear all res])onsibility. In consequence of this we have been obliged to have printed on our invoice sheets the following: Our responsihiUtu reuses )r]ien goods are re- ceipted for in (jood order hij the railroad or ex- press c(nnpany. We do not mean by the above that we are un- willing to make every possible effort to look up lost goods, or have damages collected in case the goods can not be found. But we mean this: We can not send the money back, even if the goods should be weeks or months on the way. I know there are some kinds of business \\here it is possible to guarantee safe delivery. Some seedsmen do this; but seeds are usually small in bulk and light in weight: and when a seeds- man says he will take all risks of all kinds, he usually has a profit that will enable him to do so. With our business, however, it is different; for we sometimes .sell honey at a profit of only half a cent a pound. In this case there is no margin for us to take res]Jonsibilities that do not belong to us. If the goods are delayed be- cause of any blunder of ours in directing them, or because they were poorly packed or pooi'ly made, then, of course, we must stand the conse- quences (whether w(> can afford it or not): but to attempt to shoulder and make good all the results of cai'elessness and inefficient work with the great transportation com))anies of the world, does not belong to us. Now, quite a few worry and borrow trouble needlessly when goods do not come to hand promptly, taking it for grant- ed that their money is all lost and gone. Eve- rybody should know that all transportation companies are responsible. If they lose your goods, or smash them by their own carelessness, they must make it good. The laws of our land insi.st on it; and if the companies do not do that, they will have to stop doing business. The most annoying thing about it, however, is that they are permitted to take their own time. S(nnetimes it takes us a whole year oi- even more to g(>t pay for lost goods: and on ihisac- 686 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Sei't. count we trc(inciitly tell our friouds wlio aro suffering for tlic need of something tliat does not turn ui). tliat we will till the order again, and send more goods right on, providing the consigne(> will agree to take hotli shipments if both should come to hand. Exi)ress companies are liable for unreasonable delay in delivering goods: and I suijjjose that railroad companies are also liable to some extent for every un- reasonable delay. Now. if the jjosition we take is in any resjject unfair oi' unchristianlike. I stand ready to be set right. PRICE OF BEES AND QUEENS. The price advances in October to July prices. Un- tested will tlien be Sil.tiO; tested, $3.00; select tested, $3.00. We run out of imported queens within the last few days, but are daily expecting- a fresh im])or- tafion. Prices will be four, live, and six dollars respectively. I/atcc— Imported (jueens are here. HONEY .TUMBLES AND CAKES. We have just sold to a large bakery the otf grades of honey received fiom Arizona, to be used in mak- ing-honey cakes and jumbles; and we take some of these in exchange for the honey. We learn that this bakery alone is using :d)out 4 bbls. of honey daily for honey cookies, and they are having sucli a big- trade they are rumiing night and day, and still be- hind on orders. If any of our readers have any off grades of honey that don't tind ready market at a fair price, please .send us a small sample, naming- ihe quantity you have, and how it is put up, and the least you will take for it. We will try to tind you a market. The honey jumbles are the same that we sold two oi- three years ago, and are worth $2.00 a box of about 14 lbs. Any less quantity will be »u cts. per lb. The honey cakes have ordy about lialf the quantity of lioney in them, and are sugar-coated. Price ft. 50 per box, or 1!> cts. jh'I- il). foi- a less ipian- tlty. We will mail a sample package of cither, put up in a sample pastelioard bo.v or section carton, postpaid, for 10 cents. Pr;ANTS THAT MAY BE PUT OUT IN THE FALL. During the last of SeptendxT and first of October is an excellent time to st't out a good many kinds of plants. Asparagus will do nicely. Raspberries, blackberries, and currants, will also get well .settled for winter. If the soil is very heavy clay, it may be best to mulch them to jn-t'vent the frost from throwing them out. Last, but not least, T would jiut out a few of such kinds of strawberries as I wished to test. The strawberry is peculiar, inasmuch as you can force it just as late in the fall as you please, by cultivation and manure; and no matter how sudden severe weatlier sets in, it does not seem to harm it at all. I have never seen any harm to strawberries from severe wintei's unless it is the heaving out by the frost, and tliis seldom happens with plants that get well rooted. Judicious mulching -ivill prevent it entirely. In consequence of the recent heavy rains, we have had an aliundant supply of the plants we have advertised, and we can also fvirnish, in limited quantities, to those who may wish 1o test tfiem, the t'rcsceiU, Cumberland, Louisa. Belmont, INlianii, and Sharpless. The pi-icc of all strawbei-iies from this time imtil further notice will be 1.5 cts. for 10, or 75 cts. for 100; if wanted by mail, add .^ic foi- 10. or 35c per lOd. Jessie, Bubach, Haverland, and Gandy, we exiiect to be able to sui)i)ly all demand for until the gi-onnd frei^zes so as to hold them fast. The oth- ers will not last very long. WHITE COMB HONEY FItOM .-srATTHlAS SCHNEIDER, .IR. The comb honey mentioned in this department in last number of Gleanincs. reached us just three days ago, as we write this, and to-day we are ship- ping the last pound of it, and haven't enough to fill orders. We don't see any prospect of having more in stock foi' two or three weeks, although we may get some before that time. This honey from Mr. Schneider is about the whitest honey we ever saw. and it came in the best shape of any shipment wtv ever received. I believe there was not a case leak- ing in the whole lot of over 30OO lbs. ; and the secret is, it was crated up in crates of about 300 lbs. weight, with handles projecting from each end to carry it by. Nine 24-lb. cases, or 18 12-11).. were jiut into a crate which consi.sts .simply of a frame of pieces Js by 3 or 4 inches. In the bottom of the crate the cross pieces running the slun'test wa.v are on the out- side, and on top of these are some thin boards nailed between the outside strips, making the bottom nearl.v tight. On this is sjiread straw from one to two inches deep for the cases to rest on and receive the jar if the crate should be dropped. A similar meth- od of crating honey was desciilied liy J. A. Green. May 1st No., first article. It seems to have pioven such a great success wherever tried that we would advise beekeeijers not to ship an.v more honey to market in small quantities without putting it up in similar crates. Yon will save, in better price re- ceived for hone.v, a good many- times the cost of these crates. MQ(\ ITALIAN QUEENS FOR BUSINESS. 10"" IStfdb W. H. Laws, Lavaca, Ark. POTATO BOXES GALVANIZED BOCNI). (TERRY'S). These ai-e made of basswood, bound with galvanized iron. The galvanized iron gives strength, and the basswood strength and lightness. These hold exactly a bushel when level full, and may be piled one on top of another. Al- though they are made especially for potatoes, they can be used for fruit, vegetables, picking up stones on the farm, and a thousand other purposes. When piled one above the other, they protect the contents from the sun and rain; and from their shape a great many more bushels can be set into a wagon than where baskets are used. They are also much more substantial than baskets. " , -■ Price, nailed up, 35 c each; 10, $3.25; 100, $20v00. In the flat, including nails and galvanized iron,. Per pkg. of 1 doz., 3 nailed and ,10 packed inoide; $3.10: lu pkg^., 5 per cent otf. SLATTED POTATO-BOX As the pieces of which the above are made are mostly from rem- nants of basswood used In making sections, we can furnish tbem nail- ed up for 20 cents each; 10 for $1.85; l(iO, $16.0U, Materi- al in the flat. In- cluding nails, In packages of 13 boxes each, at $1 .50 per package, and each package includes two of the 13 boxes nailed up, complete.. Ten pkgs , b% off. Please be careful in ordering to say whether you want the galvanized hound or the t^Jatted boxes. A. I. ROOT, Medina. Ohio. LITHOGRAPH LABELS In. IS Colors, a-b $S.OO per lOOO.. The 13 colors are'all on each label. They are ob- long in shape, measuring '2^/sX'Z%. They are about the nicest labels we ever saw for glass tumblers, pails, 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; 35cts. for 100; $1.20- for 500; $3.00 for 1000. A. I. ROOT, Medina. O. 1890 GLEANINC^S IN BEE CULTURE. 691 Contents of this Number. Adveitisinpr 711 Andrews. Judge, Death of.. 714 Artesian Well 699 Arti tii'ial Pasturape 700 Bait Combs a Success... 705. 709 Bees and Fruit 696 Bees Dying in JunB 707 Bee-ceilar Under Kitchen. .69fi Bee esi'apes 715 Bee-escaiic. (ireat Boom 70.'i Bee-keepers Classitled 697 Bees, .Stolen 717 Benton Cage, Success 71" Burdock 717 California 696 Candying Before Capping.. 714 Cellar. Carrying Bees out.. 695 Chatf Hive, 8-f rame 697 Clipped Wings Growing 715 Clover, Mammoth Peavine.700 Combs Melting 697 C.vprians and Syr's Distin'd.69') Cyprians ami Syr's Prolific 695 Dibbern Bee-escape 705 Dove'd Hive, Great Success.713 Drones, Swarm of 706 Eggs . Do Bees Steal » 708 Eggs, Sex of 714 Ernest's Travels 701 Frames. Odd-sized 696 Garden Parsnip 713 Hvll's Discovery (?) 700 H i ve-stands 713 Hoffman Fr. Easy to Han'e.701 Honey from Upper Story.. 716 Hotels ill New York 702 Hybrids, Young Chickens. .706 It'aiiaiis Aheail 705 .IipantseBu-kwh't ahead. ..716 Melnt\ re's Extractor 704 Miller's Introducing Cage.. 709 Mole Cricket 704 yueeii-rearing, Doolittle's. .715 Rambler in Haskinville 707 Shell, Outside, for Winter. .697 Solar Wax e.Ktractor 704 Stores for Winter. . . . (Q. B) 712 Supersedure 714 Top-bar. Thick, a Success. ..715 Watering-trough and Bees. 713 Wax. Melting from Pan 716 Windbreaks 706 Kind Friends! 1 have now caught up from my dela.F caused by my illness. If weather perniits. 1 shall have a few more queens for sale. I now have almost full con- trol ot the drones; others all dead; pruarantee every queen mated to Italian drones. Drop me a card, telling- me how many you can use, and pay on arriv- al of queens. Only untested and virgins, $1.00 and 60 els. each. Write quick. I will not promise to send one, therefore 1 do not ask pay in advance. JACOB T. TIITIPE, l»d Grand Ledge, ITIieli. lyinresponding to this advertisement mention Glkaning.s. SCOTCH RABBITS. Mill sell a few gray Scotch rabbits, Samuel Wilson's strain, at $3 00 per pair. Order quick if you want any. ]9cfdb E. HosTETLER, East Lynne, Mo. FOR SALE. A home of 3 acres; well set to all kinds of fruit, and bearing: box house, Srootus; :?7 colonies of bees in S. hive. Price, four hundred. Richest of land. 19d D. H. Welch, Vintland, Douglass Co., Kan. 80 COLONIES OF BEES FOR SALE, In teii-fi-anie Laiig.stiotli hivrs, $o per colonj-. Have plenty of honey to winter on. Also a lot of bee-sup- plies. JOHN CROMBIE, Columbus, Wis. Bee-Keepers' Supplies. WHY V SEND V LONG ' DISTANCES ? SEND NAME ON POSTAL CARD FOR MY NEW PRICE LIST TO C. P. BISH, Grove City, Mercer Co.,Pennsyra. forme.rlj/ of St. Joe Sta., Jltitler Co., Vo. ESTABLISHED IN 1884. 9tfdb Please mention this paper. N01»^ is the time to set STRAWBERRIES for next year's fruiting. Write for fall price list of plants and Secrets of Success in Growing Small Fruits; sent free, on application to I. A. Woqll, letfdb Elsie, Mich. (Win responding to this advertltienient mention Glkaninus. ifBEST OIT EAIITII-!^ ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL, AND THE STAND- ARD IN EVERY CIVILIZED COUNTRY. Bingham & Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Pr ces. Doctor Smoker, 3}{ in. postpaid . ..$2.00 Conqueror " 3 " .. 1.7.T Large " 2;4 " . . 1..50 Extra (wide shield) 3 " .. l.-.i.5 Plain (narrow " )2 " . . 100 Little Wonder, IK " .. 65 Uncapping Knife . . 1 15 Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledgeville, 111 , March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day, and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as 1 do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S. Dak.. Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville, Ohio, March 12,1890. Sirs:— The smoker I have has done good service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BiNOHAU Ss Hetheeihgton, Abronia, Mich. lS"In responding to this udveitl.^einent mention Gleanings. DADANT'S FOUNDATION Is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati. O.; Jaa. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich.: O.G.Collier, Fairbury, Neb. ; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O.. E. Kretch- mer. Red Oak, la ; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula. La., Jos. Nysewander. Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wisconsin; J. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Freeburg, niinois; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1517 Rlake St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111. ; E. Li. Goold & Co., Brantt'ord, Out.. Can.; B. H. Schmidt & Co., New London. Wis.; J. Stauffer & Sons, Nappa- nee. Ind.; Berlin Fruit-Box Co., Berlin Heights, O.; E R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley. N.Y.; L. Hanssen, Davenport, la.; C. Theilman, Theilmanton. Minn.; G. K. Hubbard. Fort Wayne, Ind.; T. H. Strlckier, Solomon City, Kan.; E. C. Eaglesfleld, Berlin, Wis., Walter S. Pouder. Indianapolis, Ind., and numer- ous other dealers. LANGSTROTH on the HONEY-BEE, i«.:b-vis:eiid. The Book for Bfffinmrs, Hie Most Complete Text- Book on, the Subject in the Hiifflisli Lanffiiage. Bee-veils of Imported Material, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc.. free. Send your address on a postal to qhas. Dadant & Son, HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO., ILLINOIS. £3rin respondinti to this advertisement mention Glkaninos. MONinOUTH, JESSIE, and 1»IAY KING strawberrv-plants; only .50c per 100, or $4.00 per thousand. S. F. Reed, N. Dorchester, N. H. 18d 692 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. Wants or Exchange Department. WANTED.— To exchange pure-bred poultry for white extracted honey. Selec-t bieed you want from my cii-cular (sent free) and mail sample of honey. S. P. Yoder, East Lewistown, O. ITtfdb. WANTED.^Iwillexchang-e sewing--m;ichines, new, and fruit-tree.s, for honey. Address 15-24db E. Petekman, Waldo, Wis. ANTED.— To exchange all kinds of wall paper, for honey. Itfdb J. S. Scoven, Kokomo, Ind. W W ANTED.— Honey in exchuiig^e for supplies or cash; must be cheap. F. C. Erkel, LeSueur, ^Nlinn. 18-19d WANTED.— To exchange full colonies of bees for apiarian supplies of every description, or for automatic section-machine. W. H. Putnam, 18tfdb Supply-dealer, River Falls, Wis. WANTED.— To exchang-e National Safety Hicyele, hall bearing-, cost $7.5.00 when new; used one season; will take white-clover honey, extracted, or offers. E. C. Elver, Mt. Horeb, Wi.s. 18-19d WANTED.— To exchang-e all kinds of lun-sery stock, peaches, peai-s, g-rapevines, i-asplierrii-s, stiaw- berries, etc., for foundation, beeswax, empty combs, or offers. Address T. G. Ashmead, Williamson, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchang-e Ply. Rock fowls, fine stock, for a lot of empty L. combs for extract- ing-, or offers. T. G. Ashmead, Williamson, N. Y. IStfdb WANTED.— To exchang-e bee-hives for bees, will guarantee satisfactory hive. 18tfdb LowRY J(jHNSON, M'f'r, Masontown, Fay. Co., Pa. WANTED.— To excliange a Given foundation press for white extracted lioney. IStfdb J. M. Rood, Dryden, Lapeer Co., Mich. SITUATION offered to a competent wood worker who thoroughly understands the mnaufacture of bee-hives, one-pound .sections, etc. Address with references, W. H. Putnam, Rivei- Falls, Wis. iStfdb WANTED.— To exchange apiary of 150 colonies of bees. Will take any kind of farm stock, goods or groceries. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange a 300-egg E.xeelsior incu- bator, used one .season; cost $2.5.00, for photo- graphic outfit, books, oi- best otters. 19-3ii-31d O. S. CoMPTON, Glenwood, Cass Co., Mich. WANTED.— To exchange a fine 3yearold register- ed Jersey bull, for extracted or comb honev, or offers. 19-3Jd B. T. Baldwin, Mai-ion, Iiid. W ANTED.— To exchange two good cornets for ex- tracted hone.y. Write for particulars to R. H. Barton, 467 Water St., Bridgeport, Conn. WANTED.— To exchange one steam honey-evapo- rator, and one 24u-egg incubator, for good, sound double work harness (medium weight), side saddle, .single harne.ss, one-piece sections, S. hives in flat, or offers. S. B. Seaman. Harford Mills, Cortland Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange a 6x9 self-inking press, an excellent outfit; cost me $80,011; four fonts of type. 19-30d L. L. Esenhowkr. Rt'ading, Pa. WANTED.— To correspond with pai-lies having potatoes, onions, apv'les, and honey for sale. Prompt attention given to cori-espond'ence. Con- signments solicited. Prompt returns made. Earle Clickenger, 121 So. 4th St., Columbus, (). WANTED.— To exchange highly polished Wiscon- sin pearl shells, tor honey, small-fruit plants, or offers. P. H. Fellows, Broadhead, Wis. WHO has liees to trade for 1(0 acres of fine bottom land with plenty of timber in Illinois? Will trade a part or all, and give a bargain. Title perfect. J. B. Alexander & Co., Hartford City, Ind. W /ANTED.- A few paii'S nice ferrets. Will e change fine Italian bees or pay casli. Chas. McClave, New London, Ohio. IV ANTED immediately. — A man to take entire con- VV trol of 15a colonies of bees. For parti eu la is ad- dress 10-30d S. A. Shuck, Liverpool. 111. WANTED.— To exchange new Dibbern tin bee-es- capes, brood-frames or hives, for empty combs (either L. or Heddon frame), f(jundation, or any other sui)plies. Write E. F. Quigley, 19-3(_ld Unionville, Putnam Co., Mo. \l^r ANTED.— Dry basswood plank. VV W. D. SOPER & Co., Jackson, Mich. W ANTED.— To exchange Italian bees in L. hives, for two well-trained fox-hounds. Apply at once J. B. Mitchell, Hawkinsville, Pulaski Co., 6a. 19-20d '^THE : CANADIAN Bee Journal Editfil by I). A.. Joni-s, 75c. Per Year. Poultry Journal Editedbjj W-C.G-Feter. 75c. Per Year. These are published separately, alternate weeks, and are edited by live practical men, and contribut- ed to by the best writers. Both Journals are inter- esting, and are alike valuable to the expert and amateur. Sample copies free. Both Journals one year to one address $1. Until June Ist we will send either Journal on trial trip for 6 months for 25 cts. The D. A. Jones Co.. Ld., Beef on, Onf. l^"Please mention Gleanings. 6-lldb TAKE NOTICE ! BEFOKC: placing your Orders for MIPP1.IES, write for prices on One-Piece Bass^vocd Sec- tions. Bee-Hives, Shipping Crates, Frames. Foun- dation, Smokers, etc Address R. H. SCHMIDT A: CO., 31-20db NEW LONDON, Waupaca Co.. WIS. lyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings,. EOTPLOYITIENT. -AGENTS wanted ever> where, for the HOME JOURNAL— a grand family paper at $1 a year. I3iu caxh premiums. Sample Free. THOS. G. NEWMAN & SON, 346 East iMadison Street. - - CHICAGO. ILLS. HOME MUTH'S HONEY - EXTRACTOR, SQUARE GLASS HONEV-JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY- SECTIONS, A:c., Jtc. PERFECTION COLB - BL.AST SMOKERS. Ax>p^V to CHAS. F. MUTJI & SON, CincintKiti, Ohio. P. S.— Send 10-cent stamp for "Practical Hints to Bee-keepers." (^"AfejiMou QleaninQS. Itfdh SECTIONS! SECTIONS! SECTIONS! On and after Feb. 1, 1890, we will sell our No. 1 V- groove sections, in lots of 500, as follows: Less than 2000, $3.50 per 1000; 2000 to 5000, |3 00 per 1000. Write tor special prices on lari^er quantitii-s. No. 2 sec- tions at $2.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives, foundation, cases, etc. J. STAUFFER A: SONS, 16tfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., Nappaiiee. Iiid. •I3r"ln responding to this advertisement mention Glkantngsl 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 693 CONVENTION NOTICE. The Misst)uri State Bee-Keepers" Assooiation will meet in convenlion at Mexico, Mo.. Oct. 22 and 23. A good programme, and an insti'wetive and interest- ing- time is expected. All jiersons interested in bee culture are cordially invited to attend. Board can be obtained for 7.5 cts. per day. or 20 cts. jier meal. J. W. Rouse, Sec, Mexico, Mo. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. Goods received O. K. I am well pleased with tb^m all. L. J. Stark. Harris, Mian., Sept. 2, 1890. WHAT THEY SAY OF THE A B C OF STRAWHERRY CULTUHE. It is an excellent little manual. H. Geo. Comey, Ed. Orchard and Garden. Little Silver, N. J., Sept. 22. Tbe New Emjland Fanm r of this week says: The book contains a vast amount of practical in- foroiatior, being- just exactly what is needed, and it should have large sales. It adds another to the valuable works that you are publishing, and is a nice work, full ot infor- mation, worth many limes the money asked for it. Hamilton, ill., Sept. 18. Dadant & Son. I like the work so much that I propose to print almost no introduction in my catalogues hereafter, but refer my customers to your tiook — or Mr. Ttrry's— to hud out how to grow strawberries. Cuyahoga Falls, O., Sept. 15. M. Crawford. My Btrawberry-fever burned out some years ago, and you know it is not easy to communicate such ailments the second time; but I enjoy the interest- ing little book all the same. Emerson E. Hasty. Kichards, O., Sept. is, 189J. We have not a great many works on the straw- berry; and havhig- had a good deal of practical ex- perience in growing strawberries for family use and the market we do not hesitate to recommend the recent work, "A B C of Strawberry Culture," by T. B. Terry and A. I. Root. The volume is hand- somely bound, anu contains 160 pages attractively illustrated.— T( (I (ifsscc Farmtr. "A B C of Strawberry Culture" is the title of a neat little book of 148 pages which cori tains the ex- periences of T. B. Terry and A. I. Root, in the pleasant and profitable work of growing this popu- lar fruit, the strawberry. Those who aie acquaint- ed with Mr. Terry's success m this branch of horti- culture will wish the book; and those who are not, should get the book to find out how he attained his success.— Ftu7>i , Field, and Stockman. OUR STRAWBERRY-PI.ANTS. The plants arrived on the 20th in good condition. I have never before seen such good roots on young plants. E. A. Taylor. Medford, N. J., Sept. 22. I received the strawV>erry-plants in splendid order. We had three days of rain on them, and not one of 1200 wilted. W. H. Butler. Clifford, Ind., Sept. 13, 1890. The strawberry-plants came O. K., and are as fine as 1 ever sa« , and very nicely packed. As 1 un- wrapped them it seemed to me as though I could almost taste their fruit, nnd that night I dreamed of eating strawberry t-hortcake. G. W. Davis. Pino Creek, Mich., Sept. 8. The queen-cages are exceedinglv nice, and show what nice work can be done with accurate ma- chinery. J. P. Moore. Morgan, Ky., Aug. 2.5. dovetailed hive; best section-holder a SUCCESS. I consider your Dovetailed hive the best and most convenient one I ever used. I bought some from Mr. J. D. West, that he got of you last spring. The sections come out of the supers the easiest of any I R. AV. HiGINBOTHAM. Morris X Koads, Pa., Sept. 1. I want your valuable journal continued as long as it retains its present tone and usefulness. I dif- fer with you denominationally, but we will meet all true followers of the one Christ over there, I hope. Phalia, Miss. F. Gentry. our solar wax-e.xtractor. The solar wax-extractor, bought of you this spring- by T. G. Newman is a perfect .success in every par- ticular. It just does tlie work nicelv. DeKalb, 111., June 18. A. Y. Baldwin. ALFALFA HONEY. Our alfalfa honey came in splendid order, and is pronounced excellent. 1 was very curious to taste alfalfa, and glad when I found the shipment was of it. Now I am delighted with it. and prefer it to white clover for my own use. That peculiar flavor is delicious. Mrs. Jas. M. Davis. Ligonier, Pa., Aug. 2fi. MOI?E advertising THAT PAID. During the last few days, orders came in so heavy that I found I should be all out, but did not realize it in time to write you sooner. I can not fill a third of the orders 1 am now receiving from my adver- tisement. D. G. Edmiston. Adrian, Mich., Sept. 13. ARRIVED IN splendid SHAPE. The queen came to hand in splendid shape, lively as a cricket, and I have got her in the hive in good shape. Geo. A. Gould. Marshfleld, Oreg., .luly 6. THE candy plan A SUCCESS. The queen I sent for some time ago came to hand in good shape, and was safely introduced by the candv plan. Thanks tor sending such a fine one. Alliance, O., Sept. 1. Curtis B. Bowman. THE TESTED AND UNTESTED QUEEN. The tested queen shipped Sept. 5 came all right, and she is in the hive safe. She is a beauty. You sent me one untested queen in July. 1 placed her in a hive that was nearly destroyed by worms, and 1 have now the finest hive of bees I ever saw in my life. C. W. Huffman. Richwood, O., Sept. 15. A GOOD TESTIMONIAL FOR BINGHAM SMOKERS. The Bingham smokers 1 received last year, as well as the soldering-iron and grindstone, have been very satisfactory. The smoker has done very much in the line of quieting the bees, and I would not be without one of the Binghams, since I tried them. Frank Benton told me, years ago, about their ex- cellence, but i did not think so very much of it till 1 tried it myself. 1 handed one over to my brother, and worked with one mys If. The smoker is work- ing well; but I am afraid our Arabs have not always the most careful hands; they might get spoiled, so I had better have a few on hand. Ph J. Baldensperger. Jafta, Palestine, Aug. 21, 1890. further PARTICULARS FROM W. S. HART'S APIARY. I was greatly surprised to find the engraving of my photograph, sent you a short time ago. I sent it, as 1 thought it quite a pretty picture, and one that would interest you. T am pleased to have it in GL.EAN1NGS, and especially so since it is so excel- ently well done. I am not an expert judge of such work, but it seems to mo that it is one of the best engravings that I ever saw. The hives, as you suggest, though not the Simplicity, are much like them; and when makintr my first one I embodied a good many featun s of that hive. I claim no merit for my hive over the Simplicity, except that it was a little easier for me to construct with the tools at hand. It takes the L. frame, the best of all for ex- tracted-honey production in thi« Sr ^tp Thegroiinl is kept clean under the trees ami about the hives, only by the vigorous use of the hoe every little while through the summer. Vegetation grows rank in I the Slimmer, but in the winter the ground will re- main quite clean for weeks after a hoe' ng. ' Bradford, N. H., Sept. 8. W. S. Hart. 694 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. pejviEY OeiiaMN. CITY MARKETS. Albany.— Honev— We liave received up to date, 463 cases of comb and 40 packages ot extracted lion- ey. Fancy clover coutinues scarce, and we have made sales of 1-lb. sections as high as 18 cts. Medium grade clover sells at 14@]6c. Buckwiieat, 1-lb. sec- tions, 12(g),13; IK to 2 lb. sections, 1U@12. We never knew the demand so good for extracted at this early date. We quote Vtaiu. Chas. Mcculloch & Co., Sept. 20. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Kansas City.— Ho»iej/ —The demand for comb honey still continues good, and the supply still con- tinues light. We quote choice white 1-lb. sections at 16@18; choice light, 1-lb. comb at 14@1 6; dark, 10@12. Extracted, white, 6@7; dark, 5(5*6.— Hcestfoa;, 2.5. Clemons, Mason & Co., Sept. 20. Kansas City, Mo. Cincinnati.— Ho7iey.— There is a good demand for all kinds of honey. Arrivals are fair. We quote choice comb honey at 14@16 in the jobbing way. Ex- tracted, byi@S on arrival. Beeswax is in good de- mand at 24@26 on ari'ival, for good to choice yellow. Sept. 22. Chas. F. Muth,' Cincinnati, Ohio. St. Louis.— ifo7ier/.— There is no appreciable change in the market. Comb is scarce, with good demand; but it must be light to bring top prices. We are very nearly cleaned out of extracted. Beeswax, lirime, 27. D. G. Tutt Gko. Co., Sept. 19. St. Louis, Mo. Columbus.— HoHfi/.—('omb honey selling at 18 cts. for choice white clovei-. Market is active, and well cleaned up. All shipments of choice goods meet with ready sale. Earle Click enger, Sept. 18. Columbus, Ohio. Boston.— Ho^icj/.— We quote best white - clover, 1-lb. section.s, 17(g>18; 2-lb., 1.5@16. Extracted, 7>^@9. No beeswax on hand. Blake & Ripley. Sept. 20. Boston, Mass. Detroit.— JJo^iej/.-There is no white comb honey in the market, and fall honey is selling at 13@14e. Extracted, mS.—Bceswax, 26@27. Bell Branch, Mich., Sept. 19. M. H. Hunt. New York.— H . Y For Sale.— 1000 lbs. white alfalfa comb lioney, in 12-lb. cases, at 16c per lb.; also 4'1{)0 lbs. ex-tracted, very fine, in 7.5-lb. cans, at 10c per lb. J. T. Clapp, Supt. Denver Land Co., 19-22db Broonifleld, Bouldei' Co., Colo For Sale.— 1000 lbs. of buckwheat comb honey, in 1-lb. sections. D. F. Lashier, 19-20d Hooper, Broome Co., N. Y. For Sale.— 50 one-gal. tin cans of white clover extracted honey ; very fine and white, 1 eglnning to granulate some. 1 want 10 cts. per lb here G. L. Jones, Grand Ridge, LaSalle Co., 111. For Sale.— 25 000 lbs. of the very finest honey, in scant lib sections; put up in white basswood cases holding 12 sections. A very fancy jot. The price is 20c per lb. on board cars here, \vijo wants the lot? Address L. W. Baldwin & Son, Independence, Mo. 19tfdb Wanted.— One or two thousands pounds of nice comb honey. Wiite. giving amount on h>ind and price wanted. A. D. Ellingwood, Berlin Falls, N. H. 17tfdb. Wanted.— White comb and extracted honey; state price, package, etc. B.Walker. ]7tfdb Capdc, Mich , or Prairie du Chien, Wis. For Sale.— E0,( 00 lbs. of extra fine sage honey in 60 lb. tin cans. Also two carloads ot light amber honey, for sale at 6c per lb., f o. b. L. E. Mercer & Sons, Ventura, Ventura Co., Cal. 19tfdh ->«iiorcEK- ♦)( HONE Y)(^ FOR SALE ADDRESS JAMES HEDDON, DOWAGIAG, MICH. tS'In respondinfr to this advertiseiiunt mentiun Gi.KA.vi.Mis. NEW FIRM. W. D. SOPER & CO. We are now in sliape to manufacture every thing needed in the apiai-y. Hives, .sections, packing- bo.xes, etc., made to order. Get our prices before buying elsewhere. W. D. SOPER A CO.. lis A 120 Washington St., Jackson, Mich. t^In responding to tliis advertitienient mention Glkaninos. DON'T SPEND AWL YOUR MONEY Before reading this; 12 Red Raspl)erries, 60; 12 Blackberries, 85c'; 12 Currants. 7Uc; 12 Gooseberries, 90c; 12 Grai)evines, 3 kinds. Concord, Brighton. Niag- ara, fl. 60; I.iliuni HaiTisi, the true Bermuda Easter Lily, tine large l)iillis, 30, .50, and 7.5c. All free by mail. Catalogue free. THEODORE JENNINGS, Box 69, Port Chester, N. Y. [^"In restiondinK to tliis advt- rti.seineiit nn-ntion Gi.kanings. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. I have 30 nice hybrid and 35 young black queens for sale. Send me 50c and get one of them. 16-17-18d A. D. Ellingwood, Berlin Falls, N. T. Six hybrid queens at 25 cts each; these queens are young and extra proiilic: three of them pro- duce bees that show about all the markings of pure Italians. L B Smith, Cross Timbers, Johnson Co., Texas. CONVENTION NOTICES. The next convention of tlie Yorli and Cumberland Bee keep- ers' Association will he held at Goodwins Mills, Me., Oct. 18, 1890. All persons interested are invited. Waterboio', Me., Sept. 20, 1890. C. W. Costellow, Sec"y. The 23d semi-annual session of the Central Michigran Bee- keeppi's' Association will meet in Pioneers' Room, Capitol, Lansing, Mich., on Wednesday. Oct 15. Everybody interested, come. Ladies are cordially invited to attend. (Irand Ledge, Mich. W. A. Barnes, Sec'y. Vol. XVIII. OCT. 1, 1890. No. 19. TERMS: Jl.OO Per ANNUM. IN ADVANCK;! 1? c>+ nTJ -i t>Ti a rl -j-in 7 i? 9' ? 2Copies for$1.90; 3£or«2.75; SforM.OO; HlO LU/U Ul/O rt/t>LV V IV J. O t (J . 10 or more, 75 ets. each. Single num- I ber, 5 ets. Additions to clubs may be , PUBLISHED SE5U-MONTHLT BY made at club rates. Above are all to I ^ J ffQQJ MEDINA, OHIO. be sent to one postoffice. f Clubs to different postoffices, not less I than 90 ets. each. Sent postpaid, in the J U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- 1 tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 I ets. per year extra. To all countries t not of the U. P. U., 42 ets. per year extra. SOME aUESTIONS IN REGARD TO CYPRIANS AND SYRIANS. KXl'KKIKNCK IX KKC.Vlil) TO FI.KtHT IX THE WIXTKK TIMi;. DOOLITILK S CLKAXSIX(. Several {japstions have bp.Pii sent in for inc to auswpi': and as the most, of tlicm arc appro- priatp for tliis tinip of year. I uill. with your pci-mission. Mr. Editor, answer tliem througli the columns of (ii,KAXiX(is. tuiswerins tliem by I ui in ber. 1. "Can Cyprian and Syrian liees he distin- guislied. by their color or inai'king><. from tlie Italian bee or from each other?" Well, that depends whether the asker of the u/.y.led that it is no wonder the above (piestion was asked by one not thoroughly ijostcd. :.'. "Do the Cyprians and Syrians rear more hrood than tiie Italians?" Yes. as a general rule they do. The Cyprians. in my oinnion, would be an acquisition, were it not for their vindictiveness, which is so great that it can not be tolerated. They commence breeding more profusely, early, than any other bee with which I am ac(iuainted. thus getting many bees on the stage of action just in the right time for the white-clover honey harvest: w hile \\ hen the harvest is w(dl under way they rear no more brood, to become useless consum- ers, than do the Italians. I never parted with anv thing in the bee line with more i-eluctance than I did with the Cyi)iian bee. The Syrians are verv ditt'erent in this locality, regarding brood-rearing, from either the Cyprians or the Italians. They do not begin I'earing brood to much more than supply the waste of the hive till tlie lioney harvest c()mmenc(\s. when they go to brood-rearing on the most extensive scale, this brood consuming the larger pai't of the honev gathered by the few bees they iiave at th(> beginning of the harvest: wiiile this hrood. after it has hatched into l)ees. becomes a con- sumer of the little hon(\v they did not consume while in the brood form. I had from two to six Syrian colonies of hees for four years, and each fall I had to give them nearly. all of their win- ter stores in the shape of frames of sealed hon- ev taken from my Italian colonies. During tills time I succeeded in taking about .">() li)s. of inferior coml) honey from them. Of all the bees I ever had in my ai)iary. the Syri:nis jjroved much the poorest. vSome speak well of them, and I thiid< that they might ijrove better than with me where the season is of long dura- tion for honey. '.\. "Some say that bees need a cleansing flight where wiiitcred in the cellar: others say that such a flight is unnecessary. Which is right? I do not wish to carry mine from the cellar till time to .set them out for good, unless it is actually neci'ssary." It used to be thought. i>y nearly all. that hees should tie carried fi'om the cellar on pleasant H96 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. (lays (luring the wiiitci' for a fly; but of lato years most of our best apiarists bcliovc this is of no sp(-cial b(^n(^Ht. 1 used to carry mine out. up to about t\\ olve years ago. At tliat time I commenced to experiment by so airanging in the fall that I could carry a ])ai't out without disturbing the rest: and when there came a warm day these were carried out. and the rest l(^ft undisturbed. "J'he result i)roved that, on the whole, those not touched wintered a little bett(>r, if any thing, than did those taken out: consequently I have not carried a colony out of ;''ie cellar for a cleansing flight during the last n yeai's; only as two oi' thiee have been L.irried out and fed. as I feared they would starve befoi'e spi'ing. Some say, " Leave them as long as they ar(> quiet;*' but my experience has been that there is nothing gained by cariy- ing out the uneasy ones, should thei'e be any such; for if they are going to die. carrying out for a flight d(jes not se(^m to help tlu^in much if any. 4. '• V\'ould there be any injury to bees if })lacf^d in a cellar under a kitchen "where there is lots of noise all winter?" If the bees are so arranged that no jar comes to them, so fai' as my experience goes, noise does no harm. It is the jar tluit arouses bees in the winter, not noise \\itliout jari'lng. To illustrate: In sighting my rifl(> one pleasant winter day Ifin^d it within' eight feet of two or thiee hivesof bees. Just before tiring I listened at the entrance of these hives and heard the low hum of the bees which we always hear: but befoi'e I had tired ten shots these same bees were all in an uproai-. many coming to the en- trance. At the time I laid it to the noise: but thinking differently a few days afterward. I again lired the same number of shots 50 feet in front of the hives (the first having been tired in the rear), .so that the noise might j'each them at the entrance, and they were not disturbed In the least. I now finnl at the same distance as at first, when they became agitated the same as before. (;. ,M. Dooi.ittlk. Koiodino, N. Y., 8ept. 1(5. Friend D., we are exc(^(:'dingly ol)lig( d to you for your answers on th(> above subjects. I be- lieve we almost if not entirely agree w ith you in regard to Cyprians and Syrians. — In I'egard to the cleansing flight in winter time. I think tile general decision is about as you give it. So many have testified to excellent wintering right under tlic kitchen, where there is lots of noise, we can not think the noise would be any objec- tion, providing the hives rest on the ground, and tlie jar of the floor does not shake the hi\'es. CALIFORNIA. TIIK NIJ.SAXCK OF ODD-SIZKI) FKAMES. In my California letter on swarming I did not say any thing about th(> swarm that took an old oil-can for a lumie. nor the one that built in the hollow shell of an old pmniikin. nor yet of the one that came down llie chimney into the tire- place below, to the astonishment of the family in the room. This last was do\\ n near the riv- ei', where there is more timber than here. Such ■I'e sonu> of the wonders of Califoi'nia bees. They are put into all soi'ts of boxes for hives. Nail-kegs, baj'rels. and stor(>-boxes I have seen used. Biven where regulai' hiv(>s ai'e made, they are nuide according to the size that the luml)er will cut best for. nu)re than to any regular or standard size. A dealei' in supplies Jiei'e showed me his patterns for cutting foundation by: and how many do you think tliere were? About 30. I should say. though I did not count them. It is everywhere evident in California bee-keejj- ing. that the bees are made to be secondary to other consido-ations. They are not valued here as they are in the East. The tixtvncs of an a|)i- ary. including liixcs, contain a larger per cent of the value of an apiary here than there. It is not so haixl to increase here. Sul])huring, or killing bees, is often done to get the lioiny. wher(» some one has taken a swarm or two in a box or keg some months before. In the ajiiary we bought, we found about four sizes of frames for the same size of hive. The hives and frames were substantially made of good material, and would have been good pro])- erty had the maker fortunately understood the ))roper size of a bee-space. I can say that I un- derstood fai- better what th(^ itrojjei- distance was before commencing with bees at all than the owner of this apiary did. I I'cad the A I> C book, and had the fundamental principles well fixed b(>foi'e commencing. We found frames in our ajjiary that we could hardly jjush down b(>tween the waxy walls of the hiv(>. and frames that stood away fully "4 of an inch from the sides, and frames that did not ct>me within more than an inch of the top of the ones below. The bees were obliged to build in between in order to crawl up on the ujjper frames, which tnade very bad work when re- moving a frame. I suppose Mr. Hoot wouldn't tolerate such frames for a day longer than abso- lutely necessary, and I am sure we will not. for they would drive us out of b(^e-keeping alto- gether. Uuying and selling bees is much hin- dered here l)y the many sizes of hives used. The buying of be(>s usually means a transfer to your o\\ n size of fi'ames, and there is not much selling in lots less than a whole apiary. The avei-age California bee-kee])er is ai)t to ''lump" things, as the expression is. If it is a good yeai' he ex])ects a good yield of honey : and if a jjoor one. he reasons that it doesn't make much difference. I can not say that the bee-nten hei'c are as pr(3gressive and intelligent as they might be. Among the large bee-keep- ers are men of fully equal capacity to those in other lines of business; but it se(Mns to be re- S(n'ted to sometimes as a make-shift way of getting a living. Perhaps I am wi'ong about this, and the neglected appeaiance of many California apiaries may be due to the fact that persons of small means take this way to pro- cure a living, and stn tch theii' capital to ac- c(mti)lisli as much pi-ictical result as jjossible. so that the apijearance is much neglected. After- ward these i)ers(ms embark in other enter- prises, and leave the apiaries in the hands of others jtist comnuMicing business, so that no outlay is made in the \\ ay of taste and ap|)ear- ance. If the outward ai)peaiance of many api- aries and their suri'onndings were any index to the quality of the honey produced. I should not wonder tliat it brings a low price in the \\ orld's maikets. Some one who could get \\\) extracted honev as nicely as ISIi-. Terry does iiis sti-aw- berries would doubtless find it to pay. It is jjossible to cleanse oil-cans so that they are clean, and free from taint: yet carelessness in their use has doubtless done much to lower the quality of the California product. BKKS AND FIU'IT IX CAMFOUNIA. "Bees versus fruit" is a question I sui)p()se you who are old bee-kee|xrs have discussed un- til vou hardly care to say any thing more about it. lint it is all new to m(>: and when I saw the fruit of mv neighbois covered with my bees I supp(jse I felt that tliere were at least two sides to the (|uestion. It is claimed by some here, that the bees eat into Sound fruit to obtain the 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. (597 juice. Otlicis say thai tlicy take only injured fruit that birds iuive tirst worked on. I liave taken neithei- view, hut so far have only seen tiie little fellows run over the fruit, lapping with the wondei'ful appendage tliey have for taking honey, and not using th(> parts witli whicli tlu-y uncap comb honey. 1 can see. how- ever, tluit. by constantly taking away tlie juices, the dry sul)stance of the fruit would soon shrink very much when uni)rotected by the tilin of dry juice tiiat would otherwise form a covering over tlie injured part. In this way fruit melts away wlu>re there are many bees to kee]) the juices cl(>aned off. and the owikm' n\a,\' reasonably atti'ibute a loss to the agency of liees. jNly neiglibors have Immmi lenient in these matters, and refused to accept any tiling for tlieii' losses. Yesterday, wliile piclving figs I came to a wliit(» lig-tree tliat luid a sound as of a swarm, because of the many bees that were working on the fruit. Grapes are work(Hl on by them until only the shell or skin is left: but. as in the case of the tigs, it is fruit that luis begun to candy in the juices, and is not ripening per- fectly. A mean between the entire proliibition of bees in fruit-districts and the i)utting of large apiaries in jjositions close to fi'uit-farms, espe- cially whei'i' othei' locations will answer as well, would seeni to b(» the I'ight solution of tiiis question. Where one man owns both bees and fruit there will never be any trouble, and there should not be in any case. I was rather sui-pi-ised to find honey in the hives, almost ready for anotlun' extracting. The bloom of most of the tlowei'S is gone, and I did not suppose the bees wcvo getting enough fi'om the fruit to accumulate much stoi'cs. Jiut I no- ticed that the bees working on fruit would get either such a large load, or the effects of the juices were such that they wei'e hardly able to take wing, and seemed half drunken. I have caught tlie great steel-blue wasp, witii scarlet wings, when it was working on fruit, as it seemed to lose fear. This wasjj is over 2 inches long, and is very beautiful. There is alfalfa •down in the valley, aliout three or four miles away, and I have hoped that our bees \\'ould find it. as it would liel]) much in the present dearth of bloom on the high land. I am send- ing my honey home to niy brother in Ohio: and there is satisfaction in thinking of my old iKMghbors and friends getting my honey to use. (rod bless them all. and draw them near to him with the bands of love. The yield this year has not been as great as we at one time expected. We shall get about 4(i or 45 cans in all. w liich is not a large yield from 70 liives. The white sage put fort h mnltit udes of buds which did not mature into lilooni. Had they done so. four apiai'ies like ours wouhl not have kejit them emptied of an ordinary honey de|)osit. Hut tiiey failed, for lack of moistuic. pei'liajis. and we are content with less than might have been. There has been fruit to work with and engage our time, (lod has been mei-ciful, and we do not have a right to com- jilain at all. COMliS MKI/riN(; DOWX WITH HKAT. We shaded our hives, as it is necessai'y to do hei'e. and ours were in a low place where the sun struck strongly. An oil-box costing live cents made two shades. One very hot day while we were away in Los Angeles a hi\'e nudted down into a mass almost. It seemed to be because of a large stone that stood on the north side, and reflected tlie rays into the hive. The same day a man in the village who had but oiu' hive (or box. rather), in whicdi the bees built to tin ti)p inside, had it melt down li.\ the heat of the sun. (-'omb lion y at Iri'.j cents, or nicely extracted lionev sent to somi' friend in the East t() sd for (inji thing. Where one can disjjosi! of his product direct to the consumer there is a good lirotit: but you can not well do this if you go i)ack in the new districts away from the cities, where the best bee pastui'e is. Hnt if near a small village or town, there may be a pi'etty smait local demand, as the majority of the \n>o- ple will be engaged in other lines of business, and may b(> willing to give you a better pi-ice right at home than you could obtain by sending to the large markets. p"I.XTTl^YTIOX OF PRICES IX CALIFORXIA. Prices fluctuate wonderfully here, especially on heavy articles like potatoes, which range from nothing uji to 3 cents a pound. Every thing of food is sold by the pound, with the sin- gl(^ exception, I thiid\. of comb honey. Husiness does not move as steadily ami systematically here as in the older East. There are more ups and downs. True courage and moral worth are recognized here as quickly as anywhere in the country. A man's clothes or his |)edigree counts but little. They make a quick estimate of a man of \\iiat there is in him: and if he has good elements of character, and \Nauts to do what is right, they seem quick to understand it, and re- ward it accordinglv. W. S. Ritchie. Sierra Madre. Cal., Sept. 8, 1890. Friend R., I remember vividly almost every jjoint you make: and I thank you for your can- did and honest statement in regard to the mat- ter of bees and fruit. I noticed your concluding thought, that people in California make a quick estimate as to a man's real value. Fine clothes and plenty of money do not of themselves give him a place in society where other things are lacking. I expect to see California lead us in many things: and I hope and pray that it may be in placing a high estimate on the value of true Christianitv. THE FOUR CLASSES OF BEE-KEEPERS. A I'HOI'OSKI) 8-FUAMK CHAFF HIVK: 8 VS. 10 FKA.MF, L. HIVES, A(iAIN. Mr. /?nof.-— Now that your great rush of busi- ness is over, and you have had a littli' time to rest and cultivate charity towai'd those that want ■■ ii'regular supplies." I wish to make a sn<,rgestion of two. which I lioije will result in adding a new(?) hive to the regular list. l''irst. let mi' say. in commendation of the chati and Dovetailed hives, t hat. for the class of bee-k<'epers for which they aie lifted theyar(^ the nearest peid'ect of any tliing on the market. If w(> classify be(>-keepei-s accoi'ding to their nu'thod of wintei'ing. considered in connection with the kinil of honey produced, whet her comb or extracted, we shall have the four classes sug- gested by the follow ing headings: 1. Indoor wintering, comb honey. :.'. Indoor wintering, extracted honey. :i. Outdoor wint<'ring. exti-acted honey. 4. Outdoor wintering, comb honey. The verdict of the leading honey-iiroducers seems to be, that, for the production of comb 69S GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. L honey, the hiood-iicst sliould contain oiglit S. franics; and for cxtracti'd honey, ton. I l)elieve tliis verdict is concuri'ed witli at the Home of tiie Honey-bees. Upon tlie subject of outdoor \\'intei'iiifr. there may be some divei'sity of opinion as to tlie su- jjeriority of the chaff hive; but tliere lias been )io uncertain sound in regard to tlie mattei- in tlie editorial tcacliing of (!i,KA>'iN(is. as we liave l)een re|)eatedl\' a(i\ised not to winter liees out of flooi's in Simiilicities. l)ut to lift frames and all into chaff liives. Jjittle has been said in regard to tlie wintei- ing (jualities of the Dovetailed iiive. even by Ernest, wiio has been so enthusiastic over it in othei' I'esjM'cts. Th<' senior editoi' lias stated quite unreservedly, that he regards th(>m infeiior to Simplicities as a pi'otection against cold, wind, and rain. Now. the re(|uii'ements are met for those that jjioduce comb honey and wintei' indoors, by the eight-frame Dovetailed hive; foi' those that produce extracted h()ne\'. and w intei' indoors, by the ten-frame Dovetailed hiv(>, and foi- those that extract and wintei' out of doors, by either the one or two stoiw chaff hive; but according to your own teachings you make no liive that is adajtted both to the production of comb honey and for outdoor wintering. I think I am safe in estimating that fonr-tifthsof the ten thousand bee-keepers that subsci'ibe for (Ji.kanings b(^- long to this nii|)rovided-for class, and that they keej) a larger numlier of colonies of bees, and produce moi'e tons of honey, than any of the other classes — I was about to say. more than
    ad-air space, so called. This air-space w ill be suftieient for moderate climates; but for colder regions, possibly even for the locality of the Hom(> of the Honey-bees, we shall be obliged to use additional packing. To accomplish this, we make a cushion in the form of a ring, just large enough to put around the eight-frame Dovetailed hive, and another cushion on the cover. The case would be then just large enough to slip over the whole snugly, and crow d dow 11 into the sand oi' sawdust, as before mentioued. The expense of the case, when put on the market in lots of 100. would be about 3.5 cents each in the flat. As the chaft', or some absorbent, can be obtained cheaply in most lo- calities, each bee-keeper can make for himself the cushions he would need. Now. i)lea.se b<»ai- in mind that we have tested a similar arrange- ment only one season, and on a rathei' limited scale. AVhile it was successful last winter, the weather was too warm to pi'ove any thing. This will make the cheapest double-walled ar- i-angement ever before offered in the market; and if successful, I do not see any reason why it- should not sujjersede all other more expensive^ double-walled hives, because it can be so readi- ly adapted to eight-frame hives already in use. that have no projecting porticoes. You say. friend K.. that <'ven GLEANiX(is will admit that a ten-frame hive is better for ex- tracted honey. While W(> did so, the junioi- editor wishes to argue now for eight-frame hiv(>s exclusively, both foi' comb and for extract- I'd honey. Perforated zinc, when placed over a brood-nest of eight frames, promises to work a revolution. Read what L. E. Mercer said on page ()74, last issue, in regard to the proper size of a brood-nest in connection with perfoi-ated zinc. If we can force a queen to fill eight frames of brood below, by the us(> of the zinc, let us have tin- use of the upper story for ex- tracting combs. Mr. Meicer says, and our own experience, and the experience as well of thou- sands of b(>e-k<'epers. goes to show that, as soon as the queen has tilled .seven or eight frames, she will, unless restrained, go above and lay. I believe that intelligent bec^-keeping of the future, w ith eight frames. Laiigstroth size, will 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 699 rt'ar all the bees that will he iifccssary for a good rousing colony, provided that those bees are reared ut time for the honey harvest. This is a fruitful theme, and we trust that our sub- scribers will thoroughly discuss it. Let some of those California bee-kings — that is, those ex- tensive extracted-honey men — give us soni(^ liints. EnxEST. In addition to what Ernest has said above. I wish to touch upon another point. I do not be- lieve that any hive will ever become |)opnlar that is made with the intention of removing the packing or winter covei-ing in summer time. After you have once protected a hive suitably for wintering, do not think of removing the Ijrotection in the summei- time. Tlie ])other. com plication, loose pieces, litter, etc.. is too much. esiM'cially where hives aii' handled by the hundreds or thousands. Scjoner or later, putting on packing will be neglected, and a great many times it will be off at the very time it is needed. Ei'nest"s talk about 3.5 cts. reTninds me somewhat of my visions of cheap things years ago. Make your protection in the shape of something good and substantial. Have it painted, and nice: and if you do this, it will come i)i-etty near a chatf hive made a little smaller, with the view of having only 8 instead et; diameter of t)()i'e. 6 inches; conservative estimate of i)ressure, 17") to U(X) llis. iier square ineli, and discliarg-ing- eveiy ininiUe over 4IHI0 fialloiLS of water. It is c;oiicede(l to be the artesian wonder of the world. Hy looking closely you will see a pool of water that has collected round about the well. .Judg- ing fi'om the buildings, we suppose the smaller jet was .screwed on when the picture was taken. By all means, friend C, .send ns some of those specimens. We have a cui-iosity to know what is down in the ground where these subterranean waters come from. Four thousand gallons of water would be a hundred barrels of about the size of an oil-barrel, every minute. Just think of it! This'watei'. if all utilized, should irrigate almost a whole county. Friend ('.. will v(ni wooxsorKi;!' s famot AKTKSIAX WKI.r.. please tell us how (lec|) they had to drill for if.' and have there not been other wells tlrilled in that vicinity, tosee if thesamesubti^rranean siij)- ply may not be touched from other localities? Is it really the largest artesian well in the woi'ld? Perhaps the readers of (Jlkaxixos can kindly enlighten ns. One reason why I ask is becaii.se such wells are really of more value than gold- mines, provitiing the flow is permanent, and I ])elie\'e it usually is. Voii see. I ha\i' a little (Mie of iu\' ow n. ll runs only .">() barrels a da.v. and it won't carry the water oxer IS jiudies high: but still 1 feel very iiapiiy over it for all that. It is awayilowii in tlir creek bottom. where it is difliciill to utilize it : iiul if the water would rise only three feet insieail of half that much. I could send a part of it ii]) to the factory by a hydraulic ram. The sinings scattered all ov<"r our land should be utilized. Spring water is too valuable to be allowed to go to waste. 700 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. SDME EXTRACTS FROM FOWLER & WELLS' WATER-CURE MANUAL. THE GREAT " SECKET." OK '' DISCOVERY."' COPY rightp:i) IX 1847, and printed in 18.50. I wish all readers of Geeanings and the Ml- crocosvi would i)\it your articles on the subject, and this reply of Dr. Hall's, side by side, and then decide which shows the spirit of an honest, Christian gentleman. My symijathies are with you, because I be- lieve the principle on which you acted in this matter is right, and that your motive was pure- ly unselfish: so I take great picasui-c in sending you some extracts copied verbatim fi'om an old water-cure inmnuil. The book referred to is *• The Water-cure Manual," by Joel Shew. M. D., copyrighted in 1847. printed by Fowler & Wells III 1S50. Speaking of these injections Dr. Shew writes: " They may be repeated again and again, in as great quantity as is desired. ... A good mode. too. is to take a small injection, a tum- blerful, moreor less, that is i-ctaincd pernument- 1 y, without a movement Ix't'ore morning. This is vary soothing to the nervous system; aids in securing sound sleep, and, by its absorption in the coats of the bowels, dilutes acrid matters therein, tonifying and strengthening likewise those parts, and aiding materially in bringing about natui'al movements." After naming various diseases foi- which this remedy is invaluable, he says: '•This statement will cause sneering, I know: but it is no fancy sketch. The thorough wash- ing out. so to say, of the lower bowels, by which the peristaltic, or downward, action of the whole alimentary canal, is promoted, and by the absorption or transudation of water its con- tents are moistened and diluted, and the whole of the abdominal circulation completely suffus- ed by that blandest and most soothing of all fluids, pure water. Whoever understands well the sympathies and tendencies of these parts of the human system will at once perceive th(> truth of what I aitirm."' Let me add: Whoever reads this can at once perceive the truth of what you affirm: viz., that Dr. Hall has simply revised one of th(> old methods of water cure, and has no business to call it a "secret"" or "discovery,"' or to sell it as such. E. J. Eairi). Island. Pa.. Sept. 11. ]\Iany thanks, my good friend B. Since you mention it, I remember now that water cure was one of my hobbies wlum I was only eleven years old. vSoon after, I bought the book you mention, of Fowler & Wells; and when I first saw Dr. Hall's discovery there was something strangely familiar to me about it; but as it was toward forty years ago, it is not much wonder that I had forgotten where I obtained my in- formation. When about ten years of age I was a very weak, puny, feeble child; and a travel- ing lecturer on phrenology and water cure gave me my first ideas, and started me in daily bath- ing. I distinctly remember this: That in two or three months I astonished the whole family by taking a pail of water from outdoors, breaking the ice, then washing all over in the ice water, without feeling any more unpleasant than you do, my friends, when you wash your face in ice- cold water. After my bath, the new doctor Ijrescribetl walking a mile before breakfast. Luckily we had a cow past\ire just half a mile away, and that fixed it just right. I was ap- pointed to fill the post of di'iving the cow home before breakfast. I haixlly ne(>d tell you that, under the influence of the daily baths and morning walk. I soon developed a degree of health and vigoi' that I had never known be- fore in my life. I think I read the book through several times; but, of course, I did not pay very much attention then tothenuitter (tf water cure by injections. MAMMOTH PEAVINE CLOVER. AEI, OTHER SOURCES OF NECTAR PRACTICALLY A FAILURE DURING THE PAST SEASON. The honey harvest is ovei'. My ci't)p is gathered and marketed. I have sold my comb honey at Kicts. and my extracted at 1?>. "Nearly all my comb honey, 20l)() lbs., was obtained from my lironson apiary, numbering (50 colonies. That apiary is located where the bees have access to probably bet\\'een 300 and 400 acres of mam- moth clover, and the honey wasnearly all obtain- ed from that source. Every year furnishes me with additional proof that the mammoth, or ])eavlne clover, is the best honey-])lant w(> have on the Western Reserve. ]\Iy Injme apiary, which is located about n miles north of my Uronson apiary, did not average 5 lbs. to the colony — only ^--g as much as the Kronson apiary. I wish to call your attention to an invention of my friend H. R. Boardman, which I think is of more value to the bee-keeper than any other invention pertaining to our business which I have seen or heard of in a long time; and that is. a solar wax-extractor. I ])urchase(l one of him about six weeks ago, and it does the \\ork per- fectly for which it was intended. The wax is extracted from old combs readily, and without any waste what(>ver, with less trouble than it would be possible to extract it any other way. BOARDMAN'S solar WAX-EXTRACTOR, AND ITS EFFICIENCY. I think any man who has 50 lbs. of wax to extract, a year, would save the price of the ex- tractor in two or three years by using one. I think you will do the bee-keepers of this coun- try a great favor if you will get of friend lioard- man a complete description of his extractor, and publish it in Gleanings. I don't know wheth- er he intended to have his invention patented or not, but I think not. My whole crop of honey, both comb and ex- tracted, will amount to over 4000 lbs. — not a very heavy crop, but pretty fair for this year. If I had not sold, I could now sell my comb honey at 18 cts. S. F. Newman. Norwalk, O., Sept. 19, 1890. Friend N., you have given us just the kind of report in regard to the peavine clover we hav<' wanted. Now, then. It is pretty certain that bee-keeping can be made to pay wherever this clover can be introduced by the hundred acres; and that is the way to raise any honey-plant st) as to make it really practicable. Another thing, the quality of the honey will be equal to any in the world. All that is necessary is to introduce it and furnish a sufficient inducement to the farmers round about you to grow it largely. Terry's teachings will probably dovetail in, to the mutual advantage of both the bee-keeper and farmer; and, to sum it u]), we may say clover is the rock-bottom of success, whether 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 701 you wisli to raisi' honey, potatoes, or strawber- ries. 1 am really glad to have you give friend Boardman such a reconiineudation. Now, friend B.. tell us all about this wonderful invention, and whether you have them to sell, and at what price. It can not be that they cost very much, if it will pay a man to have one w ho produces only .'iO lbs. of wax a year. ^ — •— ^ EENEST'S NOTES OF TRAVEL AMONG THE BEE-KEEPERS OF YORK STATE. HOFFMAN S; TIIF. UOFFMAX FUAMF, ETC. After bidding good-by to our friends the Van Deusens. we started on our jcmrney again. INIr. El wood driving, and I hanging on to the bicycle at the back of t lie seat. ^Vilenever w(> struck a rut or hole in tlie road, it gave my arm a good jerk. It may have seemed somewhat of an anomaly to |)assers-by for a bicycle rider and his wheel both to be carried in I'ear of (;)j/ vehicle, folks along the road would have stared evi'ii more than they did. for our Starkville friend \\eighs more than :.'()l) pounds. As we went o\'er the I'oads. 1 noticed in this hilly country that th(> effort of late years had b(>en to (ivoiil hills rather than to go straight over them. Although somewhat paradoxical, many times, the longi^st \\ ay to a point anujug these hills is the shortest. The early settlei's formerly made their roads go in a bee-line over the hilis, or very nearly so. The result was, there were some terrible climbs for poor horses. But later generations discovered tluit they could make bettei' tinu- by going further and (lyoimtl the hills. As ]Mr. Elwood was to take a somewhat dif- ferent route tluui the one he had before taken, he had to nuike incjuiiies along the way. The point we wanted to I'ench \\as the honu' of .Julius Hotfnian. two or three miles out of C'ana- joluirie. We noticed on this journey what I had befoi-e and have sul)se(|uently observed, that residents ahuig the roadway very often have vei'y crud(> ideas as to distances. Foi- in- stance, we would in(juii'e of some old I'ustic ho\\' fai' it was to the next town. The reply would l)e (we'll say). "Five miles." After having traveled half an hour, on the right road, per- haps o\ir next infornumt would say that it was six mill's. It was i)erfectly evident tiuitoneor both (probiil)iy tile lirstl must ha\'e been wrong. After dri\ing along in this sort of way \\'e finally came to within a resijectable distance of ('anajohari<'. which used to be the old home of the ncc-l;c('i)crf<' ErrhaiKjc, a monthly bee- journal edited and publislied by .J. H. Xeliis. later by lloiik i*v- Peet. It was discontinued in iss:i. If i I'eniember coirectly. Mr. Nellis is still located in t'anajoliai'ie. though not now a bee-kee|)er. If we had had a little nnii'e time I should have liked veiymuch to call on him and exchange greetings, in view of his past services as a ])ee-k<'e])er and a Ix-e-kceplng editor. I have a kliidlv sympathy lor all this latter class of people, especially as wc know somewhat of the trials of publishing a bee-jouinal. We did not go to C'anajohaiie direct, but nuide a short cut dii'ectly to Mi'. Ilotfiiiairs home. Mr. 11. foiiiieih' li\ed at Fort riaiii: but lately he has been located as above. On arriving at the place we found a very pretty residence, and a general ajjpearance of thrift. Not know ing exactly the date when 1 should be at Mr. HotTman's. and not having written him. I was a little uncertain whether I should be able to lind that gentleman at home: but fortu- nately we found liini there. He is not as old a man as I expected to see. We found him to b(» an intelligent and jmigressive bee-keeper, an energetic rei)i'es<'ntative of his " fatherland." (iermany. After dinner we went out into the home yard. I told ^Nlr. Hoffman that I was anxious to see him handle those frames. rilF. HOFFMAN FKAMK. He handles his frames— the Hoffman, before described in these columns— with raiiidity and eas(>. While he did not reinov(> and reiilace them any more rapidly than Mr. Elwood did his closed ends. I am sure he manipulated them in less time than most of us would the hanging frame. In former years he tried the hauging frames thoroughly: but as li(> could not handle tlieni rapidly enough, and they were never I'eady for moving, he atlopted the lierleiisch top-bar. something after this pattern, and subse(|uently. if I remember, widened the end -bars near tli(> top, making what is generally known through this section of the country as the Hoffman frame. Here was a l)"e-keeper who had ."i(ii) or <'i()() colo- nies, and I think he uses only one assistant, and him only part of the tiiue. He attributes the reason w'liv he can run so many colonies in sev- eral different out-apiaries, ijractically alone, to the fact of his using fixed distances. He would oiien up a hive, unloose the follower, and then he would pick up five or six frames at a time, put them (low n by the side of the hive, and piu'haiis the next frame we picked up would have tlie queen. Then w hen he got ready to close the hive he would pick up all the frames that were leaning against the hive, and insert them hack in their iilacesimiiltaueously. With his two thunibs on the outside top-bar he would ci-owd all the rest of the frames together. One of the reasons why Mr. Elwood and Mr. Hoffman, and all the rest who use fixed frames, economize in time over those who use hanging frames, is in the final sijacing. It is true, both use a knife or a screwdriver to start the frames: but 1 miticed that ^Ir. Doolittle with his liangiiig frames also uses one: in fact, so do all who" use hanging frames on wood rabbets. As to the propolis sticking th(> closed ends to- gether, so as to make the manipulation dil'llcult, that is more in theory than in practice. Like Mr. Elwood. Mr. Hoffman could get his colonies ready to move on short notice. He had an ingenious wire-cloth button, so arranged that, by turning it. it cIoscmI the entrance with wire cloth, and. in less tinn' than it takes to tell it. he could lix up any of his colonies ready to move to an out-apiary. Mr. llolfiuan I'uiis for extracted honey only: and as he has produced ions of that article. 1 took occasion to ask- liiin about I'Mractors. He liad been using a Stanley automatic reversing inachine. While not altogi-flier pleased with it. he thought tln-re were a number of good features about it. He pi'elcrs soiuetliing of his ()wn of Hcrlei)SL'li and one or two otliers wlio advoeated l\-incli spacing. As he could not then lefer to the authority at the time of my visit, at my i'(>quest he |)rei)ared tlie article that ai)peai'ed on ])age (17.3 of our previ- ous issue. As usual. I explained that my time was limited and we should have to t)e moving. .Vft(>i- hitching up we bade ()nr fi-iend good-by and started on the road again. SHAKOX SI'l{IN(iS. The next point we reached was quite a cele- bi-ated pleasnre-i'esort. as above. Manv were there, botli for i)leasui'e and for health'. I do not know that I should object very much to spending a few davs hove' mvs(>lf.' Our tinu' was rather limited; and afterdi'iving hurriedly about, Mr. Elwood stopped in the rear of a large hotel, and asked if I should like to stej) around in front of the structure. I did so. and. presto! one of the most magnificent views of the Moliawk Valley m as spread out befon" me. Miles and miles of territory were to l)e seen off in the distance. (Jentlv cilrving this way and that \\as the Moliawk River. On tin' riglitand left, as far as the eye could reach, wei-e those beautiful hills. Distance lends enchantnnmt to hills to a bicyclei-. I wish 1 had the language to express the emotions that cann- to me then. I am not at all poetic: but our stenographer comes to my aid by quoting the words of the old song: Sweet is the vale wheie the Moliawk s'ently glides On its clear winding- way to the sea. I am very soriy indeed that I could not have uttered that on the spot: but. as Mark Twain says, we do our thinking after we get home. After feasting my (>ves. I went hurriedly hack to where my friend was holding the hoi'ses. I suppose he thought i was in an -awful sweat" to get off on the wheel again: but the fact was. Mrs. Root was exp(>cting me next day: and I knew that, if I did not arrive at Durham (m the mountains, where she was visiting with friends, at just the appointed houi'. sh(\ like a good many other mortals of her kind, would woi'rv. Much as Mr. Elwood had carted me about, lie insisted on carrying me over the first big hill. As I came to bid him good-bv. it was with some feeling of sori'ow. Our Starkville friend is a man with whom I feel it an honor to he ac- (luainted. He is not only an extensive bee- man, hut lie is progressive, and thoroughly alive to all that may benetit his brother-man", whethei' he be a bee-keeper oi' not. He is mod- est and somewhat reserved, and at tii-st not vei'y communicative, but has a loving heart when you come to know him. Before and after my very [ileasant visit I found all along my journ(\y that bee-keepei's generally hold him iii very high (>steeni. and I do not mu'ch wondei- at it. It was not my |)leasure to meet Caiit. Heth- ei'ington, one of his most intimate fi'iends: but T covet the pleasure of S(>eiug him sonn^ time. A FKW STHAV HITS. .lust at this i)oint I i-ecall tliat mv mother and my better half remind me that I have made no mention so fai' of bee-kee])ers* wives. .lust you ^vait. dear readers. There aic so manv things that I want to say that it is hai'd to ciowd "em all in at once. Another thing that I am reminded of. is. that these stray rambling thoughts may subject the bee-friends wlnmi I visited, to an unusual amount of corresiiondence. If I have not been exi^licit in details I would beg our subsci'ibei-s 1o writ<' to this office, i-ather than to the gentle- men I have mentioned. Most of them are ex- tensiv*^ bee-keejiers, and their time is quite fully occupied; and when we do get any corres- pondence at all from them, it ought to go. not to one individual, but to thousands of readers. I am reminded, also, that, from what I liave said about this section of York »State, a few perhaps prosjiective be(>-ke(>])eis will consider the ])roi)riety of nntving into these localities. Allow me to say that they are pretty well occu- pied by Ikm's already: and if any one thinks seriously of locating among these hills, he will have to buy out som(> bee-kee)jers already in possession of the teri'itory. if he wishes to be honorable about it. Elwood has 1300 colonies: Capt. Hetherington 3000. i)i()bably more; Mr. Tuniclitt', Mr. Smith, and one or two others, liavt^ peiiiajis among them another thousand colonies. I noticed that these out - apiarie.s were just as thickly crowded in as they could be and not overla]) each ()thei'"s territory. While I am quite firmly convinced that this is one of the finest bee-countries in the world, I do not wish to have the friends who so kindly entertained me have some one else come in with more be(>s, and overstock the fields. Come to tliink of it. I am sui'e no one will: therefore, please excuse me. These thoughts may seem a little out of place to interject right at this juncture: but if I do not give them liere. I am afraid I shall forget to do so. Well, here we are ON THE BlfVCT.E AGAIN. As Ave spent a little time in sight-seeing, it was about .5 o'clock when 1 left Mr. Elwood. I then had about tw<'lve or fifteen miles to make. At nightfall I arrived at . I could have gone further to the next town: but as this sec- tion of the country was. of course, entirely new to me I did not particularly relish traveling among the hills, unaccimipanied, unarmed, and alone. I realized that I had made somewhat faster time on the bicycle than we had when driving. As tin' ])lac<' was small it was not difficult to find a hotel, which, having entered. I called for suj)])er and lodging. My heart sank within mo. for I saw that it was one of those plac<'s where a bar was evidently doing a thriv- ing business. There were bottles and glasses; and while I did not feel at all inclined to patron- ize if. I felt very much disinclined to patronize the propi'ietor. even for such innocent things as supijer and lodging. However, my bicycle was leaned against one side of the room; and after washing I partook of a hearty supper. On re- turning to the ro(mi again I discovered that a number had come in to see "that new arrival " and the wh(>el. They were mostly local sports, and men whom I judged patronized the bar. They were not altogether choice in their lan- guage, and the comiiany was decidedly rough. I very much wished then that I had taken my chances of riding in the dark to the next stop- ping-place: but there was no helii for it then. I would have gone to my room, hut I did not exactly like to leave the bicycle to tin- tender mercies of tlios(> chaps. Ere long more came in, and then the drinking began. I fancied they eyed me rather suspiciously. Visions of robbery flitted jjast my eyes; and then I reflected how foolish I was. T carried but little ready cash, a small check, and a Watei'linry watch. They wouldn't touch me, csjx'cialh' if 1 displayed the aforesaid timeiiiece. Before I retired, swear- ing, disputing, and drinking had been cari'ied on to such an extent that I actually feard there would be a tight; in fact, it started, but the proprietor mollified the would-be lighters. 1 vowed then that I would never sto|i again in such a |)lace. even if I had to travel all night, unaccom))auied, unai'med, and alone, ovei' an 18; 0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUllE. 70;{ iiiifiiiiiiliiu- an escapes (i inches deep, and two that were^ miles ahead of me.'and wished to reach Durham .■> inches deep, that were left on the iiive for that day. lie very kindly gave me most com- over a week, not a bee was found in the sections plete directions. 'The result of it was, 1 was after from two to live hours, whicli showed that enabled to accomi)lisli my journey of 4') miles deijth gave success. easily in aliout six liours. aiui visited the before- Now. the way that I found the depth being mentioned bee - ke<'i)ei-s that day, for which tjicclew. is this: I was telling a friend about Mi-. V. has my thanks. After eating two or them, early in isss. He picked up a board s three Red .Vstrakhan ai)ples (oh liow good Ihey j,n^.||,.s wid'e. and from a strii) of wire cloth from tasted after my bicycle ridel) and taking a re- seven to eight inches wide we made ten cones l)y freshing drink, I took myself to tlie w lieel again, cutting it sciuare and i)Ulting live cones on each I 7'o /((■ coiithuK'iJ.] side of a lialf-inch board, with three-inch lioles. This let the cones have a good half-inch si)a,ce — ■ ^ between, except at the outlet. I saw him again in .luly, and learned that he could clean a case GETTING BEES OUT OF SECTIONS OR ,,,• sections in half an hour, of <'very bee. He EXTRACTING-CASES. set the escajM' crosswise of a hive-body, raised the cover-boai-d from the crate, gave the bees iiKK-Ksf Ai'Ks A .'.. Aug. 1. Mr. Dooliltle writes about then gave a little more smoke, put on the cover- getting the bees out of the sections and the ex- board, and hd't tliem. After looking at the tracting supers, and asks for an escape that can other liees a few moments we went back to the he put on at night, and take the sections off in escape, took the case of sections to the lioney- the morning. Terhaiis to hi'lp him and others, house, and not :.'."> iiees were to be found in tie a little experience of inv own and of others that case. We then looked at the iiniler side ot the I know inav help some. The main trouble with escape, and found it full of Ix-es. 'i'hesewcre all escapes, so far as I know, is the lack of jarred in front of the hive, ami the cover-board depth of the case to which the escape is attach- put on the section case below, liesides tlii.s ed: and. like some other things, accidental deep escape he had them three, four. live, aiid occurrences have given the clew. Without try- six inches deep, and with four. live, and six ing to take any laurels from any one. I will tell cones: and I learned that his results were like of the lirst escape that I evei' saw. which was my own— that the cones should not come nearer some years ago— I can not tell how many: but to th<' bees in the hive or case below than one it was taken from the old-fashioned cottage incli: that % sjiace above the board was just Hv-trap. and was made from two of the inside right; that six cones, bi-inging the corner ones pieces. They are ">' ; inches wide bv C) long, three inches from the corners eacii way. and hound all round witli tin. and beiitat right the other two in a row lengthwise, was the best: angles. They havi' eight holes. ■*„ inch in diani- that not less than a, two-inch hole slioiihl lie eter. made where the wii-e cloth is bent. Two used in the board, ami a three-inch hole is bet- of the.se were put into a box with sidi's and ends ter: that a doiilile cone is necessary. b<>caiise, it 704 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. a btM' on the outside can lick from a bee on the inside, they will learn the way back and forth: that there must be ample room in the escape- case below the board foi' the bees from the sec- tions to cluster, and oijli^e them to so down the sides of the case to the liiv<' or sections below, if you want your sections to be freed of bees quickly. I know, from what I used th(> escapes in 1888, "89, and "90, that I can have the sections freed of bees so I can handle them three times as fast as without the escape: but I don't want them less than 4^^ inches dee]), and I like them from 5 to () inches deep better. I can handle more honey alone with the escapes, and easiei'. than I can with a helper without the escai)es. Twen- ty-tive esi'ap(^s are as good as one man to handle 1(X) colonies of bees when taking off sections. Milford, Ct.. Aug. 14. H. L. Jeffrey. Many thanks, friend J., for your suggestions. It is only by repeated trials and experiments that we can tell just what bees will or will not do in matters of this kind. Now, Inasmuch as you know just exactly what is needed in this matter, can yon not make them and offer them for sale ? SOLAR WAX-EXTRACTORS. A DEVICE USED BY ONE OF CAEIFOKNIA PROMINENT BEP;-KEEI'EHS. THE MOLE CRICKET. ITS HAUITS. The insect forwarded by you from E. W. Hammond. Lima. O.. is the' niole cricket. As Mr. H. says, it is a cui'ious insect, and it is not strange that he should wish its name and hab- its. The technical name of this is (iniUntnlpa horealis. The name GniUotiilpd i-eal'lv means cricket mole, which, if re'versed. woukl b(^ (piite the truth. It is really a cricket, but is very molelike, as is at once a|)ijarent from its front legs. This insect is very common here: but as it rarely comes forth from the earth, it is not often seem. It inhabits low moist ground, and is not infrequently seen or found in cultivating or ditching in such places. All authoi'S sav. as did Harris, which the others coi)v, that it feeds on the roots of grass. In,;Northern Oliio and ISIichigan it has been known to eat into po- tatoes quite seriously, especially when planted on low gi-ound. As the |)otato is onlv an en- larged root, it is not sti-ange that tiiese crickets, like the win^-woi'ms. should desire to t<>st their quality. One year our students took several of these crickets fi-oin one of the rooms on the first floor of one of the coll(>ge dormitories. Thev flv forth from the earth to mate, anrl I presume were attracted to this room by a femak' which had been brought in by the students. If these are plentiful enough to be ti-ouhlesome. we must plant our potatoes on upland. Agricultural College, Mich. A. .1. Cook. Nearly every apiary in California has Its " sun e\tract(')r." as' they call them here, to melt up cappings and broken combs: and. so fai' as my ol)servation goes, they are all built on the same plan and about the same size. It looks as though they were all made after the same pattern, without any thought of improvement. I believ<^ they were origina lly made to extract combs full of honey Ix'fore the honey-extractor came o^t: and. aft<'r the honey-extractor came, the same implement was us< d to melt the cappings. I think, however, that they can be greatly ini- |)rov<'d for melting cappings, and that is the object of this article. Perhaps you would like to know how the old original California sun extractor is Imilt, so I will desci'il)e it first and then give what I think is an impi'ovement. The box is made of >« lumtier. lined inside with tin, and is 58 inches long. 30 wide, 13 deep, outside measure. The glass cover is two ordi- nary window-sash 9x13 glass. A wooden frame inside. ."> inches b(>lo\v the glass, supports a sheet of perforated tin, the size of the inside of the box. The cappings are laid on this perforated tin. and, when they melt, the wax and honey run through intr than words. A is the inclined plane, where the cappings ai'e i)ut. I would nuike it :.' fe(4 wide. 4 feet long. 5 inches deep. B is a piece of wire cloth to i)revent any slumgum from running into the 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 705 honey ami wax receptacle F, which is :.' feel square on top. taijei'ing to IS inches at tiie hot- toin. and 13 inch(>s deep. The flaring sides will allow the cake of wax to he lift(>d out easily, and the honey is drawn o IV through the niol asses- gate G. The" space marked I) will be tilled with honey, and the space C with wax. E is the glass cover over all. It should be hinged on. and fit tight to invvenf the escajje of hot air. Fillmore. Cal.. Aug. IS. ,). F. McIxtvi!k. Your ideas on the construction of the solar wax-extractor — that is. the iirinciple of it — are correct. AVIkmi I visited G. M. Doolittle I found he was using something on very much the same princi))le. only, if any thing, it was on a siinpler plan. As I took a photograph of It at the time. I will, when an engraving is made, describe it. Yes. the wax should, as fast as melted, run down the inclined i)lane, and thence into a receptacle also exposed to the direct rays of the sun after thoroughly melting. We propose to modify our solar wax-extractor, so as to combine the fea- tures of the one illustrated above, and the one used by Doolittle. IJoih of you have made some very great imiiroveinents in the sun extractor. over the one we have l)een selling. — E. II. EXPERIENCES OF T JE PAST SEASON. MI!S. AXTF,I,I, OIVKS US A GKEAT XT'MHKi; ol' VAI.t AUM-:. IMtACTIfAL THOUGHTS. Our liees thus far this s(>ason have stored but little surplus. Tlie winter being warm they consumed the most of their stores, and came out in the spring strong in uumhtM's: conse- quently we had to feed largely. Tin- tir>t of May found tluun almost wholh' dei)emlent upon what was fed them. Then came three weeks of cool cloudy weather, and thev Me\\' but little: and as INIr. Axtell and I weri' both feeling so poorly just then \\<' came neai' letting sonu' colonies starve: and the consequence w as. they dwindled instead of increased in numi)ers just before the honey harvest: but by building up the stronger with brood from the weaker colonies, we had the larger part of our colonies ready for the honey harvest in June. Such colonies gathered from 10 to :i.") lbs. of surplus. Those that we left nuaided gathered nosurplus. Some :]() colonies that bi'ood was taken irom to btiild up others, have liafl to be fed sinc(^ about the tirst of .July, anil will still n(^ed moic feeding. The drouth has been so severe as to dry up all honey-bearing plants, oi' nearly so. Ai)out ten days ago we had a heavy rain, and two or three lighter on(>s since, that have wondeifully reviv(>d vegetation, causing the litth' heart's- ease there was to branch and blossom oul. and bees are gathei'iiig a living no\\'. ^^'e are hop- ing our bees will gather enougli to winter upon. THl': DIBHKKN HKK-KSC'AI'K. When we take off our surplus honey, as usual, tliei'e are some bees we can not get out very readily. We genei'ally set them in the honey- room on end ai'ound on tln' lloor. and let the bees fly to the window, and then i)ile up aiteiwaid. Sonu'times we pile them u)) one super ci'oss- wise of tiu' other, and another huigthwise. and so on: but this time we |)ut a Dibbern bee- escap:' honey-board over a weak colon.x'. and piled ui) sui)ers six oi- eight high, and in a few days took tli"m off. and found llie bees all gone out. or ne;irl\ so. and the colonies nicel.\ sti'engthened up. Some other weak colonies we did not use bee-escapes upon, but i)artly covei'- ed the colonies, and left on(> good passageway at one side of each row of s<>ctions. and theii l)iled the cases uj) as high as we could conven- iently reach, and thought it was safe, and left them on several days. Those colonies got both bees and the unsealed honey. T\u' liees mostly went out. but not so well as thos(> with the es- capes: but it helped the colonies, and dul not injure any capped honey. Although it was done at the time of a honey-dearth. scarc<'ly any bees were killed, and I think no (juimmis were killed. I think the latter way of getting out the bees an excellent one. especially if one has weak colonies he desii'es to strengthen, es- pecially if there are many bees left in the supers. Some colonies .seem to cling to the snpiM's more than othei'S. and it tak'es a long time to get them all out. KAIT COMKS. Our bees this summer would have stored but little honey in sections if they had not had bait combs. Many coloni(>s tilled only such combs, and put the remainder of theii- honey into tlu' brootl-combs below. Wise little beesl they knew bettei' than their owner what a long drouth \\as before them. I certainly wo\ild never melt up clean combs in sections, or even bits of new comb that can be fitted into sections. 1 think there may be a dilference in localities. Bees may more readily enter tlie sup 'rs than in other places. It re- tards swarming if they may be got to work briskly in the sup.'rs bid'ore they get the swarm- ing fever. ITAIJAXS AHKAI). This siniiig I noticed that the hybiids entered thi^ surplus cases much more readily than the pure colonii's: but the i)ure ones that did work above, gathered much tlie mo .t honey. In the body of the hive the pure colonies filled every cell possible — chucked it full— while a few black hybrid colonies were very light in stores. For that one reason alone it pays to keep only pure Italians as far as possible. I am afraid I should feel like giving up bee-keeping if we could get no better bee than the blacks for these poor seasons. (Jood y(>ai"S it doesn't seem to make so much dilfeience. exce|)t in handling. They run provokingly just where one does not want them, while the ijure ones stick to the combs quietly: but the l)lacks must be eipuilly hardy a race of bees as the Italians, or it would not be so difficult to keep them pure. AHE Tirp:i{K TWO KINDS OF COMMON BKKS? It does seem to me there is a difference be- tween the black and the brown bee. While at the Aurora Cancer Hospital this spring to have a small cancer taken out my left cheek, the doctoi' brought home a small colony of large brown bees. The bees cei'lainly did not look so black and shiny as the blacks of our neighbors at home. Tlie colony was so small that I feared he would get no surplus from it tills sumuKM'. and I never handled a colony of Italians that was moi'e g<'ntle. When working them, through transferring some of the combs and str.'ngtheniiig others, 1 thrinv off my veil and worked with both face and hands bare, and got no vicious sting. Only one stung me, ami that I mashed. I suppose one reason they were so gentle is, I had good heavy smoke, i told the doctor 1 wanted some smoke to sulidue them willi. and he went and got a large stove-kettle and Idled it half or two-thirds full of coals aiwl chijis, and set it on the side of the liive where the wind would carry the smoke over the bees. We had the colony set on the top of an easteiii veranda, close up to a w Indow 706 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. whoj-f ho could watch tli(> bees from a bedi-ooin window, and step ont of the window and cai'c for them. A few days ago I had to return to tlie liosyi- tai, astlie cancer did not seem to l)e wliollv erad- icated: hut I hope it is entirely destroyed now. I found the colony of bees built up into a strong tine colony, and iiad given something like :.'0 lbs. of surplus honey, but had not swarmed. It had plenty of brood and honey below in the brood- nest. I think there are not numv bees kept in the vicinity where lie lives, and" I could m)t find that there was any large bee-keeper iu Aurora. As there is a small stream running throngli the town, there is waste land covered vvitii wild Howe.rs, and it seemed to be a good locality for bees. THK ADVAXTA(JKS OF ONIA' A FKW f'OI.OXIES IN A I-OCALITV THAT IS NOT FIKST CLASS. Many poor years that bees do not pay if run for honey as worked by the average bee-keeper, would yield returns, if a i)erson kept only a few colonies and had them all boiling over with bees at the beginning of the tii'st honey-flow. We seldom hav(A a year but tiiat the bees'would pay their way, with a small income to their owner, above tiie cost of keeping, if worked on the above rule: and when a good year came they would pay largely. VICIOUS HYBIUDS AND YOITN(i CHICKENS. Little black chickens, while very young and downy, ought not to be allowed in'anapiaiy. especially if left to run with the lien, or confin- ed in a coop near a vicious hvbrid colony at times of the year when mucli w ork is done:' but when they get older and feathered out they are very useful to gather up the rcjaches and moths, as the bees do not s<'em to sting them so badly as when young and downy. We have never had them bother white chickens, even while very young. We have two young I'lvnioutli Rock cockerels about half grown. When I start down into th(^ apiary they will follow me around from hive to hive 'picking up roaches, as there are a good many in our apiary this year. They will pick a roach out of a lot of bees that are shaken off upon the ground, so quickly that I don't think they get stung at all. and seem to enjoy the fun. Comb honey is almost a staple article in our little town, while twenty years ago one had to work hard to sell it all. Now the principal groceries and stores all keep it tlie year round, if they can get it. Cut-out honey looks very nice if cut out in square chunks and set up on edge in a circle around the outside of a new tin pan, and then the center filled in: and quite a quantity may be laid on top. and all covered over with a glass cover, such as are us<'d at restaurants and lunch- rooms to cover cakes and ])ies with. One groceryman sold more for us of extracted than three other stores in sections last winter; but it was the num that sold tlu^ honey, rather than the shape it was in. In winter, cut-out honey will sell readily without a cover. As soon as it gets to looking mussy, and the unsealed and li(i- uid honey candies, we take in a fresh panful, and buy back all that was left in the pan. In leaving honey in stores, esjx'cially in the warm weather, the cover should fit so clqse- ly that dust and flies can not get in, else it be- comes unsalable in a short time, and grocery- men get disgusted with it. and do not care to handle it. Soinetinuvs bees. also, find it if not tightly covered, and soon fill the grocery so that people are afraid to enter, and so the grocery- man loses trade for an hour or two. and con- cludes that handling honey won't pay. When bees get to entering a grocery they haiig around the door. Such was the case some years ago iu one of our grocery stores iu Roseville. where we had our honey. CHICKENS OK BEES. WHICH'.^ In looking over a back number of Gleanings the question is asked. " Which pay best?" We should say. ■■ Bees, in the long run. counting sevei'al years together." Poultry is usually a source of profit e\ery y(^ar: and every month in the year, with carefiil handling, it might be made to be profitable: but when we do get a good year for bees they arc^ very profitable, and bring iu a large income — so much so we see many people attracted to the pursuit only to give it u]). perhaps the next year, in disgust. So it is those who have perseverance that make bee-keeijiug pay best: and then I think we get too many bees in a neighborhood, es- pecially where all waste lands are tile-drained, as is the case here. A SWAKM OF DRONES. Last summer, between four and five o'clock, while I was still out in the apiary watching for swarms, I heaixl a loud humming of bees just above my head. I looked abovi' me. and all about me was a swarm of drones. Scarcely any workers could b(> seen among them. They flew round and round in a circle some ten min- utes or so, and then all at once seemed to scat- ter, not settling like a swarm. IS EXTRACTED HONEY IN.IITKED 1?Y BKING STOKED IN OLD BLACK COMBS? Why would it not be a good plan, when de- siring to use old combs for extracted honey, to bleach them somewhat by filling them with water and letting them stand a few hours, and throw out the \\ater liy extracting thenu I did so at one time with a few combs, and the water thrown out was nearly as dark colored as coffee. If the water would be colored by dark comb. I should think honey also would be. WINDBREAKS FOR BEES. I don't think w<' sufficiently value windbreaks for bees. If winterc^d oiit of doors they are in- valuable. We could see a great difference in the loss of bees in wintering just as soon as we had erected a high board fence. 71 -i feet high on the east, west, and north side. It does not make the apiary much warmer in the summer, as we feared it would, because, in hot weather, the wind nearly always blows from the south or southwest or southeast, and then it blows into the apiaiy. If it blows fnnn the noi-th or northwest or noi'theast. generally the weather is cool, and it makes no dift'erence' if it does not blo\^• into the apiary. If the bees are wintered in the cellar, aiKl are set out upon their summer stands with a windbreak, even if packed with chaff' the wind pierces the cracks in the hives, and chills brood in small colonies, while the bright sunshine at the entrance invites the bees to fly, and the cold wind so chills them that they never return. Ernest mentioned, last winter, that he had no troubl(> in keeping his 40 colonies of bees cool enough iu his cellar: but if he had added tO colonies more, he would have seen a great dif- ference in tempinatui'e: and if he had made it 150. even if the cellar wer(> as large again, he would have seen it almost impossible to keep tham quiet such a winter as the last. With propel- windbreaks, bees may be'taken from the cellar very early in the spring, and set on summer stands, and do even better than left in late, especially where there are many bees left in the cellar. The remaining ones will do better als(j. \Ve choose that part of the' apiary where the winds ar(^ broken oft' by buildings, to s(>t out our first colonies, and lay on top of the hives an extra (juilt, and lean iip against the front of the hive a board on cool days. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 707 Coloiiit's tiikcii (lilt the lirstof March will iiiH-d from 5 to 10 lbs. of lunicy imt colony to spring tliom, more than colonics left in the cellar until the middle of April: but tiiey will be stronger colonies the first of .lime if they are provided with that much more honey, and pi'Oi)erly pro- tected from high winds: and being stronger colonies they will gather more than the 5 or 10 lbs. of honey" per colony, more than the ones set •out later. It seems to me it might be easily tested whether colonies of bees gather more honey or less, by having their tiueen taken from them oi- cagedduring the honey harvest or swarming time, by placing seveial colonies ut)OU separate scales, one half by having the (pieen removed or caged, and tlie other half retaining their queen. UKKS I>VIN(i IN .JINK. Just after the tirst few days of honey-gath- ering from white clover, the first of June we had three days of high winds. On the third (lay. and for several days thereafter, our bee- yards were literally strewn with dying bees. A few fair colonies wei'e reduced to one or two ccmibs of bees. Two small colonies lost all but the (|ueen and a few young be(>s — not eiio\igh to cover a comb. Strong colonies did not seem to be affected in the least. We could not think what could have caused it. If it had been the wind alone, all would have been alike aft'ected. We ccmcluded it was the large honey-tlow. The few old bees in the hive, tinding they had a great amount of brood and young bees to labor for. actually worked themselves to death, and could not withstand the high winds. Roseville. 111.. Aug. ;.':i Mks. L. (". Axtkm.. Why. my good friend, you have given us a wonderful array of practical thoughts and sug- gestions; but it throws a shade of sorrow over it all when we learn that you ai-e afflicted with ■cancer. May tJod grant that the hospital you mention may have skill and w isdom to fight successfully against the dread disease. You say the colonies, from wliich you took brood had to be fed about the first of July. Now, are you sure that those Nvhich received the brood were benefited enough more to pay? We have practiced the very plan yon mention In regard to getting bees out of the sup<'rs, by setting them over a weak colony: but we never noticed that they could be made to take out the unsealed honey. I think that, pei'haps. unless the honey were removed at just the right time, they would be quite aiJt to take some of the sealed honey also. The testimony in favor of bait combs seems to be pretty conclusive: but is it not tni<^ that some sections that have perhaps been tried one or two seasons became obnoxi(ms to the bees? I know that we had some that we i)ut on year after year In time to get them full. The bees would fill new (mes containing foundation: but these old ones were finally thrown away. They were of different jiattein. so we i-ecogni/.<'d them at sight. .\i'e you not a little severe on tlx; hybrids be- cause they do not keep enough honey in the brood-nest for wintering, as the Italians do? Many of our large honey-in'oducers would be glad to have evei'y droji of clover honey put in the sections. Of course, they would have to kee]) watch of colonies that do this, to prevent them from starving: but 1 think it would pay well for the time required. Although you do not say so. 1 iiresume the brown bees mentioned are found somewhere in your State of Illinois. Now. if there is really a diffei'ence. why wei-e they not crossed and re- crossed years ago? I can hardly think it is any thing nu)re than accidental. I have seen some cohjtiies of blacks that were very gentle; and I have seen them, too, that were brownish color- ed instead of black. Where great numbers of young bees hatch out at once, wlien th<'y Ix^- come of the right age th<'y haveamucli bright- er look than older bees. We have never known bees to sting chickens, but it has b(Mm reported once or twice. Your remarks about looking after the honey at the groceries are excellent. In no other way can a honey-trade be built up. Your suggestion, that tiZc drainuig is bad for hee-lieepers. is a big point in favor of good farm- ing, even if it is bad for the honey-croj). Our farmei's who raise weeds will take the hint. Your suggestion, that old combs nk/;/ color tlu; honey, is a good one. We agree with you in regard to windbi'caks. In regard to bees dying in June, so many such rejjorts have been received we think there must be .something in it besides a lack of stores. I have s(mietimes thought, as you state it, that the labor demanded by the growing brood is so great as to wear out or kill the nurse-bees by overwork. Is it not strange that bees, with their wonderful instincts, should so many times behave themselves much as human beings do? EAMBLE NO. 29. STKl'HEX f<>. Haskinville is a town in Steuben I'ounty. not- e I for its wooded hills and fossil rocks. One is more impressed with the grandeur of the scenery as we enter the county than we are after we get in. The borders are cut u]) with deep winding ravines and pictiu'csque glens- just the county for camps of brigands. Hut our traveling c found the Silsby Bros, working heart and hand with the minister, and evidently having a good influence in the community. They seeme|it nothing tiint savoi'cd of alcohol, and had even stopiKHl the tap at the little hotel near by. After consideiing the inllueiice that tobacco has upon the cleanliness and morals of people, they had also Ihiown up a good 1rad<» in the we(Ml. and seemed to be making a good living without its revenue, it was no lillli' wonder to us to tiiid tliein. holding the postoTtici-. and ilis- pensing the mail under a Republican a boiiovc these young men will not lower the standard of principle, even if they do get lunie,! from ol'lin . SII.SBY BROTHERS STORE. W(> saw here for the first time in many weeks the familiar face of Gi.EANiNOsat the residence of Henry yi)rague, who is a veteran in tlie bee- business, having now alioiit sixty colonies. Mr. S. uses a side-storing hive, but was not satisfied with it, and was studying the Dovetailed hive and a non-brace-comb wide thiclv top-bar, with a view of adopting them. His experience with verv narrow top-bars had given liim much trouble bv IxM'S filling up between with not only brace-combs but with great daubs of comb and honey. Sixty colonies was tlie liinitof his field. Extracted honey was raised to som(> extent, and thrown out with an old-style (Jray & Winder machine. His Bingham smoker was an ancient one. twelve years old. and good for a few more puffs. Cellar wintering is practiced; and while most bee-keepers put clean sawdust upon the cellar-bottom. Mr. S. had a good depth ot straw. Wo concluded, all to ourself. that he had an ex- cellent material for mice-nests, and we kicked around rather unnec(^ssarily to wake 'em up, when. '^ dunder and blixenl"' how we did com- mence to sneeze I The grip was the main occupation of people generally just tlien. We had heard of some very sudden attacks, but had thus far escaped: but" we thought we had it sure this time. We hud relied upon a large chunk of camphor as a sure preventive, and got it to our sneezing- apparatus as soon as possible. This prevented fnrth(>r external explosions: and while we were allowing the internal feelings to subside, Mr. S.. who had followed our sudden exit fiom the cel- lar, said I was afflicted with cayenne pe])per instead of the grip. " Cayenne pepper!" "Yes. That straw you kicked around so is sjjrinkled f\ill of cayenne pepper. I put in stra^\' and |)e|)|)er e\-er\' fall to keej) the mice out. H' they get into that straw they sneeze just as ycm did— ha! ha !— and get out about as fast as you did." We found Mr. S. and family also earnest workers in the afoi'csaid Wesleyaii church, and a family of influence foi' good in tlie com- nuniitx'. WiUai'd Collins is anoth"r young l5ee-ke<'|)er ill this town, and it was in the large forest near his father's residence we ]jhotoed the bee-iuint- ers" cam]). Will, with the ax. has his eye on a l)ee-ti-ee. and the other fellows are ready for a ^lice of bi-ead and hon(n'. These foi'ests are tilled with just such trc'es as bees delight to li\(' in. Ira liowcn. of the town of Fremont, the hon- est-looking \'oung man who conducted the Rambler safi'ly into tliis region, is also a bee- ke(>per. and a keeper of a maple-sugar bush. Th(> family is sweetened at both ends of the season, and. of course, they are sw(M>t the year round. Tlu> Rambler was fed on maph' in all shapes, and believ(\s that Steuben County can produce a product equal to or even superior to all othei's. Ira uses the L. hive and packs with straw outdoors: and. though having a small apiary, h" has been successful with it. His sis- ter Alice hi-lps to a certain extent, but it is mostly advice, foi' her first exjjerience and at- tempt at hiving bees gave her a sev(n-e lesson as to the deceitfulnessof the busy bee. Ira and the boys were busy on a remote part of the farm, when a swarm of bees came out. '" Now," says Alice to her mother, "is my oi)portvuHty. This is tlu' chance of my lifetime to show what women can do with bees. The CfKiiitdiniunu says that b(>es will alight every time on an ele- vated mullein-stalk." Obtaining one she held it aloft among the bees, but tliey gi'adually drifted around the cor- nel'of the house, out oif sight. She held on to the mullein, however, for half an hour, mon^ or less, thinking they would come back in good Chantauquan order. Of course, her arm pained her not a little: and. being an exijerienced schoolteacher, her heart went out in sympathy to those refractory urchins she had p\uiished by making them hold up a stick of wood. Her reverie was. however, broken by her mother calling from the window, " Why, Alice, what are you holding that mullein-stalk uj) there for? Th(' swarm has gone back into the hive long ago." That mullein-stalk was dropped like a hot potato, and Alice now believes th(M'e is nothing but deceitfulness in the busy bee. which oi)inion is shared in, more or less, by the Ramiu-er. DID THE BEES STEAL THE EGG? WII,I>ARI) roTI.IXS" r.EK-IU'NTEUS CAMl' TWO ()I,1) QUEENS IN THE SAME HIVE. AN1> EAYING PEACEABLY. In (iLEANiNGS for Aug. 1, page .5()8, you say you think it doubtful whether bees will steal eggs from another hive. Let me giv(> my ex- perience. I had a colony of blacks which I wanted to change to Italians. AftcM- killing the old queen I waited one week, then took out all frames and gavi' them frames with foundation, with the (>xcei)tion of one frame that had some comb whicli I had fixed up according to Alley's plan, with 10 or 12 eggs in it. The bees built out two very nice queen-cells: and a couple of days before they hatched I looked them over, and just alongside of one of the caj)- ped queen-cells was another queen-cell just started, with an egg in it. Now, where did tliat egg come from? I am positive there was no queen in the hive nor any fertile worker, as the 1H90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 709 veils lialc-hcd. and in ilui' tiinc th(> young (iiiccii was laying. One egg was all I could lind. Another thing I should lil the old (pieeh. as thei'e was no sign of it. and she was laying widl. Is not that somewhat out of the usual oi'der of things? Fra^jk W. LuiirroN. Williamsport, Pa.. Aug. 13, 18ise only for introducing, but it takes ui) so little I'oom that, if left between the top- bars oi' combs for a year, no great harm woidd be done, (ienertilly. however. I push it into the entrance of the hive, inidei' the bottom-bars, and prcd'ei- this unless it is so cold that there is danger of chilling the queen. It is so simple that any one can nuike it. Take a block '^ inches long. IH wide, and -'s thick: two blocks 1 inch \)y ,",, "< 's : two pieces of tin about an inch s(|uare: a piece of wire cloth 4i._, x 3}._,: two pieces of tine wire about!) inches long, and four small wire nails l<, Or ^ long. That's the l)ill of matei'ial. Lay down the two snuill blocks parallel. ?« of an inch apaiLone piece of tin under. a)ul one over them. Isail togetluM- and clinch. These two blocks, being V inch ai)art. nuike the hole to till with Good candy, through which the queen is liber- ated. A g(iod way to nuike sure of having this hole all right is to lay between the two blocks, when nailing, a third block -'.^ square. Tut this nailed piece at the end of the large block, and wrap the w i)'e cloth around it. letting it conu' flush with the end of the snuill piece, and it will come within aixiut half an inch of tlH> end of till' lai'ge pieci'. Wind one piece of wire w ithin about a (piarter of an inch of one end of the wir(> cloth, and fasten by twisting, and wind the other wii-e at the other end. Play the large l)l()ck back and foi'th a few times, so it will work (>asily in the wire cloth, and trim off the least bit of the cornel's at the end of the block so it will enter easilv. To provision it. let the large block be pushed clear in: till the hole with candy, and tain)) it down. When to be used, after putting in the queen, push the block in far enough to allow the queen a rocmi about v.: inches long. After the bees have had it for some time it will lie so glued that the plug must be scraped off before using again. There is nothing ))rilliant about this cage, and nothing really cjiiginal, but it has the merit of such Simplicity as to be easily made by any one. and of bi'ing of such size and shape as to be used w here others can not well Iw used. UAIT SKCTIONS FIXISIIKD FIUST. This year I had some 250 of last year's unlin- ished sections used as bait, one in a super: and after the general report that such sections were tilled lirst and tinished last. I was ([uite intei-est- ed to notice how mine would ccnne out. Invai'i- ablv these bait S(>ctions were commenced first, just as reported. And almost as invariably these sections were the lirst ones in the supers to be finished. I think there were two or three of the :.'.■)() that were not first completed. More- over, they are nice sections, but not quite so nice as the others. Now. why is it that the general agrecMiient has be(>n that such sectiinis were last in lieing finished, and \\ould better be throw n aw ay".' The only reason I can guess at is, that some lioiiey. if Imly a little that was granulated and dried, w as left in the sections. When I Hi'st used bait sections 1 thought there must be some honey left in them, and such sec- tions, when finished, had a watery ai)pearance. especially after being taken off the hives for some time, when the lioney was inclined to ooze through the cai)i)iiigs. I suspect the old honey, jjerhaps a little souivd. acted somewhat as veast. At any rale, 1 ■ should not like to get along without bait sections: but they must have no lionev in them, and must be cleaned out thoroughly ''.'/ tin' Ixrs. ('. C. .Mil, mm:. Marengo. 111.. .Vug. fd. Your cage is not really original, as you say: but a f(>w old things, doctor, when revived in a little diflVi'ent form, oftentimes prove to be more valuable than the new. 1 know your cage will work all right, and. so far as intro- ducing aloiH' is concerned, it is perhaps i)e1tei- than any thinij: else---yes. even better than the Peet, when the apiarist desires to intro- duce his own ^lason. and the whole of this, we have been sending over half of our queens in the Benton. Tliis is the cage that our friend Frank, now of Municii, Ger- many, first introduced for mailing queens across tlie ocean, and those who have I'eceived queens by mail from JNIr. Benton can testify to tlu^ remarkably good condition in wliich the queens were received, altliough they have come from (Jermany, across the ocean, and then across our own continent in some cases. I luive felt that perliaps tluM'e might be a good many queen- rearers who weri' negk'cting to avail tliem- selves of a good thing, and hence I am glad, after a nM)st thorough test, to nu'ntion it. As Mr. Benton did not originally design it for introducing, however successful it might be foi' mailing queens across the continent, it would hardly be suited to our purpose unless it could be so adapted. It took very gi'cat ingenuity to modify it. as the engraving below will show. KENTON'S MAILING - CA(iK, AS USED AT THE HOME OF THE HONEY-BEES. The figure on the left shows the block as iiored out I'eady foi' the recei'tion of the bees and candy. Its outside dimensions are 4f-^xlX \h. Three holes 1% in diameter, by ,^ deep. tion, while the center one has no opening ex- cept a communication through the end hole. A piece of stout manilla pai)er covers the centei" and candied hole, and tlicn wire cloth covers all three. The feature of tiiis cage is. that for warm weather the bees ciiu seei< the end hole, witli ample ventilation through the saw-cut in one corner, and by the \vir(> clolh whicli has a direct communication from the outside. For cold weather, or when the bees, perchance, go ovei' the mountains, they will naturally huddle into the center hole, w here it is warmer. To introduce, simply follow directions whicii we print on the nice clean basswood cover, as seen below: The hole through the wire cloth, through which the hive l^ees eat to the candy, willbeseen in the cage near the center. To put the queen into the cage, the wire cloth is slid back, and th(> bees are ])icked up individually, one by one, by the wings, until twenty or thii'ty have lieen put in. the number depending upon the weather, after which the wire cloth is tacked down. The cover, with ])rinted directions as below, is taJck- ed over the cage covering the wii-e cloth, with foui' half-inch wire nails. To mail, with a coarse pen we print the directions in a neat back-hand lettering, which most of the clerks in the ottice know lunv to do. A two-cent stamp is then jjut on at tlie right, and tlie cage is ready for California or any other remote point in the United States, without wi'apping or string. The almost universal testimony of our cus- tomers is. that the queens aiTive in these cages in splendid condition. When(>ver a Peet cage fails to delivei' the quecms, they are always re- placed in the lienton. With the exception of two oi' three inst;inces (when we put in only three atteiuiants) during our large queen-trade this sunnner and part of last, it has been suc- cessful. Its gi-eat superiority in mailing, over the Peet, has lieen so very marked that we have about decided to use it entirely next season. As to the comjiarative merits of the two, the card below speaks for itself. It seems we had sent our customer some queens in the Peet cages. They, failing to go througli, were replaced in a Benton cage, and this is the way our customer wrote: The queens came this morning-, no dead bees in either (age. They were just as livelj' as when you took them from the liives. I don't want any more queens in the Peet cage. E. D. Howell. New Hampton, N. Y., Sei)t. 6. Not long ago we sent twelve queens in Benton cages to Reno, Nevada. Our customer, Mr. W. K. Ball, writes of their condition as follows: Directions for Introducing with the Benton Cage. Before introducing, lie sure that the colony is (pieenless. A colony long (pKH'nless is not so good as one lately so. To introduce, pry off the cover, and note the t'onriil ion of the queen, bay the cage under the enamel cloth or quilt, on top of tlie frames, directly over the .'luster, wu-e cloth down. Tf the weather is cold, insert the ciige l)etween the frames in the clustei'. In ;J-t or 48 hours, by means of the opening to the candy through the wiie cloth at one end, the bees will eat tluough the candy, when they will hv ready to accept the queen. TTnless the (lueen jippears feeble, do not examine again for 48 hours, if she is not yet icleased, and is in good condition, close the hive up again. The bees will shortly release her. The point is, the bees should release the queen themselves. While this method gives general success, we can no( guarantee safe introduction. We only guarantee delivery of a queen alive and in good order. If the queen is dead upon oiiening this package, notify us at once and we will replace f rec uf , harge. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. ar(> bored just close enough to leave an opening from one to the other. The furthei- one is tilled with candy. The other two are for the bee.s. The end iiole provides an abundance of ventila- Thc twelve ns in single Peet cages to California. As to introducing, tlie candy plan, with oui' customers, seems to have given fairly good re- sults. The Peet met hod of introducing is cei'- tainly better where the (jneens arrive in feeble condition, because they are then caged right on to a comb, and are given access to cells of un- sealed honey; but the Hentou seems to deliver the queens not only alive but vigoi'ous. and the candy plan is just as good for introducing good sti'ong (pieens. All the timid b(>giniuM' needs to do is to juy open the cover and lay the cage down upon the frames, and introducing, .so far as /ic is conciMued. is done. With the Peet plan, the A li (' scholar may he nervous for fear he may not be able to diaw the slide just right, and successfully cage her majesty on the combs, without piiu'hiug her head or letting her get away. There are good I'easons why the lienton cage delivers its queens in better conditif)n. First, it is. to a certain extent, clinuitic. If the tem- perature, in going over the mountains, we will say, suddenly goes down, or the night turns cool, the queen and her attendants can go into the warmer compartment of th<' cage. If. on the other hand, it goes up. they can enter the end hole. With the Peet cage there is one large hole, one side of it covered with tin. Tlu' nu'tal itself is cold, and readily conducts away the heat of the few bees and queen. Aside from this, as the mail-bags are often thi'own with consider- able violence from the cars, the concussion of the cage causes the bees to be jarred from oiu' side of the compartment to the other, in the Peet cage, especially if they hapi)pen to be on the tin side of tlu' cage: and a large compart- ment is much worse than a small one. Again, the tin slide is always invariable in width: and the wood itself, if it siii'inks or swells, will cause the slide to woi'k either too loosely or too iuird. It would seem that, thi'oretically and jjractical- ly, thei'e are good reasons why the Benton cage is superior as a general mailing-cage. Our friend Mr. Benton deserves much credit for in- troducing it. I notice that one or two (lueen- breeders \\ho are seniiing out queens in identi- cally the same cage ai'e calling it after theii' own names. Possibly they do it thi'ough ignorance. But Mi'. Benton. I think, was the first to construct this kind of cage, and demon- strate its great utility for mailing quecMis. not only across continents, but across oceans, and it should be nami'd after him. CONVENTION NOTICES. Tlie iifNt coMvi'Mtinii III' the Turkey HiU Bce-kefpers' Associ- ati.in will tnki- j.lacM- at ilir Tuikrv Hill (iranc-e Hall, near Wil- flerninirs Stati. 11, three miles southeast ot Belli-ville. 11'., Oct. ;«), 1890. All interested .lie invited. S liKAErTIC^M, I re i. ADVERTISEMENTS THAT DO NOT PAY. SOMK <)?' THE REA.SONS WHY THKV DO Not V\\. The Southwestern Wiseonsin Bee-keepers' Affiliated Associ- ation will meet Oct 8, 1890, in Platteville. Wis., at the residence of E. France, to commence punctually at 10 a.m., sharp. There will he a large turnout of prominent bee-keepers of the State. A question-box, tree to all, in which .any subject you wish dis- cussed can be presented and answered. Let every one be on hand and bring in his report for 1890 starting at spring count. or May 1. Benj. E. Rice. Sec'.y, Boscobel, Wis. The International Ainer \Mn Bee Association will meet in Keokuk la, Oct '29.30,31. Parties desiring to aUeiid will ob- tain a programme, and hotel rates, by addressing the secre- tar.y. Further parlicul.iiN will be given in the < >ct l.Stli ivsue. A large attendance is expected, as this is the tir^t meeting of this association west nf the Mississippi, and a number ot the leading bee-keepers and bee-publishers have promiscil to be present. For further particulars, address C. P. Dadaxt, Hamilton, 111. A. I. Hoot: — 1 will settle that advertisement, which. b>' the way. never brought me one in- quiiv. " .1. |{. LA.MoNT.VdiK. Winter Park, Fla.. Sej)t. 1.5. On looking up this advertisement that did not pay. we find it read as follows: Virgin Queens.— Pure virgin queens at 50c eacli, or 40c each per 100. .1. I{. I.aMontaoue, Winter Park. Fla. Now. when advertisements of virgin queens liegan to come in. I told Ernest that I had .so little faith that they would be of value to any- body. I would advise not accepting them. If I am correct, he suggested, however, to let peojile try tlu'in and see what the re|H)rts would be. Well, till' above report is just what I expected, and. in fact, what I am glad to see. The sub- scribers to (Ii.EANiNGS, to a man. have sufili- cient good sense to refuse to invest. I do not wish to be severe on those who have recom- mended sending virgin queens by mail. One who is very anxious to succeed could inti'odnce a virgin queen, and get her to laying: but I think he would get along much faster, and with much better success, if he had queen-cells instead of queens; and I am not certain but that I should prefer to take larvje of the right age rather than a virgin queen that was old enough to have made a trip by mail. P'riend L., we take pleasure in crediting you witli ^1 .:.'(). which you wasted in advertising virgin queens. .VNOTHEK ADVEKTISEMKNT THAT DIDN'T V.W. I advertised my bees Aug. l'> and Sejjt. 1. KSSii. and made no sales. Now. I i)aid this willingly, and did not consider you responsible in any way because I did not .sell my bees. However, inas- much as it is your own in'oposition to refund the money thus paid, and considering the fact that you have done so by others, you may place to mv credit the amount paid you at that time. !'.. T. Blkast).\i-e. Warrensville. ().. Sept. 1:.', ISiK). Friend B.. you give us only another evidence that almost no one wants to purchase bees after the honey crop is over, esix'cially in our locali- ty. We are losing some moiu'y in this business of paying back: but. never mind: we are gain- ing in an experience that is valuable to our- selves as well as to our readers. But. just hold on a little. Here ccmies some testimony from the other side. .VDVKltTISK.MKXrs THAI' DID I'.W. Mr. i?oof;— Please stop my adverti.sement at once. My (lueens are all sold. Your journal is a first-cliiss advertising mediuin. I will pat- ronize \ oil again soon. 1'". II. Pi'/ri's. \Vaisa\\. .Mo.. Sept. 'X IS'.io. I have sold ■.'!'.• (iiieens from my advertisement. Many thanks. .1. W. Tavi.oI!. Ozan. Ark., Se])!. Kl KSiK). My sales are amounting to a little over ?1(K> j)er inonth. as a result of my ad. in ( Ji,K.\xix. .1. 1'. Moork. 712 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. With Replies from our best Authorities on Bses. Question Kil*. 1. Is tlicrc (trnj (idiynitaije in JinvliKj ]i(iiu'}i stared during rlovcr hlooni for storcsl' '>. Whii'li do ijini i)rifcr for ivinter — earhj honcji. late Jioncii. or siKfur siji-tipf 1. Yes. :i. Early honey. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. 1. I think not. in my locality. 2. Sugar syiup first: and second, I have no choice. Michigan. S. W. James Heddox. 1. No. not according to my exijerience. :i. All are good. I think my hees winter best on honey gathered from the linden-ti'ee. New Yoik. C. (r. M. Dooi,itti,e. No. If all are good, the one that is cheapest. We havf^ often wintered our hees (>ntii"ely on fall hcniey, and they icintrrcd n^cU. Michigan. C. A. ,J. Cook. 1. There surely is. if clovei' is the only source from which honey is gathered, r.'. vSugar syrup: hut my bees wintei'ed si)lendidly last winter on fall honev. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. 1. I tliiidv thei'e may be. '.'. I believe I should prefer the early honey, liecause it is more sure to be well evaporated, and the bi-es have all tlu^ time needed to fix it uij just as they want it- Illinois. N. C. C. Miei.er. 1. There is no advantaff(> in keejnng th(> best clover honey for winter stoi-es. :i. Fall honey is the scape-goat, but not the, cause of winter losses. Fall honeys ai'e tirst-class winter stores, and better than sugar svrup. Ohio. S. W. ' C. F. Mimi. In our location we haxc no fall Jioney that we can de])end on for w inter stores, so we alw ays let the bees stoi'e basswood honey for winter stores. 1 have never us( d sugar syi'up for win- tei- feed. Wisconsin. S. W. E. Fuaxce. 1. Yes. Tlie advantage of having a better quality and better ripened honey. 2. I am a little prejudiced in favor of the sugar. I con- sider it as good as well-ripened ear'ly iioney. and perhaps no bettei-. " Ohio. N. W. H. R. lioAKDMAX. 1. Very likely there is: but the plan will not do for localities where the yield i)er IiInc is small. 2. I iiave had no experience with syrup, but presume it to be better than most late honey, and not so good as the best earlv stores. Ohio. N. W. ■ E. E. Hasty. 1. Not hei'e. In fact, 1 thiidc I should prefer our fall honey to clover, as a rule. In some localiti<'S, clover honey would probably be bet- ter. ~. (lOod honey, when the bees gather it, whether early or late. If fe(Hling is necessaiy. use sugar svi'up. Illinois. N. C. .1. A. (Jiiee.v. ]. I would give the preference to honey gath- ei'ed in the lieight of the season: hut there is hardly enough advantage, ordinai'ily, to justify the necessary trouble in secui'ing it. 2. .\ly ex- pei'ience from feeding syrup from good s\igar (31 bbls. in oni' season) w ould nuike me favor sugar to any honey, oi' as good as the liest of honey. California. S. R. Wii.kin. 1. Yes. at present prices of honey in a locality where there is no fall or late harvest of dark honey. 2. I think sugar syi'up, one year with anothei'. is |)ref('rable. Yes, (>aj'ly hoi^ey is good: late honey is all right in an oi)en wiiiter where bees are wintered on sumnn'i' stands. V(n-mont. \. ^V. A. E. Manum. None, except vow would be sui'e of well-ripened hone\'. Honey giithercd latiT in the season, if thick and capijed over, is jjrobably just as good. My order of preference is as follows: 1. Good thick honey, sealed over: 2. Sugar syrup; 3. Late honey, sonn> unsealed: 4th and meanest, ••bug-juice." Illinois. N. W. C. ^Nlns. Ij. Hahimsox. 1. ^'es. :.'. I pi'efei- (/oo(/ honey, whether early or late. For the two last falls I have fed some coloiues varying (luantities of granulated-sugar syiup. The amounts varied fi-om :.' lbs. up to .'.'(). and tlnMjuantily fed was carefidly lUiirked upon each lii\'e. Soon after talking them out in the spring 1 have carefully examined them, only to lind them to average no bettei' than those unfed. New Y'ork. C. P. H. Elwood. 1. Yes. if yon can get good clover honey and save it for winter stores. You have the advan- tage of being sure of it. You might get as good later, but are not ccn'tain of it. 2. We genei-ally sav(^ basswood honey enough to winter our be(>s till we see whether we get fall honey. Any honey gathered from flowers when the weather is w arm and dry will winter bees. Honey-dew. or secretion from plant-lice, is what we most dread here. Wisconsin. S. W. S, I. Fueeboisx. 1. This d(^pends upon your locality. IIer(> it is an advantage to have ^\'intei' stoi-es gathered early. 2. I pi'efer tiie early honey. ()ui' late honey-yield is very uncertain. We hav^e but little buckwheat, and bees are liable to store honey-dew. In "such cases it is a r;'al comfoi't to have several frames of eai'ly honey to substi- tute for the honey-dew. Those living in a biickwheat-gi'owing country, and who are rea- sonably sure of a yield from that source, can de|)end ni)on it foi' wint(M'ing. It is a good winter food. Sugai' feeding in this State and in Vermont is a practice of the i)ast. New York-. E. Rambeei:. The general imprel^sion seems to be that clover honey, as a rule, is but little if any better than other honey well ripened and sealed up in the combs, although one or two suggest that the man who makes sure of surplus combs to provide destitute colonies will be less likely to let his bees starve for want of attention. These extra combs, carefully set away, make the mat- ter of feeding a comparatively easy one. It does seem, however, too bad to use our best honey, when dark honey will answer almost if not quite as well. If, however, one depends on fall honey, and does luit get any, he. is quite apt to neglect them, and to suffer loss. Rambler sug- gests that sugar feeding in York State is a practice of the past. I suspect this is largely due to the fact that honey — especially fall hon- ey— hasforsomt' time been rathor low, and good sugar rathei' high. To prepare and feed sugai' syrup is more trouble, and thereis always more or less loss in getting it into the combs and sealed \\\). Those who have undertaken t(» ]89() GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 713 tliruw out honey that w as ah'oady in tlic rijiht shape for winter stores, and supply its [jhic-e with sugar syrup, have found out to their sor- row what it cost to make the oxchan£?e. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS IS Tin-; GAKDEX I'AItSXIP OF MISSOl'KI T!IK SIMI'SOX IIOXKY-I'I.AXT OF THE A I{ C '.' On |). 120. A H V. there is an illustration of tlie Simpson honey-plant tliat is as mueli lild the path my wife used in go- ing to the garden: and in oi'der to get rid of it and the bees siii^ took a mowing-blade and c\it off the tops. She is not afraid of a mowing- blade or a hoe-haiulle. When it had been in bloom quite a time, and w Ikm'c it was cut oil', it threw out another set of t)ranches and bloonis. and gave the bees a second crop to work on. J. D. VVniTTEXBrKG. Marshfield, Mo., Aug. ;.'5. Friend W.. this is a little singular. We laise parsnij) seed ourselves, and have for some years, but I do not remember of having evei- seen a honey-bee on the bloom. I think you are mistaken about the Simpson honey-plant being like the parsnip. If you have the two side by side yoi\ will see: but if parsnips should jjroduce honey, somebody should locate near where i)arsnips are grown for seed on a large scal(\ A BK; TESTIMOXIAI. FOlt THE DOVETAILED HIVE AND THE SECTION-IIOEDEU StU!- PiaTS AKHANGEMEXT. I will try to get the honey ready to shi|) by the middle of Septemlx')-. The bees are gather- ing honey very fast now . and the prospect is good for a month yet. The second crop of alfalfa is in full bloom now. I haviMi't heli) enough to ke(>i) up with my work. It is hard to get any one here to work with bees. Everyliody seems to be afraitl of them. I have one man to hel|) me. We took off' over 1:.'00 lbs. of very iiicf^ honey to- day, mostly out of the Dovetailed hive. This hive, with sectioii-holdei's. is the best one that I ever saw. If I had had all my bees in tliose hives I should have secuied a third moic honey this yeai'. I se(> but one fault with them: llial is. the bottom-bar. If the section-holder is too light it sags down wlien it is full of honey, and leaves to(j much space on to[) of the section, aiui the bees store in honey. I sluill want ."iiH) of the Dovetailed liive this fall. W. I\. I!.\i.i,. Reno. Xev.. Aug. :51. Thanks for your kind words for the Dove- tailed hive. We not(^ your criticism, and I'X- pect to make the bottoms of the section-holders a full (luarter-inch hereafter. CAX WE KEEP BEES AWAY FROM XEIGHBOK- ING WATEH-TKOUGHS? Is there any wa.\' I can kee|) iu\' liees away from my lu'ighboi's well? They keejj w ater iii a trough for their stock. I have tried all I know, but still they go there. I have 45 good strong colonies. Tliey are about r.'tX) feet from tlie well. Jonx HrHK. Itraceville. 111. I iiresume. friend !>.. a good many of our readers will ask what harm the bees did. any way. at the neighbor's well. Hut I presume the trouble is, they are afraid of them, and imagine the bees came there to sting. It may be. too, that tlie childien get them on their clothing, or possibly pinch them by accident; and as tlu' neighbor feels annoyed, something should l)e done. Well, the only thing you can do is t() provide as good a watering-ijlace for the bees near home: and I would do this, even if it ne- cessitated digging a well of my own. Then cut away all the treys or any thing else that keeps the sun away, and provide a lot of pebbly gravel for the bees to aliglil on whih^ they are di'inking. If you wish to make it handsome, put in some stones and shells. Hx in. also, some varieties of moss, and I think you can run a successful opposition to your neighbor's well. The reason I recommend a well is because nothing else, unless you have a run- ning si)riiig. will afford such a constant supply of just ab!)ut the kind of wetness that bees pi'c- fer. BEESWAX FOI! MAKIX(; SfiiEAVS .\XI) XAIES I'EXETUATE WOOD. Did you ever try putting a little beesw ax on a screw or nail that you wished to drive into hard wood? If not. it will be a revelation to yoti. S. T. Waekei!. Forest (iiove. Or.. Aug. 11. Friend W.. what you mention is known to some extent, and has been, I think, before given in our back volumes. It is a very valuable fact. Some time ago we purchased a new and expen- sive machine for punching holes in our ABC hooks for wiring the paper-covered ones. The machine could not be made to work. There was not power enough in the thing to push the awls through such a great quantity of stiff' hard l)ai)er. One of the girls, however, suggested that we lirst i)ush the awls through a very thick sheet of beeswax. I do not know where she got the idea. but. presto ! after they had been waxed they went right through the whole book without anv trouble at all. AI.I,KX"s MlVE-srAXD. I like voiir phiii of an a|iiary. with a grape- vine trellis at the south itf each hive, very much: l)ut I think F have an improvement on the foundation of the hives. I use a platform :.".,\4 ft. in size, made of 's lumiier. luiiled the short way. on two :.'-inch-sipuire cleats. This plat form is set in the gi'ound .so that the toj) is level with the lawn. The hive is placed in the centi'r from side to side, and six inches from the iiack. leaving, with the hive 1 use. about 1:.' inches in front. The advantage it has is. that it w ill not blow away in a strong breeze, as the 714 GLEANINGS IN EEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. sawdust or sand you uso is suro to do iu our lieavy winds. Tiie grass and weeds will he ef- fectually stopped, which is not the case with sand or sawdust, and. so far as I can see, it poss(>sses all the desii'ahle featvu'es of eithei'. C'ost in some localities might he a possible ob- jection; but the sand would be as expensive as the lumber here, and I doubt not in some places it would be even more so. We have had a \-ery poor season in this part of the State, owing to hot winds and little or no rain. During tln^ last week, however, we have had some good rains, and bees are doing a thriving business to-day. We can hardly hope for much suri)lus. though. H. C. Allkx. Rising City. Neb.. Aug. •.'_'. Friend A., the very lirst hive-stands I ever used were made very much as you describe. I procured nice clean dry-goods boxes, or cases, from the stores, and sawed them in two in the middle, so that each made two. The objection to having them so large is not only the ex- pense, but, more than all, that you jar the hives whenever you step on this hive-stand. And where they are so large, yo\i ai'e sure to put your feet on them, moi'e or less, in managing your bees and going aiound your hives. Another thing, these large bases get out of shape in the course of time, especially when the hives get very heavy with honey. I linally decided that I wanted the alighting-board just as large as the bottom of the hive, and no larger; and then I began to use the cover of the Sim- plicity hive for a bottom -boai'd. enlarging and conti'acting the entrance by i)ushiiig it forward on this same cover. h()np:y candying bkfokk caimmno. ktc. The si)ring crop was a total failure. June and July were good. We never did get much honey here through the summer months before this year. From the middl(> of June to the first week in August oui' bees nevei' did better— es- pecially the Italians and hyi)rids. Those that were not bothered for increase stor<'d from 3.5 to .50 lbs. of siu-plus. I think they gathered a good pai't of it from cotton-bloom. ' Lots of the hon- ey would make sugar before it was capped over. I nevei' saw the like before. I slujuJd like to ask. 1, What made it sugar, and where did it come from? 2. AVill a hive that has ten frames in it, and half (jf them solidly tilled with honey, and the other half of them Si honey and }4 brood, win- ter well in this climate or not? I never had them so nearly till their brood-chamber before. 3. Does the fertilization of a queen affect her drone progeny or not? I have a book treating on bee culture that claims that it does. I have been watching this very closely for some time. I bi-eed all my queens from an Italian (jueen that I think is pure. I notice that the drones from the queens that produce liybrid workers are not as uniformly marked as those of ones that were purely mated. Decatur, Miss.. Aug. 2H. J. R. C'i,kvki,ani). 1. Certain kinds of nectar will candy very soon after it is gathered, and we believe this has been before n^poited of the cotton honey. Will some of our Southei'ii contributors please <'nlighten us? 2. Yes, w(^ should say a colony under the conditions named ought to be in good condition to wintei'. 3. The fertilization of a (|ueen does not affect her male i)i'()geny — at least, the evidence so fai' is to this effect. Drones fr'om tlie same queen will .sometimes vary gn^atly in color. The dnuies fi'om our im- ported Italian (jueens are sometimes almost black, while others from the same cpieen have one or two yellow bands. But we have always found that th(^ drones froTU imi)orted mothers, whether light or dark, produce three-handed workers if the queens are pure. TIIK SEX OF THE EG« DKTEKMINKI) 1!V THE (;rEEX"s GUAHD. In reading Dr. Miller's article in Gleanings. Aug. 1. a point overlooked by him and all others I have I'ead. came to my mind. Tiie (jueen's guard is ah\ays with her: and when she lays an egg in woi'ker-cells one of the \\'orkers goes into the C(>11 and lixes it. taking more time in "fix- ing" than the (pieen does in laying tiu^ egg. Now, what I want to know is. Does that part of the ceremony havi' any tiling to do with de- teiniiuing the sex? I have noticed tiiis for a jx'iiod of six years or moic. and am now of the ojjinion that it must have something to do with the sex of the bee. Have you ever noticed tliis act, on the part of the workers? If you watch the queen when laying you can not fail to see it. The long drouth has been hai'd on bees in this part of the country. Everything is dried up. and there is no honey to gather. Ezbon. Kan.. Aug. Hi. David Ross. Friend R.. I have noticed exactly what you describe: and I have often wondered, also, why this bee that crawls into the cell after the egg is laid should stay such a length of time. With our observatory hive we used to get impatient because these bees prevented us from getting a glimpse of a new-laid egg. You maybe right about it: but how in the world are we going to prove it, or determine what the bee does while it has been so long in that dark cell? A cell made of very thin glass might enable us to see what the bee seems to be doing with the egg. DEATH OF .Il'DGE ANDREWS. Oui- dear friend and brother. JiidgeAV. H. An- drews.of McKinney, Texas, died August (>, 18!K), of l^aralysis. One among the best lights in bee cultun? that we had in the South has gone out. W. R. (rKAIIAM. Greenville. Tex., S('i)t. 111. 1890. You are right, friend G. Judge Andrews has been one of the lights in bee culture^ especially in the South. We I'emember his quiet, kindly ways at the various conventions he has taken the pains to attend; and, by the way, is it not sad that we have not had the pleasure of meet- ing as many of the great bee-men of the South as we did a f(^w years ago? As the older ones pass away, and the boys take ui)the responsibil- ities, let us be cai'eful that these pleasant old- time relaticms and hand-shakings between friends not (mly north and south, but east and west, be not i)assed ovei' noi- forgotten. SXTPEIiSKDl'liE AFTEI! THE VOUNen"s wings ai'e clipped (init<' close to the body, they dou"t grow out again: but when the ti|)s onlv are cut otf. I'm not sui'e about it. Can you clear the matter up? AKfii. Dfxc.VN. Wyoming. Out.. Sept. 11. Friend D.. we think you are mistaken: nev- ertheless, it may be well to watch carefully and see wlietlier queens with the ends of their wings clipi)ed. or. say. with the thin gauze-like part cut otf. ev»n- do liave it grow again. I have clipped queens" wings in almost all sorts of ways, and 1 never noticed any change after- ward. stC'CKSsKri, WITH doolitti.e's plan of ukah- ING QTKKNS. I have been very successful in queen-rearing the past season witli Doolittle"s plan, with the exception of one batch of :50 cells, which doubt- less got chilled. The bees have commenced to drive out the greatly abused drones. My bees are in the best possible condition— plenty of st(»res, and gathering sufficient honey for brood- rearing. BEE-KSC.^l'KS A SUCCESS. The wire cone bee-escai)e has worked nic(>ly excepting where the bees were (piite young. Such bees are seldom in a huriy to leave theii- loating-place. THE THICK OK HEAVV TOI'-l!AK FKAMKS have the i)reference in my ai)iaiy — no brace- combs nor sagging to contend with. Reineisville. ()., Aug. :.'".'. .1. A. (!oi,I)KX. I'OIJ.EX ox THE HACKS OF KKES. Inclosed Iind s('\('i'al l)eeSA\ith yellow spots on theii' baclvs between theii' wings. This apjiears to be a sort of scab, or hard substance. Several of my coloni(^s show these spots moic or less. The bees ai)i)ear as lively as any in the colony. Is this a diseas(>. or what is it'.' If a disease, what will cure it? I saw some cori'esijondeuce a while ago in (ri.EAXixcis inquii'iug w hether bees lose their stings when they sting each oth(>r. I saw a case of this kind a few days ago. An Italian was trying to g<'t into a nucleus of black bees. One of tlie blacks clinched him. and they went spinning around, top fasiiion. and soon they were trying to pull ajiart. The Ital- ian had stung the black' bee in the abdomen: and in getting ai)art. the Italian lost his sting. leaving it in the black bee. SrnscmHEU. West Troy. X. V.. Se|)t. i». Surmising that the yellow spots, or lum|)s, might be i)ollen. we forwarded the lettei' to I'rof. Cook. \\ho re|)lies: The spots on the backs of the ix^es in (|uestioii are simply masses of ])ollen. I have often seen just such curious plastfMS. At this season oui' bees are often plastered up w ith the w bite uol- len of tliPi snap-dragon. The yellow pollen gi'ains on these bees ai'e spherical. 1 do not know what the kind of pollen is. It does no harm to the bees. They will be cleaned u|) aftei" nightfall, and the jioUen sa:V(Hl for bee-br<'a(l. Agricultural College, Mich. A. .1. Cook. KLACK WKEVII, IX THE WHEAT. AXI) MOW lO DESIHOV: SI'!X(il,ESS KEES. Krc. What is th(> b(>st w ay to keep the black weevils out of wheat? We ai'e pestered very much with them. Is tliere anv prev<'ntive for it ? I will t(>ll you how the S3.(M) (pieen I bought of you the first of August. ISS'i. has done. 1 have iiad three swarms and two extra (pieens from 1 lb. of bees and (lueen in a little over one year. How dtx'S that do for a beginner? I haven't taken any honey this yeai'. as there hasn't been anv thing foi' bees to work' on hei'e sincc^ the first, of April. It is all the liees could do to find enough to live on. I love to read (JLEAXixcis. and am always anxious to have it come. Tell us more about those stingless bees you spoke of. 11. N. .loHNSTO.X. .Mooresville. N. C.. Aug. 30. Thanks for your kind words. The stingless bees hav<' all "petered out.'" The cold nights, or something else due to this climate, does not seem to agree with them. In regard to the weevils, we forwaided the item to Pi'of. Cook, who re])lies: Th(^ only way I know of to keej) weevil out of wheat "is tVi put the wheat in tight, vrnj tight, boxes. This is quite imi)i-acticable. and so we must b(^ able to kill them when they are onci> in. Ky the nse of bi-sulphide of carbon, as described in my late Uulletin. this can be cheaply and effectively, and. with due caution, safelvdone. This can be got at wholesali' of Kdwaid Taylor. Cleveland. C). As this w ill not injui-e anything about the mill, and will kill all insects^ it is the s|)ecific. .\. .1. Cook. Agricultural College. ^Mich. FKOF.VNITV AMONG KAII.ROAI) MEN. You seem to think railn.ad men are more given to profane language than any other class of people. I do not think so. Very few of the railroad nu'n with w hom 1 conu' in contact (and 1 have been one for fifte<'u years) use pro- fane language. I never swore an oath in my life, and have a bi-other in the I'ailroad businc^ss who does not swcai'. Neither is a professing Chi-istian. or. at least, we belong to no church. 1 think I would report any railroad nuiii should I hear him use as ))i-ofane language as I have heard doctors, law yers. aiul drummers use. It is something very disagreeable to nu". thei'efore I notice it pi-oliably moi-e than most jx'ople wduld. Whv do von address that icipiest to railroad men? W. II. IttTi.Ki;. Clifford. Ind., Sept. i:i. Friend H.. 1 am very glad indeed to get your i-e|)ort. I addressed my request to railroad men, because in our Stale, and. in fact, almost every- w here else w here I have ti-aveled. there was mon^ swearing among the laili'oadei's than among any other class: perhaps I should say. I'ather, among the men who luindle freight, the men who construct our railways, and tlu' cheai)- er help emi)loye(l all along the line. Perhaps it is more true that men are more given to sweai'- ing w ho do heavy work that does not nHjuire \ery much skill, and conse((uently does not af- f(;j(l very much pay. .\ud w bile I am w riting. 716 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. the idea occurs to uic tliat tlii'ir profanity may be one reason why their pay is small. It cer- tainly dulls the intellect and blunts the moral perceptions to be constantly in the habit of taking God's name in vain. WHO IS JIOST TO BLAMK? Friend Root: — I love to read your home talks. You will never find out in this world the amount of good you do. I once spoke to a bright young man about di-iukiug so hard. I said. "You ought to quit for your nutther's sake, if for nothing else. She is a leader in temper- ance work, and president of the W. C. T. U.'" He replied, " Yes. I know it. But." said he, " if she would stay at home and mend my clothes. and see to my meals and other matters, I think she would be doing a better woi'k." Is she working, do you think, for stars In her crown in this world or that which is to come? Evansville, Ind.. July 31. A Home Man. My good friend, I thank you sincerely for the veiy high compliment which you pay me; but I fear you are getting on dangerous ground when you criticise so severely one of the W. C. T. U. workers. I have heard young men reply just about the way that one did. and I know mothers sometimes make mistakes in the way you have indicated; but I do think the young man has given us a glimpse of a very, very bad heart. When a youth can publicly and unblushingly shift the blame from his own shoulders off on to his mother, he has got pret- ty far down on his way to hopeless ruin. I know that many of our pi-ominiMit temperance women — at least those who have worked hard for great temperance reforms — have been in a like way criticised; but I think that we who perhaps stand oflF at one side should be very careful about finding fault. It is an exceeding- ly easy matter to find flaws in the character of every good man and woman. L(^t me give yovi a little glimpse of the other side of the question. It is bad for a /V(#ier to be away from his fam- ily. Now, in view of this, suppose all f/ood men should stay at home, and give, as a n^ason, that their fii'St duty was to attend to the bringing- up of their children. Where would our nation soon be if this were fully carried out? There are many mothers in my employ; and when they come here to their daily work, their chil- dren can not well be brought with them. Some of them, of necessity, are out in the streets, and very likely are much in need at times of a mother's watchful care; but there seems to be no other way in the world foi' the mother to earn her daily bi-ead. sense of (lod's presence in my soul. I went (m in that way. fighting against my convictions, and professing religion for six months, when 1 attended a camp-meeting, and awoke to the fact that I was backslidden in heart. I gave it up. Ciod I'eturned to my heart, and took the appetite all away, and it has never returned. Vinland, Kan., Sept. 13. D. H. Welch. Friend W., I am exceedingly glad to get this testimony of yours. I have had no experience with tobacco; but I do know that there is very little chance for God's spirit to obtain a lodging- place in the heart while we are conscious of holding fast to something that duty and jjlain common sense admonish us to give up. No wonder God took away the longing for tobacco. You gave it u]) for his sake, and you have your reward. S[e¥E^ W^ QnERiEg. CAN A PUOFKSSOH OF KEIJGH)N CI)Ni>ISTEXTI.Y USE TOBACCO? At the time of my conversion, at 31 years of age, I both chewed and smoked, and had for about 7 years. At that time, 1871. I had not heard any tiling said on the subject: yet after receiving the witness of the Spirit, in about a week, or at most two, I began to !);■ depressed- in spirit on account of my tobacco; and I looked around to see what others were doing. I found the class-leaders and other i)roininent members using it. so I continued to also, but lost the real The honey crop was good this year. Aver- age, .")."( lbs. per hive. Ira L. Donald. Smyina. Fla.. Sept. 8. Bees are doing well now, getting plenty of stores for winter at last, but that is nearly all of it; but I am glad for that. Peter Bli'nier. Roanoke, 111., Sept. 18. 18tK). PKOSI'ECTS GOOD FOR FALL HONEY. Our bees did well in spring; but dry weather came and stopped work in the sections. The prosiK>ct for fail honey is pretty good— plenty of goldeiuod. and some Sjjanish needle, and bees are working well. D. H. Welch. Vinland. Kan.. .Sept. 13. A I'XK^UE W,\V TO GET CAIvES OF WAX OTT OF PANS. Tell Dr. Miller that, when he wishes to clean the di-ipping-pan of his solar wax-extractor, to tui'u tile i)an bottom up and pour a little boiling water ovei- it. then with a tal>le-knife htosen the edges of the mass and it drops out all in a cake. G. B. Replogle. Centerville, Iowa. Sept. 4. [Many thanks, friend R. Th(» idea is ingen- ious, and will woi'k. without doubt.] GETTING BEES TO TAKE THE HONEY FROM COMBS PLACED IN .\N UPPER STORY. How can I get bees to take honey from combs placed in an ui)p(M' story, or anywhere else, .so the colony that I want to have honey gets it? I have no extractor. W. R. Tate. (xoodman. Miss., Sept. 8. [There is no (piick way. If cimibs are placed in an upper story in the fall, with an enameled cloth between. l)ut turned up a little at one end. the bees will, if short, carry the stores below in time, say in a month. Bui it is not very satis- factory at best.] HONEY' FROM .lAPANE.SE AND NONE FROM THE COMMON BXTCKWHEAT. I sowed a late piece of Jai)anese buckwheat, which is fui'uishing a nice liow of honey now. Tlie common buckwheat has i-ii)ened. and the bees did not work on it at all. They are w(n'k- ing Oc\v\y and late now. J. W. C'hapin. Winfred. S. Dakota. Sept. 1. [We are exceedingly glad of the above I'ejjort. because on page (577 of our last issue ther.* u as 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 717 uiu' just the other way. The truth of tlic mat- ter is. I pros\inie. thai the varieties differ enough so that one may yield iioney when tlie otiier does not.l You fail to mention hurdoelv as a in)ney-i)ro- dueer in tlieAHC. I find it very i)roduetive. liees worlxing on italldav. Cii.vs. Matiikk. Cascade, N. Y.. Aug. 4. 1890. [Unrdoek lias been frequently mentioned as a honey-plant. In fact. I have seen almost as many bees working on liurdoek at one time as 1 ever saw on some of the murh-laudcd honey- plants: but it i-i a feai'ful weed, and draw s heav- ily on the soil. \\'ho wduld think of I'aising liurdoeks. e\-en if tliev did gi\'(' h(ine\' 1>\^ the tons?) ' STOLEN BEES. Last Friday night one of oui' eoloni<'s was stolen. Do you think tlnn- will conu' back again, if they are let out'.' They have them piMined np yet. so I guess they have had no chanc(! yet. The>- ai'e a few hundred yards off from my house. Joiix IlKUl'.si.Kii. Galena. 111.. Aug ;.'!. 1890. [To be sure, the bees will come l)aek again, if they have oi)poi-tunity: but. now. are you not making a mistake? Is it not only a sui'inise that they are w ithin only a few hundi-ed yards of yotu- house? I should hardly think they could be kept confin(Hl nearlv a week, as voii state it.l PYgELF WD JAY piEIGpB©^?. A riglileuus man resardeth the life of liis lieast ; l)ut the tender mcieies of the wiikeil aw cinel.— Prov. 12:10. In my talk about the new railroad. 1 touched ujjon th(> matter of cruelty to the horses but inci- dentally. I told you that the men who let their passions run away with them, and yield to the imimlse to give vent to these jjassions in oaths and curses, using <'very sacred word they could bring to mind, are the ones that ai'e abusive and inhuman to their horses. The latter part of our text tells us that even the tender incrcies of the wicked are cruel. As they are crowding this raih'oad to its utmost, they have offered large pay for men and teams: and a good nuiuy who own only very inditferentteams have beeii induced to i)ut them to drawing dii't bv the stimulus of the S3..-,o a day which they offer. A good numy boys ar(> also set to work to drive. Hoys do not cost as much as men. so you see there is quite a chance for speculation. Iliad heard, before they canu' on to our gi'ounds. of cruelty toward tlu' horses, and I was deter- mined to do whiit I could do to resti'ain it. and. as much as possilile, in ihe sanu' line I undei- took to restrain the iirolainty — by the spirit of Christian kindness. Many of the learns, being unused to such work, were exc(.'edingly awk- ward: and the experienced man — that is. ex- perienced in railroad business — nuide no allow- ance for the poor dumb brutes on this account, lint cursed and jiounded the pooi' heasts w hen they were doing the very best they kni'W how. Hy th(» way. did you ever, in your .^ober mo- nu'uts. think what a cruel and' ungentlemanly thing it is to abuse anybody — man, (ddld. or duml) brute, hecause of inexix'i'ience? It was in my mind to include wdnu'u: i)n1 llu' thought of being cruel to a woman, when she is doing hervei'y level best, canu' so near tost ii-ring up my feelings that I thought 1 would not put her iii the list. Surel\' none Inii an intemperate man would think of l)eing harsh and cruel to a woman because she did not understand what is wanted. IJut we are going to talk about horses to-tlay. ami not about women. Most of the teams on the wurk' were too poor in llesh to do tlndi- work well and easily. I am very w(dl aware that work-horses may have tcjo much flesh to stand heavy work day aft(M' day: but I believe that this (>xtreme is seldom met. The poor horses seem to be willing and anxious to ])lease: in fact, the greater part of them show- ed more life and energy than 1 expected hor.ses to show when their ribs and joints are almost l)rotruding through the poor hide that covers the auinnils. How I did long to see what the effect would be to give them all the grain they could consunu". (^specially while they wei-(> on thejol)! (^)uite a few fell down fr((m exhaus- tion (or swearing— which was it?) and had to be turned otf by the boss as itnfit for the work. On(» afternoon, toward night. I saw a pooi' heavey horse panting to such an extent that its eyes fairl\' stood out in their sockets. As it ptilled the scrai)er to the top of the heap of soft dirt, it swayed one way and another, and trem- bled as if it were almost ready to fall down in its tracks. IJesides this the blood was stream- ing from on(> of its legs. It had Ix'en hurt in getting through a bridge some days before. A bandage had been put over the wound: but the heavy work had knocked off' the bandag(» and started the woiuid afresh, and loss of blood, probably, had something to tlo with the exhaus- tion of the poor aninnil. It seems to me. that a man who would work a horse under such cir- cumstances. sim])ly l)ecause by doing it he could get i*3.75 a day. ought to be horsewhipped him- S(df. But this woidd not be th(> method taught by Christ ,Iesus. 1 saw him before I had reach- ed the si)ot. and asked the boss why he allowed the man to woi'k with such an aninnil. He said there were ci'rtain reasons why he did not like to interfere, but he had been rather hoidng somebody who belonged to the Hunume Society would conn> around, and then be would hav(^ good authority for ordering the man to take liis horse honu'. Is not this a hint to the work- ers in the Humane Society? The team came near where we wei'e standing. Said I. "My friend, do you thiidc it right to woi'k a horse undei' such circumstances ? '" •• Well. I sup|)ose it is not exactly the thing. But I hav(> no other hor.se to put in: and unless I use him it throws me and my other horse out of woj'k."" I told him I was a member of the Humane vSociety. and I thought he had better not work the horse any nmi'e. esix'cially while he was in that condition. The boss then veiy i-eadily in- dorsed what I had said. Now. friends, he who acts as an obicer of the Humane Society needs much skill and judgnn-nt. and knowledge of horses. A horse really itittil for woi'k. in the hands of an ignorant, swejiring man. and oiu' w ith poor judgnu'Ut. might do very well, and woi'k witlumt very much fatigue, undi'r tin- guidance of an expei'ienced. competent, kind driver. In all my work in life I am paiui'd al- most constantly to see waste labor and waste nn)tions. In tiiis simple matter of di-awing dirt, the horses wei'e sometimes driven many weary steps that were entirely useless. AftcM' the scraper is emi)tie(l. the thoughtless driver freipiently goes ttle down into a kind of dull. ho|ieless desi)on(l<'ncy. His ears, that aic usually e\'er in motion to catch the least word from his master, dro]) back sul- lenly as if he had decided that it is of no use to try any more; that the only thing was to plod along as best he could— "bear the toil, endure the ])ain." Dear tViends, do you ask why I stop ill (|U()ting these closing lines of my favorite hymn? I stopjjed tiecause the ])oor horse, so far as we know, has no such support as we have. The Grod who made him has never given him. so far as we know, a jiromise of some \\ onderfnl reward in the unknown future, if he is |)atieiit and faitiiful and kind. If this is ti'ue. oh how much more iloes it behoove us to treat iiim as one of (Jod's creatures, and, out of respect for the great Fathei- above, if nothing more, treat him kindly and lovingly: to I'ecognize him as a great and pi-eciousgift from the loving Father above I Of course, our big Clydesdale team was work- ing near them, moving the rich soil fnmi the surface of the gi-ouiid. Most of the railroad men stop|)ed. sooni'r or later, to admire and point out the contrast between such a team and the rest on the job. Our team did their work easily and well. They filled the largest scrapers on the ground, without sweat or fatigue. Some- liody stai'ted a repoit — I do not know how— that there was not a man on the grounds w ho could stall them by setting the scraper down into the hard ground. These horses have seldom if ever been tried to their utmost. They hardly know what it is to undertake to move something and fail. The boss came along one day, and jesting- ly asked the driver if it were true that nobody could hold them with a sci'aper. Several were standing aiound, while the driver tpiietly re- mai'ked that he did not remember that anybody had ever yet stalled them. Now. there was a hard -wood stake a little ah(>ad that needed grubbing up, but nobody had yet got around to it. It was pretty well covered with dirt-. The driver knew where it was. As the boss took hold of the scraper and loaded it up, the driver turiKHl the team in the direction of the stake. •Just as th(> boss got ready to show his skill, the driver gave the big team a signal. There was a biii-st of merriment as the boss picked himself up from over between the horses: and he just lia)jpened to remember then that lie had urgent business on another part of tlu' grounds. Fi- nally, as the men were crowding upon us with additional teams, old Charlie, who draws the market-wagon, was hitched to a smaller scraper, and set to work. I intended to, get along soon, and give the driver directions: but something called me: and, before I knew it; good faithful old Charlie was panting for bi'eath, and would probably hav<' come pretty near falling down too hail not somebody interfered. Let me e.xplain a little. Old Charlie was pur- chased some time ago, at an astonishingly low price, for so large aiui fine-look'iiig an animal. After the purchase, however, we discovered the reason for the low price, lie was wind-broken. He will pull an enormous load, and walk faster than any other horse 1 ever saw. if you keep watch of his wind, and do not let him overtask it. With a careless driver, however, and one who is unused to his infirmity, he will, if pusli- ed, get out of breath and fall down in the road. He has done it several times — not of late years, however, for 1 will not pei'mit it. At on(> time in his life, old Charlie was a celebrated walker. He would walk ahead of any horse in the sur- rounding country; and he "is often now so am- bitious that, if not constantly watched, he will lose his wind. Over two years ago. during the hot. dusty weather, he gave out. and most of the horsemen said he was u.sed u)), and that 1 had better "trade him off," or take him off and shoot him. 1 sent for a veterinary surgeon, and he said the horse was just as good as he ever was, if rightly treated. We had been feeding liim dry chop feed. The sui'geon forbade that, and said we should give the horse corn fodder. little potatoes, or any thing that he seemed to want, instead of dry grain, and he would do his work without trouble, pi'oviding we renuMuber- ed to keep careful watch and not let him go b<'vond the limit of his wind. To-dav you could not buy old Chailie for *150. Witli all' Charlie's ambition and great strength, he is nervous and impatient at any thing like being yanked and nagged, especially by small boys. If anybody comes around him whom he thinks may be in- clined to take delight in w ori'viiig him. he bites savagely, i have been told that lioys punch him and pinch him for the purpose of seeing him act up. If he gets worried or excited, it increases his infirmity. V,\ the way. friends, isn't that the case with almost anybody? Well, after I exjilained to the driver Charlie's good points as well as his weak ones, I told him that lie must work on all the dirt that was to be di'awii a .s/(o;-f (//.s'f((/irc — let the big Clydesdale team take the long |)ulls. In a little time I saw Charlie doing "big work." and doing it easily, and apjiarently enjoying it. Several remarked, liefore long, that old wind-liroken Charlie would move more dirt than many of the teams on the job. 1 spwke to him aiiprovingly several times as 1 passed by: and knowing his disposition as 1 do — his wonderful energy and amliition — it just seemed to me as tlumgli I should like the fun of working side by side with old Charlie, every day of my life; and 1 am sure 1 could make him hapiiy; and I feel equally sure that old Charlie, with his great energy and faithful- ness, would make me happy. Dear reader, is it your good fortune to own a horse or to work with oiK^? ]Mak(^ that horse your fi'iend. and 1 assure you he will do his best to make himself your friend. Last night my wife asked me if it did not seem strange that man and wife should get along so nicely together, while each one would get along so uncomfortably without the other. 1 replied that 1 did not tliliik it at all strange, because it is a relation of God's own planning; and it seems to me just now that the relation betwen the horse and his owner is much that same way. Neither would be happy with- out the other.' But when the two work together in a loving and friendly way, it seems to me as if (rod's blessing rests on both. I do verily be- lieve that we are only carrying out God's plan in the beginning, in these relations with our domestic animals: and whenever we fall in line 1S90 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 719 with God's plans we may b(i sure a tilcssi'i;? will follow. A few days ago a horse was wanted to pull brick, by means of a i)ulley, to the top of an elevated reservoir. One of the Clydesdales hapixMieti to be in the stable. The man who usually handles him was away with tlu^ other. The (piestion was asked if it would be safe to set .lack at that woi'k. A wrong move might endanger the lives of the workinen on the seaf- fold. I told them that .lack would be perfectly safe if a good man would stantl by him till he comprehended what was wanted of him. As his surroundings were strange, and his daily coini)anion was absent, he seemed at lirst a lit- tle tidgetv: but Icarefull>' exi)lained to him (you need nol smile at this) w hat he was to do: and aftei' he had taken half a dozen trips he stopped promptly when the mason called fi'om the top of the tower to hold on: and in tifteen minutes moi'e. to the mei'riment of the boys, .Jack, after hearing the call. " Hold on I" turned around with his whilHetree and marched back' to the point of stalling, without an\' help fi'om any one. The mason now called from the top of the tow- er, saying that we should put a little bit of white board on the grass, right where .lack was to stop, and that the hors(^ would walk right up to that board, and stop eveiy time. This he did all the rest of the day, without making a singl(> mistake or blunder. It was evident that he kept watch of the movements, for he locjked up to the top of the towei' occasionally, as if he were taking in the whoh' plan of proceedings. 1 would rather have a smart horse for my hel])er than a dull man. The hoi'se generallx' has his mind on his work, and knows what is going on. while the man sometimes does not. Now. there is one point I think I must take up in this paper, or else some of my good friends who know more about horses than I do might call a good deal of my talk all " folderol." It is this: While kindness and gentleness and love are always in order, firmness and tiecision are also needed almost constantly. A few days ago we wanted the Clydesdales to ))ull a stick of timber ui) to the larg<' underground reservoir. Tliei'(> was a roadway down into it. where they draw out the dirt, and tin- horses evidently took it foi- granted that the driver meant to drive ihem down into that fearful hole. JJc knew what he wanted, but tlifij didn"t. Thi-y began to snoi't and prance, and Hnally oih' tui'ned one way and one the other. I^ines and ti'aces were getting ])adly tangled. Three or four men took hold of them, and tried to straighten them out: but what can a man do w ith a hoise of such ti'emendous weight and sti'ength? Why. a man's strength would l)e as nt)thing. and 1 ex- jjected to see a regular smash-up. The di'iver gathered up his lines, and. with a yell, com- manded the horses to straighten out. hitting them a good clip by way of emi)hasis. His \()ice. w liich they knew, was of more weight to them then than all the men whom they did not hnoir. and they straightened out in their places in a twinkling. They trembled with excite- ment: but for all that, they obeyed orders. A thousand times, valuable hunuin life might have been saved by i)rom|)t enei'gy and deci- sion, by the tree \ise of the whip, oi- perhaps a ■club, or any thing that could be got hold of. to let thi'm know who is master: and a man oi' woman who would complain of cruelty to ani- mals under such circumstances, issimjjly w<'ak and childish. Of coui'se. the driver should hold his tenipei'. and not a single blow should he sti'uck moi'e than is necessary to enforce oliedi- <'nce: and under no circumstances should they be pounded or whipjx'd after they have been made to obey. Old Chai'lie draws kindling- wood evei'y afternoon. The new building, how- eviM', has cut otf his icgulai' |)ath so that he has to back around in order to load up the kindling. Hut this could be managed easily if he would go intoanari'ow alley and back u]) until his nose nearly touches the new building. His drivi-r said he couUl not make him do it. I told liim he must w hip him until he did do it. He said whipping did not do any good. By my ordei's he showed me how he acteil. Charlie w<'nt al- most far enough, then pranced and snoited. and. in spite of tlie whipping, he hacked the wagon the wrong w ay. and smashed it into some othei' thing's w hei'c he might have done injui'y. I looked aroiuid until I found just w hat I want- ed. It was a narrow strip of barrel-stave. Charlie saw what I had: but he had evidently made up his mind that he was not going up oii that walk'. e\-en for inc. i told him where to go. and led him tip. Jlestopix'd as before, and I gave him one pretty good whack on his great fat haunches. He went ahead a little furtlier, and then threw u]) his head and liegan to back as before. Then I gave him such a slap it mad«^ him grunt a little. IJut he was not quite con- quered. The thii'd blow I gave with all my might, and he walkeil up as meek and obedi- ent as a child. Since then he goes right up in that place without anymore foolish actions and display of his notions and stubbornness. Now. a horse, like a child, sometimes enjoys this sort of fun — a conflict w ith authorit\'. It is rare fun for him to discoNci' that his master has not force and decision enough to make him do what he ought to do: and it is like cows with a bro- ken fence. The more tim(>s they jumj) f)ver. the more and the higher they ti'\' to get over after it has been fixed. This (pu'stion of who is go- ing to boss things is sure to come up sooner or later between the horse and the owner. The owner should be cai'eful about insisting on any thing that endangers the horse's safety. He should also bewai'e of giving command where he is not well prepared to enforce obedience. Horses have better memoi'ies than we do. I have sometimes thought, too. that they have a n'ondcrfitl faculty for taking a man's full di- mensions. Let a stranger take hold of the lines or attempt to give orders, and they vei'n soon decide how much " lord of creation "" there is in this new mastei- or new driver. Now, do you suppose a horse thinks fcs.sof you when he finds that you are not to be trifled with, and are fully compet(Mit to iMile? Why. bless you. no. It is with a horse as with a child. His love foi' you is in close relationship to his i-cspect for you. He loves the hand that nitiLcs hlni ini}id. a hundred times betti'r than the one who lets him liave his own way in a feeltle. helpless sort of mannei'. Now. tlear fi'iend. whose eye rests on these iniges, if you have any thing to do with horses. |)lease look upon them as one of (rod's most ])recious gifts. Do not scrimp them in feed: do not scrimp them in nice pure water. Take pains to cai'iy them thi' ajjple peelings and coi'cs — that is. if you can not afford to give them whole apples. If th(>y like jjotatoes. as >nke and Charlie do— yes. and Hilly (he is the one that ate the jjeck when they were *1. 20 a bushel), give them the small potato-p<'<'liiigs. Sift out fhi' dii't so they will be nice and clean, (iive tiiem the sweet corn after the ears are plucked, and all the dainties that they like, that the house atfords. Teach the children to love them and care for them: but at the same time, if you would win their I'espect as w<'ll as their love, teacli them to be oiu'dient. He patient and lonn-siiffcrini) with your horse. He knows wlien you give way to temper, just as well as any human being knows: and you sink in his estimation the minute you do so. He kn()ws when vou strike him oi'scold him for soniet hing 720 GLEANINCiS IN BEE CULTURE . Oct. 1. that was not liis fault: and he is I'cady and quick to write your name down in tliat woiider- fullv accurate tablet of his horse memory. You can not apologize to a horse as you can to a Duni ; and it will tak'e you a loiiii' while to wipe out the nu'mory of some undeserved insult. God gave you sense and reason and doiiiinioti ; but he gave the noble horse, too, a kind of sense and judgment and wisdom that often- times comes very near the God-given intellect of humanity. In closing, permit nu' to print again some- thing that apijeared in Gleaxinos for Novem- ber, issr.'. IVi.v f rienrl. are you and your horse good f riendsy Do you love him, and does lie love :ioir? Does lie know, whatever comes u]>. that you are his friend? Do you know, whatever conies up. that he is ymo- friend? Have you such a broad charity for him, that, when lie makes a mistake, or doesn't under- stand, you are kind and i)atient witii liim, instead of calling him a fool, or saying he doesn't know any thing? Has he such confidence in you, that, when you make a mistake, and once in a great while (?) speak cross, or " holler" at him, he will foi-give it and not be stubborn and contrai'y? When .\"Ou work together, ai'e your relations of a truly Iriendly na- ture? Is the service a loving service on Itotli sides?. Maybe your horse is old; maybe he is one of the dull kind; may be he is lame or blind; it so, and you are even a little bit of a Christian, you are all the more bound to bear with him. Don't you think old and broken-down horses can appreciate kindness? The kindest man I ever saw to his hoi'se and cow is Professor Cook. I don't know but the kindest horse and cow I ever saw were Professor Cook's too. I have som(>times wondei'cd whether they, too, with the rest (if the Mii'liigan ix'ople, know tliat he is jiro- fessor of hugs and insects, and feel a little bit proud of their office of helping him along in his work in the Agricultural College. If your horse is pool, I don't know how we can make any e.vcuse for .vou; in fact. I don't know how God can excuse you. Starving the ground may not be a cruelty; but starving a horse, and then asking him to work hard every day, is one of the worst things I know of. If I wanted to pick out a Chris- tian, I should look for somebody riding behind a horse that was fat, sleek, and happy. I don't so • much care if he does I'ide in an old ricketj' buggy, for buggies don't get tired (only at the blacksmith shop) and cro.s.s; but when you are weak, faint, and hungry, how would you like to draw some stingfy old curmudgeon through the mud? Onr .Jack is about 18 years old; but I have lately made the diseo\'ery. that, when he is fed regularly and well, and is water- ed at least three times a day. he marches out of his stable, with head up, as much as to say, "Hurrah, boys! come on with the buckwheat or rye you want sown; and if you have any hard work to do, just mind your whifflL'trees are .strong." You see, Jack has all his life been celebrated for breaking whiffletrees ; and when a load doesn't come, and he is urged the second or tliird time, he will lie down to worlv with an air tliat says, "All right, if you want .something to come," and some- thing doea come too. Sometimes it is the whiffle- tree, and sometimes it is the whole forward end of the wagon; but to do this, he must have good food, and plenty of it. Now. mind what T tell you: Neg- lect oi' or unkindness to your horse will surely stand in the way of your peace with God. and \dur highest happiness here on earth. Poor faithful old Jackl After giving a life of almost twenty years of faithful service to our liunily. letting each new baby learn to drive by holding his lines, and learn to ride by trying to sit astride of his great broad back: after carrying the whol(> family, singly or col- lectively: after imlling boxes and packages through the mud. for oiu- whole factory, almost, and never tlinching. poor faithful old Jack lost his life by the burning of our waiehonse, March 7. 18,S(). He was tlie especial property of my wife, having been rai.sed by In-r father: and now the only memento of this faithful old ser- vant is a blackened horseshoe. May God help us to remember these household treasures while hey are with us I SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. That art on which a thousand millionth of men are dependent for their sustenance, and two hundred miUions of men expend their daily toil. mu>t lie tlie mo^t imjiortant of all— the parent and precursor of all otliir arts. In every country, then, and at every period, the investigation of the principles on which the rational practice of this art is founded out; ht to have command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds. James F. W. Johnston. sti!Awbi<:p,i!y-i{unneks, and how to get the EITTI.E PEANTS EQl^AEEY SPACED AT THE LEAST EXPENSE. Terry, in his book, recommends letting the runners go — that is, with some care and dii'ect- ing, and tinally, late in the fall, to cut out with a garden trowel, or similar implement, all sur- plus plants so that no two ])lants stand nearer than six inches apart. ]Mr. TieixM'. in the Ohio Fanner, suggests that it is much cheaper to ac- complish the same thing by spacing the run- ners, putting the little iilant where it ought to be, and holding it down with a piece of dirt. We have for years practiced both ways, and we have also practiced letting the runners and plants follow their own fasliion. Now. I am quite sure that very much may be gained in quantity and in size of fruit by judicious sjiac- ing; but at present I am unable to determine which is the cheaper — probably a combination of the two ways; and this is really the plan which Terry recommends. We have been in the habit of having boys take care of onr straw- berries to a large extent: but oiu- Gaudies and Bubachs, put out in July, have now set so many lilants that it is getting to be a complicated matter for a boy. First. I tell them the runners must be swung around so as to be out of the way of the cultivator, at the same time spacing them so that none shall be nearer than 6 inches. Second, sometimesthe runners cover the ground thickly on one side, and few or none on the other: therefore a part of them must be swung around when the case demands it. Third, if one plant sends out a great number of runners, and its neighbor on the other side but few, then the greater part of them should be swung around so as to till up the space around the feeble plant. You can teach a boy to remember one thing pretty well: but when he has got to keep in mind, all at once, three things— namely, the path of the cultivator, keeping them G inch- es apart, and filling the vacant spaces, it is too much for him. A man or a jiretty good-sized boy, and one who can kec]) his mind constantly on his work, is demanded for it. Oftentimes the plant has taken root before we get around; and if it lias gone out at right angles, right in the path of the cultivator, it had better be mov- ed. Now. inilling them up is not a good way. After a little plant has put out white roots, and got a good hold on the soil, it seems to be dis- couraged by jerking it out: and unless rain follows, the roots will not take hold of the new place. It is just as quick, and a good deal neater, to remove a little ball of dirt with the lilant, by means of a common garden trowel. If. after all, the plants start too thick, and some of them mi/s'f be taken out, do not do it by pull- ing them out nor by digging them out. Friend Terry has the credit of originating, if I am cor- rect, "a much (juicker and sim|)ler way. Slice off tlie to]) of the plant with a sharp garden trowel, just below the crown. If you cut too low you make unsightly holes in your strawberry- rows. If you do not cut low enough, the plant will start to grow again. With those who have only a few jjlants in the garden, there is no troi'ible about siiacing them where you want them, as fast as they push out: but for field culture, getting the plants .so as to isyo GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKi;. 721 make a good stand o\rr the ground and not lie crowded is one of the main points: and it is something that costs quit(> a little lahor. too. to have it done well. I mention these things now. het'ause it is time to get riglil at it. \Vith a favorable fall. \V(» expi'ct our plants to i)ut out runners and nuik(» new i)lants for fully a month yet: and we also expect these new plants nuide in October to bear fi'uit next year. If they keep on pushing out and taking root clear into November. I am going to encourage tlKMU in it all I can. Our plants put out In AiKjust. with the ti'ansplanting-tubes. are also making some very handsome new plants. EDI¥0WIi. He pa^veth ill the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength. He goeth on fj meet the armed men.— Job 39:21. Wk have at this date 10.112 subscribers. The two car loads of honey mentioned on next page have arrived in excellent order. NAMES OF PAKTIES THAT CAN FX'KNISH >[OSS. AS MENTIONED ON I'AUE 680. I.A.ST ISSUE. Up to the present date, only three names have been sent in: namely, C. H. Welch, Ki'umroy, O.; Christian Weckes.ser. Marshallville. O.: C. Gere. East Springheld, Pa. THE BENTt)N CAGE. As the essential features of the cage we have been using for the past season were borrowed from the above, we have decided to ci-edit friend Benton s.iO.OO for what the beiietit his expei'- iments have been to us. INTEIJNATIONAI, AMEHICAN HEE-ASSOCIATION. This will meet in Keokuk, Iowa, Oct. 39. 30, and 31, as will be seen from the convention notices, printed on page 711. It has been a rather bad year, and it is possible that some members may not feci able to stand the exjjense of attending tliis year. However, we hope there will be a large locol attendance at any rate. Our friend C. P. Dadant has done some effective work, and his etforts will vei-y likely make the attendance as great as heietofoic LOOK OIT FOK THE OOI.DEN BEE-HIVE. Of course, our older readers will not need any caution, as it has been shown up again and again. Some of our younger ones have not. however, got thoroughly posted, as is evident from the following: Can you tell me whether a man by the name of Ja.s. Ji. Pickei'l has any patent on the "Gold- en'" bee-hive? He has sold a great maiiv farm- rights thi'ough here for $1().()0. \\'. IIixes. Mt. Airy. N. C. Sept. .">. Von will I'emember that it is the (roUlen bee- hive Mien who have forged a testimonial from Prof. Cook: that is. I hey in their circular pub- lish a testimonial from Prof. Cook, and yet he n(jt only ne\'er used it. but he ne\-er mnr a CJolden bee-hive in his life. tels, or the liotels where special rales have been made for bci-keepers. By way of sug- gestion we would icconunend that the secreta- ries of bee-associations see that the hotels which are to accommodate boe-keejjers be sup- plied with lirst-cla.ss honey, both comb and ex- tract<'d. When bee-men go away fi'cmi lumie. they ought to be treated to .something as nice as they would have on their own tables. At the International, at Keokuk, in particular, we would suggest that Mr. Dadant. the secretary, procure samples of the finest alfalfa, mesquite, and white-sage honey, that can be obtained, both in the comb and extracted form, the same to be sold to the hotels granting special rates, at a reasonable i)rice. If possible, let there be other samples of honey whose exquisite flavors are unknown to b(M>-keepers in general. It will be a grand time to have table-talks on the rel- ative merits of the honey while the delicious article is melting with its sweetness in the mouth. If Mr. Dadant can not procure the mesquite and the alfalfa, as well as some of the white mountain sage, we will try to assist him. We make this suggestion public to Mi'. Dadant in order that the smaller and altiliated associa- tions mav take the hint in time. bee-conventions: iioxev at iiori:i,s. etc. ScAKCEi.v ever have we attended a bee-con- vention when \\c found good lionev at the lio- IIONEY (JETTING SCAKCE. It is pr(»tty evident, from quotations in the honey mai'kets, that our product is going to be- come pretty scarce before another season: and while bee-keepei'S have suffered from a poor year, perhaps the price may rise to such a point where it can be held, even when honey becomes more plentiful: and thus a poor year may be a blessing in disguise. The fact that there is a big demand for honey, shows that the general public are learning to use it more and mor(> as an article of food— if not the honey itself, in honey- jumbles and other baker's cakes. By the way, there is g(>tting to be AN ENORMOX'S HONEY-.JX'MBLE THADE. Crawford it Taylor, the celebrated bakers of Mansfield. O.. are actually using four barrels of off-grade honey daily in the honey-jumble business, and this is only one baking establish- ment. Not only are they making jumbles of honey, but other delicious cakes as well. Now, then, what bec-kccpcrs have to do is to help these bakei's all lli('\ can. In<|uirc for honey- jumbles at your grocerirs aiiiil.\ stiniulat<' the honey-junilil<' busini'ss. but It will make a splendid outlet lor off grades of lion;'y. .Say, Mr. Dadant. w by would it not be a good idea to have a variety of honey-jumbles and other cak'es made from our product, at the Keokuk hotels? .lust include these in your liill of fare with the honey. Oh. yesi be sure to in\ite re- porters to conu' in and take diiiiicr with us. and then we will suggest the i)ropriety of their using I heir pens in describing oui- deli c in us product. 722 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1. THK A H f OK HTKAWKKKKY CUI/ITKE. Aftkk a few sample copies had been sent out, we Icaniod that tliero is a) ready a book in print ontitlod. "How to (Jrow Strawberries." On this account we have clianged the title of our hook- as per above heading. SPOTTING STKAAVJ?KKKV-PI,ANTS IX THE FAI,L. Otk good friend I. A. Wool, of Elsie. Mich., naturally felt a little bit hurt at friend Yoder"s protest in regard to advertising sti-awberry- plants in August, for next year's fruiting. He writes us, howevei', that every customer of his is furnished with a little pamphlet, entitled, '"The Secret of Success in Growing Small P'ruits," and in his paraphh^t occurs the follow- ing paragraph: Plants juuy l)e set in August and September, and, if well cared for. will produce a faircropijf berries the following season. Some of our nic- est berries are grown on this plan: and had we failed to set out a bed in tiie spring, we should by all means set it at this time, tlius secui'ing a supply of berries for tiie coming season. Hut as a rule we think it pi-eferable to set in the spring, thus securing a full crop for the following sea- son. As the matter stands, I do not think there is very much danger of any of the readers of (jrLEAxiNGS being misled, either by the adver- tisement or by what has been written on the subject. INFOKMATION WANTED IN KEGAKI) TO ALFAL- FA FIf:i.DS. One of our correspondent.s, Mr. O. K. C"oe. of Windham. N. Y., not being able to winter his bees on the mountains, or. rather, to bring them through the spiiiig months, i)roposes to move his apiary to some alfalfa Held in Colorado. He has wi'itten to us for information: but as we are unable, to give him very much, we Jiave concluded to call upon some of our subscribers better situated to do so. In a letter I'eceived. he says : I desir(^ information as to honey resources, etc.. of different i)laces in alfalfa districts of tin' Southwest, especially along the line of the Ar- kansas River from Canon City, Colorado, to (larden City. Kansas. From all the information 1 can get thus far, I think Canon City the [)lace. as there are thousands of acres of alfalfa there (yet moic at Rocky Ford and other jihices). and it is tiie largest fruit-growing |)hu'e, so far as I can learn, in the Southwest, and that would give an earlier flow of lioney than places where only alfalfa is gi'own, would it not? I should like to know where tlie principal alfalfa dis- tricts are, and also whei'c it is gi-own largely, and where fruit and otln^r honey -blossonis abound. O. R. Coe. Windham, N. Y.. Sei)t. 15. A letter directed to Mr. O. R. Coe, as above, will confer a very great favor on a fellow bee- keeper. Mr. Coe says he can winter bees until about March 1, and tlien he experiences the difficulties of spring dwindling diM'ing the long and backward cold weather upon the moun- tains, and usually loses the greater part of his bees. He proposes to try the experiment of sending a carload to the alfalfa legions, either this fall or very early next spring, iioping there- by to put them in a locality where bees will not have to contend with the spi-ing troubles, and may at the same time bring him remunerative returns in the way of honey. We shall watch his experiment with interest. Friend Coe will probably (>nlighten us upon the success or fail- ure of his [iroject. gPEci^ii pieTicEg. WANTED— GLEANINGS FOR MAY 1, 1890. We will pay 10 cts. eacii for the above if sent at once. Now, be sui'c you do not send any otlicr; and do not send any at all unless you can d(j it lig-Jit now. TWO CARLOADS OF HONEY EXPECTED DAILY. We expect, before this number reaches our read- ers, to receive a carload of white-sag-e honey from L. E. Mercer & Son, of Ventura, Cal.; and, judging from the sample we received, we have a treat for those who want a fine article. This honey is whiter than any we e\er saw gathered east of the moun- tain regions oi the West. It is almost as white as water, and very thick. This sage honey is also re- markable for the length of time it will remain liquid. It granulates less than any other kind of honey we know of. A small sample mailed free. It is put up in 6J-lb. cane, two in a case, and the price of from one to five cans will be 11 cis per lb.; 3 to 10 cases, 10 cts. per lb.; 10 cases or more, 9 cts. per lb. COMB HONEY. We expect, about the same time, a carload of comb honey from W. K. Ball, of Keno. Nev. We have not had a sample of this, but are assured that it is equal to the sample be left with us nearly a year ago That sample was no whiter than the whitest Eastern honey, but the body of the honey in the comb was so thick that it would hardly run, and the flavor was so mild and pleasant that it was pronounced by all who sampled it to be the bfst they ever tasted. This honey is gathered almost whoily from alfalfa bloom. When Mr. Ball wrote last, a few days ago, he said the bees were busy on the second crop, rolling in the beautiful honey at a good rate. This comb honey comes in cases holding 'Zi and 48 1 lb. sections each, the net weight being about 23 and 45 lbs. each, and there are 32 ca=es of 2- Ib. sections. 33 in a case, weighing about 60 lbs. net. The prices will he as follows: One to three 48-lb. cases, or one to six 241b. cases, 20 cts. per lb. Four to eight 48-lb., or 7 to 15 24-lb. cases, 19 cts. per lb. Ten or above 48 lb. cases, 20 or over 24 lb. cases, at 18 cts. per lb. Twolb. sectioris at 19 cts. per lb., one or two case lots; 3 to 5 cases, 18 cts. per lb.; 6 or more cases, 17 cts. per lb. There are also in this car of comb honey, 32 cases of extracted honey, which, judging from a former lot received from Mr. Ball, is extra flue. Price, same as the white sage. THE DEMAND FOR HONEY. We never saw an.v thing equal to the present de- mand for honey. We get daily upward of a dozen inquiries, and several orders. You will notice in the Honey C )lumn that the commission houses report the market in a better condition than we have seen it for some time. We quote the follow- ing from the American Bee Journal for Sept. 20: THE TUNK HAS CHANGED. Tlie Kansas City honey market report on page 637, says tliat "the demand lor comt) honey is larger than the receipts." Yes; and it is likely to be. Quoting it at 16 cents is a farce! Any white comb honey sold at retail for less than 26 cents per pound this year is sacriflced! Bee-keepeis should demand that the ver.y meager crop shall bring all it is worth. Chicago quotations are 18 cents, but that is too low. Hold on to the product. The carload of honey from Arizona is all gone, but the No. 2 grade, which we otter at 1 cent per lb. less than price quoted on sage honey elsewhere. Samples mailed free. We have advanced our quo- tations, partly because of a better article, and part- ly because, in the present state of the market, it is worth more. We should be pleased to hear from bee-keepers who have not enough to supply their home demand, and all others i n want of honey. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 727 Contents of this Number. Australia 735 Automatic Sw'g a Success.. 748 Bicvcling 748 Bumble-bees 7Se Comb, Bees t. > Empty 746 Commission. Selling on 738 Discounts, Di^i'iimi nation.. 746 Dovetailed Hive Moditi^d. ..744 Fixed Frs. for D 'vp. Hive .714 Foul Brood Cured by A B C 741 Foul-brood Inspector 740 Oardenins, A. I. Root's 750 Goldenrud 737 Oravenlior.st's Letter 7.S3 Holy-Lauds Discussed 731 HvlJrid-; (Q. B.'.7:i2 L A. B. A. at Ke .kuk 741 Ignotum in Austra lia 736 Italians vs. Hybrids Ibi Laving in ^ueen-cells 7.35 Mo'lb. Imperial 736 N.-.'tar tioni Red Oak 736 Nv.-ewander's Exhibit 738 (liitsidoSliell 742 K-versible Ext., Mclntyre's.732 Running from Bee-keeper.. 749 Sections, Obnoxious 735 Snake. Blow 736 Spacing Combs 1^ 734 Spec Grav. of Aus. Honey. .736 Slrawlicrrics Thick orThin.751 Sn-awbcrric-. Hcnd's Plan. .7.52 Suarmin:;-. AvUuinatic 748 Syrians Disc-iisscd 731 Trot, I'-oldni'.- Bee 732 T.-.ivcling in Yol'k Sta,te. . . .743 W.ix P'T Colon V 735 Wheat-joint Worm 737 Send 25c Ffd- my Book of Discovery and 1 M v>Titi')ii. Tlie HiM-esi Kei^trictor. •^Od C. W. Dayton. Cllntoa, Wis. t^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. 500 Italian Queens f,-|^[f,SrifnS: ed, 70 cts. each: three for $2.00 Also bee-keepers' supplies, etc. 16paQ-p cimular frpe. IStfdb JNO. NEBEL & SON, Hiffh Hill. Mo. BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK COCKERELS, $L0O; hens, 75c. Also Qiiinbv hive corner clasps for sale. 20tfdb L. C. AXTELL, Roseville, 111, CRAWFORD'S SECTION CARTONS ARE THE BEST. Send for free sample and price lint, and find out the rf^ason. A (^erluin fact has come to our knowl- edge that is worth dollars to yiiu. Send for it. A. 0. CRAWrORD, S. Weymouth, Mass. 12tfdb Please mention this paper. SENM for a fr<^e aamnle copy of the BEE JOURNAL — tfi-pae-e Weekly at $1 a year— the oldnst, largest, and cheapest Weekly hee-oHP'-'r. Address BGK .fOfTKNAL., OliitH^o, III. BE letfdb To BEE-KEEPERS ! TN ADDITION to our New Enjilaiid Honey Trade I we have leased a Store in New York City lin the Ijcst possible loeation to eateh the Groeei'y Trade), and proiiose handling COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY there. As we have been practical 15ee-Keepers and have hud some 13 years' experience in the Honey Trade (during which time we have handled MORE HONEV than any House in New Eiii>land), we feel justified in .saying that we understand tlie Honey Trade, and think we can htindle your Surplus IIoiie.v to the very best advantage. We shall endeavor to make Quick Sales at the very tiiu;liest prices, and by making prompt re- turns we hope to merit your patronage. Advances made when requested. Stencils furnished — also printed instructions for Packing and Shipinng. giv- ing valuatde information gained by oui' exjxjrience in Sliipi)ing Honey by the Ton and in Carload lots. CorresiJondence, Visits, and Consignments Solicit- ed. Address F. I. SAQE & SON, 183 Re.adc, St. New Yokk, N. Y !^^ No Consignments received at Wethersfleld, Conn. References, —Bradstreet's and Dunn & Co.'s Com- mercial Reports, under iVethernfii'ld. Conn., heading, and the numerous Bee-keepers whose Honey we liave handled the past 13 years. 18-23db Please mention this paper. 'BEST OIT EAUTII-I^^ ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL, AND THE STAND- ARD IN EVBKY OIVILIZED COUNTRY. Bingham & Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Prices. Doctor Smoker, 33^ in,, postpaid .. .$3.00 Conqueror " 3 " " ... 1.75 Larire " 2^4 " " ■•• 1-50 Extra (wide shield) 3 " " ... 1,35 Plain (narrow " )3 " " .,,100 Little Wonder, IM " " ... 65 Uncapping Knife 115 Sent promptly on receipt of price. To sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledgeville, 111., March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day. and count cor- rectly. Am readj' for orders. If others feel as 1 do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 16 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly, R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 12,1890. Sirs:— The smoker I have has done good service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BiHaHAU Si HETHEEiNaTON, Abronia, Mich. l^ln respoinling to this aUverci.-ement mention Gleaninos. DADANT'S FOUNDATION Is kept tor sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati. O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich,: O, G, Collier, Fairbury, Neb,; G, L, Tinker. New Philadelphia, O., E. Kretch- nier, Ked Oak, la ; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula. La,, Jos, Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.: G, B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wisconsin; J. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon. Iowa; C. Hertel, Freeburg, Illinois; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1517 Bluke St„ Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Wood worth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111,; E. Ij. Goold «fe Co., Braiitt'ord. Out., iiaii.; R. H. Schmidt & Co., New London. Wis.; J. Stauffer & Sons, Nappa- nee. Ind.; Berlin Fruit-Box Co., Berlin Heierhts, O,; E R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley. N,Y.; L.Hanssen, Davenport, la ; C. Theilman, Theilmanton. Minn.; G. K. Hubbard. Fort Wayne. Tnd.; T. H. Strickler, Solomon City. Kan.; E. C. Eaglesfleld, Berlin, Wis., Walter S. Ponder, Indianapolis, Ind., and numer- ous other dealers, LAIIGSTROTH on the HONEY-BEE, The Book for B'fiitnipr.i, the Most Comj)l«'te Text- Book on the Siihjcrf in tin- Kntjlish Lnntjiniff. Bee-veils of Imported Material, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, e-tc, free. Send your address on a postal to qhas. Dadant & Son, HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO., ILLINOIS. Oriu resi)onain(; to tliis advertisement mention Glbaninos. SCOTCH KABBITS. Will sell a few gray Scotch rabbits, Samuel Wilson's strain, at f 3 00 T er pair. Order quick if you want any. ]9tfdb E, HosTETLER, East Lynne, Mo. 728 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 15. gPECI^Ii ]\[0¥ICEg. DISCOUNTS FOR EARLY ORDERS. We call your attention to our advertisement on the cover of this number, setting forth the advan- tasres of sending your orders early for goods for next season's use. Five per cent allowed on orders during the next two weeks. Remember, this does not apply to honey, honey-packages, and such goods for immediate use or sale. PERFORATED ZINC ADVANCED AND IMPROVED. We have for a year past received at intervals of several months notice of a slight advance in sheet zinc. These advances now aggregate so much that we are compelled to advance the list price 20 cts. per sheet, 28x96, and 20 c. on 10 honey-boards Nos. 1, 3, 3, 4, and 13. Revised table of prices will be given in next number. To compensate you for this ad- vance we wish to say that we have just completed a new die for our zinc-perforating machine at an expense of about $'h, and we have spared no pains to make it absolutely perfect. Each of the 70 holes in the die measures exactly ^y,, of an inch, which is accepted as the correct size by several experts who have made exhaustive tests and experiments. The zinc we have made for two years past has given good satisfaction generally. B ut a f e w have report- ed that some queens will go through it. The new zinc will effectually stop all queens and still allow the workers to pass freely. Dealers in making up their price lists will please take notice of the above advance in the list price. SELF-SEALING HONEY-JARS. A few weeks ago our attention was called to a new jar for honey by M. H. Hunt. He had some at the Detroit exposition, and spoke of the way it seemed to please all who ^aw it. He kindly gave us the name of the manufacturers, and we wrote them at once for samples and now have 15 bbls. of them in stock. The adjoining cut shows what they are like. The cover is glass with a rim inside projecting down about ~^g of an inch, and between the cover and jar is a rubber band. On the cover is a circular raised place with a notch in the top The tinned wire bail of No. 13 wire has both ends hooked into holHS in the side like the oaken bucket tumbler or like a com- mon wooden pail. Of course, the holes don't go through the glass. This bail is pressed up . , ., the oval incline till it snaps into the notch on toi), which seals the jar as tight as a Mason fruit-jar. There are two sizes, one hold- ing 10 or 11 oz. of honey, the other about 14 oz. We have them put up 150 in a bbl.. either size. Price of large size, $8.60; of the small size, $8.00 per bbl. l^or a smaller quantity the price will be 8 cts. each, or 7.) and 70 c. per doz , respectively. No charare for packages, in .5 bbl. lots direct from Pittsburg, Pa., 10 per cent discount from above prices by the bbl. GLEANINGS FREE FOR THE REST OF 1890 TO NEW SUBSCRIBERS. Now is the time for getting up clubs of subscrib- ers and extending the influence of Gleanings. To make a greater inducement for those not acquaint- ed with it to join our circle of readers, we will give the rest of 18H0 free to new subscribers for one year; that is, all new subscriptions received after this date will receive Gleanings from the time the subscription is received till Jan., 1893, for .f 1.00. We will also include the American Bee Journal on the same terms for 7.5 cts. extra; The Illugtrated Home Journal for 35 nts. extra, or all three for $2 15. You never had such an opportunity before of getting three such journals and such a length of time for so small a price. gleanings, 3 MONTHS' TRIAL TRIP, FOR 15 CTS. If there are some who will not accept any of the offers above we are still desirous of having them become acquainted with Gleanings, and offer to send it 3 months on trial for only 15 cents. The journal will he stopped at the end of this time, un- less you send a request to continue. Think of it- six numbers of Gleanings for only 15 cents! Will not many of our readers endeavor to introduce it to other homes on these easy terms? sending gleanings after the time paid FOB. We have adopted the plan of many papers, of sending Gleanings right along until we receive orders to discontinue; and the great majority of our readers who have expressed their opinion are pleased with this arrangement. It is more conven- ient to include a dollar with a remittance for an or- der for goods whenever one is sent in, and it isn't pleasant to have the journal stop when you want it to come along. We therefore continue it till we get orders to discontinue, because this plan pleases the majority. There are some, however, who take exceptions to it; and we want to saj' to these that we can accommodate them also it they will say, when they send their subscription, that they want it stopped when the time paid for is up. Unless you do this we shall keep it going till we have orders to stop it. OUR beautiful OCTOBER. Did anybody ever know the like of it? Here it is the 14th day of October, and our garden-stuff is all growing and ripening as in June or July. Not even the lima beans have been injured by frost. We are having the finest cabbage, cauliflower, late Mam- moth Sugar corn, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, peas, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, squashes, and last, but not least, the nicest Ignotum tomatoes we ever had in the world, and in the greatest abund- ance right here in the middle of October. And, oh my! how the strawberry-plants do grow! Our tur- nips have not as yet had frost enough to be real sweet, but they are growing beautifully. My friend, have you forgotten to be thankful? CONVENTION NOTICES. The next convention of the Turkey Hill Bee-keepers' Associ- ation will take place at the Turkey Hill Grange Hall, near Wil- derman's Station, three miles southeast of Belleville. 111., Oct. 30, 1890. All interested are invited. S. Beaeutigam, Pres. The Missouri State Bee-keepers' Association will meet in con- vention at Mexico, Mo , Oct. 22 and 23. A good programme, and an instructive and interesting time is expected. All persons interested in bee culture are cordially invited to attentl. Good board can be obtained for 75 cts. per day, or 20 cts. per meal. J. W. Rouse, Sec, Mexico, Mo. KIND WORDS FOR OUR STRAWBERRY-BOOK. The small treatise on A B C of Strawberry Culture, by Messrs. T. B. Terry and A. I. Root, is a big book in a small compass. It is primarily a farmers" book, and we would advise every farmei' reader of ours to get one and read it.— The Poultry Monthly. A B C of Strawberry Culture is the name of a neat pamphlet of 1.50 pages, by Messrs. T. B. Terry and A. I. Root. It covers the whole subject in an inter- esting manner, is nicely illustrated, and is just the work for those beginning to grow delicious straw- berries. Price, postpaid, 40 cents. For sale at this office.— American Bee Journal. An excellent little book Is T. B. Terry's A B C of Strawberry Culture, just from the press of A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio. It contains 144 pages and a large number of illustrations, and will no doubt be of great value to all beginners in strawberry culture who have the good judgment to buy a copy and use it judiciously. The price is only 40 cents by mall. — Colorado Farmer. I received from you a copy of Terry's book on strawberries, for which I am very much obliged. I have read every word of it carefully. As I raised strawberries in former yeai's by the acre, 1 will just saj' it is a sp cinlid book for beginners, and many gi'owers could le.iin very much from it. Platteville, Wis., Sept. 27, 189J. E. France. A B C of Strawberry Culture is the title of a little book of 144 i)ages, written in two parts, the first by T. B. Ti'rry, the well-known agricultural writer, who writes fi'om Ins farm and what he sees and does, and not as a theorist. The other part is written by A. I. Root, the charming editor of Gleanings in Bee Cul- 18S0 GLEANINGS'!^' BEE €0LTURE. 729 tint. The book is ;i plain, invK'ticiil Si't of directions for 'selecting', iilaiitiny, cnltiNatint;-, ffathering-, and marketinjj- the bei'ries. It is a eonnnon-sense sort of book, charmingly- written, and we can only wish it were in tlie hand's of e\-cry farmer in the hind.— The Western Farmer and Sluclonan. We have received from tlie authors, T. B. Terry and A. I. Koot, a little liook entitled the ABC of Strawberry Culture. Tt is really what its title indi- cates, and gives in plain matter-of-fact language practical sugg-estions legarding varieties, nietliods of planting, etc., so that a beginner, by following in- structions, need not err in his efforts at growing strawberries.— Tfte GranQt Visitor. The A B C of Strawberrv Culture is the title of a little book by T. B. Terry, published by A. I. Root, Medina, O, The authoi' has the candor to admit he has made mistakes, and has learned by experience enough about growing strawberries to make his lit- tle book of instructions well worth the price.— Our Rural Homes. Blaok and Hybrid Queens For Sale. I have 30 nice hybrid and 35 young black queens for sale. Send me 50c and get one of them. 16-lM8d A. D. Ellingwood, Berlin Falls, N. H. A few mismated Italian queens, young and pro- lific. Price 20c each. Order by postal and pay when queens arrive. C. A. Bunch, Nye, Ind. 100 Colonies of Italian and Hybrid Bees In two-story SimplicitN' hives (ten frames) chock full of bees, and plent>- of lumej- for winter, wide frames, T supers; with sections and starters in upper story, complete, for .f^.oO per colon v, or offers. AL.BEKT AKNOliD, Ne^vark, ludependence €o.. Ark. t^*In responding to this advertisement mention Glkaning;?. PURE ITALIAN QUEENS, 1 have requeened my own apiai'y, with Italian queens from Alley's $lnO.O.) queen. They are large and very light colored. I have a stock of tine young queens reared from the best of these, that I offer for 75 cts. each, or three for $3.00. Tested, $1.50 each. No black bees near here. Can fill orders promptly, and will guarantee safe arrival. Make money orders payable at Flint, Mich. IStfdb ELITIER HUT€f-31NSON, RogerMVille, Genesee Co., Itlich. It^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Hleanings. SECTIONS. S2.50 to $.{..SO per M. Bee-Mivee« and Fix- tures cheap. NOVELTY CO., 6tfdb Rock Falls, Bllmois. Please mention this paper EUREKA FRAME MACHINE. Sometliing everj' bee-keeper should have. For price and particulars address 34-23db F. W. LAMWI, Box 106. Soniervllle, JiSutler Co.,0. Please mention tliis paper. 24-23db BEES." Price 8 Cts. fi A chapter from "The Hive and Honey Bee, Re- vised," treating of taming and handling bees; just the thing for beginners. Circular, with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. 5tfdb f;;WAN. ©AOAlVr & S®N, Oaisalitbiif IHi^iaceck 4 ; amber, 6i4@7; Southern, (i.'jfT/Tt'c pn' gal. HiLDRETH Bros. tV Skgelken, Sept. 37. 28 & 30 W. Broadway, N. Y. , Albany.— Honey.— We have received up to date, 873 cases of comb, and 73 half-bbls. of extracted hou- ej'. On Sept. 39 we sold every case we had in stoi'e, except four cases of old honey. Have never been able to do that before so early in the season. Prices are firm, as follows: Fine white clover, 18c; medium grade, 15Stl6; buckwheat, 11@13. Extracted, 7@9. Chas. McCulloch & Co., Oct. 8. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Cincinnati.— Jf'inei/.— Demand is good for all kinds of extracted honey, and in all shapes, with a fair supi)ly on the market. There is no comb hone.v on our market. A good deal could be sold, l)ut no fam- ine is created. Extracted honey brings r)';(rt16. Extra C. and C, 14®15; ex- tracted, 6@7 cts. Btesuax, 2.t cts. Clemons, Mason & Co., Oct. 10. Kansas City, Mo. Chicago.— Hciiey.— Honey sells quite well, and that which is white and otlierwise desirable brings 17@18c; but many lots are oft' in color, stained or dark; such is slow of sale at about 1.5c. Extracted, in 6u-lb. cans and bariels. 7@8c, according to color, body, and flavor. The offerings are fair of all kinds, with a steady demand. Beeswax, 27. R. A. Burnett, Oct. 7. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Boston.— Honey.— We quote our market on honey strong, 17@18 for white 1-lb. combs; 16@,17 for white 3-lb. comb; 7i4@8 for extracted. No Heeawax on hand. Blake & Ripley, Oct. 9. Boston, Mas. St. Louis.— Ho»iey.— There is no change in the sit- uation. Comb honey continues very scarce, and would command a good price if choice. We quote: Extracted and strained, in bbls., .5V2@6; cans, 7^® 8X. Comb, choice white clover, 1.5X@l(j; dark, 13X@ UK. Beeswax, prime, 27. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., Oct. 9. St. Louis, Mo. Detroit.— Honey.— No white comb honey to be had. Fall or dark is selling at 14@15c. Extracted, 7@8. Beeswax, 27@38. M. H. Hunt. Bell Branch, Mich., oct. 9. Milwaukee.— Ho7iej/.— This market is in good con- dition for honey. The demand is steadj-, and good values maintained, while the supply is fair to meet the amount demanded. Will quote choice white 1-lb. sections, 17(6^18; good, 16@17; dark, or old, 10@12. Extracted, in bbls., white, 8'/5@9>^; in kegs or tin, 9(a9>2 ; dark, bbls. or ktgs, 6(f'/7. Beei eginning to granulate some. 1 want 10 cts. per lb here G. L. Jones, Grand Ridge, LaSalle Co., 111. NEW^ FACTORY. We will soon be in our new factory, which will be the largest and most complete in the world. We shall make the best of goods at lowest prices. We are ready for contracts for next season's supplies. Write us. G. B. LEWIS & CO., ntfdb WATERTOWN, WIS. FOR LIGHT AND DARK FERRETS, and pure Poland-China Swine, address N. A. KNAPP, Rochester, Lorain Co., O. t^In responding to this advertisement mention QLBAMlMaa. Vol. XVIII. OCT. 15, 1890. No. 20. TERMS: «1.00 Per ANNUM, IN ADVANCE;! 1? c>+ r^J^l n c^Tn n rJ i*-eo 1 Q fy 9 2Copiesfor*1.90;3for$2.75;5for»4.()0; Jl/Ot'Ct'C/t't'OAt'eJCl' Lfl/ ±0 iO. \ PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY \A. I. ROOT. MEDINA, OHIO. 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- 1 ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffice. f Clubs to different postofflces, not lbbs 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 [ NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. SYRIAN BEES. AN UNFAVORABLE OPINION OF THEM. A correspondent writes that he is thinking of going into bee-keeping, and says: "I am thinking of starting witli tlie Syrian bees. Wliat do you think of them as lionoy-gatlicr- ers? A bee-keeping friend tells me tliatthcy are very prolific, and says he values prolitic- ness in a queen above all other qualities. Is this right?" Well, to a certain extent, yes; to a certain extent, no. A queen should be prolific at the right time; and if she is thus, it is of great val- ue; if prolific at times when her brood comes on the stage of action when there is no honey to gather, her prolificness counts for naught. If your friend had modified his statement so as to make it read that he valued the prolificness of a queen above all other qualities when it could be so regulated that such prolificness would be of the greatest value to the bee-keep- er, I would hold up both hands for it; but if his writing thus is to be interpreted to mean that he regards the prolificness of a queen at all times of the year above all other qualities, I must say that I think he is making a mistake. Here, where we have but about six weeks dur- ing the whole season in which the bees make any gain in honey, what we want is a queen that can be coaxed to fill the hive to overflow- ing with brood during a few weeks previous to this honey-harvest, and lay just as lew eggs at all other times as is consistent with accom- plishing the above objt^ct. If your friend had a piece of work which he must accomplish at a certain time, if he were to receive any profit therefrom \w, would liiri; his help before the time expired or not at all. If he wished help at a certain time and they did not come until it was too late, surely he would not keep and board them six or eight months because it was not convenient for them to come sooner. Oh, no! he would tell them that he did not want them, for it was too late. So I say, that, when bees come to the stage of action in any great abundance after the honey-harvest is past.it is a damage to the apiarist rather than an advan- tage. Why I prefer the Italian bees to all oth- ers is for the reason that they are more sus- ceptible of being handled so as to get the hive overflowing with bees at just the right time than are the bees of any other race. Also, as soon as the honey-harvest arrives the queen will cease her prolificness, and thus we do not have a lot of "hungry hands" to board when they are of no use to the apiarist. To show that I am not alone in this, 1 will quote the following from one of our largest honey-pro- ducers: " I get very much the best results from my purest and most yellow Italians. The Italians seem to be very much more disposed to partial- ly stop brood-rearing, and bend al'l their ener- gies to honey-gathering, whenever there is a heavy flow of nectar, than any other kind of bees which I have tried, and this is a very great advantage." Now to the question about Syrian bees. That they can not be managed so as to fill the above requirements in this locality, is why I am averse to them, and I think that any one is making a mistake in selecting them as the bees with which to start an apiary. With me thev would not start a large amount of brood at any other time sav(! in a heavy flow of honey, and this I think is one of the worst faults that any race of bees can possess; for an extra amount of brood during the honey-yield always means a multitude! of mouths to feed after the honey-harvest is past. When I tried the Syrian bees it was with the only hope that they would prove better than the beeswhicii I already had; but when I found out that I could not coax the queens of this race to lay eggs rapidly except in tlie honey-harvest, I saw that it would be im- possible for them to give a large yield of honey. 732 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 15. After doing my very best with tlioiii tlie second year, thinking that I mifflit not have fully un- derstood them at first. I was obliged to record only 50 lbs. of honey from the six colonies whi&h I had, while I had to feed them a large amoiuit to get them prepartU ' for wintei-. taking combs of sealed honey from the Italian (•(il((iiit>s To feed them with, while the same nunibei' of Ital- ians gave over 500 lbs. of surplus 'during the same time and with .the same management. With me the Syrian bees would increase but little till the honey-harvest arrived, when they would crowd every available cell with brood, which brood would use up nearly all the honey the few workers reared before could- gather while the honey-harvest lasted. On the contra- ry, when the honey-harvest opened, the Italians would have a hive overflowing with bees, and ev- ery conib filled with brood: and this brood would gradually decrease till at the end of the harvesti had lots of honey and few mouths to feed. Here is an item which many bee-keepers seem to ovei'look in following their profession. Bees are of value only when they come in time to take advantage of the honey-flow; and wheth- er through the race of bees or the carelessness of the apiarist we fail in this point, little profit, or none at all, is sure to be the result. The same fault that I have spoken of in the above exists to a considerable extent in the Carniolan bees, or, at least, has done so in those I have had. While they can be brought up to rapid brood-rearing before the honey-harvest is upon us, which is different from the Syrians, yet they are determined to breed all through the honey-harvest, and to a large extent after it is past, so that, as a rule, unless they are looked after, many colonies are apt to be short of stores, to go into winter with, while the large amount of brood reared during the honey-har- vest takes away quite a quantity of what we should receive as surplus. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., Oct. 4. Friend D., there is another objection to the Syrians and Holy- Lands. I feel quite certain that the same quantities of bees of these races will not, as a rule, gather as much honey as the same number of Italians. A REVERSIBLE EXTRACTOR. M INTYRE S I'i;oi>OSED MACHIXE PUT TO ACTU- AL test; an intekesting experiment. I wish to say that I have been very much in- terested in what Mr. J. F. Mclntyre has had to say about reversible extractors (see page 626). His article, published in the Nov. 1st Gleanings, 1889, was full of suggestions, and of great in- terest to us who vise the extractor a great deal. Last spring I made up my mind that I would make a reversible machine; and as I went about my work, for days I thought of little else. My line of thought finally took almost exactly the same course traced in Mr. Mclntyre's arti- cle that was published on page 626. I made a wooden model, and experimented with that until it was time to begin extracting, when I sent to A. I. Root for a large can with a suita- ble gearing, and had a tinner make the baskets and inside frame. I made a two-frame ma- chine, which takes a can 24 inches in diameter. The Ijaskcts are hung as illustrated in Mr. Mclntyrc"s article, and are simply connected so tliat, when one is reversed, the other goes with It. A small catch holds the baskets when reversed, as In Fig. 2 (see Mr. Mclntyre's arti- cle). When in the first position, as in Fig. 1, the heavy side of the basket rests against a projection from the cross-bar that holds the basket up. It is almost automatic, and is re- versed by stopping and turning ■Wie other way. This extractor can .certaiiily be reversed without shopping, but I have not betm able to get a frame or baskets made stout enough to stand the sti-ain. ^line accidentally reversed a coupl-c of times while in motion, and I thought it would tear every thing to pieces. I do not believe it is {)jossib}e to make the frame and baskets stout enoVigh to reverse while going at full speed, without niaking the mfichine too ex- pi'iisJNc: and even if the niachine would stand the strain, I am afi'aid the coniljs of honey would not, especially the tender new ones in hot weather. I extracted about 3500 lbs. with my two- frame reversible this year, and I am very much pleased with it. I can do the work at least thi'ee times as fast as I can with a non-reversi- ble extractor, and just as easily. One advantage of this machine is, that the baskets are hung and revolve quite close to the center of the can; in fact, in my two-frame machine the baskets, when reversed are a little nearer the center of the can than they are in the Novice. In a four -frame machine they would have to be further out from the center, in order to give more room for the baskets to revolve in reversing, so as not to interfere with one another. The baskets seem to revolve with a momen- tum like a fly-wheel^at least, more so than any I ever used before. There is nothing to catch the wind, besides the baskets and the flat cross-bars. AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE FOLDING TENT. I have been compelled to use the bee-tent al- most constantly this summer when handling the bees, though there were a few days during basswood bloom when I did not use it. Each season I renew the netting on my tents. With the best of care they will get torn, and once in a while the wind plays havoc with them. This year I used light muslin half way up from the bottom all around, and mosquito-bar only in the top part of the tent. I also se^^' a piece of light burlap, one foot wide, all around the bot- tom. If the ground is uneven it hangs down and prevents any bees from getting under. The muslin is an advantage in two ways: It is not so apt to catch on bushes, hives, etc.. and get torn; and in the second place (and it is really the more important), the bees can not see what you are doing so well from the outside; and when you set a comb down on the ground the robbers can not see it at all. You who have used the tent much will appreciate this point. I have taken great comfort with min(^ while preparing my bees for winter during September, when the bees had nothing to do but to watch me. WINTER PACKING above the frames in chaff hives, and also in single-walled hives, to be successful, should not be above six inches deep, of chaff or leaves lightly pressed down, and the hive must be provided with holes in the upper part to give ventilation. If sufficient ventilation is not pro- vided for, the i)acking will gather dampness. If too much packing is used, or It is prc^^sed in too solid, it will get wet. It is also essential that the hive-roof be perfectly water-tight. Some porous material, such as burlap, should be put next to the frames. If these conditions are complied with, the packing, bees, and combs will stay perfectly dry. and there will be no need ever to open out the hive to the sun, or to dry the packing, as I have seen recommended. The above is the result of several seasons' ex- perience, not with one only, but with dozens of hives. Our bees that were packed in chaff 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 733 hivps camo through last winter in better shape, and did better this summer, than those that were wintered in the cellar. J. F. Mooke. Rockaway, O., Oct. 1. We are very glad, friend M., to get your testi- mony. We do not usually like to i>ublish and illustrate any thing based entirely on theory; but Mclntyre's reversible extractor is so unique in its plan that we were constrained to present it to our readers, tirst, that we might get sodic of our mechanical geniuses to test it; and, second, that we might ascertain whether the thing has ever been actually tried, and here you have tried it. In my recent visit among bee-keepers I found there was a very strong de- mand among the extractor men for an auto- matic reversing machine; and while the one you outline (Mclntyre's) may be no better than the Stanley, in actual practice, theoreti- cally it seems as if it were considerable of an improvement by dispensing with the chains and the flopping of the baskets against each other, which 1 am assured they will do with the best of management, at times. Extracting- tents, with cloth part way up, and netting the rest of the way, have long been in use. When our tents were all made of wire cloth instead of netting, we used to use cotton cloth part way up, on account of economy, it being so much cheaper than the wire cloth. ^ — • — ^ REPORT FROM GERMANY. SOME VALUABLE HINTS FROM OUR GOOD FRIEND GRAVENHORST. The report in Gleanings, Aug. 15, in regard to the crop of honey in America, induced me to send yon a report. We had also a very mild winter, and our bees came through it without any loss, therefore in good condition. As the crop of honey the year before was a very good one, we need not feed our bees in the fall nor in the spring; they had more honey than they wanted. The spring was lu-autiful in the month of April, and our colonies iMuspercd so that we could expect the swarming season in May. Eut this month was not as favorable as April, as we had only a few very good days when the bees could tly and gather honey and pollen. Never- theless, my first swarm issued on the 21st of May. Most of the natural swarms issued on the first days, say from Jiuie 1 to 12, and at the same time I made my artificial swarms from every colony that I intended to increase. If one of my stocks casts off a natural swarm at the right time, lam glad of it; and if it does not swarm at the time 1 want it, then I swarm it artificially. Thus I make; the increasing time a short one. I have two kinds of colonies at the begiiming of the season — those I intend to multii)ly, and sncii as are d('ti'rmin(Hl to gatiici' only iioncy. Tiie latter I make as strong as possiliic, to liavi^ them early in good wc^rking ordn-. Swarming is jjre- vented. If there is honey in the field, such a colony will gather it. and then I need not feai' their swarming. If they hav<' only a living from hand to month, 1 must be on tiic \\atch to prevent swarming. Hcfore the bees })uild any queen-cells I take out tlie most of tlie brood- combs witii capped brood, and insert combs witliout brood and honey, or only foundation. To enable yon to understand nn^ bettcir, I will say a word about my artificial swarms. I make only two kinds. First, I hunt out the queen of a colony just ready to swarm, and transfer lier with some young bees, which I sweep from a few brood-coinl)s of the same colony, into a new hive, furnished only with guide-combs in frames. Tiie new colony is placed on the stand of the old ones, and this is removed to another place. Second, I select a strong colony which has many young bees, and sweep with a brush every bee from the combs and the walls of the hive into a new hive furnished with guide- combs. I take care to do this, not for the queen, as I know I shall get her in the new hive with the other bees. If the bees have gorged them- selves full of honey by this operation, as bees always do when swarming, they will stay by their queen. If there is no honey in the hive, then I sprinkle the new swarm with a syrup made of sugar and water, I then place the new swai'm on a new place somewhat distant from the old stand. I was the first bee-keeper who made such swarms in Germany. They are made in a few minutes, and many bee-keepers in Germany prefer them to all others. The combs, free from bees, I place in the old hive on the former stand. All the bees that were driven off by sweeping the combs will return to their old liive, and some to the new swarm. As in the old hive every minute will hatch many young bees, it will soon be all right, rear a young queen, and fill all combs that are not occupied by the brood with honey, if there is honey coming in. If such a hive, after having swept the bees from the combs, does not contain enough sealed brood-combs to fill it, then I take from a hive just having swarmed, or one that I have just artificially swarmed, as many brood- combs as are necessary to fill the hive, which will hold 16 frames, and give them, with all ad- herins bees, to this colonv- iNow, only think of it! what a mass of bees will be in such a colony when the first young queen is hatched! There will soon issue a very strong swarm. When this swarm is hanging on a tree, or when I have it in the swarm- catcher, lying in the shade of a bush or tree, then I go to the hive it came from, and pull out every queen-cell. Toward evening I then re- turn the swarm. Such a colony will not swarm afterward, although it will have probably more than one young queen. A few days after, there Avill be only one queen in the hive. As soon as this is the case, such a colony will work to the utmost capability, if there is honey in the blos- soms. As long as I have built up such colonies, I have never had a lack of honey, so that, in the poorest season. I have never had to feed such colonies. DFrom the end of May till the 13th of Septem- ber we had a hard time for our bees. We have had rain, and nothing but rain. Only a few liours in a w(H^k did we have fin(> sunny weath- er, and that was tlu^ only chance for our bees to do any thing. In the worst time we had, I did not have to feed a swarm. The most of our German bee-k('c))ei-s were not so lucky as I, as they had more rain, hailstorms, and cold days, or their bees had no pasturage if th(» weather was favorable. My bees did very well in the month of April: some excellent days in June, July, and August, and so I secured a good honey crop from those colonies I have al)0V(' described. I worked for extracted honey, as we have in Gernumy no niaiket for comb honey. Ra])e, fruit-trees, i)oplars. goos(^l)erries. acacia, linden, and buckwheat were the honey sources. At the beginning of August I moved my bees to the li(>atlier, some miles distant from here, and tiiere we had only four or live days, from the ir)th till the I'Jlh of August, very fineweath- 784 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 15. er. My strongest colonics I call double stocks. They have an average of 20 lbs. of surplus hon- ey, and my other colonies have at least their vi^inter stores. The only fault with the heather honey is. it can not be extracted, as it is too slimy, and adheres to the combs in such a way that the combs in the exti'actor will sooner break than the honey will fly out. Some of the German bee-keepers have also had a honey crop, as I have; others only in the spring, from rape, etc.; others only in June and July. Upon the whole, the average yield per colony in Germany is in no way bett(;r or as good as in America. C. J. H. Gravenhorst. Wilsnack. Sept. 13, 1890. Friend G.. we are greatly obliged to you for giving ns this glimpse of bee culture in youi- own country. You do not manage things just as we do; but very likely you succeed best on your plan and with your surroundings, and no doubt you would get ahead of us if we were there with you; but if you were here, we are inclined to think you might somewhat modify your plan of working. COMB-SPACING. MORE GOOD TESTIJIONY FOR V^s INCH. In transferring I invariably find the founda- tion of combs laid 1)4 inches apart. Combs are built on this foundation to the thickness of X inch ^^ iien the first batch of brood is capped. This brings the combs the proper distance apart for brood-rearing, while this part of the comb is used for that i)urpose; but as the foundation is laid out further down, the queen follows after the workers, laying while the comb is building, it seeming to be handiest to lay in an unfinished cell; but as the workers build about as fast as she can lay eggs— she preferi'ing to lay in such cells— she does not return to the first cell as they hatch empty, to again deposit brood therein. Now, the bees, wishing to lay up a supply of stores to maintain the rising generation, occu- py those recently vacated cells at the top of the comb, which, in order to economize space and perhaps heat also, they draw out until the in- tervening space is in the neighborhood of ^s^ inch. As the tops of the combs are now drawn too closely together for convenience in breed- ing, and the cells too deep for the queen to use them as easily as more shallow cells (I have seen eggs not more than two-thirds the distance to the bottom of those deep cells), they are thereafter used exclusively for stores. Then this would be natural spacing, ^^ inch for stores and 3^ inch for brood. Some writers hint something about following the dictates of nature in this matter; but I ob- ject to such a thing; foi', should we follow the dictations of Dame Nature, whei'e would the frame hive be in a few short years? Why, we might yet be relishing a chunk of black, pollen- mixed honey out of a lion's carcass if man in his diversion from the laws of nature, in ordei- to bring the world into subjection, had not given us the frame hive. I believe in getting just as far fi-om nature in this matter as possible, which, in my experience, I find to be a ^-inch space between X combs. This is a compromise between nature and convenience, giving room for breeding, with ample room for winter stores. I for one don't like to handle combs with a great " bay window " at the tops where they are drawn out to I'eceive stores; and, so far as I have seen, this is the case where combs are spaced more than ^ inch. I experimented with three colonies this season, with spacing less than '^f^, being somewhere near ^ inch, with the following result: Wiiere any sink in the comb permitted of ^^- inch space, I found capped brood; at }i inch, honey partly capped; less than ^4 inch, nothing much but pollen and uncapped, but there was very little brood in the brood-nest: liut, oh my I July 1 I took off from one hive what should have been 50 lbs. of surplus, \\iicn I found that one-third of the combs at the bottom were the nicest kind of thin brood-comb built just as I de- scribe above. One inch may be the thickness of capped brood, but I am confident that % inch is an abundance of space. It would be a good thing if this matt<'r were pcrfccUu understood, in order that persons starting to make hives would know just how widi? to make them. OLD COMBS AND QUEEN-CELLS. Did any of you or your readers ever try put- ting an old black comb in a hive to get eggs for queen-rearing? If not, I would advise you not to. unless it is for an exijeriment. Such cells will almost always be as black as the comb, with texture so fragile as to become flattened by heat that will have no efl'ect on the common yellow cells. I have seen them "wilt" down flat before the bees had time to cap them. I have also seen them after they were capped become flattened on all sides, making them wedge-shaped. Such cells must necessarily produce deformed queens, as described by friend Doolittle in Gleanings of July 1.5. I lately took an old black comb, full of honey, from a hive where the frames had been spaced too close to admit of capping, and put it in a nu- cleus where it was capped over with material just as black as the comb. The bees seem to think it useless to use material for cappings or queen-cells in these cases better than the foun- dation they have to work on. Carbondale, Kan., Aug. 3. J. H. Markley. , Thanks for your testimony. If you will turn back to page 491 you will find that your conclu- sions agree almost exactly with those expressed by the writer. A space of '^^ between capped brood and }.4 between uncapped brood would make just exactly 1^^ spacing from center to center. See also pages oi'A, 639. and (573. Verily, the evidence for l?^-inch spacing is accumulat- ing. E. R. WHAT SPOILS THE GRAPES1 DR. MILLER SAYS IT IS NOT THE BEES. Previous to the summer of 1889 the bees each year worked on the grapes, and whole clusters were left nothing but skins and seeds. In every instance the first beginning on each grape was a slotted hole, perhaps an eighth of an inch long, in the form of a dumb-bell; that is, a round puncture at each end and a straight cut connecting the two. Last year and this year none of these slotted holes were seen, and the bees did no damage to the grapes. This year the bees were gathering nothing to speak of when the grapes were ripe; and if a basket of gi'apes were left standing, the bees would work their way all through it to lick up the juice where a grape happened to be broken: but aft- er a basket had stood all day you would not say that they had been damaged by the bees. It seems, therefore, that the bees did not make the slotted holes; and without this first punc- ture the grapes remain unhurt. Now, what is it that makes the first attack? As it was lack- ing this year and last, is it not possible that we 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 735 could do somctliiiiff to niakp it lacking ovory y(^ar. if we knew tlic cause? Do others find the damage comineiicing with the slotted hole? now MUCH WAX PER COLONY ? On page 701. friend Root, in speaking of ISoard- nian's wax-extractoi-. you say: "It can not be that they cost very much, if it. will pay a man to have one. who produces only 50 lbs. of wax a year." That sounds as if yoii thought 50 lbs. per year a small amount. To me it seems a large amount. Extracting, of course, produces more wax: but with comb honey I don't think I have ever averaged as much as two ounces per colony, and your remark raises the ([uestion wjiether there may not have been something wrong in my management. I know that, pre- vious to this year. I have not saved wax as I should: but this year I have had one of Green's solar extractors, and I think nothing has gone to waste. The more I think of it. the more I think I shall lessen rather than increase two ounces p(>r colony. If the good time comes when no brace-combs are built above top-bars, then I hardly se(> where I shall get any wax. except by melting uj) old combs or an occasional spoiled section. Will that give one ounce per colony? Hut I should say that it pays to buy a wax-extractor if you have only L'5 lbs. of wax per year. I'm not sure but I should want one for only 10 lbs. isn't this a fkp:e country? Friend A. I., I wish you'd look after Ernest a little. On page 702, under the head of "A Few Stray Hits." he talks just as if Elwood, Hethei'- ington. and others had a right to certain terri- tory, and that no one else had a right to go there, and apologizes at the last for even hint- ing that any one might think of doing such a thing. Now, I'm sure that Hetiieiington. with his aotX) colonies, has a better territory than I: and if I want to settle right down beside him. I'd like to know what's to hinder. I'm sure I could learn something from him. and it would be convenient to be so near that I could run in any evening and ask his advice. Please don't let Ernest talk any more about any one's '" ter- ritory." Why, you see if the notion obtains that there is such a thing as a moral right to a given territory, some fool will get up and ask that laws be passed to make the moral right legal. obnoxious sections. On page 707 you ask, " Is it not true that some sections that have perhaps been tried one or two seasons became obnoxious to the bees?" I have had a few such, but it was generally where the foundation had been drawn out veiy little or not at all; and, being left on the hive the latter part of the season, the bees had glazed the entire surface with propolis. It is not because such sections have been used, but because they have not been used, that the bees reject them: and they are not tit to be used, even if the bees foiuid no fault with them. We all know that bees prefer an old black comb to a bright new one: but one that has reiuained unused in the hive through late summer, when bees are in the varnish business, is quite an- other thing. WORKERS LAYING IN QUEEN-CELLS. Referring to Frank W. Lighton's case on page 709, I may say that I have had a number of cases in which I looked to see wh(?ther a young queen had yet commenced to lay: and I decided she was lost, by tinding an egg in a queen-cell and no other eggs in the hive. Sometinu's. at least, laying workers are satisiied to stop for a time, after getting an egg in a queen-cell. Marengo, 111., Oct. 4. C. C. Miller. Fifty pounds of wax is worth, .say, S15.00. If this amount of wax should be wasted, if the man did not have a wax-extractor, lu; had better buy one, to be sure. But I was thinking that 30 or 40 lbs. of it would be saved any way. But even in that case, the saving of 10 lbs. of wa.x would pay for the extractor, providing it does not cost more than 1*3.00. Come to think of it. I guess, doctor, you are right, that it will pay to have a wax-extractor where you produce 50 lbs. of wax in a year. — In regard to obnoxious sec- tions. I do remember that these that the bees will not use are almost always well varnished, and perhaps some propolis, too. thrown in. I have also decided many times that a colony was queenless because I found a single egg in a rudimentary queen-cell. I judged this single egg to be the work of a fertile worker, and I think they often commence by laying one egg —perhaps no more — in the hive. After a few days, however, we are pretty sure to see more such eggs. AUSTRALIA. A RAD SEASON FOR BEES ; EXCESSIVE RAINS. It is with much regret that I write to tell you of another bad seasoiL The drouth of 18S8 and "89 has been followed by a year of excessive rain. In the last fourteen months we have had 108.76 inches; in fact, we have taken to counting our I'uinfall by feet lately. The average rainfall for the thirty previous years was 31.45. We have had so very few sunny days in the last three weeks that we have had but one day on which the bees could work the wattle (mimosa), which yields the earliest pollen in great profusion. It is all out in blossom now. but the bees have not been able to touch it yet. The season opened splendidly, but we took only half a ton of honey in the early part of the year. The rest of the season was so wet that the bees could scarcely make a living, much less store any thing, and so we have had to feed them this winter to is. copi)erheads. and moccasins. We have visited with them for hours, and I guess I have about all their secrets. It is a charming story — just wait. WHEAT JOINT-AVORM. The insect that is desti'oying the wheat for J. L. Bell of othei'S, of West Middletown. Pa., is the joint -worm, Irdsoiivt hse straws in a bottle he will obtain some; of the fli(>s in the winter or spring, if kept in a warm room: later, if kept out in the cold. In thrashing, the joints often break off, as they are so hard, and come out with the grain. These hard pieces of straw, of course, contain the ene- my. A good reiuedy, as these woi'k in the lower joints, is to cut the grain high and burn the stubble ; also, to collect the straws from the grain and bui-n them. Still better, we can usu- ally rely on parasites to tlestroy these destroy- ei'S. There are little holes in the straws sent. These are openings whei'e little parasites, which have destroyed the joint-worms, have come out. These holes, as also the experience all over the country, make it probable that the worst of the ti'ouble is over. Very likely no signs of the enemy will appear next year; or, if so. the damage will be far less. DISEASED GRAPEVINES. Mr. C. Gere, East Springfield, Pa., sends me two pieces of grapevine which are very much deformed by a gall-like excrescence. It often kills the vines the tii'st year, though some vines si)rout below the disease and live. I do not know this disease. I do not find insects, and surmis(> that they have had nothing to do with it. It appears like the fimgoid malady of the plum — black-knot — thougli this is green or gray. I ])resume it is fungoid in nature. If so. the renu'dy is. I |)i'esume. the same as for black- knot in plum — cut and burn the stems as soon as the diseas(> appears. I have handed the specimens to Pi'of. L. R. Taft. our horticultu- rist: and if h(>. gives me any additional light I will rei>()rt. I should like live or six more of the stems. The knot is two or three incii(>s long, and doubles thi' size of the stem, so it is very noticeable. One can readily beli('\e that it would kill the vine. COLOK.VDO DATAMES. Miss Ellen Stewart, AHona, Colorado, writes: " I send yo\i a- new and strange insect, the sec- ond of the kind 1 ever saw. Will you kindly descrilx' it in (;i>kanixgs ?" This is another species of datames. I have described and illustrated one in my Bee-Keep- er's CJuide; Ifyth ](X)0. p. 433, Fig. 221. This one is brown, and smaller than the ones from Cali- fornia. The lirst one from California, the late Mr. Enos, of Napa, found killing his bees. This summer auottuM' was sent me fi-om Soutliern Califoi'nia, and the same complaint — killing bees — was preferred. Has Miss vStewart noticed a like habit of this Colorado species? As will be seen by referring to the tigure in my bee- book, these animals are most peculiar in their jaws, which can work laterally, while each jaw has vertical jaws which remind us much of the pincers on the first legs of a lol)ster. This animal belongs to the spid(>r sub-class — Aniclnioidat; to tlie scorpion order, which in- cludes the true, false, and whip scorpions, and our grandfather gray-beards. The family is Sdlj)ul(ji(la\ which is repre- sented in the United States by only a few spe- cies. The most common one is Dr/tKOics palli- pes, Say. This is said to be common in Colora- do, under " buffalo chips," and also to live in houses, where it feeds on bed-bugs. If this one had any show of a black dorsal line, I should think this Say's species. This one is brown, just the color of a bed-bug. The legs are light- er, quite yellowish. The tips of th(^ falces, or jaws, are black. It is about one inch long. I am glad of this specimen, as it give us two spe- cies of these remarkable animals in our collec- tions. Who will send the next one ? SWALLOW-TAILED BUTTERFLIES. The caterpillar sent by Luke Snow, of Lamar, Barton Co.. ]Mo.. and which feeds on prickly ash, is common all thiough the United States. It changes into a swallow- tailed buttei'lly, Pnplllo chresphontes, one of our largest species. Itis black and yellow, the yellow in the form of a triangle. All of the papilio larv?e have forked scent-organs near the head, on the back. When disturbed they throw these ont. which produces a I'ank odor. This must be offensive to both man and bird. The butterfly is one of the most showy of our American species, of which we have several. All are black and yel- low, or black and blue. All have tail-like pro- jections to the hind wings. A good time to catch the buttei'flies is in the early spring, on the lilacs. A better way is to feed the larvaj and i-ear the batterflies; then they will surely be bright and perfect. GOLDENRODS. The two species of goldenrod sent by Mr. C. Gere are SnVKhKio laiiceolntii and Soliddyo C(tn- adeiiHls. These are common species through the Northern States. I am not surpi'ised to hear from Mr. Gei-e to the effect that both are excellent honey-plants. This fall all golden- rods have se(>med to yield honey. I hav(> found the goldenrotls merry with bees upon every visit made to the plants this antumn. I should say that goldenrods are among oni' very ijest autumn honey- ])lants. Hon. D. C. Leach. Walton, Mich., on the i)ine plains, says the bees ai'e getting mnch honey from goldenrod. He finds they work steadily on Suiidaijo hicolar iind Soliddtja iieiii(>r(tli>!. but hardly at all on N. C(()ii. This is ratiier strange. Last week a gentlenum wrote from Penu'^ylvania, and said they were working fine- ly on N. CdiKidcnsifi. The same is true here. They aic still working on all our species here. The hixi'S are well filled. ;ind wf shall gel sev- ei'al liundrcd pounds of surphis. The honey is very fin«'. A. J. Cook. Agricultui-ai College, .Mich., Sept. 25. Friend Cook, it does me lots of good to hear you tell abont handling these great horrid- looking worms and fearful -looking snakes as if they were kittens and puppies. In view of the 738 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 15. superstition in regard to curing diseases, and the weather, etc., I felt sure there was also much superstition in regai'd to animals. I have been told that ordinary striped snakes are harmless. Perhaps you have said so; but I find it almost impossible to prevent everybody around here from killing them as soon as they see them. I try to cultivave their acquaintance whenever I find them; and I confess that I begin to regard them, as you say, like kittens and puppies; and when they are doing great service in destroy- ing bugs and insects, it certainly does seem too bad that we should be so blind to our best in- tei'ests. SELLING ON COMMISSION. SELLING HONEY FOK LESS THAN THE PRICE QUOTED TO PKODUCEKS. Friend Root:— I have been very much inter- ested in the articles on shipping and selling honey, by the commission men, and I am sure that those who sell in that way can profit by studying said articles closely. Now, I know there is a large portion of the people who believe that all or nearly all commission men are up to tricks, and make much of their money by mis- representation. While I do not belong to this class of people. I have one fault to find with all commission men that I liave dealt with; that is. quoting a certain price on honey, and then, when they receive it, selling at a less' price, although the market quotations showed no de- cline in prices at the time. To illustrate: We write to a commission man in Kansas City or St. Louis for quotation^, and in reply we receive a very polite letter, stating that they have special facilities for handling honey, and can handle ours to advantage, etc.. and quoting a fair price to-day. We sliip tlie honey, and receive a card or letter stating that it was re- ceived all right; and after waiting a month or two we write to see what has been done with our honey, and find it has been sold for a cent or two less per pound than formerly quoted. If not taking too much space, allow me to relate one or two such transactions. I might here give some of the correspondence, to show that I am unbiased in ray opinions, but that would only be taking time and space for only a small purpose. Last year we wrote to Kansas City tor prices, and wei'e quoted K) cts. for nice comb, and were advised to ship imme- diately. We did so, and soon received a notice that the honey was received in good order, and was very nice. Soon we were advised of a de- cline, and our man thought best to hold it for better prices; and finally, after four or six weeks, our honey was sold for 14 cts., which netted us something over 11 cts. Had we known it, we could have got 1,5 cts. net for this same honey, without any great effort to dispose of it. Last February we shipped .3 cases, 6 60-lb. cans of extracted honey, to Omaha, Neb. The party there had quoted it at 9 cts. per lb. After two months they had sold one (iO-lb. can at U cts.. and allowed us 7 cts. for the other 300 lbs., and charged us only ten per cent commission. That is, they did not report the 300 lbs. sold, but I presume they considered it sold to themselves at 7 cts., and charged us only ten per cent for making the sale. Now, friends, I try to have charity for all men, and especially for those with wliom I have dealings: neither am I much given to complain- ing and fault-finding; yet I should like to know why it is that honey always declines in price just after we ship, for we have invariably received a less price for our honey than that first quoted. This has been the case so often that we have about abandoned the practice of shipping on commission. And now, brother bee-keepers, are not we somewhat to blame for crowding our honey into the great market centers, such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, etc., thus running the supply beyond the de- mand, and cutting down the prices in these places'? Then when we go to a small town and try to sell honey at a fair price the merchant will show you a St. Louis price current, quoting Southern honey in barrels at .53^ to (5 cts., and sometimes even lower. I tell you, you have to talk like a good fellow if you make a sale at a fair price. Yet with all this, the writer sold, in small towns along the Mo. Pacific E. R., about a thousand pounds of extracted honey at 10 cts. per lb., in five-gallon cans. The can went free, and in one-gallon cans we charged 123^ cts. for the honey, can free. We also could have sold more comb honey than we could supply, at 1.5 cts. net, and all of this was sold where I presume there was not 100 lbs. sold before I went there. We intend selling all or neai'ly all our honey tliis way in the future. Why can not you do the same? Keep more of the honey out of the great mar- ket centers, and thus keep it up to a living price. Bluffton, Mo., Aug. 13. S. E. Miller. Friend M., I know there is a good deal of en- couraging people to expect something they do not realize, in getting trade in all departments of business; but I am sure it is not a profitable way. You will notice that I strike upon the same subject in my present Home paper; but we should be careful about being too general in our charges. There are commission men in Cleveland who .sold honey at a larger price than they encouraged us to expect, though this is the exception and not the rule. When you find a commission man who has once done this, hold fast to him, for you have discovered a treasure. NYSEWANDER'S HONEY-EXHIBIT. AN ATTRACTIVE DISPLAY. I herewith give you a glimpse of our honey- exhibit, made at the Iowa State Fair. Not- withstanding the agricultural hall is large and commodious. th(» room always seems limited, and the exhibitor is sometimes i-equired to make the room in height what it is lacking in length. This is true with the exhibit shown. It is about 14 feet in height and 25 feet in length, c(mi]jrising extracted and comb honey, supplies, etc. The amount of honey represent- ed is about 4(XX) lbs. We were required to place most of the extracted honey so far above the heads of the people that shelving had to be largely dispensed with to show up the glass jars to the" b<'st advantage. The larger portion of these wei'e therefore strung on wire. While the row of jars did not appear quite as regular as if shelving had been used, there was nothing to obstruct the light at the back or the view in front, and this more than made up for the slightly irregular appearance, and the clear jars of linn honey showed up very beautifully. By the way, the whole exhibit was purely of linn honey. "The clover-fields that were early so promising did little more in this vicinity than to fill the hives when they suddenly with- 7-10 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 15. ei'cd under the influence of hot winds and dry \\'eatli('r. . There were about 2800 lbs. of comb honey. It was exceptionally white and fine, having been made in a short space of time, and taken off from the hives as soon as finished. You will notice that it is mostly in 24-lb. shipi)ing- cases, the rest being 12-lb. cases. VVliile these do not show the honey quite as well as the 48-lb. case, when it comes to shipping and mar- keting they are much safer, and more popular with the trade. The supplies were an'anged in convenient view, and consisted of every thing used by the bee-keeper, though the picture doesn't fully show this portion of the exhibit. However, you will notice, beginning at the left-hand side, a few smokers witli numerous other small arti- cles, which were placed on the top of a pyra- mid of 60-lb. cans of extracted honey, only the top corner of which is shown. "Following along ai'e the different sizes and styles of the Novice honey and wax extractors.' Back of these may be seen smokers, foundation, drone- traps, and perforated zinc honey-boards. To the right of the central card is a pyramid of choice be(;swax, made of small cakes. In this shape we find it to be a very marketable article. The cakes are of such a size as to retail at 5 cents, and we wholesale quite a good deal of it in this form to the stores. Next may be seen sprigs of a bunch of Japanese buckwheat in bloom, and the best 20 lbs. of extracted honey. The lid of the solar wax-extractor, which is thrown back, is noticeable, and the rest of the supplies in view are, a copy of the ABC book, foundation-mill, and sections, which are easily recognized. Jos. Nysewandek. Des Moines, la., Sept. 1.5, 1890. Friend N., your idea of hanging honey-pails and tumblers on a wire is quite an item; and if you are the first one to inaugurate it, we owe you a vote of thanks. We congratulate you on the neat placards explaining and advertising the different items. Very likely the whole display will give many helpful hints to others in arranging like exhibits. FOUL BROOD IN CANADA. AN EYE-WITNESS RECOUNTS THE EFFECTIVE WOKK DONE BY THE FOITI.-BROOI) INSPECTOR. Any one who has sp(>nt a few hours with Mr. McEvoy in the discharge of his duties could hardly fail to be convinced of the necessity, in the interest of bee-keeping, for the surveillance of foul brood. I had long been satisfied in my own mind that protection ought to be given to this industry, of such a nature as to insure the man who embarks in it to make a livelihood, that his neighbor who has nothing at stake, comparatively, would not, through ignorance or otherwise, cultivate foul brood beside him, and thus jeopardize his existence as a bee-keep- er. That impression, which has been deepen- ing on my mind for years back, was immensely emphasized by the result of yesterday's ride; and, Mr. Editor, you may put your own com- ment underneath whatever way you please; but when I say that a large class of people— among them the non-reader, and the one-or- two-hives-for-honey-for-own-use folks— should be strongly discouraged. I think I say it advis- edly, and that the following will bear me out. After a drive of a couple; of hours we arrived at a certain comfortable-looking village situat- ed picturesquely amidst the hills, and there called upon the principal bee-keeper, the resi- dent minister of the German Bai)tist church. We found him a man of intelligence, and par- ticularly well' up in iiiattel's-'perta'iniug to this industry; a student of the German, English, and American authors. He has for years used a shallow hive with a hanging frame", the same dimensions as the Heddon frame. a.nd got the idea from accounts by German authors of a similar hive used in Germany. In fact, he says that, when Mr. Heddon gave his invention to the world, he wrote, informing him that he had already, the previous season, been using the same hive, only with a hanging frame. When asked about foul brood he said that there had been some in his yai'd. caught from neighboi'S, but that it was now away; that he cured it by shaking the bees on starters, and replacing these by others at the end of three days, when he fed the bees, medicating the feed with salicylic acid and borax. No disease was found in his yard, and the place was the very perfection of order and neatness. From there a visit was made to a blacksmith neighbor of his, scarcely 2(X) yards away, where only two hives were found, he having sent a number some miles off to a son's place. One of these two was very badly diseased, and the other somewliat less so. Another call in the village was made on a pai'ty owning one hive, and it was found to be on its very last legs with the disease. As one of these two parties was reported to have sold many cases of foul brood they both were requested to have a bonfire at night. Mr. McEvoy then went across the street and asked the minister if he would go over and see that tliese men did what they were ordered to do. The minister very willingly jjromised to do so. He was very much alarmed" when told that it was so close to him; and, with feelings of the deepest regret he said, "Oh dear! oh dear! aft- er all my trouble in melting combs, and doing all I could to keep it out of my apiary — just see the risks I have to run with my neighbors who won't do any thing." The inspector replied, saying he would protect him, and make them clean out the disease. Leaving the village we went to blacksmith No. 2, a couple of miles away, to whom black- smith No. 1 had sold bees some lime ago; and in the second hive looked at, the disease was found in a very malignant form and degree. This man has somewhere about 30 hives. The conversation which took place here was some- thing like this: " Say, mister, would you come up here ? " (spoken from the upper level door behind the smithy). "What for?" " I want to see your bees." Up he comes. "I'm the government inspector,' appointed to look after bees and see that there is no foul brood among them." " Guess you won't find any here." Guesswork in this business is rather suspi- cious and suggestive. "Oh, no! I don't expect to. Well, we'll go and see, any way. Do you take any journal ? " " No." He was shown the foul brood, and warned and instructed about it. He was then advised to ask the assistance of our minister friend to help him get rid of the trouble. Leaving here we passed down the road a mile to a farmhouse where was a small collection of hives of the ancient Mitchell and more modern Jones varieties. Some were inhabited, but more without tenants. No foul brood appeared here; but in one hive large pieces had been cut out of two of the back combs, and the next frame showed a few dead larvse. The owner being away in the fields at a distance plowing. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 741 time did not permit of interrogating him re- garding tlie mutilated comhs: but as a precau- tionary measure, woi-d was left advising him to " tal last Issue of the A B C, which I pnrcJiased. I have been woi'king an apiary of 1:^5 stands, all of which had foul lirood. I commenced transi'er- ring them about March :?0, using th<' same hives and frames, but first boiling them. After put- ting about \:i stands in clean liives, on 4-in('.h strii)s of foundation, and conlining Ihein :.'4 houi's without food, and finding they had done notliing, I gave them }4 i)inteacli of hon<>y taken from the diseased bees, but boiled, when they THE niTESNATIONAL BEE-EEEPERS' ASSO- TION. WHERE SHALL WE HOLD THE ONE AFTER THE MEETING AT KEOKL'K ? The following is the copy of a letter which will explain itself. That I might go ahead un- derstandingly I sent copies of the same to the ex-presidents and other officers of the Ameri- can Bee Association. The letter is as follows: At the bee - keepers' convention at Plum Bay. N. Y.. we had a pleasant time. The en- tire shores of the most beautiful Lake Geoi-ge were covered with historic reminiscences. INIountains rise abruptly out of the ^^'ater, and the scenery round about is indescribably beauti- ful. The water is clear— so clear, indeed, that objects can be seen sonu^inu^s forty feet be- neath the surface. At the jioint (Plum Bay) where the be(>-keepers camped. tluM-e is said to be a man-of-war sunk. It lies in a depth of forty feet of water, and yet I am assured that, on favorable days, its hulk can be quite dis- tinctly seen. ■ At one end of the lake is Fort William Henry Hotel, on the si)ot of the old fort of that name, and. at the other end, Ticonderoga. Near by are two or three celebrated battlefields. T have takeii jiains to mention se-keepers, and is easy of access to some of the most exten- sive be(>-men in tlie world. Still further, while we were in canij) this time, we were discussing as to whether this might not be a verv desirable location for the lnt<'rnational I'.ee'-Association. to be held the year after the meeting at Keokuk, Iowa: iiamelv. during the winter of lS. Along with the natural attractions, it is right in the 742 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 15. center (if we except California) of the most ex- tensive bee-country in tlie world. Not many miles away are bee-keepei's owning tlieir 300 and 400 colonies. Then there are Messrs. El- wood. Hetherington. Hoflfman. TuniclitT. Lara- bee, Martin, Manum, Crane, L. C. Koot, Knick- erbocker, Lockhart, and Andi-ews. and a good many others that are extensive bee-keepers. As it is one of the policies of the International Association to migrate. I merely suggest that it might be well to consider the advisability of holding our next International on the border- line of the Northeastei-n States; namely, at some point on Lake George. Mr. Lockhart offers the use of his cottages; and if anybody knows how to entertain bee-keepers, he does. His cottages are right on the shore of a most beautiful bay. Now, whether we meet at Lake George oi- not, it seems to me that it is expedient for us to he- gin to consider the location of the Internation- al in ISOl-"!):.', so that at the next meeting at Keokuk the nu'mbei'S may be prepai-cd to vote intelligently and undei-standingly. I told the bee-keepers assembled that I would wi-ite to some of the ex-presidents of the association and other officers, and learn what they thought of it; and if they all agree that it might be advis- able to bring the matter up in print, that Mr. Newman, Mr. Hutchim^on, and ourselves, would properly pi'esent the matter in our re- spective papers. I send a copy of this letter to Drs. Mason and Miller, Hutchinson, C. P. Da- dant, R. L. Taylor, Prof. Cook, and perhaps one or two others. After presenting the above to the readei's of the American Bee Journal, the editor says: We are very much in favor of holding the next meeting of the International Association at Plum Bay, N. Y., if it can be held during warm weather, and will do all we can to get it located there. The following are replies received from the other representative bee-keepers: As regards the place of holding the Interna- tional meeting of bee-keepers in the winter of 1891-'92, I haven't much choice, except to have it as near 77iy location as possible. Selfish, did you say? All right, then; let it be held where its best interests may be subserved. I love to attend the meetings; but, being poor, I can't afford to go very far, and I fear I shall not be able to go to Keokuk, but I do want to so badly! I am sure I don't know whether it is or is not advisable to meet at Lake George. You give but one good reason for so doing, and that is the proximity of so many large bee-keepers. The beautiful scenery, bay, historic spots, etc., cut no figure at a bee-convention, especially in the winter, when the ground may be covered with from a few inches to a f(nv feet of snow, and the clear waters of the bay and lake with the same of ice. If held in October it would be different. Some town or city that is easy of access by rail seems to me to be the most desirable location. I had been thinking that pei'haps Buffalo or Rochester would be a good place for the next meeting after Keokuk, for the reason that either location is readily reached from the East and West, and by the Canadians. Our meet- ings have not been selfish as regards places of meeting, and have done what was thought to be for the best interests of the society. Auburndale, Ohio, Sept. 33. A. B. Mason. I for one am quite willing that the next meet- ing of the I. A. B. A. should take place at some such point as you describe. It Is evidently best for all that the I. A. B. A. should not meet twice in the same place for a number of years, and it is time that the N. E. hee-ke(>p('rs had their turn; so you may count on my support, and I must say that I am very glad that you have thought best to discuss this question be- fore the Keokuk meeting. This point having- been raised, there will be less disappointment from parties who might want the meeting in some othei' direction. There is only one ques- tion that I wish to raise. If this meeting of 18!)l-'93 is located there, would it not be best to hold it early in the fall, so that our bee-men may have a chance to enjoy the scenery by a few rambles'? C. P. Dadant. Hamilton, 111., Sept. 19. I lectured to the bee-keepers in N. E. N. Y. several times last winter, and I know they are wide awake. I should think your plan a wise one. I believe a meeting held on Lake George in August would bi^ excelhmt. Why not? Bee- keepers are not very busy in August. Agricultural College, Mich. A. J. Cook. If we decide to hold the meeting at Lake George, it should, of course, be held early in the fall, say immediately following the general harvest of farmers and bee-keepers, and before the bees are put into winter quarters. Perhaps the first of October would be a good time. At any rate, we can talk that over at the conven- tion; and if it should be decided to hold the meeting at Albany it might be advisable to meet later in the fall, or along in the winter. I should not think of holding it at Buffalo, be- cause we have already had one meeting recent- ly in that vicinity; namely, at Brantford; and as the policy of- the International is migratory, it ought to go as far as Lake George, or the line of the New England States. E. R. KAMBLE NO. 30. IN STEUBEN COUNTY. Mr. Sprague, Mi-. Bowen, and the Rambler made a friendly call upon the great bee-man of Steuben Co., Mr. Wm. B. Stephens, of Stephens Mills. At the time of our call, Mr. S. had 3(» colonies, located in three apiaries. We found CHAFF UIVK USED BY MR. W STEPHENS. him and his son ready to talk bees, and we had quite a convention. His apiaries are run prin- 1S90 GLEANIlirGS IN BEE CULTURE. 743 cipiiUy for comb honey. In tlio apiaries at and near iionic tlie lioncy nsourccs arc limited to clov(>r and hucixwiieat. while his apiary over in Allegany Co. has the advantage of basswood. Mr. Stei)h(Mis and Spragne both i)refer black bees. INInch buckwheat is sown in 8teuben Co.. and on that account the blacks are preferred. The L. hive is used to a large extent, but we saw quite a sprinkling of lleddon hives. We W^c.VeY^S^'" wiio lielieves in a divei-sitied ])nrsuit. He runs a fai'm, an apiary, a IJi'ahma i)oultry-yai'd. a flock of ii(>ac()cks. and a stable of Perchei-on iiors(>s. This carrying of eggs all in on(> basket does not agree with ]Mr. C. If the season blasts his hopes on one or two things, the others arc successful, and lie is happy. While riding along we were shown the resi- dence of an old-tim<> bee-keei)er. INIr. Ilugenoi'. who luid no i'U(\ of peculiaiities. While the bees were swarming he constantly I'epeated in a monotonous undertone the following "charm:'* Flutter, low flutter, nigh; Busy bee, don't go high; Wlii'rl around the busy queen. Alight down hei'e upon the green. Steady now, my hearties, steady; Here I have a hive all ready. The bees always alight low. so thni say. An- other belief (inite common in the neighborhood. and which came fi'om the same souice. is. that bees choose their course on the first of May. This solves a problem that has been of much vexatious stttdy for the Rambler. To diffuse themselves evenly over a given field must nec- essarily require i)reconcerted action, and that explains why some colonies outdistance their neighbors in honey-gathering. The 1st of IMay is a great day in beedom. We send you a picture of our happy and wise old friend. No doubt he would be pleased to give much in- formation upon the subject; but. come to think of it, he, like old Grimes, the good old man, is— dead! Having learned all we could about the bees and the people of Steuben Co., we bade our relatives and transient friends good-by, and ac- were shown a very c'neap chaff hive taking an L. frame. It had double walls, packed, and in winter a cushion is laid over the frames and a light case slipped over all. Mr. 8. was so well pleased with the working of these hives that several were under construction. In the honey- house we saw a Novice extractor and an old- style Peabody, which is strong evidence that Mr. S. has been long in the business. A charm- ing point about Mr. Stephens' location is, that his entii-e honey-crop is sold in the home market Hornellsville, located only a few miles distant, is a smart and rapidly growing town of abou'. 10,000 population. The principal grocers are supplied regularly; and, as long as he can sup- ply the demand, California and other foreign honey does not find lodgment here, but is sent on to other cities. Extracted honey was slow to sell at first: but by putting a good quality upon the market he finds the sale increasing. His good home market will induce him to in- crease his apiaries, and extend the business. Having two energetic sons to help, he is well equipped for the extension. Cellar wintering is practiced to a considerable extent, though outdoor wintering would be pre- ferred, and is resoi-ted to in out-apiaries. We discussed the many (pialities and ijeculi- arities of extracted honey, and found our friends believing strongly in the idea that candied honey could be made nearly dryi and powdery by draining; but the Rambler, having tried the draining process, is inclined to the belief that a current of air is necessary to drive out the moisture. All of this drained honey is usually found near stave joints or on the sur- fac(!. If we had a shop in which a blower was running we should certainly turn a current of air through sonu^ candit^l honey, and watch the effect. If one temperature did not have any effect we would try another and get a range of temperature from warm to icy cold. Will some one try it and giv(i us evaporated honey ? Our next call was upon Mr. Samuel Cotton, HAPPY CONDITION OF THE KAMI5LER. cepted the invitation of Geo. Silsby to ride to Wallace's Station with him in his barouche. Thougii the roads were muddy and rough, we had a delightful ride. We send a sketch, show- ing the happy condition of the Rambler. Friend R., you have actually found a bee- keeper who is well pleased with the outside protecting shell we described on page (598 of our last issue. I believe there is something in it yet, although the senior editor threw cold water over it. What we want is something that will enable bee-keepers to use the single-walled hives we already have in use, with a little more expense added, for outdooi' wint foregoing diagram will illustrate the follower, i is the follower pressed against the section-holders ?i, /), li. To key up, a stick J^xKxlS is let down perpendicularly, tlie thinnest way between the follower and the side of the hive. It is now re- volved so that th(^ follower, instead of being % inch from the hive side is pressed y, inch from it. The projecting end is now pushed down be- low the side of the hive, out of the way. To loosen up, r<>verse the operation as above; i. e.. pull up one end of the stick to a perpendicular^ turn it ai'ound flatwise and \\'ithdraw. and the sections are loose. Where fixed frames are used, the same keying-up arrangement will be used in the brood-chamber. The engraving above shows very nicely a complete package of five Dovetailed hives ready for shipment. Thq inside furniture, cover, bottom-boards, etc.. are all boxed inside, with- out using an ouiice of crating, or in any way interferring with the usefulness of the material afterward. Besides, the sides and ends, as we have before explained, are held compactly by mcnins of four cleats, that are just the same as the inside of the dovetails. The Dovetailed hive is as cheap as any, I think I may say, without boasting, ever before made, comprising from five to ten hives complete. A BEE-SPACE AND WHAT IS RIGHT. While on my trip I took pains to investigate the matter of a bee-space, and its relation to burr-combs. I feel pretty well satisfied that f*g is too much. Mr. Elwood, who was never troubled with burr-combs, told me that he uses a bee -space 14 inch, a little scant if any thing; and all those bee-keepers who had little or no trouble with them, I noticed, were using and recommending this scant quarter-inch bee- sjjace. Those who do not have burr combs are the ones competent to give a correct answer to this. The Dadants, and Mr. Secor, and others of the West recommend this bee-space.. We decided, therefore, to make the Dovetailed hive in accordance therewith. BEES AT WATERING-TEOUGHS. DR. MILLER SUGGESTS TWO REMEDIES FOR TWO OF THE TROUBLES IN BEE-KEEPING. DOVETAILED PACKAGES FOR SHIl^MENTS. In your answer to John Burr, page 713, friend Root, yovi seem inclin(>d to think that bees at a well or watering-trough do no great harm. My bees, at least, have been very troublesome. At the Wilson apiary there is a watering-trough at the well, and for the last two years the bees have taken possession of it to such an extent that it had to be abandoned as a place for wa- tering horses, and another place used some rods distant. No doubt you will say, "Why, what harm did the bees do?" Well, I"ni not sure that they ever did any harm: but the horses would't di'ink there, and that was harm enough. I have tiied a number of times water- ing my o\\'n horse ther(>. If very thirsty I could get him up to the trough, and pei'haps he would plunge his mouth into the water in a kind of desperate numner. but. generally speak- ing, he would just stand and snort at the bees without ottering to drink. I suspect, however, that bees floating on the water got on the horse's lips and stung or at least tickled them. This summer another trough was jjlaced be- tween this trougii and the apiary. |)rovided with comfortable floats and all that, and it se- cui-ed some patronage, but the old trough held the most of its custom. If the old trough had been left div' for a few days, or had been entire- ly covered lip. the case might have been ditl'er- ent; but it was ])umped full every night to c(joI the cans of milk. At the home ajjiary the l)ees are inclined to annoy every year by getting into any watei' left standing at the well, and even going into the puni]) itself, making it difficult to get a pail of wat(U' witliout drowning bees in it. A six-gallon ci'ock of salt water standing a rod away, tilled with stick's of rotten stovewood. has seemed enough attraction to keep them away. But it is important that any thing of this kind be started eai'ly in the season. Let 746 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 15. them once get into the habit of going to a cer- tain place, and they don't like to change. This summer, before I noticed what was going on, they had commenced visiting the pumi), alight- ing on a half-barrel that stood there with wa- ter for the stock. I moved the half - barrel away a little, and was careful to allow no water to stand in any thing else. After a day or two I set the half-barrel about a rod from the pump. I put a piece of board in the middle of it, and then covered the whole with a gunny-sack. The gunny-sack sank in tlie water and kept moist for some distance out of it, and this seem- ed to just suit the bees. I threw in a handful of salt, so it would not breed mosquitoes, and because I thought the be(?s liked it. Since then the bees have not trout)led at all. although water has stood in pails most of the time at the pump. I recommend for trial a tub or half- bari-el covered with some kind of coarse cloth. find than fresh water ? Now, if keeping bees does annoy people around their pumps and wells, it is a matter that should be looked after. When people go to the expense of providing plenty of good water, with pumps and troughs to match, they ought to have the undisturbed benefit of it. — Since you mention putting the sections of broken comb at the entrance, under the colony of bees, instead of over them, it rath- er seems as if somebody had before suggested it. Is any one smart enough to tell us where it oc- curred in the back volumes of this or any other bee-journal ? And, by the way, doesn't the above experiment indicate that the best place for a feeder is under the brood-nest ? GETTING BEES TO EMPTY COMBS SPEEDILY. Until this year I should have answered W. R. Tate about as you have done on page 716. As you know. I have practiced h'tting the bees clean out sections in the fall by simply setting them outdoors and covering them up with en- trance for only one bee at a time. This works satisfactorily so far as the sections are concern- ed, but you hav(^ no control as to which colo- nies get the honey. Placed over a colony, the bees, as you say, may empty it in a month; but if sealed, and there is no scarcity of stores in the hive, some of it may be left all winter. Now let me tell you how I have reduced the time to two or three days. I have just been to look at some sections that were given to the bees 24 hours ago, and 1 think all the unsealed honey is cleaned up, and they are worlcing at the sealed. If I had uncapped it I think tliat part would have been enii)ti('d first. The sec- tions to be emptied were in T sni)ers, but larood combs could be emptied in the same way. I lifted the liive off the bottom -board; put upon the bottom-board two super's of sections, one on the other: on top of these an empty super, and on top of this I returned the hive. Every thing was bee-tight at the bottom to prevent the entrance of robbers, and you will see tiiat the entrance of the hive was raised some 13 inches, but tliis troubled the bees very little. You will see that the empty super made a space of several inches between the bottom-bars and sections. This is essential, for I tried it with- out the empty super, and it didn't work. I also tried the empty space over the hive, but it didn't work. The two essentials are, putting the combs under the colony, and having a space between them and the bottom -bars. Marengo, 111., Oct. (>. C. C. Miller. Well done, old friend. Your remedy for bees a,round the pump is something like the way physicians work when they apply a blister or a plaster — a counter-irritant. The trouble is, your tub or barrel will not receive the atten- tion that the average pump or well does; and then the bees will go where there is the strong- est inducement. I am glad of that suggestion of yours, that a liaudful of salt will prevent the water from breeding mosquitoes; but are you sure that they like water that has been standing a long while, just as well as that fresh from the bottom of tlie well ? I know they sometimes seem to like stagnant water best; but 1 never felt quite satisfied in regard to it. Is it not because the stagnant water is easier to DISCRIMINATION IN DISCOUNT. BUYING BY PIECEMEAL, OK BUYING BY WHOLESALE. Y'ou state in your catalogue, that any one sending an order for a large amount of goods can have them at a discount. It seems to me tlie poor man who is not able to buy in large amounts should liave the benefit, as the rich one is able to pay for his goods: but it seems to be the rule to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. J. R. Comstock. Morrilton, Ai'k., Sept. 1. Friend C, this matter has come up a good many times, and quite a number of the friends have seemed to think that we were unfeeling and forgetful of the needs of those who have but little, and must buy in small quantities. One friend even went so far as to say he did not see how a man could he a Christian and refuse sell to a poor man one pound of sugar at the same price he charged a richer one for 100 lbs. Now, those who make such statements are cer- tainly thoughtless, and have not looked into the matter car(>fully. The friends who have tried retailing honey know how it is. After any bee-keeper has sold 100 lbs. of honey, a pound or two at a time, if his time be worth any thing he will say at once that he would rather have 8 or 9 cts. per lb., and sell it all in one lump, making one transaction of it, than to have 10 or even 11 cts., weighing out a pound at a time. Now, this is true of every commod- ity to a greater or lesser extent: and when it comes to keeping books, and charging up a pound or two pounds at a time, and taking the chances of getting your pay, etc., plain common sense dictates that a lower price by the lump, especially if it be a cash-down transaction, is by far to be preferred. Why. dear friends, the whole world is groaning under the burdens im- posed as a consequence, because so great a part of the world will persist in buying a little bit at a time. My wife was greatly astonished a few days ago wlien I told her that a good many customers for our wagon buy half a peck of po- tatoes at a time. Years ago we decided in our household that we could not stand the wear 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 747 and tear of purchasing in little dribs. Suppose you wait till the sugar is clear out; then you send to town for a couple of pounds. If there are several other little items, the sugar is often forgotten. So with butter; so with tea and coffee, soap, etc. Now, contrast this way of doing with friend Terry's plan. When I con- gratulated his wife on the beautiful bread we had to go with the strawberries, he replied that they always had beautiful bread because they purchased flour only once a year. The quality was guaranteed; and when Mrs. Terry learned just how to make nice bread of that particular brand, she could do it every time. By the way, friend Tei'ry has been recently writing some grand articles on this subject for our agricul- tural papers. Ask your wife what she thinks about it. Now comes the great obstacle. 1 presume, friend C, you will say that it is all very well for Mr. Terry and other people who have mon- ey in the bank: but how in the world are poor people going to buy supplies by the quantity? My friend, it costs you very much more to buy in little dribs, aside from the higher price you are obliged to pay. Why, I have known farm- ers to say they had to go to town right in hay- ing or harvesting, to get some sugar, tea. or molasses, or something of that sort. A little reflection should have convinced them that their time spent on the errand was worth more than the goods they brought home — yes. a good deal more. I have known a man to go on some foolish errand like this when he lost ./ice dollars that might have been saved had he stayed at home and got in his hay and attended to his other crops. Now. very likely many can not commence at once buying supplies .to last a year; but, my friends, if you strain every nerve you can work toward it, and you will save money by so doing until you have a little surplus with which to buy in ([uantities. It takes time and brains and aire to buy closely and to be sure that you are getting only a first-class article. Now, when you buy by the quantity, the time, bi'ains, and care ai'e needed only once, to be sure you get a low price and a tirst-class article. Then Hseitwith economy and care, and make it go as far as possible. Do not, I beg of you, let an ounce of your nice flour or best grade of sugar or nice butter go into the swill-pail. Please pardon the expression, but I have felt con- sti'ained to use it because I have seen people who were poor, and who bought from hand to mouth, as the saying is, let more rich food go into the abovesaid pail than do people who have large property, and money in the bank. A great many people excuse themselves for buying in little dribs, by saying they make their purchases evenings, when their time is not worth any thing. It is a mistak(>. Every- body's time sliould be worth something even- ings. He can educate and inform himself in a thousand ways during his evenings to far bet- ter advantage than he can by loafing in the corner groceries. Another thing comes in right here: The peo- ple who buy in little dribs almost always do the buying with a pipe in their mouths. They buy their tobacco and pipes in little dribs, just as they do their flour and sugar. Our shorthand writer says that tobacco is the second item of expense to our nation — far more than either sugar or flour. Now, I would stop buying piece- meal, even if it cost me such a sacrifice as going on short rations for a while. I would wear old clotlies. and eat very cheap plain food until I could get money enough ahead to buy by the quantity. In regard to this matter of plain cheap food, I have a little story to tell you; but I think we will make it another article. I have so far said nothing in regard to our catalogue prices. You notice we give the price on a single article, then on ten, and then on a hundred. Some time ago a young man came into our store and wanted some things to start a store himself. We agreed to let him have single articles at lO's rates. Well, I kept ac- count of the time it cost to put these things u]) and ship them to him. It took a ])retty smart clerk the best part of a day, and it amounted to only ^lO.OO. Our profit could not have been moi'e than .50 or 7.5 cts., so we really lost money. Now, if he had taken S^IO.OO worth of things in the regular way, half an hour would have been ample time for the whole transaction. And this is no exaggeration. Many families waste valuable time and strength year after year in buying soap a bar at a time. Why, it is fearful. Dear reader, if you have been in the habit of doing that, stop it this minute. Ask your grocer how much lower he can sell you if you take it in lots of ten or a dozen, according to the way it is put up: or, better still, get his best figures on a whole box of just the right kind your wife likes best. Of course, she must keep a careful watch of the box of soap, and see that it is not wasted. If she is in the right sort of partnership with you in sav- ing the pennies, she will do her part, I assure you. Have the right sort of soap-dish, and see that the children learn how to use this soap so as to make it go as far as possible, and yet give you all the benefit that soap can give. I am sure you can do it if you set rigiit earnestly about it: and if you want to know just what Uncle Amos would recommend, it would be this: Just before you go to bed at night, you two, husband and wife, kneel down by the bed- side and ask God's blessing on the i)roject. Ask him to brighten and sliarix'U your intellects- give you wisdom and understanding in this matter of economy in the household: and you might also read that beautiful little text, "Who- soever hath, to him shall be given; and whoso- ever hath not, shall be taken even that which he soemeth to have." 748 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 15. ERNEST'S NOTES OF TEAVEL AMONG THE BEE-KEEPERS OF YORK STATE. ON THE BICYCLE. I left the reader at Mr. T5. Van Wie's, and had just mounted the wheel. It was a beauti- ful morning, cool and bracing, and I felt in ex- cellent trim for a day's wlunding. When we bicyclers start out for a day's run we at first exp(M'ience a little W(>ariiH>ss on the first two or three miles; and it seems as if it would be im- possible to travel all day; but very soon the "second wind" comes on, as the wheelmen style it. I had just ridden far enough to wear off this first tired feeling, and to feel an exhilara- tion that comes after a five-mile ride. Yes, I felt as if I could go all day. and more too. The hills did not tire me, and the coasting down hill —oh, how lovely on that bright morning! I had gone about ten miles when 1 met a livery- man just coming down a big hill. I had ridden part way up it, and then dismounted. My face was, I suppose, somewhat fiushed from the glow of the exercise; and the aforesaid man of horses, mistaking it for weariness and exhaustion, said, somewhat jeeringly, " Well, young man, I wouldn't travel across tlie country in that way for all the bicycles you can giv(^ me;" and with a crack of the whip he passed with a flourish, down the hill, as if he had said something very smart. I leisurely walked u]) the hill in the op- posite direction; and on an-iving at the top I again betook myself to the saddle for another delightful coast. " No, old chap. I would not exchange my ve- hicle for your old rattlety-bang, for a good deal." Noiselessly I sped down the hill. The pano- rama of scenery; a deep valley here, and a hill on the other side; the winding and twisting of the road, a wayside spring, a litth^ brooklet, — all of these added to the charm of that bicycle ride. Just ahead of me I notic<'d a man hitch- ing up a light rig with two handsome bay horses. Tliey seemed to be full of spirits. The owner, seeing me coining at a distance. I judge decided to let me catch up, or nearly so, and then thought he would rini away from me. For a mile or two he did. I did not ])ropose to make a fool of myself chasing aftei' him. I stuck to my usual gate, and before long I came within a short distance of his tired and panting horses. He evidently regarded it as a race, by the way he kept looking back to see if I were catching u]). I pretended not to so regard it. I saw his horses were beginning to lag; and when a fa- vorable opportunity presented, that is. a clear piece of road — I very ipodestly asked him if I might have the priviIeg^ of passing, as I was in a hurry. "Oh! certainly," said he, and he turned his hors(>s to one side, foi' I saw that he was quite willing that I should believe he was not trying to run a rac(> with me. The road was a turnpike, and for the most pari it was good wheeling. In a few minut(>s more my friend with his two horses was out of sight. All along my route I iiKjuired very diligently as to whether the I'oad ahead had any sandy si)ots. The terror of all wheelmen Is sand, and I should prefer to go four times as far around on clay rather than to attempt a short run over the sand. Just liefore reacliing Middle- burgh I struck a little piece of sand. Follow- ing along some paths along the road I managed to get along very well. In a few minutes more I was in Middleburgh, where I arrived about II o'clock. On intiuiry I leai'iied that Mr. Wes- ley I)ibl)le and Mr. N. 1). West, bee-men, whom Mr. Van Wi(^ recommendcnl me to call upon, lived a short distance out and directly upon my route. I asked a hotel clerk if l" might have a drink of water. He pointed to a water- tank outside of a bar. T hesitated somewhat; but l3eing thii'sty I took a small diaught of wa- ter, without waiting to take any thing else. I should remar'k right here, that, in making tours across the country, wheelmen, like horses, get thirsty; but we are obliged to be very care- ful and not drink too much water while in a sweat. I felt man'y times as if I shoiild like to drink a whole quart; but I nevei- took more than two or three mouthfuls; and after a while, on these limited I'ations of water every ten miles or so, the thirst would subside; and it is ne<>dless to say that I felt better for it. Temperance in all things — yes, even with wa- ter— is advisable and prudent. Well. I mount- ed the wh(H'l, and in a few moments more a bee-keeper's home was pointed out to me — that of Mr. Wesley Dibble. I wheeled up alongside of the house, dismounted, and inquired if that was the place where Mr. I), lived. An affirm- ative answei' came from th(> gentleman himself. The pumiJ had gotten out of order: and, the water being low, he had withdrawn it; and, having repaired it, he was about to put it back in. 1 ariived in time to help him put it down, when he conducted me to the apiary in the rear of the house. It was a very pretty yard, and contained 70 or 80 eight-fi'ame hives, of a pattern almost identical with the Dovetailed hive. Like all other progressive liee-keepers of this section he used fixed frames. If I re- member correctly they were closed-end, and suspended, something like Mr. Tunicliff's that I explain(>d on |)age 641. Two or three years ago he bought 50 Ileddon hives, but he has dis- carded them all now. I might say in this con- nection, that I heard of another bee-keeper who had ])urclias(^d some 4.5, and had likewise discarded them. Both avei'red that it was too much trouble to handle so many frames, and they finally went back to the regular Lang- stroth. AUTOMATIC SW ARMING A SUCCESS. But what interested me particularly at Mr. Dibble's was his automatic swarming-arrange- ment. It was his own invention, having con- ceived th(» idea some two or three years ago. During the past season he has been using it successfully in his two out-apiaries. A colony that he thinks is about to swarm is fixed with perforated zinc tubes, and an empty twin hive is set beside it. When the swarm issues, the queen passes along the tin tube into the empty hive where the returning swarm meets her, S(>ttl(^s down, and biiilds u)) a now home. The plan works so successfully with Mr. Dibble^ that he always swarms bees in this way, and is ena- bled to dispense with the services of a man in each yard, or a bounty of 25 or 50 cents for each swarm hived. " Why," said I, " your arrangement is very similar'to Mr. Alley's." "Yes, it is similar," said he; "but it is my own invention, and I had been working along this lin(> a year or two befor'e Mr. Alley or Mr. F. D. Lacey made their inventions public." The ever-ready Kodak was pulled out, and I took sevi^ral views of the swai'ming-arrange- ment. and also of a handy tool-house for bee- keepers. Both of these I will illustrate and de- scribe more minutely later, when the engrav- ings are made. Mr. Dibble is considerable of a genius. He has constructed a horse-power and hive-making macliinery, whereby he makes all his appli- ances. Tliat he is a good mechanic, is evidenced by his tine work. After taking dinner with my friend I buckled on the Kodak, oiled u]). and betook myself to the road again. Mr. N. D. West, owning some 400 colonies, lived a couple of miles beyond. A short spin of a few min- 18H(I GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 749 utos, and I arrived at the place. I tied my horse up beside tlie fence, dismounted, and rajjped at tlie door. I was not quit(> so fortu- nate tliis time as 1 liad l)(>en on former occa- sions. Mr. West iiimsclf was al)scnt. but for- tunately [ nu't his son. who evidcnly was a good l)(M^-keeper. I was in a gi'cat hurry to see all I could, and I expiaiiu^d to the junior West that I had to nuike sonu' miles yet. aiul woukl have to huri'y at his place more than I really i)r<>- ferred: I inislit stiike some l)ad roads, and need- ed plenty (if time. We immediately went out into the apiary, lli're. again, lixed distances are used. Some of the frames are the Hoffman, and others are the regular suspended, with nails driven in tiie right distance, to iu)ld them at fixed distances. They imve in all too colonies in three yards. The season had l)(>en a poor one. but tiiey would average about ;.'5 lbs. per colony. We soon rejjaired to the shop, where I noticed a similar horse-power to that used by Mv. I)ii)ble. l\Iy stay here Was probably not more than 15 or ;20 minutes: and after apologiz- ing for my short visit I again took to the wheel. now I KAX AWAY FROM A UEE-KEKI'KR. Being in company the night before with a lot of roughs in the hotel at , as mentioned in the i)revious number. I i)ri'snme that I was a little bit nerxous. I came along to a stri'tch of road where there was a sort of sidehill. It was down in a kind of valley, and quite remote from any farmhouse— possibly a mile either way. I saw a man going along the road, witli a walking- stick. "Now."" thought I, "may be he is all right, and doubtless won't do any thing out of the way, but I will just steal upon him rather quietly. As the bicycle is perfectly noiseless, when I get just aboutopposite to him I will spin by him before he knows it:" and this was al- most imnu'diately put into execution. Aftei' I had gi)t a littk' distance beyond. I thought, I heard him calling to me. Whethei' I didornoT. I hustled ui) the hill as fast as I could. On airiv- ing at th(> top I coasted down i\w. hill at the rat(^ of about a mile in four minutes: and as I was speeding tlowii as if on wings. I congratu- lated myself on how nicely I had fooled the per- sonage whom I liad met in the valley back of me. I finally canu' to a farmhouse, and men- tioned the little circumstance. '■ Oh, no! " said the farmer; " we are all hon- est men down this way." "That may be." said I; "but if you had been traveling over the country as I have been, alone, you would not be disposed to trust every man, especially when you are off alone a mile or two from any farmhouse." At tills point 1 can not forbear giving you the se(inel. I rlo not know whether it is a joke on myself or on my fiiend. but it is rathei' on me. Just read this extract from a business letter: EXTKACT FROM A BUSINESS LETTER. Mr. N. D. West stopped at my liouse to-day. He told nie tliat Ernest lioot \\:isat his Iious(m)ii the 13th, and lliiit lie passed tiu-onmh this i)lace on his way to Durham. Well, I saw him a short distance off. If lie reinenibors, jnst before lie rt^aciied this place, on the I'iglit. below tlie I'oad, a level piece of land, swaiiq), and meadow. I was down there looking- to see what tlie honey prosp(Mts were from the }iol(l(>M- rod and Ijonesef. 1 saw some oiii^ ])ass aloiifr the road on a liicyele. as il'the ''old tioy" was after him, So I hurried up the liaiil^ and aflt'r him, just in time to see liiin froinfi' over I lie hill, nearly out of sifrht. If T had known it was Ernest, I should havi' overh;iuled him. I tliink 1 could have done if, as he hail (juite a hill to KO up. I am very sorr.y that he could not stoj) and see me. I hope he will if he ever comes this wa.v ag-ain. Ben Franklin. Franklinton, N. Y., Aug. 21, Well, well I a bee-keeper and an honest man! and I, a doubter of a fcdiow-being! After arriv- ing home I was told that there was a letter from a man who saw nu' going through the counti-y, but, was not able to overhaul nu'. I did not say any thing, but I began to snsiiect that 1 had nuuli' a h)ol of myself: and tlie writer of the above. I have no doubt, was the vei'y indiviflua.l who would have given me a nice bee-talk, and told nu^ about his liees. \Vell, I hope he will forgive me; but who in the world would have ihought that there was a bee-keeper who knew m<'. in that, lone \alley? and when he would stop me for a friendly chat. I .just I'an away! Well. 1 wended my way on my ioiiriiey, entirely oblivious to tlu^ fact that I had run otf and left one of my bee-kereping friends. A RACE WITH A HOUSE. I linally came to a tcill-gate. I stop|);'d and inquired the toll. " Oh!" said the good-natiu'ed toll-keeper, looking at me and my wheel, " we hardly regard your I'ig as worth considering. You may pass on." said he. waving his haiul. I did not know whethei' to feel jileased or not. At: any rate, another rig. just iK'liind me. ca.me u]i. and tlie di'i\'ei' jiaid liis toll. He had a raci>. horse and a sulky; and from the former expei'i- ence I had had. I knew that he wanted to set; whet lu'f that fellow with a wheel could keep up with him. I put on all speed, but endeaN'ored to (tjiiicar as if 1 wei'e not racing, but simply taking my ordinary gate, you know. I manag<'d to monopolize the whole road, so that it was a dillicult matter for him to pass. ev(ui if he would. There wei'c I'ai'nihouses all along this road, and 1 rather enjoyed the fun. We ran togetliiT for lierhaps two miles, and I was lieginning to tVel as if I luid got tired of racing— at h'ast. running at sncli a I'iite of sjieed— when 1 observed that the panting of the horse behind me was growing fainter and faintcu', and finally, in a few min- utes more, the driver and the horse were no- where to be seen. The fellow could have gone by me. I know; and [ am e(|ually sui'e that, after a run of liv(! miles, the wheel would liav<'_ been a long distance ahead. I do not s|)eak of this because I have any superior skill or endur- ance as a cyclist, but only to show what a medi- ocre rider liKi' myself has done many a, time. A good horse will outsti'ip a bicyclist foi' a, short distance; but they are away behind on a, long run. Yes. sir: a Victtir bicycle is woi'th regarding, tlie toll-keepi'r to the contrary: ami while I am not to race with every horse-jockey. After stopping on th(> way for a refreshing drink I again started, and in an lioui' or two more I saw the spii'es of Durham. How my heart leaped at the sight! 1 had not seen my wife for a couple of loocJis. and that was an awful lorig while for me: and I felt that my feelings dujilicated liei's. On arriving at Dur- ham 1 was inhirmed that Shady (!len— the places where she was stiipiiing — was about three miles out. Over a winding anil somewhat hilly road 1 traveled until the welconu'sign. " Shady (Jleii." pointed tii the iilace. In 1 came, with a lloiirisli. It was then only thi'ee o'clock. 1 had gone 4.") miles that day. visited the bee-keepers on the way. seen some" beautiful country, and all before three o'clock. Mrs. Root was on Mount- I'isgah, with a l)arty of tourists, and would not be back till night: ' but a little niece recognized nu^ among the lirst: and finally I met, liei' paiia and mamma. I was asked if I was tired. No, not at all. I was rea,dy for a roni]) down the ghni. and away we went. [To l>e continued.] 750 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1.5. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT. AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. That art on which a thousand millions of men are dependent for their sustenance, and two Inuuired millions of men expend their daily toil, must be the most important of all— the parent and precursor of all other arts. In every country, then, and at every period, the investigation of the principles on which the rational practice of this art is founded ought to have command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds. James F. W. Johnston. RAISING FEWEK KINDS OF VEGETABLES; E. C. GREEN, OF THE OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION, DISCUSSES THE MATTER. Mr. Boot: — Your idea of making your cata- logiif of soods contain only one or two kinds of the best, struck nie so favorably that I have added my mite. After being here at the station in the garden for two years, and testing varie- ties of vegetables by the wholesale, as one might say, this idea struck me as a most sensi- ble one, especially so when coming from a seedsman. To give an idea of the seeds we test, this year our list is something like this: Potatoes, about 90 kinds; onions, 40; sweet corn, 40; tomatoes, .50; celery, ,50; cabbage, late, 40; early, 20; and so on through the list of veg- etable's, to say nothing of small fruits. We have been trying to cut our list down to include the standard of the old kinds and the newer varieties. In lettuce we have made three tests during the past year — two in the greenhouse and one in the field, which included about 90 so-called sorts each time. I say "so-called" sorts, for it is not at all strange to find one kind with sev- eral names: and it sometimes happens that a seedsman will send out the same kind of veget- able under two names. Taking, for example, lettuce, I found, out of the 90 so-called varieties, they could be divided into about twelve classes, each class containing from two to eight varie- ties. Thus, in one class would be put the Grand Rapids. Black - seeded Simpson, and White-seeded Simpson, and others of this class. But after seeing all these kinds growing, I can say that there seems to be one or two in each class that contain the best i)oints; and, taking this with the fact that about two-thirds of the classes are not worth raising, it cuts the list down to a very few kinds; and when we get it down to a few there are still some that are the best for particular markets and uses. To cut down a list is quite easy work until we get to the last three oi' four, and then comes the trouble unless we know just what the mar- ket or use they are put to calls for. For exam- ple, does your market call for a bush lettuce, then give them the Black-seeded Simpson or Grand Rapids; if they want a head lettuce, then the Deacon is good; or one for table deco- ration, then the Boston Fine Curled. What is true of lettuce applies to nearly all vegetables; the different kinds and .sorts are mostly made by the seedsmen in order to have a novelty to introduce. Still, there is something new brought nearly every year that is valuable; but to find them among so many that are worthless is a costly task; and, on the whole, it is nearly al- ways more satisfactory to have one or two kinds that do well than so many failures. Columbus, O., Oct. 6. E. C. Green. Friend G., " a friend in need is a friend in- deed;" and you have come to my aid most op- portunely. Why, with the experience you have just been having you can do us an immense service. A brief article from you— say a single page in Gleanings— will probably save our readers alone thousands of dollars, especially if they pi'ofit by it. Now, to start the hall rolling I will briefly map out what I have been pro- posing for the next year. In the following list, where I mention only one vegetable it will be understood that we have decided we need only one kind. After I get through I want your amendments and criticisms at length. Very likely you will double or treble my list. But that is all right. I want you to do so if the best interests of the people demand it. Now, here goes : ^sjjanjgus— Henderson's Palmetto. Bush bemifi — Henderson's Bush Lima; Kid- ney Wax; White Kidney. Pole Beans — King of the Garden lima. I am not sure that the King of the Garden lima is very much larger than selected beans from the ordinary lima; and you will notice that I have dropped the Extra Early lima. I have done so, because a great many seasons they are little if any earlier than the King of the Garden. Bcetst— Eclipse; Lane's Improved vSugar; Long Red Mangel. Cabbage— (1 tell you, friends, it is a hard matter here. I have decided not to recommend more than four kinds; but in selecting the four I felt a good deal troubled; but here goes for an attempt.) Jersey Wakefield; Excelsior Flat Dutch; Perfection Drumhead Savoy; Large Red Drumhead. Carrots — Orange Danvers. Cauliflower — Eai'ly Snowball. Ceiery— White Plume; Golden Dwarf; New Rose. Sweet corn — Corey's Extra Early; Late Mam- moth. Cucumber — Eai'ly Frame; White Spine. Lettuce — Grand Rapids; Boston Market; Henderson's New York. Muskmelons — Landreth's Extra Early; Emer- ald Gem; Banana. Watermelons — Landreth's Extra Early, and — after all the kinds I have planted and tested, I am not really satisfied to give any single one the preference. Friend Green, please supply one besides the Extra Early. Onion — Silver Skin; Globe Danvers. For a large foreign onion, started in the greenhouse, I would suggest White Victoria, although I am not sure that it is any better or much if any different fi-om the Silver Skin; for a winter on- ion. Winter or Egyptian onion-sets. Parsnip— 1 do not know which kind is best. I am not sure there is much difference. Parsley — Double Curl. Peas — Alaska; American Wonder; Strata-, gem. Peppers — Bullnose; Cayenne. Potatoes — Now, right here I can not really de- cide whether we want both Early Ohio and Early Puritan or not; and if we want only one, I am afraid to put either in place of the other. For late I would have Lee's Favorite; and for a 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 751 very late potato, Terry's preference, which he calls the Monroe Seedling. Pumpkins — For the niarlvet-gardener. Early Sugar. Rhiih(trl) — I do not know which is best — Vic- toria or Linnanis. . Rmllshcs — Vlck's Early Scarlet Globe; Wood's Early Frame; Eeckert's Chartler; Chi- nese Rose. This list is rather long; but as each is particularly suited for some special season, I do not know how we can avoid having so many. SaJsify — New Mannnotli. SpiiKtrh — Bloomsdale Curled. Sqiinnhes — Giant Summer Crookneck. and Hubbard for a winter squash. I have become dis- gusted in trying the much-lauded new squashes, and finding, after all, that none were equal to the old genuine Hubbard. The Hubbard not only sells better than any thing else, but with heavily manured and early worked ground it yields about as many tons per acre. Tomato — Ignotum. I should rather like to have the Golden Que(^n. and possibly some Peach tomatoes and Pear-shaped, just for the fun of it; but for actual profit I do not believe it pays. We have for years carried the Pear- shaped tomatoes on the wagon until they be- came so bruised they were worthless. Once in a while somebody wants them; but the demand is too small in our town to pay for carrying them around. T»?'/(ip.s— Purple Top White Globe, and some sort of French or Swede turnip. For three or four years past we have not found one that suits us. When I wa« a boy my father used to raise them as big as a peck measure, and they wpre sweet and tender when cooked. We have not succeeded in getting any like them during the past ten years. I wish somebody would tell me whether the fault was in the seed or location. Father raised them on sandy, gravelly soil. We have tried them here in Medina in all kinds of ground. Now, friends, after friend Green . has given his opinion and advice I want you all to pitch in and help. I am going to have a seed-cata- logue before the first of January, all on one page, even if it costs hundreds of dollars to get it down on one page. It may need to be amend- ed more or less every year; but my present notion is, that it must be kept down to about the number of varieties I have outlined above. TERRY 8 METHOD OF GETTING AN EVEN STAND OF STRAWBERRIES, NEITHER TOO THICK NOR TOO THIN. Friend Root: — We are tliinningoutour straw- berries now, and I was just reading what you say on page 720. Probably frieiul Pierce and my- self are both right for our ditt'er<'nt circum- stances. He makes a business of growing small fruits, and says he kept a man in liis tierry-tield all through August, and Se|)tember. ])erhaps, to train the runners and let only enough grow to make a proper stand. He further says, a weed is a plant out of place, and asks, in the Country OentlciiuDi, why I let them grow and occupy the groiuid, to be taken out and thrown away after- ward. I am a farmer. Tn August and Seiitember our time is very valuable at our i-egular work. If I had the berries carefully watched during that time, and only those plants that were needed were allowed to take root. I should have to hire extra lielp to do it. Now our hurry is over, and my man can do it at no cost, as there is nothing else that needs attention. When the rnnn(>rs \\('i'e well started we went through once and placed them around, and then let them grow unnuilestcd. The stand is almost perfect. I wish I could send you a photograph. It is natural foi' strawberry-vines to grow and riui and multi|)ly freely, and I believe they are the mostluMilthy and pi'oductive when allowed to do so. But to make the fruit large we must thin them out after they get about through. Again, I would rather do this all at once, now, than to go over and over the patch for months. With a gardcn-ti'owel. ground sharp, we liiid we can. with a single push, cut the plants oft' just at the bottom of the crowns, and take them out very rapidly, without making any hole or disturbing the others. As they have been run- ning since the last of June thi'v will hardly do any more of this, and the thinned-out plants can now grow and get a good ready for busi- ness next year. We have cut our ro\Vs down to paths 16 inches wide, and beds 33. with i)lants as nearly (5 inches apart every way as possible. I do not think as many bushels to the acre of as fine large beiTies can be grown |)ractically in any other way. There are other plans that will grow as large fruit but not. I think, as many bushels. When destroying the small feeble plants, and the large ones where they were too thick, last year, we le ft them in the jiatlis and some in the bed. It wasn't a finished nor a satisfactory job. This year we put them in baskets and remove them. The plants are held to each other by the runners, so it is not easy to get them out, except by cutting th<>s(> oft'. If the side of tlie trowel isgrouud sharp we find it will cut them rt-adilv. Hudson. ().. Oct. 4. 18SX). T. B. Tekky." I-'riend T., we know by experience that there is wisdom in what you say. AVe have gone over our plants three and perhaps four times with some of them, where they were set in July, and it is a pretty big job. I feel quite certain that your plan would be the best economy of labor, and perhaps tlie economy of labor would make up for what would be gained in not having the ground at any time overcrowded. It is a ques- tion in regard to the help that may be available. As I have already said, it takes a person of skill and experience to do the work nicely. Boys, as a rule, will take a great amimnt of time, and not get just what you want even then, unless they are, say. toward 18 or 20. I heartily agree with you in regard to initting the refuse plants and weeds in a basket. With a little practic(>, our children will pull weeds and put them into a basket about as quickly as to throw them on the ground: and if they are in the habit of giving each weed a fling, there will be a saving of time by putting them into the basket. Then your work is clean and well done, and your path looks slicked u|); whereas if the weeds are thrown in the paths, when a heavy rain follows a great many will grow. I have just had a most interesting and pleasant visit from two of our 752 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Oct. 15. leading strawberry-men — Matthew Crawford, of Cuyahoga Falls, and Mr. Little, of Canada. Mr. Little is the gentleman mentioned in the strawberry book as the one who got well in spite of the pi'edictlons of the doctors. Getting inter- ested in strawberries is what cured him. Friend Crawford and myself, and others who sell strawberry-plants, can make use of these little plants where they get in thickly, especially where the variety is a valuable one. Put them in the plant-beds 6 inches apart; and when they grow big and strong, use them to till orders. Friend Crawford, this season, succeeded in get- ting splendid strong plants by using the sets before they had made even a single root. He did it, briefly, as follows: Coveryour rich plant- beds with clean sand -to the depth of an inch. Put the sets down in the sand, say two or three Inches apart. Keep the sand constantly wet, as florists do for cuttings, and cover the bed with a cloth frame until the cuttings are rooted. You can put them down quite deep in the pure sand, and the new leaves will make their way up through it. The new roots will push out into the sand readily, and when they get down into the very rich plant-bed soil they will grow amazingly. I wish I could tell you how we three strawberry enthusiasts enjoyed the walk over our grounds. And there was another tie that bound us together. We could all heartily unite In outspoken thanks to Him who gave us not only the strawberry-plant, but all these other wonderful gifts. PETEK HENDEIISOX'S PLAX OF RAISING STRAW- BERRIES. Can you explain why Peter Henderson speaks confidently of his method of planting potted strawberry-plants in July and getting a full crop the year following, and then planting the ground to some late crop? With him this seems to be no experiment, but ratiier a common Ijractice. Now, most growers differ with him in practice, and agree with Mr. Teiry: viz., spring planting. \Vhich is better? Again, would the Sharj^less or Parker Earle do as well as the Jessie to fertilize the Haverland? Kingston, Pa., Sept. 30, 1890. M. G. Friend G., I suppose there is no question but that spring planting will give a larger crop than planting in July, even with potted plants; but with Peter Henderson's ground, with its great fertility, in consequence of heavy manur- ing, no doubt he could do wondei's with straw- berries. I do not believe, however, that he ever raised very innny strawberries on that plan. I have visited his grounds at two different times, and all I could find was a small plot devoted to raising potted plants. — The Sharpless will not answer as a fertilizer as well as the Jessie, be- cause it does not produce so large an amount of bloom, both early and late. The Parker Earle is now growing finely on our grounds, but we have never yet fruited it. THE OREGON EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY. As we have received several hundred letters from our advertisement in Gleanings, asking about the Everbearing strawberry, we will ans- wer them all through Gleanings. We have no moi'e plants to sell, but will send a few to those who wish to test them, and will report how they succeed. With us ilie berry has done wonderfully. We purchased 1.50 plants of Mr. Winquist last year. A few were set on poor clay soil, and the' remainder on very rich soil. Those set on clay soil have borne profusely all summer, and are at this date laden with berries; but those set on rich soil did not bear so profusely, but have made many sets, while those on clay soil have made no sets. We believe the berry will be a success if planted on clay for berries and on rich soil for sets. J. B. Alexander & Co. Hartford City, Ind., Sept. 23, 1890. Well, friends. Gi>eanings proved to be a very good medium to advertise in, in this case, it seems to me. We are sorry to say-, however, that our Everbearing strawberries from Oregon do not seem to be very thrifty, and at the same time are in very rich ground. While in our plant-beds in the spring, they were sending out runners about as rapidly as any of our plants; but in order to make room for our new building, they had to be removed; and although they were carefully transferred with transplanting- tubes, they have acted sort o' contrary ever since. Some of them are, however, putting out runners fairly, but no fruit. With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. Question 170. On the avenuje, ivhich will do a better season's work — a colony of pure Ital- ans or one of hybridsf We prefer the Italians. Illinois. N. W. C. Mrs. L. Harrison. My experience favors the hybrids. California. S. R. Wilkin. I don't know. I prefer the Italians. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. After testing the matter thoronglily we prefer pure Italians. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. I have not had a colony of pure Italians for a nujnber of years. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. I don't notice any difference. I have colonies of hybrids that are far ahead of some of my Italians, and vice versa. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. Italians, for white honey. In some localities where much fall honey is secured, hybrids might do as well or better. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. Hybrids, in this locality. In some places pure Italians are better. Many hybrids are called pure by their owners. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. I don't know; but I believe there is more in the way bees are managed than there is in the breed or race. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. 1890 GLEANINGS IN 13EE CULTUR^. 753 This depends. I think no invaria,ble rule can be given. It depends much oii thei individual character of the colonies. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. There was a time when I thought that hy- brids were the best honey-gatlierers; but I have changed my mind. I believe that the Italians are the most i^rofitable bees. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MuTH. Doctors disagree. I got severely bounced once for giving my opinion upon tills delicate question; and now, if you please, I'd rather not say. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boai{dman. There is little difference in a good season; but in a medium to poor season the Italians are very much preferable. Then we must have the Italians to get a hybrid Italian, you know. New York. C. G. M. Doolitti,e. I am sorry to say I know nothing about it from actual observation. Reasoning from anal- ogy, I should think it possible we might expect more vigor in n, first cross than in a pure race. Illinois. N. C. C. Millek. The querist speaks just as though hybrids were hybrids, and all just alike. I will say that the right kind of hyl)rids from the right races of bees, and tiic rigiit strain of these right races, will do a bettei' business than any pure Italians. That is my experience. Michigan. S. W. Jajies Heddon. It miglit be a little hard to determine. For extracted honey we prefer the Italians. They are nearly moth-proof, and defend their hives well from robbers. The first cross from pure Italians and blacks generally produces bees that are hard to beat as honey-gatherers; but it is difficult to keep just that grade, hence we pre- fer Italians. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. Fkeeborn. Our preference is for the hybrids. Our best out-apiary had very good Italians. The young queens met black drones, which were plejitifui in the neighborliood. The cross caused the bees to become very industrious with their stings. and we have been compelled, not by tlireaten- ings of law proceedings, but out of courtesy for the feelings of others, to move the apiary to a less exposed position, some 20 rods from any habitable building. These bees were fearers for gathering honey. They beat the record of all my other ai)iaries. . New York. E. Rambler. Well, friends, I am astonish(>d, and I don't know but I might say I am a little bit disgusted, to see that so many of you intimate that there is not " very much difference." Friend Doolittle hits the point I have in miud. If it were not for the lUilUms, you would not have even any hybrids. And now, friends, if I may disagree with so many good men. I can hardly believe there is one of you who would keep on bee- keeping with any thing like his present energy and enthusiasm if your future operations were to be confined strictly to black bees and nothing else. Friend France was pretty positive when I was there, and I am glad to know that he has changed enough to say j ust now, " I don't know."' If T am not mistaken, he once told nw that he would just as soon, or a little rather, have the "simon-pure blacks." Very likely they would be mni-e peaceable, foj- some of his hybrids were veritable little tigers; and I don't know, by the way, but that it is getting to be a little fashion- able to have this sort. Ernest found them with most of the big bee-keepers iu York State. Now, I hardly believe they have a preference for such bees; but my opinion is, that it takes so much time to keep the Italians pure they just let them slide; and then, rather than ad- mit this state of affairs, they defend the hybrids. Yes, I know that liybrids gather honey; and I should not be surprised if, taking seasons as they come and go, hybrids, as a rule, would get just as much as pure Italians. THE INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN BEE- ASSOCIATION. FULL PARTICULARS, ETC. Friend JJoot.-— Inclosed find the programme of th(- I. A. B. A. for the K(K)kuk meeting. I wish to add to it. that the Business Men's As- sociation of Keokuk have voted to pay for the rent of the commodious G.A.R. Hall out of their own fund, for the use of the bee-men. Thanks will be duly extended to them at the pi'oper time for this generous action. In regard to the (pK'stions to which you call mv attention in (;lkamx(;s for Oct. 1st, I will say that I had already offered some of .our own honey to the hoti^ls in question, and had made sure of their having a supply on hand for the use of our bee-men; but to give our mem- Ix'rs a chance to taste different kinds, as you suggest, I have make another plan, and here it is: A number of those who have expressed their intention of being present at the meeting have also stated that they would like to visit our establishment. As we are located nearly five miles from the place of meeting, it would be difficult for any one to attend all the sessions and come here at the same time, and I have thought of proposing to the convention to hold the last session at our establishment. We have lately built a new bee and hon(>y house, 20 x 32, which is not yet occupied, and would do for a dining-room, and Mrs. Uadaut, Jr., feels equal to preparing, with a little help, one meal for the fraternity of the I. A. B. A. So we might adjourn at 11 a. m. of the last day, and call up the closing meeting at Hamilton, after dinner. At this dinner we shall have a good chance of giving our bee-men a taste of all kinds of honey or honey-cakes which may be brought; and since you have made th(^ first mention of this, I now call upon you to bring us sufficient samples of all that you can procure, or that your I'eadei s may wish to bring or .send for the occasion. I will see to having the reporter's on hand, and to treating them well. I also proi)ose to start a subscription to offer a l)remiuni oi. say. 620.00 for the most palatable dish of any kind— cake, pie. preserves, etc.. pre- l)ared witli honey, said dish to l)e tested by com- petent judges at this meeting, i'.nd tiie manner of preparing this dish to be published in Glean- ings subsequently. x\llow nu' also to state, that all goods sent for exhil)ition will l^e ti'ansported to the exhibition room free of charge, if prepauJ to KcnhuJu and addressed to me. 1 iiojx' our dealers and man- ufacturers will avail themselves of tliis offer, and do all they can to make a notable display. Hamilton, ill., Oct. 8. C. P. Dadant. The following is the programme: 754 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Oct. 15. FIRST DAY. — WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29. 9 A. M.— Call to order. Reception of new members. Payment of dues. Appointment of committees for question-box and other purposes. 10. — Address of Welcome.— J. B. Craig, Mayor of Keokuk. Recess. 11. —"Fifty Years' Progress in Apiculture."— Thos. G. Newman, Editor American Bee Journal, Chicago. Questiou-box. 1:30 p. M.— "Apicultural Journalism."— W. Z. Hutch- inson, Editor of The Bee-Keepers' Review, Flint, Mich. Discussion. 3.— President's Address.— Hon. R. L. Taylor, Lapeer, Midi. 3:30.— "Honey Pasturage of the U. S."— A. 1. Root, Editor of Gleanings in Bee Culture, Medina. O. Discussion. Question-box. 7.— "Apiarian Exhibit at the coming Chicago Inter- national Fair." — Dr. A. B. Mason, Auburndale, Ohio. Discussion. Question-box. SECOND DAY.— THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30. 8:30 A. M.—" What I Don't Know about Bee-keeping." — C. C. Miller, Marengo, 111. Discussion. 11.— Condensed reports of the Affiliated Associations in regard to crops and prospects. Question-box. 1: 30 P. M.— " Is It Best to Use Full Slieets of Founda- tion in Brood and Surplus Combs?" — Eugene Secor, Forest City, la. Discussion. 3.— "Fixed Frames versus Suspended Frames." — Ernest R. Root, Medina, Ohio. Discussion. 7. — "The Conditions Necessary to Insure a Honey Crop." — Prof. A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich. Discussion. Question-box. THIRD DAY.— FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31. 8:30. A. M.— Business of the Associatiim. Report of Secretary and Treasurer. Election of officers. 11. — "In an Apiary Run for Honey only, are Italians or Hybrids "Preferable V "—C. F. Muth, Cincin- nati, Ohio. 1:30 p. M.— Volunteer contributions from different sources. 3.— "The International Bee-Association; Its Past and Future."— W.F. Clarke, Guelph, Ont., Can. The question-box committee will receive questions at any time, and will appoint different members to answer those that are deemed of sufficient interest or importance. As this is the first meeting of this International Bee-Association west of tlie Mississippi, it is hoped that the Western betvkeepers will make an effort to show what the West can do. A number of ladies are expected as usual. The essayists named in the pro- gramme will nearly all be present. A special room on the same floor as the G. A. R. Hall has been secui-ed for exhibits of bees or their products, or implements, and a special committee will report as to their merits. The Hotel Keokuk, one of the best hotels in the West, aS3.00house, will take members at $3.00 per day. The McCarty Boarding, in Estes House, on the same floor as the G. A. R. Hall, will board members at $1.00 per day. Reduced railroad fares have been promised; but at the printing of this programme nothing definite has been given. Parties wishing to attend will be freely furnished all necessary information and reduced rates if same are to be had. C. P. Dadant, Sec'y. 0a^ peMEg. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it sliall be meas- ured to you again. — Luke 6: 38. Some of yoii may perhaps say that I have had the same text before, or, at least, a part of it; and I confess that the truth contained in this one verse from Luke is one that I have considered and talked upon over and over, and I don't know but that I shall continue to talk upon it to the last day of my life. A few days ago the pastor of one of our churches asked me to talk to his people Sunday evening on busi- ness and religion — their relations to each other. Tlic congi-cgation was not very large, but it comprised my warm personal friends. Just be- fore I commenced, the pastor whispered to me that the greater part of my own helpers in the factory and on the grounds were among the audience. He said it spoke well for me. I felt it, and I fcM^l glad now when I think of it, that those I meet day by day are. at least the great- er portion, warm personal friends. I told them that my first experiments in combining business and religion commenced with my conversion. It was in that same church where I was speaking between fifteen and sixteen years ago, that 1 announced to thos(^ gathered dui'ing a union meeting something like this. Said I: " Deal- friends, I have all my life been a busy man. and I propose to be a busy man still: but hereafti>r. God helping me. it shall be Christ Jesus first, and self second." 1 did not realize how much that public prom- ise and pledge included. But my dear Savior made it known to me what my enlistment meant, right olf. When I opened up business next morning, I remembered that there had been a great deal of strife between myself and my next-door neighbor — a jeweler — as to who should sell things cheapest. We were each of us doing a comparatively small business. A silver-plated teaset was a pretty large thing for Medina just then; but we had both invested to the full extent of fifteen or twenty dollars, and a lady had been going back and forth from one store to the other to see who would sell lowest. She came into my stoi"e that very morning, and said she thought she would take the one belonging to my neighbor, unless I could come down a little more in the price. I told her I had decided not to oifer it any cheaper; in fact, I had made up my mind to let my brother in trade make the sale. She seemed right away to gain confidence in me, and began to ask my advice something as follows: " Mr. Root, do you really believe that his set is just as good qiiality as your own '? " This question was a stunner. A week before, I should have assured her that it could not compare with the old established brand of & . I thought a minute before reply- ing. I knew the reputation of his plated ware very well, and tried to put myself outside of business while I answered truthfully before the Savior whom I had promised to honor and serve. I told her, finally, that I felt quite sure that his was good — probably there was but very little difference. Then she remarked that the other man told her that he bought cheaper than I did, and that was the reason why he could sell lower. She asked if I thought this was true. What should a follower of Christ Jesus answer? I told her pleasantly that I paid prompt cash, and that I thought I got goods very low; but I added that it was still possible that he did buy a little lower than I did. Now came the last trying question: 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 755 "Mr. Root, I have bothered you a great deal ah'eady, and I feel a little bit ashamed for hav- ing made you so much trouble. I hope you will not think unkindly, but I think I should pre- fer the other set at the price." By this time I had so far overcome self that I made up my mind that I would finish up the transaction " for Christ Jesus, even if the goods did remain on my hands. I answered promptly something as follows: " Why. my good friend, we are both anxious to sell, and I confess I rather need the money; but my friend has not been as long "in business as I have, and I sujjpose he needs the trade more than I do. What is my loss will be his gain, and on the whole I shall feel quite well satisfied to have him make the sale." I put the teaset back in its glass case, and my customer went away. For several days I lost the sale of article after article, turning the trade right over to him. But a new peace and joy had begun to till my soul. There were times when I felt a little doubt about the out- come: but it was not long. Pretty soon my rival in business came down to inquire what had happened. Perhaps I should tell you, that, for weeks or months before, we had been assail- ing each other through our county paper. Both of us bragged of our acuteness, and sixjke siicer- ingly of tl\e other. The change was so sudden, however, on my part, that it startled folks just a little. When he came down to see me he was changed too. Said he, " Mr. Root, if this is religion. I. too. want to be a Christian." Is it any thing suiprising. dear fiiends ? It was not many tiays lieforc it was my pleasure to kneel with him in jn'ayer. and to hear him ask the dear Savior for mercy and pardon. Our relations from that time to this have always been pleasant. How could they be otherwise? Now for the other part of the ti-ansaction. Did I really lose? Why, bless your heart, no. From the moment I took that stand, and began to make the little text at the head of our chap- ter my motto in life, my whole life was changed. I not only rose up out of the miry clay in spirit- ual matters, but it was the same in business. Please, now, do not think that I wish to exalt A. I. Root in what I am going to say. for you who have known me long and known me better will believe me when I say that I wish Christ Jesus, whom I try to serve, to have the glory and honor, and by no manner of means my poor self. Well, this is what I want to say: From the moment I stopped this little petty quarrel- ing over who should be first, or who should have the trade, my reputation as a business man be- gan to extend over a wider field. Every thing grew and prospered on my hands. God seemed pleased to verify his many promises in blessing all my undertakings. In times past I have told you about answers to prayer, in the line of pecuniary matters. Don't imagine that, because I have ceased to speak of these things, such experiences come no more. I have thought best not to speak of them, because there is great danger of being misunderstood. But I want to speak of one right here. When I began giving employment to women and children who were left destitute of husband or parents, a great many times I undertook to give more work than I had work for them to do. In this dilemma I prayed that God would sharpen my business perceptions and abilities. I prayed, too, that he would send me the money, or tell me how I could get it. Let me tell you of one marked answer to such prayers. A hundred-dollar bill came in a plain envelope — no scrap of wiiting with it. It came just after I had been asking God for means. I was startled somewhat, but I told the clerk who opened the mails that somebody had sent it in a hurry, and that the order would probably come in the next mail. The next mail, how- ever, did not bring any order, nor did it come for a week or two. It began to look very strange and unaccountable. Finally one of the good bee-friends wrote something like this: •• By the way, Mr. Root, I suppose you got that hundred-dollar bill I mailed you some days ago. I took it in a trade, when I was away from home, and I did not want to carry it around with me, so I just put it in an envelope and mailed it to you. I wanted it somewhere whei-e it would be safe, and I knew that, if it got into A. I. Root's hands, it would be all right until I called for it." There, friends, is a lesson for you. In holding fast to the Bible promise in carrying out my queer ways and fasiiions, as some called them, I was unconsciously laying the foundation of the great business that has been built up around me. Some called it a sharp trick of mine to ad- vertise. Dear friends, it was no shai'p trick at all. I had no idea of the outcome. ISIy course of action sprang from a simple, honest determi- nation to serve Christ Jesus by letting him come first, and self second. My experience has only verified the beautiful little text where Christ says, '' Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and gave thee no meat? or thirsty, and gave thee no drink?" It was just so in my case. I built up a reputation without knowing it. Now, friends, you can do the same thing. If you are constantly straining every nerve and faculty for self, you will miserably and utterly fail. If, however, you are constantly and honestly seek- ing to piit down self and exalt Christ Jesus, even in business matters, then shall you be built up. The above, you see, is put in my own words. Read how Jesus put the same thought about being exalted: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life, for my sake and the gospel's, shall save it." Perhaps some one may say, " Then there was no answerto prayer about it. The money came because this friend had confidence in you, and not because of your prayer." Not so, my good friend. God heard the prayer, and answered it, but he would not have heard it and answered it liad I not been in that attitude of heart so that he could consistently hear and answer. A beautiful little text in the Psalms strikes the whole matter: •' If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." You know the promise is, " Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name it shall be given you." The thing asked for or prayed for must be in Christ's name; and he who expects answei-s to his prayers must in his daily life strive to follow Jesus Christ. I now wish to give you a letter which came to me just a few days ago. Without the preface of a talk I have just given you, I should hardly dare put it in print. The good friend who penned it exaggerates in his kind comments on my poor self, or he does not know me very well. He has, perhaps, had only glimpses of that better spirit which occasionally shows itself through my actions. I only wish I deserved half of what he says. As he pictures forth in his letter what a good man and a follower of Jesus Christ ought to be. I have thought best to give it. When you read it, please do not think it belongs to me, but think of it as a beautiful sketch of what any Christian man or woman may />c if really hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Friend Root:— I wish to say tliat I have deiilt with you during the past eight or ten years, and during all those years 1 have ever found you the same- obliging and accommodating, almcst to a fault. If you made a mistake, you have always stood ready t« correct it. If I made one, you kindly caUed my at- 7.5'i GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Oct. 16. tentiou to it. If g-oods were received dama^'ed or short count, you always replaced them, even it' to do so it cost you double their value. I do not wonder at j'our being overrun with orders, and that every other year or so you are obliged to enlarge your fa- cilities to aeconiniodate your incieasing business. People will clu'eifiilly scud long distances, and pay • heavy freiglit chaiiics. when they know that by so doing eveiy thing they I'eceive will be just as it was represented to be. 1 have had considerable dealing with strangers, or people living at a distance, and 1 know a little of the self-denial it takes to meet com- plaints and bear losses tor which one is in no way responsible. 1 have received much encoura^'cment from your Home talks. It does me good to i-ead of your trials and experiences, because they are so much like my own. May your life be siiared unto us many years yet is my prayer. J. D. Brands. Warrington, N. J., Sept. 30. Perhaps it will be well to look into the cir- cumstances that caused our friend to write such a letter as the above. He was one of the many whose goods were delayed last spring: and when the time came to make payment he was behind; therefore he wrote ns as follows. You will observe that the date is earlier than in the letter given above. Friend Roof:— I believe that the time idlowed me on your bill of June 19 will be up on Friday, the 19th inst. I fear that 1 shall not have the money by that date, but I think I may be able to pay you a i)art (»■ the whole of it some time during the week following. The man whom I ordered the goods tor refused to take them because of the lateness of the season when tiiey reached me. so I am obliged to carry them over until another year. Will you please send me a postal, stating thereon the full amount, with inter- est, duo y,m uji to date? J. D. Brands. Wariington, N. J., Sept, 15. From the above you will see that our book- keepers had been asking him to pay interest. As soon as the transaction came to my eye I re- monstrated against asking him for intei'est at all; but the book-keepers replied that this was according to the rule, and suggested that a dif- ferent rule be made, where customers have been put out because of our delay in filling or- ders. Now, friends, please do not get the idea that I am the only one in our establishment who strives to love his neighbor as himself. The head book-keeper fell in with the sugges- tion with a hearty good will; and I find on the back of his letter she dictated about as follows: "My good friend B., under the circumstances we shall make you no charge for interest, and you need not pay until another year unless it is convenient. If convenient to pay no\\', you may dedtxct interest on the whole amount of the value of the goods for one year." Now, the above is only simple justice. Any sujjply-dealer who is so far behind in filling orders tliat the purchaser is obliged to keep the goods over until another season, should not ask pay for them until the customer is nmdy to or- der them for another season. If he has already paid for them, he ought to have a rebate equal to the value of the money, for the year he is out of the use of it. This is" simply, in my opinion, doing as you would be done by; and even then it does not make up for the disappointment and perhaps heavy loss resulting from not having the goods when they were wanted. If we who are dealing in supplies will come up to this standard, perhaps it would help us to be a little more prompt in filling orders. It may be said, on our .side of the question, that no one should wait for goods until he is ready to use them. This is true; but at the same time, every sup- ply-dealer ought to be able to fill an order, say within 30 days after its receipt. If he can not he should pay damages to a reasonable extent. If the two parties can not agree as to just what the damages should be, I would resort to arbi- tration. Let me say. to the creditof otir custom- ers, that, although I have repeatedly asked them to send in their bill for damages r. of the Aki'oii ^Nlills. paid a man 10 cents a bushel more for his wheat than he agreed to ])ay. Such kind of work soon gets to be a big advertisement. It goes from mouth to mouth. Peo])le say, " That man is honest. You can depend upon it, he will do all he agrees to, and a little iiKire, every time." Suppose a com- mission man wlio sells honey should commence by pnmiising little, and in every transaction doing a little more than he promises. He would soon get tlie good will of the whole bee-keeping world. The reason is. that such things are so un- common. Why, dear friends, there is a gieat unex- plored region in this direction, in this matter of doing business according to the precepts of the Bible: and. oh what fun it is to just repeat one of these little Bible texts, when something comes up to make it fit ju.st nicely I Now, friends. I think you sec the point of our little text: and you see how Christianity can be applied to business. "Fervent in spirit, serv- ing the Lcnxl." Do not, I beg of you, let A. I. Root monopolize this whole matter of btiilding up a great business, with Blhle te.rts for a foun- dation. Run opijosition to him: beat him in his own line: outdo him in generous acts and love to your fellows. Don't you^see how ridiculous it is? In Christianity there is no rivalry. There is not any select few in the prayer-meet- ing. If you have an enemy in the world, there is just where you want to see him. for he is just the man you long to do good to, above all other men. "Love ye your enemies, and do good to them that liate you." Do you fear there is no room in this world for us all. if we slaould all be- come Christians'? "O ye of little faith!" There- sources of a great Father above are beyond etll comiiiitntion. If this world in not large enougli for the wonderful achievements that are about to be brought forth in liis /ui/nc. the whole plan- etary system is at his command. He Jmnself has said (Malachi .3:10). "Prove me now herewith, saitli the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room to receive it." EDIT0]^I^k He Shan lie like a tree planted by the rivers of water; and whatsoever he doetli shall prosper.— Ps. 1: 3. " GKEAT INGENUITY." On page 711 of our last issue (I won't lay it to the poor types this time) I notice I said, " It took very great ingenuity " to modify the Ben- ton cage for introducing. I would say nothing about it, only it looks as though I were lauding myself pretty highly for making only a very slight improvement. What I meant to have said was, that '" it took 7io very great ingenui- ty," etc. E. R. •NO REDUCED HAILIWAD RATES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL. In anotlier column we give the programme of th^ I. A. B. A. It was not published as soon as wa^; expected, because the secretary was wait- ing to liear wiiat rates the Western Traffic As- sociation would allow. After a long delay and much corr(>spondence, we have been ol)liged to say jve sliall probably get no reduced rates. Re- member the date and place of the next meeting, Keokuk. Oct. 20, 30, 31, and come anyhow. Er- nest and I expect to be present every day. OUR DAILY BREAD. When I dine at tlie large hotels, or on the Pullman cars. I always pay particular attention to the bread, and the way in which they sei've hot cakes — the latter especially, if it is accom- panied with nice lioney. Well, during the last month or two we have been feasting on the nicest product in the bread line tliat it has ever been our fortune to hear of. And what do you think it is? Why, simply gems made of flour and water — not another tiling, except a little baking-powder (we use Cleveland's), a teaspoon- ful to a pint of flour, to make them light. Mrs. Root found the recipe in a newspaper: and we prefer these gems so greatly to any thing else that all other kinds of hot cakes made of milk, eggs, etc., are abandoned. Y^ou will want a Hunter's sifter, then run your flour and baking- powder through it three times, to mix thorough- ly, and to work in plenty of air. Now mix with cold water imtil right (say of the consistency of cake) to ladle with a spoon into the gem-irons. These should be heated on top of the stove until quite hot; then ladle in your dough, bake in a very hot oven, and pass them around. Wlien I am in a hurry I just break one open, leaving it hinged at one side like a snuflC-box ( I do not like the illustration, but I can not think of any other). Open the lid wide enough to put in a generous slice of butter, spreading it along a little, then shut the lid down, and eat as many as you like. When you are pretty nearly satis- fied, put in some alfalfa or mountain-sage hon- ey, and you can tlien probably eat about as many more. You need a glass of milk to go along with them; and if you are doing severe outdoor work a small pitcher of milk right by the glass will come handy. If this sort of diet, "milk and honey," does not give you strength and vigor, there is something the matter. Huber says these gems just from the oven are as nice as hot popcorn balls: and, in fact, they have much the flavor of nice popcorn. While flour made of nice selected Avheat is a little nicer for the purpose, yon can make beautiful light cakes of the cheapest flour to be found in the market. In fact, the way we discovered it was by having a sack of flour that Mrs. Root said she could not possibly make Into decent bread, and she had tried and tried until she was about as des- parate as— your wife gets undcn- similar circum- stances. If your wife has some flour that will not make nice bread, then tell her to make it into gems as above. If you have not a gem-iron, use gem-tins or small shallow tin basins, or even pie-tins. They are nice, anyhow you can fix them; but, if you want the real popcorn flavor, you will need cast-iron gem-irons. They are just as good when cold, as any bread; and if we have any left over for supper, they always go off like ■' hot cakes." 75S GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 16. THE HONEy M.^RKET. The demand for honey still continues good, and we bave already disposed of about one-third of each of the two car loads mentioned in last num- ber; and those who received it are well pleased, as the following- will testify: OUR NEVADA COMB HONEY. Honey arrived today in very fine condition. It is as fine as I ever saw. It fills your description exactly. Thanks for packing so carefully. James A. Bock. Farmington, W. Va., Oct. 8, 189J. We can get more extracted honey of the same quality when this is gone; but comb honey seems to be pretty well taken up, and there is almost sure to be a scarcity this winter. Those in want of honey will find our prices in last number, 18 to 30c for comb, 9 to 11 for extracted, according to the quality you take. THE dovetailed HIVE IMPROVED. In another department of this number you will find a discussion of the merits and improvements on the Dovetailed hive as we are now making it for the season of 1890-91. We give here the revised table of jirices, which you will And, by comparison with the old table, are a little higher in most cases. This slight advance is necessary because of the in- creased cost of the hive as improved. That you may understand the difference between the new hive and the old one, we repeat briefly the changes which we consider marked improvements. The hive and supers are }-2 in. wider: iiistead of being 11?'8 Inches wide inside, they are I'i^g. This makes room for the addition of a dummy or division-board in the brood-ehumber, which is to be first removed before handliug the frames. This additional X inch gives room in the supers for a follower and wedge, making it possible to have side pressure on the sections, whicii is so desirable. These division- boards, followers, and wedges are worth fully 15 cents per hive, and are added. Thick top frames with comb-guides or wire are used, and are worth a little more than the old style. Then there is the added width, a very small item. Out f>f the cost of these extras is to betaken the cost of slatted honey- board, which is left out entirely, unless ordered and paid for extra. We estimate the additional cost of these extras at 10 cents per hive; yf^t we have added nothing to the price of No. 1 corriplete, and only 5 cents to No :.; camplete, and 8 and 10 cents respectively lo Nos 1 and 3 empty. We now make the bottom slats to the section- holders hi inch thick instead of 1%. as formerly, be- cause a few have had trouble with the light I)i>ttem8 sagtfine. Dealers who do not make their own hives, and those who supply their neighborhood, can find nothing more convetiient to handle or that will give their customers hotter satisfaction The hives are all packed complete in lots of 5, in the tlar, as shown below. 5 dovetailed HIVES packed for shipment. A box is made of the cover and bottom-boards, in which is packed the cleats and frames and inside fixtures, and the sides and ends of bodies and supers are cleaied together as shown. You have to pay freight on nothing but the bare hives, and the cost of crating is reduced to almost nothing. Those wishing to handle them will do well to write for terms, stating about how many they can use. DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF DOVETAILED HIVES. None of these hives include tin on the covers or foundation for the brood-frames. Our experience is, that flat covers, well painted both sides, are bet- ter without tin; but we will add a sheet of tin, if so ordered, for 5c extra. If you get the tin, though, you will regret it. If you want to add the tin after- ward, the cost of the tin alone is 10c. No. 1 Dovetailed hive, 8 frame, complete, a VA story bive tor comb honey, as shown in first cut on page 744, includes bottom-board; a body with eight thick top-frames and division-board; one super with a follower and wedge; 6 section-holders with tin separators, sections, and foundation starters, and Hat cover. No. lE is the same hive leaving out the separators, sections, and starters; but every thing else men- tioned is included. No. 3 Dovetailed hive, 8 frame complete, includes just the same as No. 1, and another super with con- tents added, making a 3-story hive for comb honey. No. 2e is the same as No. 3, leaving out separators, sections, and starters. No. 3 and 3e are the same as No. 1 and 1e, excent that they have T tins instead of section-holders in thf supers. No. 4 and 4e, same as No. 3 and 3e, with T tins in- stf-ad of section-holders. No. 5 Dovetailed hive, 8 frame, complete, is a 3- story hive for extractor, and includes bottom and flat cover, two bodies with 16 thick top-frames and two division-boards. PRICE LIST OP DOVETAILED HIVES. Order by number, and carry out the price. Weight Number and Name. 10 No. 1 Dov. hive complete 1.50 1.20 5 50 10 00 300 lbs. No. 1 E, Dov. hive (empty) 100 4.50 8 00 280 lbs. No. « Dov. hive complete 2.00 1.60 7 50 14 00 380 lbs. No. 2 K Dov. hive (empty) 120 5.50 10.00 340 lbs. No. 3 Dov. hive complete 1.50 1.20 5 50 110 00 300 lbs. No. 3 E Dov. hive (empty) 1.00 4. .50 8 00 2801bs. No. 4 Dov. hive complete 2 00 l.CO 7 50 14.00 380 lbs. No. 4 E Dov. hive (empty) 1.20 5!i0|l0,00 340 lbs. Nu. 5 Dov. hive complete 1.60 1.20 5 50 llO 00 340 lbs. Hort'nian frames instead of thick top frames 5c per hive extra. Closed end frames " •■ " " 5c " " " Metal cornered " " " " " 10c " " " Van Deusen Rever-^ible " " " lOe " " " In No. 5 the e.xtra price for above frames is double above jaie. Honey-boards may be added at price In table of honey-boards. Hives f urujbhed with gable covers and super cov- ers, instead of tint cover, 15c per hive extra. Hives with tinned covers, 5c each extra. The tin for covers ordered separately, 10c each. We will make the Dovetailed hive lu-irame instead of 8-frame, in any of above numbers, as follows: Nailed and painted, complete, 25 cts. each extra. In Hat, complete, 30 cts. each extra. In Hat, empty, 15 cts. each extra. DISCOUNTS FOR QUANTITY. For 20 hives, deduct 2 per cent. I For 50 hives, deduct 5 per ct For 30 hives, deduct 3 per cent. For 60 hives, deduct 6 per ct. For 40 hives, deduct 4 per cent. | For 80 hives, deduct 8 per ct. For 100 hives or more, deduct 10 per cent. NAILS SUITABLE FOR ABOVE HIVES. Price for 1 5 10 Nails for No. 1 Dovetailed hive 10 1 25 1 45 Nails for No. 3 Dovetailed hive 10 | 30 | 55 Nails for Nos. 3 and 4, same as for Nos. 1 and 3 re- spectively, and for lO-frame same as for 8-fr. hives. PRICE LIST OF DOVETAILED-HIVE PARTS. Name of Part. 8-fr. Dov. bottom-board 8 fr. Dov. flat cover 8 f r. Dov. gable cover 8 fr. Dov. body, empty 8 fr. Dov. super, EMPTY 8 fr. Dov. super, sec. holders . . 8 fr. Dov. super, with T tins 8 fr. Dov. su])., comp., sec, etc. 10 f r. Dov. bottom 10 fr. Dov. Hat cover 10 f r. Dov. gable cover 10 fr. Dov. body, empty 10 fr. Dov. super, EMPTY 10 fr. Dov. super, sec. holders.. 10 fr. Dov. super, with T tins. . 10 fr. Dov. super complete N'l'd, P't'd, InF LAT, each. each. each. 10 .12 .15 .10 .80 .18 .20 .15 1 20 .30 .35 .25 2 00 .30 .35 .25 2 00 .18 .20 .15 1.00 24 .25 .25 2.00 .24 .25 .25 2 00 .48 .60 .45 4.00 .14 .18 .12 l.OU .20 .24 .18 1 50 .35 40 28 2.. 50 ..35 .40 .30 2 50 .18 .20 .15 l.:iO .28 .30 .86 2.30 .28 .30 .26 2.30 .52 .55 .60 4.50 85 For the same (quantity of parts the same discount will apply as on complete hives. Vol. XVIII. NOV. K 1890. No. 21. TERMS :»1.00 Per ANNUM, IN ADVANCK; 1 1? c*+ e-iJ^l -i oin r> rl -i tn 1 Q 'V 9 2Copiesfoi»1.90; 3for$2.75; SforW.OO; I ILb OU/U Lib ftfi'U/ bit ±0 iO, \ PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BT \A. I. ROOT. MEDINA. OHIO. 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- i ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffioe. Clubs to different postofUces, not lrB8 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. HONEY STATISTICS. OUR INDUSTRY GROSSLY MISREPRESENTED BY MISLEADING AND INCORRECT REPORTS. We take the following from the Ayncrlcan Bee Jouriinl of Oct. 18. page fi08: The following is from the "Report of the Statisti- •cian," ill the report of tlie Secretary of Agriculture for 1889, page25L T should like to call attention to the last paragraiih. Will not this be taken as con- flrmation of the Wiley lie. which is the hasis of so many newspaper reports derogatory to our pursuit ? Please ventilate the matter. H. G. Burnet. Alva, Fla. Here is the Statistical Report which Mr. Bur- net refers to: BEE-KEEPING. Among the minor branches of rui-al industry, bee- keeping is one of the most important, though its im- portance is not generall.y recogiiized, from the fact that it is almost everywhere cariied on as an incident of general agriculture, and but rarely as a leading rural occupation. Every State and Territory reports bees and more or less honey, usually a hive or a few colonies for each farmer rather than extensive apiaries and large production. In some localities, as in portions of New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and ("iilifornia, where existing conditions are particularly favorable, api- culture is more prominent, dominating other indus- tries in a neighborhood, though very rarely the lead- ing In'anch of agriculture over any considerable area. The value of the annual product of honey and wax is not generally realized. They are produced more or less extensively in every section of the country, and the aggregate value is lai'ge— mucli larger than that of other crops of which mo.e notice is usually taken. It almost equals the total value of the rice or the hop crop, falls but little short of the buckwheat product, exceeds the value of our cane molasses, and of both maple syrup and sugar. It largely exceeds the aggregate value of our vegetable fibers excepting cotton, and in 1879 was half as large as the wine pro- duct of the year. The latest official record of i)r()duction by States is the return of the national census for the year 1879. It made the honey pi'oduction 25,743,308 pound.s, and wax 1,1(^,689 pounds. After careful study of all available data of local values and market prices, the average farm \alue of the honey was estimated at 23 cents per pound, and the wax at 33 cents, making the aggregate value of apiarian products at the place of production 16,028,383, The product of the principal States in that year was as follows: STATES. HONEY. WAX. lbs. lbs. Tennessee 3.130,689 86,431 New York 2,088,84.5 79.756 Ohio 1,^36,847 56,333 North Carolina 1,591,690 126,286 Kentucky 1,500,565 46,912 Pennsylvania 1,41.5,093 46,610 Illinois 1,310,806 4.5,640 Iowa 1,310,138 39,565 Virginia 1,090,451 53,200 All other 11,678,184 524,984 Total 35,743,308 1,105,689 Under the head of "all other," in the above state- ment, there is grouped the pioduction of 36 States and Territories, ranging from 1,056,034 pounds of honey in Georgia to .50 pounds in Idaho. The census of 1870 was defective in its returns of product for many crops, and its record of honey and wax ill 1869 is undoubtedly much too low. It made the honey product only 14,703,815 pounds. treceding table as those of principal pioduction in 1879, produced 14,000,- 000 pounds. The same States 2d years earlier had a record of 13,9t»),000 pounds. With our rapid annual increase of population, to .stand still in aggregate pioduction is to retrograde. A more striking way of showing the decline in the industry is by a study of 7f38 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 1. the comparative supply of the product at widelj' separated periods. Our foreig-n trade in honey has never been larg-e, and tlie balance lias fluctuated. During- five years past oui' average annual expoi'tation lias been valued at only *83.4H9, jind importation at .$r)3.H91, making' the value of the net exiwrtation only $3y,.598. This little exportation goes iirincipally to the United King- dom, France, and Germany, while our foreign par- chases come mainly from the West Indies and Mexico. The balance of trade is too small to att'ect the supply, and our domestic consumption is satisfied with our home production. In 18;'j9 our produ-ction was 23,366,357 pounds, and our net importation not far from 3,00(1,000 pounds, making- the sui)ply availalde for consumption that year approximate r.'li.OiHMJOi) pounds. On the basis of the population June 3 ), 1860, this was a per capita supply of eight-tenths of a pound. Twenty years later, when tremendous advances had been made in almost eveiy branch of industry, the i)roduction of honey amcmnted to only ;i.5.743,3b8 p(mnds, and the otHcial records actually show a net expoi'tation of honey, or something-shipped as honey, amounting- to about .570.000 poumls, making the net supply available about 25,0110,(IOO pounds, or a million pounds less than at the first jieriod. The supply per head was less than five-tenths of a pound. During the same period the per capita consumption of ^ugar and other sweets increased. Wealth and the ability to gratify taste for luxuries are greater, and yet the data seem to show a reduced consumption of this luxurious sweet. So anomalous does this appear that some explana- tion must be found. If the supplv per individual unit had been the same in the last iieriod as the first, it would have required a product of 40,(100,000 pounds. What has taken the place of honey in domestic con- sumption? Does the enormous increase in the manu- facture of glucose and other saccharine adulterants indicate that a fraudulent article makes up the re- mainder of the needed supply ? Did our people in 1879 consume 1.5,000,000 pimnds as sub.stitute8, in the belief that they had the genuine product of the hive? buch would be a reasonable explanation of the com- parative decline in bee-keeping. We heartily indorse (as also will every intel- ligent reader) the vigorous reply made by the editor, Mr. Newman, to a report so manifestly incorrect and absurd. He says: The statistical table referred to, from the Census Report of 1880, is manifestly incorrect. One simple Item will show its error so palpably that no further -words will be necessary. California's honey crop is the largest in any State, and yet in the Census Table It 18 credited with only about one-half as much as Arkansas, one of the States producing but a compar- atively small amount of honey! It also gives North Canjlina credit for 50 per cent more than Michigan, and more than Illinois or Iowa! Such "statistics" are very misleading, to say the least. Our estimate, based upon statistics gathered by us some years ago, is, that there arc 300,000 bee-keepers In the United States and Canada, and the average annual product is 100,000,000 pounds of honey. Our tabulated statement by States may be found on page 330 of the Bee Journal for 1881. It is a notorious fact that the statistics given in the census of 1880 are utterly unreliable. This was ad- mitted by Col. C. D. Wright, Chief of the Bureau of Labor Statistics at Washington, who was one of the principal persons who directed the formulating of the census that year. In an address delivered before the Social Science Association at Saratoga, N. Y., in 1887, Col. Wright reviewed the whole census matter, and pointed out its shortcomings, and then said: These two questions— cai)ital invested and average wages— as answered by the census, illustrate the fallacy of attempting to solve a certain line of economic questions through the census as it has existed. In making this criticism, let it be under- stood that I arraign myself as severely as any one else: for within a few years I have followed, in all the census work in which I have been engaged, the old form. Nor did I fully comprehend the enormity of the error, and the infinite harm it has done, and is likely to do. With this admission by Col. Wright, of the un- reliability of the Census Report, we are surprised that the statistician, Mr. J. R. Dodge, should attempt to make it prove that the industry of apiculture was declining. Upon one erroneous conclusion he bases another argument; viz., that, because of the decreased hon- ey production, the people have been annually "consuming fifteen millions of pounds of substi- tutes, in the belief that they had the genuine prod- uct of the hive." By intimation, the stati.stician indorses the Wiley lie about manufactured comb honey, years after it has been exploded and acknowledged to be a false- hood, by its author ! No, sir; your conclusions are as erroneous as your premises. The production of honey, instead of be- ing only twenty-five millions of pounds, is over one hundred millions— four times as much. Its increase has kept pace with other products; and it is the "pure product of the hive,"' too. It is too bad that such incorrect and damaging statements and arguments should he published by tho,se who ought to know better; and, going out un- der the indorsement of the government, they not only deceive tho.se not posted, but also form the basis for other falsehoods. The above illustrates vividly the result of setting somebody to collecting facts who is en- tirely unacquainted with the matter in question. It is the old story over, of going to Agassiz and Tyndall to know about the natural history of the honey-bee, when a bee-keeper in his teens could have told either of them what idiots they were making of themselves. This is strong language, I know; but I think it is time that something were done. We pay out our money to somebody supposed to handle the matter in question, and the above shows the result. Any bee-keeper in our land, at all conversant with our journals, could have told the statistician that California has of late years been furnish- ing more honey than half a dozen fair honey States, and that Arkansas is almost entii'ely unknown in the industry. It may be that Ar- kansas has undeveloped resources; but I do not remember that a large report has ever been made through our journals from that State, and yet there are dozens of States comprising bee- keepers who produce honey by the carload. The old adage, " Every man to his trade," is what is needed here. The statistician should be a bee-keeper himself, or else he should con- sult some intelligent, thoroughly posted bee- keeper. The editors of any of our journals could readily point out a competent man at any time; and so with statistics in our other indus- tries. SWARMING AND SECTION HONEY. FRIEND DOOI.ITTI.E SUGGESTS HOW TO KESTKAIN SWARMING AND ENCOURAGE HONEY- STORING. My excuse for writing this article out of sea- son (if any article on bees can be out of season) is from the fact that a party in Colorado is con- siderably agitated over the matter, and wishes me to write an article on the subject as soon as may be. The party says they have no trouble in following the ideas I have sometimes ad- vanced in regard to spreading the brood, which our good friend Mrs. Harrison was sure might be misleading to some, for there was no trouble in getting the hive filled with brood and bees by the time the honey harvest from alfalfa arrived by using the plan; but the trouble was, that 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 769 ■when the hivos were tluis lillcd and the flow of honey occurred, excessive swarming was sure to result, which gave a loss in honey and often in queens, owing to the fact that tlie queens were not allowed to go with th(> swarms. Swarming, when working for section lioney, can not very well be avoided, or at least 1 have not been suc- cessful in avoiding it without sacrificing a large amount of the honey crop. In fact I would as soon have crcfss/cc swarming as to try to hinder swarming altogether: for in this hindering process, by any of the plans with which I am acquainted, where the ordinary hive is used, the bees are so thrown out of their normal condition that they will not work to the best advantage. Again, I think that a mistak- en idea prevails with some in tliinking that the brood-chamber to the hives must be kept full of brood the whole season through. This is not the secret of a successful honey production, but it lies in having the brood-chamber filled with brood before it is filled with honey. Thus doing, we get the laborers for the first harvest, and, so far as my knowledge extends, when the brood- chamber is thus filled at the time the honey- flow commences, there will be bees enough reared for all practical purposes after this, even though the combs may be filled later on. two- thirds full of honey. There are two plans or ways of management which can be used successful- ly during the swarming season, in this locality; and if I lived in Colorado I would try them there, and then, if they did not work. I would study something else. Right here I wish to say that no one should follow any of our writers blindly, that is. witliout having some thoughts of their own, thoughts which will lead them out in all directions from the beaten path of a Langstroth, a Quinby, a Root, a Dadant. a Doolittle, or any other writei'. Don't be a machine, but be the iiKtster of a machine, or of any thing else you mayjtake hold of. So when you find yourself confronted with the swarming problem, or any other, master it, if it " takes all summer." and do It by your ow)i planning, or the modifying of some plan that yon have read or heard al;out. In this way you will grow: and by telling us liow you did it. in some of the many journalsof ourday. you will help some one else to grow: and thus we shall be of mutual benefit one to the other, justas the all-wise Father design- ed we should be. "No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." Hut, to return: When a swarm issues, and whil(> it is out in the air or clustered, go to the hive from which it came and take out all the frames of brood and put in their places frames of empty comb, frames filled with foundation, or frames having starters on them, as is best pleasing to you, returning the surplus arrangement on the hive as it was be- fore; and if the swai-m is a large one, it is well to give additional room by way of surplus sec- tions. Now hive the swarm back in the same hive, or let it return if the queen has her wing clipped. Set the frames of brood with the adhering bees in a hive on a new stand, and in 24 hours give a mature queen-cell or a queen, according to what you can supply. This should satisfy any colony; but if the swarm on the old stand persisted in swarming out in a day or two, or in a " week's time," as the writer says theirs often do, then I would cage the queen for from a few days to two weeks, according to cir- cumstances, after which I would I'elease her. This is on the plan of doubling our colonies each year. If I wished no increase, th(m I would put on a queen-excluder after putting in the frames below, or after putting these frames in the brood-chamber where the/rames of brood were taken from, and on top of this I would place the hive containing tln^se frames of brood, while top of this last I would put the surplus arrangement that was on the hive when the swurm issued. This should do away witli all further swarming. l)ut it results in filling these coml)s wiiicii now have the brood in them, witfi honey, which must be extracted, while it lessens our crop of section honey just that much. Now, if. instead of putting this hive of brood immediately on top of the queen-ex- cluding-honey board, we place the sections there and then place the hive of brood on top of the sections, we shall get our honey mostly in sections, but we shall not be as sure of stopping all further swarming, for, as the bees hatch out from the brood above, they will crowd below, thus making the colony appear more populous than it did in the other case. If the sections were open-top sections, then it would not appear more crowded, for the bees would be equally distributed throughout the whole hive, but in this case we should have our section honey bad- ly travel-stained, which is about the same as having it in the brood-combs, as we did where the sections were top. To obviate this I allow the bees a passageway only at the outside of each of the outside sections, which is done by a slot in the outside boards or sides of the case or section-holder. In this way the colony is kept together and good results secured, and should work in Colorado, it seems to me. Borodino. N. Y. G. M. Doolittle. UNCAPPING-BOX. A MOST EXCELLENT DEVICE. On pag(> 30, Vol. IT.^Mr. Root promised the readers of Uleanings a description of my un- cappiiig-hox: but as he has not fulfilled his promise yet, I will try to help him out. It was made by R. Wilkin aliout 12 years ago, and was so well planned that I should not care to have it changed in any way now. It is 2 feet wide, 2 deep, and 6 long outside, made of K lumber dressed on both sides. The bottom is 2 inches lower in the middle than at the sides, and is lined with tin to keep it from leaking. Eleven pieces of wood. 1x1x22 inches, are laid across the bottom about () inches apart to support the screen which the cappings fall on. This leaves room below the screen for the honey tq run to one end, M INTYRE S UNCAPPING -BOX. where it passes out through a tin pipe. Two pieces, Xx3x72 inches, are nailed on the top edge, one on each side, to contract the top of the box to the same width that a Langstroth hive is long inside. Two pieces, %xXxl8?^, nailed one on each end between the two last mention- ed, bring the ends up ev(>n with the sides. One piece, %x3xKS'*„. is fixed across the top of the box about 14 inches from one end, with an iron pivot sticking up through it, IH inches high to rest the combs on. When uncapping you set one end of the comb on this pivot, uncap one side, whirl it around, and uncap the other side, and set the comb in the end of tiie box, as in the diagram. When we have a surplus of combs we often hang them in the other (Mid like B, in the diagram. C is cappings, and D the space for the honey to run out. 770 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 1. Tlie hottom of the box Is 7 Inches from tho floor, wliieli leaves room for the honey to rnn into the strainer illustrated on page 248. Tliis makes the top of the box about 32 inches from the floor, whicli is about tlie right height for me to uncap easily. A shorter person might make the box a little shallower, or lay a plank on the floor to give the right height, wliich is the way I do when my wife uncaps. I know most people will think this box \inn(>cessarily large. I will tell you why 1 think it is not. When uncapping overaroiiud can likeDadant's, tli(^ cai)pings fall on top of those taken off ear- lier in the day: and when the can is half full the honey has to pass througli sucli a pile of cappings'that it takes a long time to all run out; and when you put the cappings in the sun extractor they are heavy witli honey. Witli this box. when a pile of cai)i)ings accumulates under the knife we take a four-lined fork and Ijitch them over to the othei' end, where they may drain for four or live days. There is a small stream of honey running out of the box all the time, day and niglit, during the extract- ing time; and when the cappings go into the sun extractor tliey are almost dry. I think it pays well for the extra space in the box, because all the iioney which goes into the sun extractor is spoiled for the market. J. F. McIntyre. Fillmore, Cal., July 37. Friend M., I have had experience enougli witli uncapping to appreciate every point you make; and our good friend R. Wilkin ought to have a shaking for not giving tliis to the world long ago. I thinlv I can say for the rest, that we bee-keepers tender you and Mi'. Wilkin both a hearty vote of thanks. still lives in good health, at the age of 79. Ten of the children still survive. President Taylor is the oldest of the six surviving sons. Like most farmer boys, young Taylor worked on the farm summit's, and went to common district school in the winter. At the age of 19 he lost his fatliei', who was carried off by an accident, when the severe and arduous duties of a large farm devolved on our friend. But he had learn- ed to laboi'. and was equal to the emergency. But our friend aspired to a college education. He taught winters, and prepared himself for the Classical Department of the Michigan Uni- versity, which he entered in 1862. HON. R. L. TAYLOR. HIS HISTORY AS FARMKR, BUSINESS MAN, LAW- YER, BEE-KEEPER, AND SENATOR. To my mind, the most alarming feature of the census just taken is the rapid increase of popu- lation in the cities and the corresponding de- crease in the rural districts. Who has not noticed, during the past ten years, the constant influx of energy and strength from country to city? The men of push and ability who are leading our enterprises to-day, not only as busi- ness but as professional men, spent their boy- hood on the farm. True, we nave an Adams family, but we have hundreds of such nu'u as Greeley, Webster, Lincoln, and (iarlield, that went from country to city, and carried life, vig- or, and energy with them. What will become of our cities if the country fails to pour in this new and vivifying power? Our respected friend R. L. Taylor, Senator in Michigan, and President of the National Bee- Keepers' Association, liad the advantage of country birth. He was born on a farm at Al- mont, Lapeer Co.. Michigan, Nov. 3. 1839. This was not the only vantage ground of our young candidate for a place of influence in the world. He was the son of Scotch parents who were pioneers in that new heavily limbered part of Michigan. We need hardly say more to prove that our friend was early taught to be religious, truthful, honest, and industrious, for how loyal ar(> almost all the Scotch to all these grand princiiiles. which are the very basis of true man- hood 1 AVhen I add to all this the fact that the parents wen^ sturdy and vigorous, able to carve out a home in the forest wilds, I have said enough to show that our friend was born to un- usual fortune. The moth(>r, though a pioneer farmer's wife, and mother to fourteen children, HON. R. L. TAY'LOR. In 18('o. a thirst for business, which robs so many college students of their diplomas, took Mr. Tayhjr from the college. He entered mer- cantile' life, which he followed at Almont very successfully for three years. IJut mere business was not wholly to Mr. Taylor's tastes, and sa he spent his spare time — every determined man, however prompt in business, can find spare time — in the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1869. In 1873 he was elected Register of Deeds by the largest majority evei' received by any couiity ol'licei' of his county. He then mov- ed to Lapeer, where he has resided ever since. Two years later he was re-elected. In 1877 he resumed the practice of law, and was elected Prosecuting Attorney the following year. At this time, fortunately for apiculture, two colonies of l)ees fell into Mr. Taylor's possession. His early life and hal)its had developed a taste for rni-al'life and i)ursuits that had not left him with liis youth. Country air and landscape still lured him toward the country, and led to the purchase of his present beautiful home in the sulmrbs of Lapeer. His bees increased rapidly, and his interest kept pace, owing, doubtless, to the success which marked his la- bors from the first. Thus he declined a renomi- nation as Prosecuting Attorney, and very soon gave up the practice of law, that he might de- vote his entire time to his bees. Thus here as everywhere Mr. Taylor is consistent. He 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 771 preaches exclusive apiculture for the apiarist, and does what very few of his colleagues in lliis faith do — he practices what he preaches. He is, perhaps, tlie largest bee-keeper in our State. As an apiarist he stands among the first. His cautious, scientific, tlioroughty Informed mind grapples even witli foul l)rood. and the fell disease is worsted in the struggle. He told me once, as I visited his apiary, that he rather •enjoyed the malady, as it was interesting to watch and study it. How few are cautious enough to hold this scourge at arm's length, even though it he right in tlie apiary I Mr. Taylor is one of ISIichigan's best bee- keepers. Thi^ American Soci(>ty is honored no less than Mr. Taylor in his jn-csidency. H(^ is so expert in bee-keeping that lie can "feed back" at a profit, and can produce an immense crop of comb honey — his specialty — without any use of separators", and yet takethe very cream of the market. Like nearly all successful bee- keepers he is very ingenious. Every thing about his apiary is neat, orderly, and convenient. His invention to fasten foundation in the sections is doiil)tless on(> of the very best in use. He uses the new H(^ddon hive, and would have no other. One has only to see him manipulate these hives and find the queens, to beconii^ convinced that, in his hands at least, they are a trem(;ndous success. Mr. Taylor's style as a speaker and writer is quiet, earnest, but very convincing. He is can- did, very cautious, and rather conservative; so thos(> who know him place great weight upon his ojunion or judgment. Slow to draw •conclusions, his conclusions rarely need recon- sideration. In our literature, in" our conven- tions, and, best of all, in his home city, he is a power. His presence is felt to be of signal advantage. That Mr. Taylor's neighbors appreciate his worth is evinced in the fact that he was elected to our State Senate in 188S, whei-e he was an able and influential member. He is renominated for the position, and. with almost no doubt, will be re-elected. Mr. Taylor has been a member of the church for over thirty years. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church, and thus again honors and is loyal to his Scotch descent. But there is no need to publish the fact that Senator Taylor is a Christian. The fact shines out in all his life and acts. He is a true, clean, reverent man — one of the men that always make us feel better when we have associated with them. Mr. Taylor has been married for nearly a quarter of a century. His wife is a tit companion for such a husband. Like her husband she takes great interest in religion, temperance, and all else that is good and helpful toothers. Though they have none of those best adornments of the home — sweet, loving children, yet their home is one of those social centers that so richly l)less every community where they are found. Agricultural College, Mich. A. J. Cook. Friend C, we all know you have a remarkable talent for studying bugs and insects; in fact, you often find out a thousand little things about them that perhaps the most of us would never notice at all. Hut I did not know before that you had such a rare faculty of taking in — or, perhaps I should say, rceof/ztizi/i;/ — all these lit- tle individual traits that go to make up a man's charactei-. My acquaintance with friend T. has been mostly at conventions; and as I read your description, point after point, it almost made me smile to see how carefully you have filled out the peculiarities and qualities. Why, your pen-pictuH! would almost enable one to know the man, even if the reader did not have the excellent portrait, furnished us by the half- tone process. We can all rejoice that friend T. has seen fit to take up bee culture — yes, even if he is a little severe sometimes on some of us whose loose ways of thinking and speaking contrast so strongly with his own cautious and careful ways. ^ I ^1 THOSE CLOSED-END FRAMES. AXOTHEK ENTHUSIASTIC ADMIIiEK OF THEM. During a few of the past rainy days I have been looking over Ernest's notes of travel, and I have laughed more than once while reading them since the Sejit. 1st issue, and there are several otiiers that have enjoyed it- too. In 1886 there was a request in (Jlkaninos for an ex- l)ression concerning the reversing frame. I then expressed my opinion that they were good, but their full value would not be appreciated unless they were used with an end-bar If^ wide (the closed-end frame), and a division-board on each side, fastened in place by a wedge. On i)age li-tl, Sept. 1, you make mention of the closed-end hanging frame used by Mr. Tunicliff, in the hives of his 400 colonies. In a letter received from the Home of the Honey Bees in 1884. in answer to one I wrote concerning the wide end-bar, it is stated as dictated by A. I. R. that the wide end -bar was not practical, so far as rapid handling was concerned. Well, now, I should say that there is to be a change of opin- ion at the Home of the Honey Bees, or Gi-ean- INGS is not an indication of the future. But let me give you a few points that may not have been noted by you, Ernest, on page (iTO, Sept. 1. Several years ago I noticed tliat the wide- end-bar frame pnwented that clogging of the ends of the nari'ow frames, and the hive with corah and honey; and the numlxM' of times that bee-keepers have said. "I wish the fools would put the honey where it belongs" is a strong ar- gument for closed- end frames. Secondly, there is an air-chamber at the ends of the frames, preventing that needlelike frost from extending between the combs in winter. \\'hich is another valual)le feature. Thirdly. I place a strip of lath, 8 inches long, at each end of the hive, per- pendicularly. Shove up one of the division- boards (I always use two), then your four or five frames, then your other division-board, and put your i)acking in good and tight, and your bees are just as well off as in a cliatf hive, and in a single-walled hive at that. I think I hear some of you say, '" I guess not." Well, here is what I have tried and seen tried for several years. Make your hive 1:314 wide inside, bee-space at the bottom. The hive- body should be 9;?< deep, all around. To nnike the enti'ance, a strip of shingle one inch wide is pushed between the hive and bottom-board on each Side of the hive {s will pre- vent the plants from suffering on cold nights. In this way I can have as many hotb<'ds as I wish; and, fuilhermore. these hives may be used for solar wax-extractors. And now, Mr. Root, the hour has arrived for you to take your departure. The stage is coming for you. 1 am very sorry you can not make a longer stay; and here let me say. that, whenever any of the members of the Home of the Honey-bees wish to visit Vermont bee-keepers, you send an older person— one that can not //;/ so swiftly as you can— the vetei-an A. I., for instance— that we may have a little more time to visit. Notwith- standing that, I have enjoyed your visit very much indeed; but when I am favored with agreeable company I like to keep it as long as I can." A. E. Manum. Bristol, Vt. Most of the bee-keepers whom I visited felt that I was paying them a rather short visit; but I had planned, by getting copy ahead, etc., to be away for only one month. As I had to trav- el something over a thousand miles in all, and visit bee - keepers and friends all along the route, you can readily see that my time had to be put on rather short rations for each; and those bee-keepers who were situated on the latter end of the journey. I am sorry to say, got shorter visits than those I called on first. I make this explanation, that the kind friends whom I visited, and others whom I may visit in the future, may know why I was in such a huri'y. My trip in Vermont paid me well, and one day with you was a good deal better than nothing. I saw many things at your place that interested me. But I found along the route, that, when I visited a representative bee-keep- er of the locality. I saw pretty much the same sort of bee-keeping within a radius of a hun- dred miles. You and Mr. Crane were represent- atives of your locality, and in a sense I saw a good deal of Vermont bee-keeping. Now, really, about that queen - excluding zinc failing to accomplish its object. I am somewhat troubled about it. We had had re- ports that in exceptional cases the queen got through it; and you remember that Mr. Mcln- tyre, of California, used these same boards with a good deal of satisfaction, while he admitted that occasionally a queen would get through. These reports, together with your own state- ment, influenced us to get a new set of dies; and now I am happy to state that they are made, and the perforations of the zinc are ex- actly ^o^jj of an inch— the size adopted by Dr. Tinker, and recommended by Mclntyre. The old zinc we had (and which was sent you) measures about ^^o'^- at least some of the per- forations. As it was too large it is no more than fair that we offer to make the matter right in some way. MEDICAL FACTS, FROM A DOC'TOK "WHO DOCTOKS WITHOUT VERV MUCH MEDICINE. We, and I think a great many thousands of the readers of Gleanings, are thankful that it has sucii extra good "Roots'" that branch out in so many intei'esting and important subjects for the good of the people, when the bees fail tO' store surplus lioney for us. It used to be said, that the Jove of money is the root of all evil. That was when preachei-s di'ank whisky, and used tobacco, without tiiinking of roots, good, bad, or medicinal. I used to thinlv. and am now of the same opinion, that the science of medicine, as taught and practiced sixty years ago, was the root of more evil, suffering, and death, than all other evils comlained. The science of medicine was called •' scientific ignor- ance;'" and the practice, '■ mnrderousquackery." A great many quit the practice of medicine after finding put that they were doing more harm than good. An old doctoi' of the " regular faculty " in Ohio told me that he did not know that he ever cured a patient, and said that he knew he had killed some, but not intentionally. For many yeai'S I have admired the candor and honest acknowledgments of Dr. O. W. Holmes. When he said, '' It were better for the people were all the medicine of tlie world cast into the sea," he meant medicine used by the regular faculty, such as he had been taught to- use. I don't think he meant water, honey, and other domestic remedies. An exi)erienced regular doctor in Louisville. Ky., told me that the jx'ople would be better off without than with such medicines as he used; but he said he had to visit patients, and they would not be satisfied without medicine. No wondei' that homeopathic patients get along sa much better when the doctor gives little sugar pellets without any mcdiciiic. A reverend doctoi' of divinity told me that he quit the regular practice of medicine because the medicine did more hurt than good, and he had to lie to his patients. He also said he thought it necessary to lie to patients, or it was ])Ctter in many cases than medicine. Many years ago one of niy comrades was sick with feveiv and the regular doctor said he w.ould die. as most of his fever patients did; but in the night, when the \^'atcher was' asleep in his chair, the patient, "burning up with fever," tongue and lips cracked open, "dying with thirst," reached the pail or pitcher of water and drank all he could. When the doctor came the next morn- ing he was surprised to find his patient better — saved by natare's remedy, contrary lo the doc- tor's science and murderous treatment. Thank the Lord, the doctors are progressing, using- mor(> common sense, and do not ruin as many constitutions as formerly. Owe of the professors in the Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati, said to us (the students of four medical colleges) in one of his clinical lectures in the hospital, that an old woman's remedy had done more good than all the remedies in the materia medica. He also advised the use of warm water and vapor bat lis. In North Carolina, at one time in 180.5, I sent a requisition i6 Wilmington for medicine, and failed to get anv. Surg(>on Thomas, ex-professor in Keokuk, Iowa, Medical College, said he would go himself after mi'dicine. When he came back he said there was none to be had. I told him that I was a radical botanic and hy- dropathist, and could prescribe better medicines that were right handy by than were furnished by the government. It is recorded in history, that Surgeon Daniel Tyrrell was frequently called to visit other 18i)0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 775 surgeons' patients after it was known that such cases as were dying, day and nigiit. under " old school "' Treatment, wc-i'e getting well under his botanic (physio-medical) treatment. In Rome. Ga.. in lSi;4. one doctoi- who belonged to the regular faculty lost seven patients in one night, and said to me that he thought four or five more of his patients would die before tlu> next moin- ing. He had only tlir<'e wards and but few patients, while I had six large wards well tilled with sick and wounded, and more being brought in from the field and field hospitals cn'ery few days, and I lost only one patient in over a month. The said regular had proclaimed with an oath that thei'i> ought to be a law to i)i'<'- vent all doctors practicing medicine who did not belong to the "regular faculty." One factmoi'e: I think I have saved many lives by giving enemas of lobelia in plenty of warm water, and frequent drinks of pleasant herb t(>a. If the regulars knew how to use lobelia for in- flammation of the bowels, they might save such cases instead of hitting them die with o])iuni or morphine. The whole svstem can be relaxed, and inflammation in any pai't subdued with small but frequent doses of lobcdia to stomach or bowels. The addition of lobelia is better for dysentery than clear hot water, which is good, "Vou know." I). Tyhkell, M. D. Toulon, 111.. Oct. 8. SAWYER'S BEE -ESCAPE. A DIFFKP.KXT I'ltlXC'IPLE. I mail you to-day a model of my bee-escape. I have been using it the last two weeks, taking off comb honey from 7(5 stands of bees, with per- fect satisfaction, not leaving more than three to ten bees in the supers, even when I raise two supers at a time. To make tlie escape, cut a slot in the honey- board, 13 in. long and % wide, and bevel oiit one side. The wire cloth is to be cut 14 in. long and 'Z\4 wide. One side and both ends are to be fringed ^^ inch, the fringe coming over the beveieil side of the slot. I use a honey-board I4 in. thick, with a bee-space top and bottom. By having a thicker board, the escape could be made within it so as not to interfere with the ijee-space. by cutting some of tln^ wood away in the boaid. The slot in the board must be made in a line with the opening in the sections. I use the same honey-board for covering the brood-chamber and sections by closing the slot when not in use. I am an A V> C scholar, and have been read- ing (h.EANiNGs since 1S8.5. I have been much interested in it. esiM'cially in Kees(>"s and Dib- bern's bee-escapes, as 1 iiavi' been anxious to get something that would work satisfacUtrily. I should like to have you try it before the season is over: and if you think it is the best out, I should like you to supply brother bee- keepers with models at 30 cents for one and .50 for Ijoth. if you can at that price, and pay me what vou think rigiit. James Sawyer. Du Quoin, 111., .Sept. 17, 18SX). Friend S., something quite similar to the above has been in use for years, but it was not applied to a honey-board. I will explain to our readers, that the engraving does not show the edges of the wire cloth raveled out sufficiently. The bevel in the slot should reach to the edge of the fringe on the wli"e cloth; and the wire of which this wire cloth is made should be so light that the bee raises the end as it crawls out un- der it. I discarded a similar arrangement years ago, because the wires were so easily doubled up if any thing touched them. Now, it occurs to me. however, that a thin piece of wood or tin could be so placed as to protect these fringed ends from injury. Arrangements of this kind work positive; that is, a bee can, under no cir- curtistances, get back after he is once pushed out under the points of the wires. ERNEST'S NOTES OF TRAVEL AMONG THE BEE-KEEPERS OF YORK STATE. ON the catskii.e mountains. After romping around Shady (tUui (and it seemed to me that the parts of York State I visited were full of them) we rambled back to the hotel — brother Charles and I. Glancing back I noticed the whole front range of the Catskills— a most beautiful sight to me, as it was my first initiation to mountain scenery. There were several gentlemen at the hotel, who. I had been told, were discussing my bicy- cle trii) of the day, and with doubtful heads agreed that it was impossible. To settle the matter, one of them was introduced to me. "Why," said he, "I have been driving all day with a good horse, and have gone only 30 miles; and here you say you went 4.5 miles in about Ave hours and a half." "That is easy to explain." said I. "When yon are going down hill you are obliged to walk the horse; and likewise in coming up the hills." He assented. " Now. then." continued I, "when f go down hill I coast"— that is, I let the bicycle out to almost its full speed if the road is not too rough; audi travel, I suppose, on an average, when going down hill, at the rate of about a mile in five minutes, and sometimes much fast- er. If there is another hill just ahead of me, with very little effort I can keep up the veloci- ty acquired down; and the result is. I can as- cend the next hill with very little effort. If it were not for friction, by the well-known law of mechanics I could ascend the next hill witiiout trving at all. Now, then. I do not lose time in going up and down hill, as you do with a horse." ^ . ,, , . "Oh!" said my friend. " I see. It is all plain now." ,, , T By this time the supp(>r - bell rang, and I think I managed to do am|)le justice, after the exhilarating ride. Not long after. Mrs. Root came back. Sh(> had received a letter from O. R. Coe, of Windham, N. Y., inviting us to visit him. It will be remembered that he has written occasionally for the journal. He owns between :.'(X) and 300 colonies, and is also pro- prietor of one of the best hotels in the Catskills. 776 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 1. I was to wii'o Mr. Coe when we were ready to leave for Windham. Accordingly, after dinner the next day, I took tlie wheel for the village, three miles away. It looked somewhat like rain, but I thought I could get back before it actually began to storm; but. unfortunately, it poured and poured, when I had got just about half way. Hurrying as fast as I could, I forgot to observe the direction I was going, and I got on the wrong road, a couple of miles out of my way. Back I came through the mud and rain, dripping wet. In some places the hills were so steep that I had to dismount and plod along by the side of the wheel, with great clods of mud hanging to my low cloth bicycle shoes. I final- ly reached the village, sent the telegram, and started back. The roads began to dry off from the effects of a downpouring sun; and before long I was back at the hotel, pretty nearly as dry as when I started out, but somewhat muddy. We were about to go in to supper when a mountain wagon drove up, bearing the name "Windham Hotel." A middle-aged man step- ped out, whom I took to be Mr. Coe. Advanc- ing toward me he said, " This is Ernest, I sup- pose?" I then inti'oduced him to Mrs. Root and to my relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Bedell. As it was a little late, we took a lunch, fastened the bicycle on the wagon, and started on the road to climb an elevation of about I'M) feet for Windham, eight miles distant— a i)oiut in the heart of the Catskills. It was growing dark fast, and we did not see very much scenery that evening. In the meantime, Mr. Coe and myself talked bees as only two bee-men can. He has kept them for a good many years: Init on ac- count of difficulties in wintering he had lost about as much as he had put in. He could bring them through the winter well enough; but along in the spring he would invariably lose heavily from spring dwindling. He had tried all the best methods for wintering, both indoors and out, but he invariably encountei-ed that dread malady along in April and May. The curious thing was, that, with all his mod- ern improvements, box-hive men would carry through successfully their black bees. The result was, that, in order to carry on bee-keep- ing, he was obliged to buy from them, transfer, and start anew. I suggested that it might be that the black bees would winter better than his Italians. No, that could not be it, because he had tried in vain to winter black bees. " Why," said I, " why don't you leave them in your single-walled hives outdoors, as your box- hive friends do ?" " I did try that, and still they would die." The facts were, he was about 1500 feet above the general level of the surrounding country. The winters are very cold and severe; the springs backward, and generally unfavorable to the bees. There is no doubt that Mr. Coe has conditions to combat against that many of us generally do not have. But there were those old box-hive bee-keepers— how is it that their bees, apparently neglected, came out all right in the spring? That was a conundrum that I. a supply-dealer, editor, and an advocate of moderii improvements, could hardly answer, and I should be glad if any of our readers would solve it. Mr. Coe had as good a wintering re- pository as I have ever seen. He has practiced all the best methods, tried all the different ways of ventilation— done every thing, in fact, and yet the general result seemed to be the same in the spring. On this ride Mr. Coe also explained his pro- ject of moving his bees to the alfalfa regions of the West. He would either move them this fall, or very early next spring, before spring dwindling had a chance to commence. He de- sired to know what I thought of it. I told him I thought it risky business. The alfalfa fields seem to be boundless in their resources foi- nec- tar, and he might make a big failure of it, or a big success. At best, moving bees so far is haz- ai'dous. To this he explained that he would lose them all anyhow, if he attempted to win- ter them at hom(\ and he rather decided to ac- cept the other horn of the dilemma — sending them to the alfalfa regions. He had some 500 hives filled with nice perfect combs on which the bees had died, the same carefully stowed away in his bee-house. This was capital lying idle, and he would never be able to vise it or sell it unless he could move the same to a local- ity where he could both winter the bees and get paying crops of honey. This was about the strain of our bee-talk on that pleasant evening ride: and ere long we ran up to a large- four-story hotel, with accom- modations, if I remember correctly, for about 00 guests. It was so dark that I did not recognize the place fi'om the pictures I had seen of it; but that you may get a view of it, I will ask Mr. Coe to send an electrotype, that you may all see ihe place. After being introduced to Mrs. Coe and to his son and daughter, we were conducted to our room; and the next mortiing, from the window there was revealed a beautiful view of the mountains in the rear of the hotel. What a lovely place, we thought! It would be delight- ful to stay here during the summer months — cool and bracing, even during the hottest weather; never any malaria, and always good sight-seeing! OFF TOI'KING AMONG THE MOUNTAINS. The evening before, Mr. Coe had told me that he was going to make up a party of two loads to drive among the mountains, the objective point being the Mountain House, and the now almost world-renowned Kaaterskill. The latter, I suppose, is one of the most magnificent and expensive structures for the accommodation of guests that was ever built. It was erected un- der circumstances which I will pi'esently ex- plain. After an early breakfast, Mrs. Root and I, together with a party of several others, took seats in one of the mountain wagons. These wagons look very much like ordinary stages. They have three seats, each holding three per- sons, or nine in all. As I have before remarked, these mountain horses seemed capable of per- forming marvels in drawing these heavy loads. They have learned to economize their strength, and I suppose they will last about as long as the average horse on roads more level. As we climlx^d into the wagon, Mr. Coe hand- ed me an aneroid barometer, which he had pur- chased of A. I. Root, saying. " Here, you may carry that." "What is it for?" said I. " Why, it is to record elevation. You can tell at any point in your journey just how many feet you are above the surrounding level." It then flashed through my mind that barom- eters are used for that very purpose. "Now." said he, "notice where the pointer stands on the dial, for we are going to climb the mountains to-day." Up, up, and up we went; and as we ascended, the little pointer on the dial recorded the num- ber of feet we ascended in a ijeriicndicular. until we were 1000 feet higher. AVhat astonished me was, that several times when we appeared to be going down hill that dial showed that we were actually ascending; and sometimes it would behave the other way. It seemed to me that it did not know what it w^as about; but it was evi- dently correct. At one point I remember Mr.Coe called out. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 777 *' Now, ladies and gentlemen, perhaps yovi would like to get out audwalk a little, and get rest(>d." After riding a good numy miles we were glad to avail ourselves of this suggestion. On ar- riving at the top we were also glad to get in and ride down hill. Again the little aneroid barometer was consulted. Yes. down the hill the pointer indicated— 300, and finally 5(K) f(>et lower. I noticed that, even for a few feet of the descent, it recorded it quite accurately. I was cui-ious to observe that some peaks ap- peared tobe very much higher than oth privilege of a balloon view, that I might look down upon the country, and view its maplike appearance; and here I was with this aspiration fully realized, but without the attendant dangers of aerial navigation. Our next point was the celebrated Kaaterskill. Just as we were about to leave I noticed a young lady and her beau. Like many another gallant suitor, he essayed to climb" down a ledge of the cliff' a little way to pluck a little mountain rose that the girl admired and ex- pressed a wish for. As he clung nervously to a little niche of the rock I fairly held my breath for fear he would lose his scanty hold" and be precipitated a thousand feet below. If he had performed this feat to rescue a little child, I would have taken off my hat in admiration. As it was. I thought. " What a jjoor silly fool he was, just to giatify a mei'e whim and fancy of a girl, who could not have loved him much:" Through a winding and narrow path we clambered fi'om one ledge of rock to another, till that magnificent hotel, the Kaaterskill, came into siglit— a structure that had cost ov(>r a million of dollars, and its origin was — what do you think? — a chicken. "Oh, yes!" said I; •• we want to hear THAT CHICKEN STORY." To this Mr. Coe readily responded. A certain rich man, before the Kaaterskill was constructed, together with liis family, was in the habit of spending his summers at the Moun- tain House. He was a very successful lawyer, and hnincnsely wealthy; and whenever he went "outing," he wanted the best that money could buy. One day. while at the Mountain House, iiisdaiighter at dinner called for chicken. The waiter replied that they hadn't any that day; and the proprietor, when apijealed to. set- tled the matter by saying that they would not go to the trouble of cooking just o/)c— not even tor the Queen of England, much less for the daughter of lawyer ^— . Much aggrieved and insulted, as she thought, she related the cir- cumstances to her father, and he likewise be- came angry, and had some words with the pro- prietor of the INIountain House. The result of it was, we are told that he took a stroll among the mountains that afternoon. He selected a spot upon which to build a hotel that would leave the Mountain House and every thing like it far in the shade. He purchased a large tract of mountain country; and although it was still late, he announced that, before another season, he would have a hotel up and ready for the occupancy of guests. There was no railroad there then; and during the bitter winter, work- men nearly 3000 feet above the level of the Hudson Valley, constructed what is now known as the Kaaterskill Hotel. Timbers, etc., were hauled up by wagons, at an enormous expense, and carpenters had to be paid double wages, iu order to be induced to work in such bitter cold. The result was, the building was constructed and ready on time. I do not remember exactly now, but I think their rates were from twenty to forty dollars a week. Single articles that cost in most places 5 cents were sold for 35. The wealth of New Y^ork city pours in, and seems to delight in pay- ing 3.5 cents for something that ordinarily costs only 5. I believe it was only during the past season that the hotel was made to pay expenses. I was told that enormous quantities of leavings from the table are wasted. For instance, if a leg or wing of a turkey is cut off and not used for a certain meal, turkey and all is thrown away. This may be exaggeration; but there is no doubt that there is an enormous amount of stuff wasted. The proprietor of the Kaaterskill, when he built this hotel, did so with the intention of running out the proprietor of the Mountain House. He would have every thing so mag- nificent in its appointments that no one would patronize his rival; but the result showed, as it does every time, that his rival did a bigger busi- ness than he ever did before. The maimer in which the Kaaterskill was advertised and boomed drew people. Those of more moderate means, instead of patronizing it, went to the Mountain House. A DOG stoky; his flying leap ovek the FALLS. After getting our party together we started oui' again for another point— the Kaaterskill Falls. The funny thing about it is, that they are, to a certain extent, artiticial. They dam the water up at the height of ITiOO feet, and when a lot of ])eople are there to look on they ojjen the gate and let the water fall, and thou- sands of people go to see it. We then clamlx'red down and down, until we were half way down the gorge. AVe waited and waited for the water to fall. A snuxll quantity was ruiuiing over, but we waited in vain for a big onslaught. There had been so many visitors that day. that they had used uj) all the water. While we stood down bv the bottom looking up, Mr. Coe told us of a little incident. The owner of a handsome and valuable dog had left his animal at the top 778 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 1. of the cliff, overlooking the falls. The man had gone down the same path that we had: and on looking np he saw his dog. He called to him; and the faithful animal, in obedience to what he supposed was his master's wish, and having entire faith that he would ask iiim to do nothing that would be to his peril, leaped from the height and was dashed to pieces on the rocks below, greatly to the consternation of the own- er, and all who witnessed the affair. As we passed up the pathway there was a stone, and on it was a little epitaph telling the circum- stances. After taking in a few more objects of interest, which I have not now time to mention, we started for the hotel, which we reached toward evening. [ To be conUiuicd.] ANOTHEE LARGE ARTESIAN WELL. Tins TIME AT A PLACE WIIEKE IT WAS GREAT- LY NEEI)P:I). Friend Root:—Th\s (Indian) agency has been located on these grounds. 2>^ miles from the Missouri River, 20 or more years. It is situated on the bluff overlooking the river bottom. The muddy river, the sewer into which every thing in a large area of the Northwest drains, has been the only sure water supply for the agency during all these years. Wells have been sunk in various places 80 or more feet deep, without becoming protitable. Cisterns have been com- pleted at the residences all over the village, but it does not rain enough here to till them, and people have been compelled to buy water, haul- ed from the river at the rate of 3.5 cents per barrel. All the Indian agents have tried so hard to save jnoney for the gov(M'nment. and thus increase tiieir popularity in Washington, that they feared to ask for authoi'ity and funds with which to drill an artesian well, until dur- ing the last (official) days of Major Hill, when the necessary provision was made, and we now have a magnificent flow of water through a six- inch pipe, the lower end of which is 700 feet below the surface. The water has a pressure of 95 lbs. to the square inch; and when allowed to escape through a IJ^-inch hole in a cap screwed on top of the pipe, it is forced upward through a stiff breeze and lost in spray, in which the prettiest rainbows sometimes appear, 70 and 80 feet above the earth. More than 100.00(J barrels flow each 24 hours. This well was drilled through a sort of blue slate and sandstone most of its depth. When about (WrO feet down, the sandstone was reached: and in it was found a little water. This water- bearing substance was reached at midnight, when all the people of the village were at rest. The machinery was promptly stopped, and the govei-nment bell was tolled until nearly every- body knew that water had been found. The pipe was next extended to the bottom of the hole, when the drill was started again. The porous, sandy substance into which the drill, weighing thnu'-quarters of a ton, was plunged, yielded readily, and with ev(>ry stroke the vol- ume of water was increased, and so was it«; pressure, until the honeycombed sandstone was passed thiough. and the drill was suspended in the mystciious underground body of water. As the drill passed out of the sandstone, the water was full of snow-white sand, Hue and sharp: and just here came up about half a gallon of charred wood. It was almost coal. I send you a sample by this mail. Many water-courses in the United States, which are called creeks, and which furnish power for the movement of flouring-mills and other machinery, do not afford as much water as is forced through this six-inch pipe. The water is as clear as crystal, and is the "hard- est" water I ever saw. It is so hard that it is almost bitter. It can not be used for laundry purposes without flrst having been subjected to the reaction of chemicals. Thei'e are many artesian wells in this part of the country, and nuuiy more are needed. It is believed that the same body of water furnishes the supply for all the wells near. W. McKay Doug an. Santee Agency, Neb., Oct. 10, 18^)0. Thanks, friend D. Why not utilize these wells for driving machinery? After the force of the water is spent it will be worth just as much for irrigation. Below is something more in regard to the artesian well \\iiich we pictui'ed in our Oct. 1st issue: I was somewhat surprised to see the artesian well in Gleanings. It is a good picture. You ask how deep they have to go for the artesian wells. There are eight between here and Woonsocket. and I believe the shallowest one is 600 ft., and they strike them all the way to 1000. There is no trouble in finding them anywhere in the James River Valley, which is about 100 miles wide: and all up and down the the river they are trying for one. In INIadison they are down 720 ft. now. J. W. Chapin. WHnfred, S. Dak., Oct. 14. There, friend C, that is just about what I ex- pected— that is, that the whole region lound about there would be tested, and this wonderful vein of water fully developed. Now, I am a great fellow to ask questions. What occurs to me just now is this: In the oil-flelds they drill a great many dry wells — that is, wells that give nothing, and at the same time a vein may be struck giving a wonderful flow with these dry wells all around it. Is it so with artesian wells? My impression is, that, where this enormous pressure exists, the water would rise pretty much the same way anywhere in the vicinity, by going the same depth. If I understand you, there is a track 100 miles wide and of indefinite length, where artesian wells are found almost invariably, by boring deep enough. GOVERNMENT IMPORTING BEES. A VALITABLE SUGGESTION. Mr. Editor: — You are aware that we have received great advantage fi'om the discovery and importation of superior bees into America. Possibly there are bees in Africa, India, Cey- lon, Philippine Islands, etc.. that are superior to our present bees — even to Italians, Syrians, or Carniolans. We should at least know wheth- er there are such b(>es. and should have a chance to test them. I have had some commiuiication with government oflicials. and I believe that, if bee-keepei's will move in the nuxtter. we can secure such bees, and at no expense to the bee- keepers, and at slight expense to the govern- ment. It is certainly an enterprise worthy a trial. It is suggested to me. that, if the bee-keepers will memorialize the government, thnmgh the secretary of agriculture, it will help to secure the object desired. Please bring the matter up in Gleanings for Nov. 1, which I hope may be out prior to the Keokuk meeting, so the bee- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 779 l^eepers may have oi)portunity to consider it before it is brought up. I have written to the president, asking him to present the matter. The Central Michigan Association passed reso- lutions respecting the matter at their meeting yesterday. I shall also bring the matter up at our State meeting, at Detroit. Jan 1, 1891. This is certainly just the kind of work that govern- ment can and ought to do. I hope other Stales will also resolve and send resolutions to Secre- tary Rusk. If we all move it will be done. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Oct. 17. Well, friend C, if there be any better race of loees on the face of the earth than those we have already, we want them, sure. Friends Jones and Benton, however, seem to have decided pretty well that there is nothing much superior to Italians. Our missionaries in foreign fields will be great aids in this matter. RAMBLE NO. 31. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT IN WESTEKN NEW YOKK. We found in many of the counties in Western New York, that farmers were generally sowing Japanese buckwheat, and were giving it a high recommendation, both as to productiveness and quantity and quality of the llour. It was being introduced largely in localities where but little buckwheat had been previously sown, and bee- keepers were accordingly rejoicing at the pros- pect of a fall yield of honey where they had none before. But in Chemung Co. we heard tlie first adverse report. An old farmer with whom we were riding said it might yield well, but a bushel of it did not produce as much flour as a bushel of the old kind, and he shouldn't sow any more of it: but further inquiry revealed the fact that the mill was to blame. The huller, we believe, would not allow the large kernels to go through: but with a proper apparatus, which had to be used on the new buckwlieat, it was as productive of flour as of seed. We presume, however, that this old man and some of his neighbors will refuse to be benefited by the new-fangled grain. Japanese buckwheat has ■evidently come to stay until something better is found. From Chemung we pass into Schuyler Co., in which is located Watkins Glen, famous for its wild scenery, and a place of summer resort. We greatly desired to feast our eyes on the act- ual features of the glen we had so often seen in photographs; but heavy freshets had recently been making sport with bridges, stairs, and ladders, and a general cleaning-out was the result, and the Rambler had to content himself by merely seeing where the glen was located, and imagining the rest. The waters that come rushing down through these rocky clefts soon find a peaceful resting- place in the bosom of Seneca Ijake, anotiier of those beautiful sheets of wat(M' found in VVest- came dry I happened to |»ut a chunk in the lii-e, and it burned a long time. I then raked the whole pile into the Mr.', and, how it did burn! It kept burning nearly all day. At night it looked like a i)ile of white ashes, and I supijosed it was burned out. Five days after. I noticed the pile again, and it was much smaller; and upon thrusting a slick into it. the center was still live coals. That night, rain put it out. Had it not been for the i-ain it would have kei)t tire several days more. Then," said he. ■• Mr. Rambler, I lind' this big kettle nuikes a splendid outdoor feeder. I put in 300 or 300 lbs. of honey or syrup, and put a moder- 780 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 1. ate layer of grass on top; and, just see how the bees will go for it! Why, sir. It is inspiring. Every hive is represented in working up the KETTLE OUTDOOR FEEDER. bonanza; and after they get settled down to business there is no effort to rob other hives; and when they get through, all is quiet again. They get -away with a power of feed in a day." We hope the photo will give a realizing idea of the scene. When promiscuous or general feeding is desired, our friend's plan will doubt- less recommend itself to the fraternity as well as to the Rambler. You are right, friend R. Japanese buckwheat seems to be all the rage among the farmers and bee-keepers in New York State. Wherever I visited, and from whatever sources I could gather, the yield, both in size of grain and quan- tity, has been so superior that next year they will raise nothing else. Say. didn't your cousin's friend have more or less trouble with robbers entering in and around the kettle of melting wax? In our apiary we would have a scene very much like the one shown, where the bees are being fed as above. It would not matter very much whether it was melted wax or syrup— there would be a perfect hubbub and uproar; but perhaps he does it on a cool or rainy day when the bees would not fly very much any way. Almost all our wax- melting has to be done on such days. FIXED FRAMES. A DEMAND FOR SOMETHING THAT CAN BE USED ON OLD FRAMES. It seems we are feeling around for some kind of a spacer arrangement for our frames. We are beating about the bush for something new, while I suppose we have the very thing we are looking for, if we would only lay our pi'ejndice aside and use it. Any thing which will space the top-bars only will not do, for the whole frame must be rigidly fixed if exact spacing is necessary. I am inclined to think some kind of a closed-end-bar frame, or the Hoffman frame, or something on that order, is about the only thing that will entirely fill the bill. I hope you veterans will throw away all yoiu' prejudice, and give us something in that line that we can change to without too much cost. '%, A great many of us are using your Simplicity hive, frame, extractor, surplus arrangements, etc.; and while we might gradually change our frames, yet we can't very well change every thing. Ernest's notes are eye-openers to many of us. I wish some of our friends who use closed-end frames would write and give us their advan- tages. I think we have heard of their disad- vantages. J. H. Hill. Venice, Fla., Sept. 29. We are veiy glad to inform you that we have- something for just such bee-keepers as yourself, and you form a very large class. The following will just about hit you: A CHEAP WAY OF MAKING THE HOFFMAN FRAME OUT OF FRAMES ALREADY IN USE. Here is another modification of the Hoffman frame. Tack one piece on each end-bar, on opposite sides of the frame. They don't cost much, and are easily taken off when you get tired of spacers. J. F. McIntyre. Fillmore, Cal., Sept. 13. The idea is not entirely new, as you will find it already mentioned and dia- gramed on page 425 of current vol- ume. There is this difference: You would use it wedge-shaped and beveled at the top as well as at the bottom. In my opinion it is the best spacer for the hanging frames already in use. It is very cheap, and can be easily discarded if not justified by tests. It should be understood that this is not a real Holf man, because the top-bar is not. widened out at the ends. This latter the inventor regards as a very important feature. So if you discard the one above illustrated, it does not necessarily sig- nify that you would the Hoffman, for a similar reason. E. R. ^ ^ HONEY CANDYING. / POLLEN ON THE BEES' BACKS. In your foot-notes to friend Cleveland's arti- cle, page 714. you say that certain kinds of nec- tar will candy very soon after being gathered. My experience, running through several years, is that any kind of nectar will granulate under certain conditions. Friend C. says that lots of his made sugar before being capped over. My honey did the same thing, but not till we had cool wet weather. In I88.1 it was wet and cool prelty much all summer, and the honey would granulate as fast as the bees gathered it. This is my reason for saying that all kinds of honey will granulate. If the weather is warm and dry while being gathered, and remains so till it is thoroughly ripened and sealed, in my opinion it will rarely ever candy. I do not remember hav- ing ever seen any sourwood honey granulated. I wonder if it is not owing to the acid nature of the tree. The aster honey will granulate as soon as extracted, owing, I suppose, to the cool fall weather in which it is gathered. As to pollen on the backs of the bees, it is pe- culiar here only to the cotton-bloom. We know when cotton honey is coming in, by the yellow dusty appearance of the bees' backs. I think this is appropriated by the hive bees, as it is gone from the bees' backs when they come out 18S0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 781 for another trip. This accumulation on the back is accidental, of course, as it is not the proper jjlace to carry jjollen. Bees are wise creatu*^s, and take advantage of circumstances to advance their ends. A. L. Beach. Pineville. N. C, Oct. 11. Friend B., your suggestion is something 1 have not thought of before. You may be right; and since you have turned our attention to it. our readers can doubtless give us facts enough to decide the matter pretty soon. If it be true, the present season should be a very bad one for liquid honey. We still have customers who in- sist on returning honey as soon as it candies, and no amount of explanation helps the matter. Such people will have to have a grade of honey like the California sage, that does not candy. 0a^ QaE?JFi6N-B©^, With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. Question 171. Is a queen at her best in her first or second year? Yes, both. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. In her first full season of egg-laying. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. Her first full season averages the best with us. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. In her second year, to the best of my judg- ment. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MuTH. If hatched in July or August, her next season is her best. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. I should say they average equally well both years. California. S. R. Wilkin. I should think the first season after her first winter. Wisconsin. S. W\ E. France. I doubt whether there is any difference, but I may be mistaken. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. First, always. They may, and usually do, last two years. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. Generally, good queens are as good the second and tiiird year as the first. . Illinois. N. W. ■ Dadant & Son. I consider the first year of the queen's life the most valuable, all things considered. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boahdman. I rather incline to the opinion that a very early qeen is at her best the first season: but I ■do not feel much confidence about the matter. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. That depends. I have had queens that wer<^ at their best when two months old. and others when three years old. It is needless for me to say that the latter were the most profitable s. spring count. I increased to 28. I removed half the queens from May 28 to June 5. I tried to get a young laying queen by June 15, but failed. I missed a cell in some, and in others they started cells on very old comb, so many swarmed out. But they invariably swarmed out in the afternoon of the day before the young queen came. Of course, they returned then. Should, we have a rainy day it would break the rule. I never saw that in print, or noticed it in colonies that had swai'med and cast a second. I suppose, as they were kept at home so long, they were so anxious to take a trial flight. Three failed to swarm at all that had queens. I am satisfied with the system and the honey produced. It is regular, and very fine in appearance. SELLING SECTIONS BY THE PIECE INSTEAD OF BY THE POUND. Pottstown has nearly 15,000 people, and over fifty grocers. One man sells by weight; the forty-nine sell sections of honey by the piece. The man that sells by weight sold No. 1 honey from Muscatine. Iowa, for 11 cts. per section last spring. He is no profit to the bee-men, be- cause he beats down prices. About six or eight of my hives had about 45 lbs. in the brood-nest at the end of the harvest, or my crop would have been 1000 lbs. Several I contracted to five combs, then I got it all with- out a queen in the hive. W. W. Kulp. Pottstown, Pa., Sept. 4. Friend K.. it is possible that the man you mention makes a success by feeding back, pro- viding he does it only to finish up sections partly filled, providing he also gets a large price for comb honey and a comparatively small one for extracted. At the present time there is quite a wide difference in the market, nice comb honey bringing very neai'ly if not quite double the price of the liquid. If only one man out of fifty in Pittston sells honey by weight, I do not know but that I shall have to give up; but it is something that I had hardly ever heard of when the matter was first mentioned. I am sure there are very few places in our State where sections are sold by the piece. Now, if this is going to be the rule, we as bee-keepers ought to do all we can to have our sections uni- form in weight. I know that, in many places, there is a growing disposition to get rid of pen- nies, and I do not know but that this is the right thing to do. A few days ago I told our wagon man to reduce the price of the small sugar pumpkins lo half a cent a pound. He said, after a while, however, that it was too small business, and that people were just as well sat- isfied if we told them that the pumpkins were 5 cts. for the small ones and 10 cts. for the large ones. I have many times thought that the time is coming when we can not afford to waste time over pennies. The five and ten cent counters, you know, have been a move in the right direc- tion. Quite a few berry-growers have written me that they are obliged to sell berries for eith- er 10 cts. a quart or 15— that people would not have any half way about it. In fact, we are coming to this a great deal ourselves. We use pint boxes altogether for berries, and sell them at either 5 cts. a box or two boxes for 15 cts. For very choice berries we sometimes get 10 cts. a pint. Now, in view of this, our honey should be put up in such quantities as to be sold at 10, 15, or 20 cts. a package. Perhaps the very thin ones or flat ones had better be sorted out. If a customer wants two sections, he might be given a thick and a thin one, so as to make it fair. MOBE ABOUT WATEKING-PLACES FOR BEES. In answer to the inquiry of John Burr, page 713, I will say that, three years ago, when tliere was no prospect of a honey crop, I rented a large farm, and went to raising other crops. On the farm was a large artificial pond; and whenever the bees had occasion to carry water they went to the pond for it, the soft mud being at times almost covered with the striped Ital- ians. They bothered nowhere else. This sum- mer they were so thick around my watering- trough that on some days the animals could not be induced to approach the trough until the bees had retired in the evening. We also had a small out-apiary near a road that is much used. At the road was a well and trough. The bees troubled the neighbors very much, and attacked a team that had stopped for water. The team ran away, and the occupant (a woman) was considerably hurt. Now, I have determined to construct a pond on my premises, for the bees to get water. The warm stagnant water seems to be just what they want. CATFISH. When on the farm, as already mentioned, I put some catfish spawn into the pond this sea- son, and the occupants of the farm have been catching some of those " cats " a foot in length, and delicious as only catfish are. You see, I shall make my pond answer a double purpose. The pond will draw the bees from the well, and raise fish for the family, and the presence of the fish in the pond will prevent the \\ ater from becoming stagnant to a degree of inihealthful- ness. Besides, I can arrange it so as to be a very convenient watering-place for my stock without allowing the stock to go into the pond. Centerville, la., Oct. 4. G. B. Repi-ogle. Friend R., within a little distance from our apiary is a pebbly brook, and in the summer time the water stands only in holes and hollows of the rocks a great part of the time. This creek is out of everybody's way, and it is often 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 785 so fiiFl of bees thiit tlie liorses iirc afraid to cross the brook when cultivating. Perhaps otliers may malve use of such brooks. Your reniai'ks about catlish suggest something that I have not thouglit about before; namely, that carp-ponds are really a part of a bee-keeper's outfit. Our bees seldoin go to the carp-pond, howevin-, be- cause the brook below it is so much handier. KEENEY S METHOD OF WIKING; VSING TACKS INSTEAD OF WIKE NAILS. I have been using the Hatch plan of wiring frames, as given on page 561. and I have found something I like better than either staples or wire nails to fasten the wire on. It is 14-oz. Swede-iron tacks. Drive the tack about >« of its depth in the -'n -inch end-bar. placing them in the same position that Mr. Hatch does the staples or wire nails. Take spool wire (not coil), and run the wire the same as he does, leaving all wires loose except those running from 2 to 3 and 4 to 1: draw those tight. After the wire is on, stand four frames on end, and drive the tacks home, or until the wires are drawn as tight as you like them. I find the wire will break every time before the tack will pull out. The advantage over staples is. one can work much faster, and no waste of wire; and over the wire nails you can draw your wires just where you want them. The wire should be wrapped two or three times around the tack, to make it hold well. If the above is of any use, give it to the bee-keepers. Delavan, Wis., Aug. 11. F. E. Burrows. You can use tacks, but you are obliged to sacrifice the two side perpendicular wires, which we regard as so necessary. On this ac- count we should much prefer the hooked wire nails. CANDIED irONEY FOR WINTERING. Will the bees winter safely on candied honey ? If not. what can I do, not having any extra brood-combs? Frank W. Lighton. Willianisport, Pa., Sept. 14. As a rule, bees will winter all right on can- died honey; but sometimes, when it is candied very hard, as honey from special plants does at times, it seems some seasons the bees do not seem to get along so v.-ell with it. When the weather becomes very warm, however, say late in the spring, they will bring water and work it up. When there happens to be a dearth of bee- pasturage between fruit-blossoms and white clover, so that the bees need feeding, candy can be used to good advantage. a good report from MRS. AXTELL. Our bees are again nicely at work filling their hives with honey. We have strong hopes they will fill up for winter without having to feed. Our home apiary here on the prairie is getting more honi'y than the timber apiary, foui- miles away, although there is much more waste land in the vicinity of tin; timber apiary; but our bees at home always average more honey per colony, except early in the spring, when they get more from tlu' trees. If we do not have to feed the honey taken from them in the spring, there will be fair returns f(ji' the men's labor u|)oii tliem, and the jjieasure I have had with tliem \\ill repay me for my work. The bees come in heavy laden now. They look so big and heavy an I yellow and soft and clumsy, like baby bees, that it is easy to handle them now. What a delightsome business this bee-keeping would be if they were storing honey the whole year round! Everybody then would be bee- keepers, and honey would be so cheap we could hardly give it away. Mrs. L. C. Axteli>. Roseville, 111., Sept. 5. WHAT I DO WITH PROPOI.IS. When my husband wentinto the bee-business, propolis used to he a souire of trouble to me. If thrown on the ground, it stuck to the children's bare feet, and to every thing thatcame in contact with it. I now save it and use it to seal jars of fruit with. I have gooseberries, currants, and other fruit, put in jars. Any ordinary cover will do. Seal it well around with propolis, and it will keep well. Mrs. Kurr. Braceville. 111., July 25, 1890. Well done, my good friend. I have insisted for long years that propolis must be good for something, and now you have hit it exactly. We all know that it will stick to tin, glass, or any thing else; but does it never get soft in very hot weather ? miller's PLAN OF AN APIARY; FURTHER SUGGESTIONS. Allow me to say, in reply to Ernest's com- ments on my article, page 524. July 15. that, after I had written the article, I concluded the distances I had allowed were too little, but thought I would not re-write it. as every one would be likely to make the distances to suit himself, if any should try the plan. I would allow ample space, yet not more than necessary, as this makes more work for the lawn-mower. I prefer to use a scythe to keep down the grass outside and around the apiary, as it does not need to be cut as often as that among the hives; and one accustomed to using a scythe can, with a good keen one, do a respectable job on a lawn. QUEENS, LAYING OF. Some time ago. in passing through the apiary I concluded to look at some young queens that had hatched in colonies that had cast swarms. The que(Mis wer(^ some two oi' three weeks old. I opened a hive and found two. three, and some- times four eggs in a cell. I was somewhat sus- picious, and concluded to see what kind of a queen there was in the hive, if any. In a short time my eyes caught sight of her, one of the most beautiful queens I ever saw. I went to a second and third hive, and in all of them I found the same state of affairs. The colonies were strong, and from one of them, a one-story ton-frame hive, I had extracted 2(5 lbs. of honey a short time before. Those queens ai'e all good, and I write this as a warning to beginners not to be too hasty in deciding that thi-y have fer- tile workers oi' poor queens. S. E. Miller. Bluttton, Mo., Aug. 9. DIED FROM A BEE-8TIN6. We inclose a clipping from the Syracuse Evening iIer«7cZ, of Aug. 28. The doctor that lives next door to us says Mr. B. died from the shock. He says some i)eople have died from the shock caused by having a tootli extract(>d. Syracuse. N. Y., Aug. 28. F. A. S.xliskurv. La Fayette. Auo- 28.— The death of Alexander S. Haker yestetilay occurred under very peculiar cir- (•unistiiiices. He diefl fioiii the effects of ii small Iioiiey-bee stinfr, mid williiii ten minutes after being- stung-. August 8th Mr. IJaker wiis stung- on the back of his neck and hecame unconscious, remain- ing- in tliat condition tor an liour or more. On Wednesday he was stung: on the end ot his nose, and the effect "was similar to his first experience, and proved fatal. Some years ag-o Mr. Baker kept an apiary and 786 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 1. nearly kist his life then by being- stung. This was thirty-two years ago. He was verjMll at that time, and since tlien his inilse has been as low as forty-five almost luibitually. Five years ago he was stung wilh ni'iiily llie same cflcet. On Wt'chicsday Mf. liakcr was in the garden at his farm iiii'kiijfi- lioiins when he was stung-. He went into the house as hurriedly as possible, and told one of tlie meuibei-s of the family wliat had happened, with the remark that he was sick at his stomach. Tho.se were his last words. He died immciliatcly. Dr. Morris, who was called, says in desi-riliinj? the case that Mr. Baker died from "constitutional sus- ceptibility." ^EP0^¥g ENC0ai^;^6iN6. FHOM 18 TO 20 LBS. PER HIVE. I am now taking off my honey. I am getting from 18 to 'M lbs. per hive— about a third of a crop. I have 19 colonies. F. liuuK. BraidwQod, 111., Sept. '.lO. A NICE LOT OF HONEY. There has been an abnndance of white clover; also the flow of basswood was good, so tliat we have a nice lot of honey. Our bees liave not worked on buckwheat. John Heihuck. . Gerry. N. Y., Sept. 23. BEES DOING SPLENDIDLY. Bees here are doing well on buckwheat and heartsease. We had a fine crop of basswood, and indications are favorable for a good fall honey-flow. Theo. Walker. Denison, la., Aug. 30. honey crop excellent. The honey crop is good in quality and fair in quantity. From 80 colonies I have taken .5000 lbs. of comb honey. This is the largest yield since I commenced bee-keeping. Eddyville, N. Y., Sept. 22. C. H. Avails. honey crop about an average. Our honey ci'op will be about an average one. We shall get about SO lbs. of surplus per hive. Very few bees swarmed, and are therefore very strong. J. L. Gandy. Humboldt, Neb., Sept. 8. 14 TONS OF HONEY'. We have been in the business for 14 years. The bee-business goes well with our family. We extracted this year 14 tons of choice sage honey. California wild sage makes the best of honey. I have just returned from a trip through Colorado, hunting a market for honey and horses. Our home market for honey is very good, so we will sell at home. Our' bees are mostly blacks. Ciias. LaSalle. Lompoc, CaL, Sept. 12. 40 lbs. pei{ colony. I noticed in the last Gleanings, Sept. 15th. that reports from this State are rather discour- aging, so I send you my experience to partly balance it. Last spring 1 had three good culo- nies of Italians in the Root chaff hive. I now have seven colonies, and have taken 40 lbs. per colony of comb honey, mostly heartsea.se. Choice 1-lb. sections sell for 20 cts. per section. Bees are in splendid condition for winter. J. E. Leyda. Weeping Water, Neb., Sept. 26, 1890. UPAVARD OF 200 LBS. PER COLONY. This is a comparatively new country, there- fore our bee-industry is young, light, and limit- ed; but few of us own 50 colonies of bees, most of which have done well with proper care. My bees have averaged uijwaid of 200 lbs. of honey to the colony, and but slight increase of bees. My best record is 330 lbs. of strained honey, no inci-case. I sluill try to beat tluit record next year. Bees are all in good condition for win- tei'ing. Average pi'ice of honey is 10 cts. per lb. Elsinore, Utah, Oct. 6. N. B. Baldavin. Well, friend B., that is pretty good for this season of poor reports. We should have been glad to know of the source of such a great crop of honey. I wonder if it is not the sweet clover that I wrote up after my visit to Utah. encouraging for asters. Please identify the inclosed plants, white and purple. The bees are very busy on it, my scale hive showing 3}4 and 2 lbs. per day when the \\eatlier is favorable, and working only from 10 to 4. J. B'. Enos. Connellsville, Pa., Oct. 8. Well, friend E., that is a jjretty good report — 3K lbs. a day as late as Oct. 8. We have been in the habit of taking it for granted that little if any honey is gathered as late as October, in our locality; but the fact you furnish encour- ages bee-keepers to be slow in deciding that all hope of a honey crop is at an end then. STRAAVBEKRIES AND BEES. I raised this year 944 qts. of strawberries on 3i of an acre. Last year at this time, from seven colonies I got 9.50 lbs. of white-clover honey in 1-lb. sections; this year from 21, 320 lbs. W. E. Thompson. Laddonia, Mo., Aug. 23. Why, friend T., you are an old "wheel-horse," to be sure, if you continue to make such good yields as you mention in the above, both in honey and in strawberries. Why didn't you squeeze out a few mori? quarts and make it a thousand from an eighth of an acre? A GOOD REPORT. I had an increase of 91. I exti-acted 22.130 lbs., and obtained, in 1-lb. sections, 1600 lbs. The bees are in good condition now. Tropico. CaL, Sept. 19. J. J. Cole. Well done, old friend; but you did not tell us how many colonies you had to commence with. I am exceedingly glad to know that you have really got a good thing in your California in- vestment. I will explain to our readers, that friend Cole purchased an apiary at the foot of the mountains. I went over there to look at it, just about the time of the purchase. The ranch was supplied with water which came down from the mountains in — what do you suppose? Why, in cane fish-poles that grow plentifully in the neighborhood. The only drawback was, that the cayotes, or the prairie wolves, had discovered that they could get wa- ter by chewing up the fish-poles. As this saved them traveling half a mile or more, it became a favoi'ite pastime. But, oh my! was it not vex- atious to the proprietor? As the fall was con- siderable, when the canes were broken the water would frequently spout up in the air to a great height. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 787 42,000 LBS. OF HONEY. Our soason is over. Wo luivo about half a crop: I got 28,m) lbs. of extracted honey; 14,000 lbs. of comb honey, and about 400 lbs. of bees- wax. I have a 7-franu' autonuitic extractor, and I have, a double honey-tank holding seven tons and a half at one time; and a large solar extractor. C. P. Lane. Warthan. Cal.. .July :.'■">. pieiEg ^]V[D QaE^iEg. TWO BAD SEASONS. The past two seasons have been very hard for bees in this vicinity. Mine have not made a pound of box honey this season. It has been the poorest but one for 25 years. H. H. Webber. Monroe Center. INIe., Sept. 15. bees working on parsnip. I saw in Gleanings of Oct. 1. page 713. about bees working on parsnip. I raised parsni|)-seed in my gaixlen. and the bees worked on it (>very pleasant day while in bloom. 1 think it a good honey-plant. We can find out another year. Mrs. M. E. Tanner. North Woodbury, Ct., Oct. 20. tKX) LBS. from 21 STOCKS. My honey crop for this poor season foots up over tiOO lbs. in 1-lb. sections from 21 hives. Too late. Last-year swarms in gums ai'e doing nothing above their living. As a general thing, among the old class of bee-keepers the honey crop has been a failure in these parts. Pine Grove, O., Sept. 27. S. Daniels. an increase of 10 COLONIES FROM A 3- FRAME NUCLEUS. I received from you last Septc^mber one three- frame nucleus, which wintered in good shape and increased this year to ten colonies, which are strong enough to winter all right; and extracted l.o.i lbs. of alfalfa honey. Keating, Ore., Oct. 5. A. S. Love. [You did well.] CHANGING queens. This will not stop the nameless disease. I had five queens last year from St. Louis, and introduced them to my bees. They are affected by the disease, and they are worse now than before. Fred A. Hund. Casco, Mich., Oct. 6. [Friend H., we hardly think the above is conclusive, for the queens you received may have bwMi fiom colonies afflicted in a like man- ner. I think giving the stocks new queens from an apiary that never had the disease will put an end to it — at least, we have never known it to fail.] ITALIANS ON GRAPES. I find the Italian bees I bought this year sur- pass hyl)i'ids in one thing — th<'y are always on hand wiieic there is (ui}/ clutiice. If a bee gets drowned in sorghum it is an Italian: while the gi'apes on our house-arbor, after thi' rains cracked them, were like a swarm, and all Ital- ians. This was the first time I ever saw any havoc by bees to grai)es. W. N. Root. Assumption. 111., Oct. 0. [I know this is true of the Italians, many times. Very often the Italians will be at woi'k on red clover while the l)lacks are woi'king on rotten fruit, and hanging around cid<'r-mills.] A STONE BUILDING FOR BEES. How would you prepare the following build- ing for wintering bees ? I have a stone build- ing 12 feet long, 10 wide, 8 high, with a common shingle roof, in which I wish to hive 35 colonies of bees, all in 8 and 10 frame Langstroth hives. Mt. Horeb, Wis.. Oct. 9. E. C. Elver. [If your building is frost-proof, pile them up in rowswitlioul bottom -boards, a hi lioardman, or as is explained in our latest A U C of Bee Culture. Stone buildings have not been found very successful — at least, so far as my experi- ence goes. They are apt to be damp and cold, and they do not 'dry out as well as the sawdust- packed rej)()sitories.] APPLE-TREES FOR SHADE. I should like to l)e informed how much shade a swann of l)ees will do tiie best under. thri)\igh the summer season. Is the shade of large apple- trees too dense? I have some swarms standing directly under quite large apple-trees, where the sun shines on the fronts of the hives less than half the time. A. P. Fletcher. Proctorsville, Vt., Aug. 31. [Apple-trees, if not too large, and the foliage not too dense, form excellent shade for hives. A young orchai-d makes, therefore, a very nice place. For fuither particulars, see the ABC of Bee Culture.] getting young plants from STRAWBERRIES SET IN AUGUST. The 24 Gandy strawberry - plants sent me Aug. 5th have sent out lifty runners, and the Haverland has sent out quite a number, all do- ing splendidly. I lost but one plant out of 96, and something cut the root of it. If the weath- er continues nice for three or four weeks, I shall get 100 sets from them. P. M. Byerly. Farley, la., Sept. 10. [Friend B., in our locality I think we could safely get double the number, with a favorable fall like the present one.] WHEN TO MOVE A WHOLE APIARY' 100 YARDS. Mv bee-yard is within six feetof my dwelling, and within twenty feet of the public highway, with no obstruction intervening, save small fruit-trees, peach, quince, and pear. When I established it there I took no thought of in- crease. It now numbers over 20 stands. Should I live and retain my present and ever increasing interest I mu.st remove them to a spot more re- mote from pul)iic travel. I desire to place them about 100 yards from their present location. Will you tell how to do it, and when? Guys, Md.. Sei)t. 29. Wm. S. Adams. [Move this winter, after the bees have been confined for awhii<^] HOW TO MAKE GKEEN-TOMATO PIE. I wonder if the readers of Gleanings know that green tomato(>s are excellent for i)i(!S. If you have never tried them, ask i\Irs. 11. to make one. Here is a recipe: Prepan^ the tomatoes as you would apples. Take ^ cup of sugar: 2 heaping teaspoons tlour; stir sugar and tlour together, and spread on the bottom crust: then add tomatoes and two table- spoons vinegar, and a little Imtter. Put on ui)- per crust, and bake. Cut the i)ie into as many pieces as you wish. I think four is small enough. " S. H. Hough. Saybrook, ()., Sept. Ki. THE BOOK AND THE STRAWBERRIES. The book on strawberries is at hand. Thanks. The strawberry-i)lants are all grow- ing nicely, and it certainly is a delight to see 788 GLEANINGS JN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 1. them grow. Havprlands and (Jandies com- menced tlirowing out. runners riglit away, and starting new plants. I want to ask you one question: Will the mother-plant do to set out in the spring with the young plants, and culti- vate according to instructions (that is, will she throw out I'unners) next summer ? Tatesville. Pa.. Sept. 18. G. H. Knisley. [Yes, but it is not considered as good.] THE STING OF THE RED ANT OF TEXAS WOKSE THAN THOSE OF A DOZEN BEES. I notice in Glp:anings. of Sept. 15. that Mr. Geo. E. Hailes, of Lytle. Tex., gives an account of red ants attacking his liees. Now. remember tliat was just after a rain, and in July, so the ants were swarming. They always swarm just after a rain. Red ants that live in the ground never bother bees. I have four or five ant-beds in my bee-yard. You seem surprised to hear that an ant-sting is worse than a bee-sting. That is because you are not acquainted with them. They are not nearly so large as a bee, but are all "pizen." I would rather be stung by a dozen bees at one time than one red ant. Tliey are nearly as bad at hurting as a scorpion. If you have a remedy for exterminating red ants, JDlease turn it loose in Texas. W. F. Elliott. Clio. Tex.. Oct. 4. IStK). SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOE A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. That art on which a thousand millions of men are dependent for their sustenance, and two hundred millions of men expend their daily toil, must be the most important of all— the parent and precursor of all other arts. In every country, then, and at every period, the investigation of the principles on which the rational practice of this art is founded ought to have command- ed the principal attention of the greatest minds. Jamks F. W. Johnston. OUK BEAUTIFUL FALL AVEATHER. At present writing, Oct. 25, we have not yet had a frost to injure lima beans and tomatoes — that is, up around the windmill they are unin- jured. A frost injured some things a little on the lower grounds a few nights ago. There is something queer about the weather this fall. A great many times it has cleared off cold, and we have had every indication of a severe freeze; but before morning the temperature would let up, and the frost that started so fiercely the night before did not amount to much after all. We had the same state of affairs a yeai- ago. Yesterday we had green peas for breakfast, both Stratagem and Ameri- can Wonder, and I never ate sweeter or nicer peas in my life. For diniu^r we had Living- ston's Gold Coin sweet corn. It is as yellow as old gold, and almost as sweet as any sweet corn, having at the same time a slight field- corn flavor. There has been quite a little dis- cussion about the propriety of putting it in our forthcoming catalogue. The only difficulty is. that it increases the number of varieties of corn further than we want it. Tomatoes are still ripening slowly. This year, whenever I put in a crop so late that I thought it might possibly have a chance to mature, we hit it just right; and so many things often hold out longer than we expect, I rather like the idea of sowing late crops, even if there are a good many chances for them to be a failure. We are still picking wax beans, and have a fine crop of Eclipse beets, about as large as hens' eggs. Cabbages are so plentiful we are offering them at half a cent a pound. Not so with cauliflower, however. There hap- pens to be a scarcity, so we are getting 15 cents per lb. for the handsomest Snowball cauliflower we ever raised. All insect enemies have van- ished, and every thing in the caljbage and tur- nip tribe is growing with great luxuriance, un- liarmed by any insect foe. This is another ad- vantage with late stuff. We have single stalks of White Plume celery weighing 3 lbs., and we are still getting 10 cts. per lb. for first class. Just think of iti 30 cts. for a single root of cel- ery! The New Rose is growing finely, but it lias not matured enough to use yet. We are now selling heads of Grand Rapids lettuce, weighing two or three pounds, at the low price of 5 cts. i)er lb. Beautiful parsnips bring 3 cts. per lb. Chinese Rose winter radish now " takes the cake " over every thing else. They are al- most as mild as a very sweet turnip; and when first washed and put on the wagon, the delicate rose color makes them more attractive than any thing else in tlie radish line. They bring 10 cents per dozen radishes. Spinach is large enough to gather, but we have enough other stuff so that we do not need it. Our Hubbard squashes are all gathered, and stored in slatted potato-boxes, out of the way of the frost. We have beautiful Ignotum tomatoes on the table every day, gathered right from the field. Served with sugar and cream. I believe I like them fully as well as yellow peaches; and when peaches are so high that you have to pay 30 cents per lb. for evaporated ones, with the skins on, I tell you it is quite an item to have plenty of tomatoes out in the field. Every thing up on the hill by the windmill is so far uninjured by the frost; so you see that it pays a market- gardener to have a hill for late supplies, as well as to have a rich creek-bottom garden. We have the handsomest turnips that I ever saw or heard of. The Purple-top White Globe is still our favorite. Now is the time to get ready your green- houses or cold-frames. Lettuce, beets, spinach, cabbage-plants for cold-frames, winter onions for use when the ground is frozen, rhubarb, radishes, etc., should be growing in beds, to be covered with glass later. I am decidedly in favor of movable glass of some shape or sort; and then I would leave the glass off just as long as possible without injury to the plants. RAISING STRAWBERRIES JTTST LIKE CORN. Friend Root: — I've just finished reading the "A B C of Strawberry Growing." and it has stirred me all up. It's a good book, isn't it? How I wish the busy times of bees and straw- berries didn't come together, that I might try my hand at it again, and see how much better I could do with the increased light! The proportionate prices of land and labor make a good deal of difference as to the wisest plan of raising strawberries. If land is very high, and labor very cheap, then it may be best to use the single-hill plan, and persistently keep down all runners. On the contrary, if land is cheap and labor dear, the very reverse may be best. As this is the condition of things among many of your readers in the far West, it may be well to tell how I raised strawberries by the acre, years ago, on land that cost *32 per acre, near a village. The ground was prepared ex- actly as for corn, and you must remember that, in some new countries, we have very rich land for corn. The land was marked as for corn, marking both ways, one plant set at each cross- mark, and then the ground was cultivated both ways, and the runners allowed to run and set at their own sweet will. As the runnei\s naturally incline to spread in all directions, nothing bet- ter could be done than to let them alone. In addition to the cultivating, a little hoeing kept down the weeds, and in some places this might not be necessary on new ground. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 789 Now, I don't say this is the bost plan; but don't you think that many a farnior out West who thinks ho can"t fuss to raise strawberries miglit tie induced to do so if he were told how little trouble would supply his table? Just tell him to set one corner of a corn-Held to straw- berry-plants, and cultivate them with the corn, the only difference being in setting tlie plants. Likely he may raise a question about mulching. Well, if that's going to scare him out of it. tell him I raised a paying crop without using any mulch whatever, and you know it's a good bit colder here than at Medina. TRIMMING. It may be presumptuous for one so much be- hind the times as I am, in matters horticultural, to suggest any addition to what has been said by two such experts as you and friend Terry. Nevertheless I know you'll let me "'speak in meeting," and will good-naturedly set me right if I'm away off. I see nothing said in the book, if I am not mistaken, about trimming, except to cut off the dead leaves, and perhaps cutting off' the ends of the roots. Now, I don't know of any harm that these dead leaves do except to be in the way; but I do know of harm that some of the iiving leaves do, in all plants that ever I have bought. If a plant be taken up by means of one of Root's transplanting-tubes. and set out at once, all roots intact, and the soil adhering, not a leaf should be touched. But if the plants have come from a distance, the chances are that many of the little rootlets are so injured that they will never work again, and the number of leaves must be diminished to correspond with the number of working roots left. So I always felt safest to trim off all leaves except the cen- ter one, besides cutting square across the ends of the roots so as to take off perhaps a fourth of the longest ones. These long straggling roots don't get well planted, and a number of good working roots will start from the freshly cut ends. PUDDLING. Has " puddling" gone out of fashion ? and is there something that I don't understand about it, that makes it better to lift the plants right out of water when set ? When plants are taken out of water, you know what a tendency they have to cling together — just exactly what you don't want them to do. Stick them back in the water, and they spread out in a natural posi- tion: but the minute they are withdrawn they try to get into a single rope. Thus planted, there will be places where no soil will touch the roots, and holes left between. Now, what is " puddling "■? Simply dipping the roots in vei-y thin mud. Take a dish or pail of water, and stir into it all the soil it will bear, so that, when you stick into it the roots of a plant, and shake the plant up and down a little, the roots will spread out in a natural position. Upon lifting out the plant, each root will have a coating of soil, so they can not cling together as when taken out of the water, and will go into the ground in lietter position and condition. If the " puddle" be too thin, not enough soil will ad- here to the roots; and if too thick, the roots will not readily go into it. Have too much soil in the bottom, and add water on top as often as needed. After puddling, the very tine little roots will stand out naturally, as you can not get them to do if you take them out of clear water. Leaving plants too long in cleai' water may injure them, and a puddled plant will not injure as quickly by drying. MARKING. In addition to the plans given for marking the ground, some might lind it convenient to use a plan practiced by nurserymen. They stretch a rope on the ground; then, pressing on it the blade of a ho(> in front of them, they slide the hoe along as fast as they can walk, leaving the impi-int of the rope in the soft ground. I have seen hoes with holes worn in the middle of the blade through much use of this kind. You ought to have a big vote of thanks for getting out so practical a book. C. C. Milleh. Marengo, 111., Oct. 20. Well, old friend, I do not know but we owe you a vote of thanks. I have several times felt a longing to try strawberries on just the plan you give, but our ground is too expensive, as you suggest. Cultivating both ways would certainly save a great amount of labor. We have practiced trimming— in fact, we always trim our plants before sending them off by mail; but after many experiments in sending out and receiving the plants, I am sure there are two extremes in the matter, and I would never trim them down to one leaf. We leave three leaves— counting the new one just push- ing out. We received 100 plants in August, from New Jersey, trimmed, as you suggest, to one leaf; but while they all lived, the growth has been very much slower than with others where there were two or three leaves left. Matthew Crawford and Mr. Little both express- ed themselves against trimming too closely, as they looked at the plants above mentioned. You give me a new idea in favor of puddling; and one reason why I have disliked putting the plants in a pail of water, is because the roots cling together in the way you mention. I shall try puddling again, with the additional light you give us in regard to it. My impression is, however, that the careful grower who really loves his plants will make them grow by almost any of the methods given. Pushing a hoe along the rope is another idea that will be val- uable to me. We have always made a mark by walking on the rope; but this takes too much time where one foot is put tight up with the other as we walk. PLANTING STRAWBERRIES IN THE FALL, IN FLORIDA. Friend Root:— I consider your "crop" de- partment one of the most interesting in Glean- ings, and I always delight to read it. 1 have iust read in the Sept. 15th number what you and S. P. \^)d(>r have to say under the above head. Here in Florida, all of the hundreds of thousands of quarts of lierries that are shiijped out of the State every year are grown on plants set, for the most part, in Septembei- 5Uid October. These plants b(>gin to b(>ar tlie tol- lowing January, and continue to bear until June These plants are not set " by way ot ex- periment," but by the acre; and. given the urouer season and attention, they pay well. Alva, Fla., Sept. 27. H. G. Burnet. "Friend B., circumstances are so different be- tween your locality and ours that there is no particul-ar application except tliis: Y'ou have demonstrated that a plant that grows in the fall may bear a gi-eat crop of berries the follow- ing spring; but I presume that with you, as a 790 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 1. matter of course, strawberry-plants grow every month in the winter time, and have no rest at all. Well, now, do you plow them under a;fter getting one crop, or do you keep the weeds out through all of the ensuing summer and get a second crop of berries from the same bed? And, by the way. what is to hinder you from getting a crop of berries in the fall, as they do in Cali- fornia? It seems to me that a timely applica- tion of water — that is, if you do not have it in abundance from the rains — may enable you to have strawberries for Thanksgiving and Christ- mas. UEDXTCING THE NUMBER OF VE6ETABI>ES, ETC. Dear Friend: — Perhaps you ai'e not aware of having a subscriber away down in old Tide Water, Va., who is depending so much upon you for valuable information in the horticul- tural line, and that I read Gleanings with great interest, and always await anxiously its arrival. Will you allow me the privilege of expressing my opinion in regard to your con- densed seed catalogue ? I think it is a capital idea, provided you cover the whole ground and include seeds for us large growers (the growers for the great Boston nuirkcts), as well as those who are growing tor (jnly a local market. Say, for instance, I am growing melons for the great market of New York. Were I to take your ad- vice, and grow Landreth's Extra Early, why, it would be the means of my losing a good deal of money. I grew watermelons last year as a field crop, and realized about 1100 net profit per acre, and it was due to growing the i"ight varie- ty— Kolb's Gem. In regard to your cantaloupes, while I have never grown Landreth's Extra Early, I can't agree as to the Emerald Gem and the Banana. My local market greatly prefers Miller's Cream; and while it is not so early, it is much the heaviest cropper; and my advice to my brother- truckers is, to grow the Hackensack or Acme, to ship. In regard to lettuce for outdoor culture, the way we cultivate it down here, I think the Tennis Ball variety is second to,none. I agree with you about tomatoes. I have ripe tomatoes from the same vines that I began to gather from the 10th of June (Ignotum). The coming season I expect to grow 3 varieties — Ignotum, Burpee's -Matchless, and Livingston's lieauty. I have never fairly tested the two latter. I think the only fault the Ignotum has is this: it won't stand dry weather, and will rot at the seed end. Now, Mr. Root, I am a very good friend of yours, and I advocate your advice everywhere. 1 have profited more by reading after you than after everybody else together; and I feel as if I knew you, and would like much to meet you. If you ever come to old Virginia, and don't call to see me, I shall not like it at all. I am a great friend to the son of toil; and if it is possible for me to speak in liis behalf I will take pleasure in doing so. E. L. Lipscomb. West Point, Va., Oct. 23. Many thanks, my good friend, for the valua- ble suggestions you give us; but instead of helping to reduce the number, you rather give us excellent reasons why we should enlarge it. Well, this is just about as I expected; and as diiferent localities and different markets re- quire special varieties, perhaps it is impossible to keep the number down so small as I had planned, especially for a general seed catalogue. J^Y^EIiF MB PY ]S[EI6HB6RP. COPY OF A PAPER PREPARED FOR READING AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION IN KEOKUK. IOWA. Have faitli in God.— Mark 11: !J2. Perhaps, dear fricMids, you think my text is a rather strange start-out for a paper on the honey-resources of the United States. May be it is; but I believe it is applicable to the subject in question, after all. For a little time back it has seemed to many of oui' bce-keejjing fi'iends as if oui'industry were going (low 11 hill. ^^'(' liavebeen ill danger of losing faith in liec-kceiiiiig; and I fear that some of us have been tempted to lose faith in the great Ruler of all things. How can a man be a successful bee-keeper, without faith in an all-wise overruling power? How can he, in fact, be successful in any thing, in this whole wide world, without faith in God? In working, and devising means, and in planning for the future, what incentive is there to push ahead unless we have this faith? Perhaps some of you will agree with me in a general way; but I wish to exhort you to-day, not only to have reverence and resjject for the all-wise Creator, but to have faith that he cares for us and loves us, and keeps watch over us, and hears prayer. During the past few weeks we have had an unusual amount of rainy weather — at least, such has been the case in Ohio and adjoining States. Men have planned, but God seems to have thwarted their plans by so much wetness. Shall we complain of him? Surely not. The words of oifi- text bid us have faith in God. Shall we grumble at his dispensations? By no manner of means. There are certain things we can control, but we can not control the weather — at least, we have not done so yet: therefore we may safely say, just now at least, that the weather is God's })art, and all we have to do is to attend to our part. Perhaps some of you say that I do not know what it is to have my bread and butter cut off by such unheard-of weather. I know something of it, dear friends. My crop of seed beans, including the bush limas, that are worth quite a lot of money, are still out in the wet. ^lany arc rotted and spoiled hopelessly. My special croji of seed corn, that I value a good deal, has not been dry enough in a month to do any thing with, unless each ear be hung up in a dry place, as it hangs on a stalk. I must lose it, or cure it at a great expense. But I have not looked sour nor felt ci-oss yet, although I sometimes have to say to myself, " Thy will, not mine, be done." It has been very perplexing for me to keep a large force of hands at work, for we do not send our men home when it storms, as many establishments do. Again and again have I asked God in the morning to give me wisdom in devising ways and means to keep my men at work, and at the same time have them work profitably. So far the answer has come, and I have often wondered how it was that things change around, and seem to dovetail one into another, in such a way as to call for just the man that I did not know what to do with next. Then how much happier one feels who has faith in God, and, as a natural sequence, faith in humanity! I fear, dear friends, that I should not have been away off here away from home, when so many things seemed toneed me, if it were not for faith in God and faith in you. I believe we shall al- ways be blessed and prospered in doing our duty, and duty seemed to call me here. Now, about the honey resources of our own country. My faith is brigliter to-day than it was a few years ago. I have prayed for oiu' in- dustry a good deal; and we have in our con- Vol. XVBII. NOV. 15. lb\H). No. 22. TERMS:81.00Per Annum, IN Advance; 1 Tp ,,4-^J~.l-^ nT% rt/I I'-n 1 Q 'V Q ( Clubs to diflferentpostoflices, not less 2Copiesfor81.90; 3foi$2.75; 5for84.00; I -C/dt'tC/tyt/t'O/t't'Ct/ l/rO ^ O / t> . | than 90 ct " ~ PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY 10 or more, Ifi cts. eaoh. Single num ber. 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be I Z^^:nTt^TsIfo'^.o^^.lV:'''''^'"'\A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO each. Sent postpaid, in the U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- 1 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. COMMISSION MEN. .SEI-LIXG HOXEY ON COMMISSION. I think we should all try to build up our own home market, and we can do so by persever- ance : but persons handling several hundred colonies of bees, and with no taste for peddling honey, oft(Mi find more of it on their hands than they can dispose of in tlic home market. Then it is that we are thankful for honest and trusty commission merchants. In the first place, I think people do not under- stand how to deal with commission men. as was the case when we began selling honey. The man who has honey or other farm produce for sale, more than he can wi'll dispose of at home, should go to one or more of the grocerymen in his nearest large town, and get the names and address of several commission men. and ask this grocer whether his dealings with such and such a man hav<> lieen fair and houoiabl.-, and note it down: then select the man he tliinks he can trust, and send to him for his circular giv- hig daily prices of farm produce. Possibly the producer has friends living in the city who could make inciuiries for him, for a trusty commission merchant. That business is like all others — some very honorable men are engaged in it, and some very dishonorable ones as well. Then write to the man. telling him that you have honey to sell, and that, if he wishes to handle it for you. you will S(>nd him some. Send as soon as jjossible afti'r his reply, biff, not before. Yet. one ne(>d not be in too big a rush, as w(> have found by much experiimce that the ai)iarist has plenty of time to sell liis honey during fall and winter, and we always get just as good prices during the early winter months as in the fall months: yet I would sell as fast a>< I could conveniently gi't at it after the first of Si'ptimibei'. as honey sidls most rapidly in October and November. We always try to shii) the first of the week, not iater than tlu' middle, that the honev may arrive at its destination the same week. The apiarist should accompany the honey to the cars if possible, and help load it on. spreading out i)aper to set it on, and see that it is piled in with the ends of the section to the end of the cai", the piles of cases not too high. The pile against the end of the car may be higher than the outside, and glass always inward, to avoid breakage. Sometimes we can get a through car, so that it will not have to be changed from one car to another, which is often the cause of broken honey. Sometimes we can send it in a refriger- ator car, which is a through car. and we could never see that the cold injured the honey. vS(muI the bill of lading in tlie letter to the commission merchant, telling him how much per pound you ask for the honey. Sometimes we may name the price too high, and he can not sell: in that case lie may hold yours and sell for others \\ho have not named so high a price: but generally he will not hold it long, as he wishes his goods to move off. and he will either sell or notify you the price is too high, so you can write him again, lowering it. Of course, you keep your- self posted on the honey mark(>t. He has no right to sell at a lower jirice until you give di- rections. If the apiarist names no price, the commission man. if he is honest, and wishes your patronage, will do just as well by you as if you named your own price: but if he is not honest, it gives him a chance to cheat you if you leave the i)rice with him. as I know they do sometimes sell at a better price tiian they leijort to the a|)iarist. If he is slow in writing you. write him again, and ask him how soon he will he sold out. and can handle more. Insist on having i)ay for as many i)oun(ls as are sent, fractions included. exce|)t. if the fractions result in less than ."> cents, it is usual to throw that in. Vet if the returns fall short ."> or 10 ll)S. on sev- eral hundred. I should say nothing about it: but if it fell short much inore I would instruct the commission man not to do so again, as it is not rnlable— at least, this is what our most 804 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 15. honest commission mercliant wrote us when we aslvcd him why it was his returns were so accu- rate, seldom falling short any in the least. The just weights, with fractions thei-eof, should be plainly marked on one end of the box of honey, and the commission merchant's address sten- ciled or plainly written on top, not on the side, so that the case need not be turned over to hunt the name. Do not send very large shipments at first un- til you can trust your man, and then it is better to have less at a time, and quick returns, if one wishes the money to use; and the apiarist can care for the bulk of his honey better at home than the commission merchant can, only seeing to it that he has it as fast as he can sell it. There is one advantage in sending large ship- ments— it is not quite so apt to be changed from one car to another, and consequently it is not so apt to be broken up. If an apiarist has honey enough to furnish a commission man all he can sell, so that he han- dles no other honey, that also is an advantage both to him and you. In that case it is well to ship to him just before he is out. Always write him kindly and firmly, as if you expected him to do what is fair and honest. Unless you are personally acquainted, never take a note from him after the honey is sold. If he has used your money, and says he can not pay you, it is a criminal act; for it is criminal to sell on commission and use that money to carry on his business. And if. after all care and painstaking, you are about to lose your money (which you will not do once in a hundred times, and perhaps never), you can put your case into the hands of a trusty attorney, to col- lect for you. He will charge about 30 per cent, which seems high; but sometimes he will do it for less, which probably would be cheaper for you than to make a trip to the city, if far off, and you are pressed with business at home. More than likely it would never have to be tak- en to court. If the attorney simply states the case to him plainly, the man would see that the better way would be to get the money for you. In Chicago, 5 per cent is rulable for selling on commission. In case of a loss when honey is shipped, get a statement from the freight agent where the honey was shipped or started, the numl^er of cases sent, and in what condition, and put it in a letter, with a statement from your commis- sion merchant of the amount of loss, and inclose with it th*e original expense bill, and send to the freight agent where the honey was consigned, for him to forward to the general freight agent of the railroad company. Do not send in an extravagant bill, but just what the lost honey would bring you, and you will always, in time, get your pay— at least, such has been our expe- rience. At one time we sent honey to two com- mission men. It was put together in the same cai'. One was received all right, and the other was badly broken up— so much so that 1500 lbs. was unsalable. In that case it was probably broken by the drayman, in transit from the car to the commission liouse. In very cold weather, several days before we ship honey we bring the cases of honey into a warm room, so that they may be thoroughly warmed through before starting; and, if packed compactly in a car, we think it not so apt to break down as to ship frosty combs. At any rate, we like to have it in the very best shape when it leaves our hands. We generally try to ship at the close of a cold spell, just as the weather begins to grow warmer, so that the honey may not be out in the coldest of the weather. Mrs. L. C. Axteli,. Roseville, 111., Oct. 22. My good friend Mrs. A., you have given us one of the best papers on this matter of selling honey on commission that we have ever got hold of. I was obliged to smile several times to see how thoroughly you have taken hold of evei-y little point; and 1 am glad to know that you enjoin more charity, and do not rush to the conclusion that all commission men are cor- rupt because a few of them are. A GOLDEN BEE-HIVE DISSECTED. NOTES FHOM THE SADDLE, AMONG THE MOUN- TAINS OF KENTUCKY. The writer, being engaged in the lumber and stave business among the mountains of Ken- tucky, meets with some novel sights and ex- periences. Perhaps a short sketch of some of these will not be without interest to the readers of Gl.EANIN(;S. Menifee County is the smallest, and, I dare say. the poorest county, in the State. It con- sists chiefly of extremely large hills or small mountains. Its mineral resources are fairly good, but entirely undeveloped. Timber is at present about the only available product. Large bodies of poplar, and much linn, besides a vast amount of other bee pasturage, doubt- less makes it a good locality for bee-keeping, and one bee-keeper informs me there is a " right smart of bees in Menifee;" but, so far as I can learn, they are almost entirely in anti'- quated box hives, or the still more primitive section of hollow log called a "gum." I talked recently with one man who has been keeping bees for many years, and who has yet to see a queen for the first time. A very common method of taking honey is to destroy the bees with brimstone, or, with bold- er ones, by breaking up the hives. Many bee- trees are to be found in the woods; and it seems to me that, if the little fellows were as shrewd as intelligent they would all, long ere this, have deserted their masters and commenced business on their own account. They could fare no worse, with a fair chance of very much improv- ing their condition by so doing. I thus far have met with but one man wlio has movable- frame hives. He has ten colonies, partly in box hives and partly in the notorious Golden hive, vended by Pickerl. Riding along the road with " Langstroth on the Honey-Bee " strapped to the pommel of my saddle (to while away the time while feeding and resting my horse, you know) I came upon this little apiary, with hives scattered about on stumps and rocks in the yard. Such a sight, sandwiched in between high hills and forests, as it was, had a peculiar charm for me; and seeing the owner near by I cordially greeted him with " How do you do, sir?" and met with the characteristic Southern response, " How d"y ?" After this, conversation ensued some- thing as follows: " How are your bees doing this season ?" "Oh, tolerable well." "I see you have some Golden hives. How do you like them '?" " Oh ! fine. They be the best tricks for keep- ing bees I've ever seed. One can take 'em all apart, and git right inside of 'em. They've got frames in 'em that come right out, and gives a chance to clean out the weevil that gets in 'em." "I think I see they are marked patented." "Yes, they're patented in 1877. Guess the patent 's about out on 'em. Man by the name of Pickerl 's bought the right for three States, Kentucky among 'em, and sold the right fur this county to Mr. , over on Slate. He sells 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 805 the riglit to make 'em fur one's own use fur 612. One man over liere tried making some of 'em without Iniyins tlie right, but they got on to it, and stopped liim. (luess tiicri'"!! he rigiit smart of 'cm nuidc as soon as the patent "s out on 'em. Did you ever see any thing like 'em befoi'e?"' "No. sir. T never did: but I have heard of them, and am for that reason somewhat curi- ous about them." " Well, they be right smart ahead of the old boxes. I'll transfer all mine into 'em next year. I took forty pounds off 'n that 'n over thar, bedsides a good swarm I got of 'em. I count that purty good. Don't you ?" "Yes. that is good: but how do you take the honey off? and how do you get the bees off fromit?" " Oh I I forgot to say that they furnish a smo- ker and feeder with the right. And that smo- ker is just the greatest trick for handling bees that can be. I can just blow a little smoke into the hive, and it tames 'em so I can take out the frames, and they don't sting at all. There's two sets of frames. The ones below, we don't git much honey from. Wejistblow smoke into the top fram(>s". and that drives 'em down so we can take out the top frames that has the hoiu^y. Then we can just cut it out of the frame and put It back in again. But may be you would like to see inside of the hive. I will go get the smoker and show you." I dismount, and tie up my horse. Ci'ossing the fence into the yard I meet him coming witli the smoker, puffing the smoke from cotton rags furiously. He turns the nozzle into the en- trance of the hive: and if there is any virtue in smoke, those helpless little fellows got the full benefit of it. After smoking them vigorously through the entrance he partially removes the cover by hammering and jerking it loose, and renews the smoking business from this point. He then ventures to remove the cover entirely, and I take a look into the hive. But my sym- pathies being fully aroused on behalf of the frightened and half-smothered little tenants, I thought they had received punishment enough on account of my curiosity: and after giving time for the smoke to escape I suggested that he cover the little fellows up. and I would show him how to open a hive without smoke. I crossed over to another hive, and. carefully removing the cover, I began taking out the frames, making a general examination of the constiuction of the hive, while my friend stands back and gazes in open-eyed astonishment. I then told him that a smoker is a convenient thing to have at hand, and sometimes serves a very good purpose when bees are disposed to be cross. But generally I have no use for it, and I regard his method of using it a positive cru- elty to the little fellows. And now. fi'iend Root, what a sight the inside of that hive would have pn^sented to your criti- cal eye I Why, if that man were a careful and systenuitic observer his shoi't experienc(; should enable him to give all you veterans pointers unlimited on the much - vexed questions of thick vs. thill, and wide vs. narrow toiJ-bars, end-bars, and bottom-bars: close vs. wide spac- ing; irregular spacing, device for exact sjiacing. etc.. for certainly he is trying all of them, and that, too, in one and the same hive. Every frame was a law unto ilsdf. as to thickness anil width of bars, size, and position. Siiaces ranged from IV to 2 inches from center to center, and this variaticm was .^^ometimes existing between the same two frames. The hives should have had two more frames in each tier tiian he was instructed to use in them. How it i)uzzled the brains of the little architects to accommodate their building to their mastei'"s j)laii. was l)iit too plainly evidenced in the wonderful varietv of combs they had built. Every style of comb was to be found there except straight. The exact-spacing device was unique if not practical. It consisted of two lath nails driven in one side of each top-bar. projecting from half to three-quarters of an inch. I closed the hive: and on being asked what I thought of it I told the gentleman that I had seen l)(>tter. but tiiat, with some very much needed improvements in frames, it would do, but that there was not a patentable idea in or about it. and that that part was a fraud. I then invited his attention to the book strapped to my saddle, and spent an hour in showing him through it. telling him of A. T. Root, the Home of the Honey-bees, the ABC book. Gleanings, etc.. with the result that he con- cluded he must have the ABC: and if he found it as I stated, he thought he could sell lots of them. I gave him directions how to re- mit, and promised that I would have a cata- logue and copy of Gleanings sent to him. Wheelersbui'g, O., Aug. 31. J. M. Bkown. It may be well to remind our readers that this Golden bee-hive is one that has a forged testimonial from Prof. Cook. Treat every one who tries to sell or talk Golden bee-hive, as you would treat a forger or counterfeiter. RAMBLE NO. 32. CONITNDRUMS: MAYDOLP: HAMMERS, ETC. When we left home it was our intention to return via Syracuse, Borodino, etc.; but "the best-laid plans of men and mice gang aft aglee." The force of circumstances found us away south of that line in Chemung Co. Here we found near and dear friends, and not many bee-keepers. Our relatives and even bee-keep- ers, wherever we went, were very hospitable, and did their best to entertain. Sometimes we were inclined to think they were overdoing the matter. With some of our talkative friends it was a steady run of talk until midnight. We couldn't get a chance to read the papers or write a letter; and even at meals, questions were answered with our mouth full of hot po- tato. Sometimes the man of the house and his wife would take tui'ns. If he stepped out. she would step in; and when both went out, the hired girl was sent in. Now, there is quite a difference in the quality of hired girls. Some are decidedly handsome and entertaining: they read the papers, read the poets, and ])lay the organ, and sweetly sing. With such a queen of the kitchen we didn't mind much how long the heads of the family did stay out. The smartest hired girl we met on our journey was not only musical, but full Df riddles, and let one drive at us the first thing. " Why do a dog's lungs give out first?" After many futile ett'oits we gave it up. " Because," says she, " it is the seat of his pants." Now. we had been sitting around in chairs rough and smooth, and we surmised that our pants wei-e getting rather thin in some parts, aiul we surmised that this girl was insinuating; but hef'oie we could change the subject she let drive another: "If the Devil loses his tail, where will he go to get anotiier?'' "Don't know, unless he would come to Mill- port and hunt up a hired girl." "Oh. no'." s;iid men. Ovei' sixty different styles uf hammcis arc made, and tons of steel iirc manufactured into oni' of the best hammers known; for a hammer with the Maydole mark upon it has a solid reputation. The hammer was never patented; and during our trip, every- body was harping on the one string, "dull times." IJut ill answer to our question as to dullness in the non-patented-hammer trade, I was told that the business had never seen dull times. Their oi'ders were away ahead of their manufacturing capacity, and they were preparing to enlarge their works. Mr. May- dole now i-ests in the cemetery, but his works live after him. The Rambler. Friend R.. there is a bright moral to your story of the Maydole hammer. The originator was an energetic, go-ahead son of toil, and he reaped his reward. Opportunities are constant- ly opening up in almost every avenue of work, to go and do likewise. " Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." CLOSED-END FRAMES. A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE SUBJECT. I had begun to write about a few results of moving bees with the wide and narrow end- bars, and the use of reversing wires, when to- day I received Oct. 35th (iLEANINGS. In it I see that you have nearly if not quite decided on the wide end-bar and the follower. I have in my possession a letter from you concerning a hive I wrote to you about, and almost fac-simile in parts: and iii it you say that it is too compli- cated. Now, I wish to give you two points tliat, within the past five years, I have had to deal with enough to make me cautious. First, that the follower must not come nearer than ^g of an inch to the bottom of the hive, or there will be some expensive mashing some time of a queen. Second, if you allow a lialf-inch space between that follower and the hive side, one of these days there will be some comb built in there during a sadden flow of honey, when it is least expected. On page 745 you have pictured a cross-section of nearly the hive that I have used and seen used — the staples and all. Now. I must say this for hives that are to be moved; and, in fact, for any other purpose. Those staples are not worth a fourth what your reversing wires are. I have carted bees around from place to place for over 15 years. Until I oiitained some of those reversing wii'es. I have not been with- out more or less frames and combs l)eing bro- ken from the top-bar. A sudden jar will start them somewhere, and those jars come when least expected; but with the reversing wires, all the strain comes on the center of the end- bar; and if the combs have been proi)erly han- dled they have been reversed enough to make them solid in the frame. Another feature of the wire is, that the spring in the end of it is of value in moving be- cause of the give that there is to it. I have just be(Mi moving quite a numbtn' of hives to have them in a safe place for winter: and al- though all tlu^ narrow hanging frames were wedged as tight as they could be, some of the all-wood top-bars were started, as they have been in years before. Many of those witli tin corners needed to have the pliers used on them to straighten them; but those with reversing 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 807 wires wore in no way iiijni'od. and some of all sorts were on the ^\■agon at the same time. Now to go back to the hive you are tliink- ing of: IL'^s- inside measure; wide, make it V2}4 or 123^. and use two followers ?^ or less thick, with the lag strips on both sides at the ends of the follower, and a i4-inL'h wedge. Those followers will and do spring. I have used the follower with th(> nari'ow frames for the past r.' years, alongside of hives without it. and the follower is woith more, from the ease that it makes in handling, than it costs, every season: and with two followei's in the hive with wide end-bars. 1h<' two followers are all ready to contract the hive to the combs in the center, be it .3. 4, or 5. for their winter and spring packing. There are a great many who will say. " Too many loose pieces;"" but actual use makes me think differently: and trying tiie Hoftinan- Langstroth frame since 1878. along \\ith the others, and the wide end-bar since 1881, I must say I will have only the wide end-bars for me on the new frames in the future: and I want them to be hanging frames too. I have used, since 188<). 1200 hanging frames with the revers- ing wires on: 300 of them were new wide-end- bar reversing frames, and they will continually replace all others. In 1884 and '8.5 I helped to make and use 4.5 hives that used the L. frame with I'^s end-bars, top and bottom bars ]1^4 long, held in place by tin I'abbets, top and bot- tom fastened by hooks. This made a perfect revei'sible hive and frame, separately or to- gether: but.no moi'e of them for me of the L. depth, and all the hive to reverse. They are too slow to handle, and are not as satisfactory as are the hanging frames. Neitiier do I want the standing frame, although there are plenty of nucli'i to be seen in several places made by setting up two or three wide-end-bar frames with a board on each sid(^ and a string tied around. It is fun sometimes to save a lot of cells in that way. It is simply two side panels and two or three combs in closed-end frames, and two wii-e springs from telephone wire bent thus ^^ — one snapped on to each end to hold the side panels in place. These side panels are just followers {)\ wide. 17?4 long, with ^g-lnch strips nailed on the ends on both sides. The back ends of the frames rest on the board if you like. They all pile away nicely in the fall and win- ter \\ hen not in use. I also see that you have taken note of the thick top-bars for "the prevention of the brace- combs, and that the scant bee-s|)ac(^ is another preventive of the brace-combs and climbers be- tween the crate and brood - frames. I have been using both thick and thin top-bai-s; but when the bee-space above the brood-combs was 3^ inch, the brace-combs w(>re missing. Un- less the space between the brood-combs and the space between the two sections correspond- ed, then there would invariably be a little ladder built: but with the inch-wide toi)-bar thei'e is far less chance: and an inch-\\ide to])- bar makes more difference than the thickness of it does. I have used top and bottom bars ^% thick up to 1^8 thick, and 1 have watched those used by others; but the si)acing above the combs makes more difference than all other causes i)ut together. I became convinced of the dift'eicnce of the space connected with brace-coml)s in the summer of 1884; and also that the scant si)ac<\ wIkmi the two stoi'ies w(!r(> used for extracting, this shallow space would be tilled nearly or quite full of propolis. Where I have cared foi' bees for tiie i)ast 12 years then^ have been a few localities whei'e cedars, hem- lock, tamarac, pines, and juniper abound, and in those localities, after the s\immer harvest is by, the bees take delight in gluing every joint tight that they can get th(> gum into. So there are two evils to try to dodge — the comb-braces on the \\ide space, and the projjolis on the nar- row space. Which is it to be ? and I am not the only one who keeps bees and is between the two tires? H. L. Jeffkey. New Milford, Ct.. Oct., 18iK). By consulting our sectional drawings on page 745, we find that we left ?4 inch below the bot- tom of the follower, .so we are all right on that score. About those staples: We have been ex- perimenting some on the driving of the same in closed-end frames; but on account of their twisting in driving we have decided that a good substantial wire nail, with a finishing head, such as is used by Mr. Tunicliff, is better. I agree with you, that a closed-end frame for the Dovetailed hive should be made to lutng rather than to stmid; but I shall have to disagree with you somewhat in regard to reversing- wires. These wires will all stick out so as to require a space between the ends of the frames and the end of the hive. For closed - end frames it is very desirable, and. I might al- most say, necessary, that the bees be excluded from the side next to the hive, otherwise they will propolize the outside as well as the inside places of contact between the uprights. E. R. SPACING FRAMES IN CALIFORNIA. A COMI'AIiATIVE TEST BETWEEN 1% AND l}4 INCH .spacing; a conclusive resui-t FOR 1%. I will give you some of my experience with spacers, spacing, and moving bees. About ten years ago, when I owned about 40 colonies of befis, I thought something to hold the frames the right distance apart would be a good thing, so I bought a lot of blind-staples and drove two in each end-l)ar on opposite sides of the frame, in all the frames in my apiary. I extracted from the brood-chamber then, and soon found that the staples would not do in frames that had to be extracted; so I pulled them all out and have not tried spacers since. If I were an- swering the (juestion on page (575 now. how- ever. I would say, "Yes. if you have learned the business so you do not need to look over all the brood-combs every week to know that a colonv is doing well." A frame like the modi- tied Hoffman would be less liother through the season than it would be to fasten all the franu'S twice a year for hauling. Tliis applies to brood-chambers only. Su|)er frames should never have any projections, and should nevei- be over % \\ide. I use a device in hauling bees that holds the frames, on tht> same principle as the Hoffman frame— that is. by making a solid bearing for three inches down the t>nd-bar. I think it was invented by R. Touchton. and is made as fol- lows: One piece is I4 x %.by as long as ycnir hive is wide inside; nine pieces }{ x % x 3 inch- es; nail the nine i)i(H"(>s to the first i)iece in the shajjeof agarilen-i'ake. l''*H inches from centcrto center, and sliove these teeth down betw(>en the end-bars. Before I came to California I always spaced my combs II4 inches, and, lik<' a good many others who are si)acing their combs that distance now, 1 thought it was right and best. When I came here I found most bee- keepers spacing their combs l^'^ inches. I was prejudiced against that distance, and changed 808 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 15. 200 colonies to \}4, and ran them that way for two years, side by side with others spaced Ifg". The hives spaced IJr reared more brood, stored much less honey above the brood in the brood- chamber, and consequently stored more in the supers, built less brace-comb between the top- bars, and reared less drones. I changed all my hives back to IM centers, and it would be a hard matter to induce me to even try l^-inch spacing again. I say that 1% is right for the brood-chamber, and from 1^ to 1% is right for the extracting super, with a queen-excluder between super and brood-chamber. My honey-ci-op this year is 37,000 lbs., all white and thick, and put up in new 5-gallon cans, two in a case. There is a war going on in California, be- tween new honey cans and cases, and second- hand oil cans and cases. The new cases cost 90 cents each, and the oil-cases cost 40 cents each. Dealers keep advising bee-keepers not to use oil-cans, and yet they will not pay the differ- ence In cost for new, cases. If it were not for the fact that oil-cases' are bound to hurt the market for California honey, we would all put our honey in them, for we can not affoi'd to pay from one to two hundred dollars a year to have Gur honey look nice, and not get any more for it. Fillmore, Cal., Sept. 26. J. F. McIntyre. UNITING BEES, ETC. FRIEND DOOLITTLE GIVES US MINUTE DIREC- TIONS JUST HOW TO DO IT. I have just been uniting up some weak colo- nies of bees, or, rather, large nuclei, as they would be more appropriately termed; and I liked the way I did it so well that I thought the readers of Gleanings might wish to know how it was done. In the first place, the queens in a part of the colonies were taken away to fill late orders; but if I did not wish to use the queens not needed in the united colonies, I killed the poorer ones, as I considered them; for, so far as I have practiced this plan, I find that queenless bees are less inclined to quarrel, and are more disposed to stay where put, than are those having queens. Having the queens dis- posed of, from the colonies which are to be united, wait three days to a week (three days in any event, so the colonies may realize their queenlessness) for some cool cloudy day when it is from five to ten degi-ees colder than is required for the bees to fiy, when you will find the bees all clustered conii)actiy, something the way they are in winter. When taking the queens away, take all the combs from the hives but three (the three which contain the most honey), and spread these combs about three-fourths of an inch apart, setting them out about two inches from the side of the hive, so that the bees may be all clustered on these combs instead of hang- ing to the sides or any part of the hive. The hive which is to receive these bees and combs is to be also prepared beforehand, by taking away all the combs but three or four, those be- ing left being the ones having the most honey in them, said combs being placed close to one side of the hive. • When the right day arrives, light your smoker and put on your veil, for in following the plan described you may not be able to use the hands to get a stinging bee off the face as you otherwise would; for. during a part of the operation, both hands will be so employed that you can not use ihem at any thing else. Now go to the hive having the queen, and uncover it. giving the bees a little smoke to keep them quiet, and leaving the hive open so that you can set the other frames right in without any hindrance. Next go to one of those that you took the queen from, blowing plenty of smoke in at the en- trance while uncovering the hive. Blow a few puffs of smoke around the combs and over them, when the smoker is to be set down, the two front fingers placed between the two first frames near their ends, the large fingers between the second and last frames, while the third and lit- tle fingers are placed beyond the third frame. Now close up with the thumbs and all of the fingers, thus lifting the frames and cluster of bees all out of the hive at once, when they are to be carried to the open hive where they are to stay, and sit down in it all together, close up to the frames of bees that are in this hive. Go back and get the smoker, and blow smoke enough on the bees to keep them down, when you can arrange the frames, division-boards, and hive, as you like, without very many, if any, bees flying. Should a few bees stick to the hive that you took the frames out of, bring the hive to the one having the united colony in it, and brush them out on top of the frames, as they will be pretty well chilled by this time. In doing this you will have to smoke those in the united colony pretty well, or many will fly at you, for these partly chilled bees will throw their poison out on their stings so that the scent of it will angei- the bees that are in the united hive. If you fixed all as it should be when taking the queens away and preparing for uniting, and smoked the bees as I have told you, there will be only now and then one that will require this last operation, as all will be snugly clustered on the combs. Close the hive as soon as you have things fixed to suit you, when you are to remove every thing from the stand of the colony that was united with the other, so that, when the bees come to fly on the first warm day, they will find that all that looks like their old home is gone. Some bees will fly or hover over the old spot where home was, but, not finding it, will return to the united colony. In this way I never hav(> had any quarreling of bees, nor any queens killed; and it is so simple and easy that I like it much the best of any plan of uniting bees laie in the fall. DEAD UEES AT THE ENTRANCE. A correspondent writes thus: "We have had a week or more of very cold weather for the time of year; but yesterday was so pleasant that the bees came out from the hives. This morning I found great numbers of dead bees at the entrances. Was it so cold that they died before going back in, or what?" No, the trouble was not that it was too cold when the bees were flying, for bees rarely fly at this time of the year when it is too cold for them to get back. Really there was no trouble, un- less it was that your bees were not properly protected from the cold during the previous cold spell. I would not be afraid of guessing wrong if I said that your bees are in single- walled hives; for in chaff hives many bees do not die during the first cold snap, as they do in single-walled hives; for 1 take it for granted that the dead bees you found out at the en- trance were the bees which had died in the hive during the cold spell you speak of, and that the live bees had drawn them out at the entrance on this pleasant day which you speak of. Now, while a chaff hive keeps many bees from dying early in winter, yet I have an idea that these bees that do thus die on the approacli of winter are nearly or quite worn out by old age, hence they do not keep pace with the receding cluster, and are thus carried off early in the season, yet are really of no great account, although making quite a showing at the entrance, to one not knowing the cause of their being there. Borodino, N. Y., Oct. 39. G. M. Doolittle. 18H0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 809 THE INTERNATIONAL BEE-ASSOCIATION. A FEW NOTES OF THE PKOCEEDINGS, BY f:KNEST. On account of the very poor season, and the failure to get reduced i'at(>s. the nuist of us pre- dicted, in our o\\n Tuinds at least, that the meeting at Keokuk \\ould not be as largely attended as the former ones. But we consoled ourselves that what it would be lacking in numbers would be made up in enthusiasm. Well, we were very much disappointed as to the attendance, and agreeal)ly so. If I am cor- rect, there was the largest eiu'ollment of mem- bers ever made in its history, and I heard on all sides that it was the best meeting ever held in the history of the association. While the one at Brantford had, I believe, a larger daily at- tendance, yet the paid membership was greater at Keokuk. It was surprising how the bee- keepers of the Mississijjpi Valley and adjacent teri'itory turned out. Well, the fact was, that not all of them had had a pooi- honey crop, and, of course, they came. Others had a jjoor season as usual, but they could nut afford to miss the opportunity. There W(n'e seveial fi'om Colorado; one or two from Arizona; two from Canada; some from Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, besides a good representation from the border States — Illinois, Missouri, and the home State, Iowa. The failui'e of the honey crop, and the absence of reduced railroad rates, was more than counterbalanced by the persistent and eiiHcient services of the secretary, Mr. C. P. Dadant. The two representatives of Gleanings had figured to be on hand at the opening of the first session. The train being behind time, we did not arrive until near the close of the session. The question-box had been opened, and your humble servant whipped out his note-book and pencil, craned his neck, and proceeded to jot down a few things that seemed to him to de- serve special mention. Let me say right here, that this report is far from being complete. It contains only a few of the good things said and done. At the latter end of the morning session, the first question I heai'd was. " What is the relative consumption of stores as between sugar syrup and good sealed honey?" It has generally been thought that there is but very little dif- ference in favor of either; but by some careful experiments, President Taylor had found that there is a decided difference in favor of the sugar syrup. On honey the bees are very apt to become uneasy and excited; and careful weighing showed that the consumption of honey was much more than the consumption of the sugar syrup. I think he said the bees would consume about a half more of honey than of sugar. Some were inclined to take excei)tions. on the ground tliat the experiments were not carefully conducted. I remember that W. F. Clarke asked the president why honey excites the bees more, and then went on to give his reasons for his disbelief. The jjresident in- terrupted him by saying. " Let me ask you a question. What effect does honey have on you?" '■ I can not eat a bit of it." said Mr. Clarke; " honey gives me colicky pains." The convention roared with laugliter, and Ml'. Clarke resumed his seat. I do not give this to show that Mr. Clarke was beaten in argu- ment, but simply as a sample of the pleasant bantering back and forth. CANE OR BEET SUGAK— IS THERE ANY DIF- FKRf:NCE ? Mrs. Harrison asked whether there was any difference between can(> and bc^et sugar. Opin- ions were vai'ious. The pn^sident argiu»d that there was a difference. A. I. Root, Mr. Dadant, and others, claimed that there was none. Mr. Secor cited the 0. Judd Farmer, to the effect that cane and beet sugar are precisely one and the same thing. 1 did not say so at the time, ' but somewhere I read ( I can not say just where I saw it), that the amount of cane sugar pro- duced is vei'v small indeed comjtared with that produced from the beet. If this be true, the probabilities are that the sugar on our tables, and that which we feed our bees, is heet sugar. Mrs. Harrison stated that the British Bee Jour- nal was authority for saying that there is a difference between the two sugars, and that of the two the beet is inferior. Oh how we missed Prof. Cook at this point in the convention! We all knew he could help us out. Well, it is not too late yet. EXTRACTING HONEY TO FEED SUGAR. A further question was put as to whether it would pay to extract the honey, and feed sugar. It was argued that it would not, because the stores usuallyleft for winter are from fall sources; and if the bees do consume more, nothing would be gained, from a dollar-and-cents point of view, by extracting and feeding. R. McKnight thought any one who would advocate any thing to the contrary was a fit subject for the peni- tentiary. Dr. Mason quickly got up. " Then I am a fit subject," and sat down, amid roars of laughter— another sample of bantering. Along in the afternoon we listened to the president's ADDRESS. It was an able document. He called atten- tion to the lessons of the poor season. There are a great many outgoes and expenses, and the bee-keeper becomes discouraged. Total failures are expensive; but, he argued, we are not pay- ing too high a price for the benefits of that which will follow.. In the convention there should be a free discussion— no personalities. Instead of saying. " In my opinion," state what you know to be a fact, leaving out the matter of opinion, because that is understood. Free dis- cussion leads to the best understanding. He thought the floating character of our associa- tion a bad feature. There is no fixed member- ship. Even the officers may not be members next year. Why not have the association in- < corporated under the law, and members con- tribute, whether they go or not? He advised that we consider the matter of the World's Fair, and that immediate action be taken. The address was not discussed immediately, but a committee was appointed to consider some of its salient points. For further particu- lars, see Myself and My Neighbors, elsewere. BEE -PASTURAGE OF THE UNITED STATES. A paper was then read by A. I. Root, on the bee-pasturage of the United States. He alluded to sevei-al of th(> pi'omising sources of nectar, and gav(>, incidentally, a talk he had had with INIr. Draper and INIr. llambaugh. on the train, in regard to Spanish needle. Both of these gentlemen stated in convention that they live not a great way from the INIississippi Valley, and had secured a large crop of honey from Spanish needle. In fact, this seemed to be a never-failing source. Many of their customers prefer it to clover. It is very thick, of good color, and of delicate flavor. Mr. Hambaugh had secured in Wvo days, from one hive. 73 lbs. I was surprised to learn that the Mississippi Valley, along in these ri'gions, was covered in waste places with Si)anish ncM'dle; for it seems . there are a good many bee-keepers who get a nice paying croj) from it. It is a significant fact, that in one locality a honey-plant may be a valuable source of nectar, while in others it . may be worthless: so with Spanish needle. In the matter of honey sources we should take into 810 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 15. consideration locality. This point was ('mi)lia- sized by Mr. W. F. Clarke. Mi's. Harrison, in crossing the Mississippi, had discovered hun- dreds of acres of Spanish needle, and the bees were just rolling in the honey. BUTTON-BALL. Mr. S. A. Shuck had no Spanish-needle, but button-ball honey. It conies in bloom with him about the 5th of July. It is of good color, and yields a good quantity. Under favorable circumstances he had secured 7 lbs. per day per colony for eight days. THp; CHAPMAN HONEY-PLANT. i^ A. I. Root related tiiat Prof. Cook had tried it on an extensive scale, and that he (Cook) had concluded that it was not a pjotitable bee-forage for cultivation. Mr. Axtell had tried it, and it yielded honey, but he did not think it paid. QUESTION-BOX. On the evening of the first day the question- box was opened again. The question, "Can poultry-keeping and bee-keeping be profitably combined?" Dr. Miller was called upon to answer. He said he did not know very much about it. but he would read a letter "from a friend, on the subject. All the reporters, an- ticipating something solid and serious, grabbed their pencils and began jotting lively. Very seriously and innocently he read Sockerie's ex- perience with a sitting hen. Very soon the reporters and the rest began to " catch on " to the hoax, when they perceived that it was a side-splitting impersonation rather than a seri- ous detail of facts. Those of you who have had the pleasure of hearing the doctor deliver some of his comic pieces, can get s first patented double-wall hive. Since that time I liave constructed about a dozen dilTerent styles of hive; but at no time did I lose sight of several important features that, it seems to me, should always be found in all good bee-hives; namely, the Langstroth standard frame, with a wide and thick top-bar. What I call a bee- spac<^ was another important feature always retained in all styles of hives used in the Bay State A[)iary. Not over ^4 inch, and slightly less, is what I consider a proper bee-space be- tween the tops of the brood-fj'ames, or whatiwer is used over them, whether it is a section-case, lioney-board, or what not. When more space is given, brace-combs are found, as well as propolis, etc. Early in October I visited a large display of bee-hives at the Rhode Island State Fair. I think there were not far from thirty different styles of hives on exhibition. There was a hive from about every dealer in the country who had ever made or invented a hive. I looked the en- tire lot over, and saw^ but one hive that seemed to combine many good features, and this hive 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 811 lacked but one thing to coniijlctc it. This hive was Root's DovetaikHl. The tiiins lacking was an ontsidc case for winter and sin-ing protection. Witii that addition I sliould consider tlie Dove- tailed hive as good as the l!ay .State, as tlien it would combine nearly all tlie good features of tlie hive we use in our apiary. Hear in mind, we use, in the Bay State hive, botli the closed- end and standard' Langstroth frame. I have liad a good opinion of tlie Dovetailed hive: and now that the out. or winter case, is to be adopted, it seems to me it must prove to be one of the best hives in use. I don't want to say one word against the other hives I saw at the R. T. State Fair; but it is a wonder to me that such hives are used by anyone. Th(> liimbei'-hill lor 100 such hives, it seems to me. must be immense. PACKING BEES FOK WIXTEH. I may be radical on this point, yet it does seem to me that, with any good double-wall hive, no packing is necessary in winter. Now. Bro. Root, as you are a strong advocate of packing, why not try an expei'iment? Why not place .50 hives in a row. jjack each alternate colony, and let th(> others winter with the air- space" open? I know from past experience, that the un- packed hive will not only winter better, but will do the best the following season, and come out stronger, cleaner, and better in I'very way in the si)ring. Here in New England, where we never have more than three days of settled weather at one time, we need no ijacking, save a mat or cushion over the bees, to absorb moisture and prevent too much draft up through the colony and combs. IIenky Aij.ey. ' Wenham, Mass., Oct., 1890. Thanks for your testimony for the Dovetailed hive. When it was originally constructed, we did not have in mind any i)et theories, but sim- ply endeavored to combim* in one hive the de- mands of the largest and b(>st and most practical bee-keeping, having in mind due reference to economy: and that these reqirements have been met is evidenced by the " carload "' demand for it. You are right. A wide and thick top-bar with scant ^cl^-inch bee-space, is among the necessities of a good hive. I am greatly pleased to get so good an author- ity as yourself for an outside protecting shell for winter: and I am not sure but that your remark in regard to pacMng vei'sus air space is true. I have, for a year or so. hoped that it might be so; and facts are beginning to come in with the proof. If we can leave out packing ( I say //) and yet obtain as good results, it will be a bless- ing to bee-keepers. All single-walled hives can be cheaply converted into double-walled winter hives; and then, too, during summer these winter cases will be worth all their cost for shade when placed over supers while on the hive. ]SIr. Elwood uses just about such a case over his supers, and yet whole apiaries of his were exposed to the direct rays of the sun. They are better than a shade-board, because it shades the .sides- of the supers as w(dl as the toj). Here is an article from J. A. Roe, in a similar t^train: TII.\T OUTSIDE I'lJOTEf'TING SIIEEE. I was very much interested in W. A. King's article on page 697, and in Ernest's comments, especially where he speaks of winter cases, as I was then getting out a descriptive circular of what I call the '* hive-protector." This is made high enough to take in a single-walled hive, with two cases of sections or an extracting suijei'. and lai'ge enough to set four chaff dum- mies around tlie bi'ood-nest for winter: or, \\hat I consider better and more convenient, is the band suggested by Ernest for his winter case. The hives are to be left in the protector the year round, as they afford protection from the hot sun and cool nights in the summer time. But, as A. I. R. says, when these cases are made good and substantial, and all complete, it brings the cost to about the same as a good chaff hive (including the cost of inside hive), so it is not so much a matter of economy as to whether this arrangement is more desii-able than a chaff hive. As the inside hive can be readily lifted out. this will be much easier than lifting heavy chaff hives where new swarms are hived on the old stand, or any o])(>ration requiring hives to be moved: and with the chaff band made from thin lumber, and permanently packed, it is but the \\orl\ of a moiniMit to set this over the bi'ood- uest. put on a U)\) cushion, and you have as good a chaff hive as there is. W' here bees are win- tered in the cellar it is a small job to give them spring i)rotection with this arrangement. A great many neglect to i)i'otect their liecs. and 1 think thos(> who do find it an unpleasant task, to say nothing about tlie unsightly appearance of the apiary, and the litter when unpacking in the spring, "or the injury that may result from leaky covers, J. A. Roe. Union City, Ind. We take the following description of the cuts from his circular: .J. A. KOE S OUTER COVEIUNG FOR SINGEE- WAEEED HIVES. I desire to say a few thing-s about bee-h'.ves. and hop? j'ou will give me a patient hearing'. " Whicli is the tiest general puipuse hive, i. e., the chaff or siii- gb-\val ed hivf," always has been and perhaps always will lie an unsettled (lui'siioii. That both have their good and bad ijoiiits, 1 tliiuk most will admit. Let us see: The sing-le-walled hive does not cost nearly so much as the ehatf hive; it is much easier handled (and tliis is quite an item where new swarms are hi\-ed on the old stand), and is a much coolei- hive in summer. I know a great many will nut agree with me in this last statement, claiming: that a cliaff hive is cooler in sununer. Hut how can it be, when we know that any thing- that will contine the heat in the winter will do the same in the summ-ei-'^ and good authorities say tin- heat of the liiood-ufst during tlie hot season is iH'arl.>- imi deg-iees. It tliis he true, it is also a fact, thai, the tiiinner the hive up till the time the outside temiieralure reaches that of tlie inside tempei-atui-c, the belter can the heat escape; and the thicker the hi\e, the more will it be eonfiiied. 1 have noticed that bees always lie out much more in chaff hives; and 1 fail tosi-etlie ditference between wearing- an ONercoat to keep the heat out and keep- ing-bees in c-haft' hives to keep them cool. * * * TIr' hive i)rote(-tor makes a chaff hive out of any sitig-le-walled hive for winter, and gives plenty of shade and ventilation for summer. It is made of such dimensions that ;i single-walled hive with two cases of seetions can be .set inside of it, and four t-haff dummies, tht-(!0 inciies thick, .set ai-ound the hive (these dummies are made of tliin lumber, :ind should lie kept in the dry when not in use). The hives are not to be fastened in the pi-otectoi-, and it does not interfere in the least with the ordinaiy 812 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 15. handling- of single- walled hives, such iis hiving- new swarms on the old stand. The protectors are to be leveled up and located permanently; and when hives are to be moved, lift the inside hive out. Shade for tlie hives during tlie heat of Slimmer, I think, is quite an advantage; but shadf-lxiards ai^ unsightl.\-. and frocjuently blow off. Tlie lii\-t'-]irot('i-t<>r nol onl.\- affords iieitect itrotec- tion from the liot sun, but also from cool nigiits, when the bees are liable to be driven from the cases. The protector is made in two styles, the one with shuttei-.s, and the other using tliin lumlier for siding. I do not advise the shutters, on account of the extra expense, as just as good ventilation can be secured by raising tl^e lid an inch in the hottest weathei-, when the heat of the inside hive will cause a current of air to pass up around the hive. THE HONEY CROP OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. BEES AND F]{UIT: VALVaHLE TESTIMONY FROM A BEK-KEEI'ER and FKl'IT-GKOAVER THAT BEES DO NOT TOVCH SOUND FKUIT; YELLOW-JACKETS THE GUILTY CULPRITS. I caught particular tits for pi-edicting in Gleanings that Southern California would produce but half a crop of honey unless we had later rains. Now. although every one was watching and waiting, hoping and praying for them, they never came. Then they got mad at me— especially the honey-dealers— and pitched into me. Mad ? Yes. What right had I to call the attention of the world and his brother to the possible failure of the honey crop? Would it not be bad enough when the world had to know it? Why alarm the trade, and send up the price of honey only to collapse again? Be- sides that, the failure would never come. Look at the face of nature! Was any thing ever more promising? I looked. Gentlemen, I ad- mit the wide earth is covered with a carpet of matchless green. The alfilaria, the buttercup, and the daisy, with a thousand other flowers to the deponent unknown, are fighting for stand- ing-room all around me. The king of the honey-plants— the black sage— all along ovei- the mountain-sides, throws out its sheen of white purple snow. We look around us, and the eye is "dazzled and drunk with beauty." The air is loaded down to the hub with the per- fume of the flowers. We feel all over that it is simply ecstasy to live. Anv man can jump up and yell— yell with pure and unalloyed delight; yell that he has such a country— all his own; yell that he has a home to go to, and doesirt have to board out. But in two or three weeks there will be a change— all these flowers will become thirsty. Th(>y will look up all the day long to the pitiless sky, and yearn for a little water. The stalks that now bear up their load of bloom so proudly will creak in the wind, and moan for a little water. The leaves will reach out to you with a pallid and appealing look, and seem to ask you with such beseeching tenderness to give them but one drop of water. Were you ever starving to death— starving for water? Wei-e ever youi- lips parched and black —your teeth covered with a thick coal of gum for want of water? No? Then you know- nothing about it. I imagine it is ";ibout the same way with the flowers. We see their pallid faces— see their fading forms— see their daily change till they drooi) and die. But we know not whether they have a consciousness of the change. Now, gentlemen, have any of you got a little patent pump abotit your clothes, that will water all this broad expanse of Southern California? No? Then look out for the honey crop. Those who are close to large alfalfa fields may get a good crop— as they mostly do. But all who dejiend upon wild feed — as nearly all do — will suffer indeed. And we did suffer. bep:s and grapes. I have seen Prof. McLane's experiments with bees and grapes called in question by some of the bee-]);! pels. But I think I could convince the greatest skeptic of their truth and re- liability. We are now picking our grapes and making our raisins. Now, friend Root, walk up into the vineyard with me. You see we are cleaning the grapes at tables. You see and hear thousands of bees on the tables, on the long line of cleaned grapes, on almost every vine around you. and flying around your head. Take this bunch of grapes. You see halt a dozen bees busy on it. They are sucking the juice from the half-decayed grapes, and those that have been picked by birds. You know al- ready that a bee will suck the juice from rotten or broken fruit. But here is another bunch — the grapes about as large as your best eastern plums. Every grape is as pure, perfect, and un- blemished as if it just came from tlie hands of the Creator. Hold that up for five, ten, fifteen minutes, and not a single bee will alight upon it. Oh, yesi they wMll fly round it and snuff at it, but they won't alight on it. Why? Simply because there is nothing for them to get, and they won't try to pierce a grape. Now you are satisfied that no bee is going to alight on tliat bunch. But pull one single grape off it, and see the change! There is a large, luscious grape at the top — near your hand. But, hold! Have your mouth wide open and ready to shut the door when the grape goes in, or you may have a small family of bees in there too. You must do this or take a walk once or twice around that gi-ape before eating it. The moment the grape leaves the stem the bees will dash at both of them for the fresh juice. These facts, which I have tested again and again, prove tliai bees do no injury to grapes or fruit. But yel- low-jackets can and do pierce the grape. They will, in cool cloudy weather, cut the cheese- cloth into shreds and go in and destroy grapes or raisins. RAISINS, AND HOW THEY ARE PREPARED IN CALIFORNIA. This is the way we clean the grapes for rai- sins. Theoretically, you are not allowed to touch the bunch at all — except by the stem. When you touch the grapes it rubs off the beautiful white bloom that covers the amber tinge in the White Muscat of Alexandria. Catch your bunch by the stem. Pick off every prematui-e grape; every one that has not come to perfection; every one that is cracked or broken; every one that shows any indication of decay; every one that has been picked by birds; in fact, o?ny grape that has any fault at all. Now cut the stem as close to the bunch as pos- sible, and lay it carefully on the tray beside you. This is the whole art of cleaning the grape. These trays of cleaned grapes are car- ried to one side and placed end to end. The trays are just a yard long and two feet wide. I cover mine with cheese-cloth. Th(> grapes will cure in 13 or 1,5 days in first-rate laisin weather, under the cheese-cloth. It takes ;?0or3.T to cure them, with the best of weather, under the old system — that is. bareheaded. The cloth pro- tects the grapes from dust, dirt, and insects. Woe to the yellow-jacket or bee that gets under that cloth on a warm day. For these ri^asons the cloth mak(\s a better and cleaner raisin. In four or five days the beautiful green grapes that you placed on those trays will have under- gone a change. You take off the cloth for a hundred — two hundred yards. There, spread out before you, is apparently an immense long lin(; of soft, mushy, rotten grapes. A stranger 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 813 to raisin-making would pronounce tlipni lost. If there were in your armor a crack or a crevice he would thi'ust in one of his arrows of conso- lation. But. wait! Don't make them into vinegar or sell them to the wine-maker yet. Wait three days— it may he four. Now see the change. The top of the fruit has slirunken downward. The heautiful blue tinge of the perfect raisin has appeared: and, better than all. there is the magnificent bloom of the green grape that disappeared on the second day — come back again to beautify and glorify its old homel Now they are ready to turn. xVh empty tray is turned upside down on top of the first full one. Both are drawn a couple of feet from the row (to give room to work) and whii'led over. Thus the full tray becomes the empty one, and serves to turn the next. When this side that you have just turned up gets the blue tinge, and the blooin is apparent, the raisins are ready for the ••sweat-box." This is a box 10 01- 14 inches deep, and a little larger than the tray, so that a tray will go down into them. You take your tray, piit the open side (one side has no rim) down into the opposite side of the box. As your raisins slide off you draw the tray toward your side of the box. and the fruit will slip in, just as it is laid on the tray. The sweat- box is a misnomer. The raisins do not sweat — they merely e(|ualize. Some are too dry — some not dry enough. They commence to trade off as soon as they get together. In four or five •days they are all alike — ready for the packer. You gave a very good idea of packing raisins, in your Riverside article, when yon retui'ued from California. But the fellow'who put the bad raisins in the bottom and the best on top was a rascal — there is no getting over that. I do not here wish to represent myself as an ex- tensive producer or packer. I have but a small vineyard. But he who has a small vineyard must understand the business as well and as perfectly as he who has his .5000 acres. If he ■doesn't he will come to grief. I see you made a slight mistake in regard to raisins at Riverside. '• London Layers " is only a name for the best quality of raisins. It does not indicate that they wereeither built, brought np, or educated in London. The early packers gave their best raisins this name to indicate that they were tit for the London market. Some pack undei- the name of Crown. Double Crown, and Treble Crown. But I think that Ameiicans should discard all these imperial and foreign names. New York can eat as good raisins as London or any city in the world — yes, and pay for tlunn tool Why not change the ''London Layers" to ••New York Layers"'? There are really but three grades of raisins. The second giade is simply '•Layers." The third is •• Loose Muscatels." lor cooking. A great calamity has befallen the I'aisin inter- est this year. It commenced raining on the 26th of Sept.. and continued, at intervals, for three days. At this time aboutall the raisins in Southern California \\'ere s])read out in trays, many of them just fresh i)icked — some half dry. When it quit raining it was evidently against its will. It wanted to rain — threatened us for eight days more. It was cloudy and murky, and iu)w and then it would take a dash at us at night. The green grapes I'otted, and will have to be picked ovei-, at a great loss. The half- dried raisins will be greatly damag<'d. There will b(^ an actual loss of ioo,()(X) boxes in the southern part of the State. THE FIRST SKCTIOX BOX. In a pleasant conversation with J. S. Harbi- son he informed me that in Oct., 18.58. at the State Fair at Sacramento, he exhibited the first section box that (iver was made for honey. Was it the first .section box? Is there any section box that has an earlier record? He also informed me that he used the solar wax-ex- tractor in 1860. But he does not know who was the original inventor. Othei's used it before him. He seems to think it invented itself. His woi'ds were, that it came nat\n'ally into the head of any bee-keeper. They are called solar honey-extractors here, from the fact that all honey was extracted by them for many years. They are used still for that purpose by many farmers. I have seen them 20 feet long, three feet deep, and four feet across the top. They are made like a trough, and lined with tin. A wire screen fits in, half way down. Olivenhain, Cal. J. P. Israel. Thank you, friend I. I would by all means mark the raisins so that nobody could be mis- led; and I do not see why Ca/i/or«la layers is not as good a naine as an^". — I have no knowl- edge of any sections previous to 1858, and that dates back before I was a bee-keeper, and be- fore we had any journal on bee culture in the United States. GETTING THE BEES TO EMPTY OLD BROOD- COMBS. FOWLS PLAN. Dr. Miller says he has reduced the time to two or three days. Well, I get the job done in 24 hours, if the weather is warm enough so the bees will fly freely; but if it is colder his plan is no doubt the best where the hives have a loose bottom. If the doctor tries to hav(^ old black brood-combs emptied his way when the weath- er is warm, I imagine he will have a '"hot time " taking the combs away, for the bees will hang to the old combs a great deal worse than they will to the unfinished sections; and of all disagreeable work, shaking hungry bees off' dry combs is the worst. As before mentioned, his plan will not do for those who have hives with a permanent bot- tom, like mine, and I will therefore give my plan, which is simiily a slight IMPROVKMENT ON DR. MILLER'S PLAN OF HAV- ING ITNFINISHEI) SECTIONS CLEANED OUT. I take my old combs that I want emptied, and, after uncapping the sealed honey, 1 put them in empty hives with tight bottoms, and set them down close to the entrance of the colonies I wish to feed, just at dusk. I put in a less number than would fill the hive, so they are spaced further apart; and if I want to feed more combs I p\it on an upper story. If it is a cool night I put the hive as close as I can to the entrance; if warnL three or four inches off. after getting the bees started on it, the object being to avoid getting the young bees out of their hive. Nearly all of the honey will be cleaned out in the night, and early next morning I carry the hives of combs two or three ix)ds to one side from the apiary, and close the entrance small (Jior % inch will do) ; but if combs are new and tender, or contain any candied honey, they should be closed to a one-bee capacity. Now, th(^ bees that are already on the combs have the advantage through the day, and will get about all the honey there is l(;ft; and if they are managed so as to have no young bees on the combs they will all go honu' at night, leaving the combs free from bees, when they can be taken care of. By this plan I can get a h\in- dred ^)r moi'e combs cleaned out every day until the job is all done with, and the light colonies 814 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Nov. 15. supplied with their winter stores, and all with- out lighting a smoker or opening a hive. I do not work with the bees during this comb-clean- ing time: that is, not in the home apiary, where the work is done, and so I have no ti'ouble with robbers. Chalon Fowls {-per Violet). The following is a private note sent along with the above; but as it contains a " gleam of news" we take the liberty of giving it also. Vi- olet's penmanship is as plain as a type-writer, and our printers wish other papas would call upon their little girls in a similar way. Mr. Root:— I inclose an article. I wrote it to- day in such a hurry that I could hardly read it, so I got my little girl to copy it. The honey crop is small here. I took only about 1000 lbs., but T am happy just the same, for a " stranger " has arrived at our fouse; and although he doesn't pay his board, and talks kind o' queer, we have concluded to adopt him; and — well, you know how it is yourself. Oberlin, O., Oct. 24. Chalon Fowls. EENEST'S NOTES OF TRAVEL AMONG THE BEE-KEEPERS OF YORK STATE. BICYCLING OYElt THE MOL'NTAINS TO ALBANY. The next morning Mrs. Root took the stage for Hunter, at which point she was to take the train to New York, to meet her sister. In the meantime I donned my bicycle suit, oiled up, and stood in readiness to take a fifty-mile run to Albany. It had rained furiously on Sunday. and the roads were not in the best possible con- dition. With some misgivings. Mrs. Root bade me good-by, and off I started. I made pretty slow progress. Instead of going do\\'n to the Hudson, and following the river u|). I decided to take a shorter run across tlie country. I had gone hardly five miles before I almost had a notion to turn back, as the roads were so mud- dy that, in several places, instead of the bicy- cle carrying me, rather than get it all mud I picked it up and carried U. I traveled along in this way until I came to a pedestrian. Some of the time he was away ah(>ad of me and some of the time I was up even with him. and it was somewhat humiliating to he plodding along at that rate, knowing that fifty miles or so were ahead of me. I thougiit that, when I got to the top of the mountain I would sit down and coast all the way. I arrived at the top. and, behold there was another magnificent view; but asl have exhausted all my vocabulary of ad- jectives, I can not stojj now to tell you about it. I commenced coasting, and all was very fine for awhile; but the road grew rapidly stony and rough, and it seemed to get steeper and steeper. The brakes would hardly hold me, and some places were so rough that I had to dismount and hold the machine back. I never had the attraction of gravitation torment me so much as on that ride from Moiint Pisgah. It was a continual pullback all the time. On tln^ way a stone caught under the guard, and I thought sure then that the machine was utterly smash- ed. I stopped and cleaned the mud ou>, reach- ed the stone, scraped out the guard, and away I went. There was nothing particularly attj-active on this road to Albany, except, perchance, the mud. Like the same article in Ohio, it would stick to the wheels, get under the mud-guards, and whenever I dismounted it would cling to my feet. The roads seemed to grow worse and worse. So rough and stony was the land that agriculture seemed to be developed Intt little beyond its i)rimitive form. I saw log houses and ox teams. H(>re and there were l)ox hives; and one place I remember in particular had in its front yard from forty to fifty skcjis. I thought of turning in and asking thi' owner of those bees a few (piestions. Possibly he might give me an idea or two; but every thing was so dilapidated, house and all, that I decided to go on. I was traveling at a pretty fair rate, when just back of me I heard a low growl, and the rapid patter of feet. Looking back I saw it was one of those LARGE FEROCIOUS BULLDOGS. He had come from the yard where I saw the box hives, and he was after me full tilt. Un- fortunately the road was rough, otherwise I could have left him in the race. I ijut on all speed, however; but, despite all I could do. the dog was coming nearer and nearer. I felt every moment that he \\'ould grab my stocking legs, and the cold chills crept itp my back. I never had a nightmare that was more real. I was thoroughly frightened, and I longed for a wea- pon of some kind. Something that I could not do ordinarily I did this time. While the wheel was in full motion I whirled about in the sad- dle, and. with heels sticking out behind, kicked outback. I ran into an obstruction, and the next thing \\as bicycle, rider, and dog, pretty badly mixed up. I was on top of the bicycle, and the dog on me, and I thought my days were ended. Although on my back, I grabbed for his throat, and kicked lustily with my feet. The dog was evidently as much oi' more sur- prised than I. for, the next thing I knew, he was running for the box hives, with his tail be- tween his legs, yelping as if the evil one were after him. I picked myself out of the mud, and, with a stick, scrajx'd that article oiT. t mounted the saddle again, and at the next hous(! I came to I stoi)pi'd for a drink of water. A good-natured farmer came out, and, observ- ing my dilapidated condition, asked me whence I came and whither I was going. I told him, and then related the squabble I had had \\ith the dog, and desii-ed him to convey the intelli- gence to the o\\ ner of the box hives, that, the next time I came along that way. I would sure- ly kill his dog. As I never exitect to ti'avel the same route again, the dog will probably not die by my hands. Perhaps I might say here, that one of the things that annoy bicyclists along the country is good-for-nothing dogs whose chief business is to annoy passers-by, and who seem to have a particular dislike to bicyclists. This is not the first fracas that I have had with dogs. In one other instance, one of a ferocious type act- ually grabbed me by the calf of my leg. and hung on. I was at my wits' ends" to know "what to do, and how to be happy while doing it." A tliought struck me on' the instant. Turning to the dog I said stei'nly. " Jack, go back into the house, sir! tio back, sii-I" It was quite evident that the animal had heard this before. Letting go he looked at me as much as to say, " Well, may be I have made a mistake." and back to the house he went. Usually, when the i-oads are fair I run away from them. If I have a fair start, it is a pretty good dog that can even catch up with me. But. to return. I wearily wended my way over the bad roads, until I I'eached the suburbs of tlie old city of Albany. A man passed me, and said. "Thev are waiting for vou in the city." " Who ?" said I. " Bee-keepers ?" "Bee-keepers!" said he in surprise, and we both passed on, neither knowing what the oth- er meant. I had supposed that he meant that 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 815 thei'o were two or three bee-ke(^i)ers In Albany who exijeeted me that tiay. and that, when I came, we would go into camp at Lake George. He, in turn, meant that a company of wheel- men were on their way to Syracuse. There was one important member, as I afterward learned, wiiom they weic waiting for: and supposing me to be that indiviilual. he thought he would hniTV me np. I had gone very near- ly fifty miles over roads that were hardly i)ass- able for even a lumber-wagon, and I iuid taken nearly all day to do it; and, to make matters, still worse, the streets of Albany wer(> the worst paved of any I mcr came across. I dis- mounted, and pushed my wlieel on the side- walk. A burly policeman, with his club up- lifted, very respectfully advised me to get into the road, with its muddy and uneven places. I complied. I soon reached the hotel, and took lodging. AT THE CAMP OF BEE - KEEPERS ON LAKE GEORGE. The next morning, about 9 o'clock found me in the city of Troy, the place where they make collars and cuffs by the carload. After visiting with friends and relatives, I left my bicycl? in the city, and took the train for Lake George, which I reached that afternoon. My friend F. A. Lockhart, of Pattens Mills, near Lake George, was on hand at the Depot. A couple of lady bee-keepers, Miss Douglas and Miss Wolcott, came on the same train. I went to the hotel, and the two ladies went with Mr. Lock- hart to the camj). The next morning ZNIr. Lockhart came after me. and very soon I had the pleasure of meeting Rambler. Yes, if I had not been told so I should have known that good-natured, rather tall individual driving a black horse. Then there was Mr. Lockhart's father, one of those jjleasant, hearty Scotcli- men that it is a pleasure to see. 'There was also John H. Larrabee and his brother: Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Knickerbocker, Mr. Higley. and several others whose names I have foi'- gotten. Mr. Lockhart, Sr., owned a cottage along the shore of the lake; and as the attendance at the camp was not large, the tents brought by Ram- bler and " genial John " were not used. We accordingly all of ns took up our quarters in the cottage. There was just enough to mak(> a good-sized family. rc])resentatives from Ver- mont. New York, and Oliio. A couijle of row - boats were at our disposal, so that we could take rides upon the lake; and, in addition to that, a small steamer, rebuilt by a son of Mi-. Lockhart. of queen-rearing fame, came; around both days to our camp. In addition to this there was fishing-tackle, and every thing else in the spoiling line, that could make such a camp delightful, to say nothing of the beauti- ful scenery round about. Thc^ boys had been out fishing that day, but succeeded in catching only four or five small minnows; and during the time I was there, no large fish were caught. We talked bees, we talked bee-keepers, and I should not be surprised if we indulged in a lit- tle gossip, not only at each other's expense, but at tlie expense of some who were not present. We visited as only bei'-keejx'rs can, until late in the evening. The ladies of the jiarly retired at a ir((s(>ii((l)lc hour, but the rest of us had not finished talking yet. As in almost every crowd like this there was one comical genius (Brodie Higley by name) that, no matter what he said or did, we iuid to laugh. Rambler has spoken of him as the bee-keeper who attempted to wintiM' his bees on wagon-wheels; see Glean- ings, page (iSa, 1888. It was growing late, and our friend Mr. Higley could keep awake no longer, and finally, in an upright ])osture, he went off into a doze, while we talked and laughed. As he leaned back in his chair, his appearance was exceedingly comical: and. no matter how hard we laughed, the sounder he slept. A thought struck me, and I proceeded to put it into execution. I brought all the lamps we could s|:)are. soas to get a good illumi- nation on the face of our friend, and I was just then qui(Uly puisiug my camera, that I might have a permanent record of liis face — his mouth wide open, and he himself enjoying all the bliss that sleep can give, when, lo! he suddenly roused up and glared at the camera. He did not see any thing to laugh at, although the whole crowd of us fairly yelled. Pretty soon he quietly retired to a corner of the room, and was soon fast asleep. Not long after, the whole of us retired, it being my happy lot to sleep with the Rambler. The next morning I got up feel- ing any thing but refreshed; my sides were sore from laughter of the previous evening. A En)E f)N A bee-keeper's STEAM LAUNCH. That day our crowd was invited by the An- drews to take a ride upon the little steamer — an invitation which we gladly accepted. I took along my Kodak, and took photographs of several of the mountains. To give you just a fair sample of the beautiful scenery. I give you one of the instantaneous views herewith. A VIEW ON I,AKE GEORGE. I stood up in the steamer, and the view taken shows a part of Mr. Andrews' hat. and. I think, a corner of Mr. Larrabee's face. Yon can see that the shot was instantaneous, as the ripples and the waves are apparently motionless. We visited most of the principal points at that end of the lake; stopped at Mr. Andnnvs' cottage, rom|M>d about a while, and finally re- turned. It was suggested by one of the party, before leaving the steamer, that we have a photogra|)h of it taken. Both Rambler and I tried our hands at it, but neither succeeded in getting very good views. Then after the party left tlie steamei' they stationed themsehcs on the shore, and we both took a sliot. Tli(>re was a sort of spring-board on tlie end of the dock. In order to take in th<> whole crowd I had re- treated clear to the end of this board, and the water beneath was perhaps 15 feet deep, and as clear as crystal, as is the character of the whole lake. I had stepped just one step back too far and came very nvdv taking a i)lunge bath — camera and all. and after a good deal of wiggling I regained a upright posture. The crowd on the shore were in the height of their 816 GLEANIN*GS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 15. hilarity at my oxpense. whon at that instant I secured a pliotdgrapli. Tlie place being a little shady and dark, tiic picture is not clear enough to reproduce; but I never saw broader grins on the faces of a party than are shown in this little miniature photograph. That afternoon we went out in a row-boat, and we were shown a place where a certain man-of-war was sunk during the French and Indian War. The wa- ter is as clear as crystal: and wlien the lake is still enough, I am told that this old relic of our forefathers can be seen at a depth of 40 feet. That afternoon I was obliged to leave, al- thoutrh some good fishing was promised me if I would stay. The rest I will leave for the Ram- bler to relate, which he will do in a forthcoming article soon. To he continued. PURE ITALIANS VS. HYBRIDS. DR. C. C. MILLER VOTES IN FAVOR OF ITAL- IANS. Like yourself, friend Root, I was a little sur- prised at the answers on page 7.53 to the ques- tion whether pure Italians or hybrids would do a better season's work. And now, upon making a careful canvass of the replies, I am again surprised to find my first impressions were so far from correct. The impression left on my mind, after reading the replies, was that the general consensus of opinion was that hybrids are bett.er for work than pure stock. Instead of such being the case, I find that, of the six- teen replies, aside from my own, seven prefer Italians, four prefer hybrids, one thinks there is no difference, and four are non-committal. Having kept bees solely for the sake of having the honey to sell, I have never cared for color, whether yellow, black, or green, only so they gave me the most honey. The reports of others settled me in the belief that hybrids are just as good workers as pure Italians; but every year or two I got an imported queen for the sake of infusing fresh blood. Most of the queens I raised were daughters of these imported queens, but for the last two or three years I paid less attention to the matter, leaving the bees to a great extent to raise queens to suit themselves. As I had for so many years been bringing in imported queens my bees were all either pure or hybrids, and the few bees surrounding me would be pretty well Italianized. Not rearing queens for sale, and believing that hybrids would give me just as good results as pure Ital- ians, why should I ti'onble myself any more than to throw in a little fresh blood now and then? The yellow blood being in the ascen- dency. I could reasonably expect it to remain so, even if I never got another imported queen; and by bringing in a fresh inipoi'ted queen every year or two, the black blood ought soon to work itself all out. But I was surprised to find the number of very dark hybrids on the increase— a good many of that sort that kind o' hang along without getting ahead much, and allow the worms to take possession — and in 1889 I actually found two or thi-ee colonies that 110 one would suspect of having any yellow blood in them — pure black. I also found that, instead of wearing a veil on my hat, to be pull- ed down only occasionally, l" had gradually come to wear my veil down all the time. In the A B C. friend Root speaks of the vin- dictiveness of hybrids. In my comments there- on I say, '■ My hybrids do not' and never did de- serve the reputation you give them. Perhaps one in two hundred' may, and then a queen loses her head." But the "one in two hun- dred " became quite a number in one hundred. and there were times when I dreaded to go near them. One day as I sat working at a hive, having had a little more than the usual quota of stings, I looked up from my work, and, with suppress- ed groans (and, I presume, with unsuppressed lugubriousness of countenance), said to my as- sistant, " If I knew that this thing were to con- tinue straight along in this way, I think I should want to give up the business." Instead of giving me the hearty sympathy I had a right to expect, she merely looked at me and laughed very heartily. To this day I don't know just what she laughed at. There was nothing tun- ny about it. In that same summer of 1889 I had a good il- lustration of how much trouble some people will take to avoid trouble when a pet theory is involved. I had a visitor wliom I will not name, further than.to say he came from Medi- na, and was somewhat baicfooted on the top of his head. While among the bees I urged him to put on a veil. Not he; it was too much trouble. Do you know that, all the time that man was among the bees, he spent his whole time blowing a smoker about his head, puffing first: on one side then on the other. If he had been obliged to work at a hive he would have taken a good many stings, or else would have taken to his heels. However well he stuck to his theory, I had to give up mine. I concluded hybrids were not as good for me as pure Italians. However good a first cross may be. if such are encouraged they are sure to be followed by second, third, and sixteenth crosses, among them such crosses as are cross and very poor workers. So this last sumini'i'. wherever a colony showed the least taint of black blood either in color or disposi- tion, the queen of such colony was remorselessly destroyed and replaced with one of pure origin. This brought death into some of my best colo- nies. The queens were killed, not because of what they were, so much as because of what might come after them. As a general rule I am kept too busy to keep close track of the qualities of each colony; but in one case I did give close observation. I had an imported queen whose workers, in appearance, pleased me less than any I had ever had. This led me to watch narrowly their conduct for some days, to see if they were any more industrious than others in the same apiary. There was no mis- taking it; there was not only a difference, but a rmirked difference. Especially in the morn- ing was this noticeable, for no other colony in the apiary sent out so strong a force, although some were more populous. Hereafter, if a colony of hybrids be found among my bees it will be by no design of mine. ■ Marengo, 111., Oct. 22. C. C. Miller. Friend M., if you had had decent bees, in- stead of the kind you did have, I should not have needed a bee-veil or smoker either, at the rate your bees were getting honey during my visit. Very likely that is your opinion, as well as mine, so we can di'op it right there. A WINTER REPOSITORY. pIjAnks for ceiling boards. I have recently built a bee-cellar which I should like to describe, and have an expression of opinion from yourself and others as to its wintering qualities. My apiary is situated in a valley and near a small swamp. The soil is sand and gravel, and there is just enough rise so I could dig down 1890 GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE. 817 three feet for tlie cellar, and still have a three- inch tile drain, sunk below the cellar floor, which comes out at the edge of tliQ swamp sixty feet away. The cellar is 8)^ feet high from floor to ceiling; 15 feet long, and 8 feet wide. I used cull ties and slabs to support the earth, which is banlved against the sides and on the top. The earth is 3 feet tiiick where the bank begins, and slopes up to the eaves, where it is about ti inches thick. The roof is flat, and the earth is piled up on it to a peak. The whole is covered with a thick layer of marsh grass, which keeps the earth perfectly dry. For ven- tilation I have the tile drain and an 8-inch ventilator in the roof. For an entrance there is a hatchway made in the same mannei' as the main cellar, with outside, middle, and inner doors, by which, if necessary, one can enter without admitting any light or cold air. I shall put in only 70 colonies this winter, but I think 1.50 colonies could be wintered in it. I built it because I have no cellar near the apiary. I Avould rather construct such a cellar than move the bees even half a mile to reach one. Such a cellar can be constructed for $35.00 if one is near a sawmill where cull timber and slabs can be purchased cheajily; and by keeping the roof dry I think it will hold for a number of years. Harry Lathrop. Browntown, Wis., Oct. 17. 1890. Planks or slabs will do well enough for two or three years for ceiling boards, but in time they will I'ot from the moisture of the bees, and the whole thing will cave in — perhaps at a time when you can least afford it. Mr. Doolittle's cellar had planks for ceiling boards under the dirt similar to yours, but they rotted and caved iu this spring. They might answer if lined with tarred paper. ^ I ^ THE SOLAR WAX-EXTRACTOR. or is put together. Nail No. 4 to the outside of the extractor, at the sides, K i»ch from the top, for th(> glass franu? to rest on, and then nail No. 5 to the ends of No. 4 and the extractor. Now nail No. 6 to the ends of No. 7, for the glass- fram(>. putting the glass. No. 13, into the grooves cut for tiicm. before nailing. These grooves should be -'s der]). the Upper One being 9s from the top. and the next % bt^low the first. Unless vou can nail this frame or sash very carefully, so as not to break the glass, perhaps it would be better put together with screws. The frame is put tog(>ther with white lead, the same as the bodv was; but there is no lead put in the grooves, as we could not get the glass out. should it ever be broken, if we did; and I find that air passes very slowly where it has to go around any thing in the way it does this glass. Next nail No. 11 to the center of this glass frame at each end, nailing them in such a way that they will form loops or handles, for the frame is to be handled by these, slid off and on, etc. Now nail No. S to the ends of No. 9, nailing No. 10 to the side of the frame made by nailing Nos. 8 and 9 together for a cover to go over the glass frame when the extractor is not in use. This cover will keep the glass from getting broken by hailstorms, or from any other causes, and will also keep the storms from swelling our ex- tractor by getting the inside wet. If you can not very well have No. 10 in one piece, narrower stuff with the cracks battened will answer all purposes. Also, if you can not get glass of the size named, several, 16X inches long, will do by making the joints so tliey will not come over HOW TO MAKE AXI> HOW TO USE ONE. One of the most convenient things I have in my apiary is the solar wax-extractor; and as it is so handy to have arf)und, I thought that, with your permission. Mr. Editor, I would describe it at this time, so that, during the dreary winter days which are coming, any of the readers of Gleanings who desire to have something which they would appreciate in years to come could spend a day or two of time in making something that would brighten other days, even if it did not the days they were working at it. In order to make it plain I will give the size and number of pieces contained in the extractor, by numbers, and then tell you how to put them together. Number. Pieces. Length in inches. Width in inches. Thick. 1 2 30 10 H 10 X .30 . .17^- .3i . .16 . 10. 1 .Si 11 2 straps 10 ,9 , ( sheet Americanoo (stove-pipe iron 13 2 glass. 305 18 A6'4 Having these pieces cut to the dimensions above given, take No. 1. wiiicli is for the sides of the body of the extractor, and nail to the ends of No." 3. Next nail No. 3 on to one side for a bottom. If No. 3 ai'e made from matched lumber, and all joints put together with white lead, no loss of heat will occur fi'om its escaping through the cracks or joints where the; extract- doolittle's wax-extractor. each other so as to let the heat out too rapidly. Now take No. 13 and spring the middle down till the edges come even with the top of the body of the extractor, and snugly against the back of this body, when it is to be nailed along each side to the side of the extractor. This will give you a hollowing trough on which to put the material which is to be rendered into wax. and the black surface of the iron will so absorb the rays of the sun that it will become very hot in a short time after the cover is taken from over the glass. If a piece of i.-inch stuff is fitted on the under sid<> of number 13. 5 inches back from tlu' front or open (mkI. so as to keep the hot air from going under the iron, it will help some about keeping the wax melted in the dish into wliicii it runs wliile extracting. Thi.s kei'ping the wax meltiMl in the disji helps mucii about getting it caked in nice form. HOW TO USE THE EXTRACTOR. wSelect some place, as neai- the center of the apiary as possible, where the sun will shine from 9 A. M. to 3 p. m., the year round, and there 818 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 15. place a piece of L*x4 stuff, as long as your ex- tractor is wide. Fix this piece so it will rest secure on the ground, and hew it each way from the centei', till the ends are 2 inches square. In the center put a pin of J'4-inch iron, while a H- inch hole should be bored in the bottom of the front end, or No. 2, to receive this pin. Next, ))rovide several pieces of 4x4 stuff to put under the back end of the extractor, so that you can lower or raise the back end, according to the season of the year, or, in other words, according as the sun is high, as in June, or low, in No- vember. From the middle of May to the mid- dle of August the extractor will do all yon want of it. if faced directly south and left so all the while: but earlier or later it will need turning on the front pivot at least three times during the day. At nine, face it southeast: at noon, south: at two, southwest. To thus face it, was why our front '"sleeper" was fixed with the pin as I have given. Every scrap of wax that ie taken from the hives while at work in thb apiary is jiut into the extractor as we pass by it, and all that accunHilatcs in t]i(> sjiop is jjlaccd in a pan kept handy by for t his puriHisc. and tlie pan is taken and emptied into tiie extiactur as often as is necessary. When there is a suffi- cient accumulation in the extractor, the cover is taken off' from over the glass some sunshiny day at 9 a. si., and the wax allowed to " extract." When the whole mass is melted that is on the iron, slide the sash to the front, and. with a wooden paddle about 3 inches wide, draw all the refuse up on one of the inclined sides to near the top, pressing on the paddle consider- ably, so as to break any of the cocoons that may not have broken, so that all of the wax may work out. In this way the wax \\'ill all run out as clean as it can be gotten out in any other way, and I used to think that I could get out 100 pel' cent of it in a kettle of wat(>r. After all the wax is out, and while the whole is still hot, draw out the refuse witii a scrajier made of wood for the purpose, when the extractor is left all cl(>an for another batch of wax scraps. If left till cold, this refuse will stick to the iron so that it can not well be removed, owing to the propolis that will always go in with the scraps. A dish of suitable size should always stand un- der the open end of the iron trough: and to keep the dish level I use square pieces of wood of diffei'ent thicknesses, so tiiat. by laying one on to]) of the other, any elevation of the back end can be overcome. To keep tln^ scraps from slid- ing down into the dish of wax, which tiiey are liable to do as .soon as they begin to melt, where the elevation of the back end is great, as it has to be in tiie fall of the year, I cut a piece of win^ cloth so that the edge of the wire cloth will fit the hollowing iron trougli. after which this wire cloth is nailed to two suital)lc-sluiped pieces of board, or pieces of sections, when a wii'e is at- tached to each piece of section, when the other end is bent at right angles, so that they will drop into holes bored along the upper edge of the body of the extractor. By having these holes in different places this wire cloth is ad- justable, so that, where but few scraps are put in at each melting, they need cover but a small V)art of the iron trough. Having got out several lots of wax in varying amounts, I remelt it and cake it in 3-lb. cakes, straining it so as to take out all impui'ities, as I do so. In doing this I allow 2 oz. foi- the impurities, putting 3 lbs. 2 oz. each time into the extractor. For a strainer I use two thicknesses of cheese-cloth, fixing this cloth over a wire bent so as to form a hoop 5 inches in diameter. By drilling two holes at the I'ight place in the front edge of the trough, and passing two wires around the strainer wire, and up through the holes in the trough, the strainer is drawn up so it will not be down in the wax, and is held thus by bending the wires over the front edge of the trough. In this way I not only save all the wax made in the apiary, but I let the sun put it in the best of shape for the market, or my own use. In conclusion I will say that very little if any thing about tiiis solar wax-extractor is oi'iginal with me, but was made to suit me from little items I picked up here and there regarding them. I think I got the most of my ideas from the writings of G. W. Demaree on the subject. The size given is plenty large for 100 colonies, but the dimensions can be varied to suit the wants of any one. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., Oct., 1890. You will see by the engraving above, friend Doolittle, that we have made a little neater job. There are fewer pieces: being dovetailed at the corners, it is stronger; the glass-frame is easily removable, and the whole thing, when covered, is complete without any projections, save the supporting legs to hold it at an angle toward the sun. The size is a trifle different, as we made ours to take a 14x28 glass — a size that can be obtained at any hardware store. Now, friend Doolittle, instead of going to work and giving so many pieces of so many different sizes, I would recommend the one who contemplates its construction to make a plain box whose inside dimensions shall be 14 inches wide, 29 inches long, and 7 inches deep. The sides of said box (not the ends) are to be rabbet- ed % deep and about }4 inch wide to receive the glass-frame. The cover should be a similar box, but only V.i inches deep, of the some dimen- sions otherwise, and is likewise rabbeted on the side rims. Yon will thus observe that the glass- frame 29 inches long and 14J< inches wide can be let down into the rabbet into the box, and that the cover slips over the whole thing, and makes a complete and neat box. The legs are 173^ inches long, and are pivoted with a screw, as shown in the engraving. The dovetailing is not essential, but as it costs us no more we make it so. The pan is simply a trough made of Russia iron, one end of which is closed up, and the sides are bent over a little bit so as to rest on the rabbets in the sides of the box. The wire screen is fastened about % of the way down, as shown in the engraving, or just far enough to admit of a Langstroth frame. I would suggest, that in telling how to make a hive or any other similar box, we give its inside length, depth, and width, and he who constructs it can then with less mental effort tell how to make it. I have carefully tested your solar wax-ex- tractor, and feel very sure it is very much su- perior to the one we have formerly advertised. It doesn't clog up, and the wax, when it melts, runs down an inclined plane, runs through the screen, and fituxlly into the pan, and the pan is allowed to stand in the direct rays of the sun, the wax is kept liquid during the entire day, so that all foreign substances will settle to the bottom. E. R. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 819 A VALUABLE LETTER FROM CUBA. CUHA VS. CALIFOItNIA. Friend Root: — As so many readers of Glean- ings have written me about Cuba as a bee- counti'y, I can do no better than answer through its columns, so that all can havi' a chance at the same dish. It would be quite Impossible for me to mention all the advan- tages and disadvantages in one paper. One writes, "' How does it compare witli California ?" In some respects there is a similarity — that is, in the amount of honey, for instance, that is often secured from a given number of colonies; but then, there is a want of comparison, too, for California of to-day is not what it used to be for honey-producing, as tlie fruit and vine in- dustries" have made such rapid strides in the last ten years that the bee-ranges in many of the honey-producing counties have been turned to vineyards and orchards, while here there is nothing of the kind. The hand of push, of progress, of go-ahead, that is bound to succeed, the hand that has charactcM'izcd and stamped the American people as the niost energetic in the world, is crippled here — brolien, as it were. Not a muscle moves in the direction of '"get there on time." But the natural resources re- main nJinost untouched by the hand of man, and they are something wonderful. As an evi- dence, I will say that, while the last year has been the poorest for honey I have ever seen here (on account of so little rain), yet our 550 colonies have passed through the dry season (or dearth of honey) with vei-y little help. We have fed only ten pounds to the colony: and had it not been for the fact that we had 3(X)new colonies to make. I do not think we should have had to feed half that amount. Bee - keeping here inquires attention. To care for .5.50 colonies in California is only pas- time compared with here, and the whole Unit- ed States is tlie same. There is some season of rest for the bee-keejjers. but here there is not. Fi'om November until March is our surplus season. Well, there is no rest about that. Then comes requeening. and the making of new col- onies if you have any to make The hot weather is then upon you: and if there are any queenless colonies that are at all weak, the moths will probably eat up the combs; and I want to tell you that it takes a pretty strong force to stand off the moth in this climate, where it never freezes, but " eternal vigilance " will keep them out. Any one. to keep bees here successfully, must a,ttend strictly to business. There is no time to go visiting, to hang around the corner grocery, or to sleep in the day time, but work and watch 365 days in the year, if there is no church to go to on Sunday, and tliere is not here. Hut for all the care necessary to success here, is it any worse than the life of the merchant? If he succeeds he must tend to business. How would it be with you. friend Pioot. if you or some com- Setent person \\cre not on duty all the time? low long would your business be self-support- ing? I guess not very long. The same with bee-keeping here. It will pay if att(>nded to. You don't see me running up the white flag. I tell you. that, if I do not succeed, it is my own fault. The conditions necessary to success arc here; and if I do not avail myself of those con- ditions I have no one to blame. Of course, thei'e are some requisites necessary to success, such as the right strain of bees, hives, fixtures, etc., suited to the wants here for a large busi- ness: but the bees, the right strain, are very important. We have the l)est results from the hybrids, one and two bands. One correspondent asks, " What is the cost of starting an apiary of .550 colonies there ?'" That is a hard (pK'stion to answer. This establish- ment cost $10.()(H). How much chi'a])er one could start such an apiary would depend upon the man's ideas of what is necessary. There have been some apiaries started here that I presume did not cost flOOO; but I think they have never amounted to much, or, at least, I have never h(>ard that they did. If I start more apiaries it will not be with a view to see how cheap it can be done, but how complete an establishment for the care of CM) colonies can be made to successfully care for all the de- tails, with as little help(man power)as possible. There was one young man wrote me for my opinion of the two sections, California and Cuba, for bee - keei)ing, and gave his address as Orange Co.. Florida, no postoffice. I could not answer with such an address as that. The letter would only go to the dead-letter of'lice. You will I'eiueniber I told you last si)iing that I had a 5-to-l gear for my Stanley extractor. Well, I have it now, and it works like a charm, when, before, the operator had to make his hand go around so fast, in order to properly dry tlie comlis, that it was very tiresome indeed; and even then it could not be done to suit me. Now, it is no trouble with the 12-inch crank. You move the hand around slowly and deliberately, and the baskets are traveling as though they were afraid they would miss the train. The" throwing-out of the honey now is a pleasure, while before it was a task that but few had the strength to perform. Yes, it starts a little harder: but when in motion there is no difference; but the difference in starting is more than made up by the slow motion at which the crank passes around. I shall do nothing wrong if I say to every one thinking of coming to Cuba to keep bees, that, if they wish to come, there is nothing in the way; that there is plenty of territory that is not occupied, and, in fact, the best ]iart of the island, for bee- keeping, is still o|ien. to be occupied by whoev- er wishes. With attention, more money can be made from bees here than in the United States; but let no one forget that there is no season of rest, from one year's end to the other, if he would do justice to the business, and make it pay. Many object to sticking so close to bees. Tliat is all right: such i)eoi)le are not obliged to stick to bees. As for myself. I like my Itusi- ness, and I like to attend to it, and I have yet to see the business that thrives when it is neg- lected. The business is so unlike what it is in the United States that people fail to under- stand the difference without experience (and some not then). Here, in order to make the bus- iness pay, we are obliged to keep large apiaries; and, with large apiaries, the per cent of loss from coloni(>s getting queenless is great: and if left (|ueenless only a very short time, the combs are destroyed by nuith. and many other little things tluit contribute to loss, where there are five or six hundred colonies together, that would not happen with a few colonies. All de- tails need the closest attention. But with all the objections that come up against the large apiary I will take it every timi'. and give the one niy best attention, rather than have live or six little bunches locateil in as many diffi-i'ent places, as long as there is plenty of forage in one localitv for the wliole. This is the :lM of October; and with 550 colonies here in one api- ary, the l)est are storing honey right along, and we are taking it away— a thing I nevei' did in October before in Cuba, and you will remember that this is not one of the months we expect our bees to stor(> surplus. This has been a very poor year. Th(> Cuban bee-keepers in this lo- cality'have lost most of their bees. Very little rain indeed. A. W. OsuuKN. Punta Brava de Guatao, Cuba, Oct., 18ii0. 820 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 15. 6a^ QaEgwi@]\i-B®^, With Replies from our best Autfiorities on Bees. Question 172. Which will do the best work — a colony allowed to swarm (counting in the work of the swarm), or one kept from sivarming by having its queen caged or removed ? I believe one allowed to swarm. Ohio, N. W. A. B. Mason. In an average season, one allowed to swarm. Illinois. N. W. C. Mks. L. Haekison. The colony allowed to swarm, if managed right, I think will give the best resnlts. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boakdman. This depends. I should usually prefer no swarm if the colony kept actively at work. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. A colony kept from swarming does the best work, every time. But I want no queen caged nor removed. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MUTH. The one allowed to swarm, if managed right- ly. The management to keep from swarming is why the latter is not so good. New York. C. G. M. Doolittle. Ordinarily, where the working season is suflfi- ciently long to allow the swarm to get into good working order for the main flow of honey, the swarming colony is best. California. S. R. Wilkin. We are opposed to natural swarming, but we do not cage nor remove the queen. We give our colonies empty combs to prevent swarming. But the hives generally used in this country are too small for such a purpose. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. If there is a heavy fall crop, the swarmer might do best. In my locality I would risk the one made queenless, but I'd much rather risk one with a queen, if it took no swarming fever all summer. Illinois. N. C. C. Miller. I think the colony without the swarm. Use a hive large enough to accommodate the in- crease, and give them all the room to work in the one hive, with all the combs they can use for honey and brood, and then extract. L Wisconsin. S. W. ' E. France. That depends on what is meant by the " best work." If the question means what it says, the former. If the most work is meant, that de- pends on the season, locality, character of hon- ey flow. etc. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Green. This is a knotty question. I can't answer it, as there are so many variations in seasons and localities. I have experimented much in this line, and am not fully decided yet which is best. I hope to learn something this yc^ar more def- inite. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. All depends upon the locality; that is, on the time of blooming of such flowers as you depend on for your surplus crop. I think that is the rule in most localities (counting the value of the increase), that the increase method is the best. , Now. remember I do not say this to any person having a practical, mechanical method of preventing increase which is safe and sure; but as no one has, so far as I know, I will let- the answer stand. Michigan. S. W. James Heddon. That will depend on the season and i)asturage. If white clover is the only source of surplus.it is possible that the colony that does not swarm may gather the most honey; but if the honey season is a long one, with a favorable place for fall flowers, the colony allowed to increase will be far ahead. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. Freeborn. I do not believe in caging or removing queens to prevent swarming. It has always seemed to me like adopting a woi'sc evil than the one we fly from. For extracted lioney we find there is no necessity for removing the queen. If run- ning for comb honey, we would allow the swarm to issue, and manipulate so as to give the new swarm all the working force. New York. E. Rambler. This will depend on circumstances — princi- pally on the honey harvest, whether early or late, and whether you remove and return the queen at the proper time. Caging the queen in the hive is a lazy substitution, and will not kill the swarming fever. I have said that a swarm without a queen would work with greater en- ergy than one with a queen, but having a desii'e to swarm. I repeat this, because I have been misquoted. New York. C. P. H. Elwood. I do not practice the method referred to, and therefore can not say how far it succeeds and how far it fails. I suppose, however, that the relative crops of colonies which do not swarm, as compai'ed with colonies that do swarm and colonies that are divided, is what the questioner is after. Where the surplus season closes early in July, the most may be expected of colonies not increased — yet with many excejjtions. \Vliere good heavy rnns in August and S(>p- tember occur, the most may be expected from colonies that increase. One year of my bee- keeping, the yield per colony was three times the usual average. That year I increased 17 colonies to 73. The best yield was from a colo- ny made into seven by division — they raising their own queens. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. These answers are interesting, and I believe P. H. Elwood hits the nail on the head when he says that a swarm icithout a queen will work with greater energy than one with a queen having a desire to swarm. Granting that bees will work more energetically after they have swarmed, and are in their new home, it is very possible that the same bees have lost time just preparatory to swarming, and while the swarm- ing impulse was upon them; and Mr. El wood's point is, that, if it should be taken away from them entirely, they will average better. This is an exceedingly interesting and practical question, and if swarming can be controlled in some such way in out-apiaries, as Mr. Elwood and Hetherington do. it means that we can dis- pense with liired help to watch them, or, in the absence of such help, the loss fi'om runaway swarms. E. R. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 821 FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, jrUST AS MUCH HONEY STOKED ABOVE THICK- BAKS AS ABOA'E THIN ONES. Well, Uncle Amos, I have come to tell you about my thick top-bars, as I agreed to at the close of the season. I have taken off all the supers on the 2!t hives that I told you about in August Gleanings, page (302. The different top-bars on the 18 hives that I spoke of in the same article do not satisfy me at all. so I will say nothing about them, only that they were a failure so far as preventing burr-combs is con- cerned; but with top-bars j-ly thick and J4 wide, and spaced f^ with the furniture nails, has giv- en me entire satisfaction. There was not a particle of burr-comb, except on two of the colonies, and only a very little on them. In your foot-note yoii ask me whether the colonies with thick top-bars stored less honey than the colonies with thin top-bars. Well. I am sure that I could see no difference. It is my opinion, from what experience I have had. that, if the colonies were strong, and there were a good flow of nectar, the top-bars, or even the honey-boards, would make no difference in the amount of honey stored. On page (559, C. C. Miller wants to know whether there isn't danger of running fixed dis- tances to extremes. I wintered two colonies last winter on their summer stands, with this close spacing, and they were in as good shape in the spring as any I had, and gave me good strong swarms. I use a device similar to the Hill, covered with burlap and chaff cushions. One thing that Dr. Miller speaks of is to tip the hive up and look at the bottom-bars to see how irregularly they are spaced. This is a point that we certainly have got to overcome if we use close spacing. I have been very particular to have my frames hang so that the spacing would be the same at the bottom as at the top; but I find that I have one frame in one hive that got a little out of " whack."' and, as Dr. M. says, there was no brood reared on one side of the frame; but if I could get some of those wires that Dadant & Son describe, bent to fit my frames, I think they would fill the bill. Maple Ridge, Mich., Oct 21. Fked C. Smith. the dovetailed an outdoor wintering hive; hoav it may be done. Friend Root: — I am using a hive for winter- ing on summer stands, that I think is ahead of any thing I have ever seen, for reasons you will readily understand without explaining. I use the common Dovetailed hive, and line each end with building - paper. I have the blocks and thumbscrews in the hive exactly like the Heddon. I use, also, eight closed-end frames, and hang them. To prepare for winter I remove two combs and insert chaff' dummies, one on each side, and screw up the thumbscrews tight. I have the closed frames pressed together tight for one end, wall-paper lining between them and the hive-walls. The chaff dummies are fitted tight to the end of the frames by pressure with a dead-air space between the dummy and hive- wall. A cushion laid on top of a Hill device, furnishes the winter preparation. Your bees are snug and warm for wint<>r. and how they will build up in the spring! Now. this is good; it is cheap; there is no loose packing nor clumsy hives. CLOSED-END FRAMES HANDLED AS EASILY AS ANY. I would not use a hive without closed-end frames. Objections to them have been made by men who never tried them or did not know how to use them. The closed-end frames have so many advantages that they will never be laid aside by any man who knows how to use them; and when hung from above, a man must be very careless or ignorant if he kills bees in manipulating them. I know this hive and closed-end frame is a good thing, and seems to be about what Ernest is trying to get at. so I send this description, hoping that it nuiy be of some service to him in his search for a summer and winter hive. J. Richardson. Moberly, Mo., Oct. 6. Friend R., the plan you give has been given over and over again through our journals, es- pecially years ago, about the time chaff hives were first inaugurated; but although such protection is a good deal better than none at all. during very severe winters the results have not been equal to such protection as was given by the chaff hive, or something equivalent to it. Of course, closed-end frames would be an ad- vantage with such an arrangement. PERFORATED ZINC FOR EXTRACTING, A SUCCESS. Last year (1889) my bees swarmed a good deal. I hived them in 8-frame L. hives. They built, on an average, IK to 3 frames of drone comb in the bottom, and nearly all drone in top story. I had no combs or foundation to give them, and they raised solid sheets of drones, at a considerable loss of time and honey. This year I went over the yard, fitting in worker combs in place of drone in the brood - chamber, placing the drone comb in the second story, with a sheet of perforated zinc. Root's make, between, on 28 colonies. On looking them over soon after, I found two queens above, which I put below. One of the queens I found above, two or three days afterward. The others all worked well, very few drones below. In some hives the bees would clean out a part of one or more combs (drone) in upper story for the queen to lay in; but when honey came in fairly they would fill it up. In a few of the sheets the perforations were partly filled with wax; but combs in the upper story were not fastened down to the zinc where a -^ space was used. I believe they are just the thing for hives for extracting, especially where the bees build all their comb; and they will pay expense and trouble of adapting them to the hives in one season's use. KEROSENE FOR PROPOLIS, ETC. I think the best and handiest way of getting propolis off the hands is to have a small can of kerosene handy. A few drops will "cut" the gum very satisfactorily. It is also good for rusty saws, etc. By running the bottom of the Benton queen-cage over a cutter-head, cutting iV deep and to within, say, 3^ of each edge, and tacking on a strip about ,V thick by width be- tween strips and length of cage, using about % wire nails, the said cage can be used to intro- duce, the same as a Peet cage. To take off the bottom, pry up the bottom -^ inch, using a stout knife; push the bottom back, when the nails may be easily i)ulled out. The strip or (bottom) will slide easily between the side strips, and may be used and put on the combs the same as the Peet. While, if any prefer to introduce by the candy plan, there is nothing to prevent by making cages this way; the wire cloth and top may be nailed on, and the bottom left until after the queen is caught before fast of these flowers. I will send you sonn* seed this fall. They com- mence to bloom about the 20th of August, and last until after frost, up to October. Brush Creek, Ky., Sept. 10. D. H. Webb. Friend W., the plant you send us is the well- known Spanish needle— bicZen-s. In localities it furnishes great quantities of honey. We have had no repoi't before that bees worked on it di- rectly after a heavy rain. It must be yielding tremendously in your locality. It has been said, that a bee-keeper should locate where there is vei-y I'ich soil and very poor farmers, in order to get honey from this plant, for its fa- vorite place is poorly cultivated cornfields. See what is said elsewhere about Spanish needle on the rich river-bottoms of the Illinois and Miss- issippi Rivers. THE DOVETAILED HIVE ; irOW TO MAKE A WINTER HIVE IN KANSAS. Having just begun last spring to learn to take cai'e of bees, and having purchased 10 colonies in Dovetailed hives. I have been watching for instructions for wintering. In this latitude there is so much mild weather that it would be difficult to keep a cellar at the desired tempera- ture for bees. Then, too, there is sometimes extremely cold weather for several days, follow- ed again by warm winds. I do not like the thin-shell idea of strengthening the credit of the Dovetailed hive— not if the thin shell is put on the outside; but to place thin followers on each side, inside the hive, and a chaff cushion on top, is about the simplest thing to do. The ABC book says four to six frames are enough; and even if seven frames are left, there is i-oom for a half-inch follower on each side. This is just what I settled down to: I removed one or two frames from each hive; and to those needing more supplies I uncapped one or two frames of honey and hung them over night in the second story, just drawing back the burlap at one cor- ner, for the bees to get up. They did not fail to carry it all down in a single night, and a frosty night at that. I have 13 colonies in the Mitchell hive, which is 25 inches long inside, and deeper than the Dovetailed. I shall cut these back as soon as I can drive the bees next spring into Dovetailed hives. They will make iiine-franK^ hives, Icav- ingroom fora followei'. I exhibited a Dovetailed hive at our county fair, and I learn to-day that it took the premium. Ezra Y'oder. Paola, Kan., Oct. 31. LETTER FROM FATHER LANGSTROTH. Dear Friend Root: — In reply to your letter, inclosing a check for $50, sent to me by request of the N. A. Bee-keepers' Association, recently held at Keokuk, 1 would return my sincere thanks for their very kind and helpful remem- brance of their old bee-keeping friend. I am still in a feeble and suffering condition, al- though much better than I have been for near- ly two years. Thanking you for your many acts of kindness in the past. I remain Yours affectionately, L. L. Langstroth. Dayton, O., Nov 7, 1890. CALIFORNIA ROBBER-FLY'. I regret to say that the sand-bees and mos- quito .sent by J. C. McCubbin, Selma. Cal.. wei-e ground to powder, and so can not be identified. I wish all would send ins<'cts in strong boxes, tin or wood. \\"rapp(^d in cotton, then they come in good condition. A small tin box, like a cap- box, will go for a cent. The large insect which was' carrying the bee is an asilus fly, new to me. I wish it were not broken. It is one of the robber-flies. I have illustrated sev(M'al in my Bee-Keeper's Guide. fi'om wliich figures this could be easily identi- fied. These bee-killers ar(> usually gray and sober colored. This one is ornamented with brown, and is quite handsome. I should like very much to receive a ixMt'ccf specimen. There are several of these bee-killers in the vSouth, and it seems that California is not exempt. [ hope that Mr. M. will try again, when I shall hope for better success. BATS. Mr. Thaddeus Smith, Pelee Island, Lake Erie, Ont., Can., wishes me to name a bat which he sends me. This bat is large, quite whitish, so that it is called the hoary bat. The scientific name is Vespertlllo pruinosus. It is not very common, and is easily told by its whit- ish appearance, and a yellowish band across its throat. I was glad to get the specimen, as we had none in our museum. Bats often collect in great numbers in caves, where they domicile in summer and hibernate in winter. Bats are nocturnal, and feed on insects; so they are our friends. CROWN BEARD. Mr. Lewis K. Smith, Gainesboro, Jackson Co., Tenn., writes me regarding a plant which he says grows abundantly in his vicinity. The bees gather most of their fall crop of honey from it. He asks for name. I have never heard of this plant as a honey-])lant before, I think. It is crown beard, or ^'(•|■h<'silnt ocel- dentalis. It is closely related to beggar-ticks — bidens — and wild sunflowers. Indeed, it is next to the Actinomerls Sqliarrosa. which is much praised as a valuable honey-plant in West Vii-ginia. No wonder that it affords honey. Many of its near relatives do so. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Oct. 27. ISijO GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 823 0ni^ pepEg. Call unto me. and I will answer tlieo, and show thee gTeat and mig'hty things, which thou knowest not.— Jer. 33:2.: Thc'qnestion oftentinios comeslup, " Have'we a right to expect that (iod will answer us when we come to him in prayer, asking him to direct us in regard to some matter on which we are undecided?" We often feel at a. loss to know just exacth' where duty calls ns, or. in other words, we wish to know just what God would have us do in regard to certain things. This matter has been on my mind moi'e or less through all my experience as a Christian; and sometimes I have not only been puzzled but con- siderably troubled because those who seem de- voted aiid willing make sad mistakes. In look- ing back through my own experience I have, however, been led to decide that, where we go to God in prayer about a thing, and then make a mistake, the fatilt is ours, and not that of the Judge of all the earth, nor is any thing amiss ■with any of his promises in his holy word. We are very anxiotis to do a thing. We pray over it, and then watch for some indication that God approves of this very tiling. We delude our- selves in the belief that w(^ have i)rayed over the matter in question, and that God said it was right, whereas incHndtion swayed our bet- ter judgment to such an extent that self said it was right, and not the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The trouble is, even while we prayed we were not in a spirit of entire submission to his holy will. We should be very careful in such matters. The attitude of our heart should be, "' Here, Lord, am I, ready to obey, and lis- tening for that still small voice to direct me. I am willing to sacrifice property, to bear toil and pain, if I can only be sure that such a course is exactly what thou wouldst have me to do." After having done this \\e need to be very care- ful that we are entirely submissive and un- biased. We need to be sure that our inclination does notat allenterintothe final decision. If we do this, I am sure the promise in this little verse of our text will be fultilled. and that we shall seldom if ever have just cause to regret taking the course we did. When the time came aroinid for the Interna- tional Convention, it seemed almost folly for me to thinlv of deserting my post. Our new factory was just roofed. The doors and windows were not in. Machinery was to be located, and im- portant matters were to be decided, not only day l)y tlay. but hour by hour. Things were to be located that would i)e exce(>dingly hard to move if a mistalve were made. Expensive men were on tlie ground waiting to be directed. How could I be gone five full days? I decided, for a couple of weeks before the time appointed, that it was not my duty to. go. A good many would be thrown ottt of employment if I were absent. In talking with my i)astor about it he gave me an idea, that at lii-st I accept(>d as a jest or a piece of pleasantry; but afterward I decided there was an important truth in it that I specially needed. His suggestion was some- thing like' this: •■Why. l'>ro. Ifoot. you can solve the problem this way: Let your men have a vacation while you are gone; and if they can not well afford it, just ke<'p their pay going all the same." Wliile I am about so as to see most of my hands every houi' oi' two. I can so direct them that their work is done properly. If I am absent, a good deal will necessarily be done in a wasteful or unprofitable way. This is true of any man who neglects his hel|). or who does - not provid<' com])etent overseers. The friends here at home are exceedingly ready and willing to do as I wish: but the trouble is. when I am absent they do not hiKiir my wishes, and can not well know all the plans "I have in mind. Therefore, in order to go away I mttst make up my mind to accejn. as a matter of course, more or less iui|)rotilal)le work, and jjerhaps also have more or less useless labor i)erformed. As a rule, I think every nuin's lirst duty is to look after his own afifairs. Why, even the Bible en- joins that. In Proverbs we read. " Seest thou a man diligent in l)usiness? he sliall stand before kings, he sluill not stand before mean men." Three or four days before the time appointed, I began to pray very earnestly on the subject, asking God to tell me where duty lay; and I re- member telling my wife that t felt sure my prayers would he answered — that is, it would be impressed on my mind \\ hether I ought to go. For several days it seemed as if no light were to be given in regard to the matter. I could not see that the Holy Spirit dictated or impressed my mind either way. If it would not sound irreverent. I could have told the honest truth by saying to my wife. " So far God has said nothing to me about it.'' I should not like to use such an expression, however, for fear that many of my good friends wottld think me cranky. In fact, I should fear that I would be a little troubled about any of my friends if they should reply in just that sort of language. During the very wet fall that we have had, my wife and children have often asked me anxiously what the barometer said about the weathei'. A great many times I have replied evasively, or said nothing. But they often say, '" Why don't you tell exactly what the barometer does say?" 1 reply. " For the simple truth that it does iuit say any thintj (it all. It neithei- goes up nor down, and I sui)pose we must conclude that the weather is to remain — at least for the pi'esent — just about as it is now." They have all learned to have faith in the barometer, for a great many times I have said to them, positively and decidedly, "The sun is surely coming out; and from the manner in which the mercury rises, and the rapidity with whicli it goes up, you will certainly see clear sky before noon, and I shall be mucii disapiiointed if we do not see it come out in a couple of hours." When I have time to keep my eye on the barometer, so as to watch it and give it a thump every hour or two, it is very rare I make a mistake. Now, friends, you have a good illustiation right before you. Can we depend on the promiitings of the Holy Spirit in the same way. or in a like way that we de- pend on the movements of the column of mercury? I think we can, and it gives me pleasure to say this. I have been thinking over it for several days, whether it were right and proper for me to tell you this, and to state it just as I have said it aliove; and I rejoice to feel, right now while I am talking, that the Holy Spirit says in my heart. " My child, you are safe and right in saying just what you have said. It pleases me to have you exhort your readers to hare faitli in just this way." Short- ly before it became time to nuike pi<'Parations for my absence, I began to feel very plainly that God called upon me to go. The Holy Sjiirit seemed to direct that I should make arrange- ments according to the l)est of my human wisdom for work while I was absent, and then to drop care and anxiety, and leave honu' with an untroubled spirit, asking constantly t\)r di- rection as to what I was to do. We hav<' an il- lustration in the book of Acts. You will iv- meinber that Cornelius was sent to ,Ioppa, to lind Peter, who lo(lg(>(l with a tanner l)y the side of the sea. This man was to tell Cornelius what he ought to do. I have often thought of this passage. Does the Holy Spirit ever send us on like errands? I believe it does. Now, 824 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Nov. 15. please do not imagine, dear friends, that I had any idea in mind that there was any special great thing for me to do away off in Keokuk, Iowa. I only felt that it was God's wish that I should be preseTit with the rest of the brethi'en, and do what I could to help matters along, and possibly to do something in a quiet and natural way for Christ Jesus. No doubt this prompting of the Holy Spirit came through natural events and human agencies a good deal. Thi-ee different friends wrote they wei'e looking forward with great pleasure to the time when they would shake hands with their old friend A. I. Root at the coming convention. Then when I thought of being absent, something seemed to tell me that I was doing wrong, and it began to lie as a heavyweight on my conscience; and when I considered the matter of changing my plans, and of going after all. peace and happiness began to come into my heart. For quite a time after leaving home I did not feel anyenjoyment at all; but I decided that I would do my duty as well as I knew how, whether I enjoyed it or not. And I think, dear friends, this is one of the very best ways to secure the peace of God. Make up your mind that inclination must give way to duty, peace or no peace, and God will send the reward in his own time. One of the first disappointments was to find that, when we arrived at Elyria, the Lake Shore train was two hours late. We did not know whether Dr. Mason expected to attend or not; but I invested 25 cents in a tdcgriim. This telegram had the effect of waking li'nn up, and of bringing him to the depot, <'V(mi after he, like myself, had decided not to go. When we were within perhaps a hundred miles of Keokuk, a stranger sat down near us who eyed me very intently for some time. I finally asked him if he was not one of the bee-keeping friends on the way to the convention. He replied that he was, and added. "Are yon not A. I. Roof?" I nodded assent. Then he said, "My name is Draper." " A. JSr. Draper, of Upper Alton, 111.?" said I, interrogatively. He nodded, "and we were old friends at once. Friend D. used to write for the American Bee Journal, before Gleanings had an existence. He had followed me, even to covering my bee- hives with stable manure, as I did years ago; and then he aftcrwaitl i)nt his bees in a cold- frame, as a good nuiny otlnn's did in those old times. He risked all lie had in the venture, then gave up bee-keeping in disgust, as he lost all. But, like a good many others, he came back again to it. Pretty soon another fi'iend who lives on the banks of the Illinois River, Mr. J. M. Hambaugh, of Spring, 111., came in. This latter friend had secured about 10,000 lbs. of Spanish-needle honey, gathered from the lowlands along the river. In his market, the honey from Spanish needle is now selling more readily, and is giving better satisfaction, than even white c1ov(m-. It is of a beautiful amber color, and I think it is often sold as goldeni'od honey. The convention was one of the best I ever attended. The attendance was not only large, but our Western friends came and handed in their dollars in order that they might become members, more generally, I think, than in any other convention I ever attended. Perhaps I might mention right her(!, that one of the troubles in our conventions is in this very line. A good many attend evei-y session, take' great interest in the proceedings, and sometimes take part, to a considerable extent, in the debates; yet when the call is made for the necessary funds to keep up the necessary expenses, in many localities there has been a considerable hanging back. Dr. Miller, Dr. Mason, Prof. Cook, and others, have urged so hard that every one should hand in a dollar that sometimes we have almost had hai'd feelings in regard to the matter. If we move our national convention all over the United States, or, at least, over a great portion of it, as we have been doing, it happens, as a matter of course, that a great part of tlie members (and oftentimes the presid- ing officers) are made up of people who never attended before, and perhaps who may never attend again. This seems a little unfortunate: and yet if all parts of the United States are equally represented, it must be so to a greater or lesser extent. During this last session, ar- rangements were made whereby we might have a certain number, at least, who would be mem- bers year aft(>r year, whether they could be in attendance or not. This is secured by making anybody a life-member on the payment of $10.00. "If I am con-ect, the editor of the Ameri- can Bee Journal was the first one to pay $10.00 and become a life-member. Ernest and I have alsoagi'ccd toliccome life-members, and I said at the convention tliat. 1 thouglit tlic United States should furnisli at least LT) who would pay a like sum, and hereafter be members for life. Now, then, who is there among our readers who is ready to stand hv us for the purpose of making a permanent institution of the North American Bee-keepers" Society, as it is to be styled, in order that it may stand on a permanent basis, and not be left to be blown about by the wind, and dry up and die like autumn leaves? It is proposed to have it incorporated according to the laws of the United States, and it seems to me this would be a very sensible and wise pro- ceeding. Further particnlai'S in regard to the matter will be found in the American Bee Journal, as also a full report of the proceedings of the convention, which we do not give here, as we do not wish to have our pages contain something that most of our readers will see in the Arnericau Bee Journal. I hope I may digress enough right here to urge every reader of Gleanings to subscribe for the Amei lean Bee Journal at once, if he does not now take it. Its editor has perhaps done more to keep up our conventions, report their proceedings, and labor for the general interest of the bee-keepers of America thin any other one among us. The field occupied is so different from the one covered by Gleanings that you will not find much repetition if you take the two. Now for the promise in our text. I soon be- gan to realize why it was that God wanted me to go to Keokuk. A good many of the friends who were ther(^ had taken Gleanings almost since the time it was printed by windmill pow- er. Theykn(nv me better than they knew their next-door neighbors, many of them, and they wanted to see me and shake hands. Perhaps some who have followed me all these years came more to see me than for almost any thing else. Please remember that I do not say this boast- ingly, but to show you that I should have been sadly out of place, and lacking in friendly, brotherly spirit, if I had allowed any thing to keep me away from such a gathering. I did not realize it fully until I came to read my paper. As it is hard for me to speak to a large roomful, I told them, before I commenced, that I should considcn- it a great favor if they would come up and occu])y the front seats, so that we might have it more like a family gathering. Our good friend Mrs. Harrison started the movement by picking up her chair, and bring- ing it quite close up to the speaker, when there was a general move to following her example. During the reading of my paper (see Our Homes, last issue), when I came to speak of 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 825 <}od's gifts to boe-koopors I digressed from my reading long enough to mention the Spanish- needle honey I had been told of (samples were on the table at my side) on the banks of the Illinois Kiver. and suggested that God's gifts were many times lying near our own doors, un- known and unappreciated. A lady in the audience suggested theie were untold acres of the same plant lying along the Mississippi River also. Somebody who lived further down stream gave us another corroboration of the statement, and pretty soon so many facts came in to support the spirit of my paper— have faith in God — that the president tried to call them to order. They had got to going, however; and in their eagerness to supply your humble ser- vant with the facts he wanted, they forgot president, essay, and every thing else. Finally the president good-naturedly called a halt. Said he, in substance, " Why, who ever heard of such a thing as interrupting an essay to give your separate experiences? Let Bro. Root finish his paper, and then we shall be glad to have you discuss the matter to your hearts' content." Some of them looked somewhat astonished, and perhaps a little put out, because they could not tell their story right then and there. But instead of feeling annoyed myself, it gave me a new thrill of ioy to see how anxious these friends were to furnish me any information I called for in any particular line of our work. It touched me, too, to see how soon they felt ac- quainted with me, and treated me as if I were really " one of the family." Later on, when they came to discuss impor- tant matters, I was surprised and astonished to see how eager and full of enthusiasm these Western friends were to understand more of the different questions that puzzle us in bee-keep- ing. As an illustration: The president asked for a show of hands in regard to the matter of us- ing foundation — how many used it in full sheets? how many used only starters? how many prac- ticed Hutchinson's plan of using only starters for hiving new swarms? how many used foun- dation in section boxes? Our good president, R. L. Taylor, seemed to have a happy faculty of bringing out all these points, and in getting every one in the room to have something to say in the matter, and at the same time not have valuable time wasted. Some facts in regard to the value of sugar compared with honey for winter stores interest- ed me greatly. President Taylor himself gave us the following most important item. Quite a number of colonies were fed on stores of sugar syrup, and an equal quantity were provided with stores of honey. The colonies were weigh- ed, both in the spring and fall; and those hav- ing honey consumed nearly if not quite twice as many pounds of feed. I have been for years past fully satisfied that stores of sugar syrup are more wholesome, and a more concentrated food than any honey; but I was not prepared to find so great a difference. A great amount of questioning and experiences were given in this line, and the whole evidence seemed to be al- most invariably in favor of sugar. A conven- tion is the only possible place in which such a matter can be thoroughly discussed, and important facts like this settled. Bee-journals are good, and have their office, but we must have conventions also. I felt ashamed of my- self for having ever ent<'rtained tiie thought that I might be excusal)ie in staying away. At one of our temperanc(^ meetings sonu^ years ago, a reformed man told a little story of his soldier life. He said a young boy, who had enlisted contrary to the best iudgment of his friends and relatives, once toid his comradciS that he was afraid he might show the " white feather " in a coming conflict. Said he, "Boys, if you see any indications in me of any thing of the sort, I just want yon to take me by the collar and straighten me up, and hold me to my post." Our reformed friend remarked that he wished the Christian temperance people to tak(^ hold of him in the same way, if he got back; and my feeling during that whole convention is just expressed in the above. If I should again show any such foolish, short-sighted disposition to shirk and stay at home. I hope some of my good friends will take me by the collar, and straight- en me up, reminding me of this passage in this present paper. I think I never saw more facts of importance brought out in so short a time. The bright and expectant faces, the brief, simple tcstiinonics, and the general feeling of brotherly love, and desire to help each other, were really wonderful. Before I knew it I was enjoying myself most intensely. Those thrills of joy that I have told you alxiut, began to come into my heart, wave after wave. There were not very many present who had i-ead the bee-journals, and experi- mented with bees, as long as 1 have. Perhaps 7ione had read so much voluminous correspon- dence, and this enabled me to furnish impor- tant connecting links here and there. There was so much interest manifested that the presi- dent found it hard work to get them to adjourn at dinner time. After the adjournment, of course a great many gathered around the Roots, both old and young. Ernest's visit through York State had made him acquainted, not only with the York State people, but with friends away out west as well. A good many were in- viting me to go home with them, or to look at something. But a white-haired German friend, Weyend by name, in a sort of comic way cap- tured and ensnared your old friend completely, by a few brief sentences. His invitation was worded something as follows: " Mr. Root goes with me. I can show him artesian wells, where the water comes out so as to make a little lake." He had been reading Gleanings, and he knew well where I was deeply interested, and was ready to take advantage of it. He contin- ued : " Yes, there are beautiful fish in the ponds around the wells, and I will show you where the water goes down the bluff and carries a water-motor that runs a dynamo." When he spoke these words he looked at Er- nest in a comic sort of way, as much as to say, " You see I am going to have Ernest too;" and in a little time a party was organized to go and see th(>se wonders in the suburbs of Keokuk. If you look now at the words in the latter part of our text, you will see there a promise— " and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." I wish I could give you a picture of our good friend Weyend. May be we will some time; but for the present we must content ourselves with a pen-picture. He is an excellent type of a good-natured, jovial, enthusi- astic son of the " fatherland." His quaint, pe- cidiar ways, win friends at once, and a sort of dry native wit soon sets his companions into fits of laughter that are almo.st uncontrollable. For instance: •' Why, Mr. W.. you are taking us on top of a great hill. Surely the artesian wells an> not up here, are they? What should put it into the head of any man to think of drilling a well on top of this great bluff ?" Thess. ►^BEST OIT EA.IlTII•l^ fii^fm^^ 3o Quarto pages— 50 cents a year. AN Elegant Monthly for the FAlVIIIiY and FIRESIDE. Printed in the highest style of the art, and embellished with inatitiittLeut Engravings. Sample FKEE. 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S2.00 . 1.7.5 . 1..50 . 1.35 . 1 00 65 Milledgeville, 111., March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-day. and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as I do your trade will boom. Truly, F. A. Snell. Vermillion, S. Dak., Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 16 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly^ R. A. Morgan. Sarahsville. Ohio, March 12,1890. Sirs :— The smoker I have has done good service since 1883. Yours truly, Daniel Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BmaHAU Si HsTHEsmciTOiT, Abronia, Mich. ^9"In responding to tliis adverti.senient mention Gleanings. DADANT'S FOUNDATION Is kept tor sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowaglac, Mich.; O.G.Collier, Fairbury, Neb. ; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O.. E. Kretch- mer. Red Oak, la.; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula. La., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wisconsin; J. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Freeburg, Illinois; Geo. B. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1517 Blake St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111. ; E. L. Ooold & Co., Brantford, Ont.. €an.; R. H. Schmidt & Co., New London, Wis.; J. Stauflfer & Sons, Nappa- nee. Ind. ; Berlin Fruit-Box Co., Berlin Heights, O. ; E. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, N. Y. ; L. Hanssen, Davenport, la. ; C. Theilman, Theilmanton, Minn.; G.K.Hubbard, Fort Wayne, Ind.; T. H. Strickler, Solomon City. Kan.; E. C. Eaglesfleld, Berlin, Wis., Walter S. Ponder, Indianapolis, Ind., and numer- ous other dealers. LANGSTROTH on the HONEY-BEE, The Hooh for Jifffinners, the Most Complete Text- Hook on the Stilijert in the KiifflisJi Lnttf/nage. Bee-veils of Imported Material, Smo- kers, Sections, Etc. Circular with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free. Send your address on a K''" Chas. Dadant & Son, HAMILTON, HANCOCK CO.. ILLINOIS. tyin responding to this advertisement mention GLEANlNas. s;'6 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1. Contents of this Number. Alfalfa Fip'.ds. Going: to. ...857 Bees and Neighbors 8ri9 Bees in Sections 860 Bees, Long Flight 8.")8 Bees. When to Move «S8 Bees, Peculiar 8.')9 Bee Disease, Nameless 855 Bee-escapes 842. S.'iO Bee-space, Klo-ht 840 Boarfiman's Notes 841 Buckwheat, Japanese 843 Cacti f^ C^ndv. M.nnum's 848 C vse," Winti-ring: 817, 8f.O (Jlamp. M ^niiin'r M9 Cones, Pel pendicular 8 0 Contraction (Q B.).8.-fi Covers, Flat 8".r, Division-hnards. Two 8(10 Doctors. Hum's Plea for.. -.844 Egfjs in Jelly 840 Etitrance in Bottom 848 Ernest in Vermont 81? Exagrgeratioii in Terms 8l>t) Frames, Fixed 8 •; Freezing Foundatii>n s.".7 Funds for N. .■4. B. K. A. . . . 8.i7 Uive^.. 8 or 10 Frame S5u Honcv. HcdiL.n's 8.'i4 Honi V. Arizniii ( Homes). . .801 Inciv:iM-. Cunl Killing 843 Itali.iiisAlicail 859 Italians v. Hybnds 8.54 Keokulc Convention 8,52 Kerosene v. Bees 858 IJce on Queens 8.58 Locust, (ireat "46 Manuni at Home 8~9 Paris Green 859 (,IU(ens. E ;|ioitwia' 8.54 U unbler at L ike George 815 RpcoKlof Hives 849 Sin,.kei-, (■ ,irk »r.6 S|, Mfv-, r .■. indling 812 s'lnt;^ l>ir Rheuliuvti^m 800 S '-.n S'r:>ws 8.51 Sii-.ir, licet 843 T.p-fiar.x-s, Thick 868 Vcntil;Ui.>n, Bottom 8.58 Watering-place CO gPECI^L ]^e¥ICE^S. POULTRY-NETTING ADVANCES DEC. 30. Bear iu miud, that only a little over two weeks re- main iu which you can buy wire" nettin? at the pres- ent low piice.s. " The .51st pag-e of tlie new catalogue shows what the price will be next year. Notice the list of remnants on anotner i^age. wliieli is subject to 10% discount before Jan. 1. ORDEKS FOR MACHINERY. Some few orders for machinery have been sume- what delayed on account of the interruption and large amount of extra machine work incurred by moving into our new building. We are glad to say, liowever, that our workers in iron and steel are now nicely housed in a large airy room about three times the size of their former quarters, and will soon be in shape to turn out promptly all kinds of machine work. A SECOND-HAND PLANER AT A BARGAIN. We have on hand for sale a 24-inch heavy pony planer, made by Graham, of Rochester, in good re- pair. It cost new !$240; was used about three years in our works when we sent it back to the works and had it rebuilt new at tin expense of $.50 and f reigiit both ways. We used it only four or five months when we were obliged to put in its place a large double-surface i>laner to do our work. We offer the abovt machine, all ready lo run, free on board cars, for $1.50. OUR PREMIUM LIST. Some of you may be wondering what is keeping our premium li.st sj late this year. The fact is, we shall not have any. but send you our catalogue in- stead. We shall offer special premiums from time to time during ilie coming months. For the present we wisli to say that you may select any article in our catalogue US a premium; and each subscription you secure for Gleanings will count 35 cents to- ward the price of it, p?(ii;ided that in your list of names you have as many new snbscriiitions as re- newals. Remember, the remaining miniliers of this year after the subscription is received are sent free to new subscribers. DISCOUNTS FOR EARLY ORDERS. IJv the new catalogue you will notice that the 4% discount we have been allowing the past month is extended to December instead of dropping to 3%. A good many are taking advantage of these earlj^- oider discounts, and are sending us large orders. We are also shipv)ing a number of carload orders to dis- tant points. We have just shipped a carload of hives and sections to friend Ball, of Reno, Nev., who sent us the car of comb honey. We are also loading a car of supplies for the Bee- keepers' Association of Maricopa Co., Ariz., from whom we received a car of honey in August, and are daily expecting another. We have orders iu for three or four more carloads for various points. We expect to load a car for Portland, Ore., within a month; and it any of our readers in Oregon or Washington wish to secure catlo id rates of fi-eight as far as Portland the.y should send their ordei-s in at once. We liope, alst>, to make up one or more cars for Soiitiiern California within the next si.x weeks or two months at the oulside; and if any in that section want to avail themselves of tliis oppor- tunity they would do well to write or send their orders very soon. NEW ENLARGED EDITION OF OUR CATALOGUE. We have given our illustraled catalogue and price list a thorough revision, and added eight more pages of matter. In order tluit our readeis may see what we have done, and be sure to have a new cata- logue to order from, we are mailing a copy to eacli subscriber of Gleanings. If you fail to get it with this, or soon after, drop us a card and we will mail tinother. I will briefly mention a few of the alterations, ad- ditions, and changes in price. The matter has been re-arranged a good deal: and in order that .you may easily find any tiling that you want, we have' added a compreheiisi\'e index on the inside of front cover. The catalii.tiiic was f()rinerl,\- arranged with a view of making aiticles c(aiie in alidiabetical order. This could not lie strictly followed, as kindred articles, of neces.sity, must soinetimes be mentioned togetlier, though not beginning with the same letter. We have given up the alphabetical order, and arranged in a natural order, wliich you will iK^tice as you turn over tlie pages. Notice the additional matter in the introductory pages, inducements to order early, and discount ft)r so doing. Trie following articles hive advanced in price: Perforated zinc and lioney-boards, all kinds; Sim- plicity feeders; a few of the hives have changed in price. Tin separators, tin pails, tin plate, and gal- vanized poultry-netting are advanced. A number of new articles have been added, which we will leave you to discover. The discounts for large cash orders have been abol- ished, and the discounts for early orders take their l>!ace. You will observe, however, that the early- order discount applies only to such articles as we manufacture, found on pages 10 to 37 of the list. Mucii of the matter is entirely re-written. Some in- structions are given in the matter of feeding and wintering. Further changes, especially in the Counter Stoi'C list, afe anticipated. Any suggestions from our |)atioiis that will lead to makin.g the cata- logue more hcliiful and convenient to order from, w 11 be api)rei-i;iteil. mij woRBS noi oua customers. GLEANINGS A PROFITABLE ADVERTISER. I have been a constant advertiser in Gleanings for over four yetirs, and can htinestly .say it is the best medium lever used. C. M. Goodspeed. Skaneateles, N. Y., Nov, 17. MORE ADVERTISING THAT PAID. I am well pleased with the results of my adverti.s- iug in Gleanings. I am all sold out of queens, and sending back money nearly every day. I received enough orders to take all the queens I had left in four days after my last ad't was out, ;ind I had quite a large hunibei' of them too. Elmer Hutchinson. Rogersvilie, Mich., Oct. 37. A BIG BARGAIN FOR $1.00. SPECIAL CROPS, one year, «1 03. MONTREAL FAMILY HERALD AND STAR (weekly), $1.00. GOLDEN CENSOR (Roekford. III., weekly), S1.25. All of above one tuU year for $1 00. Special Crops and either one of the others for .50 cts. This offer is good until Dec. 26. Renewals accepted same as newsubs. Address C. M. GOOOSPEED, Skaneateles, N. Y. J^"In respond inpr to this advertisement mention Olkanings. FOR SALE. f-A STANDS of bees; two Italians, others hybrid OU and blacks in 10-frame Simplicity and 8-frame Dovetailed hives. Price i4 each. J. HAMWOND, Buena Vista, Scioto Co , Ohio. tS^ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 837 i^THE CANADIAN Bee Journal Edited by D. A, Jourtt. 75c. Per Poultry Journal EdlU'dby IF. C.O.Peter. 75c. Per Year. These are puh'ishefl SfpMraiei\ . alternate weeks, and are edited hy live practienl Mjen. aui! contrit)Ul- ed to by ihfbHst writers \K-<\u .lounmls aie inter- esting-, and are alike valuable in the expert and amateur. Satnpie copie;* fi' e. Both Jonrnjls one year to otu^ addrf'ss .fl Unti Jimc 1-^' we icill semi either Journal on trial trip tor ti months for 'ih cts. 77?^ D. A. Jones Co.. Ld.. Beef on, Onf. !3'"Hlease mention Gleanings. Ip-IM PURE WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCKS. 10 Cockerels for salp at «I 0) each, if taken this month. JOHN €, OiL.L,lL.,\NB», KSloomlield, Iiid. SECTIONS! SEGTIOHS! SECTION On and after Feb. 1, lS9il. we will sell our No. 1 V- groor.' .sections, in lots of "lOO. as follows: Less than 3000, $3.50 per 1000; 3000 to 5000, $3.00 pe>- 100(1. Write for specinl prices on larger quantiiie-;. No. 3 sec- tions at $3.00 per 1000. Send for price list on hives. foundation, cases, etc. J. STAITFFER A: SONS, 16 tfdb Successors to B. J. Miller & Co., IVappanee, Iiid. Wants or Exchange Department. WANTED.— To exchange apiary of 150 colonies of bee.s. Will take any kind of farm stock, g-oods or groceries. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange warranted Italian queens to be shipped e;iily in June and Jul.v, 1891, for Solo alto horn or tenor 15-Hat trombone. Write and give particulars to James Wood, 23-33d North Prescott, Mass. WANTED.— To exchange forest trees, for straw- beri-.v-plants, grapevines, and all kinds of small fruit-trees or offers. W. G. McLendon, Gaines' Landing, Chicot (Jo., Ark. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees in L. hives for lieagle hounds, or will exchange fox-hounds for beagles. J. H. Mitchell. i 1 23-34d Hawkinsville, Pulaski Co., Ga. WANTED.— To exchange Perfect Hateher,'176 eggs, cost .*T5.\)0; and brooder, 300 chicks, cost $38.00; been used at fairs a little, for Italian or hybrid bees. 33d Elizabeth Dimick., Burns, Alle. Co., N. Y. TirANTED.— To exchange one 6x0 self-inking press, VV with t.vpe, for lO-iiich fdn. mill and wax-e.\tract- or, or best offers; also a 6-incli fdn.-niill, fur wax. .i3-24d L. L. ISENHOWER, Reading, Pa. WANTED.— To exchange new hearse for bees, in good L. hives, or comb honey. 23d J. H. Tatman, Connersville, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange a Breed's I'niversal Weeder, used one season, price $13.00, for new Simplicity or Dovetailed hives or offers. 33d Elmei{ E. Shakp, South Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y. W ANTED. — To exchange bee-supplies for empty combs. Bee-friends, let us hear from yoti. 33'd J. B. MuHiJAY, Ada, Hardin Co., Ohio. W W ANTED.— To correspond with parties who wish to exchange beeswax for supplies. Geo. Rall, Frenchville, Trem. Co., Wis. ANTED.— Aj)icultiu-al offers in exchange for plain and fancy .iol> printing'. 33-24d C. W. Davto.n, Clinton, Rock Co., Wis. WANTED.— To correspond with parties having potatoes, onions, apiik's, and honey for sale. Prompt aliciition giv<'n ti) correspondence. Con- siginncMits sojiciteil. l-foTiipt returns made. EAiii.K ('i,1('1s.en(ji:k, 131 So. -tih St., Columbus, O. Job Lot of Wire Netting. CUT PIKCK.S AT A LOWER PKICE THAN FULL ROLLS. Ha^'ing bought from the factory, at our own price, five or six hundred remnants, as listed below, we are able to give >'ou the choice of a great variety of pieces at the price of a full roll or lower. Full rolls of netting are 150 ft. long, and when they are cut we have to charge iiearly double the full-roll rate, be- cause it is so mvich trouble to unroll, measure, and cut. and run the risk of having a lot of remnants on hand. No doubt it is in this way that the following remnants have accumulated. It costs a good deal to get ail this in shape so we catt easily pick out from tlie lot the pieceyou want. But to move it off' quick- ly, we put the price down so you can all have a chance at it. Remember, first come, first served. In ordering, therefore, name a second or third choice, or sa.v that we may send the nenrest we can if tlie liieie Select I'd is gone. On 5 pieces deduct 5 ijer cent, on 10 pieces 10 per cent. On all orders sent before Jan. 1. 1S9I. deduct W per cent. These remnants are shipped only from here. If any of you want to secure some, and don't want them shipped till later, when you will order something else, so as to save freight, pick out the pieces .vou want. Send remittance with the order, with request to lay by till called for, and we will mark them as belonging to you. We prefer to ship them i-ight out, however. LIST OF POULTRY-NETTING REMNANTS. Length of each piece. Multiply by the width In feet to get the number of square feet in each piece. ;^ ji a! s, S ^ CO j= o o o ^ cc •a O 2 20 ¥1 2 20 ¥ a 20 t< ■> 19 •*f 2 19 ■X Si 19 ■i< 2 19 V 2 19 ■a a 19 ■V 2 19 % X I 68, 50,48.47, 33. 30; 18 in., 50, 34, 24; 72 in.. 95, 27. " I 144, 66, 60. 54, 48, 38. 24, 22. 18. 17. 70, 59, 55, 49, 47, 43, 25, 25, 6; 60 in., 47, 42, 32, 24. 1(10, 92, 411. 143, 103. 60. 50, 41, 28. 58, .55, 51, 50, 47, 47, 45, 45, 43, 40, 38, 23, 22, 20, 19. 50, 43, 1.5. 89, 80, 80, 60, 57, 49, 43, 40, 33, 30, 29, 26, 26, 23, 20, 14. 98, 92, 48, 44, 42, 38,32, 28, 25, 21. 20. 11, 9. 134, 131), 120, 110, 108,' 103, 103, 100, 91, 88, 81, 73, 72, 68, 67, 60, .50, .50, 48, 26. 25, 24, 20, 19. 65,23,15; 12 in., 107,43. 144, 122, 100, ,50, 43, 35, 17; 30 inches wide, 63, 25. 105, 100, 44, 39, 29, 23; 42 inches wide, 60. 61, .53, 48, 47, 37, 35, 22, 22; 60 in. wide, 67, 20. 42. 23. 15; 24 in, wide, 77. 78. 53. 32; 60 in. wide, ,2a, , . . ■ . -.i • 78, 59, 11 ; 18 in. wide, 72, 72, 40; 24 in, wide, 94, 88. 36, 34, 32, 23. 14; 30 in. wide. 46, 44, 24. 60, 58, .56; 48 in. wide, 70. 48, 46, 40, 26, 19; 60 in,, 62. 87. 61, 30; 12 in. wide. 100. 120. 100. 99. 69. ,52, 33, 33, 13, 12. 127. 40, 27, 25, 21, 21, 15, 6; 60 in. wide, 21, 20. 98, 97, 47, 38, 38, 37, 24, 18. 17, 16, 15, 13, 7, 7, 7, 6, 5. 125, 121. 35, 26, 23. 20, 8; 72 in. wide, 36, 33, 9. 72. 49, 48, 45. 38, 37. 30. 29, 26, 22, 14, 29; 42 in., 71 41; 18 in. wide. 14; 30 in.. 14. 100. 66. 40; 42 in. wide. 85. 59. 33. 33. 30; 36 in. wide, 47. 47, 45. 30. 107. 72. .52, .%5, 18; 611 in. wide, 56; 72 in., 64, 63, 10, 40; 30 in., 110. 34. 311. 28; 60 in.. 65. 34, 19; .54 in.. 12. 79; 36 in., 14, 7; 42 in., 34; 48 in., 92. 48.12,10; 24 in., 86,42; 30 in., 75; 48 in,, 78. 15,11.11,10; 30 in.. 6; 42 in., 80; 48 in., 22; 72 in.. 8. .53; 72 in., 51; 30 in., 96; 9 in.. 40. 63; 9 in., 24; 42 in., .50, 34; 48 in., 100, 40, 25; 60 in., 26; 18 in.. 82. .50. 85, .32; 9 in., 3-2; 10 in., 20; 24 in., 25; 30 in.. 69, 51. 37,32; 48 in., 30; 60 in., .59. ^ I 20 i 2-X 1 33, 7; 30 in.. 37; 36 in., 76, 5.5, ;V I 19 13 32; 24 in., 130. 3 I 16 1 46. 19; 36 in., 86; 42 in., 14. ^ VA 63; 48 in.. 60. 1 X 1.50, 18)^ ; 48 in., 45 ; 72 in., 100, 70. 3 166, 52, 35, 23 I 4 107, 68, 35, 17. 15. 10. .30 I 4 14 I iV. 52. 47, 3(1. 33, 30. 29 19, 18, 13, 9. 34 I 4 I 14 1 4*4' I 43. .37. 34. 25. 24 23. 18. 42 1 4 I 14 5 I 144, 117, 68, 62, 62, (iO, 23,22, 22, 15, 12, 12, 12, 8, 6. 46 4 14 I 5K I 82, 50, 44. 11,5. 18 18 |l3|2 I C.sn.; ,36iu.,200ft.at4c: 45in.,247ft. atSe. Four and eight inch fencing. Price in fourth column is the price per foot in h-ngtli. A. I. ROOT, X^ediaa, O. 36 1 vz 19 1 i'^"@8»4. No beeswax on hand. Demand good. Blake & Ripley, Nov. 19. Boston. Mass. Riverside.— Honfjy.— Comb honey all shipped out of Southern California, and nine-tenths of the ex- tracted. Latter selling in car lots to-day; white, 6(g» 654 ; lig'ht amber, .59i@6. Griffin & Skelley Company, Nov. 12. Riverside, Cal. St. Louis.— Honey.— We note an active inquiry for strained and extracted honey in barrels at 6c; cans, 7X; comb, white clover, I8@183^ ; dark, 15K@16'/4. Beeswax, prime, 25. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., Nov. 19. St. Louis, Mo. San Francisco.- Honej/.— Extracted honey is very firm and advancing, with a heavy demand for Eu- rope as well as for the East, and we quote now 6@6^ for eastern shipment. Comb honey is scarce, and wanted at 13@14c for 1-lb. comb honey, and 10@12 for 3-lb. comb lioney. Beesvax is scarce, and firm at about 23@34. Schacht. Lemcke & Steiner, Oct. 23. 16 & 18 Drum St., San Francisco, Cal. Detroit.- Honey.— The demand for comb honey continues good, and bi-ings 16c readily if a fair arti- cle. Extracted, 1®8. Beeswax, 37@28. M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, Mich., Nov. 30, 1890. St. Louis.— Ho«ey.— We quote choice white-clover honey in 1-lb. sections, single tier, 18c; fancy, 30c; double tier, 17@18. Dark and broken to fair stock, 13@1.5. Extracted, in cans, 8(5)10; dark, 6@7; barrels, 53^ @7, as to quality. Be«s wax,, prime, 25i4@36; dark, less. The demand for honey is good, and the stocks here are very light. W. B. Westcott & Co., Nov. 34. St. Louis, Mo. For Sale.— 30OO lbs. light extracted honey in fiO-lb. tin cans; and 800 lbs. nice comb honey in 13-lb. crates. Delivered on cars at lOc for extracted, and 18c for comb. S. A. Shuck, Liverpool, 111. For Sale. — One barrel of extracted honey, gath- ered mainly fi-om false boneset and heartsease. ITiis honey is well ripened and of fine flavor. Will take 8c per lb., f . o. b. here. Can put it up in 60-lb. square tin cans, at 8Kc per lb. Cans are boxed two in a box. Correspondence solicited. R. B. Leahy, Higginsville, Mo. Wanted. — Extracted honey, either white clover or linn. Send sample and quote lowest cash price. Walter S. Pouder, 175 E. Walnut St., Indianapolis, Ind. For Sale.— One keg of No. 1 fancy clover honey ; net weight. 111 lbs. $10.00 buys it delivered on cars at Alamo. Address O. H. T(jwnsend, Alamo, Kal. Co., Mich. Wanted.— Southern honey. W^ill pay 5>^c cash on arrival for good Southern honey. Chas. F. Muth & Son, 33-23-24-1-d Cincinnati, O. Wanted. One or two thousands pounds of nice comb honey. Write, giving Hmonnt on hand and price wanted. A D. ELr.rvowooo, Barlinii' i, .H. 17tfdb For Sale.— £0,C00 lbs. of extra fine sage honey in 60 lb. tin cans. Also two cMrloads of light amber honey, for sale at 6c per lb , f o. b. L.E. Mercer & S( ^ « Vpptnra, V'entura Co., Cal. WANTED. I want to i)urchase at once, a large lot of Light - Colored Combs of Honey IN SIMPLICITY FRAMES. Must bo built upon wired foundation. Each frame, with honey, to weigh not less than three pounds. Correspondence solicited. GEO. D. POWELL, 81 &83 Third St, Brooklyn, N. Y. |7In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. NEW FIRM. W. D. SOPER & CO. We are now in shape to manufacture every thing needed in the apiary. Hives, sections, i)acking- boxes, etc., made to order. Get our prices before buying elsewhere. W. D. SOPER & CO., 19-17d 118 & 120 Washington St., Jackson, Mich. Please mention this paper. TO SUIT YOUR FANCY. I will breed in 1891 both the Five-Banded Oold- eii and A. I. Root's sirain of •'Honey" Italian Queens. Orders booked now; pay when queens arrive. Every queen warranted. No blacks. In- close stamp for prices. JACOB T. TIMPE, Grand Ledge, Mich. Oriii respondine to this advei-tisenient mention GLKANinoa. Wanted.— White comb and extracted honey; «tate price, package, etc. B. Walker, 17tfdb Capac, Mich , or Prairie du Chien, Wis. MUTH'S HONEY - EXTHACTOR, SQUARE OliASS HONEY-JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY- SECTIONS, &c., &c. PERFECTION COI^D - BI^AST SMOKERS. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, Ohio. P. S.— Send 10-cent stamp for "Practical Hints to Bee-keepers." ^^'MenUon Oleaningg. Itfdb -lOQft ITALIAN QUEENS FOR BCTSINESS. lOi7V istfdb W. H. Laws, Lavaca, Ark Vol. XVIII. DEC. 1, lh90. No. 23. TERMS: M.OO Per ANNUM, IN ADVANCE;! T? ct+ riJ\l n oTi O r1 j-yt 1 R'7 ^ 2Copiesfor»1.90; 3for«2.75;5forM.OO; a!/6t'Ct'C/t't'0/t't?U/ 1/11/ J. (J i tJ - PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BT 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single nuin- I ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be [ ^ , , , ^ ^^t'^A'^t.r^Sl.o^^r^'^''''^''''\A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO. f Clubs to different postofflces, not lesb 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 1 cts. per year extra. To all countries L NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. MANUM AT HOME. THIN OK THICK TOP - FRAMES IN VERMONT; HIE PROSPECTS FOR ANOTHER SEASON. " Walk in. Charles. You are just the chap I want to see. I have been wishing some one would come in to chat with me. I have not had a good talk on bees since Mr. Root was here. I wish you had been here that day. You would have been interested in his talk oh wide- thick top-bars and closed-end frames. Why, he had, as it were, every pocket stuffed full of wide end-bars, and a bundle of wide-deep top- bars under each arm, which he had collected while journeying through the State of New York: and, judging by the way he clung to them, I concluded he intended to take them all home with him." " Well, how came he to become so greatly in- terested in so much surplus lumber?" asks Charles. " Well, you know there has been much said in Gleanings of late on this subject, very many claiming that deep top-bars are a sure preventive of burr-combs; and many of the ad- vocates of " deep top-bars " have attempted to show by their well-written articles that they are a success, and our young editor has caught the fever, and has got it l)ad. How long a run he will have, depends altogether upon what kind of remedies he takes, and in how large doses." " I have never used toi)-bars any thicker than v'g," says Charles, " and I can hardly see the need of their being any thicker, unless it may be to prevent sagging: but I have no trouble with mine sagging; and surely with %-thick bars there is % of an inch to each frame of lost room; and, besides, tiicrc is just so much more space from the brood to tiie sections, that the bees have to travc^l over, to say noth- ing of the extra ex])ense in lumber and work. Now, Manum, after talking with Ernest and reading the different articles on the subject, what is your opinion as to the advantage the thick top-bars have over the thin, or % bars '? Do you think they will entirely prevent burr or brace combs being built?" " Well, Charles, I will .say to you just as I did to Ernest, that I have never used thicker top- bars than % (mine now are all ^), hence I do not consider myself prepared to decide, much less to advise. But I have had some experience with various kinds of hives and bees in differ- ent locations and in varied seasons, and I have pretty much come to the conclusion that the cause of the building of burr and brace combs is traceable to the strain of bees and the[man- agement or attention given the bees during any honey-flow, but more especially a late flow of honey. Of course, an improper space between the top of the frame and the bottom of the honey- board or bottom of sections, as well as the improper spacing of combs, has much to do, I believe, with burr-combs. But my experience of last fall, with a late flow of honey, leads me to believe that the one great cause of so much cry over burr-combs is due to a late flow of hon- ey, which stimulates the bee instinct to fill up every vacant place or crevice at the approach of cold weather: hence these brace and burr combs are built to keep every thing secure and in a rigid position. This late flow, coming, as it does in most localities, after the surplus re- ceptacles are removed, and being, as a matter of cour.se, somewhat cramped for room, they have the very best of opportunity to exercise their bee-instinct to hedge in, much as we NortlieriHM-s do for the winter, during our In- dian summer. This fact we had the best of op- portunity to observe last fall; for, you will re- member, quite a number of my hives, as well as your own. were pretty well stuck up with burr- combs, especially the strong colonies that were full of lionev. Therefore I am of the opinion that deep top"-l)ais will; not prevent the build- ing of Ituir-combs during a good late flow of honey, or during any flow of honey when there is no other place to store it than in the brood- 840 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. L chamber. However, there are very many ex- tensive bee-keepers who use and recommend them, as well as closed-end fi'ames. Notwith- standins that, as vet I do not feel the need of adopting them. They may be veiy essential in some localities, for surely some of our brightest lights say they are a success. I am, therefore, of the ojiinion that we Vermonters do not know it all yet. P.nt. Charles. I can not help believ- ing thei'e is a little too much sti'css ])nt ujjon the supei'iority of thick toi) - bars over thin ones." " Have you got yoiu' b(M^s all fed up for the winter?" asks Charles. " Yes, all fed and packed, and my bee-work is done for this season. By reducing my num- ber of colonies to a much less number tliiin I have had foi- a number of years, I \\as alilc to feed them up to 25 pounds (\T,ch, with only 14 barrels of sugar." "Why! I thought you always fed up to 30 pounds," says Charle.s. " Yes, I have usually: but. you see. when I came to examine my purse I found it rather thin. So I concluded to I'isk them with 25 pounds. That will winter them, and I can feed them in May, should they get nothing from soft maples and willows. "What is the prospect for another year, judging from the present outlook?" '• Well. Cliarles. I never felt more hopeful in my life than I do this fall. Every thing, to me. looks very promising. Surely clover never looked better at this season of the year than it does this fall: and next year, being our full basswood year, it does seem to me that we ought to get another boom: and, with this hope uppermost in my mind, I am going to prepare for it this winter, in order to be ready for what- ever iiatui'e may have in store for me. I feel so conlident that we are to have an extra good honey crop next year that I am going to pre- pare and have in readiness 128 sections to each colony that I now have: that will be eight clamps, of h) sectiims each, to the colony." " Well, surely. Manum. you are counting on a large crop, sure. I think 100 sections to the colony would be enough." " Yes, Charles. I am; and perhaps I am mak- ing too extensive preparations: but I believe it is well to be ready, and to get ready dui'ing the long winter, so as not to be obliged to sit up hot summer niglits, when I am V(^ry tired, to jtre- pare sections to meet the demands of a rush in the honey-flow. Be ye ready is the woixl." Bristol. Vt.. Nov., i890. A. E. Manum. " I should have been very glad to have met your friend Charles, but perhaps we can talk it over yet. I think I can explain our apparent differences. You Vermonters, or, at least, those bee-keepers round about you, use the Manum frame, the size of which is very nearly the crosswise Langstroth. Your top - bai' is only about two-thirds the length of the top-bar on the Langstroth fi'ame: hence I am not sur- prised that you and your friend should not be troubled with sagging of % bars, when those of us using the Langstroth frame are. Dr. Miller, whom I have just visited, opened up a number of colonies for me. He has used exclusively, for years, top-bars •?« inch thick: but you could scarcely find in his apiary a bar of that thick- ness that had not sagged more or less, and I think you will find about that state of affairs in most apiaries using the thin bars of Langstroth length, where the same is not suppoi'ted by di- agonal wires and a tin bar; and the majority of apiarists, if I am correctly informed, do not so brace their top-bars. To sum it up, your top - bar % would be about equivalent to a Langstroth top-bar of ^; and it begins to look as if % inch thick, and a full inch wide, would answei-. There is no doubt that the strain of bees has something to do in the matter of building much or little biuT - comb. We have observed the same thing in our own apiaries. The point is, we want to make (tU strains of bees quit that unnecessary work. When I visited youi' place I was surprised that you did not have burr-combs on your top- bars, to the extent we do. It is quite likely that your bees do not build as many as the average Italians; but I think you told me that you used only )^-inch bee-space, and your bars were an inch wide. Either one of these factors alone, outside of any disposition on the part of the bees, would tend very materially to dimin- ish the building of brace-combs. Next time I visit you, friend M.. I hope your friend Charles will be present. Possibly I am now over-enthusiastic, and the next time I visit you I may have changed my views a little. I don't wish to ever get to that point where I ■won't be set right if wrong. E. R. THE EIGHT BEE-SPACE. THE I$UKR-COiMB QUESTIOX. AND THE .SPACING OF FKAM1<:S. Referring to the burr-comb question. I do not understand why Mr. El\vood"s inch-wide by %"- thick top-liars with distances " fixed " with closed end-bars are any better than the same bars would be with distances fixed with a spac- ing-stick or measure. The secret, probably, is in the inch-wide top-bars with ^^ spacing and no sagging. This fall my bees seem to be shov- ing uj) the quilts, and building brace-combs between the quilts and bi'ood-frames, leaving little passagewavs for themselves. ISIeasuring the ones just the right height for the bees, I find tlK'm an exact j^. From this I should con- clude that the right distance between the brood-combs and supers is i^^, of an inch. The distance Ijetween the top-bars should be twice i^g, or ■■'h. the old I^angstroth bee-space. Then with the V)n spacing, give us the 1-inch top- bar, and we have the % space between the bai's. The sections in T supers can be held square with an extra set of T tins between the tops of the s(^ctions, the same as the bottom. The combined crate has given me the best satisfac- tion so far for a super, on account of the bars with insets to suit the sections. I presume the s(>ction-holders would do as well, although I have not tried them yet. EGGS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF liOYAE JELLY. Two or three experiments this summer incline nn^ to the idea that bees use eggs in the manu- facture of royal jelly for queen-cells. I have not yet been able to prove or disprove the idea. I wish somebody with more time would try it. A drone is a son of his mother, but not of his father. In fact, he has no father. Although he has no father, yet he is a grandson of his 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 841 grandfather. He is only a half-brother to his mother's daughters. According to the above tlieory. it is imimrtant that we know the good (lualities of the drone's grandi)arents when we wlsli to rear a special set of drones. A (lueen hiys a wiiilc tlien takes a rest. I suppose she goes to " clucking," like an old hen. When she gets to "clucking,'' then she swarms if honey is coming in plentifully. Some queens, lik(> old hens, '• cluck " more than others. JJouney, Pa., Oct. 14. Piiilo S. Dil worth. It doesn't matter how you fix frames, as far as the burr-comb question is concerned. The point is, convenience of the one or the other method. I feel very sure, that frames fastened with separate and removable spacing -sticks can not be handled as rapidly as the Hoffman or closed-end frames. A visit to one of the large apiaries using either one of these frames will show you the difference. I believe you are pretty nearly right in re- gai'd to bee-space; though ^g is a little too small, a quarter-inch, a little scant, if any thing, is about right. Bees do assuredly make way with eggs at times, but it remains to be proven whether they use them for food. This has been before ad- vanced. Cheshire says the royal jelly is a secre- tion from glands in the head of the nurse-bees. NOTES OF THE SEASON. SOME VEKY PKACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FROM H. R. BOAIiDMAN. We have had another season of failure in the honey crop, but it has not been without its les- sons of valuable instruction. This may com- pensate in a small degree, although it will not help us much in buying bread and butter this year. "What are we to do under such dis- couraging circumstances of continued failure?" I hiivc l)een lT('i|uentIy asked. 1 can answer only for myself. 1 have already begun, with re- newed energy and determination, the most care- ful preparations for the next season, determined to do my part more thoroughly and faithfully than it has been done, and I have yet confidence in this kind of work, even in a poor season. So long as the almost uni\'(n'sal report shows that the bees were not in the condition they ought to have been at tlie beginning of the honey season, it is quite evident that some share of the re- sponsibility for short crops rests with the bee- keei)er, and is not chargeable wholly to poor seasons. Then the results of a colony here and there that had sutlicient stores to keep up brood- rearing to the beginning of the honey harvest, are suggestive of the remedy. Yet I might as well admit, that, with all the energy and care we may throw into the business, the future of bee-keeping has no very flattering outlook in this part of the countiy. Buteven with all that .seems discouraging, when I look about me and see the sharp competition for bread and butter in eveiy depaitment of life, it becomes evident to me that I could do no better at any thing else I might undertake, and perhaps l'.s7(o/ff(/ not do as well. HURR-C'OMBS. The discussion at the Cleveland convention, upon thick top-bai's as a means of preventing burr-combs in tin; bee-space al)ove them. set me to thinking u|)on th(^ subject, and especially the question asked by some one present— " Wliy do bees build burr-combs?" and I have set about trying to discover some i-easonable answer to the (luestion. 1 lind.in looking over the back numbers of the bee-journal, that favorable re- ports accompanied close spacing, and that im- favorable rejjorts accompanied wide spacing. I went into an examination of my hives and supers that had been used, of which I had an abundantsupply, and, almost without exception, these showed the burr-combs on the tops of the frames to be only a continuation of the combs built from below up through the bee-space by shallow or rudimentary cells built on the sides of th(! top-bars, and thus contracting the bee- space betwe(m the top-bars to that of the combs below. The same thing occurs at the sides of the frames, and burr-combs are bnilt in the same manner lietween tlui side-bars and the sides of the hive whenever the hive becomes crowded, as I had ample opportunity of observ- ing on some old :^-inch side-bars. The break- joint honey-board placed between the brood and surplus chaml)ers intei'cepts these combs that are built upward from the edges of the top-bars, but does not inevent them — simply catches them in a bee-space provided for the purpose. I said, if the frames were closely spaced it would at least prevent the bees from Ijuilding up between tlui top-bars for lack of room, and deprive them of these starters from which to build these objectionable combs in the space above the frames. I accordingly arranged about 25 colonies, selected at random in four different apiaries, by spacing nine frames in a hive where I had used but 8. The hive is 13 inches inside. This would make the distance of the frames from center to center a little less than l)i inches. I do not undertake to show this to be jus't the right distance for spacing, but it approximates it, and answers the purpose of my experiment. In old colonies thus treated, the combs were trimmed down. In new swarms, natural combs were built only on starters. J-tost of the frames used were X wide by % thick; a few were an inch wide. I was agree- ably surprised at the results of the experiment, as showing the advantages and benefits of close spacing of the frames. I will give the results as they appear to me from the experiment. ADVANTAGES OF CLOSE SPACING. 1. It prevents, or very much reduces, the tendency to build burr-combs above the frames. In some colonies, tested where a close bee-space was preserved above the top- bars, as well as between them, no burr-combs were built at all; but where a wide space was allowed above the frames, more or less combs were built. 3. It secures the combs built of uniform thick- ness, smooth and even with the frames; conse- quently, 3. It makes them available for brood to their extreme edg(>s. 4. It increases the cai)acity of the hive with- out enhirging it. in my case, one comb. 5. ^^'hiie tiie cai)acity of tlu; hive is increased for brood, it is diminished for bees, and there- fore crowds them out into the surplus apart- ment: and for the same |■ea^ion, (). It enables the bees to cover and protect more comb surface, and conseiiuently to rear more brood and to build uj) faster. 7. \Vher<' natural comb is built it prevent.s the building of drone comb to a great extent. It will be seen that, in close spacing, the build- ing of natural comb has some decided advan- tages, as the bees adjust or spaci' their comb- centers throughout all t heir slightest undula- tions, in a more perect manner than it is possible to do it by any artificial means. The great im- portance of this is apparent. One imi)ortant test yet remains — that of 842 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Dec. 1. wintering — wliich I sliall make and watch witli care dni'ing tlie coining winter. THICK TOP-BAKS. I am not satisfied tiiat tliicl< top-bars alone. \\ithont close spacing, will have miicii effect in l)i'eventing buri'-coinhs, although the difficulty of l)uilding the c()ml)s up between thick top- bai'S is increased in proportion to their thick- ness. Therefore thick tojj-bars and close spac- ing may be more efficient in ])rodncing the de- sired result than those of medium thickness, say % inch. Bvit before lumbering up all my hives with such bungling fixtures I should want to know beyond any question that some very de- cided advantage was to be gained by it. My fi-ames are % full all around. I was quite certain that I gained some advantages in having them so heavy. I have been told many times that they were too heavy — too mnch waste wood in the hive; that the extra thickness made them clumsy and awkwai'd. But it is some I'elief now to find out that these frames which I have used all of these years were not too thick, but they prove now to be much further out of the way by being too thin. The Irishman who said. " Of all the axthrames give me the middle one," quoted a very safe maxim. My advice would be, in introducing these extra-thick top- bars, " Go slow in making (/?? such changes until the facts have been established by the most care- full experiments." These any one can make in a snnill way without wasting very mnch hard- earned money. FIXED FRAMES. In close spacing, uniformity and accuracy be- come very important. There is just room enough, and none to spare, for each comb; and the n^sult of crowding one comb out of its place in the least would result in an infringement upon the one next to it, shortening the cells, and making it unfit for brood. We might, witli much care, space the frames so tliey would ap- proximate uniformity at the top. But please tip up your hive, and look at the bottom of the franu's' if you really care to detect the errors of spacing in hanging frames. I made a spacer this season for my inexperienced help, which did the work very well and quickly; but when I came to examine the combs at the bottom of the hive afterward, I almost became discouraged witli hanging frames. Close s])aciiig, I am sure, would necessitate the use of some style of fixed fraiiH^s whicli hav(> scniie good features to rec- ommend them. I have nioved bees quite extensively for several years, to catch the local honey-flow. In doing tills, the frames all have to be exaniined and secured. During this work this season 1 assure you that many times the convenience of fixed frames was foi-cibly suggested to me. BEE-ESCAPES. Who doubts their being practical ? Certainly no one who has had much experience with the simplest form of wire-cone escape for getting bees out of the supers, and knows how to use them. I use thein entirely for removing all of my surplus, and have used them for several years. I know better how to use them than I did a few years ago, therefore with me they have become more practical. I use the one il- lustrated and described by me in Gleanings about two years ago. I doubt whether any im- provement of importance has been made upon it since. It is so simple that any one can make it, and no one would think of taking off surplus without, after learning its value. I use it now, substantially as described by Mr. Reese. .JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. A jiiece of ground sown \\ith Japanese and the old black variety of buckwheat this season, side by side, shows the old variety to be much superior for bees, as it blooms fuller and re- mains longer in bloom. MOVING BEES. I read the very thrilling experience of friend Baldensperger, in moving bees on camels, with intense interest. It brings to the surface some vivid recollections of a similar kind. Although I never moved bees on camels, friend B. can count on my sympathies. I have some methods that are new and novel in this work, so far as I know. H. R. BOARDMAN. East Townsend, O., Sept. 30. 1890. I have read your article with general interest. Perhaps bee-keepers have been depending too much on the season rather than on themselves. You are so habitually careful in your obser- vations and deductions, that your notes on the subjects touched upon are doubly valuable. You are drifting in the right direction; viz., fixed distances and dispensing with burr- combs. As to the latter, close and exact spac- ing, with an increase in thickness of the ordi- nary bars, are important. As to fixed distances. I believe that you and a good many others would use fixed distances if you could be con- vinced that they would not retard your present rate of frame manipulations. I may be over- sanguine, but I feel quite sure that time, and not a very long time either, will do it. Your first experience witJi them won't he favorable, but when you learn the " hang " of them you will be pleased. About the bee-escape: I am also sanguine enough to believe that its real value is not sufficiently recognized. Mr. Manum uses it very much as you do. and he can take off a whole croj) of honey from an apiary in three hours. E. R. SPRING DWINDLING. MRS. HARRISON SAYS IT IS NOT AS BAD IN THE CEEEAR. Womanlike, I want to put in a word in refer- ence to bees, that are wintered in the cellar, dwindling more in the spifng than those that remain out of dooi's. My experience is, that they do not dwindle as much. Where bees are Avintered on the principle of the good old golden rule, '"Do unto others as you would that they should do to you." whether men, horses, or bees, their vitality will not be injured by cellar win- tering. When our bees wei'e removed from the cellar it was thoroughly cleansed and white- washed. The brick fioor was scrubbed, and the dirty water was not allowed to soak away, but wiped up and carried out. and fresh water used. If there were any dischargers from the bees on the surface not wliitewaslu'd. it was scrubbed oft'. Ever since, the fresh air has been cii'culat- ing through the sub-earth veiitilatt)r and open window above. The cellar is built in dry sandy soil, and there is no dampness — if any thing, it is too dry. When the bees are carried into this clean, healthy cellar, the ventilation is kept to suit conditions, and dead bees are not allowed to accumulate and decay, but are swept up and carried out. If the bees get noisy toward spring I infer that they are thirsty, and (>ither wet cloths are put at their entrance, or snow- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 843 balls, and they qiiiot down. We winter onr bees as an Englislinian takes his beer — " 'alf and "alf."' One spring, the bees out of doors carried in lai'ge loads of i>aie yellow pollen the rid and 3d of March: and it seemed too bad that the bees in the cellar could not have any of this fresh new bread. The sju'lng proved to be a cold, inclement one, and bees could uot fly for six weeks: and wheu' the bc^es were removed from the cellar they were the strongest. We usually sell a few colonies every spi'ing. and say to our customers. ""Pick out \()ur bees." and invariably they have chosen bei's tiiat wintered in the cellar. BEET SUGAK, AND WHAT MK. THUS. WII.I.IAM COWAN SAYS OF IT. Some one remarked, at the late convention, that white sugar is white sugar, whethei' made from sugar-cane, beets, oi' sorghum. It nuiy be so, but I very much doubt it. Diamonds and charcoal are both carbon: but. are they the same? British bee-keejjcrs have had experi- ence with beet sugar: ami if sugar is sugar, why does Mr. Cowan say that beet sugar will not do for winter feeding, but cane sugar must be used? I never knew of his having a sugar- cane plantation. Mns. L. Harhisox. Peoria, 111., Nov. \2. My good friend INIrs. 11. . your reasoning is good in regard to cellar wintering, and I hope practice corroborates it: but with our open winters south of Lake Erie, as we are, I am not sure that horses and cattle would be in greater vigor kept in basement stables, than if they had the run of the open air during mild weather; and in our localities bees certainly seem to have more vigor when they have a flight at least every month in the year. — I feel a little sorry that this matter of be(>t sugar being inferior has come into print at all, for it is surely a great big blunder. Before answering you I tried to hunt up a copy of a government report, telling of the progress made by the beet-sugar in- dustry, and stating that the sugar consumed in the United States was now over 60 per cent made from beets. If the sugar from the beet indus- try differed in any respect whatsoever from that made from cane (of course I refer to white sugar), our government surely would have mentioned it. Will Prt)f. Cook please corrobo- rate what I say? CONTROLLING INCREASE. TIIKEE METHODS. Two years ago, when the honey-season prov- ed such a failure, I had my bees at a distance from home: and. deciding to bring them back in the fall, for two reasons I aimed to keep down increase within certain limits: viz., to have the fewer to team, and the fewer to put into winter quarters, as the capacity of my prospective cellar, which was not yet exca- vated, was going to l)e very limited. I was then woi-king with the .lones single-story hive principally: and as. in the locality there was just enough honey came in during the season to provide liberally for brood-rearing witliout occujiying any room for storing, the queen had full sway of the hives, and the bees multiplied "prodigiously.'" as the Anticpiarv would have said. I had strong compinictions against control- ling the increase by pinching the heads of good queens: and so. when I iiad all the bees desired, I ri^sorted to the iilan of hiving swarms liack into the old hive without a queen, having picked up the (lueen. which is always clipped, and placed her with two or three combs and adhering bees, in an emi)ty hive, which was placed at an angl(> alongside the ofher. and tinally doubl(>(l \\\> with it a little later on. wlnui the swarming season was ovei-. This was done when 1 had nuule all tiie addition to stock wanted, and when the honey-season was so well advanced that I had ceased to loolv for any more surplus honey. All I had taken or did tinally take that sea- son, amoinited to 4(M) lbs. from some c(tr Friend Root: — I was rather sorry to see the article headed "Medical Facts," in Geean- iN(is for Nov. 1. Its influence, I fear, must be bad on many. We all know, of course, that not a few who practice nu'dicinc even some who graduated at oui' liest medical schools, for vari- ous reasons are not fitted to jjractice medicine. Up to the time of the late war. and for some years after it, great numbers, especially in the West, took up the practice witliout any sjjecial prei)arati(iii. Some I knew. who. having failed in other business, got a. pair of saddle-bags and started out, thinking to make themselves phy- sicians by practice. Happily that state "of things has well nigh conu' to an end. Wlien I went to Southei'ii Illinois, in 1844. having my- self had a medical education. I naturally took much interest in the success of physicians, and observed their modes of treatment. My minis- terial duties gave me a good opportunity to do so. On the south of nie liie only regularly edu- cated physician lived at (!olconda. 50 miles dis- tant; on tlie north I could r(>ach a regularly educated physician by going 30 miles. But physicians weie plentilul. n(-verthel<'ss. I have, for more than M years, been familiar- ly acquainted with physicians — Allopathies. Tompsimians. Eclectics, Homeopathics. and I have also, in an especial manner, tried to ac- quaint m}iMlf with Ihe cold, tepid, and hot water system. As in religion (as you know. Bro. Root), experience is worth more than the- ory; so with me. Experience and observation in medicine have vastly more weight than mere theories. Now for experience and oliservation. as it has come under my eye. in medicine. "When I was about a dozen years old. one afternoon I went chestnuting and ate too freely of the nuts. Early in the night I began to vomit and puige. The doctor was sent foi-. but it was.dayliglit be- fore he reached me — ])uls(! scarcely discernible. and nearly all sensibility gone. By remedies in his possession he restored me. I have eight children living. Nearlv allot them, at some time in their livi-s. have been- in critical conditions — something must be done, and done immediately. JNIy youngest son, a few years ago, in spite of all my remedies and all the skill that I possessed, was fast- sinking. I sent for another physician. He came, and took a coui'se that I had not thought of — in- deed, was ignorant of. It turned the scale, and my son recovered. During the last few months one of my daughters was thought to be lying at death's door. She was first taken with the gripjje, then suffered a long run of typhoid fe- ver, and, lastly, tumors formed internally. We had three physicians, of note, in tlie last ex- tremity. Five surgical operations were iier- formed on tln^ tumors, and for two \\eeks noth- ing was taken by the mouth but ice-water; all nourishment and nu'dicines were administered by enema. She is now well. One fact I wisli here to relate, not that it has any thing to do with the question I am discuss- ing, but it should have weight in the discussion of the liquor and tobacco questions. After my daughter was fairly convalescent, we felt that the opiates, that had been used to a large ex- tent, must be stopped. In tlie night I heard her in great distress, as it seemed. My wife got uj), w^ent to the sick-room, and stood by the bedside, where stood the trained nurse and one of my sons. She was crying and pleading bit- terly for tlie morphinf — an examiile of the drunkard, toliacco-user, and opium-eater. My son was resolute, and, in spite of the cries of his sister, whom he loved dearly, and the wishes of the nurse, he said. "' Nol it's lime to stop the anodynes." Some years ago a next-door neighbor was taken down with pneumonia, and wanted me to treat him. As I had caiTied him through a similar attack a year or two before. I consented. By the third or fourth day I saw that my reme- dies did not reach the case. I advised the fam- ily to send to the county-seat, where lived an (eminent iihysician. He came, and, in kind, ad- ministered the same reiiKidies that I had, but in much larger doses. The man recoveicd. It re- quires an accuiate estimate of remaining vital forces to know wiien it is best to give double doses. I am sure I have witnessed wonderful success, in many instances, by increasing the dose double and treble the ordinary prescribed amount. But great skill is required in doing it. About twenty years ago, on a visit to the Fast. I called to see a brotlier in Keene. N. H. ^Vhen I got there he was unwell, and continued to ge worse. On the third day after my arrival, and when I had calculated to start on. I felt that something more ouglit to be done than the young physician who was attending him was doing, and asked permission of the family to try to find an older physician in the city, and one of more experifnce. Such a one] lound. and on the following day I felt it sale to lairsue my journey. When I returned, two weeks later, my brother \\ as u)), and able to attend to busi- ness. For nioic tlian fifty years I have r( (cg- nizod not only the diflerence between the dilier- ent schools of ijhysicians, but tlie c'i Cerent treat- ment of physiciansof the same scliool. Instances lie lieforeme, in my mind, almost as thick' as tbe mannadid. six daysout of se^•{■n. foi' the cliiklren of Israel to jiick up astheiV daily food. The only i|uestioii is. which to select from the common mass, to give a correct idea of what the i)rac- tice of medicine should be. such as can be un- derstood by the common reader. Leaving s])ecitic cases, we \^ill turn to specific diseases. Dis( ases change in foim as they occur at dif- fei-ent tinu'S. and under different circumstances. Scarlatina passes about, sometimes proving fa- tal in very many instances: at other times it is no more fatal than the measles ordinarily is 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 846 So with y(>ll()\v tVvci'. diplitluM'iii. and. indi't-il. ■with most other ('|)iii('iiiic diseases. The last time yellow fe\('r a i^iieared in the South, tak- ing Jaeks(mville. Florida, as an e.xample, only one in twelve eases jnoved fatal. It nsed to be said, when I was a boy. tliat in ordinary f(>vers, sncli as they tlien liad in New England, tiiat five out of six would recover, witli good nurs- ing, williout medicine. I liv(>d abont 30 years wiiere malarial fever prevailed in various forms, from fever and ague to continued IVil- iou.s - typlioid. Our slieet - anchor remedies wei'e some preijaration of mercnry and (|uinin(>. Four years ago I visited again the region of malaria. Illinois and Missouri, the southei'ii part of both States, and. contrary to my expec- tation. I was taken down witli malarial fever, identically the same that I liad had so often 30 years before. The o]i\ remedies were used, blue-mass and quinine. Before we quite dismiss the subject, whether pliysicians have a needed place in society. I want to call attention to surgery. Surgery l)e- longs to tlie physician. None but a pliysician who understands anatomy, materia medica. and the vital forces of the human system, sltotdd use the "knife." In surgery, many val- uable discoveries have lieen made during tlie present century. Wliat middle-aged man ever heard of operating on ovarian tumor in his boy- hood ? A few years ago a physician started from Philadeljihia. and in his trip to ^liiinesota and iiack he performed ten such operations. I happened to bi' acquainted with one of tiie ten. In all. I know three whose lives liave been saved by removing such tumors. One of the three has been oijerated on three times for the same malady. I knew a girl thii'ty years ago ■wlio had had a large Iiole eaten through hei' check by the reckless use of calomel, as they said. The girl, as by instinct, kept her tongue in the liole (no doubt it felt better stopped than open). She was a siglit to liehold. A year or two ago I saw Iter again, and the cheek had no hole in it. She was a tine -looking lady. A surgeon had cut a ])iece of tiesh from the arm. and caused it to grow into tlie cheek. Of course, the arm was fastem^d up to the cheek, and tlie tlesii of tlie arm was not entirely dis- severed till its adhesion to tlie clieek was se- cured. Wlio will undervalue sucli surgical skill? Once, the patient in a surgical operation had to endure all the pain that the nervous system could inflict: now. we have found out how to suspend the feeling of tlie wliole body, or a part of the boily. for a time, and we can cut or manipulate at will, with little or no distressing pain to the patient while we are doing it.- Is any thing gained to the human faifiily by these late discoverii^s in medicine and surgery? Then in regard to the compounding of medi- cines— how crude our medicines were sixty years ago, compared with what tliey are now! Now a i)hysician can cari-y in his vest-pocket. in efhcacy, what would have taken saddle- bags to carry when I was a l)oy. I know not •whei'e to stop exalting tin- medical j^rofession. wliiMi in suitable hands, and the lietter jiart of man, tlie spiritual iiart. is enlisted in the work. Were I a young man. with "he views I now have of the relation of (Jod to man. and the . correlative duties of man to (iod. I caiTt see how I could better follow the footsteps of my Redeemer than by doing what I could for my fellow-man in this life — when sick, restoring him to health: when mangled and bleeding, binding up his wounds, and. in so doing, I could more effectually minister to tlie spirit, to tit it for the other state of existenci!. In concluding this article I wish to say that no small part of a physician's duty is to in- struct the i^eople while they are in liealth. or comparatively so. An okiicc of pri'\eiitives is often worth a ))ouiid of cure. Eat and drink moderately such things as ought to be eaten and drank. Such things as. in their nature, are not calculated to sustain and Imild up the system, let alone, rntoxicants iind narcotics are of the latter class. If used as medicines, wdien the disease is subdued, stop the remedies. Tliere is not an intelligent physician in the land, but will tell you that the use of liquor or tobacco tends to unnerve the system, and makes it less able to resist disease, and less capable of throwing oft' disease when it has once invaded the system. N. A. HuxT. Mapleton, Minn., Nov. 13. Friend H., Gleanings did not mean to re- flect by any means on the regular practicing physician. You are right in saying, however, that it requires wisdom and judgment in decid- ing wlutt physician to employ when there are a great many. It is sometimes said, that "doctors disagree." May be some of you have heard the expression before. Well, is it not true that doctors are coming more into harmony than they have been? I confess it gives one's faith a severe shock when he consults different phy- sicians, and they all contradict each other. In our town it is getting to be quite customary for physicians as well as ministers to counsel to- gether: and it seems to me as if it gave us a glimpse of the " good time coming." Why shouldn't all the physicians of a small town, say like our own. unite together in giving coitnsel when the life of a beloved citizen is in great danger? l'>y all means, let us have faith in the neighbors round about us. Of course, tliat does not mean the traveling ones. RAMBLE NO. 33. I.AlvE GEOIiOE. Wlio can alig'lit on as luippy a sliore All the world o'er, all the world o'er ? —Tennyson. The peculiar charms of Lake (ieorge are found in several points, among w liich are beau- tiful scenery, ch'ar and pure waters, and brac- ing air. The weary toiler in some rut of life's drudgery, for a brief season dwells upon this happy shor(\ and soon forgets the ache and the jiain. exchanging them for the elastic step and the joyous laugh that throws dull care to tlie winds. Every one who participated in the bee-keep- ers' camp at Lake George in August will attest to the happy time there enjoyed. The Rambler ti'ied to he the lirst on the ground, lint Nig was not so fleet of foot as the little sail boat of Lar- rabee Rros., favored by a lioomiiig wind, and they distanced us l)y about an hour. We were, moreover. load<'d with a variety of lishing- tackle that would iinz/le the brains of Ike Wal- ton himself. IJrodie lligley. our 17-year-old companion, and the youngest bee-keeper of the cam)), iiad borrowed all the lishing-tackle in two neighborhoods, and had every thing from a fiddle-stj'ing to a clothes-line, and was bound to clean out Lake (Jeorge. Hros. Lockhart wel- comed us. and we had a cordial hand-shake all around; and. pitching our tents, our camp began to assume (pute a business air. We re- tired early, after tlie fatigues of the day: and 846 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1. the waves lapping inonotonoiisly on the dock, a bull-frog melodiously blowing on his mouth- organ, and Brodie's nasal music, soon lulled the Rambler- to a sweet repose. The next day we perfected our camp, and ap- pointed ourselves a reception committee of the whole, and received Mr. Barber, a l:)e(>- keeper who owns 40 colonies — save one. At evening we received our tishernuin Brodie, who had industriously tried all of his fishing-tackle, and reported one minnow and three pickerel — save three pickerel. The heavy clouds that had been skirmishing around all the afternoon finally got down to business, and the floods came. We all felt that something unusual was going to happen, and. sure enough, several Vermont ladies poured in upon us — Miss Douglass, Miss Wolcott, and Miss Andrews. After the excitement had sub- sided we all sought our respective lodgings. The next day all nature was smiling. We donned our smiles also, and received Bro. E. R. Root, Mr. and Mrs. Knickerbocker, Messrs. John and Cyrus Andrews, and their natty little steamer: Miss Van Orden, Mrs. Fisher and son. Mr. Batclicloi' and friend. That evening was beguiled witli song and story until the " wee sma" liours." Quite a number of topics of national impor- tance were discussed. Having an editor with us, editorial chirogi'apiiy was freely criticised. We were expressing oui' oijinion of an Eastern editor's pen-tracks, wlien Brodie, who had been taking a private nap in the corner, shifted his position, and murmured, "Yes, it looks like pickerel tracks." We all smiled more or less audibly, and it was resolved that the Rambler go fishing on the morrow and teach his com- panion how to catch |)ickerel. It was also unanimously resolved that the type-writer is a blessing to bee-keepers. At this point Bro. Larrabee took the floor, and declared war on England for opposing the McKinley tarilf bill. He said Vermont could easily wipe out England. He had invented a bee bomb-shell that would scatter consterna- tion wherever it fell. He had read about two or three bees breaking up a camp-me<>ting. A few Vermont swarms would rout a whol(> army: or we could take Cuba, or any other land. We were so impressed with the magnitude of this WE DINED ON I'ICKEKEL. theme that we again sought our couches. The Rambh'i' had a fitful slumbor. Bro. Root was so impressed he arose at 4 o'clock and went out on the mountain-side and sat on a rock. All the rest were very somnolent until a late hour. The breakfast-call, however, brought all hands around except Bro. Knickei'bocker. As Bro. K. is always promirt in his queen busi- ness we had some little discussion over the matter. Some one suggested that we allow time for his name to get to him. and call him ten minutes earliei-. Another wished to abbreviate and call him Knick — no, that will degenerate into Old Knick. Say, we'll call him George — that's it! and it solved the difficulty — George was always i)rompt. Bi'o. Root bade us farewell that morning, and set face toward Vermont. After the farewells had lieen spoken we turned our attention to fishing for i)ickerel. and came in, after a suc- cessful cruise in Dunham's ]5ay, with 19. the Rambler, with the largest, and we thereafter dined on pickerel. The Hawkeye in the hands of W. Larrabee enutjht ks as \v<' landed. On Friday our Vermont friends all departed. Farewells were spoken: regrets and locks of hair exchanged: and, as a last kind act, we waved our bandanas. Breaking camp is always a pathetic scene to us. Somebody is sui'e to forget something, and come tearing back after it. One lady forgot her b — bu — button-hook, and it became necessary to say good-by all over again. A second good-by, said by one party on the run, and out of breath, never has the eclat of the first one. BRODIE GOES IN SWIMMINC After the final departure. Brodie and the Rambler finished the day with a fishing-trip — caught thi-ee piclcei'el: got stranded in a storm on Jacob's Rock; and. to make the final episode as interesting as possible. Bi'odie suddenly left me and went ilown to visit McGinty. But he \\'as remembered by the Hawkeye and the Rambi,ek. THE GREAT LOCUST OF FLORIDA. LOCUSTS IN GENEKAI,. The immense grasshopper, or locust, sent by E. J. Baird. Orlando, Fla.. is a giant locust. It is a female, and actually measures over two inches in length. The wings are shorter than the abdomen, while the antenme are very l)lainly jointed, and taper to the end. IJeneath. the pio-sternal spine is very lai'ge. The color of this Jumbo locust is yellow. orange-yellow, and black. The tegmina, as the upixM- wings of gi'asshoppers are .called", are strijied with red. The under wings, which in all grasshojjpers are the im])ortant organs of flight, are maiked with red and boi'dered with black. These wings fold u]j as we fold up our i)aper fans. They are powei-ful as organs of flight, and. in the migra- tory locusts of the Orient and oiu' Western States, often bear the insects hundi'eds of miles. It is well known that locTists are great eaters, and often desti-oy nearly all vegetation. The locusts of which we read in Scripture were longer than this one, but not so robrist. We liave the Syrian locusts in our museum. They are interesting, not only as the insects that destroyed Pharaoh's crops and brought famine in the olden times, and in later yeai's. but as the diet which in part supported John the Baptist. Our Katie is at present a Sabbath- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 847 school toac'lu'i'. She asked for tlicso gicat in- sects a IV'w Siiiidays ago. to show her class. She said tiicy iiitci'cstcd licr pii|)ils gi'catly. It would bo iiitcrcstiiig to know whether this Floiida locust is very destructive. If very numerous they must he. as it would talvo no little lieihage to till so corpulent an ins(>ct. P.irds are great enemies to the locusts, aud usually keep them from doing much harm. Other insects also feed on locusts: hut occasion- ally they become so numerous even here that they ai'e exceedingly destructive. Usually the oat crop is tin- greatest suft'ei'er from these gormands. The locusts can be poisoned, but this is laborious; and we may well protect the birds, or. out west, set tr(>es to attract the birds, and thus escap(> tlu^ raids of these teri-ible destroyeis. The name of the insect is Dictijo- j>]ioniN icticiihttiN. A sTRAX(;i-: bp:eti,k. Mr. II. \V. Mitchell. Hawks I'ark. Fla.. has sent nie a strange beetli' for which he wishes a uam<' thi'ough (Ilkanixo.s. The beetle is dark brown, very large, nearly V^ inches long, and an inch broad. It might wcdl be called the "I'liinoceros" lieetle. as it has three long curved horns on its thorax. These make it look very savage. The real name is Stnitcnii^ diitinin. Fab. It belongs to the same family as the com- mon June beetle, wiiich it res<'mbles slightly. only this is broader in i)roportion to its Icugtii. It has similar habits. That is the larva which has six legs, lives in the gi'ouutl. and feeds on roots. The l)eetle does little if any harm. It eats foliag<' a little, but not seriously. Agricultural College. Mich. A. J. Cook. Friend ('.. we are not only interested in lo- custs, but I for one am very glad to know that Katie is now a Sunday-school teacher. As the years go swiftly by, we forget that these little ones are constantly growing old; and it is a glorious thought, too. when we can think that they are growing old in the service of Christ Jesus. ANOTHER OUTSIDE WINTERING CASE. TRIED FOi; Fort! YKAKS. AND A SUCCESS. I see in your foot-notes, in reply to Rambler, page 743. where he mentions ^Ir. Wm. B. Stephens as wintering his bees outdoors, packed in outside cases. Now. I have been pi'acticing tlie same ])lan for the last four winters, with all the success that could lie desired. I now have 70 colonies packed on their svuniner stands, and I do not anticipate the loss of one per cGnt dur- ing th(> winter. My cases are made to admit a packing 4 inches thick on the bottom and on each side, while on the top it is (i inches. 1 make tliem in two sections for convenience in packing and unpacking, and the bottom is made a ti'itle snuillei' than the inside of the case which I'ests over it its thickness, and rests on the corner-posts, w liicli are ]}.jXP._; inches. My hives are made with an enti'ance the whole length of the end-board: and in order to make the same free from the outside of the case to the inside of the hive I take a board 4 in. wide, and aslongasth(;hive is wide (outside measure), and nail a i)iece 1 in. wide by % in. thick, just far enough from each end and across the board, so that, by letting the ends project a little, they will slide into the I'ntrance close up to the side boards, and hold it fast. These cro.ss-sticks must be long enough to receive the alighting- board, which is to be naih^d on the other side of the cross-sticks from the other board, so that the edge of tlie first board furthest from the hive will be just opposite the edge of the alight- ing-board next to the hive. I nail mv case- bottoms to pieces of scantlings, and mv hive- bottoms to pieces of ;ix4. w liicli, when ph'iced on the bottom of the case, leaves a space for |)ack- ing. as above stated. Now cut a |)iece Irom the center of the front end of the bottom case, as long as your hive is wide, and as dec^p as the distance from the top of the cross-pieces to the entrance- board to the lower side of the case bottom, and set on th« lower section, and pack it. Then put on the other section, and pack that, and you will, in my opinion, have the best security for bees that can he devised. Lanesboro. Pa.. Oct. 37. 189U. P. L. Noirrox. The reason for proposing an outside winter- ing siiell or case was to g(>t something cheaper than a double-walled hive; b\it I fear, from the description of yours, it would cost as much or more than a double-walled chaflf hive. We want something that will not cost over 3.=> cents at wholesale, and all in one piece. have no doubt but that your case would winter the bees successfully. E. R. ERNEST'S NOTES OF TRAVEL IN VERMONT. Ar .f. E. CRAXE MIDDEEBL'RY, VT. I look the steamer up the lake to Ticondero- ga, a town of 4;)iK) inhabitants, at the head of the lake. A short distance out is the celebrat- ed old fort bearing that name. As I retired that niglit at the hotel I promised myself the pleasiu-e of se(>ing (it least the site and'a pun of the wall of that old historical spot. Next morning I took the train, and was told that the fort was on the right-hand side in plain sight. I thought that I should surely be able to pick it out when I got to it: but^ lo and behold I the lirst thing I knew I was three or four miles beyond it, and had not seen it. My next point was Middlebury, Vt., the home of a prominent and extensive bee-keeper, Mr. J. E. Crane. As I neared the place I began to notice the big hills that I had left back in York Sta^te, and over in the distance the Green Mountains. I alighted at the depot, and in- quired my way to Mr. Crane's. When I had arrived almost there, a handsome residence was pointed out to me. with ample lawn and commodious barn and shop. I inciuiriHl at the house, but found INIr. Crane was out in the back yard, in his garden. Like some other bee- keepers, small fruits are one of his hobbies. He began to talk about the diffenuit varieties, as- suming that I understood all about them: but T had to confess, that, despite all the opportu- nities I had had. I knew little or nothing about such tilings. lie schemed a little surprised, but 1 told him that 1 did not f/'/rc to get much in- terested in any thing outside of l)ees: for if I did, I might lose interest in my real pursuit. In the front part of th(> garden were a few hives. Most of his bees — 500 or ()(X) colonies — were in out-apiaries. The liives were of the Manum type, although he was using the L. frame. He did not see l)ut that he wintered his bees just as widl as his friend and neighbor with a frame more nearly so.uare. We repaired to the barn, wherein was his bee-shop and hon- ey-storage room. Our friend Mr. Crane has lieen rather more fortunate than mo.st of his neighbors whom I visited. He obtained, I think, 11.000 lbs. of honey. The season had been a little better than with his friend Mr. Alanum. only eight or nine tniles distant. 848 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1. Among the things in the shop thai interested me pai'ticvilarly were the clamps, or lioney- crates, for holding sections. There were also samples of the original thumb-screws tliat had been used for clamping up the sections some ten 01' t\^■elve years ago. It se(>med that Mr. Crane wanted some sort of arrangement to clamp up his sections: and I believe he sug- gested something in the nature of a screw. Mr. Planum, his appliance-niakei' and bee- keeping fi'ieiid. soldered a l»rass thumb-plate to a common sci'ew, and tiiese they both used. But they, subsequently, used wooden screws, the same that Mr. Heddon has since adopted. But Mr. Crane has discarded them for a wedge. He thought it was more convenient, and did away with the unpleasant projections in the form of thumb-screws outside of the case. HIVES WITH THE ENTRAXCE THKOUGH THE BOTTOM. Among other things that interested me great- ly was an old bottom-board. It had a square hole in the center, and an alighting-board un- der it. The bees, to enter the hive, pass under the bottom -board up through the aforesaid hole into the hive. INIr. Crane believed he was orig- inal in the use of such a bottom-entrance hive, he having devised this a great many years ago. There; were many nice things about it; but, taking it all in all. he had discaixled it for the ordinary entrance in front of the hive. Perhaps I might remark, in passing, that Mr. Elwood, Mr. Manum. and Mr. Hetherington, use bottom entrances — that is. the b(>es i)ass di- rectly under the hives. Mr. Ehvood. when the bees are to be moved, closes the hole with a slide and the bees are shut in. For outdoor hives that are to be left on their summer stands crane's honey, ready for-jiakket. in doiible-walled hives, this sort of entrance is certainly a nice thing. It is quite impossible for the snow to bank up in any way so as to close it. For a single-walled cellar hive, the bees have only to Ix' carried into the cellar, the slide withdrawn, and the bees have ample bot- tom ventilation. If I am correct, this is th(; way that Ehvood. Hethei'ington. and L. C. Root give bottom ventilation in their ci'llars. Anothei- thing that inteicsted me particular- ly was Mr. Crane"s method of ])acking honey for market. He had a few thousand pounds already prepared for market. I photographed a pile of it standing in the barn, which T here- with present to you. He puts all his honey in cartons, also neatly lettered. A certain number of cartons filled with honey just fill a case. They are not glass- ed, but the sides are left open, and the cartons are ample jjrotection for the honey. The cases are made of beautiful wliite poplar, and are lettered by stencil in black and red, with a handsome monogram, and an old - fashion(»d straw bee-hive tastily arranged in the lettering. It is all carefully graded, and named according to the grade. The ])ile I photograidied above was about the handsomest lot of honey for market I ever saw. I am soi'ry the print doesn't give it more justice. While I was ad- miring his honey, a little girl came out to the barn to see her papa. He seemed to be very proud of her, and well he might. When this little one came into his family he named her Theodora, fi'om two Greek words, meaning ■' gift of God." I thought, " How nice it would be to have h(>r sitting by two or three of those pretty ci'ates of honey, out in the bright sun- light!" We arranged some crates, and by this time the boy came out. We stationed the two by the side of the cases, and with the Kodak I took two or tliree shots; bitt as it was near the end of the Jilm it was not a good picture or else I should have been glad to introduce all our readers to little Theodora and her brother Philip, the latter named after Mr. Elwood. We now went into the house, and I met Mrs. Crane. Into the parlor we repaired, and Mr. Crane said he would like to show me something he was interested in. He produced a box con- taining a large collection of stereoscopic slides, illustrating difVerent phases of the temjjerance question, showing the effectof taxation, license, and prohibition. During his spare winter months he devotes his time to the cause of tem- perance, and leetui'ing on the subject. Perhaps some of our readers may know of him thi'ough the columns of other papers. After dinner. Mr. Crane kindly offered to take me across the country to Mi'. Manum's, who lives eight or nine miles away. We as- cended some pretty big hills, and had some fine views of the surrounding country, and the fact seemed to impress me more than ever that a good bee-forage is generally found in moun- tainous or hilly countries. After a very pleas- ant drive and "visit we reined up before Mr. Manum's house. You know the rest as given by Mr. Manuin, recently. He was in his bee- shop, and, of course, the first thing I did was to get inside of it and look at all the fixings. "What is this? and what is that for? Oh! this is what you described in Gleanings. Ah! I see," and so on. manum's bee-candy, etc. Mr. Manum has ali-eady told you that ray stay was short, and so, of course, I put in the time about as fast as I could, asking questions after the manner of the alcove. Thei-e was his swarming-arrangement that he had descriljed in Gleanings. He has a little frame for hatch- ing queen-cells, the same as was described and ilhistrated on page 639 last year. He showed me a pan of his bee-candy. Why, U wonld Tieep four years, and still be soft, and good food for bees. I may remark in passing, that we are now experimenting with it. with the view of adopting it next year for mailing queens in the Benton cage. Tlie trouble with the (iood candy is. it is apt to get liard when it goes into a cold climate. We have had some lately that became as hard asabi'ick, and the bees actually starved to death, as was shown by inspection of the cages returned. Mr. Manum adds a very small quantity of glycerbic to the sugar and honey to prevent this. To save you the trouble of refer- ring to liack numbers, I will give the formula: 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 849 Eight sijooiil'iils of I'ottVt' A sugar: onv ol' wlicat flour: one of glye'crinc: two of gi'anulat- ed honey. First mix tho tlour with the sugar, then adtl tiie glycerine and luiney. Let it sim- mer on tiie stove until the sugar is dissohcd, and then remo\'e {o cool. MAM.MS CLAMI-: TUK ADVAXTACiF.S OF ( OM- PliESSION. Of coui'se. I was interested in his clamp, as he calls it: and surely it l.s- a clam}). It is sim- ply a small case for holding Ki sections, and the sanu' are pi'essed togelhei' with thnmh-scrcw s and a follo\\('i'. jNles^rs. Crane and Planum both use a similar airangc nient; and ] am sat- isfied, fi'om what I saw at their places, that it is cerlainly an advantage in compressing the .sections. In the a])iaries I visited I noted {xir- ticuhii'lij. that, wheic c< impression was used on the sections, there was a most ilcfidal IcssciiirKj of tin' i)r<>i)(}Jis (tcciiiiiiildiioiis on the sides of the sections coming in contact. The time saved in scraping aft( rwai'd will more than save the exi)ense of compression. We I'egard the wedge and follower so important that we have put it in all the supers for the Dovetailed hive. Not the least advantage of the follower and wedge, or the thumb-screw . as the case may I.e. is the facility in renu)\ing sections: by simi,!y loosening the thumh-screw or \^•edge. the sec- tions are I'eady to lie slippetl out of the case. >rAXl'M"s I.KATI[Ei:-f'()L«)i:EI) rrALIAXS. That (n'ening. \\iiiie I\Ir. Manum was doing his choit's. I sirolhd ou.t among his bees, and I'aised tie' covei's over his hive s. and. although the ail' \\as a little chilly — enough so to mai\e the bees a little ii'i'italilc — 1 pulh tl up the cov- ei's and looked down upon the bee; — yes. thos(> leatliei'-colored chaps that know how to gather honey. They were as gentle as kittens. I would not have blamed them at all for showing a little light for coming ujion them at such an inaus])icious time. In fact, theii- geneial ap- pearance is much like that of bees from import- ed queens, and their temper was strikingly the same. T do not say this to ])uff up our imi)orted stock, but simply that Mi'. Mannm. through a careful selection of years, has laised a lot of bees possessing strikingly the characteristics of those reared in mother Italy. One thing that struck me as I was looking over those bees from those hasty glances. A\as the fewness of burr- combs. This matter' has been already touched upon in this journal by Mr. Manum and my- self elsewhere: see page'839. ^manum"s chaff htae. Although Mr. Manum had carefully describ- ed his hive, with appropriate illustrations in Gleanings, some time ago. I never understood before that he uses virtually an outside i)rotect- ing shell over and around the ordinary brood - nest — single wall. His "■ bi'ood-liox,"' as he calls it. is 7nade of Js stiilT. and sits right down on the large bottom -boa id for the outside protect- Ing-shell. To enter this hive, the bees ])ass under the bottom-board through a hoh'. The outside shell is sim|ily a large case having a hinged cover, leaving some three or four inches space around the lirood-box. or. as we might call it. an ordinary single-walled hive. Com- mon i)laner shavings are poured in around the brood-box until they are l<'vel with its height. Wlien the bees are packed for winter, an ordi- nai'y ciishifin sits dow n over the whole. In very maii.\' resjiects I like Mr. ,Manum"s hive. If he should so prefer, he can remove his bees in the ordinary single-walled hiv<>s, and afterward bring along the outsider shells. In other words, he is not obliged to lug along a great big hive in order to carry an ordinary- sized colony. Ill' simply lifts out its inside, and then he can lay the narrow outside cases in a large wagon liaving a hay-rack, or any tiling suitalile for carrying something so bulky. It was getting dark, so 1 coidd not pursue my investigations furtlier. iiopiiig to reserve tin* rest lor ihe morrow. That evening Mr. Manum and I had one of those uncoii\( ntional bee- conventions all by ourselves. His son Fred, who has charge of oiieof his apiaries, was jjres- eiit part of tiie time. When I asked where he was. his father smilingly said, "' When I have visitors, and we begin talking about bees, he is ui) and off." I have no doubt that Fred is as I used to be. Before I forget it. I might say that h(^ is a young man '.'1 or 2;.'. He is (luite an expert api- arist, and isoueof those fellow s who like to ha\'e every thing neat and tidy, but hedoesnot like to talk bees everlastingly. Hisfatlu'iseemstohave lost none of his old entliusiiism: and as each new subject was brought up. his face would light u]) with pleasiu'c. for he always has some- thing ijractical to relate. \\'e ditl not sit up and talk nil night — no: we went to bed at a. late hour, and the next morning we were ready for business. Hut. oh dearl it was raining. rainii:,!; ruining, and It looked as if it ■would continue all day. and it did. W(> employed the time prolilably. I think, by talking: but. how 1 ili to tell vou something about the Da- dants and Dr. Miller. KEEPING RECORD OF HIVES. MOW FIME.M) MlTIl-HASMrsSK.V DOES IT. Friend Root: — Dui'ing this lioney season I have kept track of the work in the ajiiary by using your slate taiilets in connection with small stones in different positions on the hive- covers. On the side of the slate, turning toward the hive. I note any thing that has to be pre- 850 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE Dec. 1. served for the peimaneiit I'ecord of the season; as, wlieii siiper w'us i)iit on. \\hen emptied, etc., which gives nie at the end of the season a com- plete I'ecord of tlie doings of eacli colony, to be entered, if desired, in the record -book, which will enable me next year to decide which queens to breed from, which colonies must be requeen- ed. etc. On the side of tiie slate facing outward 1 simply write in large figures the date when last I opened the hive; and the stone or ston(>s on the cover tell me of the last work done, or the progress or condition of the colony when last examined. This system would be perfectly satisfactory if only the constant change of date in writing could be avoided. The permanent record must, of course, be written, and for this reason I would contiiuie the use of slates, though in a more limited degree. But the ordinary work with or examination of hive or super caii be re- corded by the position of the stones, of which each bee-keeper can form a code of his own, while the date could be changed without the necessity of writing, by using a date-card. I have thought of using your queen-registering cards for this purpose; but the trouble is, that the date figures are so siuall that one has to stoop low to read them. I would have the fig- ures so large and plain that the bee-keeper can read them without difficulty, as he walks along in the rear of the hives; larger, if possible, than those on the sample card. As the seasons vary In different parts of the world, the abbi-eviated names of all twelve months should be printed in the other circle. The date-card should be about the size of an ordinary postal card, and should contain only the two circles for the months and dates, and a place for the number of the hive — nothing else. I presume that pins can be obtained, long enough for tlie larger cir- cle. Black pins would be best; hairpins cut in two might answer the purpose. Where one has a large number of colonies to go over in a day it is quite an item to be able to avoid much writing, particularly when the hands are soiled with honey or propolis. I think these cards will prove a boon to the bee-keeping fraternity, if you will get them up and keep them in stock, at, say, a cent each, 7.5 cents per hiuidred, .fS.OO per 1000, or whatever you can make them for. I myself would use 1.50 or 300 each season. If you think favorably of it, please get them ready for next season's use. In regard to the position of the stones. I will give my present system as used, while the supers are on the hives, viz.: 1, emptied first time. 2, emptied second time. .3, emptied third time. 1 (2 stones), emptied fourth time, etc. 4, doing nothing. 5, sections not yet capped. Kear. g^ ready to come off in about a week. 7, ready to come off in a few days. 8, super put on (see date). 9, look at the slate. This may be varied to suit each individual, and the same marks may have other meanings when no super is on the hive. To me the sys- tem has been of great benefit, as I could read at a distance the record of each hive, and it would have been perfectly satisfactory, if I could have had the use of the date-cards. I have used the stones for several years, and am aware that others are using them also; but the date-cards ai-e a new idea of my own. and I hope ere long to see them in general use. Wm. Muth-Rassmussen. Independence, Cal., Aug. 4. Friend M., I am glad to see yon developing our old queen-cards that I was so enthusiastic over when they first came out. Since you sug- gest it, we can easily print these cards the size of a postal card, and we can also print the num- bei-s on from 1 up. Black pins can be had at the millinery stores. Just ask for mourning- pins, and you will get exactly what you want. Now, before we set up the type to print these, we should like to know how many want them at the price you mention. We can make the numbers large, plain, and black; put them in packets of 100 and print them on waterproof pa- per or cardboard, at the price given, providing 100 or more will take a pack of caixls.— Your idea in regard to the stones is very suggestive. It reminds one of that queer science called " mne- monics." THE BEE-ESCAPE PREFERRED BY H. L. JEFFREY. THE OLD PERPENDICUI.AI! CONE THE BEST. I send you a draft of a bee-escape we like best. The sides and ends are 5 inches deep. The ends are 14 thick, and are rabbeted out X deep. The sides ai'e ^4 inch thick. The escape- board is also >^ inch thick, 13 inches wide, 19 long. It is to be let down into the end rabbets, leaving it % below the top edge when in place. Make 8 holes in it 2 inches in diameter, and bend the upper edge to 3 inches. Make the cones so that thay will be about 2}4 inches deep when formed with a scant half-inch at the apex. Fasten these from the upper side, then make another set of cones, that will be 3 inches deep, from a squai-e of wire cloth, and have it about an inch larger in diameter than the in- ner cone, and make the egress }4 inch in diam- eter. Nail this on the under side by turning up the corners. If thus made there will be a full inch space below the cones above the top of the frames, and plenty of room for nearly a swarm of bees on the under side of the escape-board. The wire cloth can be cut 5 inches square for the cones. By using the deep rims and 3-inch cones, two or three crates can be placed upon the escape at one time; but if only one crate is ^^4^?^ r-THE FOKM OF ESCAPE USED BY JEFFREY. taken from the hive at one time, an escape with a 3}<-inch rim and l}^-inch cones will do. But give me the deep one every time. I h^ive used two sorts, one with the board flush with the top of the rim for crates, with bee-space underside: and for the crates with boxes flush with the bottom, the escape has the top bee- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. S51 space. I am indebted to Mr. Reese for this es- cape. H. L. Jeffrey. New ]\Iilf()rd, Ct., Nov.. ISUO. Our engravers have made the super too deep. If half the depth, its proportion would be about right. There is no question but that this es- cape will work. In our special number, some time ago, on bee-escapes, it was shown that a space belmo the escape, of two or three inches, was a decided advantage. There has never been any question as to whether the origiiuil Reese would work; but because it stuck up in the way, the "horizontal " was devised by Mr. Dibbern. His pear-shaped model has worked very nicely with us, and is much less liable to be damaged than the perpendicular Reese. The latter form is cheaper to construct. EDITED BY DR. ('. ('. MILLER. Charming fall weather. It seemed lonesome without the Michigan - ders, Prof. Cook and editor Hutchinson, at Keokuk. Henry Alley believes in closed -end frames, and will hereafter use 7-franie hives. Alley wants to spot the fellow who invented pulverized sugar and honey for shipping-cages. A prominent manufacturing concern takes control of one of the l)ee - journals Jan. 1. " Which one ?" I won't tell. The name "International American Bee- association " has been changed back to " North American Bee-keepers' Society." Good! It's to be incorporated. Is it because Doolittle raises capital queens that he always says " Queens " in his book, or did his publisher run out of lower-case q's ? I took 27 colonies into the cellar Oct. 38. The last of my bees were not taken in till Nov. 8. Four are left out for experiment. Elwood, the new president of the N. A., Is a man of weight — some 300 pounds of it. And that's not the only kind of weight he has. Hutchinson thinks an editor and publisher should keep out of the supply-business — if he can. Can he? The Review isn't very old yet. It's a good paper, though. Delegates of affiliated societies sat on the platform at Keokuk. If ever the society be- comes truly representative, it will have to meet in a hall whose floor is all platform. My bees don't hang in such large clusters under the bottom -bars as they did last winter. They seem as heavy with honey and as strong in bees, but perhaps they are not. The Ontario Bee-keepers' Association not only sends a delegate to the N. A. convention, but pays his expenses. Canadians can't brag with us. but sometimes they beat us in having something worth bragging about. President Taylor and Vice-president Secor are alike i)i uwc respect, both having faces so barricaded witli beaid tiiat they look as sol- emn as un(hM-tuki'i-s. l>ut there's lots of fun back of tiie bai'rieade. Does the roaring of ;i jiarticular colony in tiie cellar mean any tiling wrong? Doesn't ev<'ry colony have a periodic rousing-uj). to tui'u over in bed. take a luni-h. or sometliing of tliat sort ? Samuel Cuslnuan. supci'inlendent of liiiode Island Exi)eriment Station, aftci' several \ears' ti'ial, recommends Simmons" di-y-sugar feeding in spring — C sugar. ^JUt in a feeder wheic the heat and moisture ot the liive are conlined. In his paper at Keokuk. Rev. W. F. Clarke says I called him '•long-winded," and makes the secretary his authority for it. I don't know that I ever said so. Is one of them a mind- reader ? The old vice-president and secretary of tlie N. A. were re-elected, but E. R. Root beat me for treasurer. That's always the way. When- ever I get at any thing that lias money in it, I always lose my job. What's the reason that that $5000 has l)een kept so still ? I mean that r)000 to which Prof. Cook referred in iiis essay at the North Ameri- can convention. Ought not the bee-journals to tell us all about it? Isn't there a fading-out of the strong advocacy for upward ventilation? A good many of the former upward ventilationists, myself among the number, now want every thing glued up tight on top. in winter. It's lots handier. But larger bottom ventilation lias come. Is it true, as a general rule, that, the nearer you get to a lot of bee-keepers, the brighter ihey seem ? I had no idea there were so many bright bee-keepers within hail of Keokuk. I was disappointed in not seeing Dibbern and some others there. Three-sixteenths of an inch is what the Api. calls a bee-space. That's the least space I be- lieve in which a bee can stand up straight; and if any one attempts to make it less, so the bees will have to get down on their hands and knees, there'll be trouble. UNITING. Considerable testimony is given in the Brit- ish Bee Journal, to show that bees may be readily united by simply dredging the bees of botli colonies with flour, whether they be on or off the combs. Some say they have practiced it for years. It's easily tried. The C. B. J. reports two cases in which a cluster of bees without combs or stores has hung a good many days in the fall "without visiljle means of support," but bright and lively. It raises the question as to whether it may not be a good plan to keep bees in this condition " between the close of the surplus-honey harvest and the putting of the bees into winter quar- ters." H. Alley and E. L. Pratt agree that colonies heavy with stores at the close of the honey sea- son consume these stores, and are no better ofiE in the fall than those that were light. Alley- says, " We have come to the conclusion, that, 9,t the end of the, honey-flow another season, we shall remove nearly all the honey from the brood-combs, and thus compel the bees to make their own living from day to day It strikes me that this plan for retarding brood- I'earing and also in economizing the consump- tion of stores, will be successful. If necessary to feed back in the fall, the honey will be on hand for the purpose." This is closely in line with D. 'A. Jon(>s' swarm hanging with no combs. It may lead to something. Can't Gi>EANix(is put the name of each writ- er at the J)e(jlinil)i-keeper to take chai'ge of the State exhibit, and he pi'oposed to ask the State of Ohio to give sir)()0 for Ohio's bee-exhibit at the Columbian Fair. Dr. Mason was recommended by the society as a suitable superintendent of the exhilMt for the United States. Certainly there can be no one better (jiuilitied for that i)lace, within our own bordej-s, than he. H<' is interested as no one else is, in apicultural exhibits, and he is the man to have charge of the matter. THE INTERNATIONAL BEE-ASSOCIATION— ITS PAST AND FUTURE. This was the subject of a verv interesting paper by \V. V. Clarke. He referred to Mr. T. G. Newman as being the historian of this soci- ety, and the splendid work he had done for it. Prof. Cook was the father of it, and he thought we owed as manv thanks to him as to its liis- toi'ian, for he was not ony the author of its being, but he had helped to make its history. One of its tirst works was to elevate father Langstroth to the pedestal of honorable distinc- tion. At the outset of the organization an at- tempt was made to start a rival association; but by judicious management the two were amalgamated, and father Langstroth was made president of the combination. The presidency next fell to the late Moses Quinby. Of him he said, "If there ever was a just man on eai'th^ Moses Quinby was one. His services to bee- keepers are second only to those of Rev. L. L. Langstroth." He would emphasize the influ- ence tlie association had in keeping reputable bee-keepers at the front. He would urge that the association be more representative in char- acter. The only defect in it was, that there were too few "wise men of the East" present; and but for the kindness of the Ontario Bee- keepers' Association he himself would not have been present. They had sent him as a delegate, and paid his expenses, and they pi-aposed to continue; to do so. He lield it up as an example for State associations. At the clos(; of the paper Mr. Newman em- phasized Mr. Clarke's point, that the association should be rcpvcuciitatlve. and that State and Territ(n'ial associations should .send delegates, and pay their cxpoisex. Bee-men- generally can not att'oi'd the outlay for themselves. This matter was touched uiion elsew here in our last issue, and I hope our associations will take the matter seriously into consideration. Let there be a delegate from each State to oiu* national associations, and, by all means, pay his expenses. It seems to me that a State society that can not do it is not in a very flourishing condition ttnan- cially. I believe some one in the meeting sug- gested (perhaps it was Mr. Newman) that, if the money could not be procured through the society, the individual members themselves chip in and send their delegate. amp:ni)ments to the constitution. In some of our earlier sessions there was con- siderable discussion in regard to the constitu- tion, and its need of revising on some points. Mr. Newman, upon consultation with a few of the officers, introduced several amendments, one of the most important being the change of the name of the association. It had been, here- tofore. International American Bee-association; but it was objected, that "International " was too big. Heretofore the territory of Canada 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 853 and the United States only lias been inchided. It was objected, also, that we ai-e not an associa- tion of b(>es: therefore the old name, North American Bre-keepers' Association, was recom- mcntlctl and adopted. FOUL BKOOl). Fonl brood was the subject opened by a vol- untary contribution by Allen l*riu,sie, president of the Ontario Bee-keeiters" Association. He detailed what Ontario l)e(>-keepers had already done in securing the passage of a foul -brood act. and of an inspector, under the pay of the government, the details of which we have al- ready given in our columns. He gave the metliod of cure whicli we recommend in tlie A B C book, and have from time to time given in these pages. After the paper the convention discussed, pro and con. its cause. Some argued tliat it might start from chill(>d or decayed brood; but I think it was proven tliat the disease can not start from this source. It might be a favorable medium; but unless the germs were there in the first place, it could not propagate. Some thought it was nast every second year. Strong col- onies when the season opens up, are another requisite. And then he came to the question^ " Why do the llowers r(>fuse to secrete nectar?" He W()uld like to ipiote Dr. Miller"s modest sen- tence—" I doiTt know."" He said, that last year we had the rain and warmth, so the usual conditions were not lacking. The oidy ex!)lan- ation he could olTer was. that, the year befoi'e being so tei-rihlv diy. the young plants wei'e so lilighted that they could not lecover. so they were unable to perl'orm their usual functions. He cited the fact that a young calf or colt par- tiallv slaivi'd never fully recovei-s. 854 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1. At tilt' close of the essay Dr. Miller said, tliat. whether Prof. Cook's tlieory wei'e correct or not. the result would lie the same. His outlook during the past season had been good— neither too wet nor too dry. Some one asked, '" What was the cause of the failure?" Ih: Miller promptly responded, "I don't know." The doctor managed to bring in this modest sen- tence very adroitly a number of times, and each time laughter and general fun was tlu^ result. A good many stated that they had all the fa- vorable conditions, and yet nectar was wanting during the past season. AHE ITAI.IANS OK HYBUIDS PKEFEIJAHI>K IN AN APIAKY KUN FOK HONEY ? This was the topic of an essay by C. F. Muth. He gave good proof that Italians' are superior. They are more handsome, they are gentle, and give as good results as any. in' honey. Accord- ing to his experience, the Italians give him the lai'gcst crops. And the pure stock are always best supplied with winter stores after the win- ter season. As the time was limited, discussion was cut off. and we listened to tlie report of the General Manager of the Eee-keepers' Union. Mr. New- man showed, by nearly a score of instances, that the Union had always been triumphant. It had either won the suit, or had brought such influence to bear tliat the enemies of the liees dropped the matter without litigation. The most impoi'tant thing of all, it seems to me, was that the hite cases against bee-keepers have been killed by a recent decision of the Superior Court of Ai'kansas. The Bee-keepers" Union has nearly a scoiv of precedeiitx. and the valuable aid which this gives to the industry of bee-keeping in all future litigations can not be overestimated. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President. P. H. Elwood, Starkville, N. Y.: Vice-president. Eugen(> Secor. Forest City, la.: Secretary. C. P. Dadant. Hamilton, 111.; Treas- urer, E. R. Root, Medina, Ohio. The next place of meeting is to be at Albany. In conclusion I can not refrain from saying that this jneeting was one of the best, if not the best, in enthusiasm, good-natured banter, in attendance, in the practieal character of the discussions, in the character of the men and vmrnen who went, and last, but not least, in the biife this and not put tliemselves and me to trouble and ex- pense by ordering from me this season. If cards of thanks are in order, allow me to thank those who have patronized me. and, at the same time, perhaps I can do your readers and my brother EXPOETING QUEENS. G. M. DOOI-ITTI>E TELLS VS AVHAT HE HAS DONE. A letter came to hand a few days ago, from New South Wales (so I take it from the print on the postage-stamps). The name of the send- er is so poorly written, together with the post- offlce address, that I am not sure what it is; and as the writer says ho is a readei- of Gleanings, I will, with your pei'mission. JNIr. Editor, an- swer through the colnmns of (TLEANL\(iS. Be- fore doing so, howevei'. I wish to say a word or two regarding this matter of writing addresses wh(Mi sending letters. The (tddress is the most important thing in any letter. No matter how important questions may be asked, or how many goods you may order, you can not obtain what you are after unless you fix it so tluit the one who is to accommodate you can make out where to send what you want, so it will reach you. If youi' address is not printed on your envelope or stationery, you should take exira pains to write your address plainly, even if it takes you longer to write that addr(>ss than it does the body of the letter. One thing occurs to me just now: Write your address the first thing in beginning your letter. By so doing you will not forget it, as some are prone to do, and, what is of more importance, you will write it much plainer if written on the start than you will afterward. Many of the letters which 1 receive I can read very well for the first few sentences; but as the writer warms up, or gets tired, as the case may be, he pays less and less attention to his pen- manship, and the last end winds up with little less than a scrawl, name and all. I will say no more on this subject, for fear I may get to scolding, except to say, that, when you get to a point where you have to answer many letters daily, if you ever do. you will look at things in a different light along this line than you do 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 855 \\ licrc you write a letter only as often as once a week or once a montii. In the lettei' alhuleil to al)ove. I tiud the fol- lowing: '"It has just eoiiie to my knowledf^e that you 1ki\(> successfully exported (jueens to Australia: and as I am anxious to obtain some of your stock, would you let me know if the in- formation T received is correct?" lam sorry to say that the infoiination is iiat correct. Soiue li\'e or six years airo. a i)art\' liv- ing in New Zealand wished me to send him some queens. I wrote him that it was vei\v doubtful about my getting them there alive: but I said if hi' woiild stand half of the loss, if the ([ueens failed to come alive. I would try the matter by way of expei'iment. To this he agreed. There is only one pi'oper time to try this experi- ment from this State, and that is in October. this being as late as we can risk shiijment here, on account of cold, and as early in the spiing as they can well be recei\ed in Australia. When the i)ro|)er time arrived. I prei)ared the queen to be sent, to the best advantage as I considered it, and started her. She was just 37 days oi route, and reached there alive, so that she "kicked around a little," according to the information I obtained fr'om my friend, but soon died. As he wished to ti'y again, we did so: but instead of the second going in 37 days, she was 72 days on the way. and. of course, died long before she arrived. In thinking of these long journeys in the mails, it must be taken into consideration that the life of the worker-bee. under the most favorable^ circumstances, is only about 4.") days during the summer months; and when we come to ])lace tliem under as unfavor- able conditions as they are while contined to the narrow limits of a queen-cage, it is not surpris- ing that they should not live out their allotted time. After the workers all die. the queen does not survive a great while, so that I consider it an impossibility to get a queen to New South Wales alive, with only the set of workers that are jjlaced with her to start with, especially as the letter I am answering was 54 days on the way. If, after the queen had been on the way about 20 days, some i)ractical apiarist could re- ceive it, open the cage, and put a fresh escort in for the ([ueen, seeing at the same time that the candy was fresh and in abundance, and after the next 20 days the same thing be done over again, I tiiink there would be no doubt but sonn' qui'ens might be sent alive fi'om here to Australia. During the last year I have I'eceived queens from Italy for i)arties in California by' mail. I placed them in fresh cages, and gave them fi'esh bees, thereby getting them through in fine oi'der, when only faihu'e had been the result of foi'iuer tri;ils. I have also assisted l)ai'ties fr()m the West in getting queens over to Ireland in the same way. THE NAMELESS BEE DISEASE. After speaking some good words about an article of mine in (Ileaxincjs, and telling how one of their "great lights'" in Australia agnu^d with me. the writer goes on to tell how. at a meeting "in this colony," called for " the ad- vancing of the intei-esls of bee culturi'. etc.." it was •• asserted that tlie nameless, or shaking bee disease, is nothing but a species of intoxica- tion, arising fi'om tiie consumption of fermented pollen and honey by the bees." and asks. " ^\'llat do you think about it'.'" lie seems to think, that, if tliere was an.\' truth in this assertion, the di'ones would hav(> the disease as well as the workei-s. This would be so if the tiouble were in tlu! fermenting of honey; but if it was fermented ijollen, then the drones would not iuive it. for, as far as Tiiy experience goes. mature drones never eat pollen nor luive any thing to do with it. 1 should not like to express a positive opinion in the matter: but this one thing I have noticed: That in all cases of the nameless disease which I have seen in m.\- ow n neighborbood and elsewhei'e, it always disa|i- pears with cold weather, and does iu)t again appeal' till w arm weather comes to stay, wheth- er the (|ueen of a colony is ri'inoNcd or not.' 1 also had one case where the removal of the (|ueen did no good, as the disease kept right on till cold weather came, when it disappi'ari'd. This showing, only in warm or fermenting weather, would give a little coloring toward the ferm(>ntatioii theory. U. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., Nov. 15. Friend D.. I am very glad to know that you have done so much in tliis line, I came to the; conclusion, long ago, that the limit of time that a queen might be out of the hive with a single escort is just about where you put it. In regard to the nameless bee disease, you may be right; but we have almost always, if not al- ways, cured it by giving a new queen. EIGHT VERSUS TEN FRAME HIVES. IX FAVOU OF I,AK(iE HIVES In Oct. 1 Gleanings you call upon the ( ali- fornia bee-kings to give their experience with eight and ten frame hivCs. While 1 am not a bee-king (a drone) I have had much experience with the two sizes of hives, my apiary of nearly 400 stocks being about equallv divided between them, I produce only extracted honey, and all my remarks relate to the production of that article. Until the past two seasons lM t<>n- frame was too small, and twelve would be about the right size. In California we do not stority and extract at the end of every season, a la Dadant, but extract every week or ten days. While eight frames give brood space enough for most queens, an eight-frame super will not hold as much honey as a strong stock can g.ither in a week during a good honey-flow: and. it ex- tracted oftener than once a week, the honey is unripe and infericu'. Two supers are too mucli room, and a nuisance besides. Some ot my best stocks would till everv cell full in less tluan a week, and would of necessity be idle until ex- tracted from. In thesecases the ten-frame liive, having two combs more to iill. would have Irom 10 to 12 lbs. more honev. .V twelve-frame super would have been about right for many ol my hives. These large supers are objectionalile. however, as, when Hrst put on in tlu' spring, and before being occui)ied by the be(>s, they make the hive aliHosi to cool: and too use dmnnues oi- tillers with them is another nuisance. I believ<- the old (liscarde same number of frames, and I Ixdieve the heat in them will be greater. Wm.C>. Hkwes. Newhall. Cal.. Nov. ('). KS'.M). 85(5 GLEANINGS IN 13 EE CULTURE. Dec. L P'or cxti'actod honey, and in your locality, you aro doubtless right. Keeogniziug the needs of just such as you, we olTer in our catalogue both the eight and ten frame hives — the latter at a slight additional cost. But the vast ina.iority of apiarists and localities demand the eight-frame size; indeed, J. F. Mclntyre. of \()ui' State, gives some pretty conclusive argu- ments for the smaller hive. See page 674. THE CLAKK SMOKER. THE SMAI.I. VEP.SUS THE I,AH(iE TFBE: BEST FUEE. We have used the Clai-k smokei' for several years entirely. We like it on accoiuit of throw- ing the smok(^ with so much force. It has had two serious objections, however. It would drop creosote, and leak tire. You may say. " Clean your smoker." I did clean mine. In fact. I spent so much time cleaning that I am pretty sure Dr. Miller thought me very fussy, although he was two kind to say so. But still' the black sticky stuff would drop over my clothing and on our nice white sections when we least expected it. and jjioved very annoying indeed. Especial- ly was this true if the smoker was heated very hot. This y(;ar we have used the improved Clark with the large tube, and have not had one particle of trouble with creosote, and you don't know what a comfoi-t it is. unless you have be(>n bothered in the same way. The large tube needs very little cleaning:' still, it is better to clean it occasionally. .A stick push- ed througli the tube has been recommended as a means of cleaning it. Of course, the stick must be green, so that it will bend readily. We dislike it. as. in this way. all the dirt will be sent into the bellows. A heavy wire, curved about the same as the tube, the point flattened and bent, forming a little hook, makes a very good tool to clean it with. Another impi-ovement is a piece fastened on the smoker in such a way that the lid slides in- side of it. making it very close and snug, so that no tire can leak' out. Thcn'e was one objection to this, however— there was not euo-.igh draft to keep it burning. To obviate this. Dr. Miller punched several small holes in the lid. not large enough to emit spai-ks. but sutticient to give air enough to keep it l)ui-ning, and it worked like a charm. In using tlu^ Clark smoker without tlu^ improvemcuits. I had a gr(>at deal of trouble about bui'ning my clothes, oftcni large holes being burninl l)efore I discovered it. This sum- mer I have not bui'ued a single dress, and only one aijron, and that was the result of my owii carelessn(!SS, as I had left the lid open. The feeling of security is worth a great deal. Mr. Root has my heartiest thanks for the improved snu:)ker. Another point in its favor is the increased durability. ()n(> with the lai'ge tulje will. I think, outlast thi-ee of tlx; otliei's. We have used two throughout the season, and they are as good as ever, with the exception of the one Dr. Miller stepped on. which is slightly demor- alized. For fuel we use. mainly, turning-lathe shav- ings made from hard wood. Some time ago Mr. Rof)t sent us two barrels of excelsior, which was very nice indeed. It does not last as long as the turning-lathe shavings, but is very good to light with, as it catches so quickly. The two mixed make a very good fuel. Tlie very best thing to light a smokei- with that we have ever tried is a snuill |jiece of saltpeter wood. On a vei'y windy day the matches will go out almost as soon as lighted; l)ut if the least bit of a flame touches the wood it will l)urn, and not die out either. It certainly is a great saving of time and patiimce. We do not like to get along without it. and keep a snuill box of it at each out-apiary. Perhaps some one may like to know how to prepai'e the saltpeter wood. It is very easily done. Take J4 lb. of saltpeter; put it in a jar with a gallon of water. After your salti)eter has dissolved. Ijreak your rotten wood in small pieces, and throw into the jar. Let them soak for a day or two. tlien take out and thoi-oughly dry, and it is ready for use. Try it, and see how you like it. Emma ^Viesox. Marengo. 111., Nov., 1890. Perhaps I should inti'oduce our friend who writes the above valuable article as Dr. Miller's assistant, his sister-in-law. The saltpeter wood mentioned above was given in our journals a good while ago, but I am afraid only a few of our bee-keepers have been providing themselves with it. It certainly is a very great aid in start- ing a fire quickly. It seems to me, friend Em- ma, it is a little surprising that the smoker you speak of sustained injury because the doctor stepped on it; and, by the way, is that the way he is in the habit of tramping around over things when he gets in a hurry? Your sugges- tion of hard-wood turued shavings for fuel is al- so a good idea. I was intending to write this up after my visit at your place, but I fear I for- got it. dn^ QaEg¥i6]\i-B6^, With Replies from our best Autiiorities on Bees. Question' 173. Tidiing more experiments than I have made to give my answ(>r much value. My oi)inion and practice favor a small hrood-ciiam- bcr not conti'acted when surplus begins. Ohio. N. W. E. E. H.vstv. If one wishes to secure all the white honey in sections, it can be more readily done by con- tracting. I would advise contracting as much as possible for winter. \'ermont. N. AV. A. E. Manxtm. Taking a sei'ies of yeai's, or one year, I am very firm in the belief that the conti'action of the brood-chamlier at the right time in the honey- harvest is the jnost profitable manipulation a comb-honey pi'oducer ever did. Michigan. S. W. James Heddox! Contraction of the lirood-nest is good only in early spring, foi' the i)uipose of making the bees breed up. It is advisable at no other time of the year, excepting, peihaps, for safe wintering, if the colonv is weak in the fall. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MuTii. I don't know. For a single year more honey can be thrown into a super (theoretically at least) by contracting; bat when you say "a series of years," that may alter the case. My observations of late years have made me less sui'e that contraction has any value. Illinois. N. C. C. Millek. In running for extracted honey I leave the brood-nest the same size the year round: for as long as there is any prospect of honey to be gathered. I want plenty of bees to gather it; and when the honey fails, the bees will do their own contracting as far as brood-rearing. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. Fi:eeb()I!x. At present we aic opposed to contraction. It induces swarming, uhen running for comb honey it heaves tlu! brood-chamber bare of hon- ey for winter stores. In our out-apiary run for extracted honey, conti-action caused s\v;irniing in nearly <'very instance, while hives left witli no restriction to tiie queen did not swarm. We do not believ(> in close contraction. New York. E. Rambi-ek. The above reports seem to Indicate pretty clearly that contracting about or just before the harvest time is not so much practiced now as it used to be wlien most of the readers of Gi.EAXiXGs had only a few colonies, and could look at every colony night and morning, to see when it needed more room. Our friend Dean, forniei'ly of River Styx, nc^ar here, used to t)e one of the champions in this line; and for build- ing up colonies it certainly worked wond<'rs so far as crowding the bees and the honey into surplus-receptacles was concerned. The recent demand for eight-frame instead of ten-frame hives seems to be in line with tln' idea. FROri DIFFERENT FIELDS. X. A. B. K. A.; now TO rHOVIl>E FOI! PEiniA- XEXT funds; a (iOOD SUOGESTIoX. Friend Hoot:— As you said at the Iveokuk meeting, that you would un(leitalrest. I would ev(>n go fuither; for, as the yearly subscribers are usu- ally sufficiently numerous to pay annual ex- penses, it seems to me we ought to setaside also the afliliation fees of the State, Territorial, and local associations. In a f(;w years we should have a capital large enough to enable us to offer jjrizes and premiums for competition, and we should raise an interest much greater than formerly in our meetings. Would you be so kind as to take the matter in hand, and dis- cuss itin (iLEAXiXGsV We must- do something to get out of the old rut. C. P. Dadaxt. Hamilton, 111., Nov. 7. All right, Secretary Oadant. We will back you in all your suggestions as far as we can. Now, then, who among the readers of Geean- iNGS is willing to pay up and stand by us in the effort to make the North American Bee-keepers' Association a permanent institution? It will cost you S^IO.OO, it is true; but after that you can attend the convention for forty years, if you live so long, and not pay any thing. I have in mind quite a few of our readers who, I think, might, could, and should stand up. Let tis hear from you. Who will be first ? So far as I know, the editor of the Ameriean Bee Journal, and Ernest and my.self, are at present the only life- members. Who will stand with us? TO those coxtempeatixg going to the alfalfa fields. Frloid Root: — There is some inquiry in Gleaxixgs about whether it would b(> profit- able to move bees to the alfalfa fields of the Southwest. I would not advise it on that source alone. I had two years of experience in Utah, in the Great Salt Lake Valley. I had at one lime 44 colonies, and I do not think levei-got any honey from the hay-fields, although tlieri' wimc hundreds of acres near. Where it is raised foi- liay it is cut as soon as it gets in full bloom, and before it secretes any honey. Where it is raised extensively for seed it is different, and one may usually depend on a fair yield. It is of excellent flavor, bill a little inferior to sweet clover. Sweet clover grows promiscuously all over the Salt Lake Valley, wlierever there is moisture enough for it to get a start, and I think tiiat is what makes I'tah hoiiev the finest flavored in the woild. A. INIgCav. OlynilJia. Wash., Nov. 1.'). WILL FBEEZIXG IIUKT F0UN1).\T10N ? Where foundation is kept dry. will freezing, light, or air. injure it in any way for use next year? -Lvs. A. .Vdams. (irimiii City, .Mo.. No\ . lo. Friend A., the fi'e(!zing will do no harm at all. l)roviding some incon.siderate person does not 858 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. I. attempt to liaudlc it while it is cold. I do lujt know of any thing that vexes me much more than to see people who have had experience enongh to know better, undertake to move a lot of foundation when it it is almost icy cold. Of course, it Hies to pieces like thin glass; and then after they have done a lot of mischief they sometimes undertake to repair it, and in so do- ing they break a lot more of it. Never touch foundation, nor even hardly look at it, when it is in a cold room. Air and light have the effect y all came through without loss; but those with leather for cover- ing built up much earlier in the spring, and were ready for sections in advance of those cov- ered with jjorous mat(>rial. These results being nearly uniform for four seasons, I am this fall using eithe)' leather, rubber cloth, or oil cloth double, first laying three half-inch strips reach- ing across four frames, then this covering press- ed down neatly; over this, six to eight sheets of newspaper, then the chaff cusliions. This is my plan, with the entire apiary of 25 stands. I leave the entii'e entrance o])en (Simplicity en- trance), and shall expect good results. Guys, Md., Nov. 13. AVm. S. Adams. Friend A., your leather is. to a certain extent, porous. I know by experience that it is not to be compared with rubber. My feet rebel at once against any kind of rubber casing; but I can wear dry leather boots very well, unless tlie weather is quite hot. In hot weather they (my feet) insist on cloth shoes, and will not be quiet- ed with any thing else. I slionld think that leather would be a splendid cover for bees, if it can be had at T'easonable prices. ONE OF THE CACTI. I send you a flower by mail. It .seems to be a honey-plant as well as a beautiful one. The honey was innning out of it when I got it. They tell me that every flower had drops of nectar. Will you pl(>ase name it. and tell whei'e its native place isV J. M. Kinzie. Rochester, Mich., Nov. 10. Prof. Cook replies as follows: The flower above is one of the cacti. It is a large, brilliantly colored, bright scarlet blossom, and foi'ms a strange contrast with the leafless stem that bears it. These plants come from the arid, sandy I'cgions of Arizona, Southern California, and Mexico. I am glad that they are honey - plants. It is rejiorted that our •'jaclv-pine plains" of Northern Michigan are localitits wheie bees do exceedingly well. It is moie than possible that the strange cactus re- gions of Aiizona may be woithy a similar repn- KEIiOSENE TO KEEP BEES AWAY FBOM WATEKING-TKOUGHS. I use a kerosene-bari'el for watering stock, and am not troubled with bees. I i^rovide a suitable place for the bees to drink, and pump fresh water in their trough every morning. The secret of it is. bees dislike kei'osene oil nearly as bad as our editor dislikes tobacco. Eau Claire. Wis., Oct. 2."). C. B. Jackson. Thank you, fricmd J., for the compliment. If you have a kerosene-barrel, of course you have the smell of kerosene always around your water- ing-trough. The idea is a good one. It now occurs to me that we used half a kerosene- barrel for many years for watering our cow. and I have never seen a Ijeii near it. WHEN TO MOVE BEES A SHORT DISTANCE ; LICE ON IMPORTED BEES. I have 1() chaff hives in the garden, around the fence. I should like to move them about 135 feet, where the rest of the apiary is. Can it be done without any loss of bees? If so, when and how? My friend C. received from Italy a short time ago a queen and attending bees that had red lice on th(>m. or something that looked like a wood-tick. Tlie lice were sticking on their shoulders and under their wings. Tlie abdomen of the tick was short and round, and a brownish red coloi'. What ai-e they, and are they injuri- ous to the bees? Jesse McNeely. Putan. Pa., Nov. 8. When the weather turns cold, move the bees where you want them. After bees have been confined a few weeks they will readily return to their new location. The lice you speak of are often found on imported Italians, particularly on tlie queens. In fact, we rarely have an importa- tion without seeing some of them. They are called the Italian bee-louse. They do no real harm, although we always remove them from the queens. LONG FLIGHT OF BEES; IS IT TRUE? This strip of paper states that bees fly 14 miles. Do you think it is so? F. Tompkins. Lawsville Center, Pa., Nov. 10. The following is tlie clipping referred to: INSTINCT Oir BEES AND ANTS. How insects, especially bees and aiils, find their way back home is one of the marvels of natural his- tory, says a farmer in the St. Louis Gluhr-Dimocnit. My wife keei'S bees, and my little boy luis a taste for I'litoniolofiy, and is always making' experiments of (iiic kind or another with them or other insects. He lias been trying to find out how far away a bee can be taken and not g'et lost, but has not yet succeeded. I live in the countiy, fourteen miles from the court- house, and during the summer that boy has been in town with me a dozen times, and on each occasion he brought some bees along in a little tin box. He col- ored their wings with violet ink, so that he would know the insects asiaiii, and let them go in the heart of the city. The first time he did it \\v released six bees at the Biddle Street market, and 1 believe they got home befoie we did, because they were all on hand aiiending to business the next mording, just as though tliey took a fourteen-mile journey every day. Occasionally a bee fails to come back, but in nearly eveiy instance they return In a few hours. Once 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTTRE. 859 he let live, whose wiiis's hail been eolorerl red. out tif tlieir box at six o'cloclt in the niofiiintf. on theeoiner of Fonitli and IMddle Streets, while his liltle sistei- w.itehed the hives at home. One. arriAed. tired al- most to death, and dropped at tlie door of the hive a liltle heloie two o'clock, and three more I'anie before five o'clock in the e\cninfi-, all api)arcntlv iniieh fatifjued. His experiments with a nest of larjie black ants have been equally satisfactory, for some mark- ed ants have found their way home, aftei- lieing- re- leased, more than a mile distant from the hollow tree in which they lived. How they do it is a (piestion, but they generally do, and so it is likely the travels of both ants and bei's are much wider than is gener- ally supposed. Friend T.. I feel quite .sure tluit tlie above ox- tract is not true. It seems to me strange that our newspapers will get hold of such false state- ments, when careful facts from careful observ- ers are scattered all through our bee-journals. Perhaps it might be well to hunt up that boy and see whether any such experiments were ever really made. The most reliable experi- ments that we ever made in this line. I believe. w(>re made by our friend H. A. March, of Fidal- go. Washington. WHAT KIND OF BKES AI!E THEY ? They are very yellow below their shoulders. but their head and shoulders are black, not quite as large as Italians, and splendid robbers. Ernest's notes are very intpresling, also many other things in Gleanings. Almost eveiy number brings items worth many times the subscription price. A. P. Fletcher. Proctorsville, Vt., Nov. 8, 1890. It is hard to tell, from your description, what the bees are. The fact that those mentioned have very black shoulders (thorax) leads us to believe that they are old Italian bees that ai-e tired of honest toil, such bees having learned that stealing sweets Is faster and apparently more profitable. These wear the fuzz off tlieir shoulders in crawling through holes and narrow crevices to steal. Young Italians are not given to robbing, and it is only the old bees that have learned the trick, usually. AN APIAIiV OF ISLACKS AND ITALIANS: THE LATTEK SEf'l'HEU 30 LBS. PER f'OI.ONV. AND THE FORMER NONE. I see a great deal said about the Italians. They are the best with me. I have 38 colonies: 18 of them are black, or nearly so. I did not get a single pound of surplus from the blacks: but from the :.'() Italians I took (iou lbs., or .30 lbs. p(>r colony, of nice honey, and h.'ft them in as good or better condition than the blacks. I am going to put Italian queens in all of them next spring. The past season was very bad for honey, so we sold all of ours as fast as we took it out. I have bought 4s() I lis., and I shall have to buy more if I keep it for my customers. J. p\ Teel. Elmont. Texas. Nov. 8. bees .\nd neighbors. 1 am a iioor man. and have a lot of 3'.>' acres, and am crippled at that. I had my right foot amputated about a year ago. I am in debt (luite a bit. I onc(^ thought I couldn't get through. AlasI a kind friend lent nie money and took a mortgage of S4S0, and gave me good time: and if I can only keep uj) tiie interest, all well. This is a great helj) for me. If I can only live and suppcnt my family, which are three besides myself, and ))ay my interest, 1 am well satislied. I then took a notion to go into the bee business, so I got :.'3 good colonies, and I should like to have about lOUin all, then I could get along well. I can't work by the day. Hands are plentiful without a cripple, to work by the day. Now. the question is this: Can a neighbor do any damage to me by the law for keeping so many bees? My bee-vard' is about 10 rods from his dwelling. He says they will hurt the grapes. Now. what shall 1 do? Isure- ly can't keep them away. Our nearest town is Middlebury. We live three miles from it, but there are three lots here close together. The other is owned by an old widow woman. SIk^ won't say any thing, llow far awav should mv bee-yard be from the highway '.' It is at i)resen"t about six i-ods from the public highway. My bee-yard joins his lot. Edward Gegar. Middlebury, Ind., Nov. 10. If it were not for the general prejudice of ig- norant people, your bees would do well enough where they are. On the whole, we would move them to the back yard: or, at least, a hundred feet from the street. Bees will not injure sound grapes: but they will attack those Injured by birds or insects. Still, even this amounts to but very little. We have for years kept bees, and had grapes grcjwing in the same yard, and we have little or no trouble. If you explain the matter kindly to your neighbor, occasionally pri^seiiting him with a nice section or jar of honey, lie will let the matter pass. In view of your misfortune he ought to be a little lenient, any way. If he should be ugly, you can have the aid of the Bee-Keepers' Union, providing you are a mem- ber. Thos. G. Newman, of 246 East Madison St., Chicago, is the General Manager. A DEMAND IN CALIFORNIA FOR PERFORATED ZINC AND A REVERSIBLE HONEY-EXTRACTOR. There will probably be a demand for (lueen- excluders in California until all apiaries are supplied, and a good strong reversible honey- extractor should sell well. I have seen extract- ors in this county that cost $r)0.(X) each, and were not well nuide either. I shall be pleased to receive a sample of vour new [ierfoi'atcd zinc. Fillmore. Cat.. Oct. :.'7. J. F. McIntvre. HAS BEE CULTURE BEEN INJURED BY THE USE OF PARIS GREEN, ETC. I returned from Michigan a few days since, after a good visit with my pe()|)le. and particu- larly with my brother, who keeps bees. He was very enthusiastic on the subject of bees — in fact, so enthusiastic that I brought a five- fratne swarm all the way in in\' hands. I have a. cotton plantation, and belie\-e I could buy a. few bees, and, with |)roper study, I could make it profitable. I had previously heard of mar- velous yields of honey in this locality, but I was not persoiuilly acquainted with any of tiu^ be(>- keepers. I find, upon partial investigation, that this has been a favcjreti h)cation. but that all have beconu' discouraged, and ai'e anxious to sell out. They say that, since the use of Paris green for killing cotton-worms has becomes gen- eral, their bees are killed, and ail chances of profit destroyed. Have >'ou, in anynumberof (iLK.vNiNCis. or elsewhere, any thing to throw light on the subject ".' I do not want to give up the hvc enterprise if there is any \\ay to get around the jjoison question. W. li. Bristol. Shrev<'|)ort. La.. Nov. 7. Friend I'... I do not think the bees Juive suf- 860 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1. fered very much from the cause you mention. There was some apprehension about Paris green when it was first used ; but. so far as we liave been able to learn, lack of attention has very much more to do with it than any injury resulting from poisons used to kill insect enemies. Of course, we don't know how it may be in your neighborhood; but if you look into the matter carefully, we think it will be as we state. now TO MAKE A WATERING-PLACE FOR BEES. I use a ten-gallon keg: bore a hole near the bottom, put in a faucet, then take a soft pine board about 3 ft. long, and with .a hatchet I hack it all over on one side to make it as rough as possible. Set the keg on a block (a box will do) about 18 inches high. Now place one end of the board just beneath the faucet, and the other end in a very small trough. Fill up the keg: cover it well, so that no bees may fall in; turn the faucet so that it will drip just to suit. With this arrangement near they do not ti-ouble me much in the watering-trough, except on a very hot day, when a little coal oil I'ubbed in the trough' just above the water will keep them away. They will not go into a trough that is painted with coal tar inside. Ouriionev season is over, with an average of about 30 His. p<'r colony. Bees did fairly well, considering the dry season. Ed. E. Smith. Carpenter, 111., Nov. 7. Thank you. friend S., for your excellent sug- gestion in regard to a watei-ing-place. AN OUTSIDE CASE FOR WINTERING. I see several inquiries in reference to outside winter cases for the Simplicity and Dovetailed hives. For this winter T have packed all my single-walled hives by making a case, out of rough inch hemlock lumber, the top of which is first covered with hoai'ds from old glass- boxes; then a covering of heavy manilla paper, well tacked, and coated with two or three coats of good thick paint. TIk^ case is made large enough to allow putting old newsijapers or heavy paper over the hive wlien it is dropped down over. As the hives are 10 inches deep, I made a cover of ten-inch stuff. This made a good winter double-walled hive, and I think it will be as good to winter in as chaff hives. I have packed 30 colonies so this fall, and will report success. For the first time in years 1 had to feed ten or twelve colonies; but with a modi- fied Miller feeder it was little trouble, as I could ■feed from 10 to 15 lbs. in ;34 hours. T. (4. ASHMEAD. Williamson, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1890. of virus, they have acquiried immunity against its effect, .they will be free from riieimiatic at- tacks as long as this immunity la.sts. A. J. Elankinsiiip. Eldorado, Ills.. Nov. 16, TWO division-boards. I notice what Mr. H. L. Jeffrey (pp. 771, 773) has to say regarding two division-boards. I deem the subject of very great importance to us l)ee-is from the parent hive may be given to any populous colony for a few days. Then with the hatched young bees, strengthen the queenless colony as much as possible; and before a young queen appears, sections are filled. I must thank you once more for the tine select tested (|ueen you kindly furnished me last July. If one mail owns a ?100 queen in our country, I say fifty dollars can not buy my Aurea — thus I named her, on account of all rare qualities com- bined and possessed by her. Rev. p. Stephp^n Stenger. St, Meiurad, Ind,, Nov. 10. bee-stings for rheumatism; a physician s statr:ment before the french entomoeogicae society. Dr, Al. Laboutbene, at the meeting of the French Entomological Societv, held on March 13. 1889. gave a short abstract of a paper pub- lished in 1888 by an Austrian physician. Dr. Tr-rc, who seeras'to have made extended experi- ments for a number of years. Dr. Terc asserts that a person stung by bec^s acquires thereby a relative immunity from tlu^ consequences of subsequent srings: in other words, that the virus of the bee-sting acts like a vaccinal in- oculation against its own poison. The immu- nity lasts about six months, sometimes less, probably according to the iiuiiiber of stings in- flicted oh a person. Persons suffei'ing from acute rheumatism require a larger number of bee- stings to feel the usual effect of the poison: but a,s soon as. by inoculation of a sufficient amount THICK top-frames A SUCCESS. Last fall I had 33 stands of bees in the thin L. frames: and wishing to have the best for pre- venting brace-combs I studied all that was said in Gleanings respecting them, and came to the conclusion I would make my frame top- bars 1 inch wide and K deep. So I made 4.5 hives, dovetail pattern all but the dovetail, and slatted honey -boards, and made them enough deeper to suit the heavy frames. As it was a poor season I did not need many surplus cases on: but what I put on. on the new heavy frames, did not,Iiaveaiiy brace-combs above the frames: but wliere tliey were spaced a little wide there were some odd bits of comb from one to the other, but none above the top corner of the frames. Then, again, where some were spaced rather closer there were no braces anywhere. Again, by changing hives and swarming arti- ficially two or three, and raising a few queens from my best stocks, I managed toget the thick and thin top-bars in the same hives, (^ne in particular was like this: Two of the heavy thick frames, then one metal-cornered fi'ame; then two more tiiick ones, then another metal- cornered one; and, last, two more of the heavy frames, and now tiiere is not a particle of brace- comb on tim thick top-bars, except where they come next to the metal -cornered ones, and then the thick ones are braced fast to the metal- cornered ones, and are also built right up and fast to tlie slatted iioncy-board. You see those were tins only places wh<>re brace-combs were built right from tlie two metal -cornered ones. John Hammond, Buena Vista, O., Oct, 34, 1890, 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 8G1 Then one of tlie twt-lve, called .ludai? Iscariot, went unto tlie chief priests, and said unlo them, What will ye give nie. and 1 will deliver liini luiio you? And they eovenanted with him lor thirty i)ieees of silver. And from that time he souKht opportuuily to Isetraj liim.— Matt. 26: 14~lt). Judas betrayed his luastor. Christ Jesus, tlie Son of (iod. for thirty pieces of silver. Was lie crazy, or was he a fool? Oue can hardly be- lieve tiiat pure rascality or depravity, or seiljsh greed, should e\-er |)r(iiiipt- any human being to such an awful piece of liyjiocrisy and treacliery. especially for such an insigniticant stun of money. How n>uM Judas iiave ever been in such a strait or in such need of a little uKuiey as to go into such an (iii\fiil speculation as the one narrated above? .Slaid a (jiinleii when it rains and tlie sun is warm, and to be a (jrcdihimxc whenever every thing is frozen up solid. It is true, I iuivi' lieen dreaming of this new greenhouse niglits. after going to bed, and at otlier times when I do not "liave to" do something. Yes. I say to my sluitne, that my trnanl mind sometimes gets awiiy on Siuidays. even during sermons, and plans this new greeniionse. instead of listening to our good pastor. I have felt liad about it, and ijiayed over it; but the plans would keep working themselves out. And now during this tine weather in Xovemlier I have b(>en trying to get time to instruct workmen how to build it after the plans have been so long working and evolving in my busy brain. As a consequence, things have been somewhat neglected. Some days I feel as if I had no business in thiid^ing about greenhouses at ail— that I had better let well enough alone, and "•stick io mv knitting" —the journal, factory, etc. Wliy. I told .Mrs. Root, only last summer, that, if my present frame of mind did not change. I would give up gardening. I fear it changed in about two or three hours. Overwork in the office pulled me back to my old nervous iirostration. and then it began to be a ([uestion, ••Should I enjoy myself out in tlie open air, witli growing plants, and /('re, or stay in the office and defend my good name before the children of men, and dief" None of you need be worried, dear friends. I am going to live, and enjoy God's gifts outdoors, just as long as I can. If I can not do any bet- ter, when somebody says he has been wronged I will ask him how much money it will take to make it right, and fix it that way. without go- ing into details. Some of the "friends have, however, "got awful mad " because I suggested such a way of defending my good name. Two or three have declared that money \\ouk\ not do it. and I am afraid tiiey are pretty nearly right, after all. Let me give you a sample of some of the Imrdens that oppress me just now. Please read the following letter: A. I. Hoot— Dear Friend:— While it is an unpleas- ant task, yet I feel it my duty to write to you. This fall I bought of you alfalfa and mesquite iKincy to the amount of one hutidred and tne)i1y four AoUnis and some cents" worth. I aslced you to do the best you coiilil in the way of rates. After waiting- a long- time after 1 got the bill, the honey came, witli. I thinlc, .fS.iMI freight on it. It had been billed at local rates all the way. making- thi-ee ditfeient billings. I wrote you abt)ut it, and got an answer wliich seemed to me quite shoit and inditferent. In this letter you say you liad asked for rates; and as soon as you got them you would malie it riglit with me, oi- words to that effect; but I have never heard from it yet. 1 af iCrwai-d sent you an ordei- for more honey, "which came to hand all right, but it is awful stutf to call honey. It is about as dark as a low grade of New Orleans molapses— nothing- whatever like the saini)le sent me. I sold .some of it, and had some of it refused and returned. I will inclose some if the answers 1 got from the parties whom I sold it to. These letters are from ueighhoring towns where I sold it. where I h;id sold my own honey; the rest of it I sold in our own town; and I never did any thing in my life that has been so unsatisra', toiy. I wcaild not/or o/ic hundred dolliirs have my reputation in- jured as this iioney has done. Wliile 1 do not want to accuse you of willfully sell- ing honey of I hi-; kind after prai.sing it up as you have done through GIjKanings, yet I think some one is grossly at fault foi- selling such honey and branding it tiist class. I do not a.sk you to take my word for it. If you doubt my word, I will send you a sample of it, and .you can then see for yourself. Very resp'y, tr. IJ. Shelton. Brownsville, Pa„ Nov. 21, P. S.— AftiM- i-eading Our Homes these many years, and longing for thein to come, and feeling that I know you iiersonall.v, I do not think thai >-ou would allow this thing to go on if you knew it. G. H. S. Below are the letters our good friend Shelton refers to. omit ting addresses, for olivions reasons. Mr. G. I*. Shei.ton:— I return .-ibovf. being very dark and uiis;Ual)le. I could use K""<1 honey like lasl year'.i, l)ut not this kind. J. K. B. 862 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1. Mr. G. B. Shklton :— Your honey at hand, and we find by propel- test that it is not satisfaetoi-y in regaid to flavor, and will ask it yon want it returned, as we can not use it. Uniontown, Pa., Oct. 10, 189t). M. & B. Mr. George B. Shki.ton:— The honey arrived safely, and I would have rcpiiecl earlier, hut Imve been away :i day or twd, and been quite busy ;ilsu. I am r-on^- to say tli;it 1 ilo not like the honey as well as what I have iornierly liad from ylton says he would not have had his repu- tation injured as it has been, for a JuiiKhrd dal- hirs. and no doubt he is pretty neai'ly right about it. This damage must be made good by some one — that is, some satisfactory arrange- ment must be made with these customers. If the man who shipped poor-grade honey will not do it, it falls upon us. It is like the story I told a few weeks ago, about writing Breckenridge County for Bracken County, only that was an innocent blunder, perhaps, and this is the con- sequence— at least it would seem so — of a delib- erate attempt to defraud. We are now coming to something that cuts close. Friend S., we want you to tell us what initials were on those boxes of bad honey. And, by the way, I think the time is coming when every package of honey must have the address on it of the iiroducer, and the producer must stand responsible for the truthfulness of the label outside. To do this is going to make a good deal of trouble in raking up these transac- tions; and especially getting them into print is going to hurt somebody's feelings terribly, per- haps. But it is the only true and sure founda- tion upon which to build up a great trade in our industry. This great trade has already got a good start, and people are getting to have confidence; and we as bee-keepers must fight for this confidence, and must fight for our in- tegrity, as we would fight for the American flag.* It is the only solid rock on which any industry can be built up. The butter and cheese business have had to go through just this kind of work, and they are going through it now, and it is the same way with those who produce and handle eggs. There is no way but the honest way. The patriarch Job say: "As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty who hath vexed my soul; all the while ray breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, my lips shnll not speak urickedness, nor my tongue titter de- celt."— {Job 27:2—4.) The italics in the above text are my own: and the only course for us is to rise up in our strength and in our might, and say with good old Job, " My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit," not even though bags of money that we sadly need are held out as a bribe for just a little bit of deception. nWe will try to give the outcome of our settle- ment with friend S., in a later number. Now, dear friends, it is not the extracted- honey men who are guilty. The same kind of work comes up more or less in crating comb honey. Very likely it is carelessness, or setting somebody to work to help pack the honey who does not "know any better than to put nice clean white sections on the outside, and the dark ones inside. Here are some letters below that tell you how it works in our great cities: *A verse of my favorite liymn occurs to me here: Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the Hood? Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God! 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUliE. 8(53 Tlic lii'st one was rci-civcd with chci-k tor honey sold on commission. Mr. R(ii>t:—V>\' hand you lioivwitli i-lic-L-k foveiiiif;- sales of yoiii- hist shipnu'Ut of ht)iioy to us. Wo luid bad luck with part of it. We made shipment to the country of a lot, and it was refused on account of beinu- hlai-k. We ordered it returned. In the trip it was hadl.v broken up, and we sustained heavy loss on it from leakase and waste. This hist end was what keiit us waiting' so Ion"-. We are now in good shape to handle another shipment for you. One- pound sections nvv the kind that sell best. KeYNOLDS & WiLia.VMS. Cleveland. O., Nov. 19, 1890. The above lot of honey was a part of the car- load received from friend Kail. As it looked very nice when taken from the car, and seemed to be in excel hMit ordei'. therefore we were greatly astonished, and wrote immediately to know what the commission men meant by call- ing it ■■ black.'" I confess that we were some- what stirred up abont it, as a great part of the carload had already be(Mi sold at good ijrices. and no complaints. The hotter below explains: Mr. Root: — We are very soriy to have you feel as your letter indicates in res'ard to the honey receipts and report of sales. The writer saw the honej' that was I'eturned, and it was black on the in- side sections while the outer ones were clear and white. We had several shipments returned which ■delayed remittance, and the causes for returning- to us wfere .iust, as the honey was as we have stated. Cleveland, O., Nov. 21. Reynolds & Williams. There yon have it. friends. From what I know of friend Ball I can not believe tliat he .himself put up his honey, or knew that it was pnt tip with unsightly sections inside and the nice white ones outside; and I confe'ss that I was quite loth to believe that he had in- trusted anybody with packing it for him that would do such a thing. In all great markets it is well known that the man who packs his pro- duce so as to make it show well on the outside, while inside it is poor and unsightly, it sure to get a wide berth on any future shipments. It kills any man's reputation. You remember what Jesus said about the scribes and Phari- sees: " Ye make clean the outside of the cup and -of the platter, but within they are full of ex- tortion and excess." In fact, I had looked at the honey, and had seen several cases opened, and had taken great comfort in thinking that we hadawhole cdrUxtd t*hat was just as good clear through as it was outside. But I at once hastened to our men who put the honey up for shipment, and some- thing like the following conversation occurred: " Mr, W., how many cases of that carload of ■comb honey have you overhauled so as to get a look at the inside sections as well as the o?tt- ■side ones'?" '•Oh! quite a few — I don't know exactly how many. Where a case was leaking a little we ■overhauled it and got out the broken section and put a sound one in its place." '• Well, did you find any cases of honey that were dark and bad looking inside, with the out- side sections clean and white?" " Y'es, there were some put up in just that way, and I showed it to Mr. C, and he replied that the dark ajjpearance was only the result of leaving it too long on the hive — that the ■ qunlity wdS just as good as the other, and he thought it would not be nec(^ssary to go to the trouble of overhauling and repacking." So the commission man was right, after all — at least, our honey was open to the charge that the best sections were put on the outside. Mr. C. said afterward that this was not the case with a great many, certainly, for he saw badly stained sections right out against the glass, in- dicating that the packer put at least some of •them in just as they happened to come. Now. a great maiiv think this is a small mat- ter, any way. But I tell ynn. it is a nuitter of treiiiciidous im])ort to iioney-i)rodncer and hon- ey-dealer. The thing has come up so many tinu'S that our grocers are sore and sensitive; and just as soon as they begin to oi>en a pack- age of goods, and lind it put up with the best outside, they get indignant. Who can blame them? Had this dark or stained honev been put by itself, and sold at what it would' bring, it would have saved condemning, and selling at a low figure, perhaps quite a quantity of tirst- class white honey. I know there are some who say that th<» hon(>y that has been longest on the hive is the best rijjened. and is thci'efore uot infei'ior: but when it comes to Thanksgiv- ing, or Christmas, circumstances demand that he who wants something nice-looking should have it. Our daughter Constance has just come home from Ob(M-lin to siiend Thanksgiv- ing. Like the average schoolgirl of 18, she has a big appetite for every thing belonging to home, especially for fn'iits and dainties. On my way home from the union prayer-meeting I stepped in at one of our leading groceries to get something to please " Blue Eyes." As I looked over their display, what sort of goods do you suppose I picked out? Why, like everybody else I wanted something handsome-looking— something that would make the whole house- hold lift up their hands in admiration. Of course, I wanted it good too. But I was ready to pay— shall I say double price?— to have something that looked perfect to the eye. What I mean is. some perfect and faultless specimen of dame Nature's handiwork. I paid 20 cents per lb. for .some beautiful clusters of white grapes— that is, just a few— etc. Now, dear bee-keeping friends, do you see what the great outside world demands' of us, and wants us to do? The beautiful litthi text, " Thinketh no evil," is making big headway in the hearts of our people; and when we give way to this foolish, selfish longing for the thirty pieces of silver, as Judas did, we are not only killing ourselves spiritually, but we are also killing ourselves fiiiancialiy. In fact, we are doing just the thing to spoil for ever any possible chance of getting hold of any silver at all; and, besides that, if we are professors of religion we are tempting this great outside world to say, " There, there. Not any more of that, if you please. If that is Christianity, I think I would rather buy my stuff of somebody who does not make any profession." What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? But you see he does 7)ot gain the world either. The UK>rld is lost and the soul is lost — everji thiiid is lost. This is Thanksgiving day, and ten o'clock in the morning. May the Lord help us all to shake off this fearful night- mar*; of selfishness that seems so bound to set- tle down upon us unless we are holding fast to the strong arm of Him who went about doing good, and who went through the world and lived a human life, but who came out victori- ous, a model and a pattern of all that is unself- ish. Ife ■' pleased not himself." SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I. ROOT, AND HIS FRIENDS WHO LOVE TO RAISE CROPS. (JAROKNIN(f IX DKCKMBKIJ, It is now the day before Thanksgiving. We have beautiful (Jrand Rapids lettuce in the open ground, still unharmed by frost. And this reminds me that the Rund New-Yorker makes a suggestion that is new to me, and possibly is of considerable value to the market-gardener; 864 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1. namely, that lettuce, radislies. etc.. may be grown nearly to matiii'ity in cold-fi'anies. Just befoi'e severe weatiier comes on. ciovei' them with glass and straw mats, and thus ke •]> them lit for use during a great portion of tin' winter. This can be done much ciieapiM- than to go to the expens(> of heating, to grow them in the winter time. I am quite sure, from what ex- penence I have had in the line, that it can be managed. Just now we have a fine crop of beets, from the size of liens' eggs down. They are as yet uninjured by the frost, but will soon be injun'd witliout i)roiection. One of our boys suggests that we gather them, cut the tops off, and transplant them to cold-frames or green- houses. A beet is a great thing to start to grow, as you know. When tliey make nice new tops, sell them off for bunch beets duj'ing the winter tim(>. Caulifiower can, without question, be kept in cold-fram(>s, the same as lettuce. Celery is so commonly kept all through the winter montlis, even into February and Marcli. tliat I have hardly thouglat that any instruction was need- ed. As so many inquire, however. I will tell you what I know about it. KEEPING CELERY DISKING THE WINTEK. If you have only a little, put it into your cel- lar in a box without top or bottom. Let this box stand directly on the cellar floor. An earth floor is best. The box may be as long as you choose, but it should not be more than a foot or 18 inches wide. If you get too much celery in one body it is apt to rot. Dig your celery, leaving considerable dirt on the roots. Pull off most of the outside leaves, and pack it in the box as closely as possible. Your cellar should have plenty of doors and windows, so tliat you can keep the temperature pretty close to freezing. Celery will stand con- sid(^i'abl(» frost in the open ground, but not very much in the cellar. In its winter repository, two things are to be guarded against — rotting and freezing. Rotting is the worst trouble. Keeping it cool, and giving it plenty of air, is the remedy. If youi' cellar is so dry that tlie celery is likely to wilt, and get lilve shoestrings, you may moisten the roots: but do not put any water on the tops. It will malve it rot. Some- times a little cavity is made in the cellar bottom, say two or three inches deep, and water is poured into this cavity. This will keep it growing some if your cellar is not too cold; but if it grows much'in the cellar, it is likely to be- come hollow and stringy. Now, putting up celery on a large scale is just lilfe the above, only, instead of the box, you can set up boards a foot wide and 16 feet long. Keep them up from the cellar bottom by means of pieces of 2\4 scantling laid at right angles with the long boai'ds. This is to let enough air circulate to pn^vent heating. When you want the celery to blanch — that is, if it is not blanched when you gather it — shut ol¥ the light and raise the temperature until the celery is just right for tlie table. Last winter we had some beautiful celery wintered in a vacated pig-pen. Now, do not smile nor turn up your nose. The pigpen is under shelter, and is a i)art of our tool-liouse. We cleaned it out nice and" clean, and dug down perhaps a foot below the surface of the ground. After it was packed away as above, between long boards a foot wide, we covered tlie whole top of the pig-pen with the same kind of one- foot boards, and over these boards we put stable manure enougli to keep the frost out. A good deal of dirt adhered to the celery, and the dirt in the bottom of tlie pig-pen made it so rich tliat it grew some all winter, especially wlien the heat of the manure above it raised the tem- perature enough. The celery, when put away, was (piite green, and not blanched enough for use. The variety is the N<'W Hose. The stalks were a bright rose red when put away. In -January the dai'kness and warmth had bleached it so that it was i-eceived by everybody as n^hite celery with an occasional rose tint to it: and it was the nu)st ciisp and delicious celei'y I ever tasted in my life. This year we have a cellar under our new factory, about 40x100 feet, and the door is so large tiiat a hoi'se with a mud- boat can draw a load of celery right where it is to lie packed betw(^en the lioards. A low sled or mud-boat is perhaps as handy as any thing to draw the celery from tlie held. Put it riglit close to tlie rows, so tliat the men who pry out tlie stalks \\itli tile spades can set them right on the boat. A box should be placed on the boat, made of boards, perhaps a foot high. A common stone-boat will do, but it draws rather harder than the I'ight kind of sled. Celery can be wintered outdoors in our locali- ty in average winters; but as it is risky, it is not generally to be recommended. If, liowever, you think you will want to use it all by Christ- mas, you can manage it this way: lianlv it up clear to the very tips, then make a trough of boards. Invert this over tlie row, and cover with coarse strawy manure. This will keep it till Christmas safely, and many times even till spring. The objection is, the amount of labor required for so small a quantity of celery at the usual distance apart of planting. To save labor you can dig a trench a foot wide, and, say, two feet deep. Put a tile in the bottom of the trench, to make sure tliat it does not get filled with water. Now pack in your celery, just as before directed, in the cellar. Earth up; put an inverted trough of boards on top to keep off the rain; put on your strawy manure, and it will answer about as well as a cellar. The only difficulty is. that you can not very well get at it during very severe weather in the winter. It is much handier, as you will readily see, when stored in tlie cellar, as first directed: for in this case you can put it on the market very quickly whenever a good price is offered. A combina- tion of the two plans is what is called a " celery- house." Tliis is l)uilt anywhere outdoors, where the groiind is so thoroughly drained, or stands in such shape that water can not get inside. Dig down two feet, throwing the dirt outside so as to form walls. Put in your celery: cover with any kind of rough cheap boards, or what- ever is handiest, leaving just room enough to stand up and go between the rows of celery. Have a thermometer or thermometers hung in different parts of the structure, and go around often with a lantern, and see that the temperature does not get below the freezing-point. If it were not for getting around among the stuff witli a lan- tern, to see how it is keeping. I would have a roof within two feet of the tojjs of the celery. Witli such a low structure there is less difficul- ty in keeping the frost out: and if you are young and small, so you can afford to stoop down and crawl through tlie avenues, you may make it low. Pack your celery in rows so that you can reach any of it from some one of the paths, to see whether it is freezing or rotting, and put a board as directed, so tlie rows of cel- ery shall not be much more than a foot from one board to the next. Unless you do this it will fall over and malve you trouble. It will pay you to do this work decently and in order; and if you plan it beforehand according to the length of your lumber, there need be no cutting or sawing, and tlie structure can be put up very quickly. You can malve it so as to be perma- nent, or you can pile your lumber up under shelter during the summer time. If you are going to mak(^ a permanent structure, however, I rather think I would have it in tlie foi-m of a 1S9U GI.KAN[NGS IN BEE CULTURE. 805 (.•('liar uiidci' some l>iiil(liiijr. [ii'dvidiiiR you have plenty of doors and winilows to ff'wc it lots of air if it thrcatcTis to rot on yoiii' lunuls. With tlic flu'up striit'tun' you can remove the few boards wiien ventilation is ne(>ded: but be sure tliat your roof, wluitever it is. lu'ver per- mits \\ater to droj) through oi"i to the tops of your eelei'v : and he sure that you do not leave tlie ventilator open at any time wiien rain or snow may get in. fur any kind of wet or dami)- ness on the tops wlien in its winter repository will be sui'e to make it iieat and rot. In our locality we put away our celeiy for winter, about Thanksgiving time. ()t:K COXDENSICD SEKD CATAIAXJUK. Very few additions will be made to our cata- logue of last year. The Breadstone turnip we mentioned in our last issue continues to be a favorite with tlie wagon. E. V. (Jreen, of the Oliio Expi'iiment Station. says, in our last issue, that he hardly sees how he can get along with- out the (iolden Wax bean. W(> iuive found the Kidney Wax to have larger and handsomer pods, and it is much less liable to rust. We shall perliaps be obliged to catalogue a pole bean aside from the limas. and I think we shall use the Dutcli C'aseknife on tiie sti'ength of friend tlreen"s recommendation. For tlie same reason we shall include Crosby's Egyptian beet. We dislike to drop the (Joiden Self-blanching celery, but our trade this season has given the Wliite IMumethe i)reference. On the strength of frientl CiriMMi's recommendation we shall use the Spanish King onion (Maule's Prize-tak(>r) for starting onions in the greenhouse. The White Victoria is too ])Oor a keejjer. Have tlie friends at tlie Exjieriment Station ti'ied the Breadstone turnip? Fottler's lirunswick cab- bage we shall take for a late one. Our friend Jennie Wilson speaks so highly of the Shoepeg corn that I am inclined to think we shall hav<' to adopt it. It is certainly equal to any In quality, and there is so mucli corn and so little cob that one really gets mor<' for his money than with most other kinds of sweet corn. Prof. Green, of the Ohio Experiment Station, speaks of it as follows: In Gleaninos for Nov. 1.5. A. Jennie Wilson rec- ommends Shot'peg- sweet corn. This is the same as Ne Plus Ultra, or Banana. It is tlie most meaty and delicious corn tlitit I ever tasted. The ears are not larg'e, hence it nii^ht not be suitable for market; but it is unsurpassed for liome use. I give the different names by which it Is known, so that it may lie recog- nized in the different catalogues. \V. J. Gkeen. Columb.is, O., Nov. 18, 189j. In regard to the cantaloupe melons, we have tested Miller's Cream, and we thought that, if anything, is was a little ah(>ad of the Fymerald Gem; but rather than have so many kinds we thought w(> must droji it. As friend Lipscomh, however (on page 790), says it is a much heavier iTopijer than the EiiK'rald Gem, I do not knou' but we had better sui)stitute Miller's Cream. Can any of the friends corroborate friend Lipscomb's statement'.' RDii^e^i^L. CONVENTION NOTICES. The annui\l meeting of the Huron, Tuscoln, ami Sanilac C(i. P.ee-lceepeis' Association wiM be held at B.ul Axe Cimit-house, lluioii Co.. Mich., on Wed., Dee. 10, 1890. All are invites for the poor farmer. In fact, there has bf^en so much said about the farmers not having a fair chance (I presume the term "farmers" would also include market- gardeners), that it bogan to remind me of the old women's-rights question, and I didn't know but we should have to have a farmers'-rights organization. In fact. I presume we have two or three already; but I know so little of politics that I haven't even kept posted. Well, I want to say a word in regard to high prices on farmers' produce at this present time. I don't feel bad about it. In fact. I rather rejoice when I hear that any kind of farm produce is bringing a good l)rice, and I rather enjoy paying it; but I mean, mind you, when everybody else has to pay it as well as myself. At present here in Medina we are paying .iO cts. a bushel for oats; 30 for corn in the ear: a dollar a bushel for nice potatoes; $3.00 a bushel for choice aijples, etc. Not only are prices good, but every thing seems to be tak- en up as fast as it conies into market. For sev- eral years I have felt sorry for the boys in our vicinity who raised popcorn. They brought nice lots of it to town, and I tried buying it for a while just to encourage them a little; but as we didn't get rid of it I had to give it np. Just now, however, there is great de- mand for popcorn, and none to be liad. Our en- terprising friend, H. R.Wright, of Albany, N. Y., sends out letters asking if anybody knows of any popcorn for sale anywhere. Friend W. buys and sells popcorn by the carload, and his printed letter-liead makes quite a little circular in regard to the •• jiopcorii business." Wellj^ now. that is really encouraging. If tliere is any thing I do enjoy, it is seeing the boys get a good price, cash down, for something they have raised. When I find a boy who rai.ses popcorn or chickens or honey or strawberries or onions, I just like to take that boy by the hand and claim relationship; and when our great nation of people get to when; they can offer the boys encouragement in the way of good prices, we are on the road to better things. I allude es- pecially to the boys that go out in the fields and work for themselves under God's clear sky, instead of hanging around the factories, beg- ging for a chance to bv. " hossccl " by somebody. 860 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1. THE AMERICAN- I!EE ■JOUNIiAL. Ox tli(^ tirst of noxt year the old A}iierk'an Bee Journal 1!^ to changp its size to about tliat of these pages, and eaeli number will contain 3:2 pages. For a weekly bee-journal this is a big undertaking; but Newnum iV: Son are equal to the task. THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPEIS. This is the title of a new bee-journal, to be issued Jan. 1, 1891, and to be published by the W. T. Falconer Manufacturing Co., Jamestown, N. Y. It is to be a monthly periodical of 16 pages. The cover page and prospectus^are be- fore us, and we have no doubt that they will get out a iirst-class journal. SPACERS FOR FRAMES. Every now and then we receive a spacing- device for holding ordinary frames at fixed distances. They are complicated, and would make the hive cost anywhere from 10 to .50 cents extra, to say nothing of the length of time it would take to manipulate them. In suggesting tlwse improvements it is well to bear in mind, first, their expense; second, their convenience. No Yankee can tolerate expensive devices, no matter how good they may be otherwise. LIFE-MEMBERSHIP IN THE N. A. B. K. A. In order to become life-members in this asso- ciation, spoken of elsewhere in these columns, all you have to do is to pay $10.00 to the secre- tary; and when your name is voted upon and accepted, you will be a life-member, and no more annual dues to pay. Any one thorough- ly interested in the success of the society (and that success means a great deal to our industry in general) can not do better than to become a life-member. If he bo a straightforward man there will be no doubt tiiat he will be accepted as a member. FLAT COVERS. In going over our colonies in Dovetailed hives, preparatory to putting on the outside cases, we noticed that the clusters in some of the hives had settled down almost to the entrance, seem- ingly to avoid proximity to the cover. On other hives of the same kind they are quite close to the cover; and inspection showed that the former had been recently opened — that Is, the propolis attachments making the cover air- tight, had been broken so that the air would flow over their backs, and consequently they went down toward the entrance. Those colonies from which the covers had not been removed for some time, and which had been sealed down with propolis, were close to the cover. The same thing was seen in all our colonies in chaff hives with chaff cushions on top. Our apiarist, Mr. Spafford. thinks he would like to have the Dovetailed cover with side pieces, so that they would telescope over the body. There might be an advantage in this, but it makes the covers more difficult to handle during the honey season; and when they are sealed down with propolis it is a pretty hai"d matter to pry them up. unless thei'e are cleats on the hives, and we don't exactly want cleats y(>t. The moral is. to get the colonies fed up as early as possible in flat-cover hives, so that the bees may have time to seal the covers down air-tight. Simplicity covers are no better in this respect. EXAGC4ERATION IN DESCRIBING GOODS IN CATA- LOGUilS. This matter is brought to my mind just now by a description of lemons in a weekly price list. There are thi'ee grades. They are desig- nated, first, " Extra Fancy: " second, "Fancy;" and third," Extra Choice.'" The '• Extra Choice'' is the poorest grade. I think I can remember the time when the poorest lemons used to be styled " Fair." Better ones were classed as " Choice." Pretty soon we had to say " Extra Choice " to get any real good ones. When the " Extra Choice " got to be only ordinary, some- body started the word " Fancy," and for a while we could be sure of getting the best in the mar- ket by ordering " Fancy." Now, however, we have to say " Extra Fancy " if we want the best; and if we happen to need the ordinary for some special purpose, they must be designated " Extra Choice."* What a sad, sad state of af- fairs ! But somebody says, "What are you go- ing to do about it? If you call your things ex- actly what they are. nobody will purchase. We are really oblig(>d to do as others do." I heard a merchant in California say, when an exasper- ated customer gave him a blowing-up because his pound rolls of butter weighed only ^{, that the only way to live and get along was to give %, just as everybody else does. I suggested that he weigli them up by the pound, and tell every customer that they were %-lb. rolls. He said nobody would buy them, because all the rest in the whole city of San Diego called % of a pound a pound. Now, my friends, all this talk and this theory is false. It is not true. It will take you some little time to build up a business by telling the lionest truth, 7io doubt; but when people get to lv thousands. All mailed for $1.25. Sample copies of Apiculturist free. Address HENKY ALLiEV, Weiiliaiu, Mass. MUTH'S aONEY - EXTHACTOE, SQUARE CiliASS HONEY-JARS, TIN RCJCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY- SECTIONS, Ac, &;c. PERFECTION COLD - BLAST SITIOKERS. ELEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PARALLEL, AND THE STAND ARD IN EVERY (JIVI LIZBD COUNTRY. Bingham &, Hetherington Patent Uncapping-Knife, Standard Size. Bingham's Patent Smokers, Six Sizes and Prices. Doctor Smoker, o^ in., postpaid .. .f 3.00 Conqueror " ;i " " .1 7") Lartre *• 34 ' " •I ■"'" Extra (Wide shield) 3 '■ " ... I .r) Plain (narrow " )2 " " ... 100 Little Wonder, \%, " " ... 65 Uncapping-Knife ..115 Sent promptly on receipt of price. To ^ sell again, send for dozen and half-dozen rates. Milledpeville, 111-, March 8, 1890. Sirs:— Smokers received to-daj'. and count cor- rectly. Am ready for orders. If others feel as I do your trade will boom. Truly, P. A. Snell,. Vermillion, S. Dak.. Feb. 17, 1890. Sirs:— I consider your smokers the best made for any purpose. I have had 15 years' experience with 300 or 400 swarms of bees, and know whereof I speak. Very truly^ R. A. Mokoan. Sarahsville, Ohio, Mnrch 12,1890. SiKS:— The smoker I have has done irood service since 1883. Yours truly, Daisibl Brothers. Send for descriptive circular and testimonials to Itfdb BiNQHAM Si HETEEsmaTO^, Abronia, Mich. larin respotHjuiu'tii tills ndvei ti-t- iit ineiitinn Oleanings. DADANT'S FOUNDATION Is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicagro, 111.; C. P. Muth, Cincinnati. O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich.; O. G. Collier, Pairbury, Neb. ; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O.. E. Kretch- mer. Red Oak, la.; P.L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La- Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown. Wisconsin; J. Mattoon, Atwater, Ohio, Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Freeburg, Illinois; Geo. E Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1517 Blake St., Denver, Colo. ; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111. ; E. 1.. Goold A: Co., Brantt'ord. Out.. flv ^^gtOGTjEAND ,^ clev.eland;o. ^^Mm^^S^^ C^UJICAL GOODS' L >-'lii r^•^ln^^r^ln^r to tills advfitlseiiieiil inenixoii GlkaNINGS. FOR LIGHT AND DARK FERRETS, •and pure Pol;uid-( liiiia Swine, address N. A. K>APP, Roclie!!>ter, Lorain Co., O. \Wln responding to tliis advertisement mention Qlsandigs. "HANDLING BEES." Price 8 Cts. A chapter from "The Hive and Honey Bee, Re- vised," treating of taming and handling bees; just the thing for beginners. Circular, with advice to beginners, samples of foundation, etc., free, ^trdb OMAN. OAOAlN'fl' & SON, Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illinola. lt^"Ir, responding' to tlij;> .Mlvfi iiM-ni<'iit nu-ntion GLEyUilNGS. SECTIONS. $2.50 to $3.50 per .71. Bee-Hives and Fix- tures o!lie.rp. NOVELTY CO., 6tidb Rock Falls, Illinois. Please mention this poper. h72 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15. Wants or Exchange Department. WANTED.— To exchange forest trees, for straw- berry-plants, g-rapevines, and all kinds of small fruit-trees or otfers. W. G. McLendon, Gaines' Landing, Chicot Co., Ark. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees in L. hives for beagle hounds, or will exchange fox-hounds for beagles. J. B. Mitchell. 23-34d Hawkinsville, Pulaski Co., Ga. W W WANTED.- To exchange apiary of 150 colonies of bees. Will take any kind of farm stock, goods or gi'oceries. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. ANTED.— To correspond with parties who wish to exchange beeswax for supplies. Geo. Rall, Prenchville, Trem. Co., Wis. ANTED.— Apicultural offers in exchange for plain and fancy job printing. 23-34d C. W. Dayton, Clinton, Rock Co., Wis. WANTED.— To exchange one 6x9 self-inking press, with type, for 10-inch fdn. mill and wax-extract- or, or best offers; also a 6-inch fdn.- mill, for wax. 23-24d L. L. Isenhoweh, Reading, Pa. WANTED. — To correspond with parties having potatoes, onions, apples, and honey for sale. Prompt attention given to correspondence. Con- signments solicited. Prompt returns made. Earle Clickenger, 131 So. 4th St., Columbus, O. WANTED.— Situation by a young man (20) living in Eastern Pa., who desires to learn apiculture with a first-class apiarist. Al references furnished. Wages no consideration. Addi-ess Daniel S. Hahn, South Easton, Northampton Co., Pa. WANTED.— A few pairs of ferrets and .500 lbs. No. 1 extracted honey. Will exchange pure Bronze turkeys. Chas. McClave, New London, O. WANTED.- honev. -To exchange a new foot-power saw for Send for a descriptive cii cular. W. S. Wright, Battle Creek, Mich. WANTED.— To exchange fi ne Stainer violin, cost $2.5, for a good 13-guage. breech-loading, double- barreled shotgun. Also home-made saw-table, man- drel, and one Simmonds rip-saw— liaA'e cut out a large amount of lumber with it— will exchange for bees, honey, or offers. D. H. Tweedy, Dillonvale, Jeff. Co., O. ANTED.— To exchange bee-supi»lies for printing, to the amount of about $30.00. 34d Wm. H. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn. WANTED. — To exchange a single harness, or light double road harness, sleighs, one a light one. or two-seated buggy wagon, for a small jjlaner, swing saw, and a power press for piniching iron. Geo. E. Knox, Ballston Spa, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange Perfect Hatcher.'176 eggs, cost $7.5.00; and brooder, 300 chicks, cost $38.00; been used at fairs a little, for Italian or hybrid bees. Elizabeth Dimick, Burns, Steuben Co., N. Y. w To the Bee-Keepers of Missouri. I am requested by the secretary of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture to furnish him for publi- cation a report- of the bee-keejjing interests of Mis- souri, and I ask every bee-keeper of Missouri to asr- sist me in tin's matter by sending me a report of how many colonies of be'es they had in the spring of 18110, and iiow many in the fall, how much comb and how much extracted honey they obtained, and how much wax. I would suggest you also gi\'e in the report of all your neighbors or persons that you know of keeii- ing bees. Let me urge every bee-kcepei' to send in his report and assist in this matter. Tliere are to be 4000 of the agricultural report printed and distribut- ed, and we now have an excellent chance to bring the bee-keeping intei-ests t^efore the people of the State. J. W. Rouse, Sec. Missouri State Bee-Keepers' Ass'n. Mexico, Mo., Dec. 1. 1890. NEW SPACERS f.)r L. frami's; a-i-urate, I'l;, 92 to the pound. Fiillv prnctic.Tble forfrann's in use Price.s. 1 to ."i Ib.s. at IGe; .'■) to I'O Ills. ,it 15L': 111 to V> Ills, at Uf. Send stamp foi' sam- ple. Address G. L. TINKER, New I'liiladelphia. O. 24-l-2d ^ I^EJ^ I^ -v lytF-^'G. CO. M Pi UndouMedlj the Largest Plant in the West, Built cxclnsivoly for tlic maimfactiire of Api- arian Nupplies. One and One-Half Acres Floor Space. We .sell as Cheap as the Cheapest, and our goods are as Good as the Best. Parties will do well to write us for estimates on large orders. We will send yon our catalogue for your name on a postal card. Address LEAHY MFG. '0., Higginsville, Mo. l^"In re.sponding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. 15 STRONG Colonies of bees (Italian, Cyprian, and Hybrids) for sale very cheap. REV. R. W. LEWIS, Waxahacliie, Ellis Co., Tex. Offered only 30 days. GREAT BIG BRAHMAS. Grandest fowl on earth for the farmer, for market and eggs. Good stock for sale now at farmers' prices. Catalogue free. Address F. H. PETTS, liVarsaw^, MTo. >|OQft ITALIAN QUEENS FOR BUSINESS. lOOU istfdb W. H. Laws, Lavaca, Ark. FLORSDA NEWSPAPERS FREE. We will send you the South Florida Home, six weeks, on trial, for ten cents, and insert your name in our Mailing List (free of charge) which will hring you hundreds of sample copies of Florida News- papers, Maps, Circulars, etc.; andaif you want to visit, or locate in Floridn, you can very easily de- cide where to go, and how to get ih!;re, and you will be well pleased with thf^ small investment of ten cents. 8tamp<» tak^n. Address South Fla. Home. St. Petersburg, Fla. For Sale.— Two 33 gal. barrels of basswood honey at 9 cts. per pound, or I will take $33.00 per bbl., free on board cars. Package free. Barrels will weigh 360 ll)s. w^t; lioney is very fine. H. H. OVERMYER, Lindsey, Sandusky Co., O. advance on wire netting. Remember tliat only a few days remain before the advance price on wire netting takes effect. All or- ders received here by the 34th of December will be filled at the old price^ enameled cloth advanced. After the catalogues, which we have sent olI^, were printed we received notice of an advance in the price of enamel cloth, and you will please note the following correction in price: 35 cts. per yard; $■2"^ per piece of 12 yards. Kindly mark this change in the catalogue you received before it slips your mind, (fUR honey quotation.s. Just after our December 1 number went to press. we received fiom the West the two cars of honey we had been expecting. One car of very nice white sage honey, in new cans and cases, is from J. F. Mclntvre." This is fully equal to the former car from Mercer, and, being in new cans and cases, is more desirable on that account. In the car from Arizona, we have about 4ti(iO lbs. alfalfa comb honey in 1-lb. sections, and about 1000 U)s. in 3-lb. sections. 1890 GLEANINGS IN BP:E CULTURE. 873 SIS well as over 200 cases ot two 60-lb. eaiis of alfalfa tixtrat'ted honey. This is a {itwd-tiavored honey, and lig-lit amber color. There is a little sei'ond-gi-ade amber color among' the comb honey. This looks s )me woi'Se than it really is. because the cappiugs are soaked. Some of the extracted is second grade. In order to work this honey off rapidly, and get it out of the way of our other bu.siness. we make-the follow- ing low prifes: White sage, 1 to 3 cans, 60 lbs. each, lie; 4to6cans, 10. " " 3 to 6 cases, 2 cans " 9(4 ; 6 to 10 cases, 9. " 111 cases or more, 8X. cents per lb. Lifiht amber Arizona, Ic per lb. le.ss than white sage Amber " 1V4 " " " No. ~ amber " 3 " Choice white 'omb, 1-lbs.. 1 to 3 cases, 20c per lb. •' 3 to .5 •■ 19 •' 5 to 10 " 18 •' " " 10 or more " 11 H " 20 '• •• IT Good " " Ic less than choice. Fair " " 2c Dark " " 3c 3-lb. sections, 2c per lb. less than 1-lb. of same grade. Most of the coinl) is in 24-lb. cases. -tS-lb. cases count two toward obtaining the (luantity price. 2-lb. sections are til lbs. to ca.se. We shail be pleased to mail samples of extracted houe.\'; and when you order, if you will return t!ie sample or give the mark on it we will guarantee to send you honey equal to ihe sample. We can not .send free samples of comb honey : and for the ex'i ract- ed, unless you have a purchase in view, send .5 cents to cover cost of .sample. Tlio.se wiio get samples with the view of placing an oi'der, of cour.-;e will not l>e chai'ged with them. BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS We have purchased only one new book this yeai' specially foi' the lioliilays. It is, AN ILLUSTE.ITE]> PILGEIM'S PSOaSESS. A nice book for a small sum. A few Sundays ago 1 took a notion to read the Pilgiim's Progress over again. I got it down and tried to see how iminy of the references to Bible texts I could repeat frtim the knowledge of the Bible 1 have gained .since I I'cad the Pilgrim's Prog- ress when I was a child. 1 was very much pleased to tind out, with a Bible riglit at hand, that I could re- peat most of them— at leas: in sulistance. The bo;)k I was using had perhaps half a dozen illustrations in it. I finally said aloud to my wife, " Oh, I do wish tliat somebody would give us a Pilgrim's Progress full of pictures from beginning to end!" I want a nice lai-ge book that would be full of attraction to every child, and with pictures of such a nature that they would encourage wholesome truth and Bilile prei-epts, even to those who can not read. Well, now, it is a little funny, that, almost the very next day, the book I had been longing for was )iut into niy hands. It is from the Charles Foster Publishing Co., Philadelnhia, where the Story of the Bible comes from. The book is ^H inches long, IK wide, and I'^^i thirk. It has 425 pages and 17.') illustrations. Ever so many, to whom I have shown it, pronounce it a •1f2.00 or a i2..50 book; but by buying a very lai-ge number of them at a time we can sell them to you for only 75 cents. The book is .so heavy, however, that it can not be sent by mail for less than 2l) cents, making 95 cents by mail, postpaid. The covers are most beautifully cmbellislied iif scarlet and gold, and many of the pictures ai-e worth to me alone the price of the book. Among them I would mention Christian and Pliable in the Slough of Despond; Mr. Worldly Wiseman; Giant Despair, etc. But the sweetest and best of then all to me, is Pi'udence talking to the boys A single glance at the book by anybody, whHii you nientioi the insigniticent pi-ice for so beautiful a volume, will mike him holdup his hands in astonishment. We send a book as a premium for three subscriptions at Sl.OJeaeh; or .send us fl. 7.") and we will send you GfvK.\NiNGS foi' lM)i and the book, po.stpaid. If you want something e.vtra nice for a present, we can send you one with gilt edges for 25 cents more. The followiniz; books we lia\'e left over from our preiniuin list lor last yeai\ They are all. liowevin'. ill nice order, with tiie exceijtion of tliosc mentioned otherwise, wliere a liberal re- ostage, if sent by mail. We have a few copies of these, also four copies of Story of the Bible, with covers somewhat damaged by watei-, which we will sell at half price. PISST STEPS F02 LITTLE FEET. This is by the same authoi', and is a collection of simple Bible stories in- tended more especially foi' younger learners. Every child should have one of these to read; 32S pages, and 140 illustrations. Very nicely printed, and bound in cloth, title in gill. Price .50 cents each; 2 for 75 cents. Given free postpaid for 2 subsciiptions, with $2.00. CONVENTION NOTICES. Tilt aimiiiU iiKitiiii; of llie Oiitariu lift- keepers' .\ssociatiou win be liekl in the citv nt' St. Catharines Jan, 7 and 8. 1891, All interested are invited W. CousK, See.. Streetsville, Ont. 874 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15 P6NEY 08MMN. CITY MARKETS. Chicago.— Hi mcy —There is not the volume of trade usual at this season ; yet prices are without material change since last quoted. Best lots of white honey in one-pound sections tiring- 17@18; brown and dark "grades are not so steady, and sell at 14®lfi; and where an entii-e lot of dark honey can be closed out these piices are shaded. The extracted pi'oduct of this locality, and that of the Western States and Ter- ritories, brings 7@8. Beeawax. 37. Dec. 8. R. A. Burnett, 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Albany.— Hooev-— The honey market is quiet; but stock is light and prices well sustained. We are selling, white, 16@30c; mixed, 14@15c. Buckwheat 13(5il4c. Extracted, white, 8^4@10; amber, 7@8; dark, 6®6X. H. R. Wright, Dec. 6. Albany, N. Y. Cincinnati.— Honey.— There is a good demand for all kinds of honey. Arrivals are fair of all but comb honey, and Southern extracted. Small lots only of each are arriving and disposed of on arrival. We quote: Choice comb honey nomiiuil at 16@18. Ex- tracted honey, 5'/4@8 on arrival. Beeswax.— Iheve is a good demand at 24(a>26 on arrival, for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Dec. 8. Cincinnati, Ohio. Kansas City.— Honej/.— Fancy white one-pound comb, 18c; fair to good, 17c; dark, one-pound, 14@15; two-pound comb, white, 15@16c; dark, 13@14. Ex- tracted, white, 7c; dark, 5(«i6. Dec. 8. Hamblin & Bearss, .514 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis.— Honej/.— Demand continues good for comb and extracted. The former is scarce. We quote white-clover comb, 19; dark do., 15@16. Ex- tracted, from 5j^(($6. Beeswax, prime, 35c. Dec. 8. D. G. Tutt Gro. Co., St. Louis, Mo, Boston.— Honei/. — Fancy white one-pound combs selling at 19@30c; fair to good, 17@18. No 2-lb. combs in this market. Buckwheat or off-colored honey not wanted at any price. Extracted selling at 'J}i@Sy2. No beeswax on hand. Demand good. Blake & Ripley, Dec. 10. Boston, Mass. Detroit.— Honejy— Comb honey in one-pound sec- tions in good demand at 16@17c. Extracted, 8@9. Beeswax, in good demand, at37(§),38c. M. H. Hunt. Dec. 11. Bell Branch, Mich. Albany. — Honey. — The demand has been more brisk the past ten days; especially for extracted; and we have closed out about all we had on hand. We think the stock of comb honey is now nearly all on the market, and do not anticipate any decline in prices. We quote: White comb honey, 17(§'18; mix- ed, 15@16; buckwheat, 13(a>14. Extracted, light, 9@10; dark, 7@8. Chas. McCulloch & Co., Dec. 9. 339 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. New York. — Honej/.— Fancy white, 1-lb. sections, 16@18; fair to good, 1-lb. sections, 14@15; fancy white, 3-lb. sections, 15@16; fair to good, 3-lb. sections, 13@14; fancy buckwheat, 1-lb. sections, 13@13; fancy buckwheat, 3-lb. sections, 13@13; extracted clover and basswood, 9@10; e.vtracted buckwheat, 7@8. The above are about the prices these goods are bringing to-day. Of course, after the holidays, we expect a lull in tlie honey market as usual, and expect no great demand for it for two or thiee weeks after New Years. The market is pretty well cleaned up in 1 and 3 lb. sections of fancy clover and 3-lb. sections of buckwheat, as you will see by the prices these goods are bringing. On the whole we think the honey producers have got good iirlces this season. Chas. Israel & Bro., Dec. 11. 110 Hudson St., N. Y. For Sale.— Comb and extracted honey. Address O. H. Hyatt, Shenandoah, la. For Sale.— Choice honey in sections, cans, and C. pails. Send for price list to Oliver Foster, 13-tfdb. Mt. Vernon, la. Wanted.— Southern honey. Will pay 6Xc cash on arrival for good Southern honey. Chas. F. Muth & Son, 23-3;W4-l-d Cincinnati, O. Wanted. — One or two thousand pounds of nice comb honey. Write, giving amount on hand and price wanted. A. D. Ellingwood, Berlin Falls, N. H. 17fdb For Sale.— BO.COD lbs. of extra tine sage honey in 60-lb. tin cans. Also two carloads of light amber honey, for sale at 6c per lb., f . o. b. L. E. Mercer & Sons, Ventura, Ventura Co., Cal. 19tfdb Wanted.— White comb and extracted honey; state price, package, etc. B. Walker, 17tfdb Capac, Mich., or Prairie du Chien, Wis. Help Farm Journal Get One Million Subscribers. That is. take it. CREAM! Send 10c. tor 3 nius. to Farm Journal. Pliila.. Pa. I71n responding to this advertisement mention GLKANiNGSk. HOW THEY PLEASE. H. M. Moyer, Hill Church, Pa., writes Nov. 37.1890: "That untested queen I got of you has the (inest bees I ever saw— very yellow^; all show the fourth band, some even the tit'th." My facilities for pure mating are second to none. Either Five-fSauded Golden or A. I. Root's "Honey" queens. Every queen warranted. I have over 300 orders booked now. Inclose stamp for prices. JACOB T. TIly^PE, Gra.za.d LoiiK-Mi nKntion Glkamni. . NEVy^ -t- FACTORY. Bee-Hives, Sections, Frames, Etc. We have moved into our new factory, which is the largest and most complete in the world. We make the best of goods, and sell them at lowest prices. Write for free illustrated catalogue. C. B. LEWIS CO., ntfdb WATERTOWN, WIS. (S?"Iii responding to tliis advertiseiiitnt nicnliun Glkanings. Vol. XTllI. DEC. 15, 1890. No. 24. TERMS: 11.00 Per ANNUM, IN ADVANCE; 1 Tji c,4- r^Jxl-! ctTi n /^ -inn 1 ii 'V Q { Clubs to different postoffices, 2Coplesfoi»1.90;3forJ2.75;5for«4.00; I -C/.Sf/6f/t//v«'.>A6fe/C// L fO J. O / «9 . | than 90 cts. each. Sent postpa 10 or more, 75 ft» eaih. Sing-le nu ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffice. I- l-l'BLISHKI> SEMIMONTHLY BY \A. I. ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO. NOT LE88 . aid, in the U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- tries of the Universal Postal Union. 18 I cts. per year extra. To all countries I, NOT of the U. P. U.. 42 cts. per year extra. QUEENS STINGING WORKERS. TWO (tUEENS IX A hive: THE VOlNCi OXE SU- I'EltSEDED FIKST. Several yean-^ ago I saw a young quocii, that had just liatehcd. grasp hold of a worker in a kind of awkward (Mubraco: and the worker, which had previously appeared all right, was dead when the Queen lei go. Heretofore I never dared to report this case, being so firm in the belief that a queen never stings any bee except a queen, and never seeing any exception re- ported, that I thought there might have been some mistake in my (ibservation. A second case of the same kind having occur- red this summer, wliich my assistant also wit- nessed. I feel safe in saying that, in rare in- stances, a young (lueen may sting a worker. During the past summer I experimented somewhat largely with queen-cells ami virgin queens. I wanted to decrease the chances for swarming by means of young queens, for I believe it is pretty generally conceded that a colony, with a young queen of the current year, is less likely to swarm than one with an older queen. I read in Doolittle's excellent book, that it is dailg<'rous to allow a young queen to hatch in a hive wiiere there was an old queen, as the old queen would be destroyed if the colo- ny did not swarm. I said to myself. •• Now I have it. I"ll get a young iiueen into thi> hive before there is danger of swarming. She"ll supersede the old queen, and very likely there will be no swarming that .season. Certainly there will be none for a good many days after the young queen takes iiossession, and. if neces- sary, I can again suiiersede )ti'r befoi-e she is old enough to swarm. I b:'lieve Tve struck it at last."" Then I made a lot of Doolitth^'s cell- protectors. i)ut a sealed (jueen-cell in each, and put in each hive to be ojierated on a cell thus IJi'otected. The cell was put between two combs, just under the t-oji-bars. a place being maih' for it in the combs by i)ressing wit h the ends of my fingers. As soon as it was time for the cells to hatch, or perhai)s sooner, I went with no little interest to lind what progress was made. I found every cell destroyed by the bees. I had put the cells in horizontally; the protectors were pretty large for the cells, and when the bees pushed against the point of the cell it fell back into the protector, thus letting the bees inside gnaw into the side of the cell. I said. "All right. I've lost my cells, but I've learned something." So I tried another lot, and put them in perpendicularly, point down. Again I examined with eagerness, and found some of the cells intact and some open. Were they torn open by the bees, or had a queen hatched out ? I couldn't tell. Finally I came to one which made me call out to my assistant, who was equally interested, "Come quick, Em. wSee that?"' To which she replied. "Sure as any thing. There's the hinged ca|). A ([iieen has hatched out of that cell, wherever she is now."' We looked but a short time, and found the young queen. A little to our disappointment, we also found the old qu(>en. "Let's take her away." said Emma, "and then this colony's all right." " No,"' said !, " I want to follow this out to the end. Let them both stay. We're sure the two queens are here now, and we'll see whether tlie old queen will be destroyed and replac(!d by the young one." Subse(iiient examinations ri'X'ealed the fact that, in some way. the young (pieen had disap- peared. Others lurnetl out the same w ay. The cells showed that a (pieen had hatched out. but later (\xainiiiations failed to denote her contin- ued jiresence. Out of :")."). all failed with but a single exception. In that case the niMttccted cell was given May :.'S. and Iti da\s later the young queen was clippetl. A number of very young qucH-ns wei'e also jilaced dii'ectly ou the comiis. and met the same fate. \\'hether I did something ditferent from Driolittle. or w bet her the poor season had sometliiuif to dn with it. I don't know. 876 GLEANINGS IN UEE CULTURE. Dec. Io. I think that, if the old queen were removed, tlie protected cell would be respected: but, for that matter, so would a cell without the pro- tector. ■' ITLLEI) ■' QUEENS. It is pr(4-ty generally known, that a very young queen may be put into a hive, and usually al- lowed to remain unchall(>nged. if no old queen is there. It may not be so g(>iu>rally known that queens may differ no little m age at time of hatching. A single cell in a (|ueenless hive will hatch out a white soft-looking thing, not able 10 tlv for some time. In a hive having sent forth a i)iime swarm, at the time of sending forth the second swarm there will usually be found a number of young queens in cells, some, of them immature, some of them like the white soft things already mentioned, and some of them ready to fly. The same state of affairs will be found in a strong colony from which the queen has been removed, although it is ques- tioned whether the queens are as good. When one of my colonies with a clipped queen swarms and returns, and the queen is lost or removed, then I find a goodly number of cells, the quality of which will be questioned by no one. For a few years I have made a practice of saving such queen-s, at least all that! could find use tor, it tlie stock suited me. Please iiear in mind, that the white-looking ones are old enough to use. and I suspect that they are much easier to in- troduce than those that have been imprisoned by the bees in their c<^lls till they are strong enough to fly. I do not wait for any of these young queens to hatch out. I take out a frame with cells, take hold of tlie end of a cell with the nails of my thumb and linger, and pull oft the cell. If the queen is one of the oldest, the cap of the cell will pull off, and, after a little hesitation, the queen will emerge. If the queen is younger, the whole cell will pull oft, and a little pulling apart at the larger end of the cell will set the queen free. All the cells are thus taken out of the hive, any queens too young, or with immature wings, thrown away, and the rest put in cages. These are then given to any colony or nucleus needing them, dropping them directly among the bees, with no preparation or caution whatever. These " pulled " queens, as we call them, are, I think, just as good as it each one had hatched out of its own accord: and when such cells are plentiful, a large num- ber can be had in a very sliort time. ]\Ir. A. I. Root was here one day when we pulled a lot, and seemed quite interested. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111., Nov. 13. I. too, friend M., have seen queens, once in a great while, sting a worker-bee; but it usually happened under the influence of excitement or alarm, so that she could hardly have been said to be i;i a normal state. I have introduced young queens into a hive containing an old queen; but my experience has been about like yours. Yes, I remember about the "pulled" queens; but there were so many things to see when I made you that visit that it is not any wonder that I failed to mention some of them. WINTER REPOSITORIES, ETC. DOOI.ITTLE SUGGESTS SOME THINGS TO AVOID. On pages 816 and 817 I find a description of a winter repository as given by Harry Lathro]). There is not the least doubt that it will winter bees splendidly; and if Jiro. L. can stand the racket of renewing it as often as may be needed. and take the risk of a '•cave in "on the bees wliile in the repository some winter, should he not renew it when it should be. ho is all right as he is. My lirst repository, or " mud hut,' as such repositories were then called, was built on almost exactly the same plan as his; but it lasted only three years so as to be safe. The trouble seems to be, that, during winter, the wood part of it becomes saturated with the moisture arising from the bees; and as, in the summer months, it does not seem to dry out as it should, just the right condition comes about to cause till' wood to decay quickly. Wood that would otherwise last for years will decay in three years so that there is no safety in it," ac- cording to my experience, as I have three times had to throw all the dirt, out of my bee-cellar by its caving in when I did not expect it. After the lirst one rotted out I built the side-walls of mason work, (ui which was made a regular roof of rafters and lioards. the same as a roof is made for any building, less the shingles. The dry dirt was now placed on this roof to the depth of three feet, and a cover put over the whole, so that the dirt never got wet at all; yet at the end of three years I could stick the blade of my pocket-knife through any of the boards. I now put in extra sets of rafters so that none of these rafters were more than eight inches apart. This held the earth all right till the rafters gave out, as an eight-inch space was too small for the earth to fall through after it was pack- ed as it was by this time, especially as the old rotted boards helped a little to keep it in place. When the rafters gave outlreneAved the roof again: but this latter one did not last as well as the tirst, .so I decided to cover the top with flagging. As I gave a full description of the cellar a year or two ago in Gleanings, together with illustrations, I will not describe it further at this time, more than to say that the repository proper is 2i feet long, 7 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, inside measure. As I could get no flag- stone thfck enough to hold the weight of dirt if they were laid directly across the wall, I pro- cured them a little over four feet long and set them up the same as rafters would be set up, resting the foot of each on the side-walls, while the tops rested against each other, the same as rafters would. This gave me the height of 8 feet in the center of the cellar, and I am veiy glad now that I could not get the whole stone thick enough: for had I been able to do so I sliould liave had my hives sopping wet all the while. No one, who has not had experience, would believe the quantity of moisture which will arise from a lot of bees in a cellar. The bees have been in the cellar but about 30 days; yet these same flagstones, which at that time were as dry as could be. have drops of water coursing down their under surface to the top of the wall, so that it stands in little puddles there. What effect this will have on the bees before spring, I am unable to say; but I fear no trouble as long as this moisture can be kept from the hives, and the temperature kept at from 43° to 4.5°, the same as it has formerly been. In using flagging for covering I find that the stone must be at least three inches thick. The stone to cover this cellar cost me $2r>.00. deliv- ered. Besides those which were intended for the cover I had some thinner ones to use as battens for the cracks between the stones, as all of the covering stone were not dressed at the sides. After the stone were delivered I found it was necessary to use one of them over the threefold docjrwiiy, so I used one of the stone intended for a batten in the main roof, and on to]) of this 1 init another one of the battens, thinking that the two, which were somewhat 189(1 GLEAXINGtS IN BEE CUJ/JIM? K. 877 thick r than ono of tlio othors. would liukl all rigiit. After 1 had the whole thins c()iM])leted I found that the upper one of these stones had broken in the middle, but still 1 thought the under one would hold. This was not to be. however, for at the end of two weeks the other broke; and as four of the other stone were more or less conueeted with it, they came down also. This caused a third of the whole to cave in. which made a lot of li'oulile and much extra work, besides some fears that tlie whole stone might not hold. In a week's time I had it back again as good as ever; and as it has been over two months now since it was completed the last time. I tliink tiiere will be no further trouble from its caving in. If not, this cellar will be hei-e years after I am dead and gone, and for all time, so far as 1 can see, unless some one tears it down. WAX-EXTKACTORS. Now. friend Ernest Root, if 1 undei-stand \our description of how you make the Doolittle .solar wax-extractor aright, and I think I do. when putting th(^ description and the engraving to- gether you have spoiled one o( ihv most valu- able features of it. If I am right, your glass- frame drops down J4 inch into the rabbets made in the sides of the extractor to receive it. This necessitates the lifting of the frame up bodily in order to remove it, or to do any of the manip- ulating of wax or scraps In putting in or remov- ing, while all that I do with mini? is to lift one end of the sash a little by taking hold of No. 11 and slide it a little to the front or back: slide it back and on again; No. 4 and the extractoi' making a track for it to slide upon. The glass sash or frame is not removed from my extractor in one manipulation out of twenty. Well, why not remove it? Because it is more work, for one thing; but the main reason is, that in all times of scarcity the bees will collect in swai'ms about this extractor in less than a minute after the cover is raised so as to let out the jji'ifume of the wax; and every bee which is shut in the extractor is dead in a twinkling. With my sash I can slide it under the hovering bees, and manipulate it quicker also, which will be im- possible to do with a sash that must be lifted with every nuinipulation. After I learned to slide the sash I did not murder one bee whei-e I did hundreds before. G. M. Doolitti.e. Borodino, N. Y., Dec. 1. I suppose, friend D., you still adhere to the plan of having no ventilators in your bee-cellar. When you spoke of the water condensing on the inside of the stones, it occurrod to me that the right amount of ventilation would remove all this water. But then we come right on to a difficulty in all such structures. It is this: vVhenever we lri\'e a warm spell so that the outside air is ivivnncr than the air. stones, etc., in your cellar, if your ventilators are open, moisture will be deposited over every thing. A few days ago our new machine-shop was filled with machinery ready to start, before any heat had been put into the building. The weather suddenly changed from freezing to a warm, damp south wind. The tools and walls of the new shop were a good deal coldei- than this damp air. Tiie coiisecjuence was, eviu'y time we opened a door or window, great drojjs of water appeared on all the metal work; and be- fore we could stop it our whole lot of nice ma- chinery was covered with rust. A lot of boys went to woik with waste and oil. imt it did us a great deal of damage. (Ji-egory. in his squash- book, speaks of the same thing in his house for keeping squash(>s, and he directs to shut up the building air-tight (or as near as you can) when- evei' there is a damp air outside, of a higher temperature than the air inside. This neces- sitates careful watching and prompt opening and closing of ventilators. It seems to me. however, that this is next to impossible with a bee-cellar; therefore I would do as you do— shut the whole thing up as tight as I could and let it alone. And I am not sure but I would do the same thing with potatoes and other vegetables in a cellar. When the cellar is too vHirm, how- ever, I would advise opening the doors and windows long enough for it to cool off to the desin^d point. But I would do this only during very di'y or freezing weather. As soon as it begins to frecv.e in the open- air, the surplus molstiu-e is practically done away with. Now, I suspect one of the troubles with sub-earth ventilation is in this line. Air that comes up through an underground passage will, as a matter of conr.se, be filled with moisture; and it would be just the condition to make every thing rot and decay that it comes in contact with, just as it made your boards and rafters rot and decay. In cold-storage buildings they have an arrangement to take all the moisture out of the air so as to have no dampness on the walls and fruits and vegetables; but it is a somewhat complicated and expensive arrange- ment. Putting a stove into the bee-cellar, and drying it off, will, of course, fix it; and had we set up some stoves in our machine-shop, and warmed up the walls and the metal work promptly, it would have saved the rusting, and probably paid for the expense of putting up the stoves or something equivalent. I have taken some space to go over this, because it is an im- portant matter; and much damage is often done in the way I have indicated. It is just like the '• sweat " on the outside of a pitcher that con- tains cold water from the ^^•ell, or ice watei-. Every little while somebody lifts up his hands in astonishment because the contents of a cellar or certain i-oom are dripping wet; and most peoi)le regard it as one of the strange mysteries. The whole thing, however, is very simple, and easy to manage, if we recollect that dew is al- ways deposited copiously when warm damp air sti'ikes any cold body. In regard to the wax-extractoi-. Ernest replies as follows: Yes, friend I)., the sides of the new wax- extractor are rabbeted out ]4 inch deep. The rim for holding the glass is 13s inches deep, leav- ing a projection of }4 i'leh to get hold of. above the sides or ends of the box. Perhaps I do not quite understand, but I think the cover can be slid back in the .same way that you speak of, so as to leave a,n opening as large or as snuill as may be desired for putting in bits of wax. We tried to make it just as near like yours as pos- 878 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUUE. Dec. 15. sible. and y<'t siniplify its inanner of L'(jiistriic- tioH with rcfiTPiu-c to nuicliincry. i:ODAK VIEWS OFF THE BICYCLE. AT MK. ELWOOJ)"s. Ill ilu" last issue I said that I iiad concluded my Notes of Travel. Well, I liave not alto- jjctlict yet. You will remember I took along ONE OF MK. ELWOOD'S OUT-APIAKIES. my^Kodak, and at various places in- my notes I promised that I would, later, give reproductions of some of the scenes and of some of the things it was my pleasure to see. I took one hundred pictures,"and carried the whole apparatus in a small leathern case, 7x3,Wx4, under my bicycle seat. In fact, the little camera and the case were so small that it might easily be taken for a rtool-box, and I was quite willing that that impression should prevail, because I did not wish my valuable collection to be stolen or tampered with. The whole hundred pictiu-es are now mounted, and are good ones, and I as- sui'e you it is a i)leasure to haul them over and show them to my fiiends. They form the best kind of a permanent record of my visit at various places. For instance, when I stopped at a place I was not obliged to pull out my note-book and take extensive memoi-anda of hives and appur- tenances. No, I just took oiit the little Kodak and let it "wink," as it were, at the object of which I wished to r(^tain a pei-manent impres- sion, and it did its work well, although I am sorry to say that I can not reproduce in half- tone the pictures as nice as they appear in the photographs. You will remember I took a number of views while at Mr. Elwood's. One in particular was of a hive as he uses it. If you will look back you will see that it was taken under somewhat adverse circumstances. The bees were sting- ing, and were making things rather lively for Mr. Elwood and myself. The photograi)h shows that the air was full of the luad little rascals, although the half-tone reproduction does not present them very distinctly. For tlie present I pass this by, as it will appear along with some forthcoming papers from Mr. El- wood's pen. I have referred, a number of times, to the hills about Mr. Elwood's apiaries. I present you one view above. The hills in the rear do not appear to be very high: but the fact is. they I'ise one above an- othei-. The tirst range rather hides those behind it in the picture. Proximity to hills or mountains is doubt- less a grand thing for the bees. In a good many cases they form a magnificent protection ii gainst the pi'evailing winds, and then they Ijrolong perceptibly the honey-season. As the hasswood opens up, the bees will gather from the valleys. Then as the season advances, in- stead of its stopping as it does with us in about ten days, the flight of the bees gradually goes upward, upward, upward, upwai'd, luitil they reach the summit of the topmost liill. when the hasswood season ends. Although I have heard this stated many times before, this was an exceedingly interesting point to me, as I looked at the hills covered with basswoods. Around this particular yard there was a single strand of barbed wire. Said I, " What is this for?" '"To keep calves out," said Mr. El wood, jo- cosely. On a former occasion some of these young ruminants had been meandering around among the hives, and liad tipped a few over. Very likely they were suddenly put to flight by some of the hybrids, and took the shortc^st cut out of the yard: and if a hive hapiiened to be in their way. it did not matter much to them, even if tiiey tipped some of tliem over. As all his bees were in closed-(md frames, no serious result fol- lowed: for no calf can make the frames, if they are the closed-end, shuck about. AT WESLEY DIBBLE'S. I told you, on page 748, Oct. 1.5, about Mr. Dibble's automatic swarming-aiTangement. and mentioned the fact of my having taken some Kodak views. Well, here is one. WESLEY dibble's AUTOMATIC SWARMING- DEVICE KEADY' FOB THE SWAKiL nMr. Dibble uses hives very similar to our Dovetailed. When a hive is about to send forth a swarm he places a twin hive beside it. about seven or eight inches off. Connecting the two very near the entrance is a tube about 1^4 or 1}4 inches in diameter, made of perforated zinc. This tube, or coui'se, is let into holes in the out- side of each hive, near the front of the hive, so as to form communication with the two. The entrances are closed with a strip of perforated zinc. When a swarm issues it comes out and fills the air in the regulation way. The queen comes to the ])erforated zinc at the entrance: and on finding egress denied her i)erambulates back and forth until she discovers the before- 1890 GLEANINGS IN J3EE CULTURE. 879 mentioned hole in tiic side of tlie hive. She passes through tliis: and on vainly trying to get througli the perforated tube she (niters th(» other hive. By this tinn> tlie bees are begin- ning to return, and. not finding her in the parent hive, a few of the stragglers diseo\er her pres- ence in the next hive, and call their companions to them. The engraving shows the perforated zinc tube connecting tiie two hives, and I think it will make the matt(>r sufficiently plain. Mr. Dibble told me tluit he successfully hived svv^arms autonuitically last year and liiis in out- apiaries, and the invention enabled liim to dis- pense with hired help. So far as he was con- cerned, he was orginal in its use, having worked along in a quiet way by himself. The next engraving shows nicely a Kodak view of his little smoker-house, or shed. It is not large enough for a man to enter, as you see. His son, a young man, stands by its side, so that you can get its relative height. In the lower part is put his smoker wood, if I remember cor- rectly. In the ujjper jiart are smokers and other tools for work among the bees. A hinged door closes the thing tight from the weather. It is situated within convenient access from any part of the apiary. We have had tool-boxes in the shape of Sim- plicity hives stacked up in our apiary for y(\ars. The objection to them was, that honey-knives, wood, and smokers, would be all mixed together in the bottom. With the arrangement above there is a convenient shelf, so that the tools can be separated from the fuel. Mv. Dibble regard- ed it as a valuable adjunct to an apiary, and I have no doubt that many of our friends can profit by the suggestion by setting one up and trying it. I told you some time ago how Mr. Doolittle and I together went throtigh his yard examin- ing into his queen-rearing colonies. And you will remember that In^ showed me quite a num- ber of frames having his artificial cells nicely completed and ready to be removed and i)nt into hives. You will r(Mnemt)er. too, that we examined them at random, and I know that Mr. These lialf-tone engravings are a faithful reprodiu'tion of a photograph, just as nature actually was at the time of taking the picture. You will ol)serve there are 7 complete cells hanging to the top-bar. as it were, in the cen- ter of one of Mr. Doolittle's frames. Two others the bees had failed to build out: but bv putting in more larvit they would ultimatelv finish them up. DOOI.n'TI.K S AI!TIFI( lAL (^UEEX-CKIXS ILLUSTHATED. No one can deny that Mr. Doolittle's method of queen-rearing is a success in his hands; and if in his, why not in all? The reproduction does not show the cells iis distinctly as the pho- tograph, but there they are. just- as'Natiinscom- pleted them from the artificial bases. Ernkst. INVENTIVE PEOGEESS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LINE OF ELECTEICITY. DIBBI-K S S.MOKKH AM) TOOL IIOISK. Doolittle did not jiick out his best lot of cells winMi my Kodiik took a shot. The vii-w lU'Xt presented, I think, is the first one I took. When they were photographed h(> was hardly aware of what 1 had done: and yet here it is. preserved as a permanent record of the every- day queen-n>ariiig in Mr. Doolittle's yard. SOME m;i(;irr thoughts as well as pkacti- CAL SUs. I want to say to yotL that the cost of electrical apparatus, and wire for conveying the current longdistances, is such that water-power of ever so great capacity is of no value whatever, unless it be located' very close to the spot where th(> |>ower is utilized. Very large insulat('thing of it in car- rying our wires for electric lighting to different parts of our plant. I, too, have been watching for some great developments in the way of a shorter cut from heat to an electric current. SHIPPING AND INTRODUCING CAGES. HOM' TO MAKE AN EXCEIXENT INTRODUCING- CAGE. The introducing feature does not hurt it a par- ticle for shipping, and the party receiving it can use that part or not, as he thinks best. I usually prefer to us<; some other plan with queens coming from the East, for several rea- sons. As a rule, the longer a queen has been caged without access to comb, the longer it will be before she commences to lay after being lib- erated. A queen coming from the East, usual- ly takes from two to three days to get in condi- tion and commence to lay. Before this time she is almost as hard to inti'oduce to a full col- ony as a virgin, therefore 1 always introduce her to a few young bees until she commences to lay, and then introduce her to the full colony. Another reason why I do not use the ship- ping-cage for introducing is because the bees (iftcn have so much of the candy eaten out that the (piccn would be liberated in a few hours: in which case if the reigning queen had just been i-emoved, the new queen would surely be killed. Those objections do not apply to queens ship- ped a short distance, becatise the queen would be ready to lay almost as soon as liberated, and the bees would have very little of the candy eaten out. I believe a colony of bees are in the best condition to have a strange queen liberat- ed among them when they have been queenless long enough to haveatjapped queen-cell from three to tive days: they seem to think the queen has come out of one of the capped cells, and it is all right. Of course, the queen should be caged in the hive one or two days before the bees liberate her. to get the scent of the hive. She should be caged on the comb while the bees are eating their way in, so when they break into tlie cage they will tind her in a nor- mal condition, depositing eggs. The cage I use for this purpose is a simple affair. I take a piece of wire cloth 5}^ inches square, cut little pieces % of an inch sqtiare out of each corner, and bend the four sides at right angles, making a box 4 inches square and '^ inch deep. Into one corner of this box I fasten a tube of wood or tin }4 inch in diameter, and i wo inches long, which is tilled with (lood candy, for the bees to eat out and liberate the queen. Friend Root: — I have just been sizing up your new Benton shipping-cage, and it meets my hearty approval in (>very way. ^Vith good fresJi candy, or, rather, with fresh Oood candy, and 20 or 30 bees, it should deliver 95 per cent of all the qtieens sent to California, in good condition. m'intvke's introducing-cage. I use this cage altogether in my apiary, for changing laying queens from one hive to an- other. I kill my old queens when they are two years old. and 'introduce young laying queens in their place. My practice is to go to the nu- cleus with the young laying queen: lilt out the comb with the queen on. and press one of these cages into the comb over the tiueen, and what bees may be around her. Carry this comb to the hive with the old queen: tind and kill the old queen, and ijlace the comb with the young queen caged on it in the center of the hive, tak- ing one comb from the hive back to tlu^ nucleus. In a week I go and take the cage out and find the young queen laying. When I receive a valuable queen from a distance I liberate her at once on a comb of hatching brood, with 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 881 some young bcos; and wiion slie commcncos to lay I i'ntroiUu'c h<>ras above. .1. F. McIxtyhe. Fillmore, Cal.. Out. :il. The success of the Benton cage for sending (lueens across the continent to California has been phenomenal: but within the last few days it has failed to deliver the queen alive. The cages, at our request, were returned, and on in- spection we found that the candy had become as hard as a rock: and the poor bees and queen, not being able to use it as food, simply starved to death. The fault, then, after all, was not in the cage, but in the candy. We next tried the Manum bee-candy, and that for some other reason did not answer. The cold weather com- ing on. I rather suspect has had something to do with it: for, during the warmer months of the year, the Good candy has worked. We now rather look to the Morrison candy. The latter. ]Mr. S. W. Morrison says, works perfectly dur- ing all weathers, and is always soft. We have had large experience in introducing — yes, introducing hundreds every year in our apiaries, and we don't want a colony queenless more than one or two days, at most, for safe introducing. We have the best success with a colony thathas hardly had a clutnce to make preparations for a new mother. The point is this: That when those preparations are once begun {cell-starting) they sometimes seem determined to carry out their original intentions; and so we prefer to (jet the start of the bees by giving them a new queen before they have time to realize their queenless condition. If ive wait until cells are capped, the bees are moi'e apt to kill the queen when released. Some good au- thority. I don't recollect who, now, corroborates this. Still further, when we take out one [alta, the captain said: " A queer place, this Malta. Tiiey hav(! strange notions as to quarantine.'" And, indeed, it turned out very queer, having no common sense about it. The thi'ee cities "lie around a nuinlxn' of creeks where a number of men- of-war are stationed. It affords place for many other vess(>ls. Steamships are con- tinually running into the harbor, which is a great coaling station. Our steamship ran into French Creek, conducted bv a Maltese pilot. The sanitary officers came on board, and, after examining my i)apers. maix-hed me (or, rather, rowed me) off into the quarantine, togi'thei- with the ijilot. as liaving touched the steamer on which I came, the cholera i)eing 300 or 4tX) miles north of .Jaffa. Tlie steamship itself, the passengers, and crew, had a fair bill, and were allowed to land, together with the sanitary of- ficers. I had to sit alone in a room for the next eight days. I was properly fumigated, and robbed of as much money as possible, with the least possible comfort — enough to nuvke a per- son, traveling for the restoration of his health, to become eventually sick, under the protection of the Great Britons. THE HOXEY, AXI) HOW THE ISLAXD OBTAIXED ITS OLD XAME. Being in the hospital, or lazaretto, a bee, black as jet, fell down before me. I saw that the bees of the island are, if not identical, at least very much like the Tunisians. Melita of the ancients was, very likely, named so by Greek settlers, who changed the name of Ogygia into Melita, now corrupted by the moderns into Malta. MeliUi. very likely, means " the honey- producing." although the constant advance of agriculture has brought apiculture to a low scale. The island is about 60 miles in circum- ference—13 wide by 20 long. The climate is very favorable in every respect. At the western end of the island, about Calyp- so's Grotto, the best honey is produced from the wild thyme, growing more abundantly there than on the rest of the island, whither the bee-keepers all take their hives in summer. Owing to the rocky and treeless East, this part may have been still more beautiful in ages past, for Homer calls it A scene where, if a g-od should cast liis sig-ht, A god might gaze, and wonder with delight. But it does not even make a human being won- der with delight now. The poet made Calypso live there. There is a spring, and it might have been nicely lifted out at one time, but none of those groves are to be found there excepting carob-ti-ees. which stand about almost on the bai'e rock, and sui)ply a very dark-colored hon- ey in spring. Wandering down the hill Where bloomy meads with ■i'ivld green were crowned. And glowing violets threw odors round, as the same poet says, may, as much as the before-mentioned, have met the eye of the traveler after a weary voyage on a slow-sailing vessel, and coming. i)erhaps, from the barren shores of Tripoli, landing in the Bay of INIelleha, which again derives its name from honey, his fancy made it tit for gods to dwell in. Near by is a dry liver-bed. all in I'ock. covered here and thi>re with cai'ob-trees, called by the natives " Oued-el-asel."' a pui'e y^rabic lumu^ denoting the quantity of honey there produced. It is translated '•Valley of Honey."" A priest told me that, more than TO yi'ai's ago, many bees li\('d thei'e wild, and i)robai)ly the masses of honey they got there made them give such names. The natives bring the hives here and hav(> them shut up in caves, before which walls are built, with small holes for each colony to go in and out. An iron gate closes tin' very low entrance. They greatly fear being robbed by such as hav<' a good taste for sweets, and, more, "covet their neighbors' property." The owner of the i)lace gets '> to 8 pence a hive for his hire during four months. 882 GLEANINGS IN BEK CULTURE. Dec. 15. THE POOK SEASONS IN MAETA. There are no statistics to give as to liow iiuiiiy iiives then; may be on the whole ishuid. A canon told me tliere might be about lOOO. which in good years may yield an average of 10 lbs. a hive. The season of 1890 secnns to have been a failure. The canon, who possesses some 60 hives, which are in his garden on a cape, has liad 4 lbs. of honey from the whole lot. He has spent a good deal of money in transferring his hives into Italian-mad(f hives, and has lost a good many swarms, from moths, dwindling, fer- tile workers, etc., and is now fast ti'ansferring them into the Sandringham hives. He reads Italian bee-papers, and takes every thing for granted that these papers say, and follows the same innovations. He has any amount of queen-excluding zinc, sections, feeders, and so foi'th ; has also bi'ought numbers of queens from Italy, a few Cyprians, but he does not believe in one race stinging more or less than another. Another gentleman very satirically remarked to me, " This part of the "island, where not less than 300 hiv(>s of bees are kept within a radius of a few miles, and no flowers wortii talking about, is just good enough foi' spending one's money in feeding and breeding liees for the pleasure of seeing them flying and working." He. too, had about a dozen colonies in Sandring- ham hives, and is feeding the bees to give them a fair living. A third gentleman, too, an ama- teur, who only looks at the busy creatures, took some honey a year ago, but ultimately had to feed back '• over and above '" what he had pi-e- viously taken, so now he has concluded to let 'em alone; and, besides, it was very cruel to take away the honey they had so carefully gathered. The above named are foreigners. THE MALTESE BEE-IiEEPER. The Maltese bee-keeper is quite a different chap. As superstitious as his Oriental relations, he is as far back in bee-keeping as any one else. The hive is made of earthenware, cylindrical, and costs about 8 pence. Its length is nearly 1.5 inches, and diameter about 10. When this is full he puts another cylinder, about 12 inches long, at the back. As a rul(> he takes only the honey which is stored in this prolongation, after having blown some smoke on the bees (the smoker is only bovine which he blows into the hive, as they have no smoking-implement). The more timid bee-keeper wears a veil and gloves, while the expert does not. They trans- poi't the bees on a car, with plenty of straw to prevent jarring too much. The honey-comb is broken up in small pi(>ces, and put into a recep- tacle in a room sheltei-ed from bees and sun. A hole at the bottom allows the honey to flow out. This is I'eceived in another receptacle, of earth- enware, and in this stored away to lind its way into the market. The Maltese honey is sold at (5 or 7 pence a pound, while the Sicilian honey, which is worked into confectionery, bi'ings only half the price. Th(^ swarming season is about the month of April; and, according to their notion, "the drones, which they suppose to be hatched out of the queen-cells, compel the swarm to leave the mother hive, and are then eithei' dissipated by the wind or otherwise killed by the bees. Should the bees not kill the drones (which they confound with queens), the swarm is liable to fly off again. The leadei's they call 'flowers' (drone-queens) are not the mothei's. As soon as the swarm issettled they start building comb, and tilling the cells with honey and water. Out of this mixture the young bees issue; but the watei' must be as clear as crystal, otherwise no bees will hatch out." The bees seem to be great swarmers, for they have from three to five swarms per hive, in good seasons. When any honey is wanting. Micy feed the bees by putting shallow eartlicnwaic jjlates. filled with honey and syru]). in tiie back |)art of the hive. The hornets are also among tlie enemies, al- though it is twenty years since they have been strong enough to destroy any hives. They de- stroy the hornets by simply burning the nests where they And them. The earlv rains of this season have destroyed them altogether. Moths are a great nuisance too; but as the natives keep only a few hives, which are closed by only a flat stone at the back, they can at any time look in, without distuibing the bees. Those I saw were very quiet. We did not meddle with them any more than to look at them and take a few bees out of the foremost. The natives are very much afraid, too, of the "evil eye." Some persons are not allowed to look into the interior at all. as the effect of their looking at them would veiy soon destroy the hive. The death- head moth, too. takes honey, but is killed by the bees as soon as it contrives to enter the hive. A barren rock, as many call Malta, it is still wonderful how many vegetables are raised, and, indeed, good ones too. Tliey are very la- borious, those Maltese which have to depend entirely on commerce. It being a well-situated island in the Mediterranean, between Sicily and Africa, it has a very splendid harboi', or, rather, a number of harbors, into wliich a number of steamers are continually going and coming, pilncipally as a coaling station, besides the nuiiiy men-of-war which are either stationed here or call here on their Mediterranean tour. AN OED TKADITION CONCEKNING PAtTE AND THE VIPER. The Maltese are very religious and supersti- tious. All the country is covered with churches dedicated to as many saints. They always uncover their heads when passing by a church or shrine. The church of St. John, where all the Grand Masters and Knights of the Templans^ are bui'ied, is one of the finest and richest churches I have ever seen. St. Paul has many churches, chapels, grottoes, and bays here, iii commemoration of the great apostle's ship- wreck on the island. There is a curious tradi- tion among the islanders respecting the viper that bit the apostle. They say, " When Paul the apostle was bitten by the viper, and shook it off into the fire without being molested, the inhabitants at once embraced Christianity on that account, and the venomous serpents were changed into harmless ones to this date." It is a fact now. that there are no venomous serpents herein Malta; but I believe there never have been any^ as the island of Sicily is void of them.. They are two blessed islands as regards this; for when we think how many persons are killed in India yearly by serpents, this may be called a very happy place; neveitheless, I am happy to leave it to-day and bid Malta adieu, feeling a little bit with Lo)'d Hyron, who tasted the disagreements of Malta, and very especially, it seems, its (piarantine, as he says in his " Fare- well to Mali a." P. J. Baedensperger. Valletta. Malta. Nov. .5, 1890. OUT-APIARIES. OVERSTOCKING AN APIARY; HOW MANY BEES CAN WE KEEP IN ONE EOCATION WITH PROFIT? SOME VALUABLE SUGGES- TIONS FROM K. FRANCE. This subject has been worked over time and again; still, what do we know about it? lam aware that there is a considerable number who arc thinking of starting an out-apiary the com- ing spi-ing„as their home apiary is becoming- 1890 GLEANINGS IN liEE CULTURE. 883 ovorstockod. or. at least, they think so. Now. so much depends on the anioiintof honey-pi-o- diK-iii}? phmts on ii gi\'en location, it is harci for one to lay down any set rules as to how many bees we can keep, or how far a|)ait Nve must locate our apiaries to obtain the best results. In good seasons w(» may be able to get good returns from a crowded pasture. But seasons like the last t(»ll very plainly when we are overstocked — that is. for a poor season. C I have taken pains to make a correct diagram of the territory that we occupy with our bees: and I tuust say that I was siu-prised myself when I saw the exact position of each yard. They are clustered together more than I had supposed. The acconi])auying diagram will show how they staiul. and 1 will give some facts and figures that will make quite an inter- esting study about setting out out-apiaries and overstocking our pasture. Of course, it is im- possible to locate a set of out-apiaries Just so far from the home apiary, in a circle, each one in its proper place, just as nicely as we could make it on paper. We have to take such places as we can get. and many of the places that we can get won"t do at all, for some reason or other: and when you have six or eight yards planted yoit will be likely to find, as in our case, some of them badly crowded — too much so for profit. Atkinson yai'd. Colonies, spr Cravin •' Kliebenstcin yard " Waters ■ '• Jones " " (iunlauch " '• Home " •' No increase to s[)eak of. Honey extracted: Atkinson yard Cravin " " Kliebenstein '• Waters •' Jones ■' (Junlaiu'h " Home •• mg count. 1(K) '.10 88 80 <)() 105 ()4V> .740 .497 .GOO .358 .540 Fed back: Atkinson ya Cravin Kliebenstein Waters Jones Gunlatich Home Total 3125 rad." The caterpillar had previously entered the earth. Many caterpillars — all of the families of 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 885 noctuidce and (jeornetridce — do this to pnpato. The fungus grows up to the surface of the eai'th, and a little above. The root gi-ows into the caterpillar, which it exactly fills in every part, and, without alterinij its form in any respect, substitutes vegetable for animal tissue. Then both die, and become very hard, but with no change of form. " llic tlii.iKj is tJicn catei pillar that becomes a \ictim to tlu^ fun- gus would do, could it sp<'ak: just as we would object to the remark that we and microbes are made for each other, because microbes kill some people through consumi)tion. Again, tiie article states that the caterpillar never exists without the fungus ('?), or the fun- gus without the caterpillar. This is not only untrue, but utterly absurd. If every caterpillar is killed by the fungus, what keeps up the species? The very fact of the existence of the caterpillars shows that some are not attacked and killed by the fungus, but develop into moths which lay eggs and produce more caterpillars. Suppose cholera were always fatal; liow absurd it would be to say that people were made for the cholera microbe, and never existed without it! I am not sure that the reverse, in case of this New Zealand fungus and insect, is not true, but I presume it is not. It may be that this special fungus must have for its life and growth this special caterpillar, and will grow in no other soil, if we may so si)eak; but I doubt whether such is the case. While possibly it can grow only in this species, more likely it will de- velop from others as well. I send a copy of the figure from the Scientific Aineric(V',-keepei-s' convi'ni.ion was held in the apiary rooms of Mr. E. h'raiice, I'latteville, Wis., Oct. 8, 18U0. A lai'ge numbei' was added to the membership, iucluding some; from Dubuque Co., Iowa, and Darlington. Wis. On account of so many par l)ers read Ix'fore the convention, and th(> dis- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 887 cussions that followed, for want of time ques- tions had to be somewhat limited. The association has now become large enough, -and interesting enough so that the probability is it will soon recjuire two days for its c()n\ fiitions instead of one. as heretofore. Had tlierr not been an evening session some of tlie papers, discussions, and (piestions would have had to be laid over. A gathering of the assemblage was soon arranged, when the artist took two shots, and I am happy to present you a good view of the convention. " Tlie cordial entertainment and bospitality extended l)y Mr. France and family is sinii>ly a niatt<>i' far lieyond any expectations: and it is l)rol)ably a (|uestion whether any class of ]jeo- ple but bee-kt of cdlh-cTions that is well worth the time and trouble to go and see. The enjoyment of the meeting, so many be- ing there, and the new acquaintences made, gave lis no time to indulge in any bad grammar about the drenching tori'cnts tliat pouicd down along the road to our homes. Such gatherings are not only a gain of knowledge, but they promote benevolence, charity, and good will toward all men: and if there was any exception to the above, it is to be regretted by the major- ity. The next convention, if not otherwise changed, will be held in Lancaster, (irant Co.. Wis., of which due notice will b(> given. The following is the list of names cori-espond- ing to the numbers above: 1. .James Aimoiit. Argyle. '2. .lotin Hohniiinn. Duranao. lowu. 8. Mrs. N. E. France. Flatteville. 4. Frankie France, Platte\ille. 5. N. E. France. Platteville. ti. Miss Ida iSniitli. Darling-ton. 7. Mrs. B. Pike, Boscobel. 8. Mrs. W. Bailie. Lancaster. 9. Mrs. H. Gilmore, Geca-getown. 10. Mrs. M. M. iiiee, Boscobel. 11. Mrs. H. K. .tones, Boscobel. Vi. Ben. Uice. Boscobel. 13. H. Evans, Waiizeka. U. E. France, Platteville. 15. E. Pike. Boscoliei. 16. Mrs. U. D. Wilson. Platteville. IT. Mrs. H. t'. Glea,son. Lancaster. IS. Mrs. E. France, Platteville. 19. William Kiiump, Cuba City. ~0. K. L. Clark. Georgetown. ~l. .lolin I'laik. Potosi. 'Z'Z. Joseph Patzner. Potosi. 33. Charles Patzner. Potosi. 34. Henrv Fraiike, Potosi. 25. G. vv.* Kendall, Boscobel. 36. K. D. Wilson, Platteville. 37. John Kemp, Jamestown. 38. R. K. Jones. Boscobel. 39. L. C. Fuller, Dubuque, Iowa. 30. W. H. Prifleaux, Bloomiugton. 31. William Seeman, Boscobel. 33. James Harker, Argyle. ;53. W.J. Bailie, Lancaster. 34. H. (". Gleason, Lancaster. ■ir>. Austin Dexter, Boscobel. 36. M. M. Rice. Boscobel. 37. Henry (^lark, Potosi. 38. John Kemp, Jamestown. 39. A. E. ( oolev, Mt. Hope. 41). Mr. McLean. Platteville. 41. Ddos Ricks. Boscobel. 43. George Fox, Big Patch. 43. H. ('. Gilmore. Georgetown. 44. .1. L. Lewis, Dubniiue, Iowa. 45. James Wisdom, Boscobel. 4t*. J. W. Van Allen, llaiiey. 47. E. D. Pcake. Jamestown. 48. Norman Claik, Potosi. 49. Seaman Howe, Platteville. .")(l. Martin Oudvn, Platteville. 51. AValterPretts. Plalleville. 53. Charles Nye, Jr.. Platteville. Boscobel, Wis., Oct. 13. HKX.r. S. Hick. Here is what another savs of it : This was the poorest honey season in this .section ever recorde.d. Average, 14 lbs. surplus, from l(x)() colonies, as reported last meeting, Oct. 8, tiie date of the picture. No foul brood has ever been in our circle of Tueinhers. We laise mostlv extracted honev, ami .sell it in the ^Vest. " N. E. Fij.VNCi:. Platteville. Wis., Nov., WM. We do not often give reports of local bee- associations: but along with it as above came a most magnificent photograph, and we could not resist the temi)tation to have the same repro- duced in half-tone along with the repoi't. so tluit our i-eaders might enjoy it as we did. Why. it is inspiring to look upon those faces, and there are several of them that form quite a pleasant study. The natural poise of most of the figures, and the depth of expi'ession of the faces, is most excellent. Of coui'se. th(> repro- duction of the above is not quite equal to the ljhotograi)h. but you get nearly the effect by holding it a little further away than the aver- age IV ading distance, say about 14 or 15 inches. Then', now. notice^ particularly No. 14. Why, that is our old friend and veteran bee-keeper, and correspondent, E. France. Then in the foreground. No. 5. is Mr. N. E. France, and IMaster Frankie Fi'ance beside him. The light was a little too strong for his eyes, evidently. I wonder if Miss No. 6, with the papers in her hand, was one of the essayists of the day. (The figure!) does not show very plainly, but its lo- cation can not \ie mistaken, for it is between 5 and 7.) Miss Smith looks as if she might be equal to the occasion. Right here I wish to urge upon all our read- ers the necessity of forming, if jiossible, local associations. Make some prominent bee-keep- er its president, and some other one, equally prominent, it may be, its secretary. After that, organize a good rousing society, and- see whatu nice lot of people bee-keepers are.' Oh; yes! after you are well organized, affiliate with the N. A. B. K. A. While we can not .promise to publish reports of these local associations we will do all we can to encourage them. Let tlie good work go on. E. R. ^ I — ^ RAMBLE NO. 34. AT TIIK iniODE ISI^AXD .STATE FAIR. The morning of Septemberl22 found the Ram- bler at the railroad station, and ticketed for Providence, R. I.: and we w(>re soon caught, up by the train and hustled rapidly thi-ongh the country. When we had liecome c(nnforl;ibly seated, and ghinced at oui' neiffhbors, we found a very briglit anil acti\'e-looking young man iittiacting much attention. He was in charge of an o nicer of the law, manacled, and on his Wiiy to jail. Every one who caine near w as in- vited to look at his shining bi'acelets; and we ne\'er had ])resent(>d to our vision a better ob- ject-lesson of cause and etfect than when a. botlle of li(|Uor dropped from his side pocket, and. before restoring it, it was raised to his lijis. The bottle and llu^ shackelsl Our thoughts ran into a train of moralizing, and the following lines from Pope ciime forcibly to mind: GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15. Vice is a mdiister of such hideous meiii, As, to be liaU'd, needs but to be seen; But seen too oft, familiar with its face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace. This young man had entered into temptation, endured, pitied, embraced; and instead of liv- ing a loved and us(4'nl meml^er of society, this one evil liad made him a felon. Down with the traffic that fills our jails with so many wreclvs! is the watciiword of the Rambler. The last we saw of our neighbor, he was still sliowing his shackels to people on tlie street as he was hur- ried along to jail. Cau We whirled merrily along through the famous Hoosac Tunnel, and over a very winding way among the charming mountains that thus early began to be tinted liere and there with the glowing autumn foliage. B>it few farmhouses were seen in these valleys; but we now and then came suddenly upon thriving villages. As we neared Worcester the country looked more thriving agriculturally, and a machinist of Worcester gave the Rambler much information al3out this portion of Massachttsetts. and of Worcester in particular. One item of interest to bee-keepers is that here the first wire nails were manufactured in this country. The wire- works occupy a large space in the city, and employ 3700 men, and make an immense amount of wire and nails. We arrived in Providence in the evening, and, after a night's rest at the Merchants' Exchange, we were ready for the duties of the day, and that was to attend the R. I. State Fair, held in Narragansett Park, and award the premiums in the bee and lioney departnu^nt. We reported at the secretary's office; were shown where to find the sweet things, and pro- ceeded to take a private inventory before we made our identity known. In our pre-ramble around the room we came across a young man by tlie name of Arthur C. Miller, and we reveal- ed our identity. Bro. Miller then passed our identity around among the rest of the bee- keepers, and we all made a mutual exchange of identity by clasping hands. "Yes," said Mr. A. M. Cole. " I knew the Rambler as soon as he came in. That long-tailed coat, that timbrella, and tliat nose, looked so natural." We found not only a happy-looking crowd of bee-keepers, but a show of magnificent proportions; and we observed aloud to the friends, that Little Rlioda had a better disijlay than tlie great Empire State ever had. There were nearly 100 (Mitries, and about «130 in premiums to award. The R. I. Experiment Station, in charge of Prof. Cush- man, made a tine display which did not cotupete for preiuiums. Nearly every style of hive in use by prominent bee-keepers was in this dis- play, and a novel feature was a large cage in which a natiu-al swarm was clustered on a branch of a tree, as in natuial swarming. The exhibit of comb and extracted honey proved by its quality and quantity that Rhode Island had not suffered much from a dearth of honey, and bee-keepers were accordingly feel- ing well. The various races of bees were rep- resented in five full-sized glass hives and nine nuclei. The lioney department was filled from morning until evening with a crowd of curious and interested visitors, and it was i)ronounced one of the features of the fair. From the exhibit of appliances we gleaned the fact that Rhode Island bee-keepers are as ingenious and pro- gressive as any in tlie world. This down-east Yankee ingenuity was manifest in Mr. Miller's foundation-fastener, illustrated some time since in Gleanings, and which is gaining favor witli bee-keepers; also Dr. Merchant's crate for comb honey, which we will try to describe In the future; also many articles in the exhibits of Mr. Thos. Pierce,"A. M. Cole, Mr. NIvens. and Prof. Cushman, all showing ingenious labors for the elevation of our industry. Aside from l^ee-keeping, the Rhode Island Fair was in every way a success. Every de- partment was large and well tilled; the weather was exceptionally line, and .50,000 people were upon the grounds during the best days. Narragansett Park is In the suburbs of Provi- dence, a no mean city of about 1.30,000 popula- tion. A drive with Mr. Miller through a good share of it gave us a chance to see its many points of beauty and historic interest. Among the thousands of noble shade-trees in the city are a great number of English linden, making excellent pasturage for city bees, of whicli there is qtute a number. As those conversant with tlie history of Rhode Island are aware, this city was founded by that liberal-minded old man, Roger Williams. The people venerate his name to the present day; and his familiar greeting. "What cheer?" is found upon many places of business. After he had beeji buried 200 years, or, as a satirist expresses it, "until he became sufficiently dead," he was exhumed and buried in Roger Williams Park, where a splendid mon- ument is erected to his memory. Upon digging to where the remains ought to have been, it was found that the roots of an apple-tree had complet(dy al)Sorbed the bones, and taken the form of a man. This curious root foi'tuation is now to be seen in the historic museum of the city. As several generations had eaten the fruit of the tree, the question was seriously asked, "Who ate Roger Williams'?" Our sat- irist happily explains the situation: But a jolly old apple-tree rooting- around. Seeking- for phosphates under tlie ground. Followed his back-bone all the way down. And old Mrs Williams's too. What's bred in the bone, in the fiesh will show; What's bred in the root, the fruit will know; For two hundred years this fruit did grow. Till posterity ate him up. Rambler. BEE-HIVES. A SUB.JECT THAT INTERESTS ALL REE-KEEPEHS. In my bee-l set In the sun without protection all sununer, and without danger of destruction of the combs or of roasting out the bees: 4. A hive so ar- ranged that the largest amounts of both comb and extract(>d honey can be secured. In some of the hives I hav(^ devised 1 could not combine all the desirable features here named. In my last attcMiipt to construct a practical hive, and one suited to most classes of bee-k(>ep(>rs. I think T have combined all the best fealuies. This hive is calleil the I'.AV STATK CI.OSKD-ENP-FIiAMK HIVE. 1 do not claim, by any means, that tln^ T'.ay State is the ideal hive: but 1 do claim tiiat it is good enough for an>' b(^e-ke(^i)(>r. and that it has but few if any olijectionable features. I will describe some of the good points of the I Jay State, and explain the illustrations in as few words as ])ossilile. Fig. 1 shows the brood-chamber, which is merely eight closed - end frames, two side- boards, and two iron rods with thumb-nuts at each end. The frames rest on a bottom-hoard (illustrated in Fig. 5). and which is described further on. Ri'sting on the brood-fram<>s are four section-cases, each containing :.'4 ]-lb. sec- tions. This case, like the brood-chamber, is composed of frames or section-holders, as some bee-keepers call them. The broad frames, as well as the sections, are held tii'mly in position by being clamix'd between two side-boards through which runs an iron rod. which also has thumb-nuts at the ends. A d(>scription of the case will be given further on. It will be seen in the illustration, that the cap which covers the section-cases is the same as used on the hive shown in Fig. 3. FIG. :.'. FIG. 1. HAY STATE IIIVE DISSECTED AND KEADY FOIJ WIXTEH. The Bay Stat(> hive is used in summer exact- ly as is shown in Fig. 3. Ninety-six sections can be used to good advantage on the hive at the same time. I have had colonies fill all in one good season — something which is consiil- <>red a big thing here, when it is known that our honey season is of but a fcnv weeks" dura- tion, incliiding both favorable and unfavorable weathei-. Now a word about the way we manage the Bay State hive to get comb honey, and to use so many sections ;it one time. Of course, no sane bee-keeper would think of placing '.»> emp- ty sections on a hi\'e al on<' tinu'. Oiu' case of 24 sections is enough to start \\i1h.e\i'n wilh the strongest colony. When on(> set of sections is pretty well filled, it is removed, reversed, and a new set of sections put on the hive, and the lirst set placed upon that, and so on till there are three or four sets of sections, oi' as many as the bees can woi'k in at one time when tiered up. The passaireways thi-ough the four cases ai-e dii'ect fi'om the brood-chamber to the top sections. By this plan the empty sections are at all times nearest tin- brood, i believe that the sections can be put nearer the brood in the Hay State hive than in any other one now in use. This is a point I have iried to incoi'i)oi'ate into all the hives I have devised. FIG. .3. STATE IIIVE FOI! CO.A[l{ HONEY. FIG. 4. OK EXTRACTED Another good point about this hive is, that it is not necessary to use any cpieen-excluder be- tween the section-cases and the brood-chamber; and. furthermore, of the thousands of Bay State hives in use. no queen has ever been known to (Miter the sections and deposit eggs therein. Can this be said of any other hive in use? By reversing the sections when partly filled with honey, the bees attach the combs to all sid(»s of the wood. This is a feature appreciated by all who find it necesary to ship honey a long distance to market. Bear in mind, that 34 sec- tions are reversed ki one time, and none can get out of place during the oi)eration. Here is another point about this section-case worthy of mention: The sections are all incased in wide frames, and it is impossible for the bees to get at them to soil them with pro])olis or by traveling ov(M' them. At the same time, every section is held in a perfectly S(piare position. Fig. 4 represents the Bay State hive as used for extracti^d honey. There are two sets of brood-frames — one over the other, with a queen- excluder between the two hives. On the toj) is used an ordinary honey-boai'd. and then all is jM'otectefl from sun and rain by a hi\e-cait. the same as seen in Fig. 4. A snuill stone, or weight of any sort, will previ'ut the wind from blowing th(> cap ofl'. What little rain will reach the fi'ames or section-case can do ho harm. Fig. :.' illustrates the hive as jji-epared for winter. By examining Fig..-) (bottom-iioard) it will be seen that (! (i and V. ai'e strips of wood upon which the brood-nest rests. The.se strips are ?K of an inch thick. The outer case shuts (lown outside these strips, thei'eby comi)letely excluding all water, and thus |)reventing the packing, when any is used, from becoming wet. As the entranc(>. F. E. is below the level of the bottom-board, and directly und(>r the slrijjs the frami's rest on. no water can enter tlu' hive thei-e. 890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE Dec. 15. The sides of the winter case are but % of an inch thick (J< board split), thus adding mate- rially to tlie lightness of the liive. When com- plete in all its paits this hive weighs but 35 lbs. Fig. 1 gives a good idea of the brood-chamber, section -case. etc. One frame is r(>moved from the brood-nest to show the saw-kerf in the top- bar.' for inserting foundation comb-guide, or forfastening full sheets of foundation when de- sirable to do so. The foundation is placed in the kerf, and then three one-inch wire nails are di'iven tiirough the bar to hold the combs in place. The woric is quickly done: and. when properly done, the foundation will hang i)er- fectlv true within the frame. THE ADVANTAGES OF THE CLOSED-END FRAME. VIG. ■\ BOTTOM-BOAKI). It will also be seen in illustration. Fig. 1. that one wide frame is i-emoved from the section- case, thus showing the sections and the sepa- rators, which, it will be seen, run the full length of the case. The Bay State hive has but 8 brood-frames, and a capacity of about two-thirds of a ten- frame L. hive. We have used this hive six seasons, and find it large enough for all prac- tical purposes, and first-class in every respect. The brood-chamber is so compact and so well protected from th(> weather by the outer case, that colonies breed up I'apidly and quickly in the spring. No hive can wintei- better on a summer stand. The hiv^e is so constructed that the closed-end frame or the L. frame can be used without any change to the bottom-boai'd. Of course, the L. frames must be used in a box oi- case so that the frames can hang on rabbets. Wenhani, Mass., Dec. 1. Henry Alley. Our new Dovetailed hive with fixed frames has very many points similar in principle to the Bay State. Yoti say that queens have never been known to enter the upper story of your hive. But, friend Alley, they will do so some- times in all hives without perforated zinc, and yours would hardly be an exception. We have had no reports that queens wcnit up into the upper stoiy of our Dovetailed hive; but we have no doubt that there are instances when the queens have gone above. The outside case of your hive is, without doubt, a nice thing. Without knowing that you had such an ar- rangement we (that is, the younger part of the editorial statT) have been having a sort of lean- ing toward a case almost identically the same. Twenty-eight of our colonies have such cases over them for the winter, for experiment. As to how it will winter bees, you are silent in your article: but in youi' journal you have spoken liighly in its praise. MR. L. C. AXTELI. (ilVES VAI.UAHI-E TESTIMONY'. As a bee-keeper here in the West. I have thought for several years I was nearly alone in the use of the closed-end bi-ood-frame. But I was conscious of the fact that its merits here were not fully appreciated. Now, the question has been raised. " What are its merits?"' I will state how I came to use them, and \\\\y I adlu-re to them. ^^■ lien our first swarm of bees was bought, which was in 1871. it was put into a box hive. The next year it gave two swarms, and prob- ably 25 lbs. of honey, which we th<'n thought was a prodigious crop. By mismanagement we wrecked one of the cohjnies. We were so wrought up by this loss that we talked with every person wlio had bees in our vicinity, and learned from them all they knew on the sub- ject, and that was but pi'ecious littler We bor- rowed Langstroth's book. "'The Hive and Honey-bee." Also hearing of M. Quinby's work, " Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained. '" it was purchased and read. Soon we liad on our table nearly all that was then printed about bees, and contents discussed. As yet we used only the box hive: but now it j/iH.sf r/o, and be replaced by a movable-fi-ame liive. After careful study we decided that the Quinby hive would be best for wintering pur- poses, so one was ordered, and all my first hives were made after that pattern. I tliink it was after using these hives two years that I hap- pened to purchase a colony of bees in a hive with hanging frames — the Langstroth. WHY THE CLOSED-END FRAMES HANDLE AS EASILY' AS TIIp; HANOINO. It occurred to m(\ "' Now is the time to make a test of hives and frames.'" At the close of the season it summed up something like this: There was no difference in the amount of honey stored. Difl'erence in hives did not figuri' mucli. Quinby hive cost most, but was best for out- door wintering. The decision, thei'efore. must rest on the ease of manipulation of fiames in the hive. I have always produced nearly all comb honey, and the surplus coml)S could be handled about as easily in one hive as in the other, so that did not count. But with my closed-end frames, during the honey-flow I could slip out one. two, or thi'ee brood-combs and replace them without disturbing th(> sur- plus receptacles; whUc. to do th<' same with hanging frames, the surplus receptacle would have to be removed, them move at least two of the brood-frames in order to have I'oom to take out the first frame; and in n>placing I had to be much more careful than with closed-end frames. But if all brood - frames had to be handled, there was a still greater difference. In this case the supers would have to be re- moved from and replaced on each. But in us- ing the closed-end frame, pry apart, leaving two. three, or even four stick together with propolis: lift them out of the hive, three or four together, and i'e]jlace them in the hive in the same condition, push f hem close together; close the hive and the woi'k is done. They are always properly spaced. OB.IECT-IONS TO HANGING FRAMES. With the hanging frame there is always the difficulty in getting out the lirst franu^. so as not to Ivill bees oj' iiuik(> them angi'y: then in- stead of handling three or four at a time, hav- ing to take out one by one. But putting back the frames is woi'st of all. They must be put in one by one; and when done as cai'efully as you may, perhaps there is not half room enough 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 891 for the last eoiiib. and iiotliiiij? to do, but rc- spaee again: and w lirii done — oh I too niucli room, and the work lias to be done the tliird tim(>. Have not all who use narrow frames had a similar experience many tiuK^s? THE ADVAXTAOE OK HEVEKSING. Another I'eal advantage of tln^ closed-end frame as I use it, is. that when the combs are out if any are not bniltdown to the bottom-bar they are'just as easily placed in the hive with the" bottom-bar up; and if left so a few days, when honev is coming in freely they will be built solid to the bottom-bar. I'eatiy to be turned back with tlu^ top-bai' up when the hive is opened again. HOW TO PKEPAIJE HIVES WITH CEOSEDEXI) fkamp:s Foil MoviN<;. When hives are to be mov(>d, put a rope around the hive, tighten it with a short stick, tack the entrance - blocks. Now all is solid, and ready to be placed on the cars, or carried on a wagon, if the weather is cool. If the weather is hot, of course there should be wire screen instead of roof on the hive. OBJECTIONS TO THE QUINBY HOOP-IHOX HOOKS. The hoop-iron catches at bottom of the end- bar are on nearly all our frames: but in prac- tice we hardly ever use them, as they get tilled with propolis and wax. They work so easily without, simply shove them close together, then put the quilt or section-case on, and they will stay in position all right. Were I now to begin keeping bees, with just the knowledge I now have, the full closed-end frame would be my choice. I am not sure but those using the hanging frame will find it to their advantage to make all th(Mr new frames with the upper half of the end-bars 1% inches, and thus in a measure seciu'e the benefit of closed-end frames. L. C. Axteix. Roseville. 111.. Dec. 2. At the outset I will say that, when we speak of hanging frames we mean those not fixed. There, now, didn't I tell you so? and I am very glad that I have so good authority as Mr. Ax- tell in the West, and Mr. Elwood and Mr. Hoff- man of the East, to bear me out in the fact that fixed frames can be handled just as rapidly (and I think a little more so) as the hanging frames. Mr. Axtel! speaks from extended ex- perience, in the production of many tons of honey, and every word he says in reference to the manipulation of closed-ends I saw verified in the apiaries of the East. It takes a good deal of hammering to make folks see the point: but at the risk of harping on one thing a good deal, I am going to say again, that, where the tixed-frame people gaiu time over those having frames not fixed, is in the fact that the latter can handle /o)fr or five at (t time. They do not bother with handling a single frame if they want to get at the center of the brood-nest. They simply take out all the frames en imtsse up to the point of comb smface they wish to examine. In this way tliey can almost handle hivefi instead of frames. Read over again what Mr. A. says on this point. Our friend speaks of the hooks on the bottoms of the old (^uinby frame as being sonunvhat ob- jectionable. Very likely they may be dispens- ed with. Htit in Mr. Elwood's apiaries these hooks had neither pi-opolis nor wax on them. In fact, the bees could not get access to them if they desired, without going clear to the out- side of the hive to chink in the wax and propo- li.s— a thing they would not be likely to do. But it is no more than fair to state tiiat Mr. Elwood uses a modified Quinby system. As he is soon to present to our readers a series of ar- ticles. I will not speak further on this point. ^Ir. Axtell alludes to the nuisance in remov- ing supers to get at the lower frames in the U. hive. Why. on our regular hives, the Dove- tailed for instance, we have no trouble, because we lift a whole ujjper story off at once. Then we have perfect access to the brood-frames be- low. If the same were fixed, as, for instance, the Hoffman, we have all the advantages that our friend sijeaks of. Friend A. mentions the advantages of an end- bar, widened at the top 1% inches, for ordinai'y hanging frames. This would make virtually the Hoffman. I think this one handles fully as easily as the closed-end, and for ordinary hang- ing-frame hives it is perhaps the best of the fixed frames. Now, dear readers, if good and i-eliable wit- nesses say a thing is true, that either the Hoff- man or closed-end frame is not an awkward implement to handle, but, on the contrary, pos- sesses many decided advantages over the old hanging frame, let us not be so conservative as to block the wheels of progress. It may not be feasible or advisable for old bee-keepers of the hanging-frame school to change; but it may be an advantage for the new crop of bee-keep- ers coming on, to get started along the right track. Still further, as old combs are to be continually replaced in large yards more or less, it may be desirable for old bee-keepers to work in, for instance, the Hoffman, by degrees. Ex- perimenting along in this way is quite safe, and is not likely to lead to any serious results, should this fixed-distance craze prove to be a mistake. I hope som(> of our closed-end. or partially closed-frame friends, will not be so modest as to keep quiet much longei'. There is friend E. T. Flanagan, wiio has used the Hoffman. I be- lieve we have not heard from him very late- ly. Then there are several others. Let ns have truth, wherever it may fall. We are glad to hear from Mr. L. C. Axtell. It is a good thing to get a glimpse of both sides of the liouse— husband and wif(> side. I mean. Botli are capable bee-keepers. E. R. THE HIVE FOR THE HONEY-PRODUCER SINGLE OR DOUBLE WALL 1 A UKVIEW OK the HlVE-yUESTIO.N. As a great many bee-keepers will soon be thinking about the hive they will use next sea- son, a few words on this sul)ject may not be out of place now. i'erhaps no one will dispute the 892 GLEANINGS IN BEE CUJ/rUiiE. Dec. 15. fact, til at tJie mas? of boe-keepers who are kccpiiiiT Viees fof profit demand a cheap, simple, practical hive. Shall this be a single-walled or a cliatl' iiive? is a (juestion not so easy to decide. If th(^ single-walled will do, then we need look no fiirtlier than the Dovetailed; but this must be protected, if wint<>r(Hl outdoors: or, if win- tered in the cellar, spring protection is needed. It has been suggested by Ernest and several otliers, that an outside case be made for winter; l)ut A. I. Root predicts that such cases will never come into general use, and I think he is right. Well, what about chatf hives? I think this: The heavy, expensive chaff hive, with walls five and six inches thick, requiring two men to move around, never has been used to any great extent by our large honey-producers, and is too expensive and bulky to ever become popular with the mass of bei^-keepers. It seems to me that such thick walls arc worse than useless, as they prevent the warmth of tlie sun from reach- ing the bees, which I consider quite an advan- tage, especially in the spring, after brood-rear- ing has commenced. I also consider a double bottom useless, for, if the hive stands as near the ground as it should, the packing will be- come damp. I have been using a hive several years that I think would suit the class of bee-keepers spoken of on page 697; i. e., those who produce comb honey, and winter on the summer stand. This is an eight-frame chalT hive, arranged for two inches of chaff around the lower story; but I have used the most of these without chaff, and can see no difference in wintering. The hive is made from light lumber; and with a handle on each end it is almost as easy to move as a sin- gle-walled hive. It has a side-opening in the upper story, which is very convenient for taking off surplus or working in the brood-apartment. With thick top-bars and a T-tin super contain- ing a follower to key up the sections, I consider this the most practical, economical, general- purpose hive in use. G. H. Kirkpatkick. Union City, Ind., Nov. 29. Friend K., you strike a chord that affects most of us. We want an all-purpose hive. The reg- ular chaff hive which we have been selling is rather large and cumbersome to move about, and, besides, expensive. What we want, I think, is a single-walled hive so arranged that it can be converted into a winter hive for outdoors with small expense, when so desired. If an outside case will winter bees successfully in most latitudes, then I think its ultimate adop- tion is assured, by the outdoor-wintering class. The one thing in the way has lieen this: If such a case shall require packing, it will make it objectionable. But you say that you can see no difference between hives packed and those not packed, so far as wintering is concerned. That is just the infornuition we are after. Your chaff hive may be small and compact, but it can not be as small and compact as a single- walled hiv^e. For those who desire to winter outd(?ors, they want outside protection of some kind to put around the small hives. Now, then, when they come to move an apiary all tlu^y have got to do is to move the small hives, and, in the fall, cart, in a large hay-rack wagon, say, the large outside cases to the yard. See remarks on this point from R. F. Holtermann, on the next page. E. R. BEE-HIVES, LARGE OR SMALL. (iOOD ARGUMKNTS FOR I,AKOE HIVES. In I'eading the niiigazines devoted to bee- keeping I often meet w ith articles describing experiences with bee-keepers with their liives differing from my own. In 1861 I adopted the Kidder hive. The inside measurement of its frame is 11 by 13 inches. The Kidder is a dou- ble hive — or. rather, two hives in one. Tlu^ in- ner part holds eight frames: and the outer part, when used by itself, holds eleven frames. The same frame tits both, running the longest way in the smaller part, and the shortest way in the larger part. I constructed .50 of these hives, and used thern as double hives until they were full of bees. Then I sejiarati'd the hives, using each part a& a hive. The lirst difference between them that I noted was that the small hives sent out the most swarms, and not very large ones. They were slow to work in boxes, and would often swarm a second time liefore doing so. The large hives, on the contrary, would send out much larger swarms, which would go imme- diately into the surplus apartments, and, as a rule, gave much larger returns for the care be- stowed upon them. This comparison I have carried on for twenty-five years; and the re- sult is, that I am now using the small hives for kindling-wood, having destroyed fifty of them for that purpose. I have made some changes in the method of using my hive, which can be applied to any hive. I have changed the entrance so that the frames run across it. This enables me to put in one or more frames, and have a nucleus hive, with but one division-board, or adapt the size of the hive to the capacity of the swarm, up to the full hive. With frames running the other way, two division-boards would be required to accomplish this. I like this hive well enough; but if I were going into the business anew I would use the Langstroth or Simplicity, be- cause they are more generally used; and if you wish to sell, they are more likely to suit your customer. I would adapt any hive to "this method of using the division-board. The bees- do not seem to know or cai'e whether they enter the hive at the end of the frames or at the side. They deposit most of the pollen in the frames next to the entrance; and if you do not like the bees to have access to the pollen in the winter, you can easily remove these frames and substitute frames of honey. My largest hives, as a rule, have the most bees, breed fast- er in the spring, put in more surplus honey, swarm less and winter better, than the smaller hives. CAGIN(; QUEENS TO I'REVENT SWARMING. Some cage their queens during the honey- flow, for fear they will have too many consum- ers to eat the honey after the honey season is over. My experience is, that a large swarm is almost sure to store more hpney than they eat, while a small one might fail in this respect. Then if you have a " giantess " for a queen, a large hive will give her a chance to do for you tlie best she can. A poor queen is of little or no value except to hold the swarm until a better one can be raised. Queens over two years old are. as a rule, not as good as younger ones. Give me a good-sized hive and a young and vigorous queen, and I shall expect my share of the honey if there is any in the blossoms. L. C. Whiting. Saginaw, East Side, Mich., Dec. 1. We are very glad indeed to see our old friend Whiting contributing again to Gleanings. His experience with large hives agrees remark- 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 893 ably with that of friend France in many re- spects. My experience \vith|]argecolonies|agrees with the above. Tlie pow(M'ful ones got honey when oi'dinary coloni(>s seem to he losing, and yet I could never (pnte fully understand it either. THE OUTER WINTER CASE. SOME OF ITS AI)VANTA(;i;.- I should like to give a few reasons why the outside protecting case for th(> Dovetailed hive, as jiroposed liy E. R. Moot, will be supejior to the old chatl' hive. It will be cheapei' and less complicated. Tlie shell can l)e lifted from the hivt\ and tlu^n the hive manipulated as a sin- gle-walled hive in summer. I say. in summer: for should I take tiu'ui they would certainly be retained for shading ijui'poses during the heat of the summer. Of course, tlu^ cluitf hive an- swers tlie same i)uri)Ose: but the difference is in hauling bees, shipping, carrying into the apiary, etc. There is a wide difference between the two. In shipping, the shells (or cases) if desired can be shipped aiiead by freight, and the bees expressed. In hauling, the experienced apiarist can take a full load of bees and send an inexperienced man the following day with the shells. In fact. I can not help thinking that a more valuable thing has been designed that we at tii'st have given credit for.' In sum- mer we place this shell about the hive, say propped up on four posts, so that the shell has the same relative jjosition to the upper story that it had during winter. With the body in that way, we secure a current of air between the hive and shell, and have the sun effectually broken. PROPOI.IZED QUII.TS. I lately saw an excellent idea in regard to propolis. Geo. Morris, Stony Point, scrapes the propolis from the frames and quilts; and after heating it he brushes it on the quilts he is about to put on the hives. The result is, the bees will not bring in nearly so much propolis, and thinner material can be used for (luilts, as the bees will not gnaw through them. I last saw them Sept. 1. They were then not even attached to the top-bars. How they are now. I do not k-now. R. F. Hoi.termanx. Romney, Ont., Nov. 17. The outside winter case is an old idea: but the mere fact of its being old may not alter its value to the modified bee-keeping of to-day. Yes, thei'e is quite a point for such protection; viz., sending the outside cases to the apiary with cheap help, either before or after the bees in the small hives are moved. It is not feasible to move bees in large chaff hives. Mr. Manum does not do it. THE NORTH AMERICAN BEE-KEEPERS' AS- SOCIATION. I)H. MII.I.EH TALKS TO fS AIJOFT IT. It isn't SO many yeai'S since the senioi' editor ofGLEAXiX(;s not only stayed a\\ ay from bee- keepers' meetings, but, I think, advised others to do so. "A wise man seldom changes his mind: a fool, never." Friend Root is not a fool. so in this case he has changed his mind, and now wants some on(^ to punch him up if he should try to stay away from another m(>eting of the North American. (!(jodI Some pretty sevei'e strictures upon the course of that same North American moves me to ask space in Gleanings to say some woi'ds about it. An association of the kind is needed for the best interests of bee-keepers: and until such association is just what it ouglit to be, it is right and projier that it be discussed. Now is the time to l>egin such discussion, without waiting to take up tinu^ at the convention at Albany. So. friends, if you see something that needs mending in the ways of the association, let us have it in print, and have it soon, so that any thing that needs it may be mended if pos- sible before the next meeting. Oiie point that has come in for its full share of criticism is the matter of obtaining i-cduced i-ailroad rates to the convention at Keokuk. To get the best attendance we need low rail- road fares always: and this year especially, when crops were so poor, w (^ slioidd have had reduced rates to Keokuk. Some one may sug- gest that, as I was a member of the Executive Committee. I am condemning myself. I was only ti-easurer, a sort of silent partner, and it would have been out of place for me to put my- self forward and attempt to do the work of the president and secretary. Besides. I did urge the matter. Really, it is the secretary who usually attends to things of this sort: and the only thing left to be done now. is to i)ass a vote of severe censur(> ui)on Secretary C. P. Dadant for culpable neglect of duty— a neglect for which those who attended had to pay in dollars and cents, and which prevented some from attend- ing. Put. hold on — hold on! In stating what <)\ight to be done, it is important, in many cases, along with the what to give the how. And before we call down too many anathemas upon the devoted head of the poor secretary, it may be well for some one to rise and tell how he could have got reduced rates. If I am right- ly informed, api)licatiou was made, at an early date, to the railroads for reduced rates, to which they replied that it was too early, and that the matter could not even be considered by them. After waiting months and using what leverage could be brought to beai', the secretary finally got an answer. The railroads would grant no favors. I don't know what else the secretary could have done. Do you? If you do. tell it; and if you know any thing that will heljj in the future, tell it; for that is of more consequence than the past. At Keokuk it was urged that a place should be selected to which we could get reduced rates on account of something else than our meeting, and that was the weighty argument in favor of Albany. If the association becomes sufficiently large, I believe we may be able to command concessions from the railroads without any begging. Now, friends, instead of standing off and throwing stones, let us come together and talk it over — in print. If there are wrongs, tell what they are; and above all. tell lioir they are to be lighted. Some think the association should be efF(>ctive in bringing uj) the pi'ice of honey to accord with its scarcity. Just the thing to suit me — if it can do so. I am satisfied that good will come of discus- sion. Some mistakes will tie shown and cor- I'ected. Othei' things \\ill he shown impossible of amcMidment: and knowing this we will en- dure them the more patiently. One of the woi'st things about the association has been the llinisy character of its organiza- tion, as mentioned by Pi-es. Ta\loi-. Th(> movement for its incorporation is a long step in the right direction. Some of our editors are making a push to secui'c funds from life-mem- bei's. and us<' up the money. The secretary 89i GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15. has evidently been doinjj some thinking about this, and thinlvs we oiiglit to " consider the matter of placing the funds that may hereafter be colh^cted from afHliation and from life-mem- ships in some safe interest-bearing bonds, so that the capital that may be thus i)aid in be not squandered." He says: "Annual member- ships ought to pay annual expenses, and the interest of the capital ought to furnish i)rizes and medals." Thei't^ would be an element of permanence about this which is desirable. I confess, howevei', that 1 wt)uld just as soon see all the money in the treasui'y cleaned out every year, or neai'ly so. if some \Aan could be devised by which e(|ual ijermanence could be secured. The ariiliation tVcs will come annually, just as much as the fees from annual members. Stability of membership is a desideratum never yet reached. We are, perhaps, behind all the world in this respect. Can not some means be devised bj^ which a permanent membership of four or five hundred can be secured? It is done elsewhei'e. I think. Are the obstacles in- superabl(> here ? Is there any sufficient reason why the " Bee- keepers" Union " can not be merg(>d into the N. A. B. K. A.? That seems somewhat perma- nent. Why not both tog(>ther? C. C. Mii.i.kr. Marengo. 111., Nov. 2(). All right, friend M. We second all you say. In regard to reduced rates for the convention, we tried our hand at it here, and received cour- teous replies to the effect that the number in attendance was too small to admit of the reduc- tions we desired. I guess this is so, friends; and therefore the only thing to be done is to get the membership up to 4()0 or .5(X). as yoii suggested. ^ — »■ — 1^ ARTESIAN WELLS. TirK FLOWING WEI.LS OF FI.OKIDA. Mr. Root:— Yon seem interested In flowing wells, so perhaps a few woi'ds on that subject will be acceptable. Along this, the east coast of Florida, thei'e'are hundreds of flowing wells. Most of the houses, even in the towns, have their well of water flowing, and no trouble about pumping. A pipt> vaiying fVom-one to four inches in diametei' is driven down until it strikes i-ock, when a drill is put inside of the pipe, and the rocl^: drilled until water is struck. Sometimes no rock is sti-uck until ueai'ly to water, and the pipe with a j)oint is driven through to the water. There are several layers of rock with sand, etc., between them; and the moi'e layers the pipe or drill penetrates after reaching the How. the larger the flow of water, though I lielieve the water rises no highf>r. The water is struck about (30 to tK) ft. below the surface, and rises. I l)elieve, hi ft. above sea-level, and usually fills the pipe. A three or four inch pipe, with a strong flow, makes quite a stream of water, and makes it veiw conven- ient, as the water may be piped into the house, used for irrigating, etc. As a well with an inch or 1^4 -inch pipe costs only !?,50 or .?(>(). they are not very exijensive. By using a ram, the water may be forced as high as is wished. The water is hard, and is said to he impr-egnated with sulphur. At this place, next to the ocean, there is a peninsula nearly half a mil(> wide; then the Halifax River more than a mile wide; then the mainland. Wells on the peninsula, or' driv- en m the river, flow just the same as on the mainland. It looks strange to see fresh water bubbliirg up out of a pipe, and the sun'ounding wat<>r' salt. The qiuility of water varies con- sidei'ably in ditTei'ent wells. In sorire the sul- phur is so str'ong as to be vei'y ohcnsive to some people: in other's, little or none can be detected. Tlie temperature also varies consider'alily. Day- tona, five miles noi'th of this place. Is called the " Fountain City," fi'om the number' of wells it contaiirs. John B. Case. ]\irt Orange, Fla.. Nov. 24. ANOTHER ZINC-PERFOEATOR. A SMAI.I. FOOT-POWER MACHINE. Find inclosed a idiotograph of a foot -power punch I have had made, which perforates four holes at one stroke. The whole thing is made of iron and steel, and is substantial and perfect. The die is held in a chuck, and I'egulated by four set-screws, and the teeth to the punch are of different leugths, and shaped so as to "' shear," IMOKSE S FOOT-I'OWEIt ZlNC'-I>EIiF01!AT0i;. which makes it cirt (>asi!y. and with very little power. I inclose a sample of zirrc, cut by my machine on the mar'gin of a piece which came from you, I think, some time ago. The machiire was madi' by W. T. Cliffor'd, Wellirrgton, O.. who, I think, is to congr'atulated. 1 want to have this machirre on exhibition at the World's Fair. Chicago. 18U2. .1. S. Reese. Winchester, Ky., Nov. 18. W^' take pleasui-e in presentirrg in half-tone the photogr'aph pr'esented by Mr. Reese. The appeai'ance of the machine indicates that it was gotten up by a mechanic: in fact, the punches and dies ai'e so accurately fitted that it per'forated perfectly a piece of tissue paper which is befor-e us. The sarn])les of zinc wer'c r-eceived; 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 895 and. if we were to judge, thoy are fully <'(iual to the beautiful work done by Dr. Tinker. This, however, is a foot-power machine, and is limited to the pei'foration of only four holes at a time. The machine we use is run by po^er, and cuts (U holes at one " chank." Of course, this will make foot-i)owerwork more expensive if time is worth any thing. This not only re- duces the power required butnuikes nicer work. You will notice that we are giving our friend a little free advertising, but we are glad to en- courage a little original genius once in a while in this wav. DAYLIGHT BREAKING IN THE HONEY BUSINESS. I.MPOKTAXrK OF (;U.\l)INO. Mr. Roof ;— We-had some of that dark alfalfa extracted. Half that you sent us was that color. The sam])le sent us was nice and white. After receiving it we did not wj-ite you about it. as we thought you N\ould doubt oui' woiil. We sold some to a druggist here in this city. He always writes to send him honey of our own production. We answered him. saying we had some from another State, and (i noted him prices. He ordered, but lias not yet settled. He has always been a good customer. We hate to go anil |)resent a bill for the honey, as we know he was iu»t pleased with it. Simie we sold to called it New Orleans molasses. We also bought some honey in this State, called clover. Aftei' receiving we found it to taste pretty strongly of buckwheat. lielng dis- gusted with the above purchases we went to New York and ordered some extracted honey that was white. They had none but California. We took that. We asked them to samijle each can befoi;e shipment. They said that the qual- ity was raai'ked on the outside of each can. When we received this a large shari^ was dark and not of first quality. We are now thinking of not buying a single jiound more. We are disgusted with th<' wliole business. We have had only one shipment that was as represented, and tiiat comes from — lam going to mention his luiine. for those who sell good goods ought to be known — C. H. Stordock. Durand, III. His honey is cvcrji uunj first class. Always keep it before the bee-keeper about careful gi-ading. I am (irmly convinced tliat a lai'ge trade could be worked up for extracted for table use. and at good paying prices. All it needs is a first-class article. F. A.S.\ijsi?tTi!v. Syracuse, N. Y.. Dec. 3. Perhaps some of th<' friends wonder at the heading to friend Salisb\u'y"s communication above. It is simply because friend S. has be- gun to talk right out in meeting about his troubles. He is most surely right — that a big trade can be built up if we can be sure of get- ting honey that is according to sajuple and ac- cording to label. Now. while it may not be best to publish the names of all t\w fiiends who have not heretofoi'e been conscientious, it cer- tainly will be safe and I'ight to put llie good men right in print: and may be we can de- crease the foniK'i' and increase the latter by so doing. Friend S.. neither you nor anybody else need be backward about complaining of things that are not as they should be. Fix it up with your cuslonier the best you can, and make out your bill; and if w(> can not trace it to the man wb.o shipped us the honey, it is right and proper for us to l)ear the loss. Now, the main point is, can you give us the name or ini- tials on the can or cans that contained the dark alfalfa lumev? GRAHAM BREAD. VifHV IS IT NOT iMOUE tlSKD? KIT. The facts are. the world is wedded to its flail\' habit of life. It insists on using bread made from flour which has been robbed of much of its best food elements by t he bolting, .\nother ob- jection which I once lt oven. Now about those gems made of flour and water and a little haking-i)owder. Of course. th(>y are nice. W(^ often have them for a change. My wife calls them " iiojjovers."" They are certain- ly delicious, and. with butt,er. honey, and a glass cff rich milk, are too good to— talk about I i'>ut for every day in the year, gems made of absolutely nothing but flour (graham) and water, and a pinch of salt, in sweetness, deli- cious flavor, as well as hygienic (>lements. are perfecti(m. ]Much imjiort'ance attaches to the (juality of the tloui'. That which is nuide at Akron, and sold by groci'rs. is not so good. It should be the entire product of clean wheat, ground and not bolted. It lias; not good keep- ing qualities, and should be obtained fresh from the mill. TO MAKE GRAHAM GEMS. Take of grahain flour, quantity sufficient: a pinch of sail, with water to make the whole, when well stii'i-ed. of a consistencv that, when dropped into the cast-iron gem-pan with a spoon, by its own weight it will form smooth. With a little butter, gi'ease the gem-pan hot on top of tiu> stove, and place it in an oven hotter than re(iu,ired for most kinds of lin'ad. Note whether the gem-pan is hot enough to •"sizz" wlien the butter falls into it: for if the oven is not heated hot enough in the start, the gems will be heavy and not tit to eat. GKAIIAM MfSlt. This is nuuie by stirring graham tloiu' in w ater boiling veiy hard. Salt to taste, and continue the boiling I.") or 20 minutes. It should not be nuule very thick. Serve hot with cream, oi- half ci-eam and half milk, for breakfast, and cold with cream for luiu-h or supper. RUSK. Make dough of graham flour and water. Knead, and roll out on a bi-ead-boaid: cut into slices, and balce in a nu)(l(>rately hot ovi'u. Aftei- tbev have been baked, continue tliein in tiie oven with t he door open until all tlu' moisture has l)e<'n (h'ied out: bi'eak in pieces, and grind in a hand-mill. Serve with rich milk or cream. Madi.son. Ind., Dec. 1. .\ Sihscuiher. Very good, friend vS. We hope the readers of Oi.KA.MXGs will all give your recipes a good tri- al, even at the risk of being made " inlidel.s." as your good fricuul puts it. Now, we do not (luite understand the point she makes. Did she sup- 89(3 GLExVNINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 1.5. pose that tho graliam flour was the cause of the infidelity, or was it simply because those who were skeptical in their theology had a prefer- ence for graham flour? Nevermind: if we can not agree on theology it is comforting to know that we shall pretty nearly agree on the health- fulness of graham bread. ■ — • — ^ MRS. AXTELLS EXPERIENCE AT THE KEO- KUK CONVENTION. SHE CONSIDKi; THE HALF-DKI'TH EKHIT HIVE^ FOR Wf)MEN. Friend Root: — I see, from reading Glean- ings of Nov. 15. that you also was one of the number that enjoyed the International hugely. Yes, that is just the word that would describe Mr. AxtelFs and my enjoyment of that conven- tion, and I heard quite a numlier express them- selves as its l:)eing one of tlie best, if not t/ie best they ever attended. Judging from the way people acted, they must have enjoyed themselves, as they would get together at 8, or half-past 8, A. M., and remain up to 12 o'clock, then iiurry out to their meals, and back again to connnence the meeting at 1:30, and then re- main clear up to dark. Gas was lighted, and some one would remark that we were not doing ourselves justice to remain so long, and asked that some one make a motion to be dismissed, when we would hurry fout to our rooms and meals, and back again for an evening session that held up to about 10 o'clock; and. what was strange, each meeting was just as interest- ing as the first, and no one seemed to grow tired. If one grew tired of a position, he felt at liberty to change it or go out of the room; but I notic- ed they generally came back very soon. Now, why was all this enthusiasm, if it was not that we are engagc^d in a very interesting pursuit? Mr. Axtell felt that his work was such he did not know how to leave; and. not feeling well, I had to coax hard to get him started. I could see it almost made a boy of him again; audi thought that, if wrestling were a test of boy- hood, there were several boys there— old gray- headed boys. I should have liked to see more ladies there. I wondered why tliere wei'e not more, when almost always the apiarist's wife or mother or sister takes equal interest with him in the bees. Was it because both could not leave, that one or the other had to stay at home to do chores, ook after the family, etc.? I felt almost like accusing the bee-brethren of wanting the good times themselves. From the little snatches of talk between meetings, as we met in the hall or in the sitting- room, at our meals, or in our rooms, too, we gleaned many useful thoughts. We liked the idea advanced by a Mr. J. D. Adams, of Nira, Iowa, that of being thorough in all we under- take with bees, as well as farming; of making two blades of grass grow where others made but one; of keeping the highest grade of poul- try and taking the best of care of it, so that a small flock would pay better than twice the number of mongrels uncared for. Dr. Jesse Oren, of Mount Auburn, Iowa,, puts his bees in the cellar every fall, and goes to Florida, where he has a nice home also, to win- ter. He says one can buy an acre or two and build a small house, and live very cheaply if he wishes to. He can plant the ground to orange- trees, which come into bearing very quickly. Dr. Oren, before putting bees in the cellar in the fall, burns Imlf a pound or more of sulphur in the cellar, to kill the mold-spores. Since doing so, his brood - combs never mold. In plac- ing his hives in the cellar, the first hive is plac- ed at an angle of 45 degrees, with tlie bottom of the back end of the hive resting against the side of the cellar, and the entrance toward the floor. The next hive is placed in the same po- sition, with the back end of the bottom resting against the top of the first, and so on until a row is placed clear across the cellar. The quilts are loosened around the edges, and left on: tiieu he lays a board on top of the first row, and proceeds to place another I'ow on top of the board, in the same position as the first row, and so on until he has all the bees in that cellar he cares to put in — from 325 to 2.50, I think he said. He makes a compact body of them, and leaves them but a few inches apart in the I'ows. lie leaves them undistui'bed until setting-out time in the spring. The hives being raised at the back, the dead bees all fall out, and can not choke up the hive. He said he had wintered thus some 20 years, and is generally very suc- cessful. He closes up his house and cellar, as he winters in P^lorida. Thus he escapes our Northern winters. He is about 20 miles from O. O. Poppleton, in Florida. The doctor is a very methodical man, keeping a close account of all his incomes and expeiises. and can tell each year just how much liis bees net him. The past year he made his bees pay, as liis hon- ey brought him several hundred dollars. I do not remember the exact amount, but it was a fair income. I think he said he had two farms besides. He says he never bothers with small colonies, but tiers them up, putting one on top of the other, thus preventing increase also. He first began the study of the ministry; but as his health failed him he took up the study of medicine and then of bees. I was pleased with most of the countenances I met at the convention. Intelligence beamed from many eyes — as much so as you would meet at almost any other gathering. It was a real pleasure to see so many clean- faced young men, and clean lips not stained with tobacco, as so many of the young men of to-day are not ashamed of the tell-tale quid punching out in their cheeks. I was sorry, oh so sorry! to know that to such lips was offered the wine-cup that biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. PKACTICAI. OR ORNAMENTAI.. At the tea-table one asked of another if the lady sitting at the further end of the table was a practical or an ornamental bee-keeper. The question was handled along from one to anoth- er until it reached Mrs. J. M. Null, of Miami, Mo., for whom it was intended. Her answer was, " If 6000 lbs. of extracted honey, taken from 114 colonies the past season, by my own hands, except an occasional day's work from a hired man, constitutes me a practical bee- keeper, then I am practical." She also stated that she purchased her own supplies, as her husband was very much afraid of bees, and had his hands full of his own work — proprietor of the Miami House, and owner of two farms. She said she became interested in bees by read- ing Gleanings, and bought and brought some bees liome, placing them some distance from the house, as her boarders had great fear of bees, and were hori'ified to think of her keeping bees; but by and by. being emboldened at see- ing her woi'k with them, they would come so near that she had to tell them they might get stung, as they were trespassing upon the grounds of the bees. Her neighbors, also, were becoming more interested in bees. A bee-keeper when heddon was a boy. A very intelligent old gentleman by the name of B. Taylor, who said he had been handling 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 897 bees some 40 yeaiv^. often having as many as 600 colonies, exhibited a hive of lus invention, worlved on the principle of the New Heddon hive, only his is 14'4 incii(>s wide, and 15 inches from front to real', wiiile Ileddon's is Ir^'''^ wide and ISV inciies from front lo rear. The iiive is in two i)arts. as is Ilcddon's. He said lie used that princii)le wiicn ili'ddon was ii hoy. and lie- fore he kei)t bees. One featnre of thr hive we liked much was the band to set nndei- tlie hive in wintering, to raise up the frames one inch liigiier than in the summer, as that is wliat we i)ractice in our own apiary, and it prevents tlie iiives clogging with dead bees in the winter. I believe I shall like his double super tO(>. as it will be so much light- er for me to lift when full of honey, as I nearly paralyzed my arms in the summer of 1SS9 l)y lifting lH)ney and heavy hive-covers. 1 believe it would be wise, where men expect their wo- men-folks to care mostly for any one apiary, to make ail the supplies, hives, covers, and all, as light as possible, for this reason. Several of us lady bee-keepers there at the convention at once said that that was a woman's hive. I was delighted when I found he was going to present one of his hives to me. I felt it was of the Lord, to lighten my work somehow, not by dis- carding our hive, but bv making it and its fix- tures lighter. Yet I think I sluiU like the Tay- lor hive very mucli, so I transfeired a colony of bees into it as soon as I canu' home, so as to be sure to have it there for next season's work. He claimed for his double super, that, when the middle sections were tilled, the super could be turned around, tiius putting the partly tilled ones in the center, and the tilled ones on the outside; also, in putting on supers in the spring, rather weak colonies need have but one of them until they get well at work, and then the sec- ond could be added. He is a very practical man, making all his own supplies, except where pine is used, cut- ting the timber from the tree, drying his own lumber, and manufacturing his own supplies: and, judging from the samples he showed at the association, of sections and hives, Mr. Axtell says his work was first class, as he says it was done as well as the sample shown. Roseville, 111.. Nov. :3(i. Miis. L. C. Axtki.l. (To be rontinued.) Mrs. A., I most heartily indorse all you say in regard to the convention: and I am exceed- ingly glad that you have got acquainted with our friend B. Taylor. If you have a colony al- ready in one of his light shallow hives, we may expect you to give this form of hive a good practical test. I believe, with you, that the Lord has called you to investigate this very matter, with the end in view of making tln^ work lighter for oiu' w omen bee-kee])ers. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT FOR A. I, ROOT. AND HIS FEIBNDS WHO LOVE TO RAISiJ CROPS. DISPOSING OF THK WASTK I'KODICTS AHOIT orn 1I().MKS. Oni' pleasant thing about tiie business of market-gard(>ni-ig. eillu'r under glass or out in the opeii air. is that the market-gardeni'r finds a money Vdliic in- 1 he very tilings t hut ordinari- ly are considered tlu' great<'st nuisanc<'s about bur homes. We iiave already so thoroughly discussed the matter of disi)osing of sewage, night-soil. etc.. that I need not go over the gronini again. My leason for taking up the matter once more is. tluit some new exp(>rience lias come to us. Some years ago. when I asked about the liest manner of ilis|)osing of the jji'od- iicts of the ()nt-builbings around our homes, some of tlie (Ji,i:am\(;s readers ref(>rred me to the Smeaii system of dry closets, etc. We have, at the t'xpense of a considerable sum of money, just had our entire ])lant supplied with the Smead closc^ts. As I have watched th(» work- men, and car<'fully scanned, scruliiii/.ed. aiul experimenletl with every feature of their in- vention. 1 think I can tell you all about it. In I'act. the biggest part of it is using sim|)le principles that we bee-keepers have already for years been thoroughly conversant witii. Over and over again, tlirongh our bee-joiu'iials. has been desci'ibed a itlan of \'entilating a be(>- cellar liy connecting it with the cliiiiiney of the house. A stovepipi' goes from the chimney down close to the floor of the bee-cellar. The draft from the stove jjjiIIs up all foul gases and bad odors. Well, this is the Smead system. But he i)uts up a great chimney — in our case. ?,0 inches square inside. This goesujj l:i feet high- er than the higli(>st part of the roof of tlie build- ing. At the l)ottom of this chimney, or stack, is a furnace. Any place to build a tire will do. The more kitch(»n stoves, bake-ovens. and every other kind of stoves, you turn into this chimney, the better. Now have your closet right in your house, anywliere you want it — close to the kitchen stove or dining-room, or down in the cellar, oi' upstairs. Or. if you choose, you can have a closet upstairs and one downstairs, and one in the cellar. The draft from this big chimney of yours will i)nll every bit of bail air and offensive smell away so completely that your closet will be as sweet-smelling as your sitting-room or pantry. The Smead folks furnish iron seats, with an iron lid to shut down. This lid is hinged so it shuts itself when not in use. The lloor is cast-iron. This is painted with asphaltiim. so that it can be waslied whenever it need be. There are many little holes in this floor. When washing, the water goes right down through these holes, and any bad smi 11 there nuiy be in the room is drawn at once through the holes in the floor. If you make a smoke in the room by burning some paper, the smoke and even blaze will at once shoot down through these holes in the floor; and if the cover of any of the seats is raised, a burning pai)er h(>ld near the opening will show that it draws like the door to your stove. Haven't we been stupid, that we never thought of tills before? Now. if you still prefer tohave an out-building, as most farmers do, make a brick or woodcMi chimney to this wood(>n out- building. Have it go so high that there will i)e a draft to it. Sucli an arrangenuMit will make any ordinary ont-bnilding ever so much sweeter and pleasanter. even if yon do nothing further. When you are going through the country on the cars, just watch the out-buildings as you pass by the homes of our peo])le. You will notice that many of them have a ventilating- shaft already— in fact, almost all nciv ones have. Hut these veniilating-sliafts are too small and insignilicant. Let them go w]) a good deal higher, and make them a good deal larger. Now for another matter: If yon have prac- ticed drawing away the night-soil on wagons and sleds. ;is we have done for years past, you have found out that it is a very heavy material to handle, besides being very disagreeable. Well, how large a portion of this great load of oll'eiisive matter do you suppose is made up of wati'rV Suppose you evaporate the water so you have only the dry residue. Let me give you a statement that will astonish you. Tiie whole amount of accumulation of a large 898 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15 schoolbuilding, of sevoval hundred pupils, dur- ing a whole term, was carried away on a wlieel- harnnv. Tiie watery portion liad been all evaporated by the liot air of the schoolbuilding, aftiT it had ih)n(' its duty in wai'niiug the rooms. Kiglit under the seats of the closets, about two feet from the gi'ound. is a series of iron bars. These bars are far enough apart to catch the ends of dry bricks laid close togiither. Of course, there" is an air-space all around each brick. Well, the hot air. after it has warmed till' schoolrooms, goes under and thi'ough this brick llooi'. keeping the bricks hot and dry. The droppings, both liquid and solid, are evap- orated as they accumulate. If, however, in warm damp weather, when the furnaces do not need to be used, ihe ordinary draft of the shaft is not sufticient todisi)oseof all theli(iuid, a slow tire is nuide to send enough di'y air through the brick tlooi- and up the shaft, to keep the thing sweet and clean. By increasing the heat you may eretimte the entire contents of the vault at any time you wish. A furnace is also put at the base "of the shaft, to be lighted whenever the janitoi' notices, by the action of the smoke from burning paper, that there is not sufficient draft up tlu^ large chimney. In other words, whenever there is a particle of smell to be de- tected by the keenent nostril, a great flood of dry pure air is sent through the whole apparatus until every thing is dry, sweet, and clean. Now, then, has any thing ever been invented to com- pare with such a system of disposing of these waste products as the above '? Of course, ordi- nary homes do not require such an elaborate structure in all its details as the one I have de- scribed; this is specially for schools, factories, court-houses, and such places. The only rival system is the water-closet. But what in the world ai'e you going to do with the sewage in the average country town, school, or factory? Champion Brook runs right through our village of Medina; but the man who would turn the sewage from a water-closet into Champion Brook, above the town, ought to be prosecuted, and doubtless would be. We have read in the papers of the great troubles the managers of the Croton Aqueduct (that supplies the city of New York) have had to keep sewage from being turned into it. There has also been a little breeze through the papers in years ]jast, to the effect that it is not safe to send all our bad smells up a big chimney to fall down on our neighbors after a while. It seems lo me, how- ever, the absurdity of this objection should be apparent at once. All our foul smells arc and always lutve been turned out into the oi)en air. Now. is it any wor.se to turn them loose in the wind at the top of a chimney /orti/.fecf /lig/i, than to turn them loose on a level with the ground? I have not yet been up to the top of our tall chimney to find out what kind of smells are pouring forth; but in any event I would much rather they would pour forth up there than anywhere else. In one of the basements of our establishment we have a kitchen where they cook dinner for the workmen — liolh men and women; and we have always been aniujyed more or less by certain .savory and unsavory odors from the kitchen coming up throiigh into our office and other rooms. It has sometimes seemed as if this always hai)i)ened when dis- tinguished visitoi's happened to be looking over our premis(>s. Well, since this great big chim- ney has been doing duty, our cook can have onions, doughnuts, or whatever she chooses, for dinner, and no one's nose informs liim of the fact before he sits down to the table. What has all this long story to do with gar- dening, do you ask? VVhy, simply this: The residue that has hei-etofore been such a tei'rible load to carry out on our fields, and plow under (without a moment being lost), is now simply a dry fertilizer like guano or dry ])oultry manure. It may be taken in the hands, or pounded up to be evenly worked into our plant-beds, just as we put in bonedust or phosphate; and the Sniead folks say it is woith just as much in the latter form as il was in the former. I wish Prof. Cook and friend Terry would tell us what thev think about this last idea. 0a^ QaEgiFi@N-B% With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. Question 174. Whot evidence have you had that bees are more likely to supersede a queen thdt is clipped f None. Wisconsin. S. W. S. I. FitF:KKORN. None whatever. Illinois. N. C. J. A. Gkeex. Not any. I don't think they are. New York. C. G. M. Dooijttle. Not much when only a part of one wing is clipped. New Y'ork. C. P. H. Elwood. There is no evidence, and I do not believe that that tendency exists. Ohio. S. W. C. F. MuTH. Not any. I have not the least idea that it is true with me, at least. Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. We used to clip the wings of queens long ago, and have never noticed that they were super- seded on that account. Illinois. N. W. Dadant & Son. I don't believe that a queen will be superseded any quicker on account of having her wing clipped. We clip all of ours. Wisconsin. S. W. E. France. We have not practiced clipping; but bees have always evinced a disposition to supersede a queen crippled in any way. Illinois. N. W. C. Mrs. L. Hakkison. The evidence that bees are not satisfied with imperfect, or maimed or crippled queens, as every observing bee-keeper knows. Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boardman. I have practiced clipping my queens for the past eighteen years, and I rarely have one super- seded. I think there is no foundation for the belief that clipping causes superseding, provid- ing the apiarist is on hand to take care of the clijjped queens when they swarm. Vermont. N. W. A. E. Manum. I can't say positively; but, not having kept a record, it seems to me that there is more likeli- hood of being sui)erseded when clipped: but I have had but little superseding done to clipped ones; for, unless extra good. I keep none over two years, and they are seldom superseded at that "age. Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. , I have no evidence to that effect. I do not practice clipping queens' wings, though I have done so in times past. When I did clip I was sure they lived to a good old age, and died full of honors. New York. E. Rambler. 1890 GLEANINGS IN HKE (TLTrRE. 899 I have t'li[)iHHl my own wings from answering this question by not toh-ratiiig the practirc. But. without much (h)uhl. bees arc guided main- ly by smell in the matter of superseding (pieeus. A good (|ueen keeps the liive faintly suffused with the smell of fei'tility: and while this is the case they do not care iu)w lunny legs and wings she chooses to weai'. and would probatdy ask no questions if slu' got along without a head. Ohio. N. W. E. E. Hasty. Tlie best in the world. When about half of one of my apiaries has clipi)i'd <|ueens and the othei- half not clipited. theii' Idood and age be- ing the same, I found the most and earliest su])ersedur(^s whei-e the queens w(!re clipped: and the tendency for swarms to reswarm was somiMliing liive ten times greatcM' where the queens" wings were cliijped. Michigan. S. W. Jamks Hi:])1)()X. My two years" expei'ience in clipping all my queens does not afford evidence of their being more readily superseded on account of being eropjx'd. T once hail an imported que(^n that liad one wing off. one rear leg off. anil foot (iff the second leg on the same side. I do not know how old she was when 1 got her, but she con- tinued to lay to the fourth year as well as any queen I had. California. S. R. Wilkijj. Nothing, except what I have read. I really don't believe it makes any difference. A good many years ago I saw in one of Mr. Roofs colo- nies a queen with no vestige of a wing, looking like a big ant, and yet I think she had the en- tire contidence of the whole community. If supersedure comes from partial loss of wings, this total loss ought to have hastened matters. Did it. friend Root? Illinois. N. C. C. Millek. Perliaps our good friends Boardman and Hed- don. after seeing the array of heavy testimony to the effect that clipping makes no difference, may modify their decision, unless, indeed, tliey are of a class that never take anything back, no matter liow much proof is offered — w hich I am sure they are not. I have at times thought the bees seemed more disposed to supersede a queen witli her wings clipped: but with these good friends of mine against me. I am quite ready to give up. I do not like to see them clipped myself, however; and a good many times something turns up to make me wish that a certain queen had wings. On this account I have recommended that they be not clipped any more in our own apiaries. I well remember the old queen that looked like a big ant, friend Miller, and I think we had her for at least three seasons, and she certaiidy did as well as any queen In the apiary. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, AII!-SI'ACK VS. packing: DOUHLE-WAI-I.KI) IIIV'ES. Permit me to ask the following question: Are double-walli'd hives with air-s|jaces unjiacked. aseffVctual in retaining the heat generated by the bees as they woidd be with tliose sjiaces packed? and would they be cooler, in sumnu'r. luipacked. than otherwise? I should like the i'e[)lies of best authorities on bees tlirougli (ii.EANiNos. E. W. SMrrii. \>est Canaan. O.. Nov. 27. That is just what we want to know, friend .S. The question was submitted in the Question- Box department, and a majority of the I'espond- ents voted in favor of packing as against air- space. The probabilities are. that any kind of packing beeween the two walls of a hive is bet- ter than none. Howevei-, for several years in our apiary one of our chaff hives which we supposed had been packed was found to have never had any chaff at all, when we canu^, to renovate it of foul brood by boiling. This one hive occupied a conspicuous place in otu- api- ary: and although it had only a dead-air space, it wintered just as well as the packed hives, so far as we could see, for a period of seven or eight years. How much longer it would have continued to do so I can not tell. In a moderate winter climate like ours, I am of the opinion that the air-space will do just as well: but in colder climates, no doubt packing is an addi- tional protection. The W. T. Falconer Co.. of Jamestown, N. Y.. have for years sold what they call their Chautauqua hive. This, I be- lieve, has no packing between the side walls. It is practically a hive with a dead-air space. We have had reports of comparative tests be- tween this and our regular chaff' hive, in which the bees seemed to winter about as well in one as in the other. Just now I do not recollect the exact latitude fi-om which these reports were made. If any of our readers who are located in cold climates have had opportunities for mak- ing such tests, I should be glad to have them report. Henry Alley, in a recent article, said that the air-space did as well as packing in his locality, and we have had many reports to the same effect. This matter is of peculiar impor- tance just now. on account of the discussion going on in regard to an outside protecting shell for winter: for if such a case, without packing, in most localities, will winter success- fully, it will be a great saving in the cost of hives in outdoor wintering. Do not understand that I say this am be done. I am only await- ing the results of experimental tests by oui'stdves and others. E. R. DOES CO.MB HONEY EVEH TIMJN YELLOW? We notice the comb honey we I'eceived from you in Oclobei' is turning yellow, wliicli iiuikes it unsalabl(>. Please advise us what to do. Massillon. O.. Nov. ?9. Dieliienn Bitos. I have Ufiver heard of such a thing before. Is it not possible that you are mistaken? We have the same honey in stock, and ours has not changed a particle. I have heard of setting y(dlow comb honey in the >iun in a window, and that the sun would bleach it so as to make it whiter. The hoiu^y yon had was some of Mr. W. K. BalTs, which we have regarded as so very tine. Some of his comb honey had yellow cap])ings. and some white. To make it fair. 900 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15. the sections were mixed togethei". the qualitj' of the honey in either case being tlie same. It is i[nite possible that you first removed the sec- tions of white capped honey by accident, and, later, pulled out some with darker cappings. In any event, the white capping should not turn yellow in so short a time out of the hive. WHAT IS A "HONEY-QITEEN "? I should like to know what is meant by a honey-qneen, as I have noticed advertisements in (ri"i:ANiXGS where they have stated that they have such for sale. C. A. Dick.ma>jn. Gehm, Mo., Nov. 24. What we mean by honey-queens is queens whose progeny rather excel in honey-gathering qualities, their color and that of the bees being secondary, although showing at least three yel- low bands. Honey-queens that are sold are raised from some queen whose progeny has ex- celled the others in the apiary for real work. It is possible that the bees of such queens may not duplicate those of their mother; but as they are bred from that sort of stock the chances are pretty good. THE COLUMBIAN FAIK. We take pleasure in copying the following from the pen of Dr. A. B. Mason, as it appeared in the American Bee Journal for Nov. 29: Friend Neiviium: — I sent a portion of my ad- dress, read at Keokuk, to the Director-General of the VVorld's Columbian Fair, and a part of the reply, received yesterday, reads as follows: In response. I have the honor to say, that at the present time it is not possible to give you definite in- formation as to the plan of organization of such a cleparlnH'nt, f vither than to say, tliat the bee-culture int:—\ am glad to inform you that I have succeeded in arresting the boy who set tire to our shops last spiing. There were two of them. One is now at the State Industrial School at Waukesha. He made a full confes- sion; and as s(X)u as the other boy was arrested he also confessed, telling tiie same story as the Ixty at Waukesha. They say ihey simply want- ed to see a great fire. ()ne"is eleven years of age, and the other thirteen. T am very glad to kiuiw how the iii'e started, and to know it was not done thi'oiigii any enmity. Watertown. Wis., Dec. 4. (J. B. Lewis & Co. We are very glad indeed, friends, to kiio\\' that you have got hold of the culprits; yet it seems a sad. sad thing to find that boys only eleven and thirteen years old are abroad in our land who can be guilty of such a terrible crime. Surely these boys have been neglected. My first thought was, " Were they in the Sunday-school and in the day-school?" Do tliey have laws in Wisconsin compelling people of that age to get an education whether they will or not? We, too, rejoice to know that it was not through any jealousy or envy at your success as business men. the dovetailed HIVE EASY TO SET UP. The Dovetailed hives, etc., have been received in good order. I think I shall like them better than the Simplicities, because they are lighter, cheaper, and easier to set up. BISULPHIDE OF CAKBON FOR ANTS. I notice in Nov. 1 Gleanings that Mr. W. F. Elliott, of Clio, Tex., desires a remedy for red ants. Let him try the bisulphide of carbon, so often mentioned by Prof. Cook. Directions: Pour about a pint into the hole; cover for about a minute, then explode the vapor that has form- ed, by burning a rag tied to a stick, and close up the hole air-tight. They call it ant-poison here. It is excellent for killing night, or cut- ting ants. .JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. In spring I sowed .5 lbs. of Japanese buck- wheat on about I acre of rich land, fi-om which I harvested 3 bushels. September 12th nearly a peck was sown on the same ground, which yielded almost four bushels. The bees worked on it in great numbers in the morning. Yorktown, Tex.. Nov. 29. R. Wp;stphal. WAKRANTED QUEENS. 1. If a queen-breeder guarantees or warrants untested queens purely mated, and some of his queens sent out should show two and three yel- low bands (no black bees at all), would such queens be calletl mismated? 2. Should such queens be replaced, under above conditions? High Hill, Mo., Nov. 3. J. N. S. Yes. to both questions, most assuredly. Un- less a queen produces (ill three-banded bees, she is mismated. See our ABC book. STRAWBERRY-GROWING IN FLORIDA. Friend Root: — I would say, in reply to your comments on my letter in the Nov. 1st Glean- ings, that tiie berries bear only one season, and are then turned under, and young plants set again. The long bearing season exhausts the old plants so that they are of no value for another crop. I have nevei- had berries for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but for New Years day we liave had them. We have Jessie. Bii- bach, Indiana, and Nunan — the latter the main variety planted in Florida — all growing finely; and to-day we are having a steady i-ain that 1890 GLEANINGS IN HEK CULTURE. 901 will make it a Thanksgiving day for all vege- tation us well as human kind, as we h;ive IkhI none for a month. H. (1. I5ui!NKT1'. A va. Fla.. Nov. 21. EDITED BY DR. (\ C. MILLER. Mice make mischief many times in the cellar. If they wonld only eat what honey they want it wouldn't be so bad; but they destroy so much brood comb. Latterly I keep them out of tlie hives by covering the entrance with wire cloth, tiiree nu'shes to the inch. It keeps the mice out without shutting in the bees. I like it. KICVEItSIBLE BOTTOM-BOAKDS. After a trial of nuire than a year these pi'ove quite satisfactory to lue. They were less trou- blesome to reverse this fall than last, because the hives were not out of square. I'm sure that a two-inch sjjace under the bottom-bars is a gooii thing. ^IIAP.^^AX hoxey-plant seed. This is yielded in good quantity, and is said to contain much oil. I picked some heads and threw to the chickens. They wouldn't touch it. Then I picked out some seed looking like grains of rye. They ate these readily, and some of them then began to eat the seed with the hulls on. Could this seed be profitably raised for chickens? JJ. Taylor, Forestville. Minn., has the laugh on me. The little sticks between sections that I paraded as my own '" git up " were shown to nu> by him in Madiscni last winter. My " for- gette'r '" was in good working order. lion. R. L. Taylor is an exasperating customer. In his President's Address he spoke of, the "fact" that honey "may be kept in perfect condition from one year to another." but didn't tell how. I wrote* challenging him to tell. Baclv comes a postal, saying, " I have kept hon- ey over in perfect condition, and it sold without question at the same price as new honey, and it was really decidedly better." and a few words of sauce, but not a word about the " how." If comb honey is meant. 1 have known of only two or thr(Hi cases of keeping over in good shape, and that on a very limited scale. Whether he has a different or the same plan, it is important to know about it, and lii-o. Tay- lor is not the sort of man to make a statement without solid foundation. Let's make him tell or put him out. The papers now have an imitation of comb so natural that the bees themselves are deceived by it, and ent it in wintei-. Ne.xt! Years ago a bee-keepers' de])artiuent in an agricultural paper was a rare thing. Now it is common. The, busy bee has buzzed itself into notice. INTKODUCIXG QUEENS. Joshua Bull, in the ApL, says that for years he has had complete success in introducing queens, provided there was a virgin queen in the colony to be operat(!d on. All that is nec- essary is to remove the virgin, "and imiuedi- ately let, the laying (|iieen loose ujjon the comb right among 1 he bees." (rot caught, didn'l >()u ".' Tiie weather stay- ed pleasant .so long, tluit. when the cold siuii) canu^ on the tirst of December, there were things still undone that you expected to do be- fore the freeze-up. Weather always does that way. Look out next tinu'.. Temperature in the cellar is important. The general agr(!ement seems to be that 4~) degr('(\s is about riglit: inil don't you depend entirelv on that. Cellars diHcr. Thermometers ditb'r. Hives dilTei'. Take 4.") for a starting-[)oint, and then find whether your bees are anv quieter above or below that. I believe my bees are bettei' off above 45 rath- er than below, in the cellar. Editor Alley is a, law unto hiiuself in a good many things. Iie"s generally emphatic in whatever he does. He is very emphatic in the December numbei' in mixing up tin; editoiial •• we" with the common, every-day " L" chang- ing from the one to the other with a reckless- ness very refreshing, ending up with " I regret we." All right, friend Alley. The " w<' " l)usi- uess is becoming antiquated. Don't you wish (iLEANixos would come once a week, especially in the winter? ' Well, the next best thing, if you do not already take them, is to take am)ther of the bee-papers. There are several that I shouldn't like to ))e without. Have you ordered all the supplies you need for lu'xt year? You'd better. If yon wait till about the time you need them, you may be de- layed, and now you may get a discount on them. Last summei' when woric was crowding, you and I had hardly time to read the bee-jouiiials. and sometimes could take time only to glance throngli them. Wouldn't it be a good plan to read them all over this winter? Some editors think they know every thing. They don't. Most of them don't tliink so. They are always glad to get suggestions from their readers. I am reiuinded of this by friend Root's request that patrons offer suggestions to uuike his catalogue more helpful and conven- ient. So it will be a good plan, if you think of any thing that would improve a hee-paper. to wiite the editoi' about it. But don't get luad if your suggestion is not followed. In nine cases out of ten there are good reasons why it should not be. Think of comb lioney being "wanted" in San Francisco at 13 to 14 cents a pound. But it seems to me it liardly goes up in proportion at the Nortli. Will lioney drop in price about the first of January? Usually it does. But one year, when it was hardly as scarce as now, it kept going up till late in si)ring. I am reported as saying at Keokuk, that the large black ant will not honey-comb bottom- boaids if tiiey are kept off the ground. 1 don't know whether I said just that. l)ut I know J didn't mean it. I am not sure that they will ti-ouble if the bottom-board stands directly on the ground. The worst trouljle seems to be w her(> tlu> Ijottom-board stands tlal on another board. Tlu^ ants seem to commence work be- tween tlie boards. I think they will not trou- ble if nothing touches the ui'ider side of the bottom-board only around the edges. Th(> HoiH'y Column in (h.EAMXcis is good, all l)ut where some one says, " Prices remain un- changed." It isn't pleasant to be obliged to look back one or more numbers to see what the price is. 1 wish I could get my bees trained like Man- um's to put off the brace-cotub busiiu^ss till fall. j\Iine seeiu to be just as bad early. Oh. but ex-i)re.Mdent Taylor will feel conceit- ed when he sees his picture in the I'eport of the Keokuk ccmvention! "Volunteer Contributicnis" appeal's in two programmes that 1 have seen. That may be all very well for a little while: but some of these days somebody will wish that " Volunteer Con- tributions " had never been born. .lones protests against the last part of foul- brood treatment given in ]\Ir. T*iiiigle's K<'okuk essay. He says it isn't safe. 902 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. lo. Not by mig-ht ni)r by powei', but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of liosts.— Zech. 6: 4. Dear friends, this is my closing talli for the year 1890. The question has been on my mind for some days, •' What shall be the last thought of the year? What subject is of most moment and most importance just now, to the readers of G1.KANINGS?" A very kind letter from a friend who furnishes me some valuable facts in regard to artesian wells, furnishes me my subject in these closing remarks. It is as follows: Friend Boot:— I was surprised at your reasons for giving money to a railroad company. Wliat does tlie Scripture mean when it says, " He that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want "V If the railroads of this country aie not rich, tlien I don't know as much as I tliougiit T did. One can walk cheapei' than to ride on a railroad. To make a long' story short, hey are robbers. I liave often wondered wiiat kind of people the Nazarene was speaking: to wlien lie said, "My Father's liouse shall be called a house of prayer; but you liave niade it a den of tliieves." I trouble you with this, because you are one of a few that desire to do wliat you can. We here in South Dakota can see that capital and lal)or will clash un- less the difficulty is settled by ballots. There is a party here, six months old, called Independents, wlio will always be "independents," in my opinion. De Smet, S. D., Nov. 18. S.,L. K. Had the above come from only otie corres- pondent, I should not have thought much about it; but I see the same spirit in other letters, and here, too, among my 'iichilthnrs in Jledina. 1 find it in the papers that aie scatt(M'ed so fi'eely throughout our land. Perhaps the railroads are not very often so strongly condemned as in the above, but yet there is more or less of that sort of feeling prevailing. Our friend is evi- dently looking toward legislation and the bal- lot to right his wrongs. Well, there may be something for American people to do in that line; but it is so much out of my department that I will not even try to touch tipon it to-day. The great thought that comes to me. and lies heavily upon my heart, is, that Satan is con- stantly entrapping us by persuading us that our neighbors are af? evil: and especially has this thought got into the heart of the laboring elasscH toward those who wield the capital of our land. Dear friends. I am sure that capital and labor should go hand in hand, just as a husband and wife should go hand in hand. I am sure that God has intended that capital and labor should be wedded together. Their rela- tions should be kind and loving ones. Each should seek to assist and aid the other— or, as is said in one text, " In honor preferring one an- other." The husband should make it his con- stant study to assist and help and please his wife; and she in turn should make it her con- stant thought to minister to his comfort, each one setting aside self for the good of the other. Now, when capital and labor can be doing just this, then shall we have a millenium here on earth. But doubtless many of our readers will say, " Capital has not done this, and does not propose to do it. Capital is the stronger party, and labor the weaker one. Labor always has submitted — at least almost always — and you would recommend, Bro. Root, that labor still submit." No, I do not. I know capital has a seeming advantage; and I know, too. that cap- ital has been, in some cases, very lofty, over- bearing, and unfeeling. In the very same way, many husbands, by their superior strength, and perhaps greater knowledge of the world, and possibly greater mental force, have the advan- tage, and in a brutish, selfish way, pj-opose to keep it. Both pictttres are sad ones. Where is the remedy? I should say, dear friends, before we try legislation or the ballot — that is, before we rely entirely upon the.se ag(Uicies — we should look into our own hearts and see that f?(Ci/ be right: be sure they are in fighting trim. You know what I mean by "fighting trim." The fighting to bedone is in the line of the te.Kt I have cliosen at the head of this talk — "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Let us tak<' our friend's letter in order. First. he expresses surprise that I should give nuDteij to the railroads. Why, dear friend R.. it is these same railroads that are revolutionizing the earth. Without the railroads yon could not live where you are now. Without them we should be in barbarism, as other nations are now, and where they must stay until railroads can let the light of civilization shine in upon them. It is the railroads that enable us to live in places where famine and starvation would be constantly recttrring without them. See the examples in the Old World. For want of railroads the inhabitants of China, in certain districts, are starving to death by the inlllioti. A former pastor of our church is now in China. He told us of a railroad that was built in China some years ago. The Chinese let the same bit- ter spirit enter their hearts that now and then comes into the hearts of our people here at home, and they tore the railroad all up — demol- ished the locomotive, tore up the track, bent the rails, and then — well, what then? Why, they starved to death during poor seasons, just as they have been doing for centtiries past I Dear brother, you do not give the whole of that Iw'autiful text from Proverbs, about giving to the rich. The whole verse reads, " He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want." You will notice the starting thought— in fact, the leading thought in the verse is, " He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches." Then follows the other part of the figure in re- gard to him that should favor the rich. That is, if a man wanted some work done, and in- stead of letting a jwur man do it he should give the job to a ric/i man, such a one shall surely come to want. Is not my construction right? You think that I gave to the rich in giving to the railroad. Why, dear brother, it is my own friends and neighbors who are building that I'ailroad. The prime mover in the whole pro- ject is a little energetic, wiry man who lives in a neighboring town. He has been working for an east and west railroad for all of fiv(> or six years. He got it started and under headway some years ago; but one disaster after another snowed him under, and we supposed he was hopelessly ruined. He kept at the work, how- ever, winter and summer. Just before we got the road undcu- way I laughingly told him that, if ((Hi/bocZy deserved a railroad, he did, in an- swer to his indefatigable industry and persever- ance. He told me confidentially that, if it fail- ed again, he would be hoiieh^ssly mined, and we. too, wottld have oar chance of getting an east and west railroad, as an outlet for our in- creasing business, for ever lost. At one of our railroad meetings it seemed as if the project must be given ui). The people began to lose heart, and go home. Then I stepped in and gave them an exhortation, and made some rash promises, as some of my friends thought — some- thing like matching every subscription that would be made during the remainder of the evening. They rallied, and came back: and we got so near tiie desired goal that night that the railroad took a fresh start and went ahead. Railroads and printing-presses, dear brother, follow in the wake of missionaries, as you well know. It is true, many vicious and profan« 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. H08 iiHMi arc (Misagcd in huiUliiig aiiil niaiiagiiia: railroads: hut lor all tliat. tlicy carry the gos- pel of Christ .It'sus everywhere they go. Yon (ieflar(> that the railroads ai'e I'ich. Are the railroads of our eountry ((// rich? Why. deal" brother, they iiuist have cupiidl, or they could not exist, iiut look about you. and see how many of them fail to pay exixMises. and go into the hands of a ivceiver. Such a thing has hat)pened t\\ ic(> to the only railroad that has been in oui' town foi' the last nineteen years. and yet you call them " robbers."" and others say these companies have no smils. To whom do" these expressions refer'.' They must surely refer to somebody. Is it the engineer, the con- ductor, those who handle the ficight. or is it the president of the I'oad and the stockholders? I am somewhat acfpiainted with these individ- uals on our road. Some of them are ])rofessing Christians, and good men; others are not. just as in all other avenues of life. We ai'e seeking, however, to bi'ing them to Chi'ist Jesus. Shall we do it by calling them robbers? In another column. Dr. Miller has alluded to the stul)born- ness of the railroad officials in regard to giving us reduced rates to tlie cenventlon. I have in my possession two very kind, gentlemanly let- ters from railroad olficials explaining why they could not give us reduced rates. They have learned by past experience that the attendance is too snuiU. We all know that the attendance at our national conventions is not what it should be. In asking them to give us reduced rates it is something like having a neighbor want you to come in from the lield to weigh him up /('(?/ (/ pound of honcji. If you have ever had to do that very much, you have learned that yon can not stand it. especially when time is valuable. If you call a neighbor a robber, and tell him he has no soul, you are taking the very shortest cut to make him a rob- b<'r and a soulless knave. By such treatment you may make him so ugly that he loses his ordinary good sense and sense of justice. What does oui" text say ? Do you really think that Jesus had in mind our railroad men when he spoke about making the house of prayer a den of thieves? It was on only one occasion that he used such words as these. The traftickers had invaded the house of God, and used it as a place to drive their sharp bargains. On such an occasion our Savior took upon himself the responsibility of reproving them and turning them out. When our railroad men go into God"s hou.se, they are surely as well behaved as other people; and when it comes to the contribution-box, they usually give libei'ally of theii' jjossessions. Many a church is indebted to some railroad man for its foundation, and may lie something more. In California the railroad comijanies are so Hrmly convinced that the house of God is a symbol of ])i'osperity that they build beautiful churches outright; nay. more, ^^'hen^it comes Sabbath-day they are on hand with their fami- lies, and they set a good example to many of the inhal)itants of a faruilmj community. It is true, when asked if they were membei's of the church, many of them would say, "Oh ! my wife belongs. She sings, and reads the Bible while I listen to the sermon and help pay tin- running expenses." My friend, the latter is not '(?J we could desire, but it is enough for us to be thank- ful for. Let us pray and work in tln^ spirit of our text, and we have God"s ])romis(! that tin- rest shall come. Friend Terry is at present staying at our honH». We are having a two-days' farmers" institute. Yesterday he told us in his talk of a place in the Avestern part of Ohio where l)utter is .selling at 10 cts. a pound. He (examined some that'a farmer brought into the store, and he said it was e\-ery bit as good butter as In^ pays ?-5 cts. a pound for in Hudson. O. In fact, he gave •■=<:.•.").()() lor 100 lbs. ol such buttei'. He ate the buttei' at the hotel tables, and the landlord assured him that he paid only 10 cts. a pound for it. Now. what does this mean? Bee-keep- ers have complained of such a state of affairs in I'egard to honey; but so staple an article as hitftrr. and butter of tine quality— why. I was astonished. How does it come? This way: 'I'liere are no railroads thei'e to equalize prices. Perhaps the peo|)le have not enterprise enough to demand one, and to go to work and build it as we did. Another thing, the producers are snuill farnu'rs. with a few cows a])iece. The amount ol butter they nuike is so trilling that they do not inquire into it. They do not read the quotations in the city papers.' Very likely these men who sell their butter for 10 cts. a pound sit around the stove in a country store, and call capitalists soulless robbers.' What shall they do? Why. bless your hearts, dear biotliers and sisters, they should make a little ■■ trust company "" of their own. if you will ex- cuse the expvcssion. Yes. call it a "ring'" — they need a ring to defend themselves, and they need to work in a brotherly band. If a ring means a brothei'ly band, theii I am in for rings\ This little brotherly band of farmers sliould pack their butter all together, each man putting his name on his package, and send it to son\e commission house in the nearest large city. Think of the difference — 10 cts. and 25 cts., fora staple article like butterl Now, nothing but railroads can cui'e this stale of affairs — railroads and the right sort of spirit between the small faiiner and the railroad officials. Youandyour neighbor need not be at swords' points because you are a day laborei' living in a little rented house while he lives in a tine mansion. Your relations may be of the most friendly nature imaginable. He may help yon, and you may help him. If any one will take an unbiased glimpse of the great industries in progress at the present day, I think he must admit that the only pos- sible way to accomplish numy things is by com- bined capital, and by lorming great companies. You may call them "" trusts"" and "rings" and "monopolies."' if you choose; but they are real- ly a necessity of the present age. In our talk at the institute I have mentioned, the Hon. Thomas H. Palmer gave us a history of the at- tempts that have been made, not only in Ohio, but in other vStates, to improve our coiuitry roads. That we might do this intelligently, many good public-spirited citizens labored hard to change the existing state of affairs, and (>ven laws were passed in sonu' sections to have the road-tax paid in money instead of day's work. This mom-y was to be used by competent engineers and mechanics in making permanent roadways. Many of you kiu>w that the labor and money exix'iided in working on the road, especially in clay soils, does no pernianent good. In front of our residence and factory, the travel last winter crowded the clay all out of the roads, and almost up on to the sidewalks, until the center of the road i)ecanie a filthy, reeking pool of nnnl. After long delay in the spring until it dried off. our i-oad-nuikers scrai)ed the clay up in th<> center again, and rounded it up nicely, and during the summer we had a very lair clay road; but during the two rainy months of October and November, the travel pushed th(! clay out into the ditches again, and the road is now aixiut as bad as before. All the labor of l)acking il- uj) amounted to nothing except a tem|K)rai'y gain, lasting a few montlis. Now. this kind of work has been going on for f/i/rfi/ or forty years in many districts. Enough labor and capital have been expended to have 904 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15. made a macadamized or stone road that would last for years. This matter was yi-escmted again and again to tlie farraei'S. but they united al- most in a body and rejected it. They wanted to stick to the old way of each one worlcome ac- quainted "with them, the more I feel ashamed of myself for having misjudged them in former years. I can well remember when I used to feel bitter toward our banks and oiu' moneyed men because they would not lend me money without -proper security. 'Why, they did me a positive kindness in making me submit to ordinary busi- ness rules and regulations. Bdiikruiitcy and tlie pcnitc}}tl(tru are oftentimes the result of letting somebody have money by mistaken kind- ness, when lie ought not to have it. We are tempted to criticise and find fault be- cause we do not understand things. Some one of our neighbors is lucky enough to get a posi- tion where he gets a salary of two or three thousand dollars a year. The temptation is great for the less fortunate ones to say that he got it liy wire-pulling or Ijy fraud. Such may be the case .sometimes, but I do not believe it happens very often. The chances are greatly that he has worked hard (or studied hard, if you choose) until he was fitted for the ])osition and deserved it. I have been watching this thing carefully for years. At the present time, while hundreds are applying for something to do, we are sadly in need of a man or woman worth one (U' "two thousand dollars a year. Now, none of you need ai)ply because I .say this. There are no such people on the market. Others besides ourselves ai'e, needing them. There are (jood people, mind you. plenty of them — people well educated, and with experience: people who are hon(>st and true, and who will do their v(M-y level best, but not people who have worked' hard, who are l)road and deep enough to see what our nation wants, and who have the (d^ility to direct a lot of men and women, or a large business. Such people do not grow themselves. They must b(> n\(ide to order, as it were: or, perhai)s."better still, make them- selves to order: and wh<'n they are nuide, ei;erj/- hody wants them. Some vei'y good friends of mine have tried to lill tlu'se positions. They have been very contident and sanguine, and they have been true and Christianlike enough to admit, when they found the work was great- er than they could manage, to say so, and step down and out. Now, when one has the ability to till these places, for Heaven's sake let us be- ware how we let envy and jealousy get into our hearts. Let us beware about speaking unkind- ly or spitefully of him. Now. fri<'nd R.. jjlease believe me when I tell you that the men who manage our railroads successfully are the kind I have been describ- ing. When they are opposed by laboring people who will not take the time to inform themselves in regard to these matters, they get in the habit of being short •and perhaps over- bearing in their answers, for they are by no means perfect in all the Christian graces. I do know this: That, when the managers of a railroad find out that a man is disposed to be fair and honest, and does not try to gouge and cheat them wlunievor an opporiiuiity liappens, they are very fair and liberal with him. It gives me pain when I hear the expression to the effect that railway corporations have no souls. It is true, it is not" exactly like dealing with any one man. But this corporation is made up of a number of men — made up of our neighbors, and the fact that they feel hard and indignant, and many times biit(n- and ugly, when these things are flung at them, shows they recognize the insult is intended for them, and they often re- sent it. as you. luy friend, would resent an in- sult. I do not mean to say there are no wj-ongs that should lie righted: and this organization that our good friend call^the Independents may be the right and proper way. providing it works in the line of our text— " Not by might nor by power." but by the spirit of Christ Jesus, re- membering ti^at we are constantly dealing with owY neiijhJiors, and that kindness and bi'otherly love— p'erhaps I might say n(irhj]ove — will accomplish what bi*terness and spite can never do. Our farmers and laboring classes are by no means helpless. I have given you an illustra- tion where tiiey conquered, and had their own way, even wher(> they were in the wrong, and the law-makers in "the right. If our rural neighbors can carry the day when they are in error, who shall say what they may do when their cause is rujht and justf Perhaps some of you say, " Why, Bro. Root, how do you knoiv we are in the; wrong? If we want to make our roads as we have been doing for fifty years past, by scraping the clay up in the center, and lettingit flat out again in the winter time, is it notour privilege?" Well, this maybe open to discussion: but I do not think it is your privilege. You are in duty bound before (lod and your fellow-men to con- sider the good of the people at large, and the good of tli<; peo|)le who are coming aftei' you. You have no business to waste valuablestrength year after year in something that does no permanent good. You have no business to wear out your horses, and keep your wife and chil- dren at home when they might S])in over good I'oads to come to town and attend fai'mers' in- stitutes, to go to church and Sunday-school, etc., just because you ai'c too lazy, or too little and stingy aiul mean, to employ competent men to make some r/oocZ substantial 7'oad.s. just as you would employ competent men to make good substantial houses and barns. I hope this lat- ter clause is in the spirit of the text at the head of my talk to-day. If it is not. may God give me grace and wisdom to see my ouj)i want of charity. You know how badly ivc have felt because the great outside world would have it that our honey was all manufactui-ed. comb ;is well as extracted, and how reluctant oui' friends and neighbors were to let go of the silly falsehood. Well. now. I am sur(» that we on our side are doing something of the same kind when we ac- cuse those who handle the large commodities of 1890 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 905 life, of forming trusts and rings, and the iiir wiiat a great stir was made about the trust on binding twine. Well. I took tiu' ptiins to read ui) on tlie sul)jeet. and I bcL'aine perfecily satislied tlu'i-e was no ti'ust-at all. and never had Ixcii ! The sudden demand for twine for binding gi'ain brought about the very state of a flairs tliat comes now and then in evpvy product. Why not accuse the farmers of hav- ing made a trust on iKitatocs that makes them woi'tli '15 cts. (I peck to-day in Medina '.' Friend Teri'\ has lieen at our house for two days, and I discussed the whole matter with him most thoroughly. He agrees with me exactly, and. furthermore, says that he believes that even the Stdiiddrd Oil Couipmnj has been a blessing to the world at large. He says he believes we get better oil. and at a lower in-ic', than we ever should have had it without them. Now, w(^ tuay not all exactly agree with him; but yet his charitable feeling toward all these great ndustries keeps him constantly in a happy fiame of mind. The tirst- day of our institute hi^ talketl three times, and then again in the evening; and he is going over the whole State of Ohio this winter, doing almost the same kind of work every day. What \w contributes to the agricultural papers is written between times. I fear his health will never stand such severe mental labor as he is doing: yet he is doing it out of love to our people, and because he hat(>s to see our Ohio farmers waste st.rettgtJi, energy, and Intellect in fighting the many things that are like bogus comb honey — things that never had an existence at all. I hardly need tell you that friend Terry stands alone by himself, so far as. any ring or coniliinalion is concerned. He is in daily, constant intercourse, not only with the farming people, but with our great leading eapir- talists. He has ample opportunity, and no doubt many invitations, to use his great and in- creasing intiuence to favor different sellish jjro- jects; but may the Lord b(> jji-aised for the fact that money can not buy him — no, money can not swerve him a liair's hreiulth. Can I say as much for you, and j/oit. and you, my friend? H so, then I can say again, "' May the Lord be praised." You are just whatoiir country stands greatly in need of. And now, dear friends, permit me to close my exhortation to you for this time with a little bit of that beautifiil chapter in I. Corinthians, the 13th. If you should see how fitly it applies to the case in question, and feel a desiic to read more of it, and should take down the family liible and read the wiaAe chapter to the good wife and children, 1 shall be happier still; and may Christ Jesus bless all these talks for the year i)ast; may the influences of the Holy Spirit so bring them liome to your hearts, that you can enter the year 1891 with a broader charity toward all the world, and especially toward our great corporations of which we have been speaking, than you have had before. May you not only have a broader charity, but iiuiy you have a happy and willing spirit, thanking tJod for the chances he has given you to make your way among the crowd; and may you have grace to get a glimpse of the kind and loving spirit that surely does exist some ivh ere \n the heart of every neighbor round about you. whether he be rich or whether he be poor. Here is my extract: Chanty suffereth l(jii^', and is Itinfl; cliarity envi- eth not; chiuity vauntetli not itself, is not puft'ed uj), dottj not beiiave itself nnseendy, seek(Mli not her own, is not easily i)r()\()k(il, thiiikelli mi evil; rc^- joiceth not in iniquity, Imt rejoicetli in the Initli; biiarcth all things, lielieveth ad thin^is, li(i|ietli all thing-s, enduretli all tliinf^s. EDI5f0RI^L\ A ^ oft answer tiuncth away wrath; but Kiievous words stir upanger.— Prov. 15:1. SUGAR FKOM BKETS VS. SUGAR FROM CANE. PiJoF. Cook says there is no difference what- ever. See his article on the subject, in our next issue. TIIK SMKAl) DRV-CLOSET SYSTEM, AND THE VALUE OF THE RESIDUE. Since the close of the article on page 898, I have conversed with fricMid Terry and also with one of the Smcad people. Mr. Terry says he would considej- the dry residue of just as much value as to carry it on the ground with so large a quantity of water. The Smead folks tell me the customary way of disposing of the product is to pour on a little coal oil and set it on fire. It will all burn to ashes, without any residue, and it may be burned up once in three month.s, once u a year, or once in two years, as the owner chooses. The vault of the closet is built of brick and iron bars, so that there is nothing to be endangered while the burning is going on. The smoke and gases go so promptly up the shaft that nobody will know that the contents are burning. ijfe-memi5er,siiii' in the n. a. k. k. a. New life-members are being continually add- ed to the roll, and so far we feel very much en- couraged: and if this membership is to contin- ue at the present rate, we shall keep on harp- ing until the list is swelled to a respectable size. Up to the date of the meeting at Keokuk, these two were the only life-members: D.A.Jones, Beeton, Ont.; Thomas G. Newman, Chicago, 111. The following is the list of names that have been handled in since, in the order of their receipt: A. I. Root. Medina, O.; E. R. Root, Medina, O.; J. T. Calvert, Medina, O.; Charles Dadant, Hamilton, 111.; C. P. Dadant, Ham- ilton, 111.; Eugene Secor, Forest City, Iowa; Dr. C. C. Miller, Marengo, 111.; O. R. Coe, Windham, N. Y. We trust that every bee- keeper who is interested in the highest welfare of his pursuit will at once send his name to the secretary, Mr. C. P. Dadant, Hamilton, 111. If you are unable to pay the amount now he will charge the same; to you, and you wHl then be enrolled in the list as above. The above makes ten names, and all that has been paid in is invested and di'aw ing (l per cent interest. UEI'ORT OF THE N. A. K. K. A. The r.Msf Annual Report of the North Ameri- can Bee-keepers" Association has just come to hand from the publishers, Messrs. T. G. New- man & Son, Chicago, 111. As usual it is well and neatly printed, and substantially bound in a tinted-paper cover. One thing we notice in l)articular in regard to this report is, that it is nearly twice as large as any other report of one 906 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15. convention. The Keokuk report occupies 50 pages, the size of this; the one at Columbus, 26 pages; the one at Brantford, a year ago, 38 pages. Every member will have a copy of the last report, and a good many who are not mem- bers should have it. Price 25 cents each, or to members free. Apply to Thos. (}. Newman & Son, as above. BEE-KEEPEKS" ADVERTI.SEK. The above is the caption of a circular and pamphlet of instruction issued by Henry Alley. In regard to the bee-keepers of York State and the closed-end frames which they use so rapidly and easily, as mentioned by the writer in his recent visit, Henry Alley says: " There, friends, I told you these same things a good many years ago, and not only pointed out to you the advan- tages of the closed-end-frame hive, but offered for sale one of the best hives now in use. Now that this subject is opened up anew, I have no doubt that thousands of bee-keepers will adopt closed-end frames." The circular can be ob- tained free of Mr. H. Alley, WenJiam. Mass. COMMON SAET AS A REMEDY FOR FOUL BROOD. One of the bee-friends takes us to task for dismissing the above rather too briefly— see page 822. Our reasons for so doing were these: During the whole time that foul brood prevail- in our apiary, we used salt in front of the hives for keeping down weeds. Whenever there was a rain or even a heavy dew, the bees could be seen in the sawdust around the entrances, help- ing themselves to salt water to their hearts" content. Secondly, Prof. Cook or some one else has reported testing the matter, with scientific exactness, and the salt water had no effect whatever on the foul brood. We are quite will- ing, however, to reconsider the matter when any thing positive can be brought forward. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. THE PAPEM-WKIGHT. I can hold it in my rijilit hand and scratcli enough geometry in my head witli my lett to last two weeks. It is very pr-'ty. Waf^ter S. Poudek. Indianapolis, "liid.. Oct. 3. THE NEW DOVETAILED HIVE. In the new Dovetailed hive, witli HofTman frames, described in Nov. 1 Gi-eanings, you have given the fraternity, I think, a perfect hive, and one whicli is destined to become immensely popuhir. Lexington, Ky., Oct. 31. Jas. Erwin. HONEY ALL Sain this season. We have sold some 8uO queens this year, and would like to stop, as we want to keep a few foi- ne.\t year. We litid to till an order for 10 to-day. We knuw it pays to advertise in Gleanings and in the American Bee Journal. High Hill, Mo., Oct. ai. Jno. Nebel & Son. KIND WORDS FOR OOR STRAWBERRY-BOOK. The honey I ordered came to Newburgh yesterday morning I find it just as you described, almost as white as water, and of veiy thick flavor. [ am well pleased. Freight was H) cts. I presume it would have been no more on twice the amount. Cleveland, O., Oct. 39. E. Hanchett. OUK 15-dollar sewing-machine as good as one costing thirty. I received your .sewing-machine in good order, and I am well pleased with it. I could not have got it any less than $30.00 aroinid tins i)ai't of the coun- try, and it sews just as well as the $30.00 ones. It .sews any kind of cloth. Mrs. Jean Bonnat. Coultersville, 111., Nov. 10. I received the book on strawberries, by T. B. Terry, and I tell you I was agreeably sui'prised. I have learned moie from his book than I ever heard of, and it is so easy that any boy c;ui make a success from it. I want Mr. Terry's A B C of Potato Cultuie, and Care of Horses and Cattle. Jno. W. Henrie. E.xcelsior Springs, Mo., Oct. 1.5. Strnwherry Culture. — A forty-cent book on this subject, intended especially for beginners in the art, has been prepared by two good authorities, T. B. Terry and A. 1. Root, aiid is published by the latter, at Medina, O. A number of good illustrations en- hance greatly its value. [We regard the above as a pretty good conniienda- tion, especially as it comes from the Country Gentle- man, a paper st) careful in what it recommends.] The thousands of farmers who ought to grow strawberries foi' their own table may learn how easi- ly it can be done by reading '• The A B C of Straw- beriy Culture," a little boolv written by T. B. Terj'y, and published by A. I. Root, Medina, O. Mr. Root, who is a successful berry-grower, adds an interesting' chapter. Both writers give their own experience, and state particulars that are usually omitted in boolts of the liind.— F(i7/*i Journal. This is an admii'able treatise on strawberry-grow- ing, written in the usual practical and interesting style of Mr. Terry. It is a book evoked out of Ins own experience, and for tluit reason it is doubly val- uable. We find much instruction from its perusal; the observations and e,\'i)erience of such men as the author are always ai)t to lead t(j improvement, and many hints and suggestions ma.v lie found in this little book that will prove of much profit to the strawberi'v - gi-ower. Mi-. Root adds a chapter on Strawberi'y Culture, and there are some good illus- trations from photographs throughout the book. We heartily recommend it.—Orehaid and (larden. I have the plea.sure of acknowledging the receipt of Terr.v's and your strawberry-book, for which I am thankful. For fifty years I have been getting about all the works published on this subject; and I can say that I consider yours the best. It leaves noth- ing untold in the way of how to treat plants and the berries, besides being a very interesting and readable little book. To-day I start to attend the State Horticultural meeting, and in the discussion on the strawberry I shall recommend your work. The new suggestions aiid plans in your book are val- uable, some of which 1 have practiced; but I was not aware of others' doing it. S. Millek. Bluffton, Mo.. Dec. 1. FROM W. .1. GREEN, OF THE OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION. I have been much pleased in looking over Mr. Terry's strawlierry-book. not only with what is said, bul with the manner of jiresentation as well. It is both instructive and entt-rtaining. and all the more valuable bec-ause of the lietter element. It is so full of eiUhusiasm that it ought to enthuse others. There is need of a book of this Icind, for most farmers ei- thei' believe that they can not gi-ow berries or it would not ]iay them to do so if they could. This book helps those who would lielp them>-eh'es, and convinces those who are open to conviction. Columbus, O., Nov. 18. W. J. Green. i8yo GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 907 INDEX TO GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE, FOR THE YEAR 1800. ABCClass .■W2 ABC Scholar's Experience. .521 Adulterated Honey 60 Adulteration of Honey eTO Am-lioard, Reversible. . 50 Bottom-boards, Invertible. .124 Bottom-b'ds, without, Cel'r.280 Bottoms, Reversible 368 Boxes Getting Bees Out of ..662 Boys, Bad, Fined 379 Boys, Bad 597 Boys. Bad. Again 637 Brood combs. Emptying 813 Brooding Sticks or Air 368 Brace and Burr Combs .446 Bra<-e-combs 18, 19, 126, 564 Brace-combs, Plea for 4.69 Brace-combs. Necessity of .493 Brace-combs, To Prevent 17, 7,S3 Braces, Distance Apart 289 Brantford Convention 1.34 Breeding. In and In 663 Brimstoning Honey.. (Q.B) 639 Bristol Hive 45 Brood-chamber, Size of 24 Brood-frame, Size of..(Q.B.).25 Brood-frames Top of Hive 208 Brood-nest, Size of. . cQ. B. ) . 140 Brood. Spreading 93, 169 Brood in Horizontal Frame.568 Buckwheat Cnissing 206 Buck wheat. Japani-se.. .677, 842 Buffalo H(.ney JIarket 414 Bumble-bees in Disgrace ...630 Bumble-bees 736 Burdock 717 Busy Bee .344 Cacti H58 Caged Queens 480 Cages Long Distances 638 Caging Queens 203 Caging Q. to Prevent Sw'g. 265 Cafil ornia 696 California Honey 22 California Backward 410 California Hce-killer .6i;5 California, I'cculi.-u- Season.340 Caliloniia. Kxpcrienc-e in. ..459 Crililoiiii.-i. S(.utliern 812 Caiiirls .-111(1 Bees 6-i7 Cam lying, 'fo Prevent 175 C.-iiiilviiig r.j-fore Capping. .714 Candy, ilo.xl 831) ('.I M; Ulll Capping (ilCombs 460 Cariiiolaii ,\piary 47 Carniolans Bad 216 Carniolans, Adverse to. .167, 168 Carniolans. Good Word for. 463 Carniolans, Favorable to . .5-<3 Carniolans. Good Temper. 498 Carrying Bees in the Alps. 286 Case, Wintering 847, 860 Catalogue, Condensed 8-J7 Catfish 784 Cellar, Too Warm 65 Cellar, Carrying Kees from. 106 Cellar. Carrying Bees to. . . 2^9 Cellar. Carrying Bees out. .695 Cellaring Bees 341 Chaff Hives Su(-(-essfiil 346 Chaff Hives Ahead 379 Chaff Hives \vitliout Chaff., S-Jl Chart' Hives. Packing for . .456 Chatf Hive Cellar Winter'g.. 62 Chaff Hive. Wider Enfe... .5'^9 Chafl: Hive, 8-frame 697 Chickens vs. Bees 781 Chitties of Burma 127 Chitties. White 494 Chinese Industrial School. .136 Christian Science 55, 75 Chunk Honey, To Sell 137 Cicada 6ii0 Cicada, Common 630 Clamp, Manum's 849 Clamps for Wintering 290 Clark's Starter Machine 314 Cleats for Hives .369 Clipping «-. Queen-trap 344 Clipped Wings Growing 715 Closed End. Advantages of.89;) Closed end. Alley's 889 Cloth in Hotbeds 679 Clover, Japan 22 Clover, Mammoth Peavine.700 Cobea Seandens 636 Coe's Swarming Arrangm't.. 620 Cole's Agriculture 643 Colonies Outdoors 209 Colonies, Number in Place.. 160 Colony in Open Air 72 Comb Honey Broken Down. 263 Comb Honey Chang'gColoi-899 Comb Honey for Market 12 Comb Honey Freezing 172 Comb, Bees'to Empty 746 Combs and Caged Queens.. .369 Combs Melting 697 Combs, 111-shapen 283 Comments on Gleanings 287 Commission, Selling on. 427, .615, 516, 738 Commission Men 443,803 Cones, Perpendicular S^O Conti-acf ion. Does it Pav?. .456 Coiiti-a(-tioii (Q. B.).866 Contrary to Nature 6.'S8 Conventions, Local 886 Convention. Ohio State 216 Corks in Honey-jars 390 Costellow's Cage 93 Cotton for Honey 677 Cover-boards 174 Covers, Flat, Preferred 345 Covers, Flat, Cleated .(Q.B.).68 Covers, Flat 445,866 Covers for Hives. . .(Q. B 1.103 Covers for Hives 339, 526 Cow-killer 600 Crating Honey 313, .321 Cream-Hill Apiary 245 Crops Under Glass 256 Cross Bees 499 Crown Beard 822 Cuba 277 Cuba V. California 819 Cuckoo-bees 2t Cutting. H. D 690 Cyprians and Syr's Prolific.695 Cyprians and Syr's Distin'd. 696 DanipiKss ill Hives 91 Davis' l'al(-iit Hive 455 Dead Aii-v. Packing 340 Deatli 11(1111 a Sting 786 Detroit Exposition 601 DiaiiKiiid Kattle^nake .617 Dibheijii Hci-c.s(-ape 606,706 Dililile's. K(Ml.-.k Views at. ..878 Dibble's Snn.ker-House 879 Di(-tion!iiv, Bogus 390 Digested Nci-far 53 Di scon Ills. Discrimination.. 746 Distaiu-cs. Fixed 592 Divisi(,ii boards. Two 860 Doctors. Hunt's Plea for.... 844 Dodecahedrons 626 Doolittle's Home. 11 Doolittle's Caging Process. 98 l)(M. little's Cell Cup 879 Double Top-bars S04. 281 Double-walled Simplicitv.. .518 Dovetailed Cor. Used 12 Y'8.251 Dovetailed Hive 171, 629 Dove'd Hive, Great Success.713 Dove'd H. Prep'd for Mov'g.252 Dove'd Hive for Winter. . . 8-21 Dovetailed Hive Modified .. .744 Dove. Hive in Kansas 822 Dove. Hive. Allev on 810 Ml lines Killed in Jnne. ..493, .669 Drones. To Destroy 676 Drones, Swarm ot 706 Dysentery, Soured Honey. .289 Dual Dovetai led Hive 250 Editors and Questions 518 Eggs, Largest Number 317 Eggs, Bees Stealing 568 Eggs, .Sex of 714 Eggs, Do Bees Steal! 708 Eggs in Jelly 840 Egypt, Bee-Keeping in 323 Egyptian Apiculture 365 Eight V. Ten Frame Hive... .674 I-:iectricit V. Progress in 879 Elwo.id's. Kodak Views at 878 Enameled Sheets 215 Entrance, Which Way? 23 Entrance, Too Small 464 Entrance in Bottom 848 Entrances, Which Way?. . . .177 Ernest in New York 640 Ernest's Travels 606, 701, 776 Ernest at Elwood's 669 El-nest in Albaivy 814 El-nest in Vermont 847 Escape, The Dibbern 90 Exaggeration in Terms 866 Excluders Prev'ng Laying..480 Exhibit, Mercer's 16 Exhibits at Fairs 402 Express v. Freight 298 Extra Space Under Frames. .341 Extracted Honey. Bottling. 247 Extracting in California 593 Extract'g in Cold Weather. 242 Extractor Run by Steaml75,277 Extractor, Stanley 22 Extractor, Home-made 376 Extractor, Busick's .380 Extractor, Novice 602 Extractor, Solar Wax 817 Extractors for California. . .367 Extractors, Coggshall on .68 Extractors. Reversible.. 67, 166, 217 Extractors. Multifrarae 206 Fastening Hives 313 Feeder. Outdoor 780 Feeding Back a Success... 784 Feeding Outdoors 24, 201 Five-banded Italians 449 Five-cent Packages 64 Fixed Frames 189,199, 263 Fixed Frames Discussed 451 Fixed Frs. for Dove. Hive. .744 Fixed D stances for Fr'm's.288, 322, 332. 481. 497 Fixed Distances in England. .663 Fixed Distances .. (Q.B.) 676 Fixed Frames, Alley's 8,S9 Fixed Fi-'s, Adantages ot. .891) Flag ot Comb Honey 246 Flood on Mississippi 4.63 Florida 59,452 Florida Sometimes Late 568 Foul Brood, Acids for 24 Foul Bi-ood-Bulletin 61 390 Foul Brood in Canada 665 Foul Bi-c.kI in Ireland 596 Koul Br 1 Cun-d by ABC. 741 Foul B.(.(i:l and Salt". 828 Foul-bi-dod liisiiector 740 Folll-bnidilv Hives 629 Foun.lati.in. Fastening. 160, 2(10 Foundati.iii. Flat bottom. . .64 Foiinil:ili(vn. Indipped 299 Foiuidatidii. Heavy, Best... 532 FoiiiKlation (111 Cheese Cloth. 61 Foundation St retching .657 Freezing Foundation 8.67 Fracas, Lively 499 Frame-spacei's 418 Frame, Phelps' 98 Frames, Fixed 172, 842 Frames, Met. Cor., Fixed 175 908 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE Dec. 15. Frames, Mov'e, in France. ..147 Frames, Spacing Fixed 164 Frames, Spaeintr 490 Frames, Thick Top-bars.. 17. 18 Frames, Wiring 371 Frames, 17oubIe-top-bar — 379 Frames, H(jtfman 425, 427 Frames, To Fasten 41.5 Frames, Odd-sized. . ..69fi Frames, Closed-end.771,«06.«21 Frames with Poultry Net'g.42f> Frame, Hoffman 379 Freight on Fish and Honey.4'.i8 Funds for N. A. B. K. A 857 Fung-US Growth in Insects.. X84 Furniture Rails. Spacers.... 3.31 Gal Iberry Honey 377 (rarden. Shape of 105 Gardenings Outdoor 294 Gardening in July .533 Gardening, A. I. Root's 750 Garden Parsnip 713 (Jeorgia for Bees 377 Gift of Spirit 536 Gill's Hives .207 (ilass Snakes 318 Gleaninss for .July V> 661 (ioldenrod 674, 737 Goldsmith Beetle 487 Graham Bread 895 Grape Sphinx ; 660 Grasses Not Honey-plants.. 449 Gravenhorst's Letter 733 (irinding at Home 50 Grippe Ill Ground, To LeTel 101 Hall's Discovery (?) 700 Hammers, Maydole 805 Hart's Apiary 624 Hatch's Cover 561 Hauling Bees 313 HaulingjFasten'g Cover and Bottom 249, £.52 Hearing. Imjia'red 382 Heddon Hive, New .very 01d896 Heddon, James 162 Hellgrammite ,516 Hen Story, A 794 Hermaphrodite Bees 449 Hermaphrodite, Another. . .518 Hive-cart, Boardman's 278 Hive, Dovetailed, IMscussed.20 Hive, Golden 804 Hives, Half-I>epth for Wo- men 896 Hive, Out-apiai;v 830 Hive Question Re viewed .. 891 Hive, Sliirlev 568 Hive , Shot-tower .369 Hive, 8 V. 10 Frame 674 Hives, Deep and Shallow 24 Hives, Double and Single. . . 91 Hives. Alley on 889 Hives. Large or Small 892 Hives, Shallow 168 Hives, S'hal.,bef Heddon's.324 Hives, Bottomless .369 Hives Facing 387 Hives, Arrangement of 374 Hives, Decoy, Illegal 378 Hives, Decoy 428 Hives, Shade tor 496 Hives, Painting 602 Hives, Number Made Here .614 Hives, Odd-sized 668 Hives, 8 or 10 Frame 8.55 Hive-stands 713 Hod, Greenhouse 266 Hoffman Frame 33) 331. 488, 489. 490, 532. 636, 666, "01 HolvLands Discussed 731 Home of T. B. Terry 522 Honey, Dark 382 Honey. Care of 48 Honey, Packing 9 Honey. Packages for 12, 21 Honey, Peddling 24 Honey, Shipping 218 Hone.y, Retailing 208 Honey, etc.. Selling 292, 587 Honev. Shipping and Sell'g 55 Honey. Selling Kxtractcd . .428 Honey. Selling on Sunday . .290 Honey, Marketing 123, 376 Hon ey , Pri ze 87 Himey, Pounds to Gallon. . .854 Honey. Adulterated 403 Honey, \rtitlcial 390 Honey. Do Bees Make? 485 Hone.v, To Improve 528" Honey, Pine tree 635 Honey. Candied 785 Honey, Grading 895 Honey, Heddon's 854 Honey. Arizona (Homes). ..861 Honey-board in Swarm'g...l37 Hiiney-boai-d, Slatted 783 Hone.y-dew, Pine 51 Honey-eaters Wanted 197 Honey-house, Size 276 Hone.v -moons 379 Houev-stiainers 248 Honey for Dyspeptics 202 Honey and Old Fog es 23 Honey by Freig bt 147 Honey in Paper Pails 99 Honev Statistics. 4ia 462, .598 Honey in Hive or Sections. .593 Honey Sold by Section 6.38 Honey at a Picnic 292 Honey for D.yspeptics 290 Honey Candy'g in Sunimer.497 Honey Prospects. Cook 487 Honey from Upper Story. 716 Honey above Thick Top-b's 821 Horizontal Wir'g Preferred 327 Horsemint 496 Hot Springs, Arkansas 285 Hotels in New York 703 Hot-house. Hive 773 House apiaries in 1890 132 House-apiaries 345 Hybrids (Q.B.i.752 Hybrids and Pi opolis .532 Hybrids, Young Chickens.. 706 Hybrids, v. Pure 816 1. A. B. A. at Keokuk 741 Ice. Artificial 285 Ignotnm 173 Ignotum in Australia 736 Ignotums Mixing 23 Increase by Dividing 207 Increase. To Prevent 213 Increase, Artificial 2t0 Increase. To Reduce 254 Increase. Controlling .843 Int'g and Ship'g Cages 880 Ireland, Foul Brood in 596 Ireland 78C Italian Monarchy 167 Italians Ahead... 25, 705. 782, 859 Italians v. Blacks 677 Italians v.s. Hvbrids ... .75'. 854 Italians, Four-banded.. .378,495 Italianizing 24 Jamaica Exposition 3:'9 Japanese Buckwheat.. .. 63, lt9 177 Japanese Bnckwh't ahead.. 716 Joint-snake 417 Jones v. Brown, Legal Case.481, 555 Jumbo Extractor 484 Keeney's Frame 371 Keeney's Spacer 556 Keeney's Wiring. . .445, 529, 632, 785 Keokuk Convention 809,8.52 Keokuk Report 9n6 Kerosene for Propolis 821 Kerosene v. Bees 858 Labels, Paste for 378 Labels Sticking on Tin -.298 527 Lake George 815 Langstroth Hive in Gei'y.. 2U Lang.stroth 822 Lawn-mower Attachment.. 495 Laving in Queen-cells 735 Lending Glea"ings 64 Lice, Red 23 Lice on Queens 8.8 Light Bad for Bees 344 Lobelia Honey — 62 Locality and Hives 497 Locust, Gr. at «46 Long-Idea Hive 482 Loss Heavy in New York... 463 Losses Heavy 4.58 Lotteries 8i9 Low Yield 341 Madison Convention 145 M.ilta, Bees on 881 Managing 600 Colonies 495 Manufactuied Science 434 Manum's Vacation 242 Manuni's Medina Visitor 772 Manum on a Vacation 275 Manum on Commission 411 Manum and Supplies 3i3 Manum and Wages 4.55 Manum at Home 8: 9 Maple Suirar 344 Marketing Honey at Home 242 Marketing Honey 202,218 Man-iage, etc •'46 Mason Fruit -jars 783 Matted-hair Packing 72 Mclntyre, J. F 486 Mclntyre's Extractor... .626. 704 Medical Facts 774 Me. licine, Di-. Hall's 421 Melilot 161 Melting Old Cbs. with Porn.496 Mercer'.s Scale Hive 679 Michigan Convention M Michigan, Northern 603 Middlemen ,443 Miller's Ai tide Reviewed. .561 Miller's Fdn. Fastener 200 Miller's Picture 4i0 Miller's Proposed Apiai-y ...524 Miller's Introducing Cage.. 709 Ministers and Tobacco.. .32, 382 Minnesota, Loss in 464 Mole Cricket 704 Moss , 6S0 Moth, Luna 630 Moth. Ii .perial 736 Moving Bees 126. ii8 Moving Bees. Fast'g Cover and Bottom 252 Moving B. in Pas"nger Cars.251 Moving L. Hires 29'; Nails as Spacers 638 Nectar from Red Oak 736 Ne Spreading Brood 1C9 Spreadire- Brood a Success 2f9 Suring fiwindling. Why. . 466 Spring Dwindling 842 Spruce-tree P;ant lice '>8 Square Cans V Barrels.. .. 299 Stanley Evtraetor 101 Staples o" Frames Ill* Starters To Putin 314.427 Statistics False 767 Stings ,^nd Ri'e''niatisni344.860 Stingy. Remedy for fO» Stinging. Fatal -^SR Stoies for Winter .. (O Bl 712 Strawberries Thick orThin 751 Strawberries. Tevrv's .5- S Stra«beiTiPs,V'si' to Terry Mf Stra when ies. No Ruppers. 571 Strawberries, Hepil's p an. 752' Strawberries. M'He- 's Plan 788 St'-awberries. Be: t Kinds. .896 Strav Straws 851 Success of Mrs. Mon ighan 6' 8 Success Grand I0'2 Sugar. Cane or Beet 819 Suprar. Beet 84:? ■npersednve 714 Surersodtiie of Cl'pped Qnerns f98 Snppl^.s. Home-male 290" Swarming Without i^neen 344 Swarm'ngand Sec Honey. .768 S-varminer Queer Case. . 3 0 Swarming An'omaiir' 215.748 Swirniing P'-eveni'ng.. .. 4K» S.> arming To Prev't (Q B ) 567 Swarm pg in November . . 2.3 'Swarming Toi, Is Lullier'..- ifO Swarm-cati hers 417 Swnrm-hiver-. Atfi. mafic i>44 Swaim'g.TnProent b> C'g.2.5.> Swarms 2 T'gefhwv . i^C, Swarms inCa'ifoinia .594 : Swarms (Q B ' 8" Swaim Small Third .558 I Sweet Cli.vcr -5* GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 909 Syrians Discussed 73t Taxing: Bees 5R3 Taylor's Shallow Hive 168 Taylor. R.L 770 Temperature Bees Fly 176 Temperature. Regulating. .282 Tent, Folding Bee 732 Tents. Escape 405 Terms. Utie of 67 Texas Cow killer 660 Thick Top-bar 518, 3£2, 198 Thick Top bar. Failure 629 Thick Top-b's in Our Apiay.53a Thick Top-bars. Against. . . .276 Thick Top-bars No Burr-cb.497 Thick Bars 20.'i,205 Tinfoil for Bottling 248 Tobacco for Bee-forage . . . .60$ Tomato Juicer. Propolis. .677 Top-Oars Discussed 17 Top-bars v. Hon. Bo'ds .161.165 Top-bars Not Advisable 426 Top-bars and Burr comb.s.. .208 Top -bars, Ames' 405 Top-bars. Double 204 Top-bars, Double, a Success.281 Top-f rame.s. Thick 868 Top-bars. Thick . . .17, 18. 43. 45, 95. 126, 131, 163, 164, 172, 174, 208, 562. 602. 639 Tophai-s. Wide 140, 174 Top-bars, Wide 174 Top-bars, Width of 209 Top-bar. Pro.iecting 426 Top-bar, Thick, a Success. ..715 Traveling in York State. . . 743 TrirUcy's Visit 794 T siipiT Si Mt ion-holders 170 T Supri- Disiussed 663 Transphuiting-tubes 257 Troy Blacksmith 3.'?0 Twine, Ward's 448 Uncapping-bowl 71 Uncapping-box . 769 Uniting Bees 808 Unsealed Brood v. Swar'g..284 V^an Deusen Frames 137 Van Deusen, V'isit to 406 Ventilation. Modes of 91 Ventilation, Sub-earth. .• — 86 Ventilation, Bottom 8.i8 Ventilators Don't Pay 24 Vinegar, Honey-cider 377 Volition in La.ying Eggs 559 Wages (Q.B.).461 Walking-sticks 530 Warm Weather 65,66 Wasps 600 Waste Products, Disposi- tion of 897 Water Cure 421 Water for Bees 784 Watering Bees 490 Wiitering-pl.ice 60 Watering-trough and Bees. 713 Water, Bad Well 49 Water, Soft, for Bees 782 Wax i>er Colony 735 Wax, Removing 659 Wax, Melting from Pan 716 Weather, Unusual 87 Weevils 372 Weighing Frames 71 Wells on Hilltops 196 Well, Artesian 778 Westcott's Apiary 329 Wheat and Tares 610 Wheat-joint Worm 737 Wide Top-bars 43. 45 Width of Top-bars.. (Q.B.). 527 Wiley's Silver Lining 61 Windbreaks 706 Windmills and Tanks 643 Winter of 1889 69 Winter, A Warm 101 Wintei- Case, Outer 890 Wintering in California 291 Wintering on a Bush 291 Wintering, Confining Bees. .24 Wintering, Outdoor 243 Wintering, Dysentery in — 276 Winter Repositories 876 Wiring 198 Wiring Frames 492 Wiring, Hor,, v. Perpend'r.329 Wiring. Horizontal 327,428. 495. 496 Wisconsin Bee-keepers 207 Work in Rainy Weather. . . .422 World's Fair 371 Writing for Print 8S Yellow Bands 434 Yello«-.iackets 812 Zinc Excluders 674 Zinc, Queen-excluding 630 Zinc, Perforated 636 Zinc, Perf"d, for Extracting 821 INDEX TO CONTRIBUTORS. Abbott TW, 24; .\belOC,*32; Adams G A, 634; Adams T, 494; Adams WS,6.S2 858; Adams Win S. 17 18 2.5; Adams J P. 25: Ad .ms F. 496; Addenbrooke W 67; Aiken Will C, 22 340; Allen He, 713 714; Allen AC M4: Allen E W, 6(X3; Allen Wm H. 174; Alexander J B, 64S 752: Alley H. 97 244 417 418 810 811890; Ames I H. 204; Anderson E N, 345; Anderson T J, 226; Anderson L, 427; Andrews T P 378 .379, 415; Andrews DM, 49.'>; Andius E S. 428; Anthonv W L, 377: Arwine A S 1.37; Armstrong Mrs 3 2ij4; Arnold's J. 433: Ashmead T G, 860; Aspinwall M P, 464 661; Atkin on J T. 635: Ausenbaum A W. 781 782; Austin S R. 1C9; Axtell Mrs LC, 9 10 65 202 403 404 705 706 707 7 8.') 803 804; Axtell L C, «91. BaeVelder M F. 78;?; Baglev J, 528; Baird E J, 4.52 4.53 700; Bak-r WU. 67; Baker F. 173; "Baldensperger P, 323 324 365 366 ■408 627 028 882; Baldridg^ M M, 20.i; Baldwin G W, 61.3; Ball W K, 713; Banks H. 66; Barber D. 431 432; Barber E J. 6.37; Barber C E. 177; B;irkerMr^G M. («8 059; Barton J F. 378 379; Bsuer Nel- lie. 71: Baumberger J B.62: Beach A L. 488 634 63.5 780 781; Beard OW.497; Beckman D.63S; Beckworth E M. 611 : Bedford J N. •ii 66: Beebee E B.330: Bell J W 67; Benedict M S. .570.571: Ben- nett Mi s> Dema, .319320; Berry FS. .568;. Bishop D, 176; Bissell M L6K4; Bl.ick'urnC, loi; Blake & Ri| lev. 553; Blankin^hip A J, S6I; B'.anton O M 4:3 4.")4; Boardman H R, 10 166 278 279 280 401 402 S41842; Boles W. 648; Boomhov.er Edna A, 569: B-'onihower F. •4.58 4o9; BortonA,71; Bossom Thos,23; Bostwick H J, 136 137; Bosworth H. 426; Bosworth CW,345; Boy C. 207: Boyd S, 428; Bradford A E, 65 175 380 497; Bradlev S A, 73.5 736; Brainard, E RA&B, 345: Briggs E,644: Brintnall E P, 432; Bristol. W H, 8.59; BroadbentG J, 167 168; Brown A F, 714 715; Brown H. 676; Brown J M, ,520 .521 662 804 805; Buchanan J A. 123 124 163 164; Bugbee AC.292: Burnett R A, .515 .536 .5.53 554; Burnett H G.789; Burnham A r;.648: Burr Mrs, 785: Burr J. 713 782: Burrows D D. 22; Burrows F E. 7a5; Busick E,3S0; Butler F, .528 ; Butler W H. 715; Byard A A, 174. Cadwallader J, 377; Calbreath J S, 637; Caldwell 3 L. 4814S2; Calvert E. 643; Calvert L C 448; Cap°hart J C. 202 .563; O^mpG W. 644; CarruthersS. 226; Cartniell GB,428; Cartniell W A,66; Case Jno B,666 82] 894: Cavward E M. 71 : Chapin J W, 644 699 778; Chaiiman Geo W, 378; Chapman E .342; Churchill E P. 185; Christianson J. .530; Chrysler \V A, 2(9; Clapp J T.3:!9 :570; Clark LJ.342: Clements J A, 211; Clemons Mason & <'o, 6.'>4; Ciick- engerE. .5.52: Cleveland J R. 714: Cobb WF. 644; Coe O R. .520; Coffin C P. r)6 65 485; Coggshall W 1, .58 f.9 496 822: Colton J B. 21 82 413414 182: Cole E\V. 175; Coleman Win. 24; Combs W H.644; Comstock J R. 746; Conkline- W J, 2-54; Corwin S ('.17o:Ciok A J. 23 49 .53 «4 206 210 318 319 344 372 373 402 403 417 419 450 4.57 4^8 479 480 487 488 517 518 525 .5?6 565 .59.) 591 600 601 602 603 6.30 631 661 668 672 674 675 676 704 715 7.36 737 742 770 771 778 779 793 822 847 849 88 885; Cook G W 138: Cooper J D. .339; Conse W. 32; Cox -Mrs S D, .5'7: Oox E D, 176; Craig S L, 410; Cr.ane B B, 828; Cr.anston E 1*. 783 784; Crawlord J F. 60 407; Crawford Maurice. 23: C'aycraft J. 102; Cvom!eyR 1.427; Crumh.augh M » D B..574: Culver N,!-:9 130; Cummihgs WR,«48: Cutting H D, 601; Cyreiiius F H. 125 126 630. Dabolt J H. 32; Dudant C P, 89 13') 131 557 712 7.53 857 ; Dnnicls S. .ViS; Danzenb:\kev F 2.'.0 251 2-52; Darst .1, .536; D>vi,W R, 33: Dein C H.5 6 9fl 164 165 ^81 :'8:i .5;.'8; Di"kerson I (1. 176: Dielhenn Btos. 899; Dillard H M.43!: Dili-orth PS 97 .5- 9 8);) SM ; Dines O (ra7 638; D ntlem;inn 1. F.285 287: Dio;l:C; Kvails B S. 432. Falconer W T,Mfg Co, 3.54; Famariss A, 639; Fassett A C. Ml ; Fitr Hart H. 176: Flack A J. 288: Flanagan ET,448; Fletcher A; 8.59; Folev "W ( ). 664 665; Foster O, 126 127 198 199: Foster E W, 4'i8. Fowles C, 341 813 814; France E 7 8 292 293 369 370 415 .530 884; FranceNE,887: Fivinklin B .562 677; Freeborn S 1, 160 161; Free- stone Geo, 2.53 254; Fultz W S, 555. Candy J W, 185; Games F, 427; Gegar E.859; Gemmell FA, 328; Center A A. 177; Gilbert A A. 25; Gill M A. 203 204; Gilstrap A R.603; Golden J A, 715; Goldsborough A T.602: Gorden S G. 72; Ooss L. 677; Oould G. .528: Gould W E, 327 328; Graeper E 71; Graeper F H. 71; Graham W R, 714: Gravenhoist C JH, '212 733 734; Graves J C. 535; Gray G J, .525; Gray J WC 601; GreenJA, 249 2.50 313 314: Uieen W .^.'06 865 906; Green E C. •2.56 7.50 827; Greenleaf F W. 23; Greer W H. '22; Gregg J L, 61 62; Greiner F, 174; Griffith A E,426; Griffith B C, 101; Guthrie R H, 176. Hackett H P. 65; Ha"kworth C S. 103: Hailes G E. 497 666 667: HailesFJ.7l; Hair NH. 210; Hall B 344: Hall L. .'^31: Hnll J B, 131; Hallock V H &Son, :i5,^5: Hamblin & Bearss. .5.53; Hamnier- schmidt L. 205; Hammond J. 860; Hanchett E. 9r6; Hand J E, 345; HandelJ,6ll4: Hardv J J, 803; HaigerE B, .569; HarmerW. 65; Harrington F F, 468; Hiirris J V.603; Harrison Mrs L. 14 15 93 197 138 :597 842>'43; H:ut W S.6 "24 6'26; Haslet W R. 177: Hatch C A,70 374 418 :"6! ; Hathnvav J M,67; Hawk Z T, 321 322.564; Hays Mrs MC, 432; HeainLL,378: Hearn LC,4a5; HeaterJN,32 70; Heath WH,175; He.ath S.677: Heddon Jas, 43 44 45 165 209 8.54 880; Helber .T 66; Hennings A. 529; Henricks D, 100; Henrie J W, 9)6; Hepp J F. 66; Herman A B, 603 604; Hei-man S F. 648; Hewes WmG. 207 208 855; Hicks C M, 172 .568 .569; Hildreth Bros & Segel- ken.5.58; HillJ H, 253 780; Hilton Geo E.327; Hilton Mrs J,:597 .598; Hoffman J, 489 490 673; Holcomb DL, '23; Holmes M E, '285; HoltermiUinKF, 87 209 210 414 893; Howell E D, 340 638; Howes E D.601; Rowland E G. .536; Hoxie H S, 10 -345: Hoyle A M. '292; HubbardJ L. 374: Huurhes GC, 88: Humphrv F W,783; Hunt M H, 138; Hunt N A, 141 844 845; Hussey W J, .573; Hutchinson E, 6:16. |dnerGW,173: Inghram T A, 64; IsraelJ P, 322 812 813. Ja'^kson C B. 858; Jeffress E R, 172; Jeffrey H L, 290 .571 703 704 771 772 806 807 850 851; Jeffrey D, 102; Jeffrey F M, '226; Jennings Theo, 3'29; Johannsen J. 534; Johnson Lowiy. 23; Johnson E M. 4f>; Johnston H M.715; Johnston J A, •2.54; Jones A 1,390 •a9l: Janes L S, 644; Jones Clara, 22; Jones F M, 644; Joseph R S, 290; Jotham's Wife, 287; Junior A 185. Keenev V W.177; Keeney E D. 371 372 .5.56 5.57; Kennedy J A, 67; Kesler C.6!I4: lievnton J, 29?; Kidder R B, -292: KinieJ A,3:i: KinieeT F.638: King W A, 697 698; Kinsev R B, -rSl; Kinter C V. 49S; Kinzie J M,8.58; Kirkpatiick G H.892; Kline J H,4.32: Knapp Geo F. .5:8; Knickerbocker G H 32 70; Knoll D K. 1.38; Koons B F, 196 .''89 .591); Kratz Mrs S S, 175; Kuehne M R, .530; Kulp W W, 496 784; Kunkle F H. 432. U'.icev F I), 288; Lfld'1 E J. 3;'S 6:-6; La MontigU" J B, .■68; Lnn-.'- don H 1'.99 100 17« 463: L indfather S K.':?8; Langsttoth 1. L. 8.'2; Lvrrihee J H. :t.' 7:1; I.nthan A. 604; Latbrop H. .557; Lawinw SS.667: La'V(m E E.6'I2; Lee F L 61: Le^ -is A A. .5-27; Lewis U B & Vo X3 354; Ligliton F W. 708 7i;9 785; Lincoln C M.4'98: Lindon HH..563; Lindsay R 3)4; Little ."^I K.432: Littleton H. 67 816 817: Lipscomb E L."79;i: L'.ckhait V A :«: L'oft V G, 18: L'WcrAJ.64S; Lucas D.6:i6«; Liindv L D W, 25; Luther S, -1.50 451. M:iflel D J.;i41; Mat'n.im C O.X'St; Malone >V, '2.54: Ma.ior J. .-;r); M.mm ,\ E 12 13 14 45 46 242 -243 '175 '.76 "277 325 :K6 3^,7 :?4:!411 41:; 11.3 4.55 4'0 457. '■;69 772 773 774 8;» 840; M-nisrerger H,648; M;ir klc.l :nO; Abukir L, 463 464; M"ikleyJ H.49> .''.!)! ."9:! 7:i4; Mjm' .sb:.ll J S.:!4".; Miisoii A B. :f71 7429 0:'Ma-on P. 6:17: Mll^^icT K. i:i7; M itlwws R J. 05; .Mc( 'arty O. 6-2 6:13 Mc-C.iy .\ 857; McCmI loch (' ACo.S.5:.'55>l: JlcDoinicli K W. 7411 741 843 814; McGimrhey J. 497: McC.uirc G W 4:f.'; Mclnlvic J F, "48 140 :»: :'«X O-.O 674 7i'4 705 7i'.9 770 7S() 807 8 8 8'9>81: McKiiizie 1). ;i.39 :i40: McKiiigbt K. 67 i:i3; McLincUn W :.91 ; Mc.MiLin 1) B. ."69: McNcely J. 8.-8; 910 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15 MeiuleCA.H!; Jleek Z fil ; MclfhiT.I ( ',r,H: Jl,.l'..ii \ i; i,l l M.-iiden- hnll A (I, .l'.l.'>: :\Ie!ccr L K. Ill 17 ■;! :!«; :\liicilii li i ,) 'i> M !,■- \j\ 496 497; JlilU'iAC, CUGCCil); Mi l.r (• C. -.'Il 'il .'.i>:.| .r,,,, ii.'iii i | IT, 161 170 171 214 ^If) 2i| 314 3iri;!l(i:i3'>:i6S;i6'J4lir, 416 44.'. 44i; 4.1 4.^ 480 481 49a 493 :<\a r>17 r>r>9 ri6;i r.SS 589 623 66O662 7(!9 734 73:. 74.') 74(i 788 789 816 876X94; Miller S E, 428 524 52r, 668 738 785; Mills TH, 569; Mims G D, 18) 34i 531; M'.nvffhain Mrs A C. 628 629; Moore J !•' 732 7Xi; MooroH F, 347 '.'48 321375 376; Mooreliou^e H(',6">; Monis L I 344; :\Ioni-< S i; il7: M..rrison S W, 93; JIm-i-ouFC 52; Morrow Mrs Jl A.IUS; M.ir-an EB. 102 498; Morton EC. 315; Miihlcman JR, 33; Muiison !{ W. 127 128; JUirray J. 129; Murray K V 344; Muth Clias F * Son, 61 239 443 444; Muth-Kasinussen W, 257 677 849 850. Nance J G. 24 246 247; Neave S R, 103; Nebel J & Son, 569 906; Nevins M,344; Newell E C 464; Newman S F, 700; Newton A, 540; Nichols O I). 614: Noble D, 332 498 564; Norton P L, 199 .568 847; Nysewander J, 738 739. Olmstead C 96 97; Orcharrt S C. 433; Osborn J, .51 ,52 635: Os- burn A W, .57 .58 277 278 483 484 819; Otto H, 741. Park J W, 636 6.37; Parker C F. 226; Parker C G, 900; Patten R, .535; Pearse CJ.29); Peasle.- C E. .55 .56; Peeples D. 139; Peet TO,292 4S9; Pcnbuul Mr.CL.lOii; Pcntoii Ch.as. 379 380; Petrv P. J. 497 498; IVttif S T 446 447: I'lirlps ( ' H 102; Phelps N T, 98 99 331 332; Pike O H 497; Piass H.'v X, 105; I' .Ik V C..531 ,532; Porter D E, 432; Poteet M L 345; Pnu(l>-r W S, 906; i'owell Ree.-e. 2(!6; Pratt E A, 428; Pratt E L, 15 639; Priugle A, 665; Prosser A W, 602. puigley E F, 634. Raebel H J 25; Rail G 603; Ralston J P 103; Rambler 47 48 1.-9 160 245 246 282 283 329 33) 406 454 455 577 591 592 631 633 667 668 707 708 742 743 779 78:) 805 8:6 845 816 888; Randall A F 644; Randall & Searas 644; R^ed F 72; Reese J S 197 894; Rer«logle G B 529 784; Reynolds C 311; Reynolds R M 97; Reynolds & Waiiams 863; Rice B E .535; Richardson Daniel 24: Ricliar 'son .J 634 831; R e- (?erJC783; Ripley J N43i; Risien E C .50; Kitcliie W S 591 :i95 696 697; Robbins D E 783; Robbins Eli 389; Robbins Geo F 48 49 413 497; Roddy S P 602 603; Roe J A 811 ; Rogers F VV ,342; Root L C 85 200282; Ross D 714; Rothrock DA 485; Rouse H L 166 167; Rouse J W 220; Rupert Jno H 33; Ruth OR. 528; Rymph S M .54 Salisbury FA 379 785 895; Sanborn A A 67; Sarles L 644; Sav- ae. DF520; Sawyer J 775; Sayre C A 241 242; Scudder J A .540 /82; SechnstL637; Secor E 380 281 ; .Shaw Mrs A 167; Shearman J 0 568: Shelton G B .'■'61 ; Slirphcid Mrs M A i:',7; Shepherd M W 62; .Sherfey S W662; Sliirer('73: Slnwk S A 19315 216 633; Simp- son A A 569; SJ.380; Sinub:,u:4-h .r !37; Smith E E 860; Smith E ^^ .S99; Smith FC; 603 .821; Smith F L 18 19; Smith IC 498; Smith .1 M3(4; Smilh.l \V 103; Sniiler .1 II; ■,K9; Sin der F L .570; Soper W 1198 3(8 :17.S: Sl,i.j.'lc F .'Ml ; Sproulc R.V.ir,; S :irllelh;uis|.n L 11 13; St.i.vtoii F W :,-:\l- Steanyer Krv S 518 86ii; st.'phcnsoji F B 33; Steiiiicnsou II II; Sf(_vcn-on E 644; Stevenson 'Wni 25; Stick- ey W 66; St Maitz W 427 438; Stone A 331 488 489; Stordock C H 9;i6; StoutPB33; Stout S 376; Stiohmever F G & C.) .5.51 .5,52; Sturm M 676; Styan W& Son 638; Swartley J W 176 379; Sweet W O 101. T^ihler W II 177; T;ite W R :'36; Taylor B 324; Taylor JW25 1113; TiylorAV 1'388; T.-el .1 F 677 859; Terry T B .500 7.51 ; Thomas CF64t; Tli<.mps,.ii F F 103; Thompson G'C32; Tinker G L 91 92 633; Tompkins M8ri8; Touohton R536; Tracy SM 56; Tutt D (4 Gro Co 552; Tyler G F 432; Tyrrell D 774 775. " Upderwood E H 54; Urie W 427 438. Vandervort J132; Vanhoutan C W 175; Van Patten J T 289 383; Victor WO 345 W tsrar W I 6,34; Walker E J 516 .587; Walker S T 643 713; Ward W S 32 70: Wainer .1 605; Watkins S L 8 9 .55 291 ; Way C B 638 6.39; 5Veathcrforrl C .1 340; Webb D H 833: Webst<-r O W 59 60 409 410; Webster W A 163 163; Welch C H 426 680; Welch D H 716: Wen- t;-eiMD173; WeineiL 103:i44; Wesphal R 900; West E E 2.54; Whealey ,7 W 4 6; Wlieaton R B 378; Wheeler G S 289; Whipps .JR.531; White J 383: Whiting E M :i34 335; Whitlock A N 637; WhitonJB66; Whittenhurfi- .J D 713; Whittle L B & J B .536; Wigrs-ins M G496; Wilcox F438; Wilkes L A 378; Willard J S 390; Williams D L 1-33 339; Williams J B 344; Williams L 172; Williams RB 101: Wilson A J 828; Wilson E8;50: Winslow Miss 1, 6:<8; WithrowWm 139; Wojcott O E .570; Woodhouse J M 339; Woods Cora 648; Wren 0 T 603; Wright G A 339; Wright H R 515 516. Yoder E 832; Yoder S P 680; Young M 681 ; Youngman C W 531. Zinn L A 464. INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. Agricultural Ant 4.57 Alley's Hive 889, 890 Alley's Automatic Swarmer 417, 418 Alfalfa 3.37 Alfalfa Foliage and Bloom 3.38 Ames' Double Top-bar 204 Andrews & Lockhart's Apiary 47 Aphis, Blue and Green .' 526 Apiary, Out, Elwood's 878 Apiary, Smith's 243 Apiary, Holmes' 245 Apiary, Wolcott's 245 Apiary, W. S. Hart's 624 Apiary, Dovetailed Hive 661 Apiary, Hadsell's 631 Apiary, S E. Miller's Proposed 524 Artesian Well, Woonsocket . . 699 Arrangement of Hives 207,524 Arrangement of Hives, Miller's 445 Arrangement of Hives, Hatch's .374 Arrangement of Hives, Root's 375 Aspinwall's Dovetailed-hive Apiary ..661 Automatic Swarmor. Alley'.s 2U Austrian Bee-keepers C ir'rying Hives 286 Bay State Hive. Whole and in Part 888, 89:) Bee-escape. .Jeffiey's Improved Reese 850 Bee-escape. Sawye;'s 775 Beeswax, Melting and Pressing 779 Benton's Shini)ing and Mailing Cage. .701 Bee-escape, Reese's Horizontal 6 Bee-e.