UMASS/AMHERST * 312066 0333 2710 5 '^\ •>,^'. -N ^-*^^ aDDDnnnnDDDDnnnaDDDDDDannDDDnnGG '^tRSt UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D n n G D D n n D c c D D — ^— — ^— ^— ^^-^-^— - D D n'iaDDDDnDDDDDDDnnnnDannaDnDDDDaD M LIBRARY UNiVERSiTY OF JvlASSACHUSEHS AMHERST, MASS. (p 3 S .0 'S" V. 2. 3 • DELVoTE •ANbHoNEY «MD HOME. •1NTE.FIEST^ ?ubiishedy THElA ll^ooY Co. $ ie° ptRYtAR'^'\@"nEDiNA- Ohio • Vol. XXIII. JAN. I, 1895. No. I. Happy new-year! The war is on in Progressive between the five-banders and the anti-five-banders. Ohio officers, I see by the papers, are look- ing up syrups bleached by zinc poison. The Hainaut Bee-keepers' Association, Bel- gium, numbers more than 2000 members. Foundation-machines are getting it down pretty fine to make a septum to%(t of ^n inch thick. That's 185 thicknesses to the inch. Wood separators, if loose; tin, if nailed, has been my rule; but perhaps it will be all right to nail wood if only one nail is put in each end. M. M. Baldridge, St. Charles, 111., is getting out some interesting bulletins concerning sweet clover, compiled from government reports and other reliable sources. The raking or scrubbing motion of bees in front of the hive is only for amusement, ac- cording to S. E. Miller in Progressive. Why not ? Or for exercise ? "Syrups that have been adulterated with glucose, and preserves that have been sweeten- ed therewith, become a menace to health." — Dr. Eccles, in iV". Y. Med. Journal. Lathyris Silvestris, growing a few miles from me, was seriously if not fatally injured by the terrible drouth of last summer. Sorry. Sweet clover's the chap for drouth. Say, Brother A. I., after that performance in flesh-colored tights, described on p. 954, don't you grumble any more about the way they dressed in the St. Joe variety show. "Oh-ow!" Hasty, in his condensed cream in Review, objects to using old bedclothes in percolating feeders. Wants them, "like Caesar's wife, above suspicion and snufiin'." I am with you. Hasty. Reports from Germany say large numbers of dead bees are found as a result of working on Chelidonium majus. Possibly some of the strange cases of mortality in this country have been caused by working on poisonous plants. From the way C. A. Hatch speaks of that Russian smoker on p. 943, he would hardly ap- prove of my first smoker. It was a preserving- kettle with a tin cover and a rubber tube. It wasn't as good as the Crane! The controversy, " Ten vs. eight frames," seems changing into " ten frames in one story, vs. sixteen frames in two stories." How about compromising on fourteen frames in two sto- ries ? [Better make it 14K, eh?— Ed.] An article in a leading Chicago daily grave- ly states that dark beeswax comes from Wiscon- sin, where the bees work on tobacco. [Let's get that Chicago daily to settle for us that vex- ed question of large vs. small hives. — Ed.] Dr. Paul Marchal reports in Apiculteur that he dissected 98 workers taken from a hive of laying workers, and found among them 20 containing eggs fully developed, and a goodly number with eggs in various stages of partial development. Suppose one convention had all essays and another all discussions. Other things being equal, which convention would you attend ? [I'd attend the last; but I'd go further to one having the right proportion of both. The essays of the right sort should stimulate dis- cussion.—Ed.] Wax adulteration is hardly as bad here as elsewhere. At any rate, I see mention in Le Rucher of a brochure of 16 pages on the princi- pal adulterations of beeswax. [The fact is, bee- keepers of this country wouldn't have adulter- ated wax, even if cheaper, and none of the pres- ent American makers would furnish it. — Ed.] S. M. Keeler, in American Bee-keeper, rec- ommends red lead and linseed oil to make in- side corners of a feeder water-tight; and the clasps worn by wheelmen, to make your trous- er-legs bee-tight. [I have used the clasps my- self. I always use them on long pants for wheel -riding; so you see that, when I take a spin to an out-yard, my trousers are bee-tight at the minute of my arrival, and during my stay there.— Ed.] 8 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. The abuse of a good thing is no argument against its proper use. Like John Handel, p. ••44, Fve coaxed bees up into the eighth story and had all unfinished sections ; but, all the same, when I'm pretty sure bees will fill a sec- ond super, I put the second one under. If doubtful about both being filled 1 put the emp- ty one over. "For many years I have warned bee-keep- ers to watch the sudden checks in honey-flows when colonies had large quantities of larvit on hand, and to feed, no matter how much old sealed honey the bees might have at the time, because brood is never as well fed as when there is plenty of un_s,qalcd honey in the brood- chambers."— Wm. EcEvoy, in C. B. J. Now WE KNOW the object of those long es- says. It was to get the papers of St. Joe to print them, as ihey would print them and wouldn't print discussions. Bro. Abbott, St. Joe papers can get points from our Marengo papers. A horticultural convention was held here lately, and a report of four columns eave the discussions while not an essay was printed, although some good ones were read. But then, our editors have lots of judgment and enter- prise. " Husband and wife should kiss each other, but not on the street-corners, as a general thing," quoth Hasty in Review. What busi- ness has an old bachelor putting restrictions on the kissing of man and wife? Besides, if he were experienced in that sort of thing he'd know it was a good deal nicer to kiss ihem on the lips. [You'll have Dr. Peiro after you if you don't look out. He objects to the "lip" part of the job, and he's no bachelor either. —Ed.] It turns out that Doolittle, the champion of brace and burr combs, has been for years using such top-bars and spaces as keep him almost free of the nuisances. He says, in A. B. J., " With such frames and bee-spaces it is a rare thing that any honey is ever stored between the sections and tops of frames, while not to ex- ceed from .5 to U> brace or burr combs are found jutting above the tops of the frames." If we all get down to 5 or 1.5 bits of dry wax we'll do not so badly. [So Doolittle is an anti-brace- comb man after all, in practice. — Ed.1 Thirty thou.sand. or, to be more exact, 30,- 007, is the number of members of the German Central Association for Bee Culture and its branches. I think no bee-keepers' society in this country is .so large. [These figures look tremendous when we in our country can not get up a membership of over 100, and that, too, for an association that is somewhat interna- tional in character, in the best bee country in the world. Of course, we have great geograph- ical distances to contend with; but this can not account for such a dilTerence. I should like to know how the Germans manage to secure so large a membership; the conditions of mem- bership, and the privileges.— Ed.] BEE -ESCAPE. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORKING OF THE STAMPEDE ESCAPE. By C. IF. Dayton. Editor Oleanings :—lt is admitted (I refer to page 870) that the Stampede escape resembles the original "flood-gate" Ponder, and the "going-toward-the light" Boardman, as closely as if devised by a theorist who had never pos- sessed a colony of bees. Still, by the method of procedure the Stampede might possibly have been produced had neither of these escapes been in existence. I used escapes very much as toys or curiosities until the season of 1892, when I engaged with Mr. Charles Adams, of Colorado, where about five dozen Porter escapes were to be utilized in our regular work. The following winter there came a discussion of escapes in the Review, and it was claimed that an exit which admitted only one bee at a time was as good as a larger exit. It was suggested by the writer that some- thing was lacking in the present forms of es- capes, because, when they were in use there was a clicking and crackling sound to be heard; and after removing the cleared super the es- cape-board was nearly always found strewn with slivers, and the joints were rounded by the gnawings of the conlined bees. Mr. Aikin's ex- perience agreed with this, and he said that what was needed was a large window to show the bees the way. I waited confidently for some one to provide the escape which should elimi- nate these supposed troubles. In using escapes during 1893 the crackling was still present, the joints of hives and supers were being rounded, and as the supers were raised the bees sprang into the open space as if to get fresh air, but very few look wing. These actions indicated that a way of departure was desired, though they were not in haste to de- part by it. Again, where hives had too small entrances, this crackling sound had been notic- ed to proceed from the neighborhood of crevices between supers and covers. When the entrances were enlarged, the crackling all ceased. En- trances which were large enough for colonies while weak, were too small after the colony be- came stronger. Bees had been observed trying to enlarge, not alone the usual entrance, but also every visible crevice about their hive. Al- though the enlargement of all the crevices is not in accordance with reason, we find that the nature of bees impels them to the removal of a 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 9 mountain with as much vigor as in sweeping away the loose dirt which a mole may have thrown upon their doorsill. Several escapes and supers were prepared so that it could be seen how the bees performed. It was noticed that the first one or two hun- dred bees proceeded almost directly to the joints, and began pulling at the corners without much search for the escape-exit. These bees seem to bear about the same relation to the general throng as the sentinels in a colony or the lead- ers in a swarm. A single-exit Porter escape had the rear part of the channel removed, and then it was adjusted on the top of the escape- board with its mouth projecting through the side of the super, to allow light to shine through the escape and be distributed over the surface of the board. Loud crackling ceased entirely. Still, very few bees came out through the es- cape during the first hour. A Porter escape was thus arranged for the outside air and light, and then another by the side of it, in the usual way, leading down into the brood-nest, and four-fifths of the bees went out of the super by the inside rather than by the outside route. Why should they not choose the shortest way? Another modification of the Porter escape was devised, containing a long flexible spring for a bee to walk upon, and which should sag and open the exit, allowing the bee to escape without effort. In testing it by the side of the usual exit, 9.5 to 98 out of 100 bees passed out of the exit, which required no exertion. One hun- dred bees were placed in a box with the exits side by side. When the bees were quietly caged they remained unalarmed for considerable time. When the exits were closed until they became uneasy, the difference in operation of the exits was much nearer alike, owing to one bee first spreading the springs and then several others rushing and following closely after. Itrequires a fresh quota of bees at each trial, because the natural disposition of the bees is the subject of test. An easy exit would assist slight inclinations, and a single-bee exit is inadequate for practical use, as an hour or so after the escape -board is put on the hive, the festoons begin to break up; and I have seen bees crowd through a single- exit Porter escape, pressing the springs apart the full width of the channel. The wider the springs are opened, the more power is required. This fact suggested the change to laterally swinging gates, which might be maintained open full width as easily as part way, after the manner of the "garden gate," which swings by its own weight upon a narrow hinge at the top and a hinge of wider sweep for the bottom. Then it was noticed that robbers, in trying to creep into perpendicular crevices, approached from the sides, showing that the natural mode was to place their heads under and lift, instead of pushing against the points of the shoulders, as would be necessary in the operation of later- al gates and springs. Therefore the Ponder was the correct form of gate. The force of the Pouder Invention was destroyed by the advice to "let the points of the pins rest upon the jumping-oft' board," when they should have re- mained up far enough to nearly admit a bee. This gate, constructed of heavy tin and, prop- erly adjusted, clears the supers right along; but with the front edge of the heavy gate resting upon the " jumping-off " board, it is of no use whatever. I made it first of tin, using it so one season; then platinum, and finally of wire,to ad- mit a better flow of light. I believe the " par- tially open" idea was first suggested and ap- plied to escapes by the Porters. In my opinion, the first bees to leave the combs and come down on the escape-board are not dispositioned to leave the apartment until the whole " crowd " goes. They search or a route of escape, and, finding none which suits them, they attempt to prepare one by pulling away at the yielding points. If a satisfactory exit is there, they recognize the escape-board as a strange piece of furniture, and spend the wait- ing-hour examining each other for detection of a possible stranger. About the time the bees were expected to be moving through the gate of the Stampede escape, the space between the gate and screened window was discovered to be packed full of bees, there being several upon the upper and brood-nescside of the gate, claw- ing and pulling for dear life to gain admittance from the hive into the super. Certainly it would take a muscular bee to lift this gate while several bees were trying, with weight and strength, to hold it down, and the roof of the channel at their backs. At first they were thought to be bees from the brood-chamber coming up, and it looked like an insurmounta- ble obstacle. Then it was wondered why they were so anxious, having no knowledge of what would be found on getting through the gate. Finally it was discovered that these were bees of the super, which had inadvertently gone under the gates and then decided that they must return or be forever separated from their sisters. When the general tumult or stampede began, the tide turned the other direction. As evidence of the stampeding disposition of bees, I will relate: A strong coluny was prepar- ed for queen-rearing by removing the upper story and setting the same on the old stand, while the lower story containing the brood and queen was carried to a distant stand. In the morning it was intended to add more bees and give eggs for cell-buildingto the queenless half. 'This division was made near dusk, and about two hours later I heard a loud roaring in the apiary. On going out I found the bees of this queenless half pouring out and marching off across the grass and entering a strange hive about three feet away. Both hives were black with fanning bees, and the trail of march was at least fifteen inches wide. This was he 10 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. greatest demonstration over the loss of a queen that I ever saw. Yet was it not the exact re- sult produced by the adjusting of an escape- board between the two stories? And what of the efficacy of the one-bee-at-a-time exit? Mrs. Atchley wrote some time ago, that, while some colonies would mourn greatly over the loss of the queen, there were others which mourn scarcely any. There is as much differ- ence in colonies in leaving the supers or going through escapes, and it is advantageous to assist those which are slow to mourn and move, by the application of carbolized cloths. That form of escape which clears the supers in the short- est length of time Is not correspondingly the most desirable for use. For example, a large amount of smoke will soon drive bees from one super into another, but a lesser amount of smoke, and slower traveling, may leave them in better condition to resume work in the new su- per. An escape does not smoke; but a one-bee exit may waste their thronging tendency, or the air of the super may become so heated as to injure the health of the bees. Such fear of suf- focation clears a super more thoroughly, be- cause, in going out by the natural impulse, there is a number of bees which linger, as guards of the combs of honey. The getting of the main force of bees below contentedly at work in the new super is the practical consider- ation. Florence, Cal., Dec. 1. [I have read over the foregoing with more than ordinary interest. While Mr. Dayton has written other good articles on this subject, this one, it seems to me, is the most comprehensive from his pen so far. and comes the nearest to hitting the real secret upon which bee escapes do their work. Yes. I will admit that the Stampede (in fact, I assumed as much in my answer on page 870) might have been produced without the knowl- edge of either of the other two inventions. Although Mr. Dayton seems to have covered the ground very fully, I wish we might have corroborative testimony from others. — Ed.] COVERS FOR HIVES. THE IIIGGINSVILLE AND GABLE DISCUSSED lili Dr. C. C. Miller. Early in November we had a fall of snow, and, unfortunately, my hives were not yet in the cellar, so each one had a covering of snow some^three inches thick. In a day or so there was a sort of basin of snow on each hive. On the middle part of the hive-cover the snow was entirely gone, while at the outer edge there re- mained a border of snow three inches deep. There was some comfort in the thought that the colonies were strong enough so that the heat from them melted the snow. Of course, the heat would be greatest at the m.iddle part, directly over the cluster, while at the outer part there was not enough heat to melt the snow. But there was discomfort in the thought that whatever heat came up to melt the snow was heat taken from the bees, and there was no re- sisting the thought that they would have been better off if that heat had been retained. While the single-board flat cover has so many advantages that I hardly think I shall ever be willing to go back to the covers I formerly had, still there is no denying the real disadvantages in the flat cover. First, it is cold; second, it warps and twists so that it doesn't n.ake a close fit. Before I had flat covers, if a hive stood out with snow over it, that snow melted away very little faster than the snow on the ground. A quilt or cushion was over the frames, then a space of from one to six inches between that and the cover, so that practically there was a non-conductor over the bees. Admitting that, when snow is on the hives, it is to some extent bad to have a single board over the bees, the question'arises whether that matters particularly when no snow is on them, as when in the cellar or under a shed, or even when a board is laid over the cover. Is it any worse to have a single board on top than at the sides and ends of the hive ? When my hives are in the cellar I have some- times looked in at the entrance, holding a light there, and I could plainly see water standing in drops on the back wall of the hive. If water is on the back wall, I see no reason why it will not at the same time be on all four walls and also on the cover. Is it any worse for it to be on the cover than on the walls? I can hardly see that water standing on the cover is any worse than water standing on the walls. But when it ac- cumulates to such an extent that it no longer will stand there, tlien there is a decided differ- ence. The water on the walls trickles down to the bottom, while the water on the cover falls in large drops on the combs and on the cluster 0 . So it rather looks as if we wanted matters so arranged that no moisture will condense over the bees, whether in cellar or out. Outdoors, with the right covering to favor it. a thick coat- ing of frost will accumulate on the cover, thick- er than on the side walls; for the tendency of the heated moisture is to rise; then when the weather moderates sufficiently, down comes a deluge on the combs and bees. Taking in view what I have said, C. F. Muth seems quite reasonable in his contention that the only protection he wants for his bees in win- ter is on top. And isn't it just possible that the great advantage claimed in some cases for ab- sorbent cushions over the bees lay not in the fact that the materials used were good absorb- ents, but that they were poor conductors of heat, hence materials that would not become cold enough for moisture to condense upon? The other trouble with the flat cover is a bad one for both winter and summer. Some seem to think that, with a cleat on each end of the 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 11 cover, it will slay straight. But a board can twist, no matter if an iron cleat be immovably fixed on each end, and with any ordinary cleat there is likely to be some turning up at the sides. The Higginsville cover is an improve- ment in two directions. It is not likely to twist, for the two pieces will seldom if ever agree to twist together. The edges are not likely to curl up, for the cover is thinned down at its edges, and, being thinner, is more easily held in place. But the Higginsville cover still has the objec- tion of the single board so far as warmth is concerned. And now I have a confession to make. Until after I had written the preceding paragraph I had not read carefully enough the description of the "ventilated gable" cover on page 911 to notice that a flat board fitted di- rectly down upon the hive. Indeed, I had not noticed that there was any thing about the cover that was especially different from covers already in use. After reading carefully the de- scription, and after looking at the picture for some time, and thinking it over closely, I con- fess it's a good cover — in some respects, better than any thing else I've ever seen. But the advantages of the Higginsville cover I'm hardly willing to give up. With that I can carry my hives into the cellar and pile them up four or five high. How could I do that with the gable cover? That one item condemns the gable cover for my use. For those who leave hives on the summer stand, there may not be the same objection. But a large number — a number that I think is on the increase — winter in cellar, and the question arises whether you can not combine the advantages of the two covers. For perhaps more than a year — at least ever since I first saw the Higginsville cover — I've had in mind a cover much like the Higginsville, only having a thin board or boards nailed on the under side, leaving a half-inch space be- tween the upper and under cover. I suspect that that half inch space would be about as good as a space of several inches. That would leave a cover that would take little room (you see. the room taken up by the gable cover would be decidedly objectionable in the cellar, even if it could be piled), and it would pile up as easily as any flat cover. While I don't feel sure about it, I don't think I want any ventilating space between the two parts of the cover. In mild climates I should think it a good thing, and possibly it may be best anywhere; but it seems to me we don't want any thing but a dead-air space so as to keep it warmer. But it would be a mere trifle to put in a strip on each side to close the venti- lation. Another item I don't like, and after using it I like it less; viz., the cleat projecting below the under surface of the cover. It hinders rapid placing of the covers on the hives; and if cleats are put on the ends of hives for handles, the covers must be made about two inches longer. I agree with H. R. Boardman, that cleats for handles are indispensable, and the cover must conform. It will be an easy matter to nail the thin board under the Higginsville cover, leav- ing a perfectly flat surface to fit on the hive. That done, and the space made a "dead-air" space, I think my ideal of a cover would be reached. I don't think I shall ever again get a new cov- er made of a single board, nor one made of two boards with the joint closed by a piece of tin folded and slid into saw-kerfs. Some of these days, if I live, I shall want some new covers. I want them to fit down close, so there shall be no crack between cover and hive, or between cov- er and super, and I think either of the covers on page 911 will fill the bill in that direction. I want the advantage of the air-space, and I want at the same time the advantage of the flat cover. What do you think of my ideal ? Marengo, 111. [Regarding C. F. Muth's contention that the only protection he wants for his bees on top, I might say he may be all right for his locality; but it would be hardly enough in our climate, or where it is colder, as in Marengo and in many parts of Canada. I remember one time when we were going to the Bee-keepers' Congress in New Orleans (February, 1885) we left Medina in the morning when the thermometer register- ed 10° below zero, and had been at that point for about a week. Snow was on the ground to a considerable depth. Well, in about four hours the train brought us to Cincinnati. There was very little snow there, and what there was to be seen was melting; and I was told that the thermometer had hardly been down to freezing for a week. Now, this is a difference in tem- perature that is often found between the north- ern part of even one State and the southern; so it will be apparent, I think, that top protection would not be enough for the northern part of the State, while it might answer for the south- •ern part very well. Our ventilating cover was made for hot cli- mates, and to take the place of the 2()-lb. stone and shade-board in other climates. The two open side spaces can easily be closed up with two narrow strips, and we shall then have, prac- tically, a cover with a dead-air space. You id J, of making the Higginsville cover double is good, and it is very possible that we ought to hold ourselves in position to furnish the trade such a style whenever they call for it. But I would insist that the lower cover-boards be let into a groove, for I would never trust nails alone to hold the boards. And that brings us to the question as to whether we shall let the cleats project down on the under side. A good deal depends upon what sort of cover one is used to. Here at the Home of the Honey-bees we have used the flat covers with a cleat project- ing over at each end, and would not have them any other way. You will remember that the sides of the hives are % thick at the top. The ends at the top, by reason of the rabbets, are only %. The cleats of the cover project down and protect this ^^ — that is, they prevent the water from beating or seeping in. Another thing, the down-projecting cleats permit of grooves that will hold the boards securely. To make the covers entirely flat on the underside makes the groove a rabbet, and then nails have to do the whole work of holding the boards. 12 GLEANlr^GS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. Yes, sir; there is a good deal in getting used to a thing. If you can got used to the cleats projecting downward, and can be convinced that they make a better and stronger cover, then why not get used to an arrangement that may appear to be a little awkward a.i first/ Yes, 1 know you prefer cleats nailed on to the hives in lieu of handhoies ; but here again is the old saw, " getting used to a thing." The handhoies for the last year are not the small scrimpy things that they once were. They are made wider and deeper; and I do not know but they can be made wider yet, so as to give the same handhole grip, practically, that you ob- tain from the hive-cleat, without its awk- wardness.—Ed.] HIVE-COVERS. THE TORONTO CONVENTION AND HONEY-UEE CONCEHT. Bij F. A. Oemmill. There are two items of particular interest to me in Gleanings for Dec. 1 that I desire to call attention to. As, however, I do not wish to write a long article on either one of them, I will endeavor to be brief and give them in the order as per the above heading. First of all is the illustrated gable ventilated hive- cover and your comments thereon. I fully agree with you respecting the " 20-pounder," as I have used it, as well as the shade-board. I do not, however, use a quilt in summer when producing comb honey, and seldom for any purpose except when feeding small quantities of thin syrup or honey for stimulative purposes between fruit-bloom and clover, and for win- ter covering under the packing. The latter plan I am to some extent discarding, finding them not an actual necessity when the other conditions are satisfactory; and as for enamel cloths, I never used even a single one for ex- periment. My flat wooden covers all have the requisite bee-space under them; consequently, for the reasons you advance, the quilts are not at all necessary, whether or not producing comb or extracted honey. I have, therefore, concluded to give the new covers a trial, in the hope that some labor and time may be saved, without altogether sacrlljcing the needed pro- tection from the hot sun, etc. * THE TORONTO CONVENTION. Like Mr. McKnight, I am also glad that To- ronto has been chosen as the next place of meeting of the International convention; and as that gentleman has given your readers his views so well, it is needless for me to attempt to add any thing more in this direction. I trust, notwithstanding this, that Americans or Canadians (Yankees or Canucks), will be car- ried away with the idea that no other conven- tion of importance is to be held in Canada dur- ing the coming year of 1895, as the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association is to meet in my city (Stratford), Jan. 22, 23, 24; and although we have had some excellent meetings of this asso- ciation n Canada, we expect the coming one to eclipse ill former ones. If it does not do so it will b. a disappointment to those who have the matter in hand. For the benefit of those who desire to attend, I may say that our railway facilities are un^ur- passed by any other point in Ontario. Numer- ous trains arrive daily from the east, west, north, and south; and for a city of its size the hotel accommodation can not be excelled. The court-house, for holding the regular sessions, is not only commodious but central as well. Having stated this much, I want specially to bring before the notice of the readers of Glean- ings that a new departure is going to be at- tempted, which, I am quite satisfied, will be an improvement; and as it may possibly be looked upon by some as one of my hobbies, I am the more eager that it be successfully carried out on this occasion, as several attempts at my re- quest, in other places, did not meet my antici- pations. As a natural consequence, I am in hearty cooperation with a few others in endeav- oring to see my scheme materialize. It is, in fact, nothing short of a public entertainment to be held on one of the evenings, while the association is convened in this city, for the special benefit of the public, so that they may be educated or instructed in regard to the value of honey as a food, accompanied with a magic- lantern expose, and lecture on the anatomy of the honey-bee, illustrating at the same time the manner in which the insects fertilize the flowers, secrete wax, build comb, gather and ripen honey, etc., interspersed with both vocal and instrumental music suitable for such an occasion. We Canadians are not going to be behind the times; and as Dr. Miller on one occasion in Stray Straws referred to "a man up in Cana- da" as advocating a honey-bee concert, we want him up here to see how we do things, and then he will know all about it, and can do like- wise; but then, he is not going to be allowed to do or say any thing except " I don't know noth- ing," or something like that. But in case he might be off'ended, I'll show him up in my apiary, as I have his name painted on a bee- hive, in good company with some prominent German, French, American, and Canadian apiarists, who, I guess, will " kinder " smooth him over, and he will then feel at home, even if among good " basswood " honey-producers. Of course, it is generally conceded by Canadians that, in the matter of basswood hams and wooden nutmegs, the Americans, or, if you please, the citizens of the United States, take the cake. Stratford, Ont., Dae. 11. [Your scheme for the next Toronto conven- tion is an excellent one, and we shall be glad to boost and boom it in Gleanings, in every way possible. Our conventions might do us vastly more good if we would make them more a 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 13 medium for conveying knowledge to the general public of how the " bees make honey," and that it can be produced by the car and train load, and every drop of it be pure honey. The magic-liintern exhibition would help wonder- fully. Then while we are about it, let us not forget to get the newspapers all over the land to give full reports. Without any thought of flattery, I believe I am safe in saying the bee- keepers of Ontario will do more along these lines than those in any one State of our Union. -Ed.] one point in which the flat cover is su- perior to the hig6in8ville. Allow me to suggest one point in which the flat cover is superior to the Higcjmsville. When I first saw the flat cover with grooved cleats I took a strong fancy to it because it was so plain, simple, and perfectly reversible. For 15 years I have had experience (generally unpleas- ant) with an almost endless variety of covers. I have yet to see one that will not warp. With the flat cover to remedy this condition, you have simply to turn it over. Please answer me one question: Is not the Higginsville a cheaper cover? C.A.Montague. Sang Run, Md., Dec. 15. [Nearly all our flat covers in use have been reversed at some time, as the propolis- marks show, but the reversing was accidental rather than for a purpose; but a single-board cover, if it has any tendency to warp at all, warps, or tries to. so far as the cleats will permit, all one way. Much will depend upon how far the board was from the heart of the tree. The Higginsville model, besides the cleats and gable strip, is made up of two boards; and theory as well as practice shows that the warping tend- ency of the one will correct that of the other. But another important point is, that the out- side edges of the boards are brought to a thinner edge, and this weakens the curving tendency so that the cleats will be able to hold them. No, the Higginsville cover is not cheaper for the eight-frame hive. It would be for the twelve-frame size, because wide boards for such a size would be expensive. — Ed.] BAMBLE 123. IN THE SALINAS VALLEY. By Rambler. We made our quiet entry into the town of Pa- so Robles on the 19th of July. They never have any hot weather in Paso Robles ; but the day we entered, and the next day, which we passed there to give our lame pony a rest, and to wait for our mail, the thermometer registered 96° in the shade. We perspired a little, though we were camped under one of the oaks near the great hotel. The hot sulphur springs make the town noted ; and many who are afllicted with disease come here in quest of health. Three miles from town is the Santa Ysabel sulphur lake, where open-air bathing, mud baths, and boating, are indulged in. These attractions, and the beautiful drives around the country, bring not only invalids but tourists to town, and it has on the whole quite a prosperous air. From Paso Robles to San Miguel (St. Michael) would ordinarily be but a two hours' drive; but with our lame pony we were half a day getting there ; and while our ponies were eating their allowance I strolled over to the Old Mission, which is located here, and photographed it from various points. Much of it is in ruins. A kind padre, however, has it in charge, and is willing to receive the little stipend the visitor is willing to offer. In fact, there is a notice on the door, saying that a two-bit piece dropped into the slot would be a welcome visitor. There was not a very prosperous air around San Miguel. The country was parched to such a degree of dry- ness that no crops had been secured ; and the few people loitering around the streets had a discouraged aspect. I learned, from what I considered a reliable source, that there were two extensive bee-keepers near San Miguel. After diligent inquiries at the stores, the livery stable, and of our friend the blacksmith, I could learn nothing of Messrs. Swenson or Littlejohn, and concluded they were either a myth or had dried up with the rest of the country. I did learn there was a Ward bee-ranch out a few miles on the road we were to travel. Our after- noon journey carried us past it, and we did in- deed find the Ward apiary, dried up and partly blown away, or, at least, it was the nearest ap- proach to a deserted bee-ranch that we had seen for many days. Mr. Wilder and I came to the conclusion that our informant must have been in error, and that there were no bee-keepers in that dry country, any way. For over fifty miles we saw not a flower for a bee to work upon, and not a bee to work upon a flower. Our drive for a couple of days was monoto- nous enough, and our camps windy and dusty. Saturday evening, July 21, we were glad to en- camp on clean grass-covered ground, upon the banks of the San Antonio Creek. We camped, and rested over Sunday, and scraped the dust from our bodies in the crystal waters. The weather was so fine, and trees so protective, we dispensed with the tent and slept in the open air. Monday morning found us much refreshed for the continuation of our journey. Reina's lameness began to mend a little, so that we could indulge in a trot occasionally. On the creek-bottom we found a few plants which look- ed like what we used to call, back east, "queen of the meadow," and there we found a few bees at work. Just as we entered the road, for the pursu- ance of our journey, a lone horseman came along, and, like all sociable travelers, we fell into conversation, and found that our horse- man was an ex-cowboy from Nevada; had just come from a prospecting-tour on the Mojave Desert; had earned some money recently, in the capacity of a vaquero, but had " blown it in," as he termed it, in Bakersfield ; was now on his way to Monterey to secure a job on the new railroad; was about dead broke, and would like 14 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. to travel along with us. We, of course, had no objections, and the ex-vaquero became an at- tachment to our outfit, or a sort of tail to our OUK VAQUERO OUTRIDER. kite. His horse was not a fiery steed, but he was honest; his ears seemed to have been broken down some time at the base, and had the habit of flopping up and down like a saturated dish- cloth. Our vaquero. too. held his bridle hand high, and allowed the motion of his hand to keep time with the horse's ears. On the whole, our vaquero was a young man of many accom- plishments; and around our campfire evenings he gave us much information in relation to life on the plains. Near Jolon (Jo-lone) we crossed the line into Monterey Co., and now. after several days' drive over a dry and dusty country, we enter the mountains and cross over into the Salinas River country. The change is agreeable ; and Mr. Wilder, finding signs of deer, rode for sever- al miles with rifle in hand, ready for execution upon whatever animal might appear. \\aLDER SCENTS DEER ; A GAME CALF. At the foot of thegrade. justas we were about to strike into a more level country, a deer arose and looked at us from under the drooping foli- age of an oak-tree. Wilder fired, of course, and the deer gave a sort of scrooch, as though hit, and then look an easy trot and disappeared in the bushes. This was the first wild deer I had ever beheld. From Mr. Wilder's stories about deer, I had my imagination all wrought up, ex- pecting that, when I saw a deer, it would go bounding away o'er the hills, with head, tail, and horns erect — an imposing sight; but this deer just stood and looked at us like an old cow, or until it was shot at. then moved off. Why, I have seen a two-months-old calf show much more of a gamy spirit than that. Just try to lead a stall-fed calf of the above age out to the pasture-lot. with a long rope, and if you don't find gamy qualities that will throw this lone deer into the shade, then I am no judge of animal nature. Hearing the firing, our vaquero. who was in the rear, came dashing ahead, and rendered us good service in scouring the brush ; in fact, all three of us scoured, but in vain. No deer could be found. Bro. Wilder said that a deer would sometimes carry a bullet a longdistance, even if shot in a vital spot. I told him I had a fair view of the deer, and I was sure ice hit it in the shoulder. When I said tve, Mr. WMlder turned right off into the bushes again, and went to scouring: and again we all scoured. We didn't wish to lose that deer that we were sure we had hit. But we had to pursue our journey again, and Wilder and I didn't gel over onr bad shot at that deer for three whole days. We got out of the deer country, and could not mend mat- ters by shooting another. We saw here, at the juncture of the hills with the plains, a little apiary of half a dozen hives. They were set up against a fence — box hives — in squalid misery, and we thought it not worth while to interview the owner. It demonstrat- ed, however, that there was a little portion of the country that could support bees. We now entered a strip of country, the repu- tation of which we had heard of for many miles. Even before we left our southland we learned thai we should find the windiest place we ever experienced wnen we entered the Sali- nas Valley. The contour of the mountain- ranges, and the valley's pointing toward the Mojave Desert, cause the wind-currents from the ocean to follow the strong tendency to fill a vacuum on the desert, caused by so much heat- ed air rapidly rising. The air-currents reach their greatest force near King City, in the upper portion of the Salinas Valley. We found the windy stories verified ; and for eight miles we faced wind, dust, and gravel stones — yes, sir! small gravel stones were hurled through the air, and were any thing but pleasant to strike the eye. Our vaquero, riding doubled up on his horse, was out of sight half of the time in the clouds of whirling dust, and even our ponies we beheld as through a mist much of the time. Teams approaching us were almost upon us be- fore being discernible; our eyes were full of dust, and we shed tears of mud. It was a dry- ing wind, loo, and several times we all drew up 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 15 on the lee and shady side of a telegraph-pole and drank from our canteen. IVe entered the country of large ranches, few and far-betv/een houses, and few camping- places. However, we sent our vaquero ahead when we approached the next ranch, and se- cured permission to camp. Our faces, when we got where we could look at them, were nicely frescoed with dust; ears full, more tears of mud. On the whole it was an experience to be remembered. The Salinas River is here bottom side up as usual, and windmill water is used for the herds of slock. Every thing is usually free to the traveler on these large ranches; but they have a sort of deserted appearance this dry year — not so many men employed, and the cat- tle were being driven off to better pasturage. The next day, as we pursued our journey we ■passed through a herd of 500 cattle in search of greener fields. All the way to Soledad we trav- ■ersed a wind-swept road. It is hard to find, in many portions of California, people who will admit that their particular locality has any •disagreeable features; but people here frankly admit that they have a very windy country. We cross the river at Soledad, and here it gets Tight side up. and shows a fine stream of water. From Soledad to Gousales (Goan-sr(?t'-lais) the aspect of the country changes; the valley wid- ens out, and large grain-ranches are the rule, to the exclusion of fruit. There is enough moist- ure here for the raising of a fair crop of grain, •even in a dry year ; and the warehouses were filled with sacks of grain, and piles of sacks could be seen in the fields in every direction. The people had a more hopeful expression upon their faces, and it was pleasant to see the change from the discouraged people we had seen during the past hundred miles. Our va- ■quero hustled for a job at every grain ranch; and as he rode into a field where a steam- thrasher was at work he bade us good-by. The flopping ears of his steed flopped us a last fare- well, and we entered the town of Salinas, and sojourned for a couple of days. PINEAPPLES. HOW USED ; THEIR BEXEFICIAL EFFECT.S, ETC. By O. O. Py reason of water protection, such as we have here on the St. Lucie River and other places, or high ground, as on the Indian River, near us. By far the largest part of all pineapples raised in Florida come from the lower Indian River country, within 25 miles from where I am now writing— upward of 60.000 crates, or about 400 carloads, having been shipped this season from the East Coast of Florida. An article descriptive of pineapple culture might be interesting to many of your readers; but it would be interesting only, and not of practical value. At first we were not strongly impressed with the value of this fruit for common every-day use in the family; but it seems to be a fruit that grows in estimation. We are now inclined to rank it as very nearly if not quite equal to the orange as a standard all-round fruit. There are a number of ways of using the fruit. Probably the best way, as well as the healthiest, is simply to select a well-ripened apple; peel; dig out eyes with a sharp-pointed knife, and eat it fresh out of hand, the same as we do apples. Some prefer to use salt on them, the same as we do on muskmelons. Our favorite way is to serve as sauce at the table, exactly as we would strawberries. They make excellent pies when made exactly the same as are green-apple pies, which they re- semble some in flavor, but are better. Good marmalade is also made of them. There are other ways of serving the fruit, but these are our ways. In slicing pines for use as sauce, the best way is, after they are peeled, to slice them lengthwise to the core, but not through it, about }4 inch apart; then cut similar slices around the fruit. Then cutting off the sides of the fruit leaves it all in very small pieces with little labor. Some two or three years ago we saw an item in a paper, calling attention to the value of fresh pineapple juice in its action on tough meats. We Floridians have a corner on tough beef, so we tested the statement. Wife sprin- kled a couple of tablespoonfuls of fresh juice on about 1 lb. of very tough steak, let it stand a few minutes, then cooked. The result was marvelous to us. The steak was tender and sweet, and some of it was actually cut into meal. We are told that pineapple juice is the active agent in the manufacture 'of beef meal, and our own experiment shows that it could be. We are also told that the juice is the best known agent for the cure of croup and diph- theria, its action on the diseased membranes being the same as on dead flesh. Fortunately, we here in Florida can not test that statement. Of course, it is easy to test the action of any thing on articles of food before either is taken into the stomach, but not so easy afterward. Theory says the action would be somewhat alike in both cases, and experience seems to sustain that theory. We ourselves have never 16 tested the matter thoroughly enough to know what are the real facts; but we think we feel better, generally, when using the fruit freely. Many others think the same way. The pastor of our church here tells me that he is troubled very much with dyspepsia, caus- ing severe constipation. He has never yet found any thing, either medicines or food, that relieves his trouble as thoroughly as does the eating of a pineapple; and it leaves no bad effect whatever. His experience is almost identical with your own, as given in June 1st Gleanings, only his experience covers a year or more, instead of only a few times, as yours did. One of our neighbors manufactures in large quantities a medicine which he calls " Pineap- ple Digestor." The process is a secret; but it contains considerable alcohol, and is, therefore, very different from fresh juice. I have never seen or tested the medicine. I don't believe much in alcoholic preparations anyhow; butl hear it well spoken of by some, while others think differently, as is always the case with all medicines. Unquestionably, pineapples or their juice produces much better effect when used perfect- ly fresh, without boiling, cooking, fermenting, or in connection with anything else like salt or sugar. Every departure from nature's sim- plest way of using the fruit injures its good effect. On the other hand, no other kind of fruit is as injurious if eaten after it has com- menced to decay ever so slightly. All portions of a pineapple need to be thoroughly cut out that show the least signs of decay. I can not emphasize this point too strongly. We have but few unsalable pineapples to work up into juice, the proportion of culls and poor fruit being much less than with oranges. Of course, there is always some fruit not as salable as the rest, and some juice could be ob- tained from these. It should be used fresh, unfermented, unboiled, and unsweetened; and I do not know of any method of putting such juice on the market at a low price. I know a way of preserving the juice all right, but it is more expensive than it ought to be, because it has to be bottled the same as beer is, and ship- ped in bottles from here. I am testing the method in £t limited way this fall. If success- ful I will experiment still more largely next summer, with a possible view of putting fresh juice on the market; but I am afraid its having to be bottled will defeat its general use. A neighbor within a few miles of here is putting it up largely in barrels; but he preserves it by the use of large quantities of sugar, which materially injures its value for the use you wish it for. I will try to keep you posted on my success or faihin? in keeping it fresh, and unmixed with sugar or any thing else. Potsdam, Fla. GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. L NOTES OF BICYCLE TRAVEL. AT E. FRANCE'S. By E. R. Rout. Saturday night found me pushing my wheel up through the streets of Platteville. after dark. Not desiring to intrude myself unexpectedly on the family of E. France, I made for the best hotel. The next morning, Sunday, I inquired what church of the place the France family were in the habit of attending. I was told that it was the Methodist, and that usually one or more of them were there. In the meantime I brushed myself up, blacked my shoes, and tried to make myself halfway civilized in appearance, even if rigged in the garb of a cycler, with clothes more or less soiled by the dust of the road and perspiration of the body. At the church 1 was surprised to meet as ushers the hotel clerk and proprietor. They gave me a seat, and told me that they would inform me if the France people came in; but they did not come, as I afterward learned, ow- ing to sickness in the family. But I had the pleasure of listening to an excellent sermon. Well, after Sabbath-school I went to the hotel and wheeled thence to the France home^ and was met at the door by the senior France. On explaining my identity he seemed a little surprised, and wanted to know why I did not come on my first ari'ival. He rather thought I ought to be "whipped" for going to a hotel; but I told him I thought it was hardly the thing for me to go unexpectedly into the homes of bee-keepers at all hours of the day and night, for. necessarily, a wheelman can not make any regular appointments. As the senior France was not feeling very well, his son, N. E.. and I took a stroll over the place. Before I go further, let me introduce you to him. The junior France, now aged 37 years, takes care of the out-yards and manages the help gen- erally, while his father, owing to his age (70), confines himself to the work of the home yard. Like him, the junior France is a man of intel- ligence and forethought, and. as nearly as I could judge, he is full of business and push. During the fall and winter, when he can not carry on active operations in the apiary and fruit-farm, he teaches school; and thus. I im- agine, he finds his time pretty well taken up during nearly all of the year. He has taught thus for ten years, and this is evidence enough that his services are appreciated. He was three years president of the Southwestern Bee-keep- ers' Association — one that is really more active in its general work than the State Association. He was also president one year of the Platte- ville Horticultural Society, and has served in various capacities as secretary of these and other organizations. Like another prominent 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 17 bee-keeper (H. R. Boardman), he is a practical taxidermist, having had 18 years' experience. I am sorry that I can not tell you more about him; but he was so modest that I had to pick up what I could. But I can assure you that, like his father, he is one of the bright intelli- gent bee-keepers of the land; but as he has left the apicultural writings wholly to his father, less has been known of him. It is no disparage- ment to the senior France to say that the jun- ior partner is now the active bee-keeper of the firm of E. France & Son. You will remember that, on this same trip, I found that M. H. Hunt and R. L. Taylor were making a great success in growing fruit; but I •doubt whether there are any bee-keepers who carry on fruit-growing any more extensively /^^ ff N. E. FRANCE. than E. France & .Son. They not only have an «xtensive fruit-ranch, but they grow the very finest and nicest varieties. Every thing gave evidence of having been systematized so that the labor of the hands was reduced to a mini- mum, and the headwork seemed to come from both father and son. so far as I could judge, in about equal pioporiions. After sampling the various fruits, Mr. France asked me if I would not like to run over to the powder-mill, that adjoined on another lot. As I expected to go away during the next forenoon I told him I would. The mills are situated in a deep valley, or gorge; and as one enters the place he sees here a building and there another, and a little further on still another. At no one point was there the appearance of a very large establishment; but an hour's walk shows that they have an immense plant— one that turns out about a carload of powder every day. I be- lieve it is the second largest In the United States. As I was going along one of the walks leading from one mill to another, Mr. France told me that all the employes had to wear shoes fur- nished by the company— that it would never do to have any steel nails in the soles as in or- dinary shoes. Indeed, the rails forming the track of the small railway running from one mill to another (the car drawn by a mule) is made of copper. It is not safe to have steel or iron come in contact with itself. As I ap- proached the door of one mill (every thing was shut down, of course) a kind of nervous fear took possession of me. I remembered that I had steel nails in my shoes, and the thought came to me, -'What, what if I should blow up one of the mills with those steel nails! and how would it look to our readers to hear that I, al- though in good company, had been blown to atoms hereon Sunday i"' When Mr. France showed me where this mill and the other had blown up, and the terrible destruction that had followed in its wake— of the great timbers that had been reduced to kindling-wood, I felt a strong desire to get away. Notwithstanding the great danger to the employes, and the fact that working over the powder is very destructive to health, the men keep at the business until they can do nothing else, and death soon overtakes them — not nec- essarily a violent one, but of slow degrees ; and as soon as one is gone there are plenty of applicants for the position. The following Monday morning I accom- panied E. France and son out into the home yard, and there we talked over their methods of management. As Mr. France has himself described this in the article on page 932 so fully, I shall not need to repeat it here. I had a great curiosity to see those great shot- tower hives. Indeed, they must have been of the appearance of shot- towers when they were made up of two stories, for the frames them- selves, of the standing sort, and spaced with nails, are about 12 x 20 inches, the long way up, and about 9 of them made a brood-nest, and formerly they had an upper story on top of this, of the same capacity. You will not be surprised when I tell you that such colonies used to yield a barrel of honey; but latterly the shot-towers have all been reduced to one story; and while Mr. N. E. France still prefers them to any thing else, the senior France likes the eight-frame Langstroth better, worked in two and three stories. But whether the shot-tower or Langstroth, the hives are all of the quad- ruple type, to save space and to conserve heat in winter, and to render it impossible for do- 18 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. mestic animals or an ordinary wind from turn- ing them over. They are what some people call "tenement" hives. Imagine a large dou- ble-walled hive divided up into four squares by X boards passing at right angles in the center. The outer walls are double and packed. Thus it will be seen that it is necessary to have only two outside walls, of double thickness, for each colony; and herein, I suppose, is the economy. But for some reason or other the quadruple or tenement hives are not generally popular among bee-keepers, owing, I think, largely to their non-portability.* The Frances had discarded the old mouth smokers, such as they formerly used, and were using a modified type of the Bingham of their own construction. They had heard of the Crane, but had never seen it. When the senior France commenced to fill his smoker he said he had found that ordinary straw, packed tightly with a little tobacco, was about as good a fuel as he wanted. Indeed, the straw alone makes an excellent fuel. It makes a very dense white smoke— one that is pungent and powerful; and while we were looking over the bees, the smo- ker did not require replenishing. I think, any oftener than with planer-shavings or even blocks of wood. Of course, if the straw is not packed in tightly it will burn quickly. The Frances are using principally the Carni- olans. They prefer them for their own use to any others. The home yard was largely of these bees, and other yards were being Carni olanized,if I may coin the expression, as rapidly as possible. Our Platteville bee-keepers are conservative, and not inclined to adopt any new fad except on careful and thorough trial on a limited scale; and the adoption of this race of bees by the Frances must indeed be quite a feather in the little caps of these black fellows. We finally went into the honey-house where there were barrels, large and small; but not many of them were full of honey, owing to the short season. They find that barrels are the best packages for large amounts of honey, and, when properly coopered and cared for, afterward give but little trouble from leakage. They do not need to be waxed inside, but should become thoroughly dried, and the hoops should be driv- en down before filling the barrels with honey. They had had, for experiment, some large bar- rels made, holding .500 lbs. and over; but these were too heavy and bulky to handle. The smaller size, holding about 300 lbs., was much better. The door of the honey-house commu- nicating with the apiary was on a level with the ground. The other door was just opposite, facing the roadway, and was just high enough so a barrel could be rolled from the floor into a wagon-box. *A full detailed description, with druwing', at the shot-tower hives is g-iveii on page 369 of Gleanings for 189U. We next looked at the France extractor,, which is of the non- reversible type. The in- side reel was made of wood, for lightness and stiffness, and the whole can was put in a stout frame to hold it to the proper height for easy handling, and to protect it for hauling when- ever it should be necessary. The senior France said the non-reversible would extract all the honey one could get, but the junior France ex- pressed a desire to see the Cowan, and was be- ginning to feel, from the reports he had seen, that it must be quite an advantage over most of the non-reversing kind. Another year they will give one a test. In another room in the same building was a large and fine collection of stuffed animals — some of them exceedingly rare — most of them of the junior France's preparation, and a few that E. France himself had prepared. Both of the Frances are expert hunters, and occasion- ally take an outing. CHAT ON EUROPEAN MATTERS.— NO. 3. By diaries Norma)i. Most of both the Swiss and French bee-keep- ers produce extracted honey. By the way, there is a honey-knife advertised, enabling one to un- cap the two sides of a frame (of a certain size) without turning it. What do you think of that? Would it not, if really practical, be quite a splendid little implement? Well, Mr. Bertrand, being a bee-master, recommends, of course, the production of section honey, and gives in an ar- ticle of his all the requisite directions how to proceed. He is not, however, in favor of our American square sections ; first, because one might (in the super as well as in the shipping- case) place them wrong side up; and, second, because they do not correspond with the metric system, weighing only from 420 to 440 grams (or about 1.5 ounces) which latter argument can not well be refuted. He therefore invented and recommends what he named the " French sec- tion," which is longer than deep, measuring 130 by 105 by .50 millimeters (or about S-j^-,, by 4,V by nearly 2 inches thick), weighing .500 grams, or about 18 ounces. It can be adapted to all kinds of hives. Mr. C. P. Dadant, in the American Bee Jour- nal, published two articles in which he spoke against the use of sulphuric acid for rendering wax. Mr. Bertrand has translated and reprint- ed both of them. Naphthaline is asserted to be a preventive of bee-stings. A correspondent says positively that bees, when going for his " naphthalined " hands, always desist from their aim. Concerning "laying workers," Mr. Gillet, a teacher of apiculture, has observed that, when a colony of laying workers is dumped or brush- ed on to the ground at some distance from their hive, the laying workers do not return, but stay 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 19 in a lump on the ground. He tried, and suc- ceeded in two ways in getting rid of " tiiose devils of fertile workers." The first is a little more tedious. He took two frames of brood, of all ages, with the young bees from one of his best colonies, put them into an empty hive, and put the same into a dark place, to stay there for three days. On the evening of the third day he placed this nucleus, which then had five queen- cells, on the stand of the laying workers, which, in turn, were carried to the cellar. Some days afterward it was taken out again and placed at some distance from the nucleus, and the bees were brushed on to the grass. Most of them, excepting, perhaps, a thousand or more, return- ed to their old stand, where now and then some bees were killed, "hut this was all." Those bees which remained on the grass were merci- lessly destroyed. A month later he opened the hive and found a " magnificent" queen (reared in a two-frame nucleus). The second way is less complicated. One evening he gave the same scent to the colony with the laying workers and to the weakest of his other colonies, on account of fighting. On the following day he moved the colony with the laying workers about 350 feet from their old stand, on which he set the scented weak colo- ny, and brushed the bees off on the ground. Nearly all went back to the old stand, and there was no fighting. About 300 or 400 bees remained on the ground and were killed. Eight days after, he opened the hive and every thing was normal. In speaking of the preservation of drones for late queen-rearing, Mr. A. I. Root, in his ABC book, says: " I believe drones have been, under such circumstances, wintered over." Well, one Mr. Cedre, relates that, after sufficient rains toward the 15th of October, the queens not only laid pretty well, but that drones had been rear- ed, and says: " These drones, in small quantity, to be sure, have wintered over in two or three hives, and died after some flights in March. This is the first time I have observed this fact." St. Petersburg, Fla. ^ I — ^^— DRONES, DRONE-LAYING ftTJEENS, AND LAY- ING WORKERS, USELESS. AN INTEKESTIXG EXPERIMENT. By Willie Atchley. If I remember aright, I promised the readers of Gleanings that I would test the value of drones from drone-laying queens and those from laying workers and unfertile queens. Now, I must recall the promise that I would try this on an island 18 miles out at sea this year, and report. As the experiment would cost me in cash ^.50, not counting time, I had to postpone the scheme till some future time. As the hot July wind very nearly ruined our nu- clei, we had to use all the means we had to re- stock our queen-rearing business, and had no money to spare for the proposed experiment. But as we have places here on the prairie where we can get five or more miles away from bees, timber, or anybody, we tried the experi- ment in a small way. While this could not be taken conclusively, I am now fully convinced that I do not want any of my queens mated with any but drones from best fertilized queens. We are satisfied that nearly all, if not all, the queens put on the prairie were mated with the drones from laying workers ; and while they seem to be just as prolific as any queens, they are ruined by being mated with these unde- veloped drones. What I mean by undeveloped drones is this: drones from any but good fertil- ized and laying queens, as we all know that a queen is not thoroughly developed till she is mated and begins to lay. Then a drone from any other source is from an undeveloped mother, and is an undeveloped drone. Now, our experiment queens would mate and lay as well as any queens, so far as we could see, in worker-cells, and nearly all the eggs would produce drones. My idea is, that the mating of these queens by such drones was so feeble that not one egg in twenty would touch the fluid and be transformed from a drone to a worker egg, as the fluid is so scant, and the vessel containing the same is not full enough, and the eggs pass right on by without being impregnated, and all caused from improper mating. I am now of the opinion that weakness, either in the queen or drone, will cause a defect in the mating, and a drone-laying queen will be the result. I believe that a queen can be fertilized by an undeveloped drone, and yet no v/orker eggs be laid, as the fluid deposited by the drone is so small that the duct that conveys the eggs is not touched at all by the fluid from the drone, just the same as an egg deposited in a drone-cell for a drone; still, nature may be satisfied to such an extent that the queen may think she is depositing worker eggs. I have now come to the conclusion that I shall never allow any but drones from my best queens to fly near my queen-yards, for I believe it will sooner or later prove very damaging. I am perfectly satisfied that the queen has the power to deposit eggs without having them come in contact with the semen, or fluid deposited by the drone, and all such produce drones. I should be glad indeed to have some of the old heads take this thing in hand, say Doolittle or Prof. Cook, and see if I am not right. I do believe that we as bee-keepers are standing in our own light, and sleeping over our rights, not to have this thing put through and settled be- yond a doubt, as poor mating is (tlivays a loss to the bee-keeper. We had arranged to have some of these drone-laying queens dissected and thoroughly examined by Dr. Howard, at 20 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. Dallas, during thft fair; but professional duties k-ept him. and nothing was done. Now. who will volunteer to take up this matter with me next season? and how many would be willing to throw in a dollar to have this all tried 18 miles out in the ocean, so that answers to such puzzling questjons could be answered beyond a doubt? Beeville, Tex. [Here is $;j.00 from Gleanings.— Ed.] SOME KINDLY HINTS TO YOUNG WOMEN. ESPECIAI-I,Y THOSE WHO ARE AMBITIOUS TO LEAVE THE COUNTKY AND FIND A PLACE IN THE CITY. Bu Mrs. N. L. Stow. Mr. Root:—l was very much interested in Rev. W. T. Elsing's letter in Nov. 1st Glean- ings, particularly as I know his sister, who is a resident of this city, and who, years ago, was for awhile a member of my own family. lam sure he is well fitted to lend a helping hand, and give an encouraging word, to all who are struggling for better things. I would take his last paragraph, and, with a slight change, would say, " My advice to all young women is, to let well enough alone. If you have a rich uncle or good friend who will give you assist- ance, well and good; if not, stay at home and learn to take care of bees," if you have not something better. I do wish I could impress the truth on the hearts of all young girls, of the fearful risk they run in coming to a great city, ■alone and unprotected. It is pitiful. It is wicked to allow it; and yet they are coming every day. I am acquainted with the work- ings of that helping hand in Chicago that is watching for and taking hold of such if possi- ble, and starting them right, or looking for them and pulling them out of the mire, if they have fallen, and setting them on their feet again, or sending them back to the home they never should have so ignoranily left. It is called the Anchorage Mission, and a wonderful work it is doing. Near my own home there Is an institution for the rescue of homeless and helpless girls— the Illinois Industrial School for Girls. My husband has conducted a Sunday- school for them for over fourteen years, so we know much of what life is for friendless girls; and, knowing it, I would plead that parents do not let their daughters go from home to earn their own living— at least, not to cities ; for where one may succeed, many more wear out their lives trying to make both ends meet, or, worse still, blindly fall into the trap of the evil one. Girls of to-day are restless and ambitious; rightly or wrongly so, as you will, women are becoming more and more independent; you can not help it any more than you can stop the march of reform in all the phases of life; but you may lead and guide them aright. If you are a bee-keeper you can get your daugh- ters interested in your work, and have them help you, and be very sure to give them their pay or their share of the profits, the sarfie as you would any one else. Let them have peri- odicals, and encourage their little ambitions, and you will, together with them, be lifted up into something better. Surely farmers who are spending their lives trying to make something grow should see to it that their own lives, and those of their families be not dwarfed. How many parents fail to pluck the fruits of peace and joy from their family life because they have neglected to prune and train and de- velop the growing minds given into their charge! Surely life is more than living, and he who lives the larger life lives most. Evanston, III., Nov. 30. or Hail if?^ Friend Er7iest:—ln your illustration of Dec. 1, page iiOS, providing, as I think is the case, the tenons are square, or nearly so, I can't see why the lowest nail in the '• right way" wouldn't split the wood just as quickly as the nail in the "wrong way." You surely will admit that the nail in the wrong way will hold far better. As you may have guessed, I made those hives, and I can't think thoy are so awful bad. Chicago, III., Dec. 5. C. C. Miller, Jr. The following is the reply: Reverting to the cut on page 908 of Glean- ings, of the right and wrong way of nailing, I would say that tht' lowest nail of the former should not have shown. The cut as now repro- duced is as it should be. You will readily see that the other nails put in the " right way" can not split, because each tenon is held on each side by its neiglibors. No. I can not quite ad- mit that the nails put in the "wrong way would hold far better," for the very reason that the two boards are not held together by the drawing power of the nails. All nails, es- pecially cut nails, and cement-coatpd wire nails, such as we use, have considerable draw- ing power, as you may know, and the strength of the corner depends largely upon how tightly the tenons are drawn into their places. You may drive the dovetailed corners as tightly as you can; but without the hugging power of the nails driven through the tenon into the end of 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. the other board, they will spring out a little. When you nail up the wrong way, the drawing power is the wrong way; or, at least, it does not restore the tenons to the tight contact that ex- isted under the blows of the hammer while the dovetails were being pounded together. Perhaps I can not explain to you tlieoretically •why there is a difference; but there is a differ- ence in practice, for we have tried both ways in our shop. While I do not wish at all to criticise your nailing, I observed that, where the nails were put through as they should be at the center of the boards, they drew the board up tight at that point; but near the outside edges there was a slight gap on nearly all that I ex- amined, and now and then a split tenon. I see now that I did not make myself entirely clear, and did not emphasize the most important feature; namely, the drawing power when the nails are put in the " right way.'"— Ed.] r~— 'ANSWERS TO 0-— ^ BY G.M.DOOLITTLE.BOROOINO.N.Y. '■"'""" '■"' ■■I'lMiiimiyiiiiiMii i.mni RAISING QUEENS. Question. — I attempted twice to raise queens over zinc excluders, according to your book, tiering up until queen -cells were started to get royal jelly, which was put into cell-cups, and larvae transferred into these; but the bees re- fused to accept them. In looking a day or two afterward I found in both cases that the bees had removed the larvw and royal .jelly, and had slightly rounded the edges of the cell-cups. Every thing was done according to directions to the best of my ability. Where does the fault lie— with me or the bees? Answer. — It is a singular fact that about one out of every fifty who try the plan of rearing queens as given in my book make an entire failure of it. Of the other 49 who try, forty re- port a perfect success, while the other nine are puzzled and perplexed over their not being able to do better than to secure from one to three perfect queens out of every lot of cell -cups tried. But while this is so, there is one thing worth mentioning, which is, that the longer those who have poor success try the plan the better they succeed. If I am correct, the editor of Gleanings had poor success when he first tried to raise queens this way, but afterward made a success of it. From the above I am compelled to say that the fault, when a failure occurs, must be in the operator, for, so far as I am aware, bees behave very much the same, whether it be in York State, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, California, Canada, Europe, or Australia, as I have reports of perfect success and also of failures from all the places men- tioned, and from many others also. If any man or woman makes a perfect success of the plan in Pennsylvania (where the asker of the ques- tion resides), should not another make the same success providing he did exactly the same thing? As forty out of fifty do make a perfect success with the plan, it would look as if those who make a partial or entire failure in the matter failed in some respect to work in all the minuti;e of the matter in the same way the suc- cessful ones do. As I mistrust tliat more fail in the matter of the transferring of the larvie than anywhere else, I am constrained to give the fullest possible directions in this matter. To those who have not succeeded I would say, wait about trying again till swarming-time, then take some of the queen-cells which the bees have prepared, from the hive, taking such as have plenty of royal jelly in them; and, after having removed the larv;B occupying these cells from the royal jelly, transfer larvie from your select breeding queen to the royal jelly left just as you removed the original larvas from it. Three days previous to this prepare a colony by removing its queen, and at the time you transfer the larva? take all of the brood from it, giving it or allowing it to have three or four frames of honey or combs two-thirds or more filled with honey, as given in one of the earlier chapters of my book. Now place these cells on a stick by dipping the bases in melted wax, or stick them on the sides of the combs al- ready in the hive, a la Willie Atchley, when you will place them in thisqueenless and brood- less colony for perfecting. If this is a success you may know that there is no trouble on your part in the transferring process; but should it not prove successful you may rest assured that you killed the larvie in some way in manipulat- ing them; for a queenless and broodless colony, fixed as above described, will raise a queen from any eggs or larv* which have any vitality in them. If you succeed here, try the same natu- ral cells in the upper story of a liered-up colony; and, if I am not greatly mistaken, you will suc- ceed here also, unless you try in early spring or late at fall, which you can not well do if you take cells from swarming colonies. If you suc- ceed with these swarming-cells, and can not with the cell-cups, then you may know that there is some mistake in your manipulation of the royal jelly, or else the wax used in forming the cell-cups is offensive to the bees, or not fashioned as it should be in some way. To find out which of these is the cause of failure, in- stead of using royal jelly, transfer the larvte to the cell -cups by the Willie Atchley plan of re- moving cocoon, larva}, and all, to the cell-cups. If you now succeed you may know that the trouble was in manipulating the jelly. If you donotthen,thecell-cupsare atfault. If you have made no success with any of your trials till you transferred the larvaj by means of the cocoons, then you may know that you handled the larvaj in transferring in such a way that you killed the same, and here is where you are to look for the trouble. If you think that you failed in handling the larva3, allow me a few sugges- tions. Make the point of the quill used in transfer- GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. ring VLM-y thin and quiti' broad; then give the point much curve, !-o it will tit the bottom of the cells nicely. Now, before trying to transfer the first larva, dip the point in royal jelly till it is thoroughly moistened with the same, when you will note that, as you pass it under the larva, said larva is floated up on this royal jelly adhering to the curved point of the quill, so that it does not touch the quill at all, so can not be injured if you use any care in setting it down in tiie royal jelly in the cell -cups. If you are bothered about seeing, shave the piece of comb containing the larva down almost to the septum of the comb, or base of the cells, when no one should have any difficulty in seeing per- fectly who can read the print of these pages. But perhaps you tried the plan of queen-rear- ing too early in the spiing, or during cool weather in September or October. Or perhaps you did not feed the colony when honey was not coming in from the fields, or did not have unsealed brood in the upper story; any or all of which would tend toward a failure. If the weather is cool, and no honey coming in from the field, the bees should be fed till they are all alive and active, the same as they are when honey is coming in from the fields and at swarm- ing time; for if we would raise good queens at any time of year these conditions should be brought about as nearly as possible. PINE TAR FOR FEEDERS. If Dr. Miller will take pine tar, and work in air-slaked lime, to the consistency of putty, he will find the article he asks for in " Straws," Oct. 1.5. As it haidens quickly it is best to mix but a small quantity at a time. For cracks in hives, leaky pails, or other articles, it is easily applied, and durable. For hive-covers of can- vas, take pine tar, mixed with ocher into a soft putty; let it stand 24 hours, and thin with lin- seed oil to the proper consistency. After tack- ing the canvas around the edges of the cover, wet it thoroughly; and after the suiplus water has run off, give it a gooJ coat of the paint, which can be repealed, if necessary, with lead, if the color is objectional. New Smyrna, Fla. .Inc. Y. Detwiler. LIST OF SURSCRIBKKS ON THE WHEEI.-ROUTE. I have recently received some back numbers of Gleanings, from home. I would suggest to Lncle Amos to put a list of his delinquent sub- scribers in his pocket when he is out on his wheel. He probably passed 603 South Metcalf C' Wapak " road) the evening he was wanting information regarding those " vast reservoirs of oil." have been making 'em for the last nine years, and guess I could have told him "sumpin" — a' done it too— probably got per- mission to show him around our $2, (KKJ.OOO re- finery and paraflfine works ; Chicago pump- station, with its pumps that have pushed an eight-inch line of water from Lima to Chicago, 210 miles; gas service, etc., sufficient to take all the time he had to spa''e. J. K. McClurg. Oil Centre, O., Nov. 26. [My good friend M., it is not only delinquent subscribers, but subscribers of any sort, of whom I ought to have a list when I go out wheeling, i have resolved many times that I would carry one the next time; but it is not every reader of Gleanings who is such a de- voted friend to A. I. 11. as yourself and friend Matteson, of Kreidersville. Another thing, I almost always go off into regions where I did not expect to go. If I had a list of the whole State of Ohio, then I could hit them. But to get down to business. I am exceedingly obliged to you for your kind offer of services ; and when we have good roads once more 1 am go- ing to make a second trip for further investiga- tions. Many thanks. A good many times, after I get home, I feel ashamed of myself to think I liavH been so near some old veteran and did not know it. — A. I. R.] LEARNING TO RIDE A BICYCLE. Seeing you are a great amateur bicyclist, could you not publish instructions for begin- ners? We are a family of eight, and we are all trying to learn. X. Picquet. Salnte Marie, III., Sept. 28. [My good friends, as I learned mainly after I was over .50 years old, and made pretty hard work of it at that, at least on the start, very like- ly my suggestions may bi^ of some avail. Per- haps the most important thing is to find a good place. You want level ground, tramped hard and smooth. There is no better roadway for a wheel than ground that is tramped hard and firm and smooth by many feet. Then the place should be wide enough — no stumps, trees, nor any thing to hurt you. on either side. It takes lots of room for a beginner. Lastly, theground should be a little down hill, so the beginner will not need to exert much strength to start with. If there is plenty of grass pretty tall, each side of the path, all the better. Take the wheel to the top of the slope ; hold by the handles; put your foot on the step, and ride down hill. After you have done that a few times, get on the saddle and learn to guide the wheel. After you can ride from the top of the slope to the bottom, sitting in the saddle, you can soon get your ft-et on the pedals. You will then n<'ed no further instruction from any one. At about this stage, however, you will want a long piece of nice level road before you. and there should be a similar place (down slope) a little distance away, where you can get on to start back to the phi'-pof starting. The best place we have around Medina is on the race-track at the fairgrounds. In this case the beginner comes around to the place of starting, and so does not get away off from his companions or his home. While in Missouri my nephew learned to ride fairly well in about two hours. The ground was very hard and smooth in their dooryard. After he had got to going, he prac- ticed by running around the house. I think he could have ridden a mile without getting off, within two or three hours after he first tried to ride a wheel; and he had less Instruction than 1 have given you in the above. Perhaps I may 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 23 acid that he is an expert in horsemanship, and is just :il J ears old. If you are over .50 it will take you longer, and you must not be discouraged if you find a few bruises when you undress to go to bed at night. Success and best wishes to that family of eight, friend P.— A. I. h.J Mii. Alley says, " Give the bees a chance to rest all winter. Do not disturb them at all." This is good advice, providing you know they have been fed and have sufficient stores. This seems to be a rather open winter all over the country, and it behooves every bee-keeper to see that his bees do not starve. While cold winters are severe on outdoor unprotected col- onies, the bees are not as liable to rear brood or use up their stores. But during open seasons like this the very opposite is true, and colonies are lost, not by cold, but by starvation. Later.— Since wriiing this, the weather has changed to almost a blizzard this morning of the 27th. I EXTRACT the following from the Nebraska ■Queen, a new bee-paper. It is a pretty good sample of the rest of the editorial matter: I fear there are many swarms of bees In Nebraska that will have to be fed or they will starve before you can feed in the spring- 1 have heard many, of late, say their bees may starve before they will spend any more money on them. Ah, my friend! how can you talli that way ? Show me what has paid the past few years tliut has been left to its own ways. Gentlemen, your stock would perish and die this winter if you had not economized and saved all your straw, hay, and cornstalks. Many are, to daj% wondering how their stock will get tlirough the winter. It will be througli your careful care for it. Merchants should bear in mind that "selhng' goods below cost " is unprofitable in more ways than one. Most people think you're lying, and trade elsewhere; wliile those who believe yon, will Stay away because tliey don't like to trade witli a fool. A dentist could probably drive home the filling in a tooth with a single blow from a large hammer; but he does a better job, and the job lasts longer, by using a small hammer and repenting the blows. The same principle liolds good in advertising. THE CROSSES OF .5 BANDERS CROSS, BUT WELL MARKED. There is one objection to the five-banded Italians that I had not thought to mention be- fore; namely, that a cross between a queen of five banded stock and a black drone, or a five- banded drone and a black queen, will, accord- ing to our experience, result in all of the bees showing at least three bands, and in some cases four. Now, these bees, so far as marMngs are concerned, would pass for pure Italians, be- cause, forsooth, they show three yellow bands and more; but they are, just the same, hybrids; and this accounts for the way some of the bees of five-banded stock are so " awful " cross. They are not pure; the owner says, " They show four bands, but sting like hornets." I do not wish to appear to discourage the business of breeding iive-banders; for there are some careful breeders who run for both color and business; but the color craze has been car- ried so far by many of the breeders, all other qualities sink into insignificance when compar- ed with the one thing — "lots of yellow." Color will not make prolific queens, neither will it add any thing to the honey crop. On the contrary, it will detract from both. The following are a few brief pointers in re- gard to advertising, that I take from Printers' I)ik. This is getting to be the season for ad- vertising, and I feel sure that our advertisers, or those who expect to be with us, will profit by the suggestions. Notice particularly the last paragraph You will see how nicely it dove- tails in the editorial on page 876. It is far better to invest what money you have, in a number of small advertisements, than to put it into one big flaming one and let it stop there. Advertising is like a carriage— Its progress is im- peded by getting into ruts. A great many persons will read a short story who Tiave not time to read a long one. Same way with an ad. Different persons read the same thing in a differ- ent manner; lience the necessity of presenting the same sul:)ject in different ways to convince different minds. Nails driven taut half way do not fulfill an intent. Half-hearted l^lows in advertising are as futile. Concentrated applications alone create impressions. THE SHOW OF HANDS ON THE BEE -PARALYSIS QUESTION. The following is the revised list of names of queen-breeders up to date who have signified their willingness to destroy the first case of bee- paralysis as soon as it appears in their yards, within 24 hours after its discovery. I am well aware that some think such a procedure un- necessary; but it will surely stamp the disease out entirely, if all queen-breeders will take pains to pursue this policy for a few years. Foul brood, I feel quite certain, can not be transmitted from the ovaries of the queen, Cheshire to the contrary; and I think all practi- cal apiarists, and those who do not depend upon fine spun theories, agree with me. But bee- paralysis, assuredly, can be so transmitted, and should be treated accordingly. W. H. Laws, Lavaca, Ark. J. P. Mooi-e, Morgan, Ky. J. J. Hardy, Lavonia, Ga. F. A. Loekhart. Lake Gecn-ge. N. Y. F. B Yockev, North Wiishnigt-on, Pa. H. G. Qiiirin, IJel Icviic, Ohio. Cleveland Bros.,SI;iiii|)er, Miss. G. W. Hufstedler. (laiksville, Tcnn. Leiuinger Bros., Ki. .Icnnings, O. Jennie Atchley, Ueevillc .Tex. By the way, I notice by the Aiyiculturist that Mr. Alley thinks the course we are pursuing in 24 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. this matter is foolish, and that a better way, and all that is necessary, is to simply destroy the bees. He holds that "the brood, honey, and combs are not diseased." But over against this we have the testimony of Mr. T. S. Ford and others who have experi- mented pretty carefully, showing that the disease is carried through the combs, or the hives, for he experimented on this very point. I grant mild measures may work very satis- factorily in the North, or in any climate like that of Mr. Alley's. We do not fear the disease north of Mason and Dixon's line. The probable consequence of its being transmitted through queens from the north when sent south is what we do fear. When some one else says something that we agree with, we are pretty apt to say, " That's good." Well, here is something from the last American Bee Journal that I think is " good:" Come to think of it, I too must take exception to theAmcrkan Bee JouDutl editor regarding- Ills con- clusion concerning- the editorial "we" and the indi- vidual " I"— and the more concur with Bro. Ernest Root's preference. Why ? Well, I'll tell you. The " I" g-ivesall statements a more decided, independent, and responsible force; it admits of no equivocation; it courts no excuse; it holds itself personally amena- ble for the utterance; it practically affirms that he is the writer— "If you have any objections to urg-e, I am ready to afford you satisfaction!" Now, it is not so with the usual "we." Not only does it fail to be commeiidably modest, but it lacks individuality and manly grit! It nebulously sug- gests that others are implicated in the assertions made; it is only another way of expressing the ir- responsible "tliey say." which plirase mayor may not include lialf the inhabitants of a given place— a weak, cowardly intimation, too frequently protect- ed. Of all tilings to me most admirable is the exhi- bition of manly courage of one's convictions, of placing one's self firmly, honestly, and independ- ently before the public;, ready to maintain tlie prin- ciples lie believes to be right; courting criticism from whatsoever source, and I know of no more unflinching vowel for the purpose than a respectful "I." Emm Dee. HOW TO FEED IN MID-WINTER. Quite a number have asked how to feed their bees during mid-winter. I assume,of course, that your colonies have been neglected for some cause or other, and you now discover that they have hardly sufficient stores to carry them to spring, let alone that season, the most trying of all. In the first place, it is always better to feed in the usual manner in the fall; but when that has not been attended to, something else will have to be done now, for in this case surely the motto holds true, " Better late than never." The best thing to give the bees is combs of sealed honey. The dry ones should be taken out and the filled ones put in their places. It might be advisable to leave one empty comb in the center, with two or more combs of filled stores on either side. But we will suppose that you have not the combs. Cakes of maple syrup answer very well when laid over the tops of the frames under the quilt. But you have not these. Cakes of dry candy should then be used. The following are the directions given in our A B C of Bee Culture: Into a tin saucepan put some granulated sugar with a little water— a very little water will do. Make it boil, and stir it; and when it is done enough to "grain" when stirred in a saucer, take it quickly from the stove. While it is " cooking," do not let the fire touch the pan, but place the pan on the stove, and there will be no danger of its burning. Cover the diningtable with some newspaptrs, that you may have no troublesome daubs to clean up. To see when it is just right you can try dropping some on a saucer; and while you are at work, be sure to remember the little folks, wliowill doubtless take quite an interest in the proceedings, especially the baby. You can stir some until it is very white indeed for her; this will do very well for cream candy. We have formerly made our bee-candy hard and clear; but in this shape it is very apt to be sticky, unless we endanger having it burned, where- as if it is stirred we can have dry hard candy, of what would be only wax if cooled suddenly without stir- ring. Besides we liave much more moisture in the stirred sugar candy, and we want all the moisture we can possibly have, consistent with ease in handl- ing. If your candy is burned, no amount of boiling will make it hard, and your best way is to use it for cooking, or feed the bees in summer weather. Burnt sugar is death to them, if fed in cold weather. You can tell when it is burned, by the smell, color, and taste. If you do not boil it enougli, it will be soft and sticky in warm weather, and will be liable to drip when stored away. Perhaps you had better try a pound or two at first, while you "get your hand in." Our first experiment was with .50 lbs. ; it all got ''scorched" "somehow." But suppose you do not wish to bother with the candy-making. Stick candy, or any kind of candy that is not colored or adulterated, that is made from pure white sugar that is hard, would answer. The only trouble would be, it would be rather expensive compared with what you could make yourself. " Good" candy — that is, powdered sugar and honey mixed into a stiff dough, may be used; but the only objection to it is, the bees suck out the honey and let the dry grains of sugar rattle down between the combs; then there is danger of its " running" and making a dauby mess. .JOHN THORNE CALVERT. Since the Home of the Honey-bees has become an Incorporated company, I have thought that many of our readers would like to be introduced to our secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. T. Calvert, who, although he transacts a very considerable part of the business, is not generally known to our readers, though very many of them have read letters from here dictated by him. Mr. Calvert was born Dec. 7, 1863, in Victoria Co., Ontario. His grandparents on both sides came from old England. He was raised on a farm at Reaboro, his old home, and educated at a country school about two miles distant; and numerous were the times when paths had to be cut through the snow across the fields. This was a good school, and Mr. Calvert made the best possible use of the privileges afforded him. Indeed, if there is any thing that will clear up a youth's head, and make him do the best work, it is to walk two miles to and fro from schooL 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 25 He was soon proficient enough to pass the ex- -amination for what is known in Canada as the third-class teachers' certificate; and this means a good deal more than the ordinary certificate, so called, in this country. Later on he took a course in the Ontario Business College at Belle- ville, doing the work of a sixteen-weeks' course in eleven. After this he spent six weeks in To- ronto in a wholesale house; and from there he came to Medina in 1881. The year before, at home, he had become in- terested in bees. He obtained some queens of W. G. Russell, now of Millbrook. Can., and at about the same time a few stray copies of ■Gleanings fell into his hands. As a result of this a correspondence began, resulting in Mr. ■Calvert's coming here to work. .JOHN THORNE CALVERT. We had previously (as we do now) received a Sreat many applications from outside parties; and as a general thing we had told all of them that it was no use for them to apply so long as so many applicants were living at Medina. But there was something in John's letter that impressed A. I. R. with the fact that he was a boy of the " right sort " of stamp, stamina, and character, and so he was induced to break over his custom. John was willing to work for small pay, that he might have the privilege of learning the 'business; after which he expected to go back to Canada to establish a supply-house with his brother Albert, who was then living. But John •developed such a proficiency at the Home of the Honey-bees, and seemed to fit so well in the harness, that several things conspired to change iiis plans. He first began work in what we call the sam- ple-room, "tying up sticks." The following summer he took charge of the apiary while the writer was at school in Oberlin. We had a heavy queen and bee trade that year, and so our new man was pretty well initiated. In order that he might make himself more useful he decided to take a course of studies at Oberlin, working his way along, and paying his own expenses as he could. He therefore at- tended school at this institution, with the writer, off and on, for four years, when ill health on the part of A. I. Root, brought on by the heavy responsibilities of the rapidly growing business, made it necessary for one of "the boys" to come home— at least for a time. I came first and began on the journal in the sum- mer of 1885, doing what I could to lift the load here; and during the following spring John came, andjn his turn began to lift the burden in the commercial department. I have said that several things conspired to change his plans. I don't know which was the most po- test in inducing him to become an American citizen. I need not go into details, but in Sep- tember of 1886, shortly after leaving school, he married my oldest sister, Maude. A naturally good memory for figures and names, his general aptitute for business, that seemed to be born in him, enabled him to be a proficient clerk. First he took charge of the es- timates and of the buying of the goods; and later on he assumed, practically, control of tlae whole commercial department, including book- keeping, buying and selling, etc. Under his management branch houses were established, and other depots for the sale of our apicultural supplies were stationed all over the United States; and wliile we had a very good foreign trade it continued to increase, so that the busi- ness changed from what was to a large extent local and retail to what you might call trans- continental and wholesale, although the retail business and local features of it were preserved Mr. Calvert makes a liberal use of both the phonograph and stenographer in his general correspondence; and right here I might say that nearly all letters relating to tlae commer- cial department come under his general super- vision. He is an indefatigable worker; and his general good health, owing to his regular habits of eating and sleeping, enables him to do more business than most men. He is not less active in his religious life. He has been intimately connected with nearly all phases of the Christian Endeavor movement. He has been president a number of times of our local church organization, and two years of the county, and is now president of the Medina Co. Sunday-school Union. He is also active as a Sunday-school teacher, and greatly interested in all work of missions. Physically he is of medium height, rather stoutly built, of light complexion, and of pleas- ant face and manner. 26 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. The next day was Sunday, so I could not do very mucli in the way of investigating the quiver surroundings of my relatives: but I was so full of questions, and some of them that would hardly l stance, tliat a horse with this disease is almost certain to get batter soon. And when you dose him with all sorts of nauseous medicines," and take the horse out and ride him around, you are doing a cruel thing; and if the animal gets better, it is in spite of your treatment, not becau^e of it. I sup- pose I enjoyed this talk more than some would, be- cause I never did believe in dosing animals or hu- man beings to any such extent as the common custom Is. Our best doctors now give very httle medicine, except to patients whose imagination it is necessaiy to work on, and then they often give bread pills, or some such harmless tiling. In fact, there i.-, one great doctor in the West who is per- forming the most wonderful cures without giving any lUHdicine whatever. We have not a bottle of medicine in our home, and have never had the tenth part of the sickness that there was in my boyhood home, where dosing was about as common as eat- ing. THE DIVINING ROD, OR SWITCH, FOR FIND- ING WATER. TELLING WHERE TO DIG WELLS, BY MEANS OF A WILLOW OR HAZEL SWITCH. This is another humbug that needs to be thoroughly exposed: and such good papers as the Country Oentleman and Practical Farmer have published communications defending the institution, without any editorial or comment. Perhaps they proposed to let their correspondents discuss the matter. }>iitl protest against letting such nonsense go unreproved, even in a single issue. The writers of both the articles in ques- tion seem to be men of sense, and should know better. Look here, friends. There are but three imponderable agents known to science- heat, light, and electricity. One writer says it is no more strange than that the magnetic needleshould point toward the north pole, about 3200 miles away. That may be true; but in the first place it is not the north pole that attracts the magnetic needle. And, again, the magnetic 30 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1. needle will not point to a lump of ore away down in the ground. If it were true, and if the willow switch or hazel rod did point to veins of water many feet below, then we should have a new imponderable agent now unknown to science. Scientific men would rush to investi- gate, as they would hunt tor a new planet or a new cornel. It is a little strange thiit scientific investigation has paid so little attention to this matter. One experiment station took it up some years ago. Very likely it was our Ohio station. They showed up the fraud in very short meter by demanding that the water-witch should prophesy where water could be found, with his eye^ t>}iti(lfi)ltJed. The one called was an old gentleman who had located wells almost all his life. He was unquestionably honest and sincere in the matter, for he did the work for little or nothing. When the scientific experimenters, however, asked him if he could do it just as well blindfolded he replied that he could, without question; but when placed upon trial he entirely failed to set any stake where he had previously set them when he could use his eyes. The old man was honest enough to give up, and submit that he had probably not only deluded others, but had deluded himself all his life. Now, you need not rush forward and try to "snow me under" with your testimonials or with your faith. If any of you have got a water-witch, north, soulii. east, or west, who can locate wells by the twisting of a switch, and who will locate them with his eyes blindfolded just as well as with his eyes open, just let me know about it, and I will make a trip expressly to see him, and pay you all for your time and trouble besides. Will thf> experiment stations of the different States help to get rid of this foolish, s' upid legend of the Dark Ages '? Make tests as I have outlined above, then send out bulletins, and have the matter published in the agricultural papers. Why, dear friends, just consider a moment. People have carried water long distances from wells all their lives because a water-witch drove a stake in that spot; and, again, one good friend of mine. I am told, has a well right square in front of his front door, be- cause the water-witch told him he could not get water if he dug anywhere else. Perhaps a majority of the " witches" are honest. It simply illustrates how prone is humanity to get notions and to fall into ruts. Electropoise and patent medicines, spoken of in other pages in this issue, attest this. Why, it is just really enough to make a good man weep to see how people waste money and health by letting their imagi- nation lead them astray. As a rule, men who put down wells by machinery, and do a large business, will tell you that the witching amounts to noViing at all. The man who put down our well where the big windmill now stands said he always drilled wherever people directed him to, and that a great many times they had a water-witch set the stake: but he said there was no question but the whole thing was a humbug, and, furthermore, that, when the matter was submitted to him. he always directed people to have their wells where it would be most convenient, and that the chances were certainly just as favorable for striking a heavy vein of water in one place as in another. They had never failed in getting plenty of water, providing they went deep enough. If somebody would dig for water where the witch says it can not be found, he would find plenty of it. with hardly an exception; for it is about as hard to dig far into the earth irlthout finding a vein of water as it is to cut a finger without finding a vein of blood. That would prove the fallacy of at least half his claims, and with that would go the other half. SANITARY DRAINAGE, ETC. We are told in our book, "Tile Drainage," that the roots of trees never go into the tiles unless said tiles carry water when the ground generally is lacking in moisture. This condi- tion would be secured only where the tiles car- ried water from springs, or slops and sewage from the house, cellar, etc. In digging up some tiles in Ernest's lawn we found the roots of dif- ferent ornamental trees had got into the tiles, and spread out, making quite bushy roots. The reason was, these tiles carried drainage from the kitchen. Now, I have for some time been thinking we might take advantage of this fact. Water-closets are fast becoming desirable fixtures, and they are especially preferable to> the dry-dust system where the internal water cure is to be used. Our books and periodicals on sanitary drainage, I believe, are recommending- cesspools. Now, I do not want a cesspool any- where on my premises. We put a waier-closet, about a year ago, in our bath-room. A cast- iron pipe carries the sewage outside of the building; then vitrified sewer-pipe, with ce- mented joints, take it several rods down into the orchard. At this point the sewer-pipe is conducted into large-sized drain-tiles. We used first eight-inch tile, increasing to ten. As the ground slopes away from the house, there is na difficulty in getting a gradual fall, and at the same time keeping these large tiles within 20 or 24 inches of the surface of the ground through the orchard. By the way, these large drain tiles are some damaged ones that I got at the factory for a very small sum. They are crack- ed and warped from being overburned. These were just the thing, you see, to let the roots of the apple-trees, or any other kind of roots that take a notion, get through inside of the tiles. A good many shook their heads, and said it would not work. But how can it fail to work? The water used in flushing scatters the solid matter the whole length of these large tiles, and dissolves more or less of it every time it goes through. During our extreme drouth there was a dense growth of grass and clover over the large tiles, especially toward the lower end, but not the faintest smell could ever be perceived — of couj-se 7iot, for the growing plants took hold of it at once and converted it into something^ valuable. We have just finished to-day, Dec. 22, putting a similar one for Ernest's home down through some rows of raspberries, currants, strawberries, pie- plant, etc. See cut on page .517,1894. You see, the whole thing is automatic. The essen- tials are. to find a gentle slope in some direction away from the house; then the length of the line of tiles, as well as the size, will have to de- pend somewhat on the size of your family. Perhaps I should have added that the ground in our orchard and under the berry-plants is thoroughly tile-'lrained. These large tiles for sewage run right over the tile drains, the latter constantly disposing of the surplus water. There you have it — sewage taken away without any handling, and without ever seeing it; and you also have finb-irrigation and liqiikl ma- nure combined. Of course, perfectly work- ing sewer- traps are a necessity; and experts in the matter say there should also be a standpipe just beyond the trap, to carry any surplus gases up through the roof of your building. This prevents gases of any kind from forcing their way through the trap, as we are told they some- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 31 times do during hot weather when fermenta- tion is going on. THE CRAIG SEEDLING POTATO. I confess that my statement in regard to this po- tato has been received with more favor than I ex- pected. A g-ood many orders are made for pounds by mail, and quite a few for pecks, half-bushels, etc., by express, and some for barrels in the spring. Now permit me to make a suggestion. At the pres- ent value of this potato— $5.00 a bushel— it can be grown under glass at a profit. I have raised pota- toes under sashes more or less for several years back. They are one of the easiest plants to manage I ever had any thing to do with, with this single ex- ception—you must not let them freeze. But even If they do freeze, it does less damage than with any other plant I know of— that is, any other tender plant. If you scorch a tomato it is pretty apt to give up and die; but you may freeze tlie poiato-tops clear down to the ground, and they will, as a rule, get right up and grow almost as well as if you had simply cut the tops otf. Under glass, however, the ground seldom freezes. The principal damage is done to the tops. Well, I have had very good suc- cess in growing potatoes under glass. The only trouble is, they rarely sell for enough in our locali- ty to pay. For instance, we rarely get more than 40 cts a peck— sometimes .')(); and if we raise a peck under each 3x6 ft. sash it gives us only 50 cts. for the use of the sash; whereas other crops give us from one to two dollars, and all the way up. Now, If y('U get a peck of potatoes under sash— and I think it can be easily done— this new Craig seedling is worth at present writing $1.75 per peck, and this would pay very well. Furthermore, if you plant them now you could get potatoes ready to plant again in May or June. My impression is, however, that this new Craig potato will keep right on grow- ing from now until next September or October; therefore you need not take the trouble to dig the potatoes and plant them again, but simply divide the hills. You can take a hill of potatoes and tear It to pieces, plant out the pieces like cabbage-plants, and even if some of the pieces have only a little root and top, they will grow just as readily as cab- bage-plants. If .you have the ground very rich, and seethatthey do not lack for water, it is the easiest thing in the world to propagate potatoes from cuttings. T. B. Terry has told us what he got from a single barrel of potatoes (Freemans) when they were very valu- able. Now I propose to lell you what I can do with a single barrel of Craigs by commencing some time in January. Of course, a greenhouse is much nicer than hot-beds or cold-frames; but the cold-frames will come in very nicely a little later in the season. If you have not got a greenhouse, nor any sash, you can work with a single pound by putting them into pots or bo.xes in the window. Manage just as you do with house-plants. Potatoes will grow pretty fairly, even if they do not have very much light. You have all s( ea them grow in dark cellars. Well, you can get them started with very little light, and keep on dividing, nnilliplying them until it is time to put them outdoors. The cotton-cloth beds, de- scribed in the tomato-book, will keep off a pietty severe freeze, say al )ng in March and April. Now, then, who among our readers will make the most pounds of Craig potatoes from a single pound between now and next October? We cliii the following from a recent number of the Rural Ni'tc-York) r, telling what Prof. Massey did a good many years ago: In 1869, 1 piopaprated a whole greenhouse full of Early Rose in pots, and planted an acre of land from »5 iiounds of seed which T had raised from a pound purchased from Mr. Bliss. The whole product was solil for seed, and I (.tcw some of them myself. I have never had any Early Rose nt latr years equal to them. The plants I grew in pots, from cutt iut's under glass, made strong, vigorous plants, with a single stem, and rather exceeded in vigor any from cut potatoes, being in four inch pots of rich potting compost. .411 had set little tubers on top of the pots in the rank shade of the foliage, standing closely on the greenhouse t enches. They were set out with unbroken b.alls of earth, and covered a little deeper. The tubers had a decided start, and grew at a more favorable season than if they had been planted from sets outside. They were, in fact, mature before hot weather set in. and th(! seed potatoes raised from them in the fall kept solid, and made the finest of seed tor the next season. If I wanted to bring a new sort to the highest perfection for seed, I would propagate it in this way: get the tubeis ripe in May, and then grow a good crop of seed from them in the fall. This seed would then give the type in perfection. W. F. Massey. A pound of the new potatoes to start with will cost you only 25 cts. See advertisement of friend Craig in another column. You can send the money to us or to him, as you choose. CEMENT-COATED NAli.S. We are now using in almost all our work what are known as cement-coated nails. They are the ordinarj' wire nails with a thin coat of brown .sub- stance. The friction of the nail on the wood in driving softens this coating and makes it adhere to the wood wliile alst) adhering to the nail. This makes the nail hold better than any thing hereto- fore known. If you have ever tried to draw a rusty nail you know .something ht)w these nails hold. If you wish to investigate them we will mall a sample package of various sizes for 5 cents to pay postage. We have been using these nails for several years, but have not offered them for sale before because we have not until recently been able to get most of the smaller and special nails used in our work with this coating. We have prevailed on the factory who control this coatin.a- process by patent, to coat our fine nails down to Ji inch, and also casing nails used in nailing hives. The four smallest sizes in the following list will be smooth nails. We still have some stock of other sizes smooth which we will send while they last unless you specify cement- coated nails in your order. These cement nails hold so much better that a smaller nail can be used, and have greater holding power. For instance, in.stead of H^-inch smooth nails we now use 2d fine or one-inch nails to nail up brood- frames and section-holders, and the work is strong- er. On account of this gieater holding power the patentees of the coating process adopted the plan of putting the same number of nails in a keg as the ordinary smooth nails will average, and make them a, little scant in length and size so that a keg will be short in weight from 10 to 15 lbs., although having the same number of nails, and selling for the same price per keg. This plan made it difficult to fix a price by the pound, because kegs were not of uni- form weight. Full-weight kegs of cement-coated nails cost more than the ordinary smooth nails. PRICE LIST OF FINE FLAT-HEAD WIRE NAILS, CEMENT- COATED, EXCEPT FIRST FOUR. Wire No. in Wt. of . -Price o f . L'gth. Gauge. 1 lb. 5c pkg. lib. 10 lbs. 100 lbs. ij in. No. :?! 17,500 2 oz. .25 $2 00 $17.00 % " " 20 lO.O'iO 4 oz. .20 1 50 12.00 " 20 7,.oOO 4 oz. .15 1.25 10.00 ?8 " " 1!) 4,200 4 oz. .12 1.00 8.00 K •' " IS 2,700 8 oz. .10 .90 7.00 " 18 2,:i50 8 oz. .10 .86 6.70 1 '• " 18 2,000 8 oz. .10 .82 6.40 IM '• " 17 1.200 8 oz. .10 .80 6 10 PRICE LIST OF STANDARD (D) CEMENT-COATED WIRE NAILS. Wire No. nails -1 •rice of-> Style. Length. guage. in 1 lb. 1 10 100 2d fine 1 in. No. 17 1440 8 60 $5 00 4d box I'i '• " ISMa 5.50 6 .50 4 10 5d " i-:'4 " " .14!.2 366 5 45 3 80 6d " " 13 250 5 40 3 50 7d " 2k " " 13 236 0 40 3 50 8d " 21 2 •• " 12 1.57 5 40 3 20 9d " 2?4 " " 12 130 5 40 3 20 lOd " 3 " " 11 107 6 40 3 00 4d casing \'. •• " 15 5;50 6 60 4 10 fid 2 " ■' 13 250 5 40 3 50 8d 2ii " " 12 157 5 40 3 20 3d common IH " " 15 615 6 50 4 (K) 4d m " " 13 322 5 40 3 .50 .5d m " " 12'/o 2.54 5 40 3 .50 6(1 " 12 200 4 35 3 20 7(1 " IVi 154 4 35 3 20 8d 2 1 „ • • •' 10' i 106 4 35 3 00 lOd 3 " <)"o 74 4 30 2 80 16d " 3X " " 8 46 4 30 2 70 20d " 4 " " 6 29 4 30 2 60 The above table of prices is based on full- 32 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jax. 1. weight kegs. Shoukl wc fill your order for full kejrs with nails put up by count inslend of liy weialit. tlie p'"'Ct' of "lest" by llie keg will be about 1(1 per cent less. We have adopted lor the coining se:i8(>ii the i)lan of incluted by all the leading manufacturers. Notice, also, we are paying a much better price for .your wax, 26c. cash, 29 in trade, delivered here, for aver- age, and extra for extra quality. In this connection we ask all of our readers not familiar with the ex- cellent (juality of our comb foundation, as now made, to send a request for free samples. Our out- put for 1894 was fully one-fourth more than for the year previous, and amounts to about 19 tons, not- withstanding the season was below the average generally. sugar-makers' supplies. We call the attention of those of our readers in- terested in maple-sugar making, to our announce- ment in another column of sugar-makers' supplies, where we quote reduced prices all the way througli the list. TWO AND FIVE GALLON SQUARE CANS. The reduction In the tariff on tin plate enables us to offer lower prices on square cans, one and Ave gallon, than we liave made heretofore. We have also made arrangements to fill orders for these cans from New Orleans, as well as St. Louis, when more convenient. You will find the reduced prices in the list of sugar-makers' supplies. Will quote large lots on application. the bunch sweet POTATO, OR VINELESS YAM. Mr. Wm. E. Price, of Eufaula, Ala., has 250 bushels of ilie above potatoes for sale. As he is in need of money to raise a mortgage, I am told he will sell them at a very low figure. These potatoes have Veen pretty thoroughly tested for a year or two back, and i believe they have generally given ex- cellent satisfaction. They do well as far north as Michigan, and 1 understand good crops have been raised where the jjotatoes were not put out till July. In the South they plant them as late as August ; but where put out so late, the potatoes are apt to be small, just as we want them for seed. For further particulars, address as above. A. I. Root. COMFORT FOOT-STOVES. ■Cv'e found, after we began advertising these this season, that the manufacturers are making much lower prices than last year, especially on the fuel. We therefore reduce our prices accordingly. The new prices are as follows: Hand-stove, with 2 doz. fuel, 40c. each, $3..50 per doz. Small foot-stove, with 25 fuel, f 1.7.) each ; $15.00 per doz. Large foot-stove, with 25 fuel, $2.00 each; $16.50 per doz. Fuel for hand-stove. 3Lc. for2doz. ; fl.OO per gross. Fuel for foot-stove, $1.00 per box of 50 sticks, $9.00 per doz boxes. Hand-stove, with fuel, mailed for 10 cents extra. We have had very flattering testimonials from some of those who bought stoves last winter and used them with great satisfaction and comfort. See advertisement or special circular for further particulars. SPECIAL PREMIUMS. Quite a nximber of our readers arc abusing their privileges in regard to special-premium offers, no doubt through a misunderstanding of our offers. For instance, we offered, during last month, to send the Firm Jourmil free to every reader who renewed in advance, and claimed it. We have also offered the Gault raspberry (only one to each subscriber) at 25 cents to those who renew in advance, and we have offered a paper of March's cablDage seed to those who renew in advance. Then we offer a special clubbing price for Gleanings with other papers. Now, it is your option to take yimr choice from these special-premium offers; but it was not our intention that the same person could take ad- vantage of all of the u\ on the same subscription, as some seem to have the idea they can do. When we offer a special premium for renewal in advance, it means that you must pay the full subscription price of $1.00 before the expiration of the old subscrip- tion, or before the new begins, to secure that premi- um: and if we offer several such special premiums you can take advantage of but one, on the same subscription, and your request for special premium must be made at the same time, not some time afterward. From now on, for this month, those V ho would hare the Farm Journal with Gleanings must pay $1.10 for the two, and then it must be apaid- in-advance subscription. If y Yorker, and H. E. Vande- = I man, U.S. Dept. Writeatonce. REID'S NURSERIES, Bridgeport. Ohio, f r!llllllllllllllllllMlllllinillllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIinii:ilBlllllllllllllllMIIIIIIIIIIIIIilllllllllllllll1lllllT METAL WHEELS for your WAGONS Any size yon want, 20 to 56 in high. Tires 1 to 8 m. wide— hubs to fit any axle. Haves ('ost many times in a seapon to have set of low wheels to fit your wagon for hauling irram. fodder, manure, bigs .K-c. No resetting of ^j'"" C-itre free Address EtfPTRE MPG. CO., itulncy, 111. B 4 U Buy ^^^''^^ Plants, )1(1 stereotyped nial- Send for my Annual Catalog. It is neatly gotten i Icr iibout it; nolhing sensational. The B< Varieties truthfully described and honestly priced. A. 1. Koot says, "1 believe 1 have read every catalog you liiive put out clear through, and 1 wish all seedsmen would tell us tlicir ex- perience with dittereiit varieties as frankly as you do." True I'rizc^taker onion seed and plants a specialty. Vegetable and smiill-fruit p ants of all kinds, t i-ees. and supplies for gardenei's. Send for free calaloL; at once, or send 10c foi' ciit- alog, a pkt. of a new smooth very early tomato, a pkt. of the best new leituce, a pkt. of true Prizetaker onion, and a pkt. of choice Hower seeds, all for lo cents. Christian Weckesser, Niagara Falls, N. V. 40 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. J'). Honey Column CITY MARKETS. Kansas City.— Hoiiej/.— The stock of comb )ionej- is larg-e; market well supplied. Fancy white 1-lb. combs, 1.5; amber, 12@13. Receipts of extracted, llgrht; white, 7; amber, .'Ji4@6; southern, 4ii@.5. Beeswax, :.'2. Hamblin & Bearss, Jan. 7. Kansas City, Mo. Cincinnati. — Honcj/.— Demand is very quiet since the holidays, and prices are the same. Comb honey briiitfs H@H5 for best white, and extracted 4® 7 on arrival. There is a g-ood demand for beeeswax at 2;i@2s for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Jan. 7. Cincinnati, O. Detroit.— Ho7ie)/.— Pales some slower since holi- days. Stock not large. Best white comb, 14@1.t; dark lots, 10® 13; extracted, 6X@7. Beeswax. 26@37. M. H. Hunt. Jan. 7. Bell Brunch, Mich. Buffalo.— Hojiew.— In the honey market there is very little doing. Fancy is moving off in a moder- ate way at 13@14; choice, n®12; buckwheat. 8@9. Extracted dull; we would not advise shipments of any honey at present. Batterson & Co., Jan. 7. Buffalo, N. Y. Kansas Citv.— Hotief/ — The demand for both comb and extracted is light; supply good. We quote No. 1 white comb, 14@.1.t; No. 2, 12@13: No. 1 amber, 13: No. 2, ]0@11. Extracted, while, fi@t5H ; amber, .5@5ii; dark, 4' 2. Beeswax, 22@25. C. C. Clemons & Co., Jan. 7. Kansas City, Mo. Albany'.— H'inc!/.— The _ honey market is very quiet, as is generally the "case during the first of the year. The demand for extracted usually com- mences about the middle of January. The stock of coml) honey on hand is not large, especially clover; but the supply of extracted is ample. We quote clover. 12®13; buckwheat and mixed, 9@10. Ex- tracted, .5@T. Chas. McCuLLOcn & Co., Jan. 8. Albanv, N. Y. CLEVEr.ANn.— i7()»('i;.— Our honey market has not been as firm as anticipated, and it has not been in very great dematid for the past few days. No. 1 white is selling at 14@1.5; No. 2. n@12. No. 1 w'lite extracted, ti. Beeswax is in good demand at 26. Williams Bros., Jan. .5 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland, O. St. Louis.— Wonej/.— The trade is quiet on all grades of comb and extracted. We quote clover comb, 16; amber. 12'/2@14; extracted in cans, 5i4@6; in barrels, 4®4^. Prime beeswax, 28. D. G. Tutt Gkocer Co.. Jan. 7. St. Louis, Mo. New York. — Ho/jej/.— Tliedemand foi' comb honey has been very liglit of lale. and has now almost dwindled down to nothing. The supply has been larger than any year before, and there is a large stock ic per lb. f. o. b. here. E. D. Townsend, Carson City, Mich. Alfalfa Honey, very white, thick, and ricli. Two 60-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples, 8c. eift Oliver Foster, Las Animas, Col. Having secured a flue quantity of liuckwheat ex- tracted honey I now offer it in lots to suit purchas- er, 210-lb. kegs at 5!4c, f . o. b. ; also 2000 lbs. of bass- wood and clover. W. Lamar Coggshall, eitf West Groton, Tompkins Co., N. Y. HONEY FOR SALE. I have about 3000 ilis. A No. 1 fall honey, three dis- tinct flavors— Spanish needle (sm irl weed or hearts- ease), and aster. Tc per lb., f. o. b. Sample free. Address E. T. FLANAGAN. Belleville, Illinois. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS., 110 Hudson St., N. Y. HONEY WHOLESALE DEALEES & COMMISSION MEECHANTS. £stal3lished 187i3. BEESWAX. LIBEEAL ADVANCES MACE ON CONSION- MENTS. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market BATTERSON & CO. Responsible, Reliable, Commission IVIercliants. igtfdb and Prompt Well, Well ! .Je/i7jie Atctilex\v.\>^ elected a new factoiy, new engine and boiler, and has the only steam bee-hive factory in South Texas. Makes any and all kinds of hives at the ?ou'i"s;/ prices. Also furnishes A. 1. Itoofs goods— Dovetailed hives, founda- tion, etc. Send nie .\<>vii' orders, and see how ()uiclily and accurately' 1 can fill them. See my (piecn ad't on page 42. T am in a position to sell and ship bees by carload lots. Send for prici' list. JENNIE ATCHLEY, Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. SflVP FfPiahf f ^^y Roof'.s goods at their avc llCl^Ill. pHces, near home. Catalog ready Feb. 1. Wiite for ))i ices on what vou need, at once. John Ncbcl & Soii, High Hill, Mo. FOR sale.— Barnes Improved saw, $20; Barnes O. S. foot-power saw, saws, and cutter-heads, $7.00; IX horse-power engine (no boiler) $15; Remington H. pattern rifle, 38-40 cal., reloading tools, etc., $12. Robert B. Gedye, La Salle, 111. 189?) GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 41 Contents of this Number. Ball's Report t Bee-keepers' Union ( Bee space, Hanlv's ! Bees, Five handed .">4. ( Cavp Cult me I (Mover. Orims,in ■ Covers, Sealed ; Cuba's Resources j Dampness in Bee-repositor's. ; Diseourairements— Fooshe... i Drones Coneentratingr I Editor in Laclede Co,, Mo,.,. ( Krnest in CliieaKO i Kuealypti ; European Items, by Norman i Keediufj Back ( Florida Freeze I Frames, Short V LnnyLa'li. J Frames. Ten, .Vlie.id W.i Fi'ames. Franre (Hi Xmnber. (ireenhouses in Florida ; (iiim-trees I Harrison, L., in Florida i Hives, Liftinsr Heavy i Hives, Lai-ffe v . Smal 1 ^ il Hives, Quadniple 44 ; Hoiiev, Ffonnmv in Getliny, 48 l.IiikeSmitli on lii-ace-eombs, liB !'r.aimstintli H"\ind 63 I Mice ill B,.e cellars f,S I iiiii>ii--cecl. < iiir Cheap.. .. 7S ii)\'viliiiior Victory Bl II Para) vsis. Bee,. . ,' .54 I r.itato, Ciam- Seedlinp- 7.S Potatnes. Diujrim; too Early, 73 I P.. 11 It IV. Fencing Out 61 i i.iiicens Reared in Full Col'y. ni Kambler at Santa Cruz 49 : Robbinu- Siek People 61 ISeedsa Year Old 72 Strawberry, Parker Earle... . 73 : Strawberry. Timbrell 71 Strawbe'-ries, Spacing- 70 I SiiL:iir, liraliulatcil 62 S«eet P..tat.., Viiieless 73 ! Tomatoes. Biickeve State... . 73 ' Tomatoes ill •;(■, Davs 72 1 vvcathei Bureau in Florida. 72 iiWiiiteiiim- Indoors 63 ilWork, Why Out of 6f> Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be Inserted under this head at one-half our usu- al rates. All adverti.sements intended for this department must not exceed five lines, and you mtist say you w.ant youi adv't in this department, or we will not be responsible for er- rors. You can h.ave the notice as many lines as you pleiise, but all over five lines will cost you according: to our reeulai rates. This department is intended only for bona fide ey- chanpres. Exchanges for cash or for price lists, or notices of- ferinpr articles for sale, can not be inserted under this head For such our regular rates of 20 cts, a line will be charpred,and they will be put with the rejrular advertisements. We can nol be responsible for dissatisfaction arisin^rfrom these "swaps,"' WANTED,— To pxrliang-e a '20n-eeg' improvpri E.\- celsior incubator fomi)lotp, in A 1 rondition. costing- $3.5,00. for best offer of lii-story Dovetailed hives complete for comb lionev. or otlipr bep-keep- ers' supplies. Frank Lacey, Danbnry, Conn. WANTED.— Two or three hundred colonies of bees to run on shares for comb or extracted honey the cominar season, or to take charg'e of as apiarist. Reference, W, L, Cog-ffshall, West Groton, N. T. Russell. T. Stinnett, Bells, Va. WANTED.— To exchang-o for any thing: useful fox- hound DUOS, Bull terriers, butchers' tools, bone- mill, and White Holland turkey gobbler. Write at once, as this will not apnear again. Elias Pox, Hillsboro. Wis. WANTED. — To exchange one-piece-section ma- chine, steel feed-g'rinder (M ton per hour). 8 H. P. engine. 3.5 ft. S-inf'h rubber belt, for brood fdn. or Hoffman frames with comb wired. A. D. D. Wood, Lansing, Mich. WANTED.— Toexchang-ea good heavy 34-in. planer, a g-ood cut-off saw-table a queen-cage boting- raachine, a Novice honey-e.xtrRCtor (new), a Pelham foundation-mill, and a lot of sunnlies. What have you to trade ? A. A. Weaver, Warrensburg, Mo. WANTED.— To exchange rabbit-hound pups (Eng- lish Beagle) for Wineliester rifle or offers. Choice stock and low prices. D. S. Hall, So. Cabot, Vt. WANTED.— A good Winchester or a Colt's repeat- ing-rille, from 33 to 38 caliber, for which I will exchange first-class sections, foundation, or bushel boxes. Circular and price list free, and free samples of sections or foundation if called for. Address O. H. Townsend, Alamo, Knlamazoo Co., Mich. WANTED. —To exchange C\itlibert or Marlbo- rough raspberry-plants for beeswax, honey, or offers. C. G. Marsh, Belden, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange 1 span of large mules; also wagon, harness, and mares, for 300 colonies of bees. Bert W. Hopper, Garden City, Kas. WANTED.— I'osition in an apiary, by a young- man of e.vperience. Florida preferred. Write to me al mice. Who will give me a chance ? Marion H, Gilmer, 607 Louisiana St., Station B, Richmond. Va. WANTED.— By young man, position in large ajii- ary. Do not use tobacco or liquor; 8 years on a garden, 3 on a dairv farm; accustomed to liee^. Cake IJox 383, Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y. WANTED.- -Offers on a new 301-egg Noxall incu- bator at $1."). R. C. AiKiN, Loveland, Colo. w ANTED.— To exchange supplies and other goods for honey. O. H. Hyatt, Slien indoah, Iowa. 30tf W ANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Schd sample. J. A. Gkekn, Ottawa, 111. W ANTED.— To excliange 300 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED,— To exchange pure St. Bernard pups, from registered stock. Will exchansre for any thi'ig useful. Would like a portrait^lens. Address with stamp, Scott Brillhaht, Millwood, Knox Co., O. WANTED.— For spring planting, apple, quince, currants, gooseberry, strawberry, in exchange for golden queens, in June. J. F. Michael, Greenville, O. WANTED.— To pxchang-e a Simplex IBOegg incu- bator and brooder combined. u.sed 3 settings, for 150 lbs. of light or 175 lbs. of buckwheat extract- ed honey, in tin cms. J. T. Van Petten, Linn, Kansas. Florida and ALL Southern Bee=keepers, Do you know that the freight rates (by water) are one half less from ftere, than from any place you can obtain a full line of suiiplies. Rate on bee-hive material, to Jacksonville, Fla., 18c per 100. Palatka, " 34c " " Daytona. " 46c " " Cedar Ke.vs, "' .5.5c '' " New ciicular upon application. 1. J. STRINGHAM, 105 Park Place, N. Y. 420 Lbs. Average Is what my bees g-ave that I moved lo the man- grove; those at home, 300 lbs. each; ~>-hancle for the Review and the book "Advanced Bee CuUure." W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Hich. K. M KNIGHT. OWEN SOT'ND. ONT. _ .7. K.. CKANK, MIODCKBUHV, VT. 03 U O. E n CO Please Cut Ont J T. the hMlsIm of Animan BCC Jounial, 'B'his wliole Advt. :^lgii, and ITluIl. I2^~ Please send me the Aiiifrlcaii Bee .Journal each week for Three Months. At the end of that time I will re- mit $1.00 fori year's subscription, or 25c. in case I decide to discontinue. 56 Fifth Avenue, CHICAGO, ILL. Name P. O. State Are you Looking For the BEST In bee-hives, sections, cases, etc.? If so. drop us a postal and we shall be pleased to send you a copy of our 1895 catalog and iH'ict' list. Q. B. LEWIS CO., Watertown, Wis. My ne»v Catalog-ue ol' Small Fruits, Free Greenville and 'I'iinbrell strawljcrrics, l<;ureka and Miller raspberries, Eldorado and Ohiner blackber- ries. North Star currants, Crosljey ix'ach, etc., etc. r.t.,n.„.>.... ^ W.N. Scarff. ries, Catalojrue free. A'ew Carfis/e CO CO (a n CO n Attention, Bee-keepers! Remember Jennie Atchley will mail you untested queens any day in the year "for $1.00. She is now preparing- to fill your orders for (pieens and bees in 18!*."). January- to .Tune prices. Untested, $1.00, 6 for $5.01), $!) 00 per doz. Tested, 3-banded. $1.50;.5-banded, *2.50. Tested rarniolaiis. $3..50. 1 will rear the leather-colored Ital's, or 3-banded; silver-gray Caruiohms, and 5- banded. in separate yards at safe distance. Uecs l»y the pound, $1.0J. Nuclei, per frame. $1.00. Tliis is one of my specialties. Write me for prices on large lots and to the trade. Catalog- ready Jan. 1. I have been at this business long enoug-h to know how to ship, and please customers. All Bee Supplies. Dovetailed Hives, Root's Goods, and Dadant's Foundation. Figure out what you want, and write for estimate. / Bee Co. Jennie Atchley, Beeville, Tex. Flease mention this paper. JaS. M. Smith, j;ei^kiomenville,Fa., breeder of Eggs, $l.tXJ per 15. Catalog free. • DE.VOTED**; -^- - •■fo 'Be. els • ^--c>4 •andHoNEY- /■^*^.>'' % •i\HD HOME.- •INTEFIEST^ Tublishedy THEA-lltOOl' Co. $ia° PER YtAR^^'Xs) Medina- Ohio- Vol. XXIII. JAN. 15, 1895. No. 2. 311 MEMBERS in the Bee-keepers' Union. Poppleton's pineapples, page 1.5, are pecul- iarly tantalizing to those of us who can't aHord the luxury. Sphagnum, or nurserymen's moss, is highly ■commended in Le Prrmres ApiA^ole for absorb- •ent material. Ernest's visit to the Frances reminds me that, years ago, I visited the place but hadn't the courage to introduce myself. Those who injure larvte, as mentioned p. 21, by using a quill toothpick, would do well to try a joint of grass cut toothpick fashion. I CAN WAIT till February for the new cata- log; but when's the seed catalog coming? A horticulturally crazy brother-in-law has been asking me. C. W. Learned, in A. B. J., says a five-band- -ed queen carries more safely in the mail than a •common one — "the more hoops, or bands, the iess danger of bursting up!" Straw-colored sugar (sucre candi jaune- jpaille) is recommended in L'Apiculteur for feeding bees. No water; just put the dry crys- tals over the frames and cover up. Experimenter Taylor fed back to get sec- tions tilled, feeding 1.01 lbs. extracted honey to get 1 lb. stored. That is, he had filled in sec- tions more than '-« as much as he fed. Complaint is made in Le Progres Aplr-ole of a law that imposes a fine of II to S3 upon any •one who places bees less than 4 rods from a ■dwelling or a public highway. No wonder! Capital idea that, of sending the right kind and amount of nails with goods in flat. I never can tell for sure the right nails for a new thing, and sometimes I can't get them. Bee-keepers at the Rockford convention, who. perhaps, had no better pasturage than I, got more honey. Perhaps the reason was their mailer number of colonies. If I had had only one-tenth as many bees, I feel confident I should have had ten times as much surplus. A dangerous rival to A. I. Root has turned up in no less a person than our quaint friend B. Taylor, who proposes to get his living out of an acre of ground, just for the fun of it. See He- view. <^iTiTE an array of exposes on pages 26 to 21). Keep at it. friend Root— makes good reading; and although some people are never happy without being humbugged, the hard-earned dollars of others may be saved. R. McKnight, in his St. Joe paper, says the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association " is the best and solidest organization of its kind on this continent." The worst of it is, that what he says is true. Yankees can't come up to Ka- nucks in that sort of thing. Friend Root, sorry to see you, on p. 2i5, give currency to that hoary error that " the forest leaves are decorated by the first frosts of autumn." We often have beautiful autumn foliage before frost, and the tendency of the frost is to stop the coloring. Say, Barney, what's the row in the printing- office? Four mistakes in three consecutive lines on p. 37. Form not locked tight enough, eh? [Type will sometimes pull out in spite of any thing we can do. It was all right when it went down to the press. — Ed.] The very intelligent set of York State bee-keepers of the present day are not likely to be succeeded by a set of ignoramuses. The new law requires that every child between G and 14 years of age shall attend continuously during the school year some recognized institution. "The old reijahle" celebrates the new year by putting on a new dress, and shedding with the old dress the editorial "we.'" It also prints its own name the same as any proper name. There's an example for you to follow, Mr. Gleanings. [That's a matter of taste, Mr. Doctor.— Ed. J Carbonyle, used to paint hives, according to J. Chardin in Le Rucher, makes them last sev- 44 GLEANIJNGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jax. 15. eral times the ordinary length of time, and costs only 3c a hive. But who will tell us what is carbonyle? Perhaps some hideously smell- ing preparation of coal oil. for it must be dried si.\ weeks before bees will stand it. G. W. Hole, in B. B. J., says, " With regard to clipping of queens' wings, there are hun- dreds of otherwise good bee-keepors who can not pick her out from among her sisters, even if willing to mutilate her." Seems a bit queer to speak of a good bee-keeper who can't tell a queen from a worker. That H) tons of foundation you made in 1894 was a lot. Let's figure. Made (J ft. to the pound, it would cover more than .5 acres, and fill 2.5(5,750 L. frames. Made 10 to the jiouiid. and S-, in. wide, it would make a strip 2.30 miles long, and fill sections for 1945 tons honey. [Thanks. Figures are not always intelligible except by comparison.— Ed.] B. Tayi-ok. in Review, mentions a bee-keep- er whom a bee-journal held up approvingly, saying that he "wasted no time fooling with ex- periments, but just adopted the Quinby hive and system, and went right along making big crops of honey." Then Mr. Taylor shrewd U asks. '"But suppose Mr. Quinby had been like this excellent man." Sweet clover seems to be feared with an in- sane fear, as a bad weed. Perhaps this comes from the fact that it will hold its own where nothing else will grow. But will it run out a field of red clover or timothy? A few years ago I had a piece occupied with sweet and red clover. First the red came up and hid the sweet, then the sweet shot up in June and hid the red. But since that year the red has gain- ed the ground. Ce.mknt- COATED .N^AiLs must be a good thing: but please tell us whether they are any better than rusted nails. [Rusty nails are good, but they don"l hold like the new cement-coated, for Fve just been trying the experiment. Had a hard time to find some rusty nails around our establishment. The cement is always uniform, while the rusty chaps are apt to be pitted or rusted too much for their real strength. Say. are your nails rusty from choice or because they happen to be so ?— Ed.J A Florida paper has an appeal for bee- keepers to contribute a pound of honey for each hive to father Langstroth, on the ground that his hive was never patented. That's a mis- take. The hive was patented, but it was pirat- ed in such a way that he never got the profit to which he was fairly entitled, and it would be a graceful thing for bee-keepers to contrib- ute to the fund being raised by the editor of the .1 nieriam Bee Jourudl. [That's a move in the right direction: but how are the pounds of honey to be collected together without a large expense ? A better way is to send the value of one section for every hive to the editor of the Americaii Bee Jounutl. The money can be- conveyed with no danger of breakage or leak- age, and for only two or three cents. — Ed.] SEALED COVERS. ARRANGEMENT OF OUT-YARDS, ETC. By !•:. France. Who says sealed covers are no good ? Others are afraid of them, I suppose, because they have never tried them. We cover all our bees with a solid board, made out of inch lumber, dressed on both sides, cleated at the ends to> keep from warping. Over this board we put into the chamber some straw four to six inches deep. The top chamber is made deep enough to hold that much. On some of our hives we have cushions to lay on top of the honey-board — cushions filled with chaff six inches deep. I like the straw ju middle of the month we take the straw out and throw it in piles out of the way. If we use the cushions they are in the way all summer, as we have no place to store them away. We have been using those sealed covers — honey- boards we call them — over 30- years, and have always wintered outdoors on the summer stands. I think we have averaged as good luck as most bee-keepers. Our winter losses are usually light. I have iried covering bees with cloth cushions, stuffed with chaff, straw, and leaves. I find no better way than putting the solid honey-board right on next to the bees, and covering with straw. We prefer to winter out of doors. I have tried cellar wintering, and did not do as well as out of doors. Now, this brings me to- another subject — HIVES FOR OtTDOOR WINTERINCi. I want a quadruple hive, four colonies in one hive, and I want a large hive at that. Then we never have any little weak colonies— all are good and strong. Make all increase by divi- sion, and always make a new colony — a full col- ony, especially if made late in the season. FRAMES. EIGHT OR TEN. I have been very much interested in the dis- cussion of the question as to eight or ten frames. I don't know but that I am on the fence, with Dr. Miller. I have eight-frame hives enough to hold over 1.50 colonies; but if you ask me if eight frames are my choice, I don't i-eally know. I have been led to use them, whether it was my choice or not, in this way: I first made one hive to hold four colonies on L. frames. I made it to use nine frames in each set — two stories high. After I had it finished I found it was too wide- 18VI5 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 45 1,0 slip into a common wagon-box; and as I ex- pected to haul them sometimes from place to place I changed; and all that I made after the lirst I made to use eight frames in a set, so that is the way it happened that I am using eight frames. I soon discovered that two sets of eight frames did not give me comb roam enough; so then, to have more comb room, 1 put on the third story. In the honey-gathering season I luse 24 combs. I think it is none too many. I am still u^ing my nine-fiame hive with a third story added— liT frames — and I don't think that is too large. I have 140 colonies in my home yard, and have combs enough to fill all three stories high. For winter I take off the ihird stories and pack them away in my comb-room. I make sure that the second story is full of .honey. I want at least a part of the lower •combs to be empty when cold freezing weather sets in; then the bees will cluster in the empty combs just below tlie honey, and will woik up as they eat the feed, no matter how cold the weather is. I think there is at leas-l -000 lbs. of honey now in my comb-room, that I took off with those third stories, so the bees are in no •danger of starving, as they had their second story full in the fall. In the spring, in March or April, I look the ibees over. If any are getting short of honey I change their empty combs for full ones taken from the honey-room. In the spring we work to get all colonies strong; and as soon as the two lower stories are full of bees we put on the third stories and fill up with the combs from the :Store-room — honey and all. We usually get that on two or three weeks before we com- mence to extract. By that time the combs will •extract nicely. Mr. Hatch seems to think, in Gleanings for •July 15, that, if a queen keeps eight frames full •of brood, they are boomers. If I had a queen that did not equal eight frames of brood during the breeding-season, she is no queen for me. With our L. frames we keep the lower story of ■eight frames full of brood, and the surplus brood-combs we make into new colonies. In that way I made 45 new colonies this year, 1894, from 05 old ones, and every one of the new ■ones were given eight good brood-combs — 360 brood -combs, or on an average of nearly four combs from each queen, to keep the brood down to eight combs; no natural swarming to speak •of. We very seldom hive a natural swarm. We don't have them to hive. When we are ex- tracting we take all the honey we can get from the two upper stories, and keep the brood be- low. If I should find a brood-comb in the sec- •ond story, and an empty one in the lower, I would put the empty one up and the brood be- low. Eight combs, kept at work breeding bees for a three-story hive, will keep bees enough in the hive to fill the two upper ones with honey, in a good flow, once in a week; so they can be •emptied once a week; and bees with me worked in that way don't swarm. I don't know but a three-story ten-frame would give more honey to the hive than the eight-frame. There would be larger colonies, but you could not get as much increase, as it would require ten brood- combs in the lower tier to breed enough bees to work the upper twenty honey-combs. This brings me to another point— LIFTING HIVKS AND TOP STOHIEr^ FULL OF IIONKY. I don't have to lift hives. No man can lift my quadruple hives when full. Three stories will weigh at least 400 lbs., and I think more. I am getting too old and feeble to lift a top story full of honey. I use a hand-cart at home, where my L. hives are. For a few years past I have run that yard myself, with the help of one and sometimes two hired boys. My cart will hold four carrying-boxes. The boxes are made with bottoms, two sides, and back boards. The front is left off. They will hold ten combs each, if full. The combs hang on top of the end boards; cleats are nailed on the outside of the end boards to handle them by. When extracting I till two boxes with empty combs; put them on the cart, then either myself or boy runs the cart alongside of one of my big hives, then turns one half of the top chamber over on to the other half. Now we can work two colonies —pry up the honey-board of one, smoke the bees down and brush off what few bees iheie may be on them; hang the combs in the empty boxes on the cart; when the third story is empty, lift it off and set it down on the ground, then smoke and take out the second story; set and hang them in the other empty box. Now lill up the hives with your empty combs; put on the honey-board, wheel the cart to the extracting-house, slide the full boxes off on to a platform on a level with the cart. You will not need to lift it. When they are extract- ed, take them back to fill out the next one worked. Why not use a bee-escape to get the bees out of those combs'? Too much lifting to put them on, and I don't think the bees can be got out of the second or middle story any way, with an escape, as there is very likely to be some brood in it. It doesn't matter, however, as I can take the combs out of the two upper stories in five minutes, and no lifting except taking the combs out one at a time. Now, Ernest, if you can not get along with your out-apiaries run for extracting without so much lifting, come here and let me give you a few lessons. But let me tell you, if you run a good-sized yard for extracted honey you will want some help during the extracting season. This brings me to another point. When you travel over the country I think sometimes you go too fast. You would do better to take more time. When you got to Platteville you put up at the hotel, and came to our place after church time, Sunday. I told you then that you deserv- ed a whipping for not coming out the night be- 4() GLEANINGS IN EEE CULTURE. J AX. 15. fore. Well, it was Sunday, and I did not feel at liberty to talk bees to you. I expected you would stay over on Monday. My wife took you off to church Sunday evening, and Newell took you to the powder-mills Sunday afternoon, and the train left at 9 a. m., and away you went, so I had but very little time to talk with you. There were very many things I wanted to talk about, and some things I wanted to show you. I expected to take you out to some of our out- yards. We could make three yards in half a day, and talk over bee matters on the road. It costs considerably to get to a place; and when you are there, why not stay long enough to do some good ? Platteville, Wis., Dec. 17. [Yes, I am afraid we condemned the sealed covers too hastily ; and without saying any thing about it in print. I decided we would give the matter another test this winter, though perhaps not on quite so large a scale as before. One half of our colonies at the out-yard are un- der sealed covers, and the other half under ab- sorbing cushions. I know I appeared to be in a hurry while I was at your place; but the fact is, I hurried at all the places — one reason for this being that f had a good many calls to make, and limit'^'l time; and another reason was, I feared in soni" cases I might be a '"bore;" but since I hav come away and read your last two articles I see that I missed it in not tahing more time. But after all, our general readers would not have gotten the information regarding the methods of management so fully and accurate- ly as from your pen; but at all events, next time I come I will go straight to the France home and stay till you get tired of me; so, look out.— Ed.] LARGE VS. SMALL HIVES. KKASONS WHY THE TEX FRAME IS BETTER TH.VN THE EIGHT. By S. C. Ciiriviii. Friend Root: — I conclude,' by reading Mr. Gill's article, which you indorse, that he runs his apiary for extracted honey. It may sound strange,but my expcnMence is that ati eight-frame hive is better for extracted than for com b honey. and for this locality it is not good for either kind. I should like to know whether Mr., Gill ever tried his eight-frame hives four stories. I have; and to lift that fourth story is much harder than lifting a third ten-frame story, be- cause it is a lift at arms' length. My hives are on stands eight inches, and it puts a fourth story above good lifting position. Mr. Gill also says, and it's my experience, that, after filling six or seven frames, they 'prefer to occupy two frames above; and if allowed, they will do so; and, as I said in my former article, it gives us ten or eleven frames of brood, and we are oblig- ed to go into the brood -chamber to get this honey which is in the other five or six frames, or leave it through the season, cutting our brood- nest to the size of a ten-frame hive, or any mat near it. This is about the way eight and ten frame hives have worked for me this past sea- son. The ten-frame brood-chamber gave me- about nine frames of brood, with two extract- ing-supers, each having nine frames working the same as for comb honey, raising the partly filled one and placing the empty combs between, the upper and lower stories. This gave me strong colonies with plenty of room, and very little swarming. The eight-frame hives were- run two stories for brood -chamber, and gave- from ten to eleven, and in a few cases as many as twelve, frames of brood. Two stories were run for surplus, each having seven frames,, giving fourteen frames, or four frames less than the ten-frame hive; and as they had more broodi they gave rousing big colonies, but also gave me more swarms. Had I gone below and ex- tracted, the result might have been different; but I do not go into the brood-nest after the surplus season opens. Again, I use the large size Daisy wheelbarrow for running my combs to the extracting-room. It takes two ten-frame bodies crosswise and one lengthwise on top of the two, and hard against the head of the bar- row, putting most of the load near the wheel,, carrying 27 combs at a load. With the eight- frame body I can carry only the same number of bodies holding :.'l extracting-eombs, or a dif- ference of six combs, or more than 3.5 pounds of honey at each load less with eight-frame than, with ten-frame bodies. You will say, carry four eight-frame bodies crosswise. The slant of the wheelbarrow head lets the square-edge body slide forward and push up the frames;, and a bevel edge, not having any thing to hold it, is apt to tip over, and then the two stories- so near the hands makes too much of a load. Mr. Gill wants us to do without dummies and one-story in harvest while he tiers up to show us the superiority of the eight-frame hive. Let us take the eight and ten frame, use them to the best of our ability to secui-e large crops,, and I think you will find the ten-frame hive- ahead. This has been my experience, and my order this fall calls for ten- frame Dovetailed hives. Sarasota, Fla., Nov. 23. [As I read over your article I could not help seeing the point you make; but somehow the thought kept coming into my mind. Would not the 12-frame be better than the ten-frame 'P" That is, the same arguments apply very large- ly in the case of the 12 over the 10 as in the case of the 10 over the 8. But the 12 is away off from the standard. The thought came to me again. Is not the lO-frame hive better than the 12 frame? if so, then the two 8s. rather than one large Ki, should have the prefer- ence, so that we can adapt the colony to the se(iso7i and to the lordlity. Regarding this, in the last Americ(ni ApicnUurist Mr. Henry Alley gets in a good deal of truth something after this fashion:— Ed.] How will the big- bee-men settle the question as to whether an eight-frame or a ten-frarae hive gives, the better results ? In Gr.EANiNGS for November 15, two experienced bee keepers give their experience with hives having eiglit and ten frames. One of the- 18'.t5 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 47 above parties says tlie eiglit-frame liives jruve the best result?, while t lie otlier mnii says his colonies in the ten-frame hives did the best. This is exactly as it always will be. In some cases ton frames will be found best, while in other cases the eiirht-frame hive will do equilly well, if not bet- lei'. Tlie question of the tight number of frames to use must be decided by each bee-keeper for himself. SHORT VS. LONG LANGSTROTH FRAMES. WHY THE FOKMEK ARE PKEFERKED: THE DIS- CrSSION OF LONG AND SHORT FRAMES. AND OF THE LANGSTROTH IN PARTICULAR. By Jiihn Cra\icrnfi. The discussion for and against the eight- frame hive has been read carefully, and I should be pleased to give my experience. About li"! years ago I used the ten-frame Langstroth hive in Indiana. I then became convinced that it was not the best for economy. I changed part of my frames so as to hang crosswise in the ten-frame hive — that is, I made the frame !iJ^xl3-V inches — what is com- monly called now the short Langstroth frame. I then found I could winter bees better on the short frame, for the simple reason that the bees could form themselves into a more compact body than they possibly could on the long frames during the long cold winter. Then, again, in the spring, when breeding commenc- ed, they could and did breed up with more rapidity than I could possibly get hives with the long frames which were sitting beside the ones with the short frames. This all came from the more square and compact form the bees could form themselves into, which was not possible for them to do on the long frames early in the season, when ordinarily there are not more than enough bees to cover five Langstroth frames. This is where I found that there was econo- my in the short frame and a smaller hive, and for spring increase. It is a self-evident fact, that a more uniform temperature can be main- tained by the same quantity of bees on ten short frames in a square hive than the same bees can on eight long frames whose space is about the same in comb and cubic contents. I kept this test there for three years, and then I sold out and came to Florida in the fail of 1883. I then started with a few colonies all on the short frames, with squai-e hives, 14;i4fxl4V in., same depth as the regular Langstroth hive and frame, keeping about 20 colonies until this season, when I increased my stock up to 110 colonies, all on short frames, 10 of them in the brood-chamber, which is made with a tight bottom. All have tin roofs raised two inches above the frames. In the spring I start them up seven weeks before the usual time of orange- bloom, so that, by that time, I have the brood-chamber full, and usually one story above full of brood in various stages. I give queens full play to the top as long as I want honey-gatherers reared: then I shut the queen below to the brood-chamber with zinc exclud- ers, and add more stories, if needed, by raising the ones up and placing an empty story next to the brood-chamber, filled with comb founda- tion usually, but I have found that starters are about as good, except there is some more dan- ger of drone comb being built. By thus tiering up, and letting all honey be sealed up, I can get good honey, well ripened in the hive, and keep my bees busy all the time, by thus keep- ing space vacant near the brood and queen. I see there are some doubts and failures about getting queens to go up into the story above. I have very little trouble; for when a brood-chamber is becoming crowded I remove two frames of sealed hatching brood from below, placing combs in their place below, putting these two frames of brood in the center, and filling in combs on each side. I then scarcely ever fail to get the queen up there, and I have had them up in the fourth story the past sea- son. Thus by proper management with the small square hive with the short frame, I have a small compact hive when most needed, and a large one when most needed also, besides using the surplus heat to ripen and cure my honey on the hive, with no loss of bee labor. With this square hive and short frame I have all the advantages for comb honey that can be obtained in any long-frame hive: with half- stories I can work them with and on the same hive for both comb and extracted. If I wish to work a hive for comb I raise up the story above the brood and place a half-story next to brood, placing the full-story on it. I let the half- story of sections remain below until nearly ready to commence sealing them. I remove to the top or remove the story above, and place another half-story under the one being sealed. I can get comb honey in this way, and also ex- tracted; but there must be no extracting done at this time, or no comb honey will be obtained This is plain to all comb-honey producers. I have another claim of economy in the small square short-frame hive: and that is in materi- al. It takes less lumber to form a square of the same cubic contents than the long hive; less roof for same volume covered, and less bot- tom. All this yon can figure for yourself. It is plain to be seen that you have less ground floor in a four-story house of four rooms, and less roof, than if the four rooms were in only two stories. I should be pleased to call your attention to the following, and then I am done: In the American Bee Journal of Nov. 1.5. page 62.5, E. L. Holden says, *' I, in 18.58, bought of Rev. L. L. Langstroth the right to use his hive, for which I paid him I^S.OO. At the same time I bought two hives, both of which I still have, and have just taken the trouble to meas- ure them. The Inside measurement of the hive 48 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1.= 19 183%' inches one way and 15>V the other, and 10>3 deep. The fraincn are, inside measure- ment, 12^4 and 10}^ inches. This is the common hive; the other is his observatory hive of two or more stories. The frames are of the same length, but the depth is only 8^' inches. These frames are the very ones I bought of father Langstroth 30 years ago, and, of course, are the correct size of the Langstroth frames." Now, if this octogenarian is correct, were not the frames the size of the short Langstroth frame ? Were not the frames set across the hive and across the entrance? Who is correct? Is there not hope of a standard frame? AVill not some friend call on father Lang- stroth and read this statement of friend Hol- den's and learn for a certainty from his lips the truth? and if not that, the true and original Langstroth frame was not 12>^ x 8}4, inside measurement ; so that we who advocate a short frame are within the pale of truth when we claim, at least in part, to be followers of father Langstroth when we use and advise a shorter frame, and a square hive for reason of its economy. Astor Park, Fla., Dec. 10. [Years ago the short Langstroth frame was tested quite extensively by a large number of bee-keepers, ourselves included; and the only advantage we could discover was that they were a little lighter to manipulate and better for queen-rearing than the long frame, the two short frames making a small and more compact cluster for the nucleus. Hut we, like everybody else, discovered that th^re were just so many more frames to handle for the same capacity, and, with a very few exceptions, they were dis- carded for the long franip adopted by father Langstroth years ago. I have sometimes thought myself, tluit, if the crosswise Lang- strotli had been made an inch or so deeper, and adopted as a standard by Langstroth. instead of the frame now accepted as such, per/miw it might have been better. Hut after all, reports seem to show that colonies on the short frames winter no better and produce no more honey. The Langstroth utilizes to ihe very best advan- tage the standard width of barn- boards in the hives; whereas in the deep-frame hives very wide lumber must be used, or one or more pieces fitted together. This makes the hive either ex- pensive, owing to the wide boards, or if of nar- row boards, to a greater or less extent a patched- up hive, with unsightly cracks that will surely gap sooner or later. Taking everything into consideration, while the Langstroth standard seems to give just as good results, both for win- tering and for honey, it surely does give more surplus room on top— a very important desider- atum, by the way.— Ed.] ECONOMY IN THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY AS A STAPLE ARTICLE. BKE-KEEPIXG IN CUBA, IN A NUTSHELL; RE- SOURfES GREAT, BUT PRICES LOW. Jill Fred L. Craycraft. In order to correct the impressions of some of the readers of (ii.EANiNCis who seem to think this is the " El Dorado " of the bee keeper, and that fortunes are to be picked up in a few months, I will give a few facts in regard to the outlook. During the season of 1891 and '02, buyers paid from 45 to 50 cts. per gallon; in 1S92 and '93, from 40 to 45 cts. The season of 1893 and '94 opened at 38; later on, dropping to 35, and dur- ing the summer of 1894 prices dropped down to 20 cts. per gallon; and now with new honey coming in, dealers are offering from 24 to 26 cts. per gallon, without package; but before the end of the season prices may go up to 30, or they may go down to 20 cts.; and with sugar at li cts. per lb., and other staple products corres- pondingly low, and all manufactured goods ex- ceedingly high (Spain having bestowed with an unstinted and generous hand the blessings (?) of a high tariff protection upon this beauti- ful but unfortunate country), it can be very easily seen that the prospects are any thing but flattering, and the only solution of the problem is by producing honey on a large scale, and economically enough to make it a safe in- vestment. There are certain conditions here which make it peculiarly adapted to producing honey at a small cost. There being sufficient flowers here to sustain from 200 to .'JOO colonies at one location, the certainty of the honey -flow, and the small amount of work required to keep the bees in condition, are factors which must be considered in counting the cost of production. With a modern four or six frame extractor, a lively man who knows his business can throw out a large amount of honey in a day; and where there are a large number of colonies in one place the bees do not get enough honey during the spring and summer to encourage swarming to any extent; and during the "cam- panula " honey-flow the bees are never strong enough to swarm; therefore it can be seen that the swarming question can be eliminated. In order that the readers of Gleanings may see the rapidity with which extracting can be done by having the apiary arranged in a con- venient manner. I will give a short description of the 7no(lus operandi in use here. The sheds for the apiary are 13 feet wide, with a row of hives set on each side, the en- trances facing out, and the hives set close up together, there being only about half an inch space between the hives, in order that the supers may be lifted off easily without being wedged in between the hives at the sides. In this manner the hives form a solid wall on each sid,?, making it darker inside, and very few bees enter to bother a person when opening the hives, and it is also a protection in case of robbing, as the robbers do not like to enter the shed; and after buzzing around the entrance a while they will become discouraged and leave. When extracting, a man can till his comb-cart at one place, saving both time and steps. Taking into consideration the length of the 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 49 honey season, and having all the rest of the year to requeen, I think a man can manage seven or eight hundred colonies by having an assistant during extracting time. !San Jose de las Lajas, Cuba. Dec. 21. [I think onr readers, at least those of latter days, would like to see a photo of one of those bee-sheds to which you refer: then tell us why yon have it, etc — Extracted honey at :.'(ic per gallon is about :i}>4c per \h. Well, if one man can with a little assistance take care of 800 col- onies, perhaps he could make a little margin on even this ridiculously low price. — En.] subject to drouth. We had anticipated finding fruits in abundance as we toiled northward, and here our expectations were realized. Fruits of all varieties were plentiful and cheap. Apple-orchards abounded; apples in profusion RAMBLE 124. BEUI-AH LAND. By Rfonhtcr. We learned that bee-keeping was not neglect- ed in the old historical county of Monterey. I had on my list of correspondents a few, but they were away from our line of travel, and circumstances did not favor our going into the byways of the county. I believe, however, that the county as a whole is not a first-class honey- producer, and may rank with its sister county of San Luis Obispo, on the south, as having only a few and far-between favored localities. I found some quite nice comb honey in one- pound sections in a Salinas grocery, and learn- ed that it came from an apiary near the Salinas River, some six miles away. It proved that a progressive bee-keeper was laboring there with some degree of success. After a day's rest in Salinas the ponies were called into duty again, and we circled the Bay of Monterey for many miles, and camped on the sands of the shore where again the thunder of the waves lulled us to sleep. Our neighbors in this camp were industrious fishermen in their humble hut, from whom we obtained a supply for our evening and morning meals. We this day, July 27, added another county to the growing list we had passed through, and entered Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). We found here a dividing line of hills, not of an ardu- ous nature to climb, but when we had climbed to the crest and looked out upon the scene be- yond we were both inclined to shout " Beulah Land I" For weeks we had witnessed dry and barren plains and hillsides; but here was a val- ley of freshness and beauty where the fields were green, the mountains beyond covered with a wooded growth from summit to base. The transition was so sudden that the following verse came to mind: A sweet perfume upon the breezo Is borne from ever vernal trees; And flowers tliat. n'cr farting-, ffrow, Wliere streams of life fur evei' How. The town of Watsonville was nestling like a gem in the midst of the sea of green, and the people we met had a buoyant air about them which was also in sharp contrast to the deject- ed air that pervaded the agricultural regions PSHAW, WILUEKI that S MEAN, on trees, in profusion on the ground. I had not seen the like of it since I left the far East. An early and opportune rain had given vegetation here a boost that made nature and people hap- py. Bro. Wilder looked far and near over gar- den-walls in hopes to see an extra early water- melon: but the festive melon had not put in an appearance, and he had to content himself with a few fresh apricots, apples, etc. We saw the busy bee at work upon the various blos- soms, but did not hunt up the owner. I have not learned whether the valley is of much value for honey production; but from a passing ob- servation I should think bees would do fairly well there. That the home market is not sup- plied by local producers was evidenced by the groceries having on sale the decoctions called "honey," from San Francisco wholesale houses —the usual glass jar, with fancy label and a piece of comb in liquid, supposed to be honey. GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. Ij WORN CLIFP\S AT SANTA CKUZ. Had there been an enterprising bee-keeper near Watsonville it is evident that this foreign snb- stance would have been crowded off from the market. From Watsonville to the city of Santa Cruz we found many fine ranches, the owners having so much pride in them that the names were posted conspicuously upon fancifully decorated signs: thus. Sylvan Dell, Glen Echo, Aptos Ranch, and many others were passed. The Aptos Ranch comprised many hundred acres, with a deer-park, blooded hoises, and every thing that betokened the wealth and taste of the owner, who, we learned, was C. Spreckltis. one of the sugar-kings. It was in this region we also saw our tirst specimens of the noble redwood trees. There is a little belt of them here, and they are truly majestic. ■ By a little extra pushing on the lines we made Santa Cruz just before the shades of eve- ning fell. Our inquiries for a camping-place revealed that there were several such locations. For a quiet place to spend SuTiday we were di- rected to the old fruit-dryer locality. In fol- lowing up the directions we approached a large building, and surmised it to be the dryer. Sev- eral well-dressed people were coming from it, and inquiry elicited the information that it was not a dryer at all, but a tabernacle of the Christian Church, in which there was at the time a State Association being held. We felt that to be just the place to spend Sunday, and accordingly camped in the grove of gum-trees with the rest of the disciples. It was a pleas- ure to again attend services of this nature, after quite an absence of several weeks from It. The good brethren were very zealous in their views, and one aged minister came in Sunday morning from a town twenty miles out, and arrived before some of the good people in the tents were up. In the afternoon we strolled into the city. Santa Cruz is quite a pretentious town, of about 5()00 population, and its chief industry seems to be gazing at the ocean, and bathing; or, in other words, it is a great resort for pleasure- seekers. Bathing-houses line the shore, and beyond the bathing-beach are the chalky cliffs which the restless waves have for centuries been wearing awav, until caves, tunnels, and many curious formations are the result. The breakers dashing through these formations oc- casionally throw the spray high in the air. Our walk to town was along the cliffs, and our walk and talk was enlivened by witnessing the antics of the dashing waves. Santa Cruz had just been enjoying its annual " fiesta." This Sunday was the las: day of the celebration. The attractions of the day were feats of horsemanship, shooting of glass balls oy Texas Jack, riding bucking bronchos, and a bullfight. The above sports were held in a large inclosure, and we deemed it our sacred duty to stay outside. The bullfights are more or less of a sham outside of a wholly Spanish community, and we afterward learned that this was also a sham, or a trick to draw a crowd. A quiet crowd was gathered upon the beach, the foreign and Spanish element largely pre- vailing. Thus we had on this Sunday in Santa Cruz a diversity of attractions that ought to 189i> GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 51 suit the most ardent sight-seeker, and happi- ness ought to (and seemingly did) prevail. CHAT ON EUROPEAN MATTERS.— NO. 4. By Charles Norman. DISCOURAGEMENTS. By J- D. Fiiofhe. Friend Root: — I believe that, as bee-keepers, we should repo/t discouragements and losses as well as successes. I know to report loss is not nearly so pleasant as to report success in our business. It has been said, and truly it looks as if it were true, that misfortunes never come single. I will come forward as a bee-keeper who has been reasonably successful in the busi- ness for about IS years; but I must say that this year has been the most disastrous that we have had during the whole of the 18 years; and not only in the bee business, but nearly all other industries failed to the extent that what we made as money, crops sold, and is being sold, fell below the cost of production. The March freeze that caused such widespread de- struction showed Itself in the harvesting of our grain crops. The wet summer we had told seriously on the cotton crop, which is our money crop: and, to cap the climax, cotton fell in price to 5 cts., and at times below that. This is un- precedented in the knowledge of this genera- tion, since the war, and it Is needless to say that all classes are feeling the depression from low-priced cotton. I am not disposed to com- plain, for an all-wise Providence can overrule all these disasters and disappointments for our good; but, really, the situation is certainly gloomy to begin to farm for another year, to raise cotton at ."> cts., which is the main money crop for the South. As lo my bees, they are in excellent condition for the winter, having stored plenty of honey to carry them through to spring in excellent condition. Had I not fed my bees after the March freeze, I should have lost at least % of them, as most people here who had bees lost in that proportion. I shall try to set out another year, trusting that we shall have better success than this in all departments of business. My bees, upon the whole, gave about as good re- sults from the outlay as any thing else that I engaged in. I mention these facts to show that, while we may be sanguine and prosperous in various de- partments or enterprises, we do meet with fail- ures occasionally, but no more nor oftener in the bee business than elsewhere. I set a large lot of cabbage-plants last spring, which were all killed, and had to contract for :.'000 lbs. seven-top-turnip seed, which was all killed. I now have a contract for 4000 lbs. of seven-top- turnip seed, and can sell thousands of early- cabbage plants if I get orders for them; but it seems, of late years, that all or nearly all our success depended upon getting safely through March. Coronaca, S. C, Dec. 1. A correspondent writes that, in September, at a time when the bees were killing the drones, he heard tones that came out of several hives, and these tones he took to be the piping of queens. In one hive the tone was so strong that he heard it at a distance of ten feet. He opened the lat- ter hive, but found nothing unusual. He thinks the sounds were produced by drones " molested by the bees," for "at this time they sometimes make a noise that is not dissimilar to the pip- ing of ([ueens." Mr. Doolittle's excellent article on the preven- tion of robbing, in Gleanings for Mar. 1, page 191, was duly appreciated, for Mr. Bertrand has translated and published it in full for the bene- fit of his readers. To tind out to which hive the robber-bees be- long, we are often told to sprinkle them with flour, etc. Instead of doing this a correspond- ent puts at the entrance of the hive, all along and very near the entrance, a strip of flour, so that the bees which leave the hive are obliged to whiten themselves in this flour in passing. The present low price of honey is a source of great anxiety and complaint to the French and Swiss bee-keepers. There are numerous com- plaints to be found like this: " At this time the great effort of the apiculturist needs not to be directed any longer toward the increase of his crop (as to this, enough directions are given to us), but much rather how to dispose of it;" and in this direction these French-speaking apicul- turists display a vim and energy which beat Mr. Dadant's " dreadful Yankees " all to pieces. At their frequent exhibitions (more frequent than in our country) they not only present their finest honey in the most attractive form, but they combine with them a regular honey-mar- ket where many visitors who would not buy otherwise are induced and persuaded to pur- chase, with the expectation of creating a de- mand on the part of the public for good pure honey. Moreover, they try all kinds of ways of transforming honey into eatable or drinkable things. They make vinegar, hydromel, brandy, and liquors of it; use it for the manufacture of chocolate and bonbons; give directions for mak- ing apothecaries' syrups, etc. As the temper- ance movement is known there by name only, and they are not yet up to an understanding of its noble principle at all, both laity and clergy take a deep interest in the production of the above "drinks;" and not seldom one hits upon articles written by Protestant ministers as well as Catholic priests, in which recipes for making these stuff's are given, and the urgent necessity of creating a market for their sale is set forth with genuine zeal. Allow me to cite just one instance, to illustrate the blindness with which my continental countrymen (I am a German with a little admixture of French blood) are GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1."). stricken. In a speech delivered by a noted French apicuiturist we find the following: " If, regarding the food substances, our age has a well-characteri/ed taste, it is certainly the one for alcohol and alcoholic beverages. They have been used and abused to such an extent that the general health is already affected by it; and from the chair of the hygienists as well as from the laboratories of the analysists, competent authorities announce a slow but continual de- generation of our race." Now, any logically in- clined mind should, from such a premise, it seems to me, draw the inference that we had better abstain totally from the use of alcoholic beverages. Not so our orator. He distinguish- es between the driiilom a good deal of experi- ence I know that a very few mice, if the hives are so that they can get in or at them, will often ruin a good many colonies. When I built my two outside bee-cellars, six years ago, I tried, and thought I had made them mice- proof; but they soon got in. Bees seem to draw and attract mice, and it is pretty hard to keep the vermin out of a bee-cellar. Of course, it can be done; but I will venture the assertion that they can get into 39 out of 30 bee-cellars as they average. Wire screen can be used to keep them out of the hives; but this is a poor plan, for bees that are confined are apt to become restless and excited. Wire netting is used that will not confine the bees but exclude the mice. This is considerable work and expense; and, besides, if the hives are so that the mice can reach them they will gnaw and scratch, trying to get in; and if they are not able to get in they will do nearly if not quite as much harm as if they did, as many bees will come out, and the mouse then helps itself to the choicest part of as many of them as it wants; and it is not only what they eat, but their gnawing excites the bees so that a good many of them leave the hives, and die around in the cellar; and I think this is often attributed to other than the real cause. If this is kept up for three or four months it is apt to cause poor luck in winter- ing. The hives in both of my cellars are fixed so that mice can not reach them. This can be done without much work or expense. My hives are set in tiers. The lower tiers are supported about a foot, or a little more, up from the cellar bottom. I would have them like this, mice or no mice. I know that in my cellars, and I think in all cellars, it is better to have the low- er tiers up from the cellar bottom; but in cel- lars that have tight board or cemented floors this may not make any difference. Neither of mine has any floor except the ground. I set the lower tiers on two pieces, 4x4. These are placed about 10 inches apart, and are held up by driving a stake into the cellar bottom at the end of each; and if the 4x4's are long, and the hives are piled pretty high, it will be better to have a stake under the center of each 4x4. I nail two or three narrow pieces of boards, across on the under side of the 4x4, to keep them from spreading. On the top of each stake GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. IT). I place a piece of tin, about S inches square. These tins can be held in place by driving a nail through the center of each into the stake; but this is not necessary; for, after the 4x4 are placed on top of them, they will stay all right. If the whole is a little away from the walls this will keep mice from getting at the hives, as a mouse can not walk bottom side up on a piece of tin. Old pieces of sheet iron or zinc would answer for this as well as tin. I will now give those of you who have your bees in the cellar so that mice can get at them a plan by which you can get rid of them with- out their doing much if any harm to the bees. You will need three or four old saucers. Tin covers, or any small dishes that are not of much account for any thing else, will answer for this purpose. In one put some cheese that is mashed up fine; in another put some fresh lean pork that is chopped up tine; and if beef is handy, put some of that in with the pork. In the other, put some honey; and if you have both dark and light, it would be well to give them a dish of each kind. Try to suit the taste of all. Season the contents of each dish with arsenic well mixed in; and if these dishes are set around in the bee-cellar, and the contents renewed every two or three weeks, mice will not damage the bees much. It does not cost very much to feed them this way, as one meal is all each one cares for; and if any of you do not care to kill them, it is far cheaper to feed them in this way without the arsenic than to let them help themselves in the hives all win- ter. Some of you will probably think it is not necessary to give them such a variety; but in order to have them let the hives alone, I assure you that it is. Now, probably some of you will also think that I have exaggerated the damage mice do; but I will again assure you that I have not; and in this locality, at least, they are often the cause of heavy winter losses. Southern, Minn., Dec. 3. FIVE-BANDED BEES. BEEf) FOR business: A KKW POINTS WELT- SI A I)E. By J. J. Hardy. the best honey-gatherers; then after they have stored the sweet nectar I like to have a divide without bringing on a regular pitched battle. Give me the best honey-gatherers that are good-tempered, and I will be satisfied. Every one must admit that these are the essential traits of a good honey-bee; and whenever you attempt to breed in an additional trait you must do it at the expense of one or both of these. BEE-SPACE. After trying different distances, from one- fourth of an inch to three-eighths. I settled down on one-fourth of an inch as the correct bee-space. I use double-top-bar brood-frames; and where all the spaces between top-bars, frames, and supers are }4 inch, I have neither brace nor burr combs. RAISING QUEENS IN FULL COLONY. I have tried raising queens in the same colony with another queen by placing the old queen on four or five brood-frames behind the divi- sion-board, with queen-excluder, without any chance of exit from the hive. The entrances to these hives were on the side. They built queen-cells readily, and raised queens. But the queens, instead of going out to mate with the drones, seemed to have a mania for killing the old queens, which they did, in many in- stances, going through a double set of excluders on the division-board, to reach them. But they could not. or did not, get back to go out to mate, and soon disappeared. And the others, too, disappeared in a short time without even laying any eggs. I lost a good many bees by this experiment, but I learned that it is best in bee-keeping, as well as other things, to experi- ment alwavs on a small scale. I used a single- story hive for these experiments. Lavonia, Ga. BEE-PARALYSIS. They are very pretty to look at. but every ex- perienced bee-keeper and stock-raiser knows that the fewer points of excellence you strive to attain in breeding bees, horses, cattle, or any thing else, the nearer you can breed up to your ideal of perfection; and not only so, but every added point is detrimental to the others. The prettiest bees that I ever saw were those that came in so heavily loaded that they would fall and roll over each other in front of the hive. The prime essential in a honey-bee is its honey- gathering qualities; therefore I breed first for REASONS FOR THINKING IT IS NOT CONTAGIOUS. By S. A. Shuck. Editor OJeanings:—! have just read Mr. T. S. Ford's article, page 871, on the above subject. In speaking of bee-paralysis Mr. Eord says, "Beyond all doubt it is infectious." And in your footnote you state that it is "positively set- tled now that the queen can and does transmit the disease." While the circumstances in Mr. Ford's apiary are such as to cause him to decide so positively, yet there are so many contingencies in matters of this kind that there is much room for error in judgment. If the disease is infectious, why is it that a severe case of it does not infect a part or the whole of my apiary? Yes, if it is infectious why is it that a sudden flow of nectar causes it to disappear altogether, as in Mr. J. P. Israel's case? While I have noticed a few of these paralytic bees in a portion of my colonies nearly every 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 55 ■every year since obtaining my first Italians, in 1878, there have been but few cases of sufficient •severity to require special attention. In the winter of 188'.' I had .52 colonies in a temporary -cellar, made expressly for wintering the bees. Two of the strongest of these colonies became j'estless early in the winter, and continued so until set out in the spring, at which time both of them were affected with paralysis. As the spring advanced, the disease grew worse; so that, when the flowers began to yield nectar, they were only about half the strength of aver- -age colonies. But at this time they began to recover, and the disease soon disappeared. The winter of 1884 being very severe, I lost juost of my bees; and, having no better place to put the hives and combs from dead colonies, they were stacked up in the yard, and closed up to keep out robbers and moths. After the weather had become quite warm, I discovered that what I considered my best colony was rob- bing from the combs from dead colonies. This •colony persisted in robbing these combs until I had them occupied with other bees. During this time they became affected with paralysis, and began to dwindle away. I removed their •queen and gave them another. But by the time they were compelled to turn their atten- tion to the flowers for subsistence they were too weak to be profitable for honey-gathering. At this time they began to recover, and became a fair colony before the season closed. In 1893 one of my most promising colonies be- •came suddenly aflected with this disease. Soon after discovering their condition 1 remov- ed the queen, intending to give them another; but the bees died oft so rapidly that the colony soon perished outright. A part of their combs were given to other colonies, and these were re- placed wiih combs containing bees and brood, thus restocking the liive, and without any no- ticeable ill effects. Quite a number of other cases have appeared in my apiary from time to time, but not of suf- .ficient severity to materially affect the working strength of the colonies. If the disease were infectious, my apiary would surely have been ruined by it several years ago. As it is, my bees, so far as 1 can see, are as active and Jbealthy to-day as they ever have been. From my observations I have concluded that, in some instances, this disease is the result of a poisoned condition of the honey, and that the poisoning results from incipient fermentation — not that all honey with a slight tendency to ferment is injurious to bees, but that honey in this condition will readily absorb th(! poisonous •eltiuvia from dead and decaying bees or other decaying matter in the hives. Then, too, 1 be- lieve that, in many instances, the honey be- comes actually sour enough to cause the disease; and I fear that this is the trouble in warm climates such as that of California and the Southern States. It is no uncommon thing for me to find sour honey in a few hives at extracting time, except in very dry seasons. In several instances fer- mentation had proceeded far enough to cause great blisters in the cappings of well-sealed combs. Colonies that produce honey of this nature are the ones that have paralysis. Here is where the many contingencies men- tioned above present themselves; and a number of questions naturally arise, of which the two following are, perhaps, of most importance: What sours the honey ? Why is the honey in one hive sour, and that in a dozen, twenty, fifty, or more, in the same apiary, and gathered at the same time, in good condition ? The answer to these questions is found in the fact that an occasional colony is found, that, for some cause, unknown, I think, to apicul- tural science, does not possess the ability to properly ripen their honey in average honey weather— especially if the nectar is very thin. As the temperature increases, this weakness becomes more apparent; so that, with a tem- perature up in the 90's, with an excessively humid atmosphere, such colonies are really worthless; and in a large apiary, at such times, several colonies may show this weakness in a less degree. Here, I think, is the sequel to the cause of paralysis in warm climates. If the source from which the nectar is obtained is one that naturally produces an inferior quality of honey, and the ingathering is at a time when the atmospheric conditions are such as are mentioned above, a careful examination of the combs will reveal the fact that, in a large per cent of the hives, numerous minute gas-bub- bles exist in the honey. If allowed to do so, the bees will seal this honey up; and, although it maybe left in the hives several days or even weeks, its condition grows worse, as is shown by the gas- bubbles which become more numer- ous and larger; and when this honey is thrown from the combs by the extractor it presents a frothy appearance. During the past fifteen years I have experi- enced two seasons that gave me considerable trouble with this kind of honey. Bees reared from food of this nature show a decided tend- ency to the disease in question, even here in Central Illinois; and the longer these condi- tions exist, the worse the disease becomes, ow- ing to the increased deterioration of the food and the weakened condition of the nurse-bees. This condition continues until the colony per- ishes; or if a fresh supply of healthy food is ob- tained, it shows signs of recovery with the first generation of brood thereafter. Liverpool, 111. [I admit that there are a good many contingen- cies in matters of this kind, and that there is much room for error; but it seems to me you have overlooked a very important factor — local- 56 GLEANINGS IN HEE CULTURE. .Tan. 15.- ity. As I have often said, this disease has not appeared to be serious at all in the North. It is wliat it may do and has done in the South that we have been considering:. I never l^new it. in fact, in the colder climates, to cause any particu- lar trouble. An occasional colony, for in-tance. will show that it is not in normal condition. Investiiration shows that it is affected with paraly.sis: out it does not seem to be infectious, and, if left alone, will so off of itself: but the case does not dispose of itself so easily in the Snutli. Possibly soured food has something to do with it: but note this fact: In many in- stances the romoval of the queen elTects a cure notwithstanding the bees are in the same hive, on the same combs. This one fact alone by itsef, to say nothing of other corroborative evidence, seems to show that the trouble is hereditary rather than one of food: but no doubt good food, like good diet for human ills, would go far toward doing away with the diffieulty. I am very sure that the course of queen- breeders in stamping it out as soon as it ap- pears is the right one. Now. this disease is surely, in warm climares. making serious in- roads, and the only wav to check it is for queen-breedors— not for their own sake, but for the sake of their customers— to stamp it out of their own yards on its first appearance. So far all of them have held up their hands, signify- ng their purpose to carry out this policy. As it will entail some expense in the loss of a colony, the ready response of the queen -breeders to agree to this is as generous as it is kind.— Ed.] JAKE SMITH ON BRACE-COMBS. HE KErORTS AN INTEKESTING CONA'ERSATION rONCERNING THEM. Mr. A. I. (HeenitKjs—deer Sir;- Jim Short's a good-hearted fellow, but he has some queer notions. But then, a good many people's that way. One good thing about Jim, he never gets mad if you side agenst him. He was over the other day, and Zed had been readin in your pa- per about burr-combs. Beats all what that boy thinks of your paper. Why, he reads it through from cover to cover, and then reads the cover. Well, he was a tellin Jim how it told to get shet of 'em. Then Jim turned to me, and, says he, " Does your bees build brace-combs ? " "Course they do," says I. "whenever they have a chants." Then Jim laffed one of his hearty lafs. and, says he, "That's what comes o' gettin so many kinks out o' books. Now, my bees don't have any book-larnin, and they don't build any brace-combs. Not a blame comb but honey- comb. What kind o' comb is brace-comb, any- way ? Do they make it just out o' beeswax or what?" "Why," says I, "brace-combs is beeswax like any other comb, only it's the little pieces they build in between the top-bars; and when they build between the top-bars and the supers, why, that's burr-combs." "That's it," says Jim; "you git in so many new fixins with your top-bars and supers and sitch that the bees jist has to start in some new- way to keep up. Now I want to know if every- body that has these new fixins is agreed in try- iu to stop brace-combs." " I guess they be." says I. " No,'" says Zed, "not all. There's Doolittle. one of the smartest in the lot, and he says he wants his bees to have brace-combs — wants "em for ladders to climb up on; thinks they com- mence work upstairs sooner." " Now that stands to reason," says Jim; "you go to work and put on another story for them,, and then you don't build no stairs- for 'em to- climb on, and they go to work and build lad- ders. Now, there's my house. You know the- kitchen floor's two feet higher'n the sittin-room floor. Now, how would it work to have that two feet to climb up and down all the time with no steps? Hard on the women-folks, hey? Well, you see I jist decently put some steps there; and if I hadn't a done that you wouldn't blame WHAT ARE THEM BURR-COMBS ANY WAY. the women for puttin' boxes and things for them to climb up and down on, would you now? And that's jist what the bees do too. They build things to climb up on, soze they won't have to split their legs a straddlin so far.'* "Say, Jim,'" says Zed, "how many steps is there between your kitchen and sittin-room ? " " Let's see," said Jim; "each step's about 8 inches rise, ain't it? That would make two steps 16 inch high, and then it would be 8 inch more from the top of the step to the sittin room floor. Yes, they must be jist two steps. But what diff'erence does it make how many steps they be? Course, they must be steps enough to 1895 c;leanings in bee culture. 57 gil up, no matter how high. What makes you ask. anyway? '' "Oh! nothin\"says Zed, "only I was just a thinkin' if it wasn't so high you wouldn't need so many steps. If the two floors was on a level it might be still better for the wimmen folks; and if they couldn't be exactly on a level, but •only about 8 inch diflference, they wouldn't need any step.'" Jim hawhawed right out. '" 1 guess you've got me, Zed," says he. "I believe in my soul you're right. Make the upper story so fur up they can't reach it, and they've got to build steps; but make 'era so close they can reach from one to the other, and they don't need any steps. You're a great one, Zed. Well, I must be a gettin' along to do my chores. But I be- lieve Zed's about right." NOTES OF BICYCLE TRAVEL. AT CHICAGO; ON THE WORLD S FAIK GROUND; DR. PEIRO. By E. R. Root. Before leaving Platteville, in view of the a(«fu? Wisconsin roads that I had gone over I decided to take the train for Chicago direct, and therefore left on Monday morning, and ar- rived in the city toward night of the same day. The following morning I took the elevator (on 57 Fifth Ave. ) for the top floor of one of those sky-scrapers in which is located the office of the American Bee Journal. I found Bro. York busy at his post, preparing to mail the next issue of his paper. Ou asking me how long I would stay I told him that I was one day be- hind again, and I should have to go that night. He would not have ii so any way. I had disap- pointed him once by giving him only a short ■call; and now thai I was in his possession he in- tended to keep me at least over night. Resist- ance was useless, and I meekly acquiesced. He proposed that we take a run over to the World's Fair Ground for an afternoon's outing, to which I readily agreed, for I was very anx- ious to see what was left of the most beautiful ■conception that ever came from the human mind. Having some business down town I told Mr. York I would meet him toward noon. The tire of my rear bicycle wheel had given out, so I stopped at the Chicago office of the Overman Wheel Co., and on their guarantee I got a new tire put on. While ihe wheel was in the repair shop I ran over to Mr. Newman's, at 147 South Western Ave. I found him in his office, reading the morning paper; and for an hour or morel had a very pleasant chat with the former editor of the American Bee Journal, &nd now man- ager of the Bee-keepers' Union. As our read- ers know, he had sold out the journal on ac- count of ill health, and is now conlining him- self solely to the work of the Union and the sale of bee-keepers' supplies. The season had not been an extra good one. It started out well ; but the railroad strikes, whose center of opera- tions were here, chopped it short off. His cus- tomers, fearing they could not get their goods, went elsewhere. Physically, Mr. N. was looking much better than I expected to find him. He had had very severe sieges of the grip; but he seemed to be master of the situation. After an hour's pleasant chat I left, to join Mr. York. In the afternoon we took a train for the great World's Fair, or what was left of it. As we neared the place I had a kind of feeling that I ought to see those beautiful buildings looming up once more. But, no; most of them are gone, and that, too, the very best. On go- ing through the gate where we used to pay 50 cts., now open to the public, every thing seem- ed to have changed. The terrible demon. Fire, had done its work. Midway had turned into a residence street, where just a year ago there was bustle and hustle — indeed, a pandemonium of sights, things, and persons. Wiiere, oh where I were the Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building? Over yonder were some lofty towers of framework of what might have been, probably, the great building. Tons and tons of massive framework attached to other framework standing, hung dangling care- lessly in the air, and seemed ready to drop any moment; and great masses of steel bars were twisted and distorted into every imaginable shape. Bridges were burned; in fact, every thing was so fearfully changed that my heart was sad in comparing the mind's-eye picture of a year ago with what I then saw. The lagoons were there, of course, but the beautiful railings were damaged, and some of the bridges were gone. The Horticultural Building, and the Illinois State, both to me of the least interest of all, were left standing, and over yonder was the Art Building, which, of course, had been put up permanently, and is now a museum. The grounds in general seemed very much smaller now that the best and greatest of the structures were destroyed, and every thing seemed so changed that it was hard to tell where one was '" at," the old landmarks having been almost completely obliterated. Here and there on the banks were gondolas, turned bot- tom upward, bleaching in the sun. They were of no practical use then, and nobody wanted them. The Esquimaux ponds were gone en- tirely save the hollow dry spots that marked their location. Tramping about as we did over the obstruc- tions, Mr. York was considerably tired; for, un- like myself, he was not used to long-distance traveling. We accordingly made our way as best we could over the piles of rubbish, to the Art Building. This stood in perfect condition as it appeared a year ago, and it was refreshing to look upon something that was still left of the Great Fair in a perfect state of preservation. 58 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 1."). It is a museum now, and seemed to have a col- lection of a little of every thing from nearly all of the buildings of the fair. A number of pieces of statuary were still in the building, very near their old positions, and everywhere numerous other exhibits that I remembered. But in contrast with a year ago it was disap- pointing. Along late in the afternoon, footsore and tired (yes, I was tired too), we made our way to the station, and were soon back in Chi- cago. After a few minutes in the office we took the train for Englewood, a suburb of the city, where Ero. York lives. On the train we were joined by Dr. Peiro, the one who writes those interesting articles for the Arnerlcnn Bee Journal, under the title of "Doctor's Hints." I wish I could show you his picture; but he is so modest that I was unable to get it. Never mind. I will get even with him somehow. Evidently he is a man who practices what he preaches, for he seems to be the picture of health; full of life and fun, it is indeed a pleasure to know him. I believe in his profes- sion he makes a specialty of lung and throat troubles, and yet by his writings it is evident he is well up in all that pertains to his profession. That evening, before supper, we took a look over the apiary of the Ainerican Bee Journal, situated in the rear of Dr. Peiro's yard. The neighbors at Bro. York's, if I remember, were afraid to have them there, and so the doctor kindly offered to "take them in." Mr. York very modestly professed to know little or noth- ing about bees,* and wished me to look them over, and assume the role of instructor. A smoker was procured, and we proceeded to open up the hives. " Why," said I, " Mr. York, you have got su- pers on at this season of the year." (You will remember it was the first of September.) "I would take them off, for surely you do not need them now." '•But they are gathering honey Jiou'." said Mr. York. "Impossible," said I. "Indeed, they are." On pulling off the covers, I saw sure enough that the bees were putting honey into sections. " What in the world can they get around here, almost in the city? " " I can not tell you," said Mr. York. We opened two or three hives, and every one of them seemed to be busy piling in the surplus. In the mean time Dr. Peiro came out and en- livened the proceedings with his easy-flowing wit and banter. After looking over the bees, Mr. York called my attention to the lawns, as we neared Mr. York's home. I presume there were a good many acres in reach of these bees; and the constant mowing and sprinkling allow- ed the white clover to spring up and yield nec- tar out 0/ seosoji; but on sampling the honey *Such modesty in an editor wlio gets out such a good bce-jouruiil is quito inexcusable.— Ed. that evening at the table, there seemed to be something besides white clover which was cer- tainly present. It had a beautiful minty flavor,, and in my estimation — and I think perhaps lit that of Mr. York — it was as flne honey as can be produced anywhere in the world. A swamp- near by it evidently gave the mint taste, sa pleasant. I have always considered the Colo- rado alfa'fa, since I first tasted it, the best; but this is fully its equal. That evening Dr. and Mrs. Peiro called upon the Yorks. Somehow or other I felt as if I were- out of place, in my knickerbocker suit, dusty and dirty: but I soon forgot my external ap- pearance in the pleasant chat that followed. The next morning, having had a delightful! sleep and good breakfast, I called at the office of the Overman Wheel Co., secured my wheel, and took the train for Toledo. The bicycle at this point was resumed; and on reaching home, 110 miles was made in 9 hours. Thus ends my long trip on the bicycle to the Mississippi,, through Michigan. ^RSiziOl(E MRS. HARRISON EN ROUTE FOR FLORIDA. Bil Ji/N. L. H(irris<,)i On the l.-)th of December 1 left my home at Peoria. 111., and turned my face in the direction of the sunny Southland. While in transit I loo4^ lbs. of finished comb honey per colony: in other words, he fed nearly three pounds of extracted for every pound of comb honey secured; or, to carry out the dollar-atid-cents comparison — for every 20 cts. worth of extracted honey fed, he got back 12 cts. worth of cemih honey. He says further: "Thus the consumption for the 20 colonies, in the secretion and forming of wax scales, and for brood - rearing, evaporation, etc., is the enormous total of 1650 lbs., or 82f.< lbs. per colo- ny. . . All this [stings, etc.] is certainly enough to disgust one in feeding, to say nothing: regarding the loss in the operation." 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 15 WHY PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK. •SOMKTUING BOTH ENCOURAGING AND DIS- COURAGING. Dear friends, I am moved to write this be- cause of a little recent experience. Some of you know, but perhaps not, all, that in our saw- room we have saws lo cut across the grain. These are called ''cut-ofif'saws. Then we have .saws to split boards lengthwise of the grain. These are called "rip-saws." One is all right for the ripping business, and the other is all right for the cut-otl business; but to change them about, neither would work at all. Oh, yes! you might crowd a board lengthwise a little way on a cutoff saw, and vice versa; but it would be like hitching a team to the back end of a wagon instead of the front, to do work. Well, now for the illustration: There was a man in the saw-room, who, if he were given boards square in shape, or something near square in shape, would continually make a mistake and push them against the saw at right angles from the way they should be push- ed; that is, he did not seem to know whether he was sawing with the grain or across it. When I heard of it I remonstrated with him. I told him I could hardly believe it possible that he, a wrown-up man, should even once make such a blunder as that. He excused himself by saying that others did the same thing frequently. I have not learned whether this is true or not. I told the foreman of the room, when we were discussing the matter, that, in my opinion, the man who does such a thing even once should be sent home, and never permitted to come into a shop again where machinery is used. The above may be rather severe. Perhaps it is; but one whose mind is not on his work lo the extent that he does not know whether he is pushing his board lengthwise or sidewise, I should say that he by such act of indifference or half-heart- edness, literally cuts off his chances of making his way in the world. It is just this very thing we are considering that makes the difference between a man worth 10 cts. an hour and one worth 35 cts. an hour. You may say that every- body makes mistakes sometimes. Yes, some kind of mistakes. But did you. my friend, ever in your life, hitch a horse to the back end of your wagon, and start off, instead of hitching it to the front end? My illustration is. perhaps, a little exaggerated, but it shows what I mean. Now, this man of whom I am speaking is or has been a special friend of mine, and one whom I should be glad to help. When his shortcomings have been reported I have taken his part, and talked with him, and afterward said I was sure he would do better. When he did not do better I began to study into the case, and this has come to light: He is naturally full of boyish spirits, and is much given to good-natured jokes and pleasantry; and he carries this thing so far that he is very apt to be making fun during his •work. We have had trouble in the saw-room by certain ones indulging in throwing blocks at each other. Notices have been put up, request- ing that this thing be stopped. But even right in the face of these notices I saw this man throwing a block at one of the other men. He explained it by saying that the block was thrown at him. and that he simplv threw it back again, and I happened to see only the last part of it. Now. this may be some excuse, but it is not a sufficient one. A grown-up man with a family to support should be above every thing of this sort— that is, during working hours. Some people do not seem to be able to comprehend the fact that almost all kinds of work nowadays require careful. tJioutjhtfuI, earnest attention. The men who get good pay, and who are mak- ing great strides in their profession, concen- trate all their energies — all their attention and thoiujht — on I he work in question. Let us take another view of the mattir. I believe we have now the reputation of mak- ing pretty fair work — 1 will not say the best in the world, for every little while— in fact, al- most continually — some customer (sometimes a customer from clear across the ocean) is calling our attention to little defects in our work. A few days ago one of the endless chains in the machinery that makes our sections broke a link. A new one was put in, and the machine was supposed to be all right. Mr. Calvert happened to pass by. however, and he discovered the bolts of beautiful while basswood were not passing squarely through between the dovetail- ing saws. One end of each bolt was ahead of the other. It was only just a " lettle," as old Yankees would say; but that " leetle" made a great part of the sections grooved too deep on one end, and not deep enough on the other. The men who were running the machine neg- lected lo make very careful tests after the breakdown, to be sure the work done was ex- actly as before the break. When we hold our councils— that is, the members of the cabinet of the A. I. Root Co. — it is the same old thing over. '"Oh, I wish we knew where to get real careful, accurate men — men of intense devo- tion to the work that is intrusted to their charge!" Now, please do not all of you write to me, saying that you are just the chap we are after, and that you want to come here. If you are just the chap we are after, you would not be out of work. People would be watching for you, and bidding for you, and may be quarrel- ing about who should have you. I know, for I have grown gray in this sort of thing. Some- times I have been tempted to say, "Oh, why is it that God made so many worth so little, and only a few worth so much?" But, hold on. (Jod did not make us so. We did it ourselves, and we are doing it ourselves. The man who has good common sense can stop his foolishness and play, and attend to business if he tries hard. He can, if he cores enough about mak- ing a success in life, and the chances are that he can do it at home, right where he is. You see, the successful bee-keepers and the success- ful berry-growers and the successful men any- where, and they are the earnest, keen, hard- working people. They do not always work hard with their muscles, but their brains are ever on the alert to discover better ways, and to achieve greater perfection. Now, it is not be- cause these heedless people do not know what nice work is; for if they want to buy any thing they are oftentimes the first ones to complain of something that is not what it ought to be. We all know when we are properly served by the rest of the great outside world; but a great many of us do not core very much whether we serve other people honestly and well or not. This little sermon is written on New Year's day; and if it meets the eye of some one who is out of a job, or is likely to lose a job which he already has, may God rouse him up to recognize and realize what I have been telling him; and may the Holy Spirit help him to see his faults as others see them. My friends. I too am guilty of poor work. I am guilty of half-hear led nei-s and of slipshod ways — that is, at times I am. I sometimes fear, however, that 1 am oftener guilty of being too vehement and exacting be- cause others around me seem to be so indifferent to what is going on before their eyes — yes. to put it plainly, so stupidly indifferent to their own interests; or, to put it in a saddrr way still, lo the interests of their ivives and children, and others depending upon them. After the above was dictated, the following 66 GLEANINGS IN BRE CULTURE. Jan. 15. came lo hand from our good friend Geo. M. Kellogg: The reason I wrote my "wanl" ad. (p. 33) so sarcastic was. I am so bored by men wi o claim to be garden- r?, etc., when they know but OTict/ii/iry— that is, to laze around and kill time. I just turned otf a man to-day. after ',"._, davs' of work, who i-ame and recommended himself so highly that 1 really thought he might be a good help. 1 would not give such a man his board. I would rather take a green boy, and t<-ach him how to work. I am down on fossils in lull nan form. Pleasant Hill, Mo., Dec. 29. (JN THE WHEEL — LACLEDE CO., MO. There are a good many peculiar things about Missouri; that is, they have different crops, and different ways of doing things, from what we have here in Ohio. The great staple seems to be corn; and the rich black soil, full of hu- mus, for the most part, seems to be especially adapted to corn. Now, with such immense crops of corn, the price gets very low; and in a good many places the crops are a good way from railroads; therefore, to use up as much as possible of It, a great deal of pork is raised. The wire fence that troubled me so much to get over was one of the pig- proof sort. As there are immense tracts of forest, or, rather, scrub- oaks (for the greater part of the trees are a peculiar kind of oak of small growth), and these oaks furnish most seasons immense quan- tities of acorns, to use up this great quantity of •'shack" the pigs— especially those belonging to poor people — are allowed to run at large. The consequence is, the farmer who raises crops must fence the pigs out; and so they have fences with barbed wire very close together down near the ground — so close, indeed, that many of them are chicken-proof as well as pig- proof, unless thechickens jump and get through the wide spaces a little higher up. In running my wheel over the dry leaves through these trails in the woods I often ran into droves of pigs. Hy the time I conclude, however, that they are not going to be frightened at the wheel, as the horses, cattle, and mules are. the leader of the drove gives a peculiar srruntof as- toni-^hmcnt and fright, which is the signal for a general stampede^; and if I do not slow up. I am sometimes in danger of getting rolled into the leaves among the pigs. Well, where pig- growing is such an immense industry there are great quantities of pork thrown on the market; and in order to furni-h a Ixilanaed ration (ham and eggs) great quantities of poultry and eggs are produced. In fact. Missouri ought to he able to furnish hatri and eggs enough for at least a part of the great wide world. The wo- men-folks have a great deal to do with poultry- raising: and friend .Abbott's bright spicy poul- try-talks at the; farmers' institutes have made him quite a general favorite with the sex. It won't hurl him any. for he is a good man, and always remembers the faithful little wife who so well looks after the comfortsof his neat little home in St. .Foseph. These great cornlields are a splendid adjunct lo the poultry business — especially the turkey line. Turkeys, you know, ramble over miles of territory. One of my brother-in-law's neigh- bors has a flock of slate-colored turkeys num- bering over a hundred. He said they started out in the morning like a regiment of soldiers, taking the fields and woods, and every thing that came before them, each turkey marching perhaps twenty feet from its neighbor. He said they went away every morning, and generally came in about an hour before sundown, keep- ing up the same line of march in all their raids. I told him I should c(M-tainly have to go over to his place to see them, and I happened along just at the time specilied — about an hour before sundown. They were just emerging from the woods, in a long line, all abreast. As they went over the pasture-lot, every cricket, grass- hopper, bug, and worm, was pretty sure to be detected by their keen sharp eyes, and you could see them do their work as they moved forward. Of course, they get into the cornfields some; but I believe it is generally considered that they do enough good in their march to atone for the corn they take, for corn is cheap down in Missouri. But even with the great numbers of turkeys domesticated, there seems to be still a field for more, for wild turkeys are even yet quite abun- dant. They live. I believe, mosily on corn and acorns. In fact, so plentiful are they that they often mix, and the eggs of wild turkeys are sometimes set and hatched under the tame ones. They grow up with the rest very much as if that were the way they had always done; but when the wild turkeys fly over them on their way south they are very apt to catch the fever, and burst the bonds of domestication, and soar aloft with their wild untamed breth- ren. The man who owned the turkeys, finding I was greatly interested in sinkholes, such as the country aboundt-d in, told me there was quite a tract, sevral miles away, where the ground had suddenly dropped down forty or fifty feet, leav- ing steep or even perpendicular sides all around the inclosure. The road used to run through this piece of forest, and a man rode over on horseback only an hour before the sink occur- red. As the rest did not seem to be particularly curious about such phenomena, 1 decided to hunt it up on my wheel. After various tnean- derings through the woods and across the clearings I discovered that I had got beyond the spot. Many people seemed to know but little about it, even though it was in ti.eir im- mediate neighborhood: and they speculated as to what "that fellow on the wheel" wanted of that large sinkhole, anyway. Some thought I was prospecting for minerals. At length I found a little log house in the wilderness, be- longing to the man who owned the property where the ground had dropped down. Nobody was at home but the woman of the house. It was getting toward night: and darkness in a lo- cality where it kept one busy to get through by daylight was not the thing to be most desired. She said I was to follow the road down to a wheatfield. Then 1 was to go straight through the wheatliekl. and I would find the road again on the other side. When 1 got there, "straight through ■' seemed to be a pretty difficult matter to manage. In searching for the road I got off into the thick and tangled forest, and lost my bearings; and as the sun did not shine I could not even tell which way I came from. I was lost in the woods, and obliged to drag my wheel, and pull it through the underbrush. No matter which way I went, the bushes and vines grew thicker. I pushed for the top of a little hill, thinking I might see some signs of human hab- itation in some direction; but it was all un- broken forest. I could not discover in any di- rection any thing that looked a bit like the path or the wheatfield I had left. It may seem a trifling thing for a full-grown man to acknowl- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 67 «dge his weakness, and to ask direction from on ihigh, just because he has lost his way in the woods only a little way off from human habita- tion at the worst. I felt weak and tired out in working my way through the tangled brush; and, almost before I knew it, that little prayer burst forth — " Lord, help!" Almost as the words were on my lips I stooped down to get a better view away oft' through the bushes and underbrush. In one direction I could see quite a distance; and at the end of this view a little patch as big as one's hand showed something that looked as if it might be a log house; and the words, "O Lord. I thank thee," followed al- most as swiftly after ihe appeal for guidance. Before I reached the log house I struck a trail that led me to the door. There I found that I must turn around and go right back, for I had just come in from the very neighborhood of the sunken half-acre. I do not think it comprises more than a quarter of an acre-— perhaps a lit- tle more all together; but the sight of it fully rewarded me for all my toil. The largest trees in the forest had gone right square down until their tops reached but little above the ground where I stood. I managed to slide down through the sand and dirt until I came to a point choked up with bushes, briers, trees, dirt, and stones. It seemed as if an opening had broken through and let every thing run down into it until the trees, etc.. stopped the hole up. I got right down into the very crater; and then it occurred to me. what if my feeble weight should start the thine going once more, and I too should go down, down, who knows where? I confess the thought of it made my heart beat a little faster as 1 climbed up the steep sides through the loose dirt and stones. I found the road that had been broken suddenly oft' where the ground went down. This drop, too, like the others, was near the summit of a hill. Can some geologist or somebody else tell me why it is the hills instead of the valleys that suddenly give in. down here in the Ozark Mountains? Has this any thing to do with the reason vol- canoes burst forth from the summit of the high- est mountains? Of course. I had many pleasant visits in Leb- anon, the county-seat. It is a very pretty town. The stores are neat and attractive; and as business is dull, goods are sold, many of them, at very close margins. The merchants are vie- ing with each other in getting the trade of the country people, and may be they know their own business better than an Ohio wheelman ■can tell it to them. But I want to venture a suggestion. If some merchant in the town of Lebanon would put up a watering-trough, so the farmers could water their horses in front of his store, giving them thatbeautiful "electric" ( ? ) water, it seems to me it would be a bigger advertisement than all the signs he could put up. or all the advertising he could do in the county papers. If I am correct, there is not a place in the whole town where hor.«es can be watered— that is. no public watering-place. A little out of town thereis.it is true, a sort of millpond where horses can be watered by driv- ing right down into the mud. My brother-in- law told me that this pond arrangement was a recent improvement. Where is the Humane .Society down in Missouri? By the way, there are no sucli watering-places in the whole of Missouri — that is, none that I found — like those we have here in Ohio. In our own and adjoin ing counties where I have traveled with my wheel we find substantial watering-places «very four or live miles in almo'^t every direc- tion. These are more frequent, however, in hilly countries, where springs furnish perpetu- ally running water. Through the level parts of our State, town wells with good nice-work- ing pumps are found in the center of most of even the small towns. Let us now go back to Lebanon. All through the southwestern part of the State of Missouri there is a sort of general agreement that hitching-posts should not be placed in front of stores. In fact, you seldom see a team standing in front of a store at all. When i^rmers come in from the country they hitch their horses near the church or to the fences in the outskirts, and then travel on foot to the stores. When they get ready to go home they can, if they choose, drive up in front of the stores to load in their purchases. On one occasion a friend missed a train because he had to drive out of town to find a place to hitch his horse. This whole matter is fixed by ordinance passed by the town; and I was surprised to hear one of the teachers at the farmers' insti- tute pitch into hitching-posts. The only rea- son he gave was. that it made the town look untidy; and hitching-posts, where horsesgnaw them, afford means of communicating disease from one horse to another. Now, I am sure this whole matter can be managed. In Medina we have iron hitching-posts that horses can not gnaw, and I know a good many of the country people feel bad the way they are being used. I asked Robert which of two towns would get the trade if one would furnish convenient places for hitching teams in front of the stores, steps for the people to get out on the sidewalk, and public watering-places where horses could drink, while the other town furnished no such inducement. He said the farmers would al- most in a body patronize the town that tried to make them welcome in the ways mentioned above. Terry said, at one of his recent institutes in Indiana, that the merchants of a certain town provided a good dinner for all the farming friends who came to the institute. When the farmers expressed some surprise at this, one of the men of the town got up and said: "Look here, neighbors, when we happen to be out in the country at dinnertime your doors are al- ways thrown open; your wives bring out their best things laid away for company, and you never think of asking us to pay. It is a pity if we can not return the compliment when you have a meeting here in town like this, once a year." Now. that is the sentiment exactly. Farmers throughout our country have been having a tough time of it. Sad will be the day when the people of our towns and cities think it behooves them to look down on the farming community, or to laugh when drouth and flood prove dis- astrous to the crops, rnited, we stand; divid- ed, we fall. When the people found out how curious I was about caves, sinkholes, etc., somebody told me there was a natural tunnel not ten miles from the county-seat— a place where a horse and buggy could be driven through under ground nearly a quarter of a mile— a tunnel of God's own making through the hills. Few peo- ple, however, could tell me much about it. One man said that, instead of being a quarter of a mile long, it was only 7.5 or 100 feet thro\igh it. He said, too, there were stalactities and stalagmites like those in Saltpeter Cave. I suggested that it was a natural bridge, but he said it was not a bridge at all; it was. rather, a tunnel through the hills, and a tunnel that crooked and turned. The weather turned cold, however; reports came from home that Ernest was laid up. and Mrs. Root said I had .seen enough holes in the ground for one visit. So I reluctantly bade adieu to Laclede Co., Mo.; but it made me feel a good deal as it did in leaving Tempe, (58 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 15. Arizona, without even visiting Superstitious Mountain. Hy tlie way. after I left Supersti- tious Mountain a l)and of explorers found a great gojit-inine somewhere near its summit, and speculators iue t.akiiig their victims right into the nu)untains and exhibiting them gold tliat stands riglit out in plain sight — not quite in plain dayligiit. but plain enough so that thousands and tliousands nf dollars are being put into it. Am I sorry I did not stay long enough to help discover the gold? Not at all. God has not called me to develop gold-mines. If they could be separated entirely fi'om the gambling and swindling and robbery that seem to be so invariably an iidjunct, I might lil feet from the next double row. Fig. 1 will show how he marks out his ground. After the ground is marked as above, with any sort of marker, you are ready to put out your plants. The path for picking the berries or for running the cultivator is just a yard wide. The plants, after the plantation is put out. are 18 inches apart each way. Let me show yon some stars standing just as the plants stand when they are growing nicely, before putting out any runners: FIG. 2.— PLANTS AFTER THEY ARE SET OUT. Now a word about cultivating. The broad spaces, or the paths a yard wide, of course can be cultivated without any trouble: and if you set vour plants with a spade, on the plan given by Dan White, you can run the cultivator within an inch of the plants on each side, with- out injuring them. As tlie rows beticecn the plants are only IS inches wide, you will proba- bly do them easiest with a wheel-hoe. Friend Young uses a wheel scuttle-hoe. With a horse trained to the business, and a cultivator that will shut up narrow, I have sometimes done quite a good job of cultivating where plants were 18 inches apart. Please notice, before the plants have put out any runners, you can, with the horse-cultivator and the hand-cultivator, go through them both ways, so as to cultivate close up to each plant on four sides. By this means an acre of plants can be kept almost per- fectly clean with modern cultivators and noth- ing else. Not only this, we can break the crust after every rain so quickly and so easily that we can afford to keep the ground loose and mellow, banishing all weeds at the same time that we do the stirring: and there has never been any thing invented, and in my opinion there never will be. to get great crops of any sort of fruit like this mellow, soft loose soil. So far so good: but when the rnnners put out and begin to take root, what then ? Here is what I learned of friend Young's invention: No plants are allowed to take root in the broad path 3 feet wide — that is. not the first season, any way : but when the runners are just right, and begin to take root, your man or boy is taken into the patch with a trowel, and told to set a good plant about half way betweon all the old plants and one in the center of the square. After he has done this he is to cut off all the others. Let us have another diagram to make this plain. We have placed the stars a little further apart, so you can see better what you are doing. FIG. ^. — HOW TO PLACE THE RUNNERS. The large stars represent the original plants, ana the small ones the new plants at the end of the runners. This, you will notice, makes a matted row, wiih the bearing plants just 9 inches apart each way. This is a little further apart than what TVrry directs; but with the strong thrifty Enhance, the space is not any too great. Each square contains nine bearing plants; and each bearing plant should give a great cluster of immense berries. If your plan- tation is made either in the spring or fall, your first crop will be like cut Fig. 2; and it will be an easv matter, with the horse-cultivator in the three-foot path, to keep this matted row clean, for the plants stand like hills of corn, except that the hills areonly Uin. apart, and you can work them with a narrow hand-cultivator, or you can use a hoe. Then comes the question. How many crops shall we get from this beauti- ful plantation before plowing it up? Mr. Young thinks it pays to get two crops; and he sometimes gets three. If you work for a third crop, after the first crop is picked, clean out your bed thoroughly, then let the runners set where they choose. Just let the whole plantation grow up lo a thick mat of vines, leaving a 2 or a 31. _. foot path for the pickers. Through this path, of course, you keep the cultivator going. After you have secured the crop from this solid matted row, then turn strawberries, weeds, and every thing, all under, the very day you do the last picking. That is, you ought to do it the very day, if you are go- ing to work up to the highest notch of high- pressure gardening.* Now. friend Young goes to work and plants strawberries again, because his whole ground is used constantly for straw- berries exclusively, or almost so. Meantime, however, he is pretty well convinced that some other crop should be put on before plant- ing again for strawberries; and, by the way, you can get a good crop of cabbages, wax beans, early sweet corn, and ever so many other things, after turning under your strawberries. You may i-emember that, last season. I got a splendid crop of Freeman potatoes after the strawberries were all picked. THE TIMBRKLL STRAWBERRY. In a little sheet called Specialties for 1895, published by the introducer of the Timbrell strawberry, we clip the following: Thp Timbrell is a strawberry that has surpassed all exp<=ctatioiis. vet not half its merits have been r-old. Each mail bring-s to us the cheerinsr news that those who have planted it the past season can not speak too hij?hlv of it. Never has a new fruit so quickly become "such a general favorite, succeeding: so well in every localitv, and never has there been such a iiin for plants iis on Timbrell. We could not by any means supply tlie flemand last spring. There is no berry in existence to-day that includes the same combination of merits atl.iined in Timbrell. Indeed, we say without fear of contradiction that there are mt six berries on the market that combine the good qualities possessed by Timbrell alone. Hence you get in Timbrell the same points that you would get in half a dozen of the best varieties of the day. We claim still more: There is novaritty in existence tliatcan compare with Timbrell in quality, healthiness, visror. and iaree average size; and there is but one other tliat enuirls it in productiveness, though it is soft and of poor quality. You will notice in the above that not a word * Please notice, in fall planting- the routine would be something- like tins: Use potted plants; in fact, this is the way friend Young always does, forhe is a greenhouse man, and handles pots eveiy day of his life. Use potted plants, and the next summeryou will get part of a crop of immense-sized berries. After fruiting-, place the runners as in Fig. 3. and the -second summer you will get a full crop— all large fine berries. Gather your fruit; g-et out the weeds, then let the whole jilantation have pretty much its own way. Ku 11 tlie cultivator, of course, and do as much hand weeding- as you can afford to do, more or less; then the third summer you will have an immense crop of berries as before; but a g-reat many of them will proliably be small, because the beds are too mucli crowded. Pick as long- as it pavs to bother with them, tlien get them under the sod, and have your field clean and lovely once more. GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 15. is said in regard to tlie objection made by the Ohio Experiment Station; viz.. the peculiar blotches of white when the berry is fully lipened. Of course, tlie originator does not have very much to say in regard to the (ippamntce of the berry; but is it fair to give a new bnrry such a recommendation as the above, after the decision that has just come out from the Experiment Station? I really hope tlie plant u'i// have all the good qualities claimed for it in the above. The introducer of any new fruit, who mentions all of its good qualities and entirely omits the objectionable, will certainly hurthimself in the end a good deal more than he will gain, even should he succeed in disposing of his stock of plants at a good figure; and the latter is to be doubted. TOMATOES FROM THE SEED IN 2G DAYS. Last April I mentioned purchasing a package of seed of F. B. Mills. These were given the same attention that we give our other tomatoes, but they were little if any earlier than those we have already in the tnaiket. If any of our readers have had a difterent experience, we should be glad to hear from them; but it strikes me that any seedsman who advertises exten- sively that he has a strain of tomatoes that has given ripe fruit in 2(3 days after planting, will do himself an injury that it will take him many years to get over. •CRIMSON CLOVER SOWN THE LAST OF SEPTEMBER. Our stand at this date, about the middle of January, is almost perfect. On the creek-bottom ground the clover is as green as if it were spring, and not a plant has been disturbed, al- though we have had several freezes almost down to zero when the ground was bare. I con- fess it is a great surprise to me. But the roots, after the fall rains, went away down deep, and spread out through the soil, if it goes through until April like this, crimson clover will cer- tainly be one of the greatest boons that has ever come to the cause of agriculture. Just think of it! if, after taking oft' a crop in the fall, we can sow clover and get a good stand to be cut or turned under in time for potatoes or corn the following spring, we shall be almost a year ahead. Reports seem to indicate that this clover started in the fall, and turned under in the spring, is almost if not quite as good as a crop of red clover that has had over a whole year to grow. GREENHOUSES, HOTBEnS. AND COLD-FRAMES FOR FLORIDA. Friend Selser tells us they do not have anv such thing down there; but he says, also, he savv two carloads of garden-seeds from Chicago, going to Florida to plant new stuff where the other was killed. Now look here: AboutChrist- mastime they were selling ripe tomatoes; but before the new year had dawned, everv tomato- plant was killed, root and branch. Are these Florida folks going to plant tomato-.seef/.s, and wait through the very best of the season for more plants to grow? Are there no reserved plants kept under glass, or even under cotton sheeting, to plant out in the fields, and to come into hearing in a few weeks, instead of waiting for the slow process of growing things from the seed itself? If so, then I think Florida is just where A. I. Root is wanted, and perhaps just now is the very time they need him most. THE WEATHER BUREAU AND THE FLORIDA ORANGES, ETC. I suppose most of our readers know, as a mat- of course, of the millions of dollars' worth of oranges, fruits, and vegetables lost by the re- cent cold wave in Florida. The clerk of the Weather Bureau says that telegrams were sent all over; cold-wave flags were up on Eriday morning. Dec. 2S, announcing the blizzard that came on ilie 29ih. The telegrams and daily pa- pers show that full warning was given of the approaching cold wave 24 hours in advance: but notwiilistaiiding this, little or no provision was made for the coming storm. It really gives me pain to notice how indifferent and stupid many seem to be in making use of this wonderful in- vention of modern times. I often talk with pefiple in regard to important business trans- actions; but when the weather question comes in. it really pains me to hear them say, again and again, that they have not even looked at the weather-signals floating almost above their heads. Worse than this, tliere is a sort of fool- ish skepticism in regard to the ability of the department to predict the weather. But few seem to know that we can now tell about an ap- proaching cold wave or storm almost as well as we can predict the coming of a train that starts, say, from Chicago and will reach Cleve- land or New York at a certain time. It is our business (as displaymen for Medina) to keep a record every day of the weather-predictions and the actual weather as it turns out. In the month of December our clerk recorded only two noes. All the rest of the predictions, both in regard to the ttJcat/ier and the tenipernture, were "yes." "yes," from the beginning of the month to the end. In a recent copy of the Runil New-Yorker the editor asks how much the Weather Bureau was worth to farmers. The only response I have noticed was something like this: A man said it was worth a good deal to him; because, when the signal said " storm,'' he always ex- pected fair weather, and ince versa. Now, this might have been well enough for a joke, but it was an absolute falsehood; and I protest against such falsehoods having a place in a good paper. If the editor's sanctum is where he can get his eyes on the weather-signals as they are run up. he can, with a pencil and pa- per, verify the predictions himself. In a recent storm on the lakes, millions of money and hun- dreds of lives were saved because the sailing crafts all stayed in the harbor on account of the predictions of the Weather Bureau. One vessel decided to disregard the storm-signal, and was lost, crew and cargo. Now to go back to the oranges. FTad our good friends in Florida gone to work picking their fruit on Friday morning, they might have saved millions of dollars; and thousands of people who ar^ now almost bank- rupt might have been getting the big prices that oranaes are bringing at the present time. T know what I am talking about, for a bee- Kr'pping friend, Mr. W. A. Sesler, is with us lure to-day. and he has been all over Florida purchasing fruit, both before the terrible freeze and after it. and he was right in the heart of the orange regions when the freeze came. USING SEEDS ONE YEAR OLD, ETC. I have said before, that there are a good many times when I would give more for old seed that gave me a good crop the preceding year, of just what I wanted, than for any thing i could buy in the way of new seed. The fol- lowing, on a postal, illustrates the point: Mr. Ro(((:- Have you any of tlie Golden Self- blancliing' celery seed left over from last spring', of the lot that I got that 1 lb. from in my seed order of Feb. 33d? I should like to get some of the same stock and lot. Herman Hii^i>.man. Dundee Lake, N. J., Dec. 14. As soon as we heard from him we told him how much we had left of that very same stock. Here is his reply: Find inclosed a check for $3 worth of tliat seed 1805 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. you havf left over from last year's supply. If there is more tlian my check might cover, send it aloiiK and send bill. Send by mail. I will send you quite an order next spring- for seeds. I found them to be as you represented. Dundee Lake, N. J., Dec. 20. Hehman Hillman. Perhaps I may as well say that we are now keeping a careful record of all the seed we pur- chase (especially ivhom it cdvie from), and we try make to at least a small sowing of every thing ourselves. Then we watch carefully for reports from others. The fact that a certain kind of seed germinates all right is but a small part of it: for really no one can tell whether the seed is just what he wants until the crop is iHdtxired. Our experience is, that a very large part of the seeds used for market-gardening germinate almost as well the second year as the first. Eeans and corn— especially the lat- ter— are liable to germinate, of course,' a smaller per cent: but I have tested peas, pur- posely kept four or five years, and found little or no difference in germination, and none in the maturing of the crop. This may not. however, always be the case. Our experiment stations have, however. I believe, made some experi- ments in this line. I should like to have the market-gardeners tell us the result of their trials of different seeds tried the second year. or even the third. Of course, you are well aware of the great advantage in having some seed that you have raised a crop from (and a crop to your liking) the previous year. It is most specially desirable with such a plant as celerv. to be sure that the fault (such a fault as sending up a seed-stalk, etc.). is in the soil, weather, etc., and not the fault of the seed. THE CHEAP ONION-SEED. ETC. I bought a large lot last year in Iowa, at f)3cts. per lb., while most seedsmen asked 90 at whole- sale. The seed at 63 cts. was every bit as good as any I could get. and everybody was pleased. I find I can not get any as cheap this year, how- ever, and do not like to buy anv seed in a pro- miscuous way. I got a bag of Wardell's kidney wax beans the past season that were about all green-podded, and a source of a good deal of disappointment and vexation. They tell me that the stock was short, and they had to buy some, and suppose someone deceived them. Sanborn, N.Y., Dec. 10. Chr. Weckessek. THE PARKER EART.E STRAWBERRY — A GOOD REPORT FROM IT. Mr. Hoot: — Those Parker Earle strawberry- plants I got of you a year ago last September have done finely. We got .50 quarts from the 100 plants you sent. They did not make any new plants the first fall. I have a nice lot of plants this year. Michel's Early does not do anv thing for me: but one mile from here, on different soil, it does nearly as well as the Crescent. I have five of those nine best kinds, and one better — a seedling that my brother started nearly eighteen years ago. He has never tried to introduce it. Parkman. O.. Dec. 31. F. P. Ct.ark. Friend C. I am a little astonished at the above. I was getting somewhat out of conceit with the Parker Earle after the way it " tum- bled" during such a severe drouth as we had last season; tind I am surprised to hear you say that it made no plants. Perhaps this was the secret of your great yield from it. I know Peter Henderson talks about getting a quart from a single plant: but I do not believe that I ever in all my life had a pint per plant right through from a row of loo plants. And I am glad of what you say in regard to Michel's Early. This shows how much difference there can be in lo- calities only one mile apart. If you have got a seedling better than the nine selected by our Ex- periment Station, perhaps you had better let us try it. But, oh dear 1 it makes my back ache to think of the numbers we have tried, and found to be no better if as good. TOMATOES AND SWEET POTATOES. The " Buckeye State" tomatoes beat any thing in size ever seen here, even the Ponderosa, and in qiiality the Ponderosa is not to be com- pared to it. The second picking was 22 toma- toes (no thinning or selecting); weighed 17 lbs. 12 oz. It seems to me you would take hold of the Bunch (or Vineless) sweet potato. We like them better than the ordinary varieties, and they don't run. E. A. BoAL. Hinchraan, Berrien Co., Mich., Dec. 12. Thanks forvour report. We have sold the plants of the Vineless sweet potato for two years past; but our soil is so poorly adapted to sweet potatoes that we purchase most of those we sell, in Baltimore. DIGGING POTATOES BEFORE THE VINES ARE MATURED, DEAD, OR DRIED UP. There, now, A. I. Root, on page 31 you have given a good pointer on growing potato-plants, and I just want to tell how those potatoes turn- ed out that you told me, when here last Octo- ber, not to dig until the vines were dead. You see. I had taken from thrifty plants 12 side- shoots, each having a few roots, and I planted them on the 3d of July. One plant died; the 11 gave 11 lbs. of potatoes; and the very hill that I was about to dig up when you stopped me gavej?/).s. Now. then, who will raise the most side-shoot potatoes of the Craig seedling, in 189.5? (i. J. YoDER. Garden City, Mo., Jan. 5. THE NEW CRAIG SEEDI.ING POTATO. As orders continue to come in, and the potato seems to be receiving much favor, I begin to be quite a little anxious about its outcome. You see friend Craig, myself, and one of his neigh- bors, are almost the only ones who have given it atrial. Oh. yes ! here is this much from Wm. Henry Maule. I take it with a letter from friend Craig: I received Maule's report the day I mailed you my last letter. He says: " Your potato is a g-ood one, very similar to Vick's Mag-gy Murphy; table quali- ties g-ood." The Magg-y Murphy is not given in anjr catalog I have. I will try to get some, and test them this year along with mine; but I am sure mine -wall prove the best, on our soil at least. Mr. Maule does not give the yield of eitlier variety. Zimmer, O., Dec. 33. Geo. E. Craig. In my description there is one thing I forgot to mention. The boys dug the potatoes while I was away, as vou know. When that heavy frost came so early they covered them with sheets and blankets: but the freeze was too se- vere, and it killed the potatoes notwithstand- ing. VVell. now. I should have waited until the vines were entirely dry before digging. Per- haps it would have made but little difference, however. At any rate, the quality of the po- tatoes was extra— I believe a little better than those received from friend Craig himself; but that may be only a notion. Well, one day when we were down near where they grew, my good German friend and helper, Ben, pointed to the fence and asked me if I had seen that potato- vine. The root was stuck in a crack in the top of a fence, perhaps higher than my head, while the top of the vines reached down to the ground, with great spreading branches. As quite a few have asked for a dollar's worth of these potatoes by mail, we have decided to send 4M lbs. for $1.00. I should like to make it .5 lbs., but we can not quite do it and get peck prices. I omitted to say that one pound by freight or express will be 1"> cts; 4 lbs., 50cts. itLEanings in bee culture .Iax. 15. PATENTS Careful attention aiven to the prosecution of business before tlie U. S. Patent Office. All business treutecl us strivtlij c<)tiji(li')dinl. No clun'Re mafle for services in prosc<'uiiiiff application, until the pat- ent is allowed. SiMifl foi- "Inventok's (;cii»k." FRANKLIN H. HOUGH. 925 F STREET, viASHINGTON, D. C, ad!. Awarded World'i Columbian Grand ] Prise Medal. ), ALWAYS FRESH AND RELIABLE. > Mcist Attractive and Instructive buyers )• cataloKiie ever published; FREE to all )• 'ntfnd iiit; purchasers. Addre--s at once. >« H.W. Buckbee, -'°"'^'°''" ^"•^'' *"'■•"" IIS > RocKFf)RD, Illinois Post Office Box 614 ^ Pleasf mention this paper. < >^^W^>M^<»WSWWW^WWWWWW^WWW»# STAHL'S EXCELSIOR Spraying Outfits Uill inb.ect.s, pre- \ciit leaf blight ai it M orniy fruit. Jubiuo a lieavN yield of ail unit and ^ egeta b 1 e crops. Thousand.** 1 a u se. Send 6 cts. lor cataFg and full t realise on .'~prayinp;. lars ^jrr.Address \vii.j.i\.u !^'i' \ni-, «i( JNCV, 11,1,. M„jM c HONEY Square Glass Honey-Jars, Tin Buckets, Bee-hives, Honey Sections, Etc., Etc. Perfection Cold-blast Smokers. APPLY TO CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. p. S.— Send 10-ct. stamp for ■ Practical Hints to Bee-Weepers.' SIMPLEX HATCHER & ^■mri,KA BROODER Combined. ,^9<^~^-^k^T^ Tin; >I<>ST PKIJIECT tiJii3=is-FTTT*''^j^I"<"ul':H«>'' .Hade. Ilulclie; Lvery egj; tli hen could hatch; Ilegulates itself auto- inatically; Reduces the cost ot' jioultry raising to a miii:iiuini. - fcjeud for Illustruti'iR'atalouue. "^ I «0 Kee size Sjil 6.00. SIMPLEX MANF'G. CO.. Ouincv. liJ. Promptness is What Counts. Honey-jars, SliippitiK-cases, and eveiv thinu- that bee-keepers use. Root's Goods at Root's Prices, and the Best Shipping^point in the Country. Dealers in Honey and IJeeswax. Catalog free. WALTER S. POUDER, 162 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. ^'lea^e mention thi.s paper. PATENT WIRED COMB FOUNDATION lifts A'o Sfiy in lirtxul-frames. Thin Flat -Bottom Foundation Has no Fishtone in tho Surplus HoEey. IJeing- the cleane.st, it is usually worked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, IStfdt) Sole rianufacturers, Sprout Brook. MontKomery Co., N. Y. BEGINNERS. IJeginiicrs shduld have a copj' of the Am- ateur 15ee keeper, a 70-pag-e book by Prof. J. W. House. Price ii5 cents; if sent by mail, 2Sc. The little book and the Progiessive Beekeeper (a live progTessive 28-page month- ly .lournal) one year, 63c. Address any first- class dealer, or LEAHY MFG. CO., Higginsvili-e, Mo. -a r— L^ ~ i 1 5_j 1 ] - • - — -— ■ ~ ■::::: — E'"" — — - mi 9 ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ M r m SLOW BUT SURE. In these days of rapid transit, 2-;) miles po:- hour would be cal led sIoav, but if the traveler was making as lie went along, the mo.st per- fect, complete, self-regulating wire fence eve: heard of, it would alter the case. Our factory, with its increased capacity, will turn out that amount per hour, and as we ruti 34 bonis perday in the si)ring, 64 niile!i« will be the daily procluet. The demand always keeps up with the supply. PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. TAKE NOTICE! DEFORE placing your orders for SUPPLIES, write " for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sections, Bee- Hives, Shipping-Crates. Frames. Foundation. Smo- ker.s. etc. PAGE & LVON MFG. CO.. 8tfdb iVew London, Wis. IHATCH CHICKENS BY STEAM WITH THE MODEL JEXCELSIOR INCUBATOR. TlioiisniKlfs ill Suc- cessful Operation. snil'LE, PKKFECT, and SF.LF-IiKGl-LA TIXG. ^ (Juarantocdtohatoha L' hireer perceiitngc of fertile egss, at less cost, than anyotherlncubator. Send6c.for lllus.Oatalog. circulars Free. SS.«tliSt.,Qiiiney.IIl. ONE MAN WITH THE UNION COMBINATION SAW (';in do the work of four men us- ing hand tuols, in Kipping, Cut- ting off, Mitering, Raooeting, (iiooving. Gaining, D:;doing, i:dging-up, .lointing Stntt, etc. ■ ill Line of Foot and Hand I'dwer Machiuerv. Sold mi Trial. r,,i„Uyi Firr. ' l-24ei SENECA FALLS MFC. CO., 44 Water St., Seneca Falls, N Y. ^P°In responding to this axlvertisenient mention Oleaninqs. QHSODaysTnai F.asy, durable and ^clieap. A radical ■ITec-ii'd. Scud I'or sealed cataloKiie. i:(iULK.STii.N lltCSS CO., nuiiUDic Temple, Chica^u, 111. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. HURRAH FOR FLORIDA. On Tuesday evening', Jan. 15, Constance and my- self expect to start for Floiida. During- the past year she has bf'cn working in the office as sliorthand writer and tjpewriter; so 1 sliall liave somebody along to whom I can dictate my Notes of Travel. Of course, I do note.xpect her to follow me in all my raids on the wheel, etc.; but she will be ready to "take down " when I get around full of something to talk to you about^ A. I. K. cataijOgs printed at this establishment. We have just finished A. T. Cook's seed catalog for 189.5, and I think the job does credit both to friend Cook and ourselves. We have printed his catalogs for several years, but never so good a one as this. Inasmuch as I have watched the growth of friend Cook's seed business for almost twenty years, per- haps I feel more than a usual interest in it. If you wish to see a new catalog, address A. T. Cook, Hyde Park, N. Y. a valuable strawberry catalog. I have been greatly pleased by reading clear through from beginning to end a little catalog by C. N. riansburg, Leslie, Mich. One refreshing thing about this is, that Mr. C. tells us how nearly all the plants he advertises have behaved on his own grounds; andwheie they have faults he evidently is as ready to tell about those faults as he is of the good qualities. Now, a good many who advertise strawberry-plants have nothing in their catalog whatever from iinlividunJ pir^tmal experience. Can't a good many of us gather a moral right here ':' ELECTRICITY. I do hope our people will give this periodical a generous support. It tells you exactly the truth in regard to what electricity is doing in the world to- day; and, more than all of that, it sifts truth from falsehood, and sounds timely warnings against the stupendous frauds that are being continually put upon the people in the way of electricity for curing human ailments. Still further, it exposes frauds along this line, that do not have a bit of electricity al)Outthem. The price is only $100 a year. Ad- dress Electricity, 6 Park Place, New York. HONEY MARKET. Our supply of extracted honey is very low, and we should like to get track of some more of it, in 60-lb. cans, not too far away. If any of our readers have si7ch to offer we shall be pleased to hear from tliem. We have also placed out on commission very nearly all of the alfalf.i comb honey we have been offering the past few months. We have reserved a little, which we offer to those in want of choice comb hon- ey, at 1.5c per lb., in 100-lb lots or more. NEW PRICES ON SEEDS, ALSIKE, ETC. The seed market changes so much that we are obliged frequently to make new prices on many of the staple seeds The following table gives the prices as they will appear in our piice list now go- ing to press. How long we shall be able to hold these prices will depend on the market. Most of the prices, you will notice, are lower than last quot- ed. Bag to ship in always included. Name. Price— Il-lb. 1 Pk. >^Bu. IBu. ? 8 00 3 Bu. Alsike clover seed 1 Ifi $2 10 $4 10 !B15 80 White clover seed 1 SO 4 00 7 60 15 00 39 80 Alfalfa clover seed 14 1 80 :? 40 t) 70 13 00 Sweet c i over or Bokhara U 1 70 3 -M 0 3i' 13 fM) Scarlet " orGiM'mai l;i 1 80 2 40 4 70 0 (HI Peavine " orMam'th. 1 1** 3 00 :5 HO 7 ~'0 14 00 .lapanese buckwheat . 1 5 40 70 1 30 3 30 SECOND-H.^ND FOUNDATION-MACHINES. Since our notice of these a month ago we have sold half of them, and are negotiating with i)arti..'s for some of those which remain. Three more ma- chines discarded from our wax room are added to the list. Those unsold at the present time are as follows : Six-inch hex.. No. 1461. Price flO.OO This is in good condition, and just right for thin surplus foundation. Six-inch hex.. No. 1031. Price $10.00. In good con- dition, and will make thin surplus foundation 10 ft. to lb. Six-inch hex.. No. 1565. Price $13.00. This is in good condition, with very light wall, and will make extra thin foundation about 11 ft. to lb. Six-inch hex.. No. 1669. Price $10.00. This has made a good many hundred pounds of thin surplus foundation in our wax-room, and will still do good work; has a few slight blemishes which are no det- riment practically, but hardly suitable for the high standard of excellence attained by our foundation. Ten-inch hex.. No. 1640. Price $13.00. This has been used for light brood, and is discarded for same I'eason as above; is an e.xcellent mill otherwise. Ten-inch hex.. No. 1638. Price $7.00. This is a new machine, and all right, except for one thing: The sheets do not come from the rolls easily, and it is tlierefore a source of some annoyance to use it. Ten-inch round cell. No. G. G. Trice $8.00. This is old-style heavy cell w;dl, and makes foundation something like that from the Given press. Ten-inch round cell. No. 1. 1. Price $8.00. Similar to No. G. G. All the above machines are our own make. We have also the following: Hex. Vandervort, 10>2-inch, No. H H. Price $8.00. Will do well for heavy brood. Samples from any of above mills sent on applica- tion to those interested. TRIUMPH MEAT-CUTTER. Family meat-cutters are a very great convenience, and well nigh a necessity. Certain it is, that, if prope ly used, they will pay for themselves in a very little time in any family of ordinary size. There is hardly another item in ihelistof provisions for tlie family board that counts up faster than the meat-bill; and any thing that will serve to econo- mize in the meat supply, and at the same time ren- der much of it more eJible, is certainly worth in- vestigating. The Triumph meat-cutter, which we offer, is different from most of the old-style chop- pers, as will be seen from the illustration. It is also very easily taken apart to clean. We cut furnish the Triumph for $1.50 each. Special prices in quan- tities to agents. CONVENTION NOTICES. The annual meetinsr of the Ontario Co. Bee-keepers' Associa- tion will be held in Canandaigua. N. Y., Jan. 2.i. 26, 189.). Come early, every one. Ruth E. Taylor. Sec, Bellona, N. Y. The nth annual meeting of the Wisconsin Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation will be held in the Capitol, Madison. Feb. 6 and 7. dur- ing; the convention week of the State Agricultuial Sociei.v. thus securing reduced railroad fare. Let all interested at tend. Programs .sent to as many as possible, but come whetli er you get one or nut. H. LATHRor, Sec, Browntown, Wis. The California State Bee-keepers' .\ssociation will liold its fourth annual meeting on Tuesday and Wedne-day. Feb. -'i an. I fi. at the Chamber of Commerce, in Los Angeles, corner Bi'oa I- wav and Fourth Sts. Programs ready. J. H. Martin. Sec. Bloomiugtoji. Cal. ijllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll^ = r\y Strawberry Catalog = = FRHE to all. = ~ C. N. Flansburgh, Leslie, Mich. = ^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir? H. C. SIMPSON. BBEEDER OF ITALIAN BEES AND QITEENS, And dealer in Bee-keepers' Supplies. Send for price list. CATAWBA, S. C. 76 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. 15 Revised Price List of Garden Seeds for Jan. 15. Please notice tliat any or all sppds mentioned below are sold in flve-cent packages, postpaid by mail. For 10 papers mderi'ci at oiie time, 40 cts.; KX) papers, $3.50. Of course, scarce and liigli-priced .seed will necessitate niakirig only a very small amount of seed In a paekag-e; but by far the greater part of tlieni contain a full lialf-ounce of good fresh seeds. By comparing these packages with those you get of many of the seedsmen you will notice the liberal amounts we furnish for only 5 cts. It is true, we do not give presents or cash prizes; but we believe tlie ni, Palmetto. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. Asparag'iiH RootM. 2 year old. Palmetto, 10 for lOc; 75c per 100; $6.00 per lOOO. 2 year-old roots not mail!i1)Ie. 1 year roots. 10, lOi; 100. TiOc; 1000,. M. By mail, add 5c for 10; 25eforlflO. BUSH BEANS. Henderson's New Biisli Lima Bean. H pt. 10c; qt., 3Uc; peck, #1.75; bushel, ftj..50. Knmerle's Biislt Lima. Qt. 10c; pk. S3. 50. Burpee's Busli Lima. Pt. 25c; qt. 40c; pk. $2..50. Kidney Wax. Pt. 15; pk. $l.;iO. Wliite Kidney, Large. Pt. lOc; pk. $1.10. Bu., $4.00. \ orit State Marrow. The best field bean. Pint, 10c; peck, $1.0U; bush. $3.50. POLE BEANS. Extra-Early Lima Beans. Price, (4 pt , 10c ; qt 30c; peck $3.00. King of tlie Garden Lima. '/4pt. 10c; qt. oOc; peck, $2.00. All of our heans will hefxirnishedinS-cent packages; hut where theu are to po by mail, postpaid, of course the, above packa{)es will have to tie quite small. If wanted by mail, add 8c perpt. or 15c perqt. forposta^je. BEETS. Eelipse. Oz. .5c; lb. 40c; 5 lbs. $1.50. Lane's Improved Sugar. Oz. 5c; lb. 3.5c; 5 lbs. $1 00 LuiigRed Mangel. Oz. 5c; lb. 2.")c; r. lbs. $1.00. CABBAGE. Select, Very Early Jersey Wakefield. Stock seed. Oz. 20c; lb. $3.,50. Henderson's Early Summer. Oz. 20c; lb. $2.00. Fottler's Brunswick. Oz. 15c; lb. $1.7.5. Excelsior Flat Uuteli. Oz. 1.5c; lb. $1.50. Perfection Drumhead Savoy. Oz. 15c; lb.$l..')0. Large Red Brumliead. Oz. 1.5c; lb. $2.00. CARROTS. Early Frencli Forcing. Oz.5c; lb. 60c. Orange Banvers, Half-Long. Oz. 5c; lb. 60c. CAULIFLOWER. Henderson's Early Snowball. Raised by H. A. March. ^ oz. 2.5c; M oz. 40c; oz. $1..50. CELERY. Henderson's White Plume. Oz., 20.; lb., $2.00. Golden Self-Blanching Celery. Oz., 20c; lb., $3 50. New Rose. Oz. 20c; lb. $2.00. Dwarf Golden Heart. Oz. 15c; lb. $1.75. CORN (FOR TA.BLE USE). Corn we sell at he per h(df-pitit puckage; but at this price purchaser.^ must pin/ tin: ixistadi'. which is 3c for each half-pint. If wanted in largrr iiioDitilies the pHce Will he 15c per quart, 7.Jc. per peck, or $:i.75 per bushel. Cory's Extra Early. Ford's Early Sweet. Late JTIainnioth Sugar. Country Geutlcmuu,oi Improved Slioepeg. CORN SALAD. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. CRESS. Extra Curled, or Pepper Grass. Oz. 5c; lb. 40e. Water Cress, triir. Oz. 30c; lb. $:{..50. CUCUMBER. Early Frame. Oz. 5c; lb. .50c. Improved Early W^hite Spine, or Arlington. Oz.5c; lb. 50c. Green Prolific, or Boston Pickle. Oz.5c; lb. 50. LETTUCE. Grand Rapids Lettuce. Oz. 15c; pound, $1.75: 5 lbs. $7.50. This seed is from the originator, Eugene Davis. Boston Market (or White-Beeded Tennis-ball). Oz., 10c; lb., $1,110. Henderson's Ne»v York. Oz. 10c; lb. $1.00. MELONS, MUSK. Casaba, or Persian Muskmelon. Oz. 5 cts.; lb. 60c. Extra Early Citron. Oz. ■5c ; lb. 60 c. Banana. Oz. 5c; lb. 60c. Emerald Gem. Oz. 10c; lb. 65c. Miller's Cream, or Osage. Oz. 10c; lb. 60c. MELONS, WATER. Phinney's Early. Oz. 6c; lb. 40c. Landreth's Boss. Oz. 5c: lb. 40. MUSHROOM SPAWN. Asarieus Campestris. Single 11)., 15 cts.: 5 or nn)re lbs., 13 cts. per lb. ; 10 lbs. or more, 10 cts. Directions for raising mushrooms sent with each order. ONION. Yellow Globe Danvers. Oz. 10c; lb. $1.00; 5 Large Red AVethersfleld. The standard red ouiuu. Same prices as above. Silverskin, or White Portugal. Oz. 20c; lb. $3.40. Prize Taker. Oz. 20c; lb. $2.00. White Victoria. Oz. 20c; lb. $3.50. American (Extra Early) Pearl. Oz. 2.5c; '/j-lb. $1.50; lb. $3.75. Extra Early Red. Oz., 15 cts.; j^' lb., 35 cts.; l)er lb., $1.00. ONION-SETS. Bjj mail li) cents per quart crtra. Yellow Danvers. Qt. 20c; peck, $1.00; bush. $3.50. I.arj^e bize Yellow Danvers, (nie-half above prices. Silverskin. Qt. 35c; peck, $135.; bush. $4.50. Extra Early American Pearl. Qt. 2.')c; pk. $1.25 bush., $4.50. Winter, or Egyptian Onion Sets. Prices, 5c per qt., or 35c per peck; $1.00 per bush. Wiiite Multiplier. Price 10c per pint; 1.5c per qt; pk. $1 ; bu. $3 .50. By mail, 10c per quart extra. PARSNIP. Improved Guernsey. Oz. 5c; lb. 35c; 10 lbs., $3.00. PARSLEY. Fine Curled or Double. Oz. 5c; lb. .50c. PEAS. Alaska, i/i pt., 5c: peck, $1.00; bush., $3.7.5. 18!t" GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. ■; l>v fieiKlit of express 1 husli.$l 00; iier barrel American Wonder. V2 pt. 8c: pk. $1.60; bu. 5.00 Premium fiem. ,'^pt..5c; peck. $1.00. Stratagem. Vi pt. 8c; qt. Sfic; pk. $1.50; bu. $5. Champion of England. Pint, 10c; pk. 75c; bushel, $2.50. Pea» by mail will be at same rate as beans for- postage. PEPPERS. Sweet Spanish. Va '«• •'^c. ; oz. 20c. Bullnose. ^ <>z- 5c; oz. 15c. Cayenne. M oz. 8c; oz. 20c. POTATOES. Monroe Seedling. 1 1b.,bv mail. 18f postjiaid; 3 lbs., i with other gro >ds, 1 lb., x; 1 pk., 3.'ic of U pecks, $2.50- Early Ohio. Everett's Early, 6 iveeks. Farly Puritan. Lee's Favorite. Rural New Yorker. Freeman. Prices of any of the above: 1 lb., by mail, 20 fts.; 3 lbs.. 'ill cts. ; 1 lb., by e.\press or fi eight. 10 cts. ; 1 peck, by express or freight. 50 I'ts.: 1 bush., .Sl-.W. Barrel, containing U pecks, $3.50. If potatoes are ordered in the winter we will do our best to protect them from frost, but the p'uvh,aser mu^t take all risk. At these piices we make no charge for bnrrels or packages, but deliver F. O. B ears here in Medina. Second size, until sold out, one halt above prices. Second SizRD Freemans, while they last, same price as Moni-oe Seedlings. Our second size this season were raised by T. B. Terry. Potato-eyes. Anv of the above varieties by mail postpaid, I5c for 10; or 80c per 100. The New Potato, Craig Seedling-. jV full description containing all we know in regard to this new potato, will be found in our issue of Dec. 15. commenc- ing on p:ige9o9; see also pu^e 929. in the same issue. Frjees will be found on this page, .just below; and if you have not a December nuinlier handy, the whi>le history of the potato, so far as we have it will be mailed you tree on application. W • think a' least every potato-grower who is interested in a n!W large potato of n'iOst> astonishing vigor, and freedom from scab, blight . or anything of the kind, should test at least a single pound, which will be sent postpaid for only 25 cts. We sh ill be glad to furnish you further particulars. Pl'ITIPKIIM. Early Sugar. Oz. .^o; lb. 40c. RIIIBAKB. Wvatt'tt Victoria. Oz.. 10c: Ih., $1.00. Roots. 10c each; .'iOc for 10; J3..')0 per 100. If whiiI- ed by mail, add 5c each for postag'e. RADISHES. Early Starlet Cilobe. Pkt..5c; oz. 10c; lb. 60c Wood's Early Frame. Oz 5n; lb. .50c. Beckert's Chartier. Oz. 5c. ; lb. 40c. Chinese Rose Winter. Oz. 5c; lb. 40c. SALSIFY, OR OYSTER PLANT. IVe^v ITIaiiimotli. From Sandwich Islands. Oz. lOe ; lb.. $1.00. SPINACH. Blnomsdale Extra Curled. Oz 5c; lb. 20c. 5 lbs. 911c. SQUASH. SUMMER. Utant Summer Crookneck. Oz. 10c; lb. 50c. WINTER. Hubbard. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. TOMATO. Golden Queen. Pkt., 5c; oz., 20c; lb., $2.50. Ignotum Tomato. % oz 10c; oz. 20c; lb. $2.,50. Livingston's Beauty. Oz. 15c; lb. $1.60. Dwarf Clia III pion. oz. 2(lc; lb. $2.00. liiving!<«ton's New Sioiie Tomato. Oz. 20c; lb. $2.00. A very fine lurg-e toraaio tor main crop. E--irly Ruby. Per oz.. 20 cts. ; lb.. $2.00. Kiickeye State. Oz., 20c; .^' lb., HOc; lb., $2.25. Pcur-Sliaped Toniatoej^. Oz. 20c; lb. $2.50. TURNIP. Extra-Early TiirniiiM. Purple-top W^hite-globe. Oz. 5c; lb. 40c; 5 lbs. $1.60. Yellow Aberdeen. Oz. .5c; lb. 40c. Kreadstoue. Oz. 10c; lb. 50c. U'liite Egg. Oz. 5c; lb. 40c. The A. I. ROOT CO., Medina, Ohio. The New Craig Seedling Potato. For full description of this Potato, see page 9.50 of this journal for Dec. 15, 1894. Prices: 1 lb. by mail, postpaid, 25 cts.; V2 peck, by freight or express, $1.00; peck, $1.75; /j bushel, $3.00; bushel, $5.00; barrel of 11 pecks, $12.50. The above prices will hold good as long as oui' stock lasts. All orders by mail will be tilled as soon as received. Orders by express will be shipped at once unless ordered oth- erwise. All orders for potatoes by freight will be tilled April 1, or soon after that time, unless direc tions are given to ship at an earlier date. In this l.itter case I do not assume responsibility for loss in freezing; but whure it is desirable to ship earlier, and customers have bad luck, 1 expect to help them out so far as 1 can consistently. In regard to my rospon.sibility I would refer you to A. I. Root. In fact, where it is more convenient you can order po- tatoes of the A. I. Root Co., instead of sending your orders to me. GEO. E. CRAIG, Zimmer, Franklin Co., 0. World's Fair Hedal Awarded my Poandfition. Send for free .SH/iipZes. Dealers, write for wholesale prices. Root's new PoZ/.s/ief/ Sections and other goods at his prices. I^ree Illustrated Price List of every tiling needed in the apiary. JVI H Htit-i-f Bell Branch, Mich. i»l. n.nUnL. "Come Across" With your address foi- niy new OO-page catalog of hives, etc., for '95. Goods and prices are fill riifht. J. M. Jenkins, Wetunipl learn the name of the berry coming nearest to the follow- ing description: Fair or good size; dark-red Hesh; led through and through; very firm, with flavor very tine, strong acid; of course fairly productive. 1 wish ii for acanning beriy. Will you tell me the berry ";' It will be a great point to gain. I contract- ed the stiawberry symptoms about two years since; have nc)w about six acres under cultivation. 1 raise the Gandy for market. It would be a tine canning berry if it had tiaik-ied fiesb, and was not a little bitter w hen canned. If you know all about the old Champion, or Windsor, as it is now called, please tell me if it has tine flavor or not. D. F. Brown. Frieport, N. V., Dec. 31. Friend U.. my impressioir is that the Warfleld comes nearer your description than any other berry We have. The strawberry-growers who read Glean- ings can, however, correspond with you, if they choose. In regard to the outline of my face, I am afraid the picture in the berry-book is hardly as much as anoutline. If it were not that it is a foolish thing to feel hurt because your picture does notdojou justice, I do not know but I siiould have scolded some about this picture before this. The worst of it is, it shows a scar, or deformity, that does not ex- ist at all. When I first saw it 1 thought that, per- haps, it was a blur in the printing; but other books show it just the same. Had Judge Higgle given me an opportunity, 1 would have fui nished him a cut that would have made me look at least tolerably re- spectable in such a crowd of bright able nren. Our stenographer suggests, that pe.liaps the rest ft el something as 1 do; but it seems to me everyone must admit that A. I. Root is the ,>.o/Mt>Mookiug chap in the whole crowd. 8'.t5 GLEANINGS 1^' BEE CULTURE. S3 ■%, . I J I n r n i 1 1 1 \ I ' ' ■ ^ ! . I - .LAHX-M_F(3,CO J.>j^ II &i Bil t\ S' »i ■-!'• Largest Factory in the West. GOOD SUPPLIES and LOW PRICES, We ;ii e here to ; l-6ei Our Motto, ^erve you, uiid will if you fjive us a cliance. Out nloLi'uc I't-ct^. Adili-fss LEAHY MANUFACTURING CO , Higginsville, Mo. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES FOR 1895- Such iis Dovetailed Hives, Seciions. Comb Fmi idntioii, E.\Liai-tors, and every lliinu- else used by a bee- keeper. All late inipn ved g lods. ImiiK use slock. Goods sold at wholesale and retail. Write for our DISCOU(\/TS FOR EARLY ORDERS. Al.sikeelover and Japanese liuckwheiit turnislitd at lowest market priee. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDER, Des Moines, Iowa. Florida Queens n-7ei .\ddress uutil Api'il 15, br( d t'l'om my oiijiinal strain of Maryland Italians, which lias jiiveu su.-h ycneral satisfac ion as houey-pi-oducei'S. Untested queens ready Maivh 1 >1, tl.dd each: (i for ^'> INI. Write tor prices on larjie lots au inch stove, per mail, $1 7.1; Conqueror, .3 inch, $1..")0. Large, 2i'2 inch, $1.00; Plain, 2 inch, 70c; Little Wonder, IM in.. .")0c. The Doctor. Conqueror, and Large, have extia wide shields, and double coiled steel wire handles to protect the hands f n ni heat and soot. These shields and liandles are wond 'rf ul comforts. The Plain and Little Wonder have narrow shields, and single coiled slee! wire handles. 189.) Bingham smokers will all have movable bent caps to pre- \ ent di'opping- tire when sending smoke downward. Circulars and smokers sent by return mail, also i-ates per dozen or 100. Address T. F. BINQHAM, Abronia, Hich. •-Wtlb- RELIABLE SEEDS Awarded World's Columbian Grand Prize Medal fnr Purity. Always Fresh and Iteliable. SPECIAL OFFER:, For only lOc, I will send 1 >-<..^>^>_c>-<^-^-=-^>— - liberal package each of New Holland Cabbage and New Dixie Water Melon. Beautiful Seed and Plant Catalogue TEEE. Address atonce H. W. BUOKBEE, Rockford, Ills. P.O. Box G14 Kockford Seed j arms. ••••••••••••••a««*««««»«««(*«««e««d9«oo«tt«««««««««««««*« URPEE'S FARM ANNUAL for 1895 "The Leailins- American Seed Catalogue." A hamtsoiue Ixjok ot 174 pa^cs with many new features for 1895 — liundreds of illustrations, pictures painted from nature— it tells all about the BEST SEEDS that grow, including rare novelties tliat cannot be had elsewhere. Anv .seed planter is welcome to a <'opy KREK. ^Seiid your address to-day on a postal. W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., Seed Growers, PHILADELPHIA. ,ui« to advertiser,-! please mention tins paper. 84 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1. Honey Column CITY MARKETS. Boston. — Honey. — Our lioney market remains about as it has been, witli liglit demand. Comb honey, 14c; extracted, 5@6c. E. E. Ui.ake & Co., Jan. 19. Boston, Mass. Kansas City.— HoJiey.— The stock of comb Iioney is larg-e; market well supplied. Fancy wliite 1-lb. combs, 1.5; amber, 12@13. Receipts of extracted, light; white, 7; amber, 5i4@6; southern, i'^O.."). Beeswax, :i2. Hamblin & Bearss, Jan. 19. Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis. — Hoxey.— There is some improvement In trade since our last report. We quote clover comb, 16; amber, 12^®14; extracted in cans, .t14@6; in barrels, 4@4^. Prime beeswax, 28. D. G. TUTT GUOCER Co., Jan. IH. St. Louis, Mo. Cl^vefmnd.— HrniPV-^Honey is slow sale. No. 1 white in combs at 14@1."); No. 2 white, li@I8; No. 1 white extracted, in 60-lb. cans, 6@8. Beeswax, 25® 27. Williams Bros., Jan. 17. 80 & 82 Broadway. Cleveland, O. Detroit.— Honej/.— Supply of comb honey increas- ed, and more than equals the deniand. Prices re- main the same. Best, 14@15; dark, 11®12; extract- ed, 6® 7. Beeswax, 26@27. M.H.Hunt, Jan. 18. Bell Branch, Mich. Kansas City.— Honejy.— The demand for comb honey Is improving. No change in extracted. V'* <■ quote 1-lb. comb, while. No. 1, 14@1.t; No. 2, 12®|:.: amber. No. 1, 13®14; No. 2, 10@11; extracted, 4'2(§K', Beeswax, 22@25. C. C. CLEMO^S & Co., Jan. 19. Kansas City, Mo. Albany.— Hone;/.— There has been quite a demand for both comb and extracted during the past few days, and our stock is considerably reduced. We quote white comb honej'. 12®13; buckwheat and mixed, 9@10; extracted, 04®t>'>. Chas. McCulloch & Co., Jan. 19. Albany, N. Y. Denver.— Ho(if)/.— Our market seems rathei' on the decline, owing laigdly to the depression of the "limes.' We quote No. 1 white comb, put up in 24-lb. cases and suitable to i)ut into cartoiit-, UI®11; No. 2., in 24-11). cases, 9c; No. I exiiarted, in tiO-lb. cans, 6@6*i; No. 2, in cans, h((^iellow beeswax, 2.'.c R. K. & J. C. Frisbee, Jan. 22. Denver, Col. San Francisco.— Hodey.—Whiteextracted honey, 6V4®7: light amber extracted. 6c, probably 4>^c; 1-lb. frame, 10® 12. Beeswax scarce at 27c. Schacht, Lemcke & Steiner, Jan. 24. San Francisco, Cal. Milwaukee.— Honej/.— The new year opens with a good supply of honey on hand, and rather a drag- ging trade. The late receipts are not of as good quality or condition as desired, and a want of care on the part of shippers plainly shown in not pack- ing sections in cases in a neat and marketable man- ner, hence the hom-y is broken and not very at- tractive. We continue to quote best 1-lb. sections, l(j(rtdT; good, 14@15; common, 12(g)14; extracted, white, 6s^@7'/j ; dark, 5i4®fi. Beeswax, 23®2(i. A. V. Bishop & Co., Jan. 18. Milwaukee, Wis. Sprinofield —Ho/iei/. —White clover honey. In® Ki; buckwheat, 12. Our market is not active; it is selling slowly. Perkins & H.vtch, Jan. 17. Springfleld, Mass. Minneapolis.— Ho/ic//.— Prices are low, and trade is demoralized. Fancy white comb, 16@1T; No. 1 white, 14@ir): fancy amber, 13@i;i>4; No. 1 amber, J2(<_/,12'e: fancy dark, 12; No. 1 dark, 10c; extracted, white, 7; amber, li; dark, Wz- J. A. SiTEA & Co., Jan. 22. Minneapolis, Min. We yet have extracted alfalfa at $7.80 per box of 130 lbs. AiKiN Bros., Loveland, tJolo. Closingout balance of mj- fine extracted basswood! honey at 7c f. o. b. Who is not supplied V Elias Fox, Hillsboro. Wis. Alf.\lfa Honey, verj' white, thick, and rich. Two tiO-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome- (tinted), 6c. Samples, 8c. eift Oliver Foster, Las Animas, Col. WANTED.— 5000 lbs. clear yellow beeswax, at 27c cash; also several tons pure extracted honey that does not contain basswood or buckwheat; also- several tons pure extracted white-clover honey, at 10c; send sample and quantity before slilpping, to Wm. a. Selser, 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. Ii^OR SALE.— Alfalfa comb honey, snow white, 12c; ' partly from Cleome, light amber, lie. D. S. Jenkins, Las Animas, Col. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS., 110 Hudson St.. N. Y. HONEY wholesale: SEALEBS t COMMISSION MEBCHANTS. Established 1875. BEESWAX. LIBGBAL ADVANCES. MADE ON OONSIOM- UENTS. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market. BATTERSON & CO. Responsible, Reliable, Commission Merchants. ,gtfdb and Prompt. I told you so. Mix. .itilili !i:--'Y\ie one-frame nucleus I got of you last spring gave me 120 well-flUed one-pound' sections. J. A. Smith, Heber, Utah, Oct. 9, 1894. Now, haven't T told you that it will pay to send bees nt)rth in the spring ? One-frame nucleus, $1.00; 10 or more, 90c each. Bees by pound, same price. Untested queens to go> with them, 75c each. I'ntested queens by mail. $1.00 each; $5.00 for 6; $9.1.0 per dozen, till June; after, 75e eacli; $4.25 for 6, or $8.00 per dozen. F breed the leather-colored Italians, 5 bands, and Carniolans, in sei)arate yards, at safe distance. Tested, -i bands, $1..50 each; 5 bands or Carniolans, $2.50 each. Fine bit eders of either race, or imported queens,. $5.00 each, full colonies with untested queens. $6.00. Ask for discounts to dealers, and by quantities. The only steam bee-hive factory in south Texas. Root's goods, Dadant's foundati'jn, and Bingham smokers. Safe arrival on every thing guaranteed. Send for- FREE catalog that tells all about raising queens. JENNIE ATCHLEY, Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. w E have a large stock of SECTIONS now ready, both No. 1 and No. 2. Write tor special prices- on wint("r orders in large or small lots, including all other Supplies. Also Berry Crates and Baskets made up or in flat. Addicss BERLIN F='RUIT BOX CO., eitf BERLIN Heights, O. ^REGG RASPBERRY-PLANTS, $5.00 per M. Palmetto Asparagus seed, 45c per lb. E. A. BOAL, Hinchman, Berrien Co., Mich. Please mention this paper. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 85 Contents of this Number. Ati-hley's Experiments JiTlHone.vas a Diet !••; Bee-esoapes Discussed Wl] Hoiiev CamlviiiSi' Early lot Bee-trees. CuttiiifT SS Hiiiiey-luHises Ill Buzz-saw. James' '.i:: Honev. SliipiiiiiL; in Winter.!"? Comb Himev. ShippiuK l(i; Inve-tmeiit a (iood HI-> Uovetailiiitj l>iseussed im; Kiiiglilrds. Tn Shoot '.Ml Drone~ from Lav'g: Workers. !I7 Xutifuets. California % Editor in Florida lOT'Loek Corners on Hives lllll Fault-tin. liny 1()(; Tapers at Conventions 1()-' Five-haiiilers. Crosses of.I(«. Kir, l'eri-olaf(M-. Dayton's !lfi Franie-^. Hotfmun. Jeffrev. . . '.liii^iiieen excluders, a Querv....liW Frame . Ninnher Limited.. ..lOliOoeens to New Zealand .. .104 Hillside Planting- ins Ha/nlder in Santa C uz Mts., !I4 Hives. Two Kiu-ht-frame IIKI Staivat ion. I'leventinji- 101 Hives. Larue and Small '.is TlH-rmnmcter. Sun lav-.si-h'l .107 Hive. James' '.i:; Wiiim;' l,v Kli-rfricitv 10."i Hive-corners lOo; Yc.ik, Death of Cliilil 104 World's Fair Hedal Awarded my Foundation. Send for free samples. Dealers, wrile for wholesale prices-. Root's new F'olistied Sections and other goods at his prices. Free Illustrated Price List of every thinjr needed in the apiary. JVI H H' phice you can obtain a full line of suiiplies. Rate on hee-hive material, to Jacksonville, Fla., ^j^<• per 100. Palatka, " :i4c " " Daytona, " -Ific " " Cedar Keys, " o.'ic " " New circular upon apidicatiou. I. J. STRINGHAM, 105 Park Place, N. Y. DAarh-if PPC t '^y mail. 10 for HO cts. : by freight rcaLII-llCC^ . ,„, e.xpiess, $4 per ](HI. Crosby, Elbeita, Stumi), and other best ^■al•ieties. lanan Dlitmc Abondance, Burbank, and f*at- «Jdpclll riUIIIS. siima; by mail, .i for (ill cts ; by freight or e.xprcss. $U) (icr liMl. Ccd ir (ii-ove Farm. JOHN CADWALLADER. Proprietor, Noi-th Madison, Indiana. Talmage. Otoe Co., Neb., Dec. s. tsitt. Jiilin C(t(hralladei.—De-liiindefi J>ocs, *oo. Quoens, lired for liiit^iness from 1idsstocl<. will 1 e sent in 189.") for *L0O each until May; per do/.., *H.(IO. Circular free. J. B. CASE, Port Orange, Fla. • DELVoTED, •To'BE.E.3 •ANbHoNEY •MD HOME.- • •INTE-FIEST^ ?ublishedy THEAI^OO'f Co. $ is^ ptRVtAR'^'Xg) "Medina- Ohio • Vol. XXIII. FEB. I, 1895. No. 3. I JUST believp: that C. Davenport has given a capital plan for mice, p. 54, to give them such a variety. Honey souring in the hive is something I think I never heard of till lately. How far north has it been known ? That statement on p. 45, that E. France has 140 colonies in the home yard, makes me all alive to know whether that's the regular thing, and what supports so many. A BRIGHT American girl was asked in Eng- land what was done with so much fruit in this country. She replied, '"Ohl we eat what we can, and we can what we can't." Is EUCAi^YPTUS. that Prof. Cook tells about, p. .52, the same as in Australia that Australians say is so fine, and that beekeepers in England will not admit is fit for the table? From Switzerland come reports of two cases of fecundation of the queen during the act of swarming. I had supposed it was quite a common thing with after-swarms. How is it? Fm gi.ad to know that cement-coated nails are better than rusted. Sometimes I rust them purposely; but it's troublesome to do it well, and, besides, I don't like the looks of the rusty nailheads. "Always make a new colony a full colony, especially if made late in the season," says E. France, p. 44, and it's worth saying again, both for the sake of getting that dash out, and em- phasizing it for beginners. About 150 colonies of live bees were at the great (lerman convention and exposition, near- ly all black or German bees. Somehow black bees have more friends in England and on the continent than In this country. Editor Leahy^ tells what a good time he had with J. T. Calvert, of the A. I. Root Co., at a visit on the way from St. Joe. Now. you can fling all the mud you like at the " mutual -ad- miration " business, but that sort of talk makes a good bit nicer reading than mud-flinging. A good point in favor of laws against adul- teration is given by S. E. Miller, in Progressive. It gives the public more confidence in purity of product. Lately, in a region where good cheese - factories abound in Illinois, I found New York cheese on the table, simply because New York laws were more strict as to pure cheese. After reading what E. France says, the old question comes back whether covered seal- ed covers may not be all right, and uncovered sealed covers all wrong. His covers have straw over them. Is there nothing but the sky over yours? [No, sir. There's a good big cush- ion and cover over them. Our sealed covers have always been so protected in winter.— Ed. J "Fruits produced by self-pollenation are quite different from those produced by cross- fertilization. Few varieties of apples will self- fertilize to any extent. The chief agents for fertilization are insects, and honey-bees are among the best. Every fruit-grower should keep some bees to fertilize his blossoms, or see that his neighbor does." — Greenes Fruit-grower. A SY'MPOSIUM of six articles on five-banded bees occupies most of the Progressive for Jan- uary, leaving the impression that there are five- banders and five-banders, or, as Hutchinson ex- presses it, "the dark, leather-colored bees are, as a rule, the better workers, but the brighter- colored bee may be just as good workers as their darker sisters . . . and some strains are." [Them's my sentiments, and I think they agree fairly with what I have said.— Ed. J "The honey-bee is not able to pierce the skin of fruits; but they have the power of get- ting in between the joints, as one might say, consequently they manage to work in between the pips of the raspberry, and also into the grape, near its junction, and in this way crops of grapes and raspberries are wholly ruined by bees." That's what Meehans' Monthly says. Now, will that good monthly tell us just how it found that out? GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1. That wax is secreted by bees, and not gath- ered somewhere outside the hives, was, accord- ing to Cowan, discovered as early as 1684 by Martin John, and soon after by Thorley; but no great notice seems to have been tal-2 inches in diameter, just be- low the largest part of the hive. This colony had brood in one comb, three inches wid<.' and six inches high, and was also in the very lowest part of the hive. Those trees were cut about the middle of October, and in height were equal to a six or seven story L. hive. I will ask Mr. C. A. Hatch how it happens that all the brood there was in those two hives was at the very bottom. He says it is easy to get the queen to go up, but not down. It is just as easy for me to see how the queen will go down as readily as up. I always find the queen, in the spring, laying in the highest empty comb, or just below the honey; and if left to them- selves she will keep the same place all summer — that is. just below the honey; when the hon- ey-flow comes on she will be driven down and down; and if the honey continues to come she will be driven to the very bottom. In the same way. the queen will follow the honey up when there is none coming in. The bees use the low- est honey first; so the queen works up and down according to circumstances, but keeps just below the honey. Platteville. Wis. BEE ESCAPES. THE DAYTON RSOAPK ORITiriSED; NO ADVAN- TAOE IN IIAVMNO MORE THAN ONE WAY OF KSCAPK: AN INTI KESTING AND VALUABLE AUTICLE. liU R. A- E. a. P.nter. Mr. Editnr:—]n reference to the Dayton es- cape, and his articles regarding it and escapes in general, permit us to say that, when the ar- ticle describing it appeared in Gleanings, and you asked for the experience of others with it or similar devices, we refrained from responding because we dislike exceedingly to do any thing that savors of " ax-grinding," and do not now wish to say any thing for publication; but in view of what he says in Jan. 1 Gleanings we think a few words with you personally regard- ing the matter may not be out of place. Mr. Dayton's theories are. perhaps, plausible; but some of these, as well as the claims he makes for his device, and his statement of the results of his experiments with the Porter es- cape, are at variance with our experience. In 1800 we tested many forms of trap-door escapes; but all. sooner or later, proved to be impracticable for gpneral use, on account of difficulties arising from propolis and corrosion, and none were found to show any points of ."superiority over properly made spring escapes. The form inclosed proved the most nearly suc- cessful of any; but in occasional instances, this too was propolized so as to prevent its working. For experimentation, a number of boards were filled with this form, some with one escape opening into the brood-chamber in the usual way, some having one opening into the brood-chamber, and in addition thereto having one placed in the rim or cleat of the board, opening outside the hive, and admitting light directly to the super, both ends of the body of the escape being open, and some having an escape only in the rim of the board. All of these were carefully tested, comparatively. The first arrangement was found eqnal to the other two in all respects, and superior in some. The addition of an escape to the rim of the board, and opening outside the hive, admitting light to the super, was not found to shorten the time occupied by the bees in leaving the super in any instance; but. on the contrary, it proved objectionable on account of attracting robber- bees, and causing disturbance of the apiary. With the same device, and at the same time, Mr. S. A. 8huck, of Liverpool, 111., made for us substantially the same experiments that we made, and with the same results. You will notice that the swinging-gate, or door, in the escape sent you is so delicate that bees in pass- ing under it will pay practically no attention to it. In fact, it is far more delicate than is necessary. The following clipping from the directions sent out with the Porter escape is a concise statement of the reason that it is made in its present form : One escape to tho board is sufiicieiit. Extensive experiments have sliown that a Inrgrer number, or one bavins' greater cxitcapacity, will do the work no more rapidlj'. Also that tlie circulation of air through the escape supplies t be super at all times with sufficient ventilation. Before the permanent form of the Porter escape was finally decided on, neither time, pains, nor ex- pense was spared to determine the best jiossible form. For an entire season it was carefully tested by several expert l)ee-keepers in a \-Avge number of different forms, embracing those in which the bees passed out under the springs, those in which they passed out over them, tliose in wliich tliey passed out Ijetween them, tliose in wliicli they passed out between them and the sides of the escape, those having exits vary ing in number from one to a dozen, and those in wliich perforated tin was used for the tops, also for both tops and bodies. After carefully considering the excellencies and defects of all, the form that is now known to the public was decided on as in every way the best; and the universal fa- vor with which it has been received after large and extensive use in all parts of the world leads us to believe that we have made no mistake in our choice; but if we ever find that we have, we shall be only too willing to change it. On August 4, lm^^. after reading Mr. Dayton's criticisms of escapes in the Review, we took the pains to send him by mail four I'orter escapes 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 91 of the usual form— two similar to these, but having exits at both ends, and one with fifteen exits in which the bees passed out under the springs, and we wrote him, asking him, if he cared to do so. to place the four in a board, and test them comparatively, with one of the same kind in a board, and also with the other forms sent, and favor us with the result. But as yet he has laken no notice of either the escape or the letter. We can not doubt that both reach- ed him, as both have request for return if not delivered. At the same time, to Mr. R. C. Akin, of Colo- rado, who had also been criticising escapes, we sent a package of escapes identical to that sent to Mr. Dayton. Mr. A. made the test wished for, and reported that he could see no advantage in the large forms, or in using more than one to a board. Lewistown, 111., Jan. .5. [If Mr. Dayton received the package of es- capes refirred too. perhaps he would hav.? no objection lu reporting the result of his experi- ments with them in these columns. I should be glad to have him do so whenever he is pre- pared to make such report. It occurs to me that it would not be a bad idea to send a similar package of escapes to R. L. Taylor, to be tested at the Michigan Experi- ment Station. We will pay the expense of the escapes, and also of those sent by Mr. Dayton to the same place.— Ed.] HONEY-HOUSES FOB OUT-APIARIES. HOW PUAfTlCED BY W. I>. COGGSHALL. I'LAIN, I'KACTIfAL INSTKUCTIONS; MANAGE- MENT OF OUT- YARDS IN GENERAL. By Hnrrij S. Howe. It seems to me as though the slight expense of a permanent building is more than balanced by the advantages of having a place where the ex- tractor and other things can be kept under cover and reaoy for instant use. At the present prices of extracti d honey we have got to reduce the work to the fewest possible motions and to the least possible expense if we are to make it profitable. By having permanent buildings at the out- yards, any one can save a great deal of the ex- pense of transportation. If we are to do as Mr. Coggshall does, and visit two or three yards in a day, and take three or four thousand pounds of honey, we must have the work reduced to a perfect system. After one or two trips with a team and heavy wagon in the spring, to take the kegs, etc., to the yards, the trips can be made in a buggy, if two or three are to go, or on the wheel if but one, until time to draw away the honey in the fall. As Mr. C. and I have worked together, one puts out the horse while the other lights the smoker and prepares for work in the yard. By the time the horse is cared for the empty kegs for the day's work have been tested by blowing into them, and we are ready to commence to take off the honey. When the yard has been gone over, it is an equally short job to pick up and start. One gets the horse while the other goes through the yard and sees that no fire has been left, and attends to any other little mat- ters. Then away we go, three or four miles, to the next one. Nearly every thing that is likely to be used at the yard is kept there, so there is no forgetting to take some important thing. Mr. C. wears his veil in his hat all the season, consequently it is always ready. When there is but little to do, one man can get to the yard on a wheel or in a buggy, and go over it very rapidly, if every thing he is to use is there handy. Mr. C.'s nine houses and my two are all very nearly alike. They are 12x16, and 8 feet high at the eaves, made of rough lumber, but having good floors. Sixteen-foot boards cut in two make the sides; twelve-foot boards, the floor, which must have a good foundation in order to support the weight of the honey, without sagging. The door should be wide enough for the cart or wheelbarrow, or whatever you use to carry in the honey, to go through easily. The windows are the size of one large sash, and slide sidewise to open. They are covered with wire cloth on the outside, and have bee-escapes at the top. The house should be at the lower side of the yard, and so situated that you can get in with- out having to go up a high step with a load of honey. Following is a plan of the house: 0-- OPail. Extiaiti o .^^;:on«"^" On entering the door, the first is a stand, just the right height for the filled carryall. Beyond and in front of the window is one of Mr. C.'sown make of four-frame non-reversible extractors, which holds 300 lbs. under the reel. From this the honey passes through a large honey-gate to a ten-quart pail; then into a store-can holding from 300 to ,500 lbs., and which is just at the right height to run the honey into the two 110-lb. pine kegs, which are stored in the back part of the room as fast as filled. We do not usually begin to draw oil the honey from the extractor until it is pretty well up, so GLEANIJNGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fer. 1. there is small need of a strainer; but at the last there is a large one made of cheese-cloth stitched to a hoop that will just go over the store-can, through which it is poured, and which is used to keep any stray bees from getting into the honey. The holes are bored in the heads of the kegs with a one-inch bit as they are taken from the car. The plugs are turned, and are a perfect fit every time. The honey that might get past a poor hand-made plug will soon pay for them at one cent each. The capping-dish is placed within easy reach of the man who runs the extractor, and also of the one who carries in, so that, whichever one has the most time, can use it. There is a box for the smoker fuel in the corner, and a shelf for dishes of different-sized nails; wires for broken combs; plugs, etc.; also plenty of nails to hang things up on, and a good brass lock for the door. The parts of the lock must be all brass or it will rust out through the winter. One key will fit the lock to all the honey-houses. There is always a pail of water near the door to wash the fingers if they get sticky; and to keep the whisk-broom, used to brush off the bees, soft and pliable. We have found it cheaper to keep all the things wanted, at each yard, than to pay for the inevitable breakages and loss of moving ex- tractors, etc., from place to place during the season. It does not take any more room to store the things at each yard than it does at home. Such a house can be put up, in this vicinity, for $30.0(). The places are rented for a term of years. In some cases the houses are to become the prop- erty of the land-owner when the bees go away; in others they are built in sections and put on blocks, so as to be moved. When they are to be left they usually agree to pay a small price for them, or the rent is small enough so that we can afford to leave them. West Groton, N. Y. [Such articles as these are just what we want. It is the account of real practical work of what has been done— not what might be done in beautiful theory, that makes interesting and valuable subject-matter. Come again, friend Howe. — Ed.] HONEY AS A DIET. WIM, IT EVER BECOME AN ARTICLE OF COM- MON FOOD? ARE I5EE KEEl'KKS SET- TING AN EXAMPLE IN THE USE OF IIONEV T.V THEIR OWN FAMILIES? It is no doubt very laudable in honey-pro- ducers to try to extend the use of honey by get- ting people accustomed to using it more fre- quently upon their tables; but we must not be blind to the fact that we have a great deal of prejudice or distaste for honey, real or fancy, to overcome before it becomes a staple article of diet such as butter, sugar, preserved fruits, and even syrups. Many persons do not like honey; others care but little for it; and I have met sev- eral who could nut eat it without its making them sick. Housekeepers will naturally cater to the taste of their families and guest, and will not provide an article of food for their table that is not appreciated by the majority, espe- cially if that article is more costly than others that may be substituted for it. I have traveled some, and visited mucli in private families. For the last six weeks I have been somewhat of a rambler, and have been the guestof many families in Central Kentucky, known as the rich blue-grass country. I can not now remember of ever seeing honey on the table of a hotel; and in my late rambles I have not met with it on the tables of private fami- lies. Speaking to a most excellent matron whose table is very bountifully supplied both with the substantiais of life and most of the luxuries that can be bought, she said her fami- ly cared very little for honey; and as for her- self she would not give one jar of peach mar- malade for all the honey in the world, and hence she did not provide it for her table. Molasses or syrups 1 have found at the hotels generally, and quite often in private families. The low price of tiiese, and of sugar, and the more general production and use of fruit, all combine to lessen the use of honey. I do not wish to discourage bee-keepers from trying to make the use of honey more common; in fact, that should be our object; but it is best to look the facts squarely in the face, and I must admit that they seem to be against the use of honey as a common article of food. What can we do to increase the use of honey? This is a question that I am not prepared to answer satisfactorily, even to myself. We might set an example by using more of it upon our own table, i^ast winter we had honey reg- ularly three times a day upon our table, and continued to have it more or less all the year round. We would vary it — extracted honey candied; extracted dissolved, and comb houey. But 1 must be candid, and say it was seldom tasted except by myself and one other member of my family. I am a lover of honey, and do not often let an opportunity pass without eat- ing it. I think that 1 individually eat not less than ,50 lbs. a year. There are so few ways that honey can be used, other than to eat it upon your bread and pancakes, that its use must con- tinue to be limited. In cooking, sugar is better and cheaper. I have tried it upon my porridge, upon my fruit, and in my coffee. My wife, to please me, made cakes sweetened with it; but as great a lover of honey as I am, I must con- fess that I prefer sugar for these purposes. What are other bee-keepers doing to increase the use in their own families? How often is honey placed upon the table of our friends at the Home of the Honey-bee, where honey is 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 93 plentiful and cheap? and how about its use in other bee-keepers' families'? But, of course, something else must be done. The price of honey is, undeniably, high when compared with other sweets and fruits that come in competition with it. Will the price have to come down ? and can we afford to pro- duce it profitably at a lower price? or shall we maintain the price and limit the production to the amount consumed by those who use it only as a luxury? These are questions which I must leave to be answered by those who are ex- tensively in the business. NOTES AND COMMENTS ON THE ABC. IDKA8 OF AN AUSTRALIAN. By E. Jaincf!. I have been much interested in reading your ABC book. I am a practical bee-keeper, and have been working 300 hivesin Queensland; but a flood unfortunately swept away years of hard toil in a few hours; but "nil desperandum " is my motto. I love the grand colony of Queens- land yet. I will give you some of my practical experi- ence in bee-keeping in this glorious country of Australia, as no continent in the world possesses such a climate, especially for bees. 1. I was reading in the ABC about smokers. There seems to be a lot of inventive skill thrown away upon them. I prefer the Bingham smok- er, with the blast through the fuel; but it is the fuel used that is the question. One day I hap- pened to pick up a piece of bark off a box (a species of eucalyptus-tree), and placed it in the smoker, when I found it gave off an immense volume of smoke: and since then I have used no otiier fuel. as the Langstroth. but the supers are 8 in. deep. The frames are a modification of the broad-end Quinby, with this exception: the ends of the frames are beveled, or chamfered, as shown at A in Fig. 6. Should the bees build comb up to the end, the frame and case come out quite easily. Another idea I have is in the line of self- swarming. Place an empty hive in front of the one expected to swarm. I have a thin piece of board with a piece of zinc or tin nailed flat on each end, like a flap. The whole is covered with regulation perforated zinc, as shown in Fig. 7, forming a gangway. Each end at A A is zinc, so it lies close to the entrance of the hive. I have never lost a swarm. BUZZ-SAWS. I have recently constructed a saw-bench to work with the foot, and it works to my entire F.oS ^ =a F.t.7 I have tried a great many kinds of hivrs, but I have not been satisfied with any of the new- fangled notions. I have come to the conclu- sion, after considerable practice, that a modi- fied Langstroth-Heddon combination seems to give me more satisfaction than any I have yet used. The brood-section is the same size all around T,a 2 K pivc F.fr 3 f'i i B satisfaction — rips any thing required in an api- ary. It is much like the hand buzz-saw shown in the ABC, except that there are no cog- wheels; the saw-arbor turns on centers at each end. There is a small hard -wood pulley on the saw-arbor, three inches in diameter, which is driven by a fly-wheel and strap two inches. The fly-wheel is ;.'7 inches in diameter. On the saw-arbor is a fly-wheel from an old sewing-ma- chine, which gives the necessary momentum. The top of the bench is of cedar, one inch thick, hinged at one end. The other end can be raised or lowered as desired, for grooving, rabbeting, etc. Carpenters have had the loan of the bench, and were delighted with it. I have tried benches made on the principle of the Seneca Falls Mfg. Co.'s benches, but it takes too long to speed up, and I had to discard them — too much friction. A REVERSIN(; EXTRACTOR. I have also an extractor — quite a new and novel idea. Each cage turns upon a center, a^ 94 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Pkh. 1. shown in Figs. 1 and -'. Inside the iron or steel frame are centers, as at A A. By placing the hand on the top of the cage it is inclined out- wardly instantly, and the frame can be taken out or inserted quite easily. The honey comes out splendidly in my ex- tractor, whichever way I turn. I is a steel frame; C, cage; P, pivot. In this extractor there is no knack or habit to acquire. In placing the frame in the extractor, put the hand on the top, and draw the top of the cage outward; place the frame in, and the cage falls back into its place by Its own gravity. When each cage has been operated upon thus, the extractor is ready. When the one side of the comb has been thoroughly extracted, all one has to do is to reverse the extractor, and the four cages are reversed at one operation. There is little or no jerking, nor any undue strain, as in the Stanley. Four steel arms are required to hold the cages, keyed on the center-shaft. Nothing is required to steady the cages at the lower end. I am not a" first-class draftsman, but I hope I have made myself clear. The cut above shows top view of extractor. A A A A are cages for holding frames. B B B B are arms, the center being loose on the up- right shaft C; but the arms turn around with the cages. On turning the machine the cages are brought into position as per diagram; re- verse the extractor, and the cages are complete- ly reversed; although each cage hangs on a piv- ot at each side, the cages are self-reversing; there is no jerking, as in the Stanley, nor any thing to get out of order. I have a bevel gear to drive it, slightly stronger than your extractor. The frames are so weighty when filled with honey that the teeth of the gear strip or break — at least, that is my experience. have known frames to weigh 12 to 1.3 lbs. with honey. Australia is a prolific country for bees and bee- food. The various species of eucalypti are wonderful, especially box, gray, and black. More honey is procured on what is known here as the "open box-plains." Here are some fig- ures: mkssnek's bee-faum. Williamstown, South Australia, June isth, 18V)3; 2M hives produced 47 tons of honey. One colony yielded 45 lbs. of honey per week, or 700 lbs. per season. Not far from where I am, H. Peterson, Wattle Flat, N. S. W., had one hive that yielded VIM lbs. ; 1<)0 hives produced 32 tons, sold for 38 pounds (f 135)per ton, principal- ly from gray box (eucalyptus). Peak Hill, Australia, Oct. 17. [Some of your inventions, although ingen- ious, are quite old in practice. I refer particu- larly to Fig. 6, the position of the frames, and to the reversing-gear of your extractor. The former idea you will find in looking up Mr. Cow- an's book, the " Bee-keeper's Guide," as devised by the author, Mr. Cowan, away back in 187.). But I do not wish to carry the idea that, be- cause these ideas are old, they are therefore lacking in merit; for. indeed, the Cowan ex- tractor that we are now using, and which has been recently indorsed by the whole bee-keep- ing world on this side of the Atlantic, was de- vised some three years earlier yet. — Ed.] RAJflBLE 125. By RamhUr. IN THE SANTA CKUZ MOUNTAINS. From the city of Santa Cruz we could see the frowning peaks of the Santa Cruz Mountains. We knew froiu past experience that they were a toilsome barrier between us and the country we wished to visit beyond. But why should we question the dark canyons and the heights to climb? Had we not surmounted the San Fer- nando Mountains? yes, and the Santa Ynez? yes, and the Santa Lucia and the Cuesta Pass? yes, and they were all a memory of the past, and we set our faces confidently and resolutely to the surmounting of this barrier also. As we entered the mountainous region our road led us through a series of romantic drives. We followed the San Lorenzo River, and, after passing an extensive tannery, with its variety of bad odors, we came again into the redwood belt. The smaller trees and under- growth arched our winding roadway, and the vistas we often caught of waterfalls, forest, and mountains, rustic bridge, and wayside cab- ins, made the day of travel full of pleasure. As we slowly toiled up the grade we passed a building fenced with great care. So high was the fence that we could scarcely discern the buildings beyond. A mile or more beyond, again another series of buildings, fenced, gates locked, a forbidding sign, "No admittance." We surmise, " Why all this fencing? too much for poultry-ranches; too elaborate for bee- ranches, for bee-ranches are not fenced in Cali- fornia." Then again we came to fenced build- ings; but this time we evidently come to the center of operations, and blazoned to the world in large letters we find the sign, " Powder-works I" So here in a series of build- ings, scattered for several miles along the river, explosives of various kinds are manufactured. The buildings are fenced against outside in- truders, and located far apart, so that, if an ex- plosion occurs in one building, the next, a mile or more away, will be free from the blowing-up contagion. The powder-works and the tan- nery below called for much teaming on this mountain road, and loads of wood and bark were constantly met. Five horses to the wagon was the rule— three abreast next the wagon, and two ahead; long-drawn-out teams could not be managed on these sharp curves, so the horses were driven in a bunch, so to speak. Near Felton our redwoods became so large as to be noted, and visitors are attracted from the highway to visit Gen. Grant and Sherman, and a few lesser lights. As we expected to see 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 95 imiich larger trees we did not bend our course to visit them, but kept on our way. The day was well spent: our ponies were showing signs ■of fatigue: and while we were considering the advisability of camping, we saw from our for- est-canopied road an enticing sign which read, " Lemonaide, .5 cts. a glas^;." And surely our •eyes beheld there among the rocks and trees, and near to a purling stream, an apology for a tent, and a sturdy (ierman stood by the road- side. The tenor of our conversation, when we halt- ed in front of the sign, was for a good camping- place. "Dis is der best blace on der road. Durn right in dere," said he, pointing to an obscure opening in the bushes. "Trive town a leedle vays till you gomes to ter prook; camp dhere; von goot blace." Then Ero. Wilder put in his next invariable inquiry: "Is there good hunting in these mountains?" " Hunting? Mine craciousl dere's lots off it — teers all ofer dese moun- tains; dere's von oldt pig fellow ■gomes town into der roat some- •dimes, shust at night, somedimes ■shust in der morning, mit horns so vide;" and he stretched his arms to their full extent. " I ton't see how- he gets troo dese woods. No, mine •craciousl I ton't. Den dere's moun- tain-lions. I hears two, sometimes dree, roaring like furies on der mountains. Oh, yes I dis vas a creat game goondry; and dere's vish in der river— creat pig vish, may pe veigh von, do, dree, and may pe seex pount.'" Just imagine the ef- fect this highly colored news had upon my partner. He was all wrought up for game; and, donning his hunting-equipments, he plunged into the forest. After setting our camp in order I pulled out our fish- ing-tackle and proceeded in a more tjuiet way to try the mountain stream. A few trout arose to the bait; but those " von, do, dree, seex" pounders were shy of the hook, and I had to content mys.'lf with much smaller fry. VVilder's deer-hunt resulted only in signs. Signs were plentiful where "dose horns, so vide" had knocked the bark off the trees. The only signs of mountain-lions was the hole they had left in the air, with their roar. A friendly call upon our German in the even- ing revealed the fact that he was an ex-saloon- keeper. The authorities in a little town near by had high-licensed and otherwise taxed him so high that he had moved out of town, and lie felt as though he was a much-abused man. Many teams passed this obscure retreat of his, and no doubt he sold much " lemonaide at 5 cts. per glass." Our trout breakfast disposed of, we proceeded to climb the long and winding grade to the very summit of the mountain. For nearly fif- teen miles we climbed steadily upward. Many times our road led around gorges so deep that we could look into the tops of trees whose base was planted 1.50 or 300 feet below us. The mountain is quite densely wooded until we near the top. It was here, while rounding a spur in the open, that Wilder grasped his rifle again, and, pointing across to the hill beyond, exclaim- ed in a sort of stage whisper, "A deer I a deer! Just let me have a chance at him." We both hustled out of the wagon. It was a long shot; and while the sights were being set the field-glass was suggested as the proper in- I>HKRE VAS TEER MIT HORNS SO VIDE I " strument to bear upon the animal; and what do you think it revealed? I had to laugh rather immoderately when the glass showed a honn- fide donkey. It seemed, through the glass, that he had a sort of grimace on his benign counte- nance. At any rate, it was a sign of deer that Bro. Wilder did not like, and he was worked up to such a pitch that he said not another word for many miles. As indicated by the donkey, we found the very summit of the mountain in- habited. A large number of Swiss people, true to their mountain habits, have here made their 96 GLEANIiNGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feu. 1. homes, and cultivate land that, to an ordinary mortal, wonld seem to be hung up too much edgewise. We saw fields of oats and other grains that were certainly upon land lying at an angle of 4.">°. The only way that crops could be harvested from these steep hillsides was with a half-cart half-sleigh arrangement, and small loads the rule. The land seemed very productive, and. besides grain, grapes and other fruits were largely planted. The scenery from M ously killed when the owner wanted a taste of honey. In this portion of the Santa Clara Valley the soil was admirably adapted to the raising of onion-seed, and hundreds of acres were coming to ripened heads. Chinese labor was seen gath- ering the heads and beating out the seed with the old-time flail. We neglected to hunt up the man with the hundred colonies of bees; but it occurred to us that, near these onion-fields, almond and fruit orchards would be a profit- able place to plant an apiary. For over :350 miles we have traveled now through the coast counties; and not since we left Ventura have we found many bee-keepers. Isolated apiaries we have found in the lower counties; and that there are good localities for profitable bee-keeping in all of the counties, there i«i no doubt: for wherever we rambled on the barren plain, in the dark canyon, or on the mountain-tops, wherever an opening flower spread its petals to the sun. there we found the busy bee, showing that the little wonder-worker has indeed taken possession of this Western World, and through this fact alone the honey- bee has the profound admiration of the Ram- bler. A DEER. AND WHAT THE GLASS KEVEAT,ED. these heights, as we looked out upon the moun- tains until they shaded oft' into the dim dis- tance, was grand and inspiring to the beholder. Our drive down the other side of the moun- tain was rapid. Our ponies kicked up a terri- ble dust, and it was in a dusty condition that we entered the beautiful town of Los (iatos. We were now in the famous and fertile Santa Clara Valley. We found a series of thriving towns, of which San .lose is the crowning cen- ter. Apricot-orchards were without end: in fact, the apricot is to San Jose what the orange is to Riverside and the grape to Fresno. We camp again at Warm Springs, and this time we were happily located near an old schoolhouse. The good people of the neighbor- hood, to the number of ten. including the Ram- bler, assembled that evening in a meeting of prayer and singing. Several young men were in attendance, showing that the leaven of the Christian religion was working in the right di- rection. One of these young men gave us the information that there were but few bees kept in that vicinity. The largest apiary that he knew of for many miles was further down the valley, and contained 100 colonies. His father, he said, kept a few colonies in his almond-or- chard. The almond is profuse in blossoms, and this gentleman found that he had more nuts upon his trees if the bees were there to aid in pollenization. The honey from the almond he pronounced fine. Their bees were kept in a non-scientific way, and the bees were barbar- CALIFORNIA NUGGETS. HOW TO f'ONSTKUCT A PERCOLATOR: HOW TO KILL A LOT OF KHSTGEIRDS AT ONE SHOT. Bi/ C. W. Dai/tDii. In California the antipathy of the fruit-man against bees is equaled by that of him who is trying to dispose of a tract of ?10-per-acre land at *100 per lot. The best sign-board and the best advertise- ment for honey is thirty or forty colonies sitting in the front yard. People dislike to buy honey of those who do not keep bees. It is like milk in a large city— the dairy product is preferred. A feeder beneath the brood-apartment is pref- erable in "feeding back" honey to complete sections, as the bees "clean their feet" while traversing the brood-combs. If feeding for winter stores, place the feeder above, as the feed will betaken down faster, it seems to me. If your apiary is strewn with leaves, as yon walk along after dusk toads will be heard rustling the leaves. One way is to gather them up by hand; but a better plan is to sink a few boxes in the earth, level with their upper edges,, for the toads to fall into, and deep enough so that they are unable to jump out. Since it is admitted that kingbirds destroy bees, the next thing is to find a plan to destroy the kingbirds without the expense of a charge of shot and powder, and the time it takes for each bird. Stretch a fence-wire between two> trees in line with an upstairs window of the house or barn. In the absence of trees, use high posts. In the absence of such window, let 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 97 •one post be enough shorter than the other to sight along the wire while standing on the ground. Wait until several birds collect upon the wire, and then clear them off at one shot. rropolis is suggested as an exterminator of the bee-moth. In using covers to the brood- nests, which are composed of three boards cleat- •ed together when new, water ran through into the hives. It also soaked in around the edges, and dropped off near the center of the hives. Since two seasons' use and propolization, they remain dry on the under side through the heaviest and longest rains. If the upper side becomes water-soaked, the under side continues glassy and impervious. It might be added that the covers were of redwood, which is the only kind of wood which does not shrink side- wise. The result might be different with pine. Mr. W. A. Wheeler recommends salicylic acid and powdered borax in water as a cure for bee-paralysis. I wonder if the acid alone would .not do as well. If not, then would not the borax alone cure it? If nothing short of the mixture will sul'tice, it would be interesting to know how the discoverer was able to hit upon the exact specific instead of hitting a million othei-s which might be guessed at. I am thankful for the cure, even if the explanation is not obtain- able. I have not lost faith in my own cure (supersedure of queens), but I have three cases so early in the season that qut-ens can not be reared. But the acid cure can be applied now. The season of 1893 was a good one for honey, and also a good one for paralysis. Last season was poor for honey, and there were no new cases of paralysis. Now, my wonder is, whether the appearance of paralysis so promptly may not be an indication of an abundant honey-flow in 1895. To construct a percolator, first get a sixteen- foot board, 14 inches wide, and cut it into four pieces of equal length. Bevel each piece, and nail together so as to form a box 12 inches square at the top and 8 at the bottom, sloping like a mill-hopper. For a bottom to the hop- per, get out a small board eight inches square and tack around its outer edge a strip of thick felt to prevent syrup getting through next the outside. This bottom may be dropped inside and allowed to seek its own position. In the center, cut an aperture five inches in diameter, and lack over the same a piece of extractor- screen wire which exceeds the size of the aper- ture, but should not extend to the margin of the board. Spread over the screen a thin layer of cotton balling, and over the batting another piece of screen to keep the batting in position. Of the waste lumber remaining from the side pieces make four legs by sawing to the right level and nailing to the center of each side. It should be high enough from the floor to set a five-gallon honey-can under. The capacity of the percolator will vary according to the thick- ness of the cotton batting, the quantity of sugar, and the depth of water. If this per- colator is kept full, the yield will be about 20 gallons of thick syrup in 24 hours. Florence, Cal. [Your peicolator, I feel quite sure, would work, judgingfrom what experience I have had with percolators. — Ed.J WILLIE ATCHLEY'S EXPERIMENT. DKONES FKOM LAYING WORKERS OR UNFECUN- DATED QUEENS ; ELEMENTS OF UNCER- TAINTY. By Dr. C. C. MiUcr. It is interesting to learn of the experiment re- ported by Willie Atchley on page 19. For the honey-raiser the matter may be of no particular interest, for he is not likely to have queens mated at any time when drones of undoubted virility and vigor do not abound; but if it be an error to suppose that drones are equally good, we may as well know it; otherwise there might be trouble come from keeping bad drones to use out of season, for it is easier to keep drones in a colony with a drone-laying queen or with lay- ing workers. That one experiment, however, should not be considered conclusive. Elements of uncertainty may be present unsuspected. Moreover, there is a little cloudiness, apparently, in the conclu- sions reached, or that seem to be reached; for although the experiment did not involve drones from unfecundated queens, yet Willie says, " I am now fully convinced that I do not want any of my queens mated with any but drones from best fertilized queens." Suppose that it be fully established that drones from laying workers are utterly worthless, does it necessarily follow that drones from an unfecundated queen are any thing but the best? We should be the more slow at reaching con- clusions, because, if 1 mistake not, the book authorities, where they are not entirely silent on the subject, agree in giving drones credit for value from whatever source they may come. Berlepsch, a man who stands high as an author- ity, says: " The eggs laid by fertile workers pro- duce perfect drones. I firmly believe this,because the drones thus produced precisely resemble, in every respect, those bred in colonies having fully fertile queens." See American Bee Jour- nal, 18(U, page 14(i. Dzierzon, page 24, Rational Bee-keeping, says, "As in every respect they are like drones originating from a queen, there is no reason why they should not also possess all the capabilities of the latter." Cheshire says, " The powers of the drone just described are, almost with certainty, not alone true for those brought up in the normal cells of their sex, the issue of a fertilized mother, but for all indiflferently. Hereafter we shall more fully explain that the egg yielding the drone is us GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fkh. L unfertilized, so that those born of mothers that have never mated (drone-breeders) are as per- fectly developed and as fully virile as others. Dwarf drones also, raised accidentally in work- er-cells, or those from the eggs of so-called fer- tile workers, or workers which, although in- capable of impregnation, have yet commenced ovipositing, seem not one whit behind the rest.'' It will be noticed, however, that, however high these authorities, their views are not based upon actual experiment, so that, although we should be careful about reaching any op- posite conclusion, it is certainly reasonable for us to say that the case is not entirely closed. I would give more for the results of a sufficient number of experiments in the hands of careful observers than for the theoretical views of all thf scientists. Willie says, " I am perfectly satisfied that the queen has the power to deposit eges without having them come in contact with the semen, or fluid deposited by the drone, and nil such produce drones. I should be glad indeed to have some of the old heads take this thing in hand, say Doolittle or Prof. Cook, and see if T am not right." Of course, you're right. Willie: but. bless your heart, there's no need for any one to take it in hand. That question was fully settled before you were born. Look at the first volume of the Ameriran Bee Journal. ISiU, and you will see the matter fully discussed and set- tled in the series of papers on the Dzierzon theory. At present there is a large amount of theory and a small amount of practice to settle the value of abnormal drones. That being the case, it can hardly be presumptuous to theorize a little more right here. A w^orker is not a fully developed female; and although there may be more development in a laying worker than in an ordinary worker, still there is not a full development of the organs of reproduction, and on that account one would hardly expect as good progeny as from a female fully developed in all the parts that in any way have to do with providing and furnishing a vigorous offspring. The worker was never in- tended for a mother in the first place, and one would hardly expect her to be an unqualified success in that direction. The experiment of Willie Atchley, while in itself not conclusive, is valuable in that it goes just so far toward es- tablishing as a fact, that the ofTspring of laying workei-s do not equal those of fully developed queens. With regard to drones from unfecundated queens. Willie has a rather cavalier fashion of settling the question by manufacturing a defi- nition to fit the case. An undeveloped drone, says he, is a drone from any but a fertilized queen. As we want a fully developed animal for a sire, that at once settles the case, and there is no need of any further experiment. But is it fully established that a drone from an unimpregnated mother is not as fully developed^ as one from an impregnated mother? The ar- gument seems to be that the drone is undevelop- ed because the mother is undeveloped, " as we all know that a queen is not thoroughly de- veloped till she is mated and begins to lay."" Ihi we all know that? Is the fecundation of a female a part of its development? Take two- flocks of hens, the one flock fully devoioped in every respect, and having a cock in the coop; the other precisely the same, except that the cock has been carefully excluded, would you say there was any lack of development in the- latter case? Is there no case of full develop- ment among the thousands of mares that are never used for breeding-purposes I Here's a choice tested queen fully developed. How much did her fecundation contribute to- her development ? Suppose her wings had been clipped during her virginity. W^ould her de- velopment have stopped ? Would she not have- grown to the same size as now ? Would she not have been the same in every respect as now, with the single exception of an empty sper- matheca? And in the case of the tested queen, doe? that spermatheca have any thing whatever to do with the eggs laid in drone-cells ? I don't know the answer to all these questions, and I should want somewhat positive answers before settling down to the belief that a queen- can not be mother to a fully developed drone just as well without as with fecundation. A point still to be noticed is, that a drone-lay- ing queen, even if it should be fully proven that she can raise the best of drones, in actual prac- tice does not raise, or, rather, from her eegs^ there are not raised, drones of normal size, simply becau.se they are mostly raised in worker- cells: and I think no one would be so well satis- fied with drones below the normal size. On the whole T commend the decision reach- ed, which is seconded by the ABC, to raise- drones from only the best fecundated queens. Marengo, 111. LARGE AND SMALL HIVES. A fJOT.nKN .MEAN ; HOFFMAN FRAMES, ETC. By n. L. Jeffrey. Mr. Editor:— On page 9.53, 1894, T note your editorial, "Large and Small Hives, Again."" There, as in other places, you refer to the ten, twelve, and sixteen frame hives. Now, just let me tell you that you are not fresh or new in that line of the number of frames; but before going into the experience points I will refer you back to Gleanings of twelve or thirteen years ago — 1881 or 1882, perhaps 1883— as a proof of what I am going to say, and I will quote from memory, and let you look up the proof of the- date; and yet in practice I can go back fifteen or sixteen years. Twelve or thirteen years ago- I wrote to A. I. Root from Washington, Ct., that 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 99 J was using what I called the Simplicity chaff hive — a hive IS^ inches squareinside. with three or four inches of packing at each end of the frames. The hive stood on a chaff- packed bot- tom-board, and at the sides 1 used a cushion or I'haft'-packed frame, cloth on one side and thin boards on the other side, turning the cloth to- ward the bees in winter, contracting the brood- nest to four, five, or six combs, as it was neces- sary; and in the spring, as early as convenient, I cleaned out the hive and turned the board side of these side cushions toward the bees. When I nailed on these board sides, in the first place I laid two or more thicknesses of cloth on the ends and bottom of this side frame, and let the cloth project from % to }4 inch beyond the frame. The cloth is used as a heat retainer or confiner, to prevent the heat from escaping around the end of the frame. Well, those thirteen frame hives very often had eleven frames of solid brood, except the top corners of the frames that were filled for three or fourinches with pollen and honey; and. what is more, they not often swarmed. I used two styles of surplus-cases on them. One was the wide frame for 8 sections; the other, a case for 4 sections in a row, to place the sections cross- wise of the frames, and use separators, ten sec- tions from fi'ont to rear, making 40 sections to the one-tier case, and using two cases high. The sides of these hives were 28 inches long, be- cause they were made of % lumber. Now for the reasons of the chaff eftds to the hives: I had always noticed that, in winter, in the single-walled hives, hoar frost or needles of ice formed between the ends of the frames; and by this packing I got rid of that frost in the hives. Then in the case of the ISi.., inches in the width of the hive, I had a place to use a side frame of )^ sections at each side, and a half- inch division-board with eight or nine brood- frames before the bees were so numerous as to necessitate putting on a top case. Besides these large hives I used others, vary- ing from seven frames up to thirteen. At that time, and for thirteen or more years, I was tak- ing care of bees for other people, either wholly myself or by supervision, besides taking care of my own bees, and for years I had the charge of from 1()(» to 300 hives of bees, located in six or eight towns, in apiaries varying from six or seven hives up to sixty. A good many objected to these large hives be- cause of their expense, as they had, besides this chaff-packed end and chaff-packed bottom, an outside shell 12 to 1.5 inches deep, that, for win- ter, was let down to the bottom, and in summer it was raised so the lower edge was 2 inches be- low the top of the hive-body, and a cleated and rinimed-top cover. Because of the objection of expense, and the inconvenience of handling and moving these large hives, I made and used for other persons hives holding ten and eight frames; and I can, from experience and close comparison during years of practical use, say that the large hives were, in dollars and cents, and profitable results, every way the least ex- pensive. But if you will take a pencil, and fig- ure up every thing, the figuring will prove that these large hives cost the most every time, and that is where figures do actually and practically lie. But with the practice of fewer hives, and the time of changing place to work from one hive to another, the time of hiving swarms, and I could name a dozen other items, to say noth- ing of the larger number of finished sections from each hive, that alone is item enough to make the preference for the large hive. But when you go above that limit of the square, 18.V inches by 9*-s, then you can just stop— just step down and out. That I have tried, and had to own up beat. THE HOFFMAN FKAME — WHY I LIKE IT AND WHY I don't like it. It is not the spacing and fixedness of it that are its best features, but I will admit that the spaced stationary feature of the Hoffman frame is reason enough to make it universally adopt- ed. On account of the forming of ice at the ends of the frames being the reason for using packing at the ends of the hives, I adopted the Hoffman frame in 1879. A pattern of this I ob- tained from J. H. Nellis, with the wide part of the end-bar made wide for .5 inches, which gave me very gratifying results; but these results the first season only raised the question of how I was to get rid of a cussed nuisance that I had heard more cursing and swearing about than would be necessary to send all the employes of A. I. Root to Satanic regions; that is, the plas- tering of comb and honey at the ends of the combs in the hive. How many hundreds of times I have seen the plastering done when there happened to be one of those sudden heavy flows of honey! and that very disgusting thing happened in 1893 and 1894 with the Hoffman frames that you have sent out with those short wide ends. Only this past season I was called twice to tell parties what to do to stop the trou- ble of having the honey there at the ends of the frames, and both parties said they wished the ones who made the frames and hives were— not in heaven—" further than they were out of it." Now, then, friend Root, make that wide part just ^4 of the length of the end of the frame; make the ends fully % thick, and stop that sharpening of the edge. You go and see how many will be shoved by each other, and hear the swearing that I have heard, and you will make no more sharp edges to cause cursing. I began using the Hoffman frame in 1878. In 1879 and 1880 I used a few with the end- bars 1% wide the whole length, and I began to practice reversing them; and after 14 years' use, in all sorts of places, 1 am forced to say, give me the full-length Hs-wide end-bar, just -^^ thick; and having used 3000 pair of your reversing-wires, I do not want wood rests, for two reasons: 1. 100 GLEANINGt> IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1. They are more easily pried up; and the eiiief iind second reason is, lurning combs over does pay, especially when it is the cause of making th(; bees Hnish a crate of sections, to say no- lliing of being a convenient way to mal4 of au inch. As to the wide part of the Hoffman end-bars, the length that we use is in proportion to the depth 01 frame used oy Hoffman, i have tried them (the wide part) Ueeper, but 1 did not like lUem so. Mr. J. has suggested some practical thoughts, although I think he is inclined to put some things overstrong. — Ed. J TWO EIGHT-FRAME HIVES NOT MAKING A SUIT- ABLE BROOD-NEST, AND WHY. I was much interested in Mr. Chrysler's letter, on page 948. It chimeu in with my experience exactly, so far as my experience goes. 1 ran a dozen colonies last season in two-story eight- frame hives; it worked pretty well until the honey-flow came, and then in some of them there was a marked inequality between the upper and lower stones, and two of them linally confined themselves to a single story — one using the upper story lor brood, and one tlie lower. By this time, thanks to your impartial leader- ship, a little light is being shed on the subject — It is not altogether the mystery it formerly was. But there is one thing not yet satisfac- torily presented. Most bee-keepers raise comb- honey, and how in the world is the two-story eight-frame to be recommended to them? There is too much lifting and manipulation connected with it. If the majority of bee- keepers ever get to using brood-chambers of large capacity, I am inclined to think they will "flop" just as Mr. Chrysler did, and as I pro- pose to do. But, let's hear all sides. I would suggest, as the next thing in order, that you get an exhaustive article from E. France, theoreti- cal and practical, on the subject, " Why the two-story eight-frame is to be preferred to all 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 101 others for comb hone}/." Then get somebody of experience on the other side (like Dadant) to answer Mr. France's point in detail. We are not through with the hive discussion yet. Put the case of a man who winters his bees on the summer stands: How much lifting will he have to do, ordinarily? The argument of weight has been made too much of. It is not a general, but a special consideration. Arvada, Col., Dec. 24. F. L. Thompson. [Mr. France has already set forth his views on this que-Jtion — see page 4.5. Jan. ir)th issue. Yes. we should he glad to have the Dadants re- view this whole question from their standpoint, if they will. For many years they championed large hives alone. Now that there are more on their side, perhaps they can set forth their views with more assurance. — Ed. J Ulllll III il Ihlll I, J |i II II 'ANSWERS TO lll|i|UIIII|iHlllllllli1l" BY G.M.DOOLITTLE.BORODINO.N.Y. GUAKDTNG AGAINST STAHVATION. QuestUtn. — What is the best way to guard against bees starving before feeding can be done in the spring? I have fears that my bees have not honey enough to carry them through till warm weather comes. Aiixwer. — As our (|uestioner asks for " the best way to guard against bees starving," I am inclined to answer that the heat way is to know that each colony has sufficient honey or stores in the fall to last it till the flowers bloom in the spring; and if we know this we need have no fears as to their safety along this line. But some one will ask, " How much stores should each colony have that I may know that there is no danger of starvation?" That is right; ask all such questions you like, for in former years it was just such little things as these which bothered me, and, strange to say, these little things, as most bee-keepers call them, were the hardest questions to find answered in our bee- papers. I hunted through volumes before I could find the amount, given by any writer, that it would take to winter a colony of bees safely from October till May, doing this hunting in the columns of the bee-papers pub- lished prior to 187."). The amount which I found first, gave 35 lbs. of actual stores as be- ing the right amount of food necessary to carry a colony through. This almost staggered me, as I had found by weighing the combs of honey in each hive, that not one of my colonies contained that amount, while very few con- tained 30 lbs. So I kept on looking, when, after a while, I found another writer giving 25 lbs. as sufficient to winter a colony which was to stay all winter on its summer stand, and 20 lbs. for those colonies which were to be winter- ed in the cellar, during the four months of the coldest weather. "Here," said I, "is some- thing worth more to me, .lust at this time, than all I have paid out for bee-papers up to the present;" for had I been obliged to make the stores in all my colonies up to 35 lbs., the sugar would have cost me much more than all I had l)aid out for bee-books and paper so far. To digress a little, I wish to say that hardly a year passes, even after I have been constantly reading up bee-literature for the past 25 years, but that I find something during the year that is of more value to me than all the bee-papers have cost me for that 25 years, and yet not a fourth of the bee-keepers in the United States take any bee-paper. I never could understand this penny-wise-and-pound-foolish plan that so many adopt when you urge them to take one or more bee-papers. But to return: By exchanging combs with my colonies I was enabled to give each colony wintered outdoors, 25 lbs., and 20 lbs. to those wintered in the cel- lar, and found all came out well; so I set these figures down as the right amount of stores for safe wintering from flowers in the fall to flowers giving honey in the spring; and to-day, about 17 years having passed since I read that state- ment, I would advise the above amounts as be- ing correct for the beginner to put as the stan- dard. But it will be noted that our correspond- ent does not say from flowers to flowers, but till " feeding can be done in the spring." Well, how much is needed in this case? This is something different, and something not often spoken about, yet it is something we should like to know about; for I claim that, if there is. any time when it is profitable to feed colonies to keep them from starving, it is in the spring of the year. Why ? Because if we let them die now we lose all they have consumed thus far; and, besides, feeding in the spring gets the colony in the very best possible shape to give a big yield of honey during the honey harvest; and as this latter is conceded by all, it is often to our advantage to reserve the feeding neces- sary to be done to give sufficient stores during- April and May, till April and May arrive, pro- viding we can know that no colony will starve before that time. One fall I found my colonies quite light; and as I was short of money to buy sugar with, I allowed only 18 lbs. to each col- ony designed to be wintered on its summer stand, and from 12 to 14 for those to be placed in the cellar, and found, by equalizing the stores in all, that I did not have to feed that fall. From a trial of this amount for ten differ- ent winters, and not having a single colony starve or require feeding before April first, I lately let all colonies go into winter quarters that have 12 and 18 lbs. respectively, and feed all that are short in the spring where neces- sary, but so far have had to feed but very few at all. But we will suppose that our colonies have been neglected in the fall from a lack of knowl- edge of just how many pounds each colony^ 102 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1 should have, or from sickness or a pressure of business, how are we to guard against the bees starving? As I object to feeding bees during the winter months unless absolutely obliged to to keep them from starving, I adopt this plan along the line of " guarding." On some mild day when It thaws a little, without the sun shining (can see best on a cloudy day), go over all the colonies outdoors by removing what you have over the quilt or cloth covering to the frames, and then gently roll this covering up till you come to the cluster of bees, when you will carefully note the amount of sealed honey you can see not cover- ed with bees. We will say 'it is about the first of February when you do this. If you find plenty of sealed honey along the top-bars of the frames, you can set that colony down as hav- ing enough till April. If plenty in half the combs, then it is good till March. If very lit- tle, then it should he looked after in two weeks; and if none at all. it should be fed at once. All not needing feeding at once should be left with the hopes that a day warm enough for the bees to fly may occur, when all needing attention should be attended to; but should no such day occur, then they should be attended to before they starve, no matter what the weather. Well, how shall we feed at this time of year? My way has been to take frames of honey from those in which I see much sealed honey, and give to those about to starve, taking out the outside combs of honey on any day when I could best do so, and putting division-boards in their places. I now place these combs of honey in a warm room for four or five hours till they get thoroughly warmed through, when I go to the destitute colony, take out one or two empty combs on the outside, divide the frames near the center of the cluster of bees, using smoke to keep them from flying, and set in the warmed combs. In this way any apiary which was not in nearly a starving condition In the fall can be brought through till we can feed in the spring. If the colonies are in the cellar, and are where the combs can be got at, they can be looked after in the same way. In the spring the feed- ing is done with feeders in the regulation man- ner, but feeding with anything but combs of sealed honey during the winter months is very unsatisfactory, as a rule. AN INVESTMENT THAT PAID. Early last spring it was my good fortune to receive an oft'er from a party living about ten miles from here, to sell me her entire outfit of bees, hives, tools, etc., for $40. I went to see the "outfit," and found fifteen colonies of bees. pretty fair Italians, an extractor, two honey- knives, Bingham smoker, several hundred sec- tions, and about 2.50 brood-combs, together with nearly 100 old hives that were fit for nothing but kindling-wood. The trip resulted in my accepting the offer, providing they would de- liver the whole lot at my place, which they did. During the season they threw off several new swarms, only two of which I secured, the rest going off, owing to my absence from home. They stored 500 lbs. of honey, which I sold at an average price of fifteen cents per pound. From the old hives, musty and broken combs, I secured "'> pounds of wax, which I sold at 24 cts. per pound. 1 transferred them from the old Quinby frames to the new Hoffman, and in the two-story chaff' hives. In preparing them for winter I doubled them up and now have 12 colonies in fine condition ; enough kindling- wood for the winter; 100 brood-combs, Quinby size; 500 pounds of honey at 14 cts. per pound, *70; 75 pounds of wax at 24 cts., *18; total, $88. First investment, $40; new hives, $18. Bal- ance on hand, notwithstanding the "bad sea- son and locality." the pleasure and experience, $2C|.;K). Van E. Freeman. Joilet, 111.. .Jan. 5. THE READING OF FOREIGN BEE-PAPERS AT THE convention; what the editor of THE " BIENENZEITUNG " THINKS A150UT IT. In regard to the reading of the foreign papers at your St. Joseph convention, I am of the opinion that Mr. Hutchinson, in his Review, is somewhat astray in his position. INIr. Ab- bott, I think, sees the matter from the right standpoint. I would not have written my article, to be published only in your bee-papers, without payment. Reading my paper in a more condensed manner would have made it worthless. I wrote it as an honorary member of your association, honoring your association and not myself the least. What my friend Frank Benton has said in regard to the inven- tion of the movable-comb hive by Dzierzon, I appreciate. But I have not expressed myself in the right way. I should have said: "Dzier- zon invented (as Langstroth in America) the only first praeticable movable-comb hive — a hive that could be used better than any other invention before, and therefore they were starting a new era." I have read Gleanings with much pleasure, and not the least the Notes of Travel by your father. C. J. Gravenhorst. Wilsnack, Germany, Jan. 3, 1895. MONEY candying BEFORE COLD WEATHER, AND WHY. I wonder if you have had an experience like mine. This year, when I extracted in Septem- ber, combs that were built and filled in August contained many cells of candied honey, just as taken from the hive; and all extracted thick- ened soon after, before any cold weather came. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 103 What is the probable cause? No syrup was fed till after that time. C. H. Lutson. Bridgewater, Mass., Dec. 20. [Honey from ordinary sources does not candy before cold weather ; but certain kinds will granulate very shortly after being put in the combs. The fact that the honey was gathered in August (after the usual flow from basswood and clover) shows that it must have been from some unusual source.— Ed.] WEKE QUEEN- EXCLUDERS USED IN THOSE TWO AND THREE STORY HIVES? I read in Gleanings for Nov. 1.5, 1894, where they tell of those big honey-yields in two and three story hives. The question in my mind is, did they let the queen have the run of the whole hive, or did they use a queen-excluder? Please tell me, is it best to use a queen-excluder for extracted honey ? Fred Card. Burns, Mich., Dec. 1'). fl can hardly answer in the case of the hon- •ey-yields in question; but I should ftxippose that, in most localities, the excluders would be put on top of the second story. In localities less favored it would doubtless have to be put on the first story. The strength of the honey-flow would have to decide the matter largely. — Ed.] the crosses of five-handed bees. I see on page 23, Gleanings for .Tan. 1st, that the editor has something to say in regard to the crossing of five-banded bees with blacks. My experience and his are not alike, as I have never yet seen a five-banded queen mated with a black drone make all yellow bees. On the contrary, they always make some black bees, the same as any other hybrid queen or mismat- ed queen. Now, a five-banded queen can mate to a three-banded drone or to a hybrid, or to any ■drone whose mother has any yellow about her, and. likely, she will not make any black bees. My experience along this line is. that any yel- low queen, it matters not what stock she is, will make some black bees, or nearly so, if she is mated with a pure black drone. I was of the ^ame opinion as Ernest till I thoroughly tested this matter, and now I feel convinced that, when the bees of a five-banded queen show no black bees, she has mated to a drone that had some yellow blood too. I have asked the opinions of two or three of ■our most extensive breeders of five-banded queens, and they take sides with me. I think that, when a five-banded queen mates with an impure drone, her bees as a rule will be cross, as most other hybrids are. Not, will the queens make some black bees? but they will make some of the blackest black bees I ever saw. We had one yard out last year, and thought we were putting them out away from other bees, and we soon found that there were black bees near them, and moved them away out on the prairie, and some of our queens were mated be- fore we found out that blacks were close; and I tell you we had some of the blackest black bees we ever saw, and the queens were from our best five-banded mothers, and they made bees from pure blacks, as far as color goes, up to five- banded, and the bees were as cross as hornets. I fail to see where the five-banded bees, cross- ed with any other race of bees, makes them more cross than other hybrid bees. This I mention as 1 thought of it. Now, Ernest, you and I will have to fight it out, and I am going to hold my ground as long as I can honestly; and when I see you are get- ting the best of it I will give it up; but I must say that I think you are away off on this state- ment, and do not see where you are going to get out unless you walk backward. As for breeding bees for color alone. 1 think one should be ashamed to do such a thing, and sell the queens, as such a breeder would soon play out, and at the same time injure his fellow-man. I have come to the belief that queen-breeders should be the most careful of apiarists, as they have the reins of the honey-producer, and may lead him to ruin by breeding from any and all kinds of queens. I tell you, it is a serious thing, as well as a matter of dishonesty, for a queen-breeder to use any thing but the best of queens for mothers. I know that I have got off the track, but I just thought of these things, and made mention of it. I should like to hear from others on this subject. Beeville, Tex., Jan. 17. Jennie Atchley. Friend E. R. Root: — I notice in January 1st Gleanings, page 23, an editorial stating that a cross between a queen of five-banded stock and a black drone or a five-banded drone and a black queen will, according to your experience, result in all the bees showing at least three bands, etc. I am quite surprised to hear you say this, as my experience does not coincide with yours. Last season I gave the cross-mating of several difl'erent strains of bees a thorough trial; and I find, so far as my experience goes, that a cross like the one you refer to will result in produc- ing bees that show from one to three yellow bands, and quite often there will be bees that are produced in this same colony that are as black as the blackest bees I ever saw. Please bear in mind that I am speaking of a cross between five-banded stock and pure (German) bl8ck drones. I should be pleased to hear from some other queen-breeder in this line, through Gleanings. F. A. Lockhart. Beeville, Tex., .Ian. 17, Dear Mr. Editor: — Did your hand tremble a little bit when you wrote that editorial on mis- mated five-banded queens in last Gleanings? I have had numbers of them mated with black drones in the past four years, and not in one instance have I found one producing all straight three-banded bees. Who told you about that? Chrisman, Tex. C. B. Bankston. [See editorials.— Ei).] 104 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fkb. 1. ])on"t fail to read A. I. ll/s hints on shipping comb honey during cold weather, in this issue — see page 107. Two bee-journals now hail from one State. The Nebraska Bec-kecpe>\ in its sixth year, and the Nebraska Queen, in its second year. The article by the Porters, on bee-escapes, will be read with interest, although it seems to have been written for the editor's private ear. I HAVE just found out who " M. Dea " is, in the American Bee Journal, but I shall not tell who he Is. In our next issue we shall have a communication from him in our own columns. An excellent portrait of Dr. Miller appears in the last Amerlcdn Bee Jonrnnl. It shows him as he now looks — not so strong and rugged physically as in former years when he sat for his picture, but not one whit older in spirit. The paint-mill referred to in a former editori- al is now here. We are experimenting with it, grinding up coarse sugar and honey, but so far I am unable to tell whether the results will be favorable or not. Ileports will be given later. I WONDER how many have a comfortable feel- ing during these cold days (as we find them up here in the North), in the thought that their bees are put in winter quarters in a condition as nice as they knew how to put them. If the winter continues as it has been for the last month or so. it will be a severe one on bees not properly provided for. I HAVE learned with much regret that Mr. C. E. Parks, Secretary of the G. B. Lewis Co., of Watertown, Wis., and senior member of that firm, is dangerously sick in Florida. Mr. Parks is a man who is well known, not only to the trade, but to the general bee-keeping world, and I am sure I voice the feeling of all in hoping for his speedy recovery. AViTHOi'T a single exception, I believe, all the queen-breeders have held up their hands, sig- nifying their purpose to destroy the first case of bee-paralysis as soon as it shall be discover- ed in their yards. This policy, I feel sure, if adhered to, will stamp the disease out of ex- istence; but if we get the idea in our heads that such extreme measures are not necessary, no such favorable issue may be expected. I LEARN by the Ainertcan Bee Journal that there is a possibility of lion. Eugene Secor be- coming Governor of the State of Iowa. Good I I know nothing about his politics; but I would vote for him (if I could) though he were nomi- nated by the Democrats, Republicans, Prohibi- tionists, or Populists. He is a thoroughly good man in more ways than one. It is this kind of men we want in public office, irrespective of party lines. I FIND we are again obliged to leave over a number of good articles. Possibly some of them may never see the light of day through the pages of Gleanings; but I shall endeavor to give the best of them, and trim down others to the point of solid meat. I might mention here, that one of the most interesting articles we have ever published on bee-paralysis will appear in our next issue, from the pen of that careful and laborious worker, Ph. J. Balden- sperger, of Nice, France. The story is going the rounds (see the Ameri- can Bee Journal) that Dr. C. C. Miller read an essay at the Illinois Bar- keepers' convention. It would be a " rough one " on the doctor (and probably a good deal rougher on the conven- tion if the doctor had it to do) did we not know how easy it is for a printer to mistake " Bar- keepers " instead of " Bee-keepers," from ordi- nary handwriting. Or perhaps the mistake was in the telegram, for the printer would hardly make the mistake twice in the same item. Yes. such conventions need a little of Dr. Miller's salt. I hope the doctor's past record will enable him to live down such a re- port. The following sad news is just received from our brother-editor of the Amerwan Bee Jour- nal, and will explain itself: A beautiful baby girl came to the home of the ed- itor of the A)ncrican Bre Journal last Friday even- ing:—Jan. 18; but it stayed only a few hours. Of course, tliere are sorfowing- hearts, for its mother and I had hoped so much that when the baby came it miarlit stay with us, and be a gicat .joy and bless- ing to our liome. But, although 'twas liard to give up, we bow submissively to the will of Him " who giveth, and who takcth away." Mrs. York is doing fully as well as could be ex- pected under tiu' circumstances, I am thankful ti> be able to say. Bro. York has our sincere sympathy. These little people, as I know by experience, bring a world of sunshine to the home. I do not know what it is to have that sunshine taken away, for the kind Father has spared me that pang. In the department of Kind Words will be found a few reports of the successful mailing of queens to Australia and New Zealand. We have other reports that we do not publish, where the queens went through dead; but as nearly half of the queens went through alive, we feel greatly encouraged, and are in hopes that we shall be able to master the problem after all. The whole secret rests in getting the 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 105 candy just right. The candy we last used was made of coarse granulated sugar and honey, with a very little of the pulverized to stiffen the dough. Among those where the queen went through dead, the cause was evidently starvation. The honey had all been taken out between the granules of sugar, and the dry particles of the latter were no better than so much sand. THOSE CROSSES OF FIVE-BANDERS. In another column will be found a reply by Mrs. Jennie Atchley and F. A. Lockhart, to the editorial on page 23, to the effect that a cross between a black drone and a five-banded Ital- ian queen does not necessarily show one and two banded bees, but that such bees show all the characteristics of ordinary hybrids, with the exception of color. Mrs. Atchley's experi- ence and that of Mr. Lockhart seem to be dia- metrically opposite to ours. As she says, let us hear from others on this point. It is only by getting testimony from quite a number that we can form a really decided opinion on this ques- tion. As to ray own statements on page 33. I have just been out to ask our apiarist if I had made any mistake. He says not. He is very posi- tive that some of our five-banders, while show- ing good color, were crossed with hybrids, be- cause their progeny is so fearfully cross. We obtained five-banders from a number of breed- ers; but as not all of them are cross, I can not say that Mrs. Atchley's bees that we received showed any bad traits. Indeed, so far as I have been able to trace them they were gentle and beautiful, and in several instances were energetic and good workers. As Mrs. Atchley breeds from original Doolittle stock, and, I have reason to believe, takes more than ordi- nary pains, I assume that her stock is both beautiful and energetic. Mr. Lockhart, I be- lieve, has the same stock. WIRING BY MEANS OF ELECTRICITY. We have not said much of late about imbed- ding wires into foundation by means of elec- tricity. It is not because we considered the plan impracticable, nor because we have found an- other and better way — nay, far from it. We could scarcely drive our people to imbedding wires with the old-fashioned spur-wheel, so slow and unsatisfactory is it, compared with the neat and rapid method by means of electric- ity. But perhaps some of you may have for- gotten how to construct the battery. Secure three crocks, of not less than a gallon ca- pacity each— larger will make the batteries run longer; and where much imbedding is to be done, crocks of not less than five gallons capac- ity should be used. For about a cent apiece you can get electric-light carbons at the near- est electric-light station— just such carbons as are used for arc lights. You will need, for each cell of your battery — that is, for each crock, three long carbons or six short ones. Now, for each crock secure a square board of inch stuff, to cover it. Describe a circle on one of the boards, the circumference of which should be about two inches smaller than the inside diameter of the crock. On the line of this circle bore six holes equally distant, just large enough to receive the carbons. Wire these carbons all together by running a naked copper wire around each carbon a couple of times and then pass it on to its neighbor. Pro- ceed thus with each board. In the center of each circle bore a hole large enough to receive a rod of zinc, the size and length of which is immaterial. If you can not get rods, take sheet zinc and roil it up to about an inch in diameter, and as long as the carbons. Solder a wire to each zinc. The wiring to each cell or crock should be so arrranged that the zinc of one battery will be attached by its wire connec- tion to the carbons of the other battery, and so on until you have one free end of the wire from the carbons of one cell, and one free end from the zinc of another crock — the other cell being connected with the other two. These two free ends are to be attached with spring clips, in such a way that they (the clips) engage, or come in contact with the two ends of the wire running through the frame to be filled with foundation. Now, then, before you proceed to work you will need to throw into each crock, say for the three-gallon size, a couple of pounds of bichromate-of-potash crystals. Fill the crock to within l^i inches of the top, with hot water. Allow it to stand three or four hours, and then pour about a gill of sulphuric acid in- to each crock; stir; insert the zinc and carbon element, and you are ready for business. We have experimented with almost every form of galvanic battery that we could Isaru or read of; but none gave anywhere near such satisfactory results, for the money, as the one just described. If you do not reckon your time at night and mornings, the whole outfit ought not to cost you more than 75 cts., including the chemicals and all. One charge for the five-gallon size ought to imbed about 1000 frames; but after you have put in about 200 frames you will need to let the battery " rest," i.e., recuperate itself, which it will do in about three or four hours; then you can imbed a couple of hundred more. The activity of the battery may be greatly assisted by stirring the solution occasionally while working it. We used this form of battery until last sea- son. During the fall, one of our young men of an electrical turn of mind constructed for us a small dynamo, which furnishes a current both for a storage battery which runs the phono- graph, and for imbedding foundation. All we have to do is to throw on the belt, and the current is ready at any moment. Of course, 106 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1. this arrangement is very much superior to the battery, but its cost is twenty or thirty times as much. THE DOVETAILED OR LOCK-CORNEK JOINT IN HEEI-HIVES; IS IT A FAULTY CONSTRUCTION? In the American Bee Journal, an interest- ing series of articles is being written by Mr. Emerson T. Abbott, under the caption, " Pro- duction of Comb Honey." In the second arti- cle, in the Jonrndl for Jan. 24, in referring to the right number of frames for a hive, he shows a decided preference for the eight - frame. Among other things, he says that such a size of hive does away with the necessity of contract- ing the brood-chamber at any time, and this, he adds, saves the expense of division-boards and contracting. So far we agree. In discuss- ing " the methods of putting hives together," there are some of his points with which I do not agree. "I have been led," he writes, "to wonder a great many times why the so-called dovetailed method has had such a run, as there seems to be some serious objections to it." As one of these objections, he thinks it has been wrongly named, and then proceeds to define the true dovetail. Surely a wrong name is not an objection to the thing itself. Regarding the name, I would say this was originally adopted because it is a term better understood by bee- keepers who have long been used to the same adjective when applied to four-piece sections. Of course, the same objection would apply to the sections. We have, in fact, all along, in referring to the hive in question, called it both dovetailed and lock corner; and our 189.5 cata- log, now ready to be mailed, distinctly refers to it as the dovetailed, or, " more properly speak- ing, the lock corner." Mr. Abbott further gives it as his opinion that this joint has nothing about it which ren- ders it superior to the ordinary halved plan, be- cause, he says, "it adds neither strength nor lightness;" and, further, that "it is much harder to set the hives up square, as one has to be very careful in nailing them." These objections hardly apply to hives of our manufacture — at least, those from our present automatic machinery. And on looking up our records I find that Mr. Abbott has never had any hives of us, of the dovetailed pattern, and I therefore wonder what sort of dovetailed hives he must have had experience with. If he could spend half an hour in our establishment, I'll bet a cooky we could convince him, without a question, that oi//- dovetailed or lock-corner joint is far stronger than any halved hive-joint, because (fctual tests, over and over again, have proved it in our shop. By the halving plan the boards bite on each other only half way; by the lock-corner plan the boards bite on to each other the whole way; and added to this is the friction of the lingers, as it were, hugging against each other. By the halved plan, the strength of the corner depends entirely on the nails: but not so in the lock corner. I have yet to see a dovetailed hive, wheu properly nailed, gap at the corners through the influence of the weather, for it is next to im- possible; but when the boards are put together by any other plan, a very large percentage (I think I should be safe in saying 50 per cent), after three or four years' time, will show a. slight gap, owing to the effects of the weather. In my travels among bee-keepers I have made this a particular point of observation. More- over, with the bee-keepers in Colorado, Califor- nia, and in other places where they have those hot winds and a glaring sun, nothing seems t& stand so well as the lock corner. These are facts, as I happen to know. Again, we have an unpainted hive of the dovetailed pattern in our yard, that has been exposed to the weather for six years. It is as good as new, so far as the corners are concerned. It shows not the slight- est trace of rotting along the notches. There is still another consideration: Dovetailed or lock-corner hives save freight, because four cleats of wood, an inch square, will hold se- curely 20 sides or ends of the hive, without any additional crating. By the use of our automat- ic machinery, the expense is very trifling; and this is more than made up by the great saving in crating, in lumber, and time of putting up- the hives. It follows, therefore, that, by dove- tailing, we save expense to the purchaser. Mr. Abbott does not like the Hoffman frames. I do not know how much he has tried them; but on this point I recognize that there may be an honest difference of opinion, and in view of this we have for several years back (as we do- this year) given our customers the option of a loose unspaced hanging frame. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAULT - FINDING AND KINDLY CRITICISM. I admire the courage of Mr. Abbott's convic- tions, for I believe that he is honest in them; and I admire, too, that quality in his writings that speaks out plainly, even when they run counter to the views of some of his friends. Indeed, I know he has a very high and warm regard for all the folks here at the Home of the Honey-bees, although he does not see some things as we do. We can always accept the crit- icisms of friends, and take them in the spirit in which they are written. We all prefer out- spokenness far more than outward palaver to- the face, and behind the back a dagger-thrust. We here at Medina welcome criticisms that are given in the spirit of kindness, and for the pur- pose of getting at the truth, and for correcting error; but we ignore those that are manifestly given for the purpose of unloading some pent- up feelings of animosity on the part of those who are constantly seeking something with which to find fault. There is a difference— yes, a wide one— between fan\t-fiyicliny and kindly criticism. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 107 ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA. Well, business has been all looked after. I have traveled all over the grounds, from down where the men are cutting ice on the carp-pond, all over the rooms, up stairs and down, through the greenhouses, and given directions for my ■department of the work until every thing seem- ed done for my six-weeks" absence as well as it could be done. After half an hour's ride on the ears we were obliged to wait four hours in the evening at ■Grafton, O.. for the train to Cincinnati. Now, we might have sat during the whole four hours in the waiting-room of the depot; but the stove smoked, the room smelled of something more unpleasant than simply coal smoke, and so I told Constance we would see if we could find a place a little more homelike. Just across the track was a hotel, and a pleasant-faced woman seemed to have charge of it. A nice homelike sitting-room was soon placed at onr disposal, with easy-chairs, sofa, and pillows— plenty of lamps, carpets, and all snrrs of homelike' fix- ings. She said there would not be any charge for simply waiting there until the train came, and even tried to refuse the coin I offered her. I, however, insisted that she should take it. I lold her folks couldn't keep a hotel and supply nice warm furnished rooms for nothing. I soon •appropriated the lounsre and pillow, for I very much needed a nap after mv busy day. After my rest I passed the pvening very agreeably with two of my favorite agricultural papprs, the Rural New-Yorker and Country Gentle- man. Let me disress enough to say that I have been continually surprispd for some time past to see what an exceedingly valuable paper, for high -pressure sardoning as well as farming, the Rural New-Yorher continues to be. When they put the price down to onlv ?l.on a year, it seemed to me next to impossible that it could te kept up to such a high standard of value: but they have held their own so long that it looks as if they were going to keep it up. Al- though it is weekly in its visits, it seems to me that single issues are frequently worth the price of the whole year. I presume the average waiting-rooms in our Tailroad stations are as comfortable as can be afforded under the circumstances; but when- ever there is a hotel near T certainly would will- ingly pay a quarter for the comforts of a home, for two or three hours. SOME HINTS ABOUT SHIPPING COMB HONEY. In Cincinnati we made a verv pleasant call on C. F. Muth. He and his son are. as usual, busy in the honev business, and perhaps this is •a good time to call attention to the fact that it is risky business trying to shin comb honey during zero weather. Somebody sent friend Muth a shipment, saying that he must have 14 cts. for it. He added, further, that, if any of the Taoney was broken in transit. Muth should not receive it from the railroad company, but pro- ceed to make them pay damages for said break- age. Now. there are three mistakes in the above method of doing business. In the first place, there should have been some corres- pondence with Muth before shipping him hon- ■ey; while in fact, as I imderstood it. there was none. Muth adverti«ed. as it seems, to pay 14 cts. for first-class white-clover honey; but none of this shipment was first-class, and a consider- able portion of it was really third or fourth class. Again, Muth isn't in the commission business. He buys outright; therefore it was out of the question to tell him. after it was shipped, that he could not have it for less than 14 cts. Third, no one can make a railroad com- pany pay for honey broken in transit, especial- ly when shipped in zero weather, unless it can be shown that the damage is in consequence of bad handling, and not through any fault of the shipper. Of conrse. friend Muth could have left the honey in the hands of the railroad company; in fact. I do not know but he renders himself liable in taking it from the depot; but quite a little of it was in such shape that it would have been a total loss if Muth had not taken it. put it in stone crocks, and awaited in- structions from the shipper. He told me he would willingly pav the freight and ship it all back to get out of a bad job, if the shipper would accept it. One reason why it broke out of the sections was that the honey was not securely fas- tened in by the bees all around. A careful study of the'directiors for managing, in our bre- jourhal, would have led the producer to remedy this matter. In fact, very much of the trouble in shipping honev has been on account of lack of attention in this one respect— getting the bees to fasten the honey securely to the wood of the sections clear around. I fear a good many bee-keepers do not understand this, or may be they have never seen a crop of strictly first-class comb honey. While in Cincinnati we were kindly enter- tained by the Rev. Norman Plass. former pas- tor of our church in Medina. He now has charge of the Vine St. Congregational Church, Cincinnati. I was much interested in looking through the church and various rooms for the Sunday-school. Endeavor Society, and other meetings of the young people, and I want to tell you about his SUNDAY- SCHOOL THERMOMETER. It caught ray eye as soon as I looked into the Sunday-school room, because it seemed to be some sort of scientific instrument. It is sim- ly a piece of wond, in shape, and lettered and graduated similar to a common thermometer- scale, only larger. It is a piece of board per- haps four feet long. Through the center of the board lengthwise a groove is cut about where the glass tube would come in a thermometer. In«tead of a glass tube, however, it has a large round cord stretched on pulleys, one pulley at each end of the scale. This cord, half its length, is dyed or painted black. The other half is left white. The superintendent, by pulling on the cord at the back of the instru- ment, runs what appears to be the column of mercury up or down, and this is the record of attendance. The pupils all watch eagerly to see whether the attendsince on any Sunday is high or low, the figures running from zero to 250 or 300°. (In smaller schools, say of 25 or .50, the scale may be made accordingly.) The sec- retary, after he has counted up the pupils, makes the thermometer show the number pres- ent where all can see it, and the high or low temperature, as von will notice, rests entirely on the efforts oif the pupils and teachers. If they want to make the mercury to stand high they must bestir themselves to bring as many as possible. While such an instrument may not indicate exactly the spiritual growth of the school, it at least approximates it. When we opened our eyes in the morning we were in the vicinity of Montgomery. Ala.; and as we turned eastward, toward Jacksonville, the deciduous trees began to give place to beautiful varieties of evergreens, pines, and magnolias, with here and there trees of various kinds 108 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1. draped vvith the beautiful Spanish moss. Oc- casionally, also, we got a glimpse of the pal- metto, or T.initdiiiii. Cotton-Helds are every- where; but. owing 1-0 the disastrous drouth of last season, a good deal of it was hardly worth gathering. Tiiis. in connection with the low price of cotton, might well make our Southern friends feel poor and discouraged. As we look out of the car-winJow, beautiful little ever- greens, less than a foot high, and from that up, greet us at every turn; also a beautiful under- growth, something in the line of rhododen- drons or laurels. All these, with occasiona glimpses of Th( 'liffcrent colored earth, make up a view varieu . interesting. I asked the porter if this red earth was not sometimes used for making paint. "Oh. yes!" he replied; "and one could get enough of it through Alabama and (Jeorgia to ' paint red ' the whole wide world." In this region, cellars seem to be unknown. The houses nre set up on blocks or brick piers, so that the wind can blow clear through under- neath. Well, perhaps they have no need of cellars to keep things from freezing: but I am sure I should want a cellar in which to keep things cool, and to keep potatoes, apples, etc., from wilting. Another thing, a cellar is perhaps more convenient where room is scarce, and a basement can be made without any expense for roofing. Out in the country most of the build- ings, especially the humble ones, are entirely destitute of windows. The only way they have of getting light is to leave the doors wide open; and even on this 17th d-iy of January, in the middle of the winter, the doors are open every- where. May not this fact of abundant ventila- tion account for the claim so often made, that, in many parts of Alabama and Georgia, people never die of consumption? that is, they never have it unless they contract it somewhere else. The chimneys are invariably built on the out- side of the cheap houses in this country. For some time I was puzzled to know the purpose of a small light ladder that stood near the chimney. I finally decided that it was to afford access to the loft. When it is time to put the children to bed, all that you have to do is to go outside and climb up the ladder, and this gives more room inside. PLANTING ON HIM,S1DRS TO PREVENT WASHING. I am delighted to find that the corn, cotton, and almost every other crop, is planted on un- even ground, so that the furrows curve (trimn fields are cut up and ruined. Now, this running the furrows across the hillsides has a value aside from preventing washing. During sea- sons of excessive wetness it takes the water off before it can be detrimental to the growintr crops. It also enables the ground to dry off quickly, so that cultivatina may go on speedi- ly, and even wh:ouri trip. About this time T struck a shell road, and, un- der the inspiration of this beautiful track, the exhilaration of the springlike air, and encour- aged by the chirping of the tree-toads, I de- clared to myself that I would follow that shell road wherever it wended, even if it took me twenty miles or more. Why, I never saw a finer wheel-track in my life. The graveled pikes in Western Ohio are in no respect better — hardly equal — because they are not on such a dead level. One can ride miles without touch- ing the handle-bar at all. After a. trip of about five miles, curving around through beautiful piny woods, palmet- toes, magnolias, and various glossy-colored un- derbrush, I came to the Jacksonville cemetery. As it was near the dinner-hour, after a hasty trip through the grounds I sped me home again, and made the trip of five miles in just 17J^ minutes, besides getting lost; and I might have been considerably longer had not Constance called to me from the aforesaid balcony above, asking me why I was spinning right past the house where I lived. Now, others may say what they please; but I for one think it pays to take a wheel along on a Florida tri[). just for the beautiful rides around Jacksonville, even if there shouldn't be any thing like it in any of 110 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1. the other towns. When I reached the end of the shell road, at one point I tried my hand at wheeling through Florida sand. I was obliged to give it up: but a lady informed me that the sand here \vas not a circumstance to what I should find in South Florida. On a pinch I could make better speed than to walk; but it was pretty hard work, if followed any length of time. THE ARTESIAN WELLS OF JACKSONVILLE. As I Started out early one morning to make explorations I noticed a place for watering horses; and as the water came out of the iron pipe it seemed to be steaming. On touching the pipe I found it quite warm. The water, too, seemed to be toward 70°. Later in the day I visited the artesian wells. Thi-re are three of them. The two first that were drilled were put down to a depth of (500 or TOO feet. The last one, which gives the largest volume of water, is down to something over 1000 feet. The con- stant temperature of the first two is about 70°. while the deepest is a little over 80°. Now this, you see, is warmer than we need our living- rooms; and, in fact, warm enough for tropical plants in a greenhouse. IJut no one has ever yet, that I know of. made use of this great storehouse of heat, lo warm buildings, to grow plants, or any tiling of this sort. Why, I should regard it as a mine of wealth for the purpose of giving an absolutely even temperature; and, by the way. I have not as yet found any thing around Jacksonville, in the way of market-gar- dening or growing vegetables, worth mention- ing. There is just one little dilapidated green- house, and this is used only for flowers. Why don't people make gardens where the bees are buzzing in the soft maples, and the tempera- ture seems to be just exactly right for many hardy vegetables? I said to the engineer of the waterworks, " Why, where does this water come from ? It's awav up above the ocean, and away above the St. John's River. Is there no elevated body of waier anywhere around that could furnish a supply of water for these wells that have been running for so many years?" •' Well, sir, this is a secret that no man has ever yet found out. There is no elevated body of water, and, for that matter, scarcely any elevated land anywhere near. There have been conjectures by scientific men that this water stratum extends clear up to the Cumber- land Mountains; but this, of course, is mere guesswork." This water as it comes from the wells is like that at Clinton, Mo. — sulphurous; and the bot- tom of the reservoirs and overflow streams is decorated with all the colors of the; rainbow. I supposed it was from the minerals it contained; but my friend the engineer explained: "Not minerals, Mr. Root, for this is almost absolute- ly pure water. These beautiful colors are the result of a species of moss, or alg;v, and this vegetable growth takes place only where the water is exposed to the sunlight. See here; we have one reservoir roofed over and bricked up so as to make it dark like a cellar. There is none of this growth in this reservoir at all; but where it is exposed to tiie full sunlight it grows very rapidly. It commences on the stone or sand at the bottom, where the sun can strike, and gradually iircaks loose and floats away, the warm temperature, 70 or 80°*, greatly facili- tating this vegetable growth. Here at the wells the water has a strong, sulphurous taste; ♦AnotVier tliinjr, whci'e does this S0° of lieat come from, 1()(H) feet below the surface? Is ii. possible tliis hiKh tcmpeniiuie iind the elevation of the wa- ter are in 80I1U' way coniH'cted ? If tlie water weri' forced up by .xfro hi, however, would it be possible for the water-pressure to lemaiii so perfectly even, year in and year out ': but after exposing it to the air as it pours over through the fountains, this odor at last disap- pears. You will notice, when drawn from the- hydrants in the city, it seems to be pure water, with scarcely any taste of the sulphur at all." Now, you see we have at least a partial explan- ation of the wonderful mossy covering of the ponds of spring water in Castalia, Erie Co., O.; and here is a solution, too, of the cause of the mossy giowth and covering surrounding the^ watering-troughs and streams from springs throughout our land. Put a box or tub around your spring, either of stoue, brick, or wood, then have a hinged cover over it to lift up, and you won't have any of this slimy moss or scum. All you have to do is to keep away the sunlight, and it can't grow. One of the agricultural pa- pers recently stated that wliitewashing a wa- tering-trough, or even placing a lump of lime in the water, would keep away the moss. You see the idea is, that the moss is a vegetable growth, and propagates itself, and grows in the spring water, simply because this water fur- nishes the desired temperature, especially where it flows out into the sunlight. And this slimy moss, then, really is not found at all, nor even the elements that go tomake i

FKOM CANADA. We notice, by the Prnctieal Fiinner of Jan. 5. that T. B Terry has been invited over to the Queen's domains. We make the following ex- tract: Ot e of tlie pleasant feiitures of the meeting' was a banquet. At 6 p. m. we moved fi'om the hall, where the work was done, to a g'i'eHt. room where luimerous tables were loadrd down with grood things to eat. besides being- most beautifully decor;ited with Howers. etc. As 1 waltced tbroug-li this beauti- ful spread, at the head of the procession, with the wife of my esteemed friend. President Mills, on my arm. I tlioug-lit that farmers were certainly most highly iionored iu Canada; and when it came to drinlviiiff (water) to the health of the Queen, 1 know tliat I did it as heartily as any one there. About 300 were seated at this feast, and eating and toasts, and speeches and merriment, made 34 hours pass away very quicklj'. Allow me to say the above is tiptop; but here is something of more special interest to bee-keepers, for it concerns the president of the N. A. B. K. A.: I feel particularly indebted to one of my best f ileiids. Sec. Holtermann, for giving' me a chance to see all these tilings with my own eyes and hear them with my own ears. Somehow we do not get a full idea from reports issm d by the Society. They are too modest. T. B. Terry. HITCHING-l'OSTS IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN. Inasmuch as I have had my say recently in the matter it may be hpst to give liie following from the Massillon Indeiiendent: MIGHT NOT WORK. A little reform in ihe matter of hitching horses in the business center would be gratefully accepted bj^ everybody. It could be accomplished without giv- ing offense to anybody, by the exercise ot tactriiit;-d. In it we describe and otter seeds and plants ot e\ cry thingwtirthy of cultivation in the way of Vegetables and Flowers, Small and Orchard Fruits, Hard\ Flowering Plants, Slirubs and Vines. Koses, Cannas, (iladiolus. Lilies, and other Bulbs, .\(iuatic Plants, Chrysanthemums, etc.. and give full iiisiructions for pruning, care, and culture. 1^^ TiiiiUwlniitnlrrauijiifUieahoir f/)c Gi'iuk !■•< mnilnl FREK. Tn thuxr who send TEN CENTS, and fiiti irhrre tlicij '^i^ Portland, Oregon. = I Bee=keepers. qiiiiiiMniMnMiiiMiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir? The New Craig Seedling Potato. For full description of tins Potato, see pag'e 95!) of this j()urii:il foi- Dec. 15, 1894. Prices: lib by mail, postpaid, 2;y cts.: 54 pei'k, by freight or e.xpress, Sl.Oii; 1 eck, *1.';5; '/j bushel, $8.00; bushel, $5.(0; barrel of II pecks, $1^.50. The above prices will liold good as loug as our stock lasts. All orders by mall will be filled as -soon as received. Orders by express will be shipped at once unless oidered oth- erwise. All orders foi' potatoes by freight will be tilled April I, or soon- after that time, unless direc tlons are given to ship at an earlier dnte. In this latter case I do not, assume responsibility for loss in freezing; but whore it is desirable to ship earlier, and customers have bad luck, I expect to help them out so far as 1 can consistently. In regard to my responsibility 1 would refer you to A. I. Root. Jn fact, where it is more convenient you can order po- tatoes of the A. T. Root Co., instead of sending your orders to me. GEO. E. CRAIG, Zimmer, Franklin Co., 0. B 4 U Buy 5ee''t Plants, Send for my Annual Cataluj; It is neatly gotun up; no old slei-eotyiied inat- U'v iibout it: nothing siMisational. The Best Varieties truthfully described and honestly priced. A. 1. Hoot says, "1 believe 1 ha\e read every catalog you have put out clear through, and I wish all seedsmen woiild tell us their ex- perience with difi'ei'ent varieties as frankly as you do." True l*i-i/.etaker onion seed and plants a specialty. Vegetable and small-fruit p ants of all kinds, trees, and supplies for gardeners. Send for free catalog at once, or send 10c for <-at- alog, a pkt. of a new smooth very earlj' tomato, a pkt. of the best new lettuce, a pkt. of true I'rizetaker onion, and a pkt. of choice flower seeds, all for lo cents. Christian Weckesser, Niagara Falls, N. V. SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AGENCY FOR A. I. ROOT'S BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES AT A. I. ROOT'S PRICES. RAWLINGS IMPLEMENT CO., Formerly Balto. F-arm Implement Co. Jobbers & Dealers in Farm Implements & Hachinery 209 S. Charles St., Baltimore, Md. :i;j-9eoi It won't hurt to LOOK OVER If if li/^ ? 1'' fill /'r . /I My new (50-page catalog for '95 before ordering - your hives, etc. Goods and prices are ALL Bright. J. M. Jenkins, Wetumpka, Ala. For Sale or Exchange. To close out my factory, machinery, and apiarian stock of all kinds, I will give purchaser a rare chance. Write me with enclosed stamp for partic- ulars. Must sell or exchange. Chas. L. Hill, Box 495, Dennison, 0. METAL WHEELS for your WAGONS Any Bize yon want, 20 to 56 in high. Tires I to 8 in wide— hubs to fit any axle. SavcN ('OHi many times in s seaiion to have set of low wheels to fit yonr waijon for hnnling ntert;iined at the homes of these genial Missourians on his return from the International Convention at St Joseph last fall. They have a very pleasant location at High Hill, and have a beautiful sti ck of bees. They have been prominent as queen-breeders for a number of .years. ;ind well deserve the success they have attained in that line. COLUMBIA PRUNING-SHEARS. The time for fruit-tree pruning is at hand, and already here in some sections. We have some- thing new in the way of a shear to offer, which is superior in many ways to ttie old style. The joint between handles and blade is so made as to give the blade a shearing movement, ensuring easy cutting. The blade also cuts in the center of lower jaw, the edge bedding in a hard paner filling. The handles are of malleable iron, smoothly polished. It is a superior tool, which will be appr-ciatcd. Price 3.5c;: by mail, .50c. BEMAN AUTOMATIC OIL-CAN. Who has not been annoyed by occasionally over- flowing a lamp when filling from the ordinary oil- can? If your can is such that you draw the oil from a faucet, have you not been annoyed by the can springing a leak around the faucet? These and oth- er difficulties are overcome by the can shown below. This is a plain can, with no openings except in the top, and no projections to get bumped and start a leak. The pivots in the side of the three and five galk)n sizes, t)n which they swing, consist of a steel rod running clear through the can, washered and soldered at each end, inside and out. Maimer nf Z7.si(((/.— Sitnply hold the lamp in posi-^ tlon on the Blling-tube, inserting as far as the tube will go in the lami>, and tilt the can over until the oil runs into the lamp, which will fill to the proper heiglit, and eeasr fldtviiKj automatically. Tilt the can back, raising the lamp at the same time to the first position; then remove the lamp, at the same time tilting the can backward until the oil in the tube runs back into the can, and there will be no drtp- ifhaicvrr. Principle of Couxtructiioi. — The can is provided with an air tight screw-cap. which should always be kept turned down tight. The filling tube, or spout, is double, one part connecting with the oil-space, and the other with the aii-space of the air-tight can. The oil rising in the lamp to cover the end of the tube, shuts off the air, or vent, and thereby auto- matically stops the flow. Three and five gallon sizes are made of galvanized iron, and have swing as shown. If more conven- ient, the stand can be hung on two hooks on the wall as a bracket, allowing the can to swing just the same. A one-gallon size, of tin, without swing, is also made. Price. 1 gallon, 35 cts.; 3 gallons, $1.25; 5 gallons, $1.50. 114 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE Feb. 1. PATENTS Careful attention erivcn to the prosecution of business before tlie IT. S. Patent Office. All business treated as .sfru'f/iy ('((((//(/(//((((f. No charg'e made for services in prosecutinji- ai>plication, until the pat- ent is allowed. SiMid for " Inventor's GuiuE." FRANKLIN H. HOUGH. 925 F STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C, Fruit Plants. .'%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/'^/%/^^%''%/%/%/% Whc^rC' to liiiy them nt whnle- s.-j'e /jj-i'oe.s. Send postal i-ard for descriptive and wholesale catalog'ue of all of the leadiiip varieties of S< /v»iv'>er-rie.s, Ra.s/>/>errje.s, Itlnc-lihorrie^, Currants, fjroo.so?>errie.>-i Cjri-fi/jo.s. iitid /'ofjjfoes. EZRA a. SMITH, Manchester, Ont. Co., N. Y. Pleasf mention thife paj^ter. BEGINNERS. HcginiKMs should have a copy of the Am- ] aleur ISce keeper, a TO-pag-e book by Prof. .1. W. House. Price 'St cents; if sent by mail, 3Sc. The little liook and the Progressive Bee Iveeper (a Uve prog-ressive:i8-page montli- ly journal) one year, t)5c. Address any first- class dealer, or , LEAHY MFG. CO., Higginsville, Mo. ' P— 1 1 — 1 1 — •\ r— 1 "' -I -r- — w ■ .^ 1 - 1 " ■ ■ - ' ' 1 -4_^ ' ] . ^r^ ■ ^ . ,_ J '. — 1 — . 1 —, - i irk-A &i^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ F5 K M .*?cSi 8 Send 6 ctt. for catalogae ad full treatise on spraying. Circulriis free. Address WM.STAHL,Quincy,lll.^ MUTHS HONEY EXTRACTOR. Square Glass Honey-Jars, Tin Buckets, Bee-hives, Honey Sections, Etc., Etc. Perfection Cold-blast Smokers. APPLY TO CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. V. S.— Send 10-ct. stamp for •' Practical Hints to Bee-keepers.' HOW TO SIZE UP A FENCE AGENT. When "pestered" beyond endurance, give 'em a "civil service exam." like this: Q. Are you a fence agent for revenue only? Were you ever a lightning rod peddler? (Tf 'yes,' fire him, if 'no' go on). Are you apraciical farmer';' Know what constitutes a good farm fence? Have you thoroughly Icsted it your- self? Has anyone used it nine years? Will they buy more? Is It very elastic? If he a nswers yes to the last six, give him an order, for he represents the PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. »38'"ln re.sponaiDg to tnis advertisement mention Gi,kamng& DEFORE placing your orders for SUPPLIES, write " for prices on One-Pieoe Basswood Sections, Bee- Hives, Shipping-Crates, Frames. Foundation. Smo- kers, etc. PAGE & LYON MFG. CO., 8tfdb New London. Wis. !!miirRyO?RSef f?A-™5i -i-Ci^>:^I„e,ibiit«r .UiuJe. Hatclics .'■"''^fvery eg^ tluit ii hen could liatcli; HeKuliites itself auto- inatically: Heduces the cost ot poultry raisini? to a miiKiiiiini , bend for Illustrated Cata!(i-4ue ' 1 fiO Kee size 81 «.00. SIHPLEX MAM r'G. CO. Ouincv. IJI. Promptness is What Counts. Honey-jars, Shipping-eases, and every thing that bee-keepers use. Root's Goods at Root's Prices, and the Best Shipping=point in the Country. Dealers in Honey and iJeeswux. Catalog free. WALTER S. POUDER, 162 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. flease mention this paper. PATENT WIRED COMB FOUNDATION lifts No Sfjy ill lirood-frames. Thin Flat - Bottom Foundation Eas no Fishbone in ths Surplus Eose^. Being the cleanest, it is usually worked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, i2tfdb Sole Hanufacturers, Sprout Brook, Montgomery Co., N. Y. OKENS BY STEAM WITH THE MODEL ^ EXCELSIOR INCUBATOR. TlioiisiiiidM in Suc- ces.slul Operation. SIMI'LE, I'KRFKCT, „nd SELF-KEGVLA TING OuaranteccI tohatcha larger percentage of fertileeggs, at less cost, than any other Incubator. Send6c.for Illus.Oatalog. Circulars Free. EO. II. STAHL.114tolg8 9.fithSt..Qulncy,lll. ONE MAN WITH THE UNION COMBINATION SAW Can do the work of four men us- ing hand ti)ols, in Kipping, Cut- ling off, Mitering, Rabbeting, (irooving. Gaining, Dadoing, l',dging-up, .lointiug Stutf, etc. Full Line of Foot and Hand )wer Machinerv. Sold on Trial . Oitdloii Free. UUoi SENECA FALLS MFC. CO., 44 Water St., Seneca Falls, N Y. tyin respondinfr to this advertisement mention Gleaninos. onSODaysTrial F.iisy, durable and ^clieap. A radical :'ure effected. Send for sealed catalogue. GUULKSTUN TKl'SS I'U., nasonle Temple, Cblesgii, Ul. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. IHi Largest Factory in the West. COMI'LliTE STOC /v. GOOD SUPPLIES and LOW PRICES, Our Motto We are liere to serve yoii. iiiid will if you givf us a chance. Cafa/oa-ue i-roe. Address l-6ei LEAHY MANUFACTURING CO , Higginsville, Mo. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES FOR 1895. Such as Dovetailed Hives, Seclions, Comb Foundation, Extractors, and every thing: else used by a bee- keeper. Alllate improved g-Qods. Immense stock. Goods sold at wholesale and retail. Write for our D/SCOU/\/TS FOR EARLY ORDERS. Alsike clover and Japanese buckwheat furnished at lowest market price. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDER, Des Moines, Iowa. bred from my original strain of Maryland Italians, which has given such g-eneral satisfaction as honey-producers. Untested (pieens ready March Isi. i^l.Od each; H for 1.') (H). Write for prices on lai'Ke lots and special I'ircuiar. Safe arrival gniaranteed. Chas. D. Duvall, San Mateo, Florida. Florida Queens 3-7ei .\ddre8s until April 1.5, FRUIT TREES, SMALL FRUITS, VINES. ROSES, ORNAMENTALS, Crates & Baskets. TIMBRELL Strawberry. lackberry. **They SURPASS all others," say K. S. Carniiin, /:vriil Xrw Yorkn-. ,nncl TT. E.Vnndcniaii. I'. S. Dept NEW FKUITsj a Siieeialty. Buy direct. Don't i)av doiililc pric-s. Illiistratcil ('atalc)t,'ue Free. REID'S NURSERIES, Bridgeport, Ohio. AKE THEIR OWS TRTTE AB VEKTTSEMEXT. The beiat always chenpext. Ele- eant caluloKueot'KiM paueiii free. Aesjelnble i«ii plfU> itloli thi^ pupi 130 GLEANOGS IN BEE CULTURE. Vv.n. 15 Honey Column CITY MARKETS. Boston.— Ho7iej/.— Our market coiiiinue's without rhang-o. Comb honey, 13@14;* extracted, 5@6. Pure beeswax is wanted, at jrood prices. No stock on hand, witli some inquiry. E. E. Blake & Co., Feb. S. Boston, Mass. Detroit.— flofiej/.— Honey is selling: slowly. Best white comb continues to be (iiioted at U®>].^: other ffrades, 11@13. Considerable in siglit. Extracted, 6@7. Beeswax, 26@i27; demand good. M. H. Hunt, Feb. S. Bell Branch, Mich. Cleveland. —Honfj/.— Honey is moving- very slow- ly at about the same prices as quoted in last issue on account of the cold weather. No. 1 white comb, 1-lb. sections, is selling: at ]4@15; No 3, i2@Vi. No. 1 water-white extracted, H@8. Beeswax, 2.")@:i6. Williams Bhos., Feb. 7. 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland, O. Alkai.ka Honey, very white, thick, and rich. Two (5t)-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples. 8c. eift Oliver Foster, Las Animas, Col. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market BATTERSON & CO. Responsible, Retiabie, Commission Merchants, igtfdb and Prompt. FAY'S Are a paying crop to grow for market. PROLIFIC T have a l;iige quantity of e.\tra strong RED well-rootfd buphes lor sale cheap. CURRANTS FffED. H. BURDETT, CLIFTON, NEW YORK. Albany.— Honei/.— Consignments of comb honey are arriving in bad order, due to t lie extreme cold weather. Clover is selling at 12@13; buckwheat and mixed, 8@10. There has been a good demand for extracted buckwheat, and our large stock is nearly all sold; .5@6e is the ruling price. White will bring @6. Batterson & Co.. Feb. 7. Buffalo, N. Y. Cincinnati. -HoNcj/.— Demand is slow for all kinds of honey. Comb honey brings 14@]6 in the jobbing way for best white. Extracted. 4@7; sup- ply fair. There is a good demand for beeswax at 22 @,'£H for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son. Feb. 7. Cincinnati. O. Chicago.— floHe.i/.— Owing to extremely cold weather there has been very little comb honey sent out. but our market continues to rule at 14(5 15 for the best grades of white; dark uncertain at 8@10; a good light amber sells at 12c. Very little trade in extracted honey: prices range from hWic, accord- ing to quality, color, and flavor, and style of pack- age. Beeswax brings 27®28 for the ordinary run. R. A. Burnett & Co., Feb. 7. 163 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Phil.adelphia.— Hr<)(» y.— Comb honev slow sale. and in poor demand at \\@\'i. Extracted in good demand and limited supply, at .5@6>^. Pure bees- wax very scarce, and in good demand at 30c. Wm. a. Selser, Feb. 11. 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. Closingout balance of mvflne extracted basswood honey at 7c f. o. b. Who is not supplied ': Elias Fox, Hillsboro, Wis. We yet have extracted alfalfa at $7.80 per box of 120 lbs. AiKtN Bros., Loveland, Cok). WANTED.-5000 lbs. clear yellow beeswax, at 27c casli; alsosevt^ral tons pure extracted honey that does not contain basswood or buckwheat; also several tons pure extracted white-clover honey, at 10c; send samole and quantity before shipping, to W.M. A. Selser, 10 Vine St., Philadelphia. Pa. ITlOR SALE.— Alfalfa comb honej', snow white, 12c; partly from Cleome, light amber, lie. D. S. Jenkins, Las Animas, Col. Crane Smoker 1895 Pattern. This excellent smoker was in- troduced some two years ago, since which time it has worked itself ra]iidly into i)opular favor. r^^v Its Distinctive Feature is the Crane N'alve. by which the full force of the bellows is secured without wa.ste, and by which also smoke is i)revcnted absolutely from going uito thf bellows. The Legs are of Skeleton Malleable Iron, contracted at the feet so as to be out of the way of the lingers in handling, and are se- ciiiefl to the bellows by bolts inste:id of screws. The Shield is of Light Corrugated Tin, and bays n(>.\t to tlicbeliows, thus gl\ ingainple protection from heat. The Cone Top easily tilts back for re= l)lenishing llie smoker, and is secured liy a miilleable-ii-on hinge, the working parts of whieli are milled Ml as ti> insure accurate ad- .jiistinent to I he stoxe or cup. As to Fuel, it will burn any thing, in= chiding Soft Coal. Stovewiiod. Planer-shavings; audit makes no difference how much the lat- ter may be crammed down in the cup, thei-e will be the same strong blast as before. Price. 3j-inch barrel, >81.H5, post- paid: or $1.50 by fi^t. or exp. The A. I. Root Company, Medina, Ohio. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. l:.'l Contents of this Number. A|iiar.v, Pival's 1:14 1 Hoiiev-bee Concert Artificial lee . UrnHdiieV packages Bee lu't-piiijj'. Minratiirv, Bef-lii'c|iiim a Specialtv. Hdaidinan. )1 R t^aliliHjjc I'alnn.tti) Calilniiiiu Kclu.t's Dovctailc.l riiatf Hive... Eaitoi- ill Floiiila Klertiopni.e Kfcdiiin- Ba<-k Fi\c liaiiclei's. Advene ti Hive. Dinetaileil f'l'atT.. Hive.-^. Cliatr. in ('ellai... Hives. Size of Bofnis. loiiree'i •iai lie...k,:epiMK-'. It Prval' vyv Ques i:ri,Tieiiiijr r|, tioii.. ateVl'. CONVENTION NOTICES. Tlie riali Bee-keepers' Assoeiatioii will liokl its senii-aiimial iiieetiiitiT on Tlmrsilay, April 4. at 111 A.M., in the Fisli Coiiiiiiis- sidiier's looms, in tlie new eitv and eouiitv bnildint;-. Halt Lake ^'itv. GKO. E. Dl'DLKY, See.. PidV.i. I'tall. ' iie.Nt ainnial meeting of tlie C'ential California Bee-keep- .ssociation will take place in Relnia. Cal., on Wed., March .J. F. Flory, Sec. Leniooie. Cal. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under tiiis head at one-half our usu- al rates. All advertisements intended for this department must not exceed five lines, and you must say you want your adv't in this department, or we will not be responsible for er- rors. You can have the notice as man.v lines as von please, "but all over five lines will cost you according: to our reenlar rates. This department is intended only for bona fide ex- ohanpres. Exchanges for cash or for price lists, or notices of- fering articles for sale, can not be inserted under this head For such our regular rates of 20 cts. a lino will >)o charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements We can not l)e responsible for dissatisfaction arising from these "swaps." YOTTNG MAN with some exi^ericuce in bee-keep in^- wovilcl like position with a practiciil nniiirist wliere lie ean thoroughly learn the business. An Eastern State preferred. Good references. F. C. JoNFS, Jr., 99 So. 10th St., Newark, N. .T. WANTED.— To e.xchanpe a 10-inch Koot founda- tion-mill, g-ood as neWjfor liives in flat, or sec- tions i\i,xiM, 1 to foot. A. W, Gahdner, Centreville, Mich. WANTED. --.Supplies, hoiie.y, or offers, for improved Monitor incubator and brooder in perfect Cf)n- dition. S. Howarth, Florissant, Col, w ANTED —Position in apiary; experience, g-ood leference, singrle. E. H. FUHRMAN, Pleasant Home, O. WANTED,— To exchange supplies and other g-oods for honey, O. H. Hyatt, Shenandoah, Iowa. 30tf WANTED.— To exchange several grood safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample, J, A, Green, Ottawa, III, WANTED.— To exchang-e 200 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation, Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark, WANTED.— For spring: planting-, apple, quince, currants, g:ooseberr.v. strawberry, in exchang-e for g-olden qaeens, in June. J, F. Michael, Greenville, O, W ANTED,— To exchange bee-sui)plies for either Gem or Cig'ar-box planer. E, J, Shay, Independence, W, Va, Ij^OR OFFERS, -One No, :.' Automatic grauge lathe, and 1 improved g-aug:e lathe (for handle-making). Let me know a good loctition for a custom sawmill, some one, W. S. Ammon. Reading, Pa, WANTED.— A quantity of drawn combs, eitf I .T, Stkingham, 10.5 Park Place, N, Y, w .■\NTED.— To exchange telegraph stock for bees or nursery stock in spring, ) "W, G, Chamberlain, Pittstield, Me, WANTED.-To exchange alfalfa seed and span mare mults, for nuclei and queens and bass- wood tree.s, eoi Bert, W, Hopper, Garden City, Kan, fl,' ANTED.— To excliange one double stereoptlcon ft outfit, consisting of a oak-timshed lanterns to burn Willi a lam]) or lime light, with 1 pair of Dar- let lens, with dissolving keys and s.iturator, with 9'Z plain and colored views suitable for exhibitions and advertising, valued at $12,5.(1(1, for liand-saw, stand- ard make, oi- any kind of macliineiy that 1 could use, W, H WoHLEY, Keokuk, Iowa, WANTED,— By an apiarist, 1(1 .yi ars' experience, a position with some man making a specialty of tee-keeping or supjily work, J. B. Henderson, Roney's Point, W, Va. Box 96. WANTED.-To exchange a Barnes combined foot- power saw, for L. brood-frames of comb, and nucleus hives, or offers. J. E. Henderson, Elm Grove, W. Va. Box T. WANTED.— To exchange Merritt typewriter, dou- ble cinch saddle, runabout sleigh with shafts, Demaz lathe and scroll saw, for bicycle, or otters. Describe wheel. S. ( ', Snow, Blakesburg, Iowa, WANTED,— To exchange the best paper-shell pe- cans known, for onion-sets, asparagus roots, or moss such as nurserymen use for packing trees, E, E, KisiEN, San Saba, Texas, WANTED,— To correspond with bee-keepers in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, in regard to the hone.v crops; also the price of land. Address John Burr, Braceville, 111. 500 Barrels Sweet=Potato Seed. Yellow .lersey, best variety, 13.00 per barrel. Red Spanish, Red Bermuda, and Jersey Queen, $4.00 per Inurel; .5sj discount On 5-barrel lots. Our stock is tine. Order now and secure a sup- pl,V at reasonable prices. K. M. AlAH^\j>», :i-7ei Bojv l^:i, Terre Haute, Ind. Inc M ^mifh I'erkiomenville, Pa., breeder of jaa. JTl. OIUIllI, 16 leading varieties of Poultry. Eggs, $1.00 per 15. Catalog free. pOR SALE.— 40 acres of choice, healthy pine-land, ■ partly cleared, with house and barn, near P. O., K mile from Gulf; fine bee-range, for only $700 ! Reason, having two places. CHAS. NORMAN, St. Petersburg, Jla, Dovetailed Hives. Sections, Extractors, Smokers, and everything ;i Bee-keei)ers wants. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. (iO-page cata- log free. J. M. JENKINS, Wetumpka, Ala. Read what J, 1. Parent, of Charlton, N, Y., says — "We cut with one of your Combined Machines last winter 50 chaff hives with 7-inch cap, 100 honey- racks, 500 broad frames, 3,000 lioney-boxes, and a great deal o€ other work. This winter we have doubled the amount of bee- ^ 'lives, etc, to make, and we ex- '^pect to do it all with this saw. "It will do all you say it will." Catalogue auu Price I-ist free. Address W. F. & JOHN BARNES, 545 Ruby St., Rockford, 111. When more convenient, orders for Barnes' Foot- Power Machinery may be sent to The a. I, Root Co. eiotf Please mention this paper 122 GLEANFNCJS IN BEE CULTURE. Kki{ K Over $5.00 Is what it costs to take, the leading bee - journals, even if secured at clubbing-rates. The Bee-keepers' Review endeavors to give the ckeam of all these journals, and it costs only fl.OO. If you can't afford to take all of the journals, yet wish to be well informed in apicultural matters, try the Review. W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Hich. LISTEN HERI !W-Page lice-Book FREt To every New Subwfriber sending- $1.00 tor the Wt-ekly American Bee Journal for a year. (The book is " Be^s and Honey " by Thos. G. Newman). Besides articles from the best bee-keepers, the Bee Journal nnw h is(i Department Editors— Mrs. Jennie Atchley in "The Sunny Southland;" " Canadian Bee lom " by " Bee-Master;" •' Questions and Answers " by Dr. C. O. Miller; "Notes and Comment ," hiPres E. I'. Abbott; " Doctor's Hints" on good health, by Dr. Pelro; and " Among the Bee- Papers " by " Gleaner," who gleans the best from all the bee-papers each week. Space f Tbids t lling more. Better send lor Free Sample Copy, or %1 00 as per above offer JSP" 20-€ent «"rlal Trip i.'i months o"- 13 wks.) to New subscribers Address, GEORGE W. YORK & CO., 56 FIFTH AVE., CHICAGO, III. E. KRETCHHER, RED OAK, IOWA, •'It V SEXDS FREE HISS CATALOG OF 72 ILLUSTICA'PED PAGES: DESCHIBES EVERYTHING USED IN THE APIARY; BEST GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES. CAPACITY ONE CAKLOAD .\ DAY. WHITE Al' ONCE POK HIS CATALOG. I told you so. Mi)i. Atclili'u:- The one-frame nucleus 1 got of you last .spring gave me 12(1 well-tilled one-pound sections. J. A. Smith, Heber, Utah, Oct. 9, 1894. Now, haven't 1 told .you that it will pay to send bees nt)rtli in the spi ing ? One-frame nucltus, $1.00; 10 or more, 90c each. Bees by pound, same price. LTntested queens to go with them, 75c each. I'ntested queens by mail, $1.00 each; $5.00 forH; $9.00 per dozen, till June; after, 75c each; $+.25 for 6, or $8.00 per dozen, i breed the lenther-colored Italians, 5 bands, and Carniolans, in separate yards, at safe distance. Tested. 3 bands, $1.50 each; 5 bands or Carniolan.s, $3.50 each. Fine breeders of either race, or imported queens, $5.00 each. Full colonies with untested queens. $6.00, Ask for discounts to dealeis, and l)v quantities. The only steam bet-liive factory in' south Texas. Root's goods, Dadant's foundation, and Bingham smokers. Safe arrival on every thing guaranteed. Send for FREE catalog that tells all about riiising queens. JENNIE ATCHLEY, Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. TOE have a large stock of SECTIONS now ready, " both No. 1 and No. 3. Write for special prices on winter orders in large or sniiill lots, including all other Supplies. Also Berry Crates and Baskets made up or in flat. Addiess BERLIN FRUIT BOX CO,, ®'^^ BERLIN Heights, O. Woodcliff Business Queens. price in (juantities. Send for descriptive catalog. To please nil. am bi'ceding both Lcatlu'i-colored and (iolden iVlurided Italians. H:ive live apiaries, :! to 5 miles apart, iiinning :>.")0 nuclei. Vour ordeis tilled Q promptly. Can fuiiiish ttt^C^rXC -t>a7it/ecf ^>ees, too. Queens, bred for business from tins stock, will I e sent in 1895 for $1.00 each until May; per doz., $8.00. Circular free. J. B. CASE, Port Orange, Fla. • DELVOTE-D. •AND Honey •AND home:- Publishedy THE^A it^OO'f Co. .ia°P[RYtAR^'N@ HEDINA-OHIO' Vol. xxni. FEB. 15, 1895. No. 4. 23° nELOvv ZERO, Feb. 5— the lowest point up to that date. The beginning of the series of articles on extracted honey, by Chas. Dadant, in A. B. J., is something in the line of an historical treat. The British Bee Journal thinl^s it is not an extravagant estimate to suppose the British Isles could produce annually 5250 lbs. of honey. An apiary of 34 colonies on top of a four- story building in Philadelphia is reported in A. B. J. Averaged 50 lbs. per colony in 18U2 and 18'.)3. " Does it pay for the trouble to pack bees in the spring after taking out of the cellar? " is a query in A. B. J. Sixteen say no, five say yes, and a few give mixed answers. The a. I. Root Co. seems to be putting branch houses everywhere. Please give the street and number of the Marengo branch, so I can save freight from Medina. At Rockford. III., convention, several cases of killing bees by spraying fruit-bloom were re- ported. One man sprayed his plum-trees while in bloom, and killed 30 colonies of bees. I THOUGHT Doolittle was a Prohibitionist. But from the way he scatters around sawdust at intervals on the bottom of his bee-cellar, it's evident that he's quite familiar with the ways of the saloon! "Foul brood" and "compulsory powers" are words seen very frequently in connection in the British Bee Jourudl nowadays, which means they're making strong efforts to have foul-brood laws. "I FIND no difficulty," says J. Martin, in Ji. B. /., "in retailing over half a ton of ex- tracted honey every season at one shilling per Mb. bottle." Think of it: $250.00 for 1000 lbs. of extracted honey, and the bottles to hold it! W. Stokes, Balnastraid, Scotland, writes: " I am very successful in wintering. I use an outer case, giving about two inches between it and the hive. This space I pack with mats made of rye straw, which gives warmth and ventilation." G. K. Hubbard reports in ^. -B. J. that in moving his bees by wagon 50 miles he laid " a small, tightly rolled roll of burlap across each end of the frames before nailing fast the cov- ers." That kept the frames in place without other fastening. It's doubtful if any one overlooks that ad. on p. 112. It won't hurt that chap to "look over" providing he moves cautiously; but a sudden dodge backward might be fatal, for the size of his lip is altogether out of proportion to the allowance of neck. A new departure in the way of programs is that of Wisconsin for their winter conven- tion. Not a speaker or essayist is mentioned, but eight thoroughly practical topics are nam- ed for discussion, with no hours named. I bet you they'll have a good time. Herr Reepen, the Centralhlatt epitomist, met a box-hive man with 450 lbs. of wax on his wagon who had harvested 6000 lbs. of honey, making him a net income of $625. Herr Reepen agrees with many others that box hives should still hold a place in the heather regions. I don't know who wrote this beautiful verse, but it's what I wish for all the Gleaning.s family: Not to be tuneless in old age. Oil ! surely blest, his pilgrim agre, Who in his winter's snow Still sings with note as sweet and clear As in the morning of the year When the first violets blow. Where ARE WE at? Gleanings, page 104, talks of voting for men, "irrespective of party." What will become of our country if it comes to that pass that a man isn't ready to sacrifice any thing and every thing for " the good of the party " ? Allee samee, I indorse what is said about our Eugene, and add that he's no office Secor. Here's how Jas. Poindexter treats colonies that have swarmed, the same having clipped 124 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 15. queens: " The queen is caged and placed un- der the alighting-board, when the swarm soon returns, and at the end of seven days she is re- leased in the hive. Usually this stops any further swarming during the season by colonies thus treated."—^!. B. J. Thk yeky same. First Small Boy. — We had a little baby come from heaven to our house last night. Second Small Boy.— Huh', that's nothin': we had one went to heaven from our house last night. First Small Boj/.— Say, Pete. Fli bet it's the same kid. An American mixture that's sure cure for foul brood is mentioned in B. B. J., and that skeptical journal expresses doubts about it, and says something about "wooden nutmegs." Now look hero. Mr. J. Bull; we own up to the wooden nutmegs, but we don't want the humbugs of all creation saddled on us; and when one is gotten up on British soil, please don't put our label on it. What a bit of spite can be shown by empha- sis on some little word! When Mary marries John, Sarah (who has failed to catch him) says, "I hope Mary will be happy with him," and the special emphasis on that word " hope " pre- dicts dire calamity for Mary. And now "ye editor" says, p. 104, "I hope the doctor's past record will enable him to live down such a re- port." Why couldn't he hush it up. as I do his failings? That's a nice scheme of A. I. Root, to have a gain of a year by cutting crimson clover in time to plant corn on the ground; but, pray, where are the poor bees to have a chance then? Per contra. C. E. Thorne reports from Ohio Ex- periment Station in Stockman: "We have nor yet succeeded in getting a satisfactory stand of this clover at the Experiment Station, though several attempts have been made, nor have we heard of its being successfully grown in this latitude. HIVES, LARGE VS. SMALL. small hives moke pkofitabI/E. and why; a careful kkview of the whole matter. Jiy H. R. Baardnuoi. I have been discussing the matter in my own mind for some time as to whether any thing more could be protitably said upon this already thoroughly canvassed subject. I am quite sure, when the arguments are all in, could the vote be taken, no change would be noted in the use of hives. It could not be possible that all of the bee- keepers in this great diversified land, from the cold North to the sunny South, could agree upon the same kind of hive, either in size or style. Methods must be as various as the climate. This question of hives, then, is largely a mat- ter of locality. I can speak for my own locali- ty only, as to what hives or methods suit me best. I would not presume to discuss with the bee-keeper of the South or West as to what is best for his locality. Much depends, too, upon what is sought to be accomplished — whether the apiarist is work- ing for comb or extracted honey, or both to- gether; whether he wants increase, or wants to prevent increase; whether he wants to se- ll. R. BOA ROMAN. cure all possible of the hom^y gathered, and supply its place by feeding, or depend entirely upon natural sources. It seems to me that, for the ijroduction of extracted honey, the liering- up feature would be indispensable, whether the hive used were large or small: and it also ap- pears to me, that a small hive is better adapted to this purpose than a large one. But I am a specialist in comb honey, and perhaps had bet- ter consider the qtu^siion from that standpoint alone. In order that my prejudices as well as my preferences be more clearly understood I will describe my hive: It is an eight- frame hive, taking a frame V2f.^ xl% in., inside measure. You will see that this enables me to use a wide frame for sections that holds 0 sections. 0 frames to the hive, or 54 sections in a hive. I have lecently, within two 18ii5 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 135 or three years, commenced using 9 frames in my eight-frame hive, in a space of 12 in., and the number so used is increasing eacii year. It gives some advantages that I will not describe here, only to say it gives very nice combs; so you may put me on record as favoring the eight-frame hive with 1) frames in it, and with the tieriug-up feature. Let me say, first and last and all of the time, that, in an experience of 3.T years, I have found my hive large enough for every time and place. There are two principal points which I take into consideration in deciding the proper size for a hive: I want it large enough to hold suf- ficient winter stores, and also to furnish about the right capacity for brood for the average queen — average, I say, for I have never been able to have all of my colonies breed up uni- formly. Some queens will outdo and go ahead of the rest, w hile others will fall behind. It is a prominent feature of my work in the bee- yard during the early part of the season, when the bees are building up rapidly, to equalize the strong and weak colonies: and until I have all of uniform strength in the yard, and all built up to the full capacity of the hive. I think I have no need of more room: and with all in this condition I feel that I am well prepared for the beginning of the honey-harvest. I do, however, build up extra strong colonies some- times by tiering up, which I will describe here- after. For winter stores I would consider it poor economy to have a hive larger than required, when well filled, to carry the bees through, and have the honey all cleaned out at the beginning of the honey-harvest. I should rather feed a little to bridge over than to furnish hive room, and tug in and out of winter quarters a lot of old stores that are worse than useless in the hive. In the early days of my bee-keeping expe- rience I used to buy bees in old box hives, and transfer them to movable-frame hives. These hives were of all shapes and sizes, and my work upon them gave me an excellent opportunity of observation, and I availed myself of this op- portunity. Proper size of hives was one of the things I had in mind, and I satisfied myself that a brood-chamber of about :?000 cubic inches was near right; and the experience of many years since has confirmed that decision. In many of the largest of the box hives that I transferred, I found old stores that had been carried over from year to year until it was thick and waxy. I could not see how the colony could be benefit- ed by this surplus of stores: and unless a knowl- edge of the reserve gave them a sense of secu- rity, I decided that such hives were too large. When hives were so small that brood-rearing had to be economized, I decided that these were too small. LARGE SWAKMS FKOM BIG HIVES. There has been a great deal said from time lo time about large hives giving large swarms — big booming swarms— and much heavy argu- ment is brought forward to show the profit of these large swarms, and consequently the ad- vantage of large hives. Now. isn't it a fact that the size of the swarm depends almost en- tirely upon the queen. Would any queen pro- duce any larger swarm in a large hive than a small one, so long as she was not restricted in laying and the bees were furnished room? I think it is the laying capacity of the queen that regulates the size of swarms almost entirely. Now about the economy of large swarms. How large would it be economy to have swarms? Of course, there is a limit beyond which it would not pay to go. A large swarm costs just as much per pound to raise as a small one; and who can tell what is a big booming swarm — how many pounds of bees? So far as I can re- member, no one has thought to tell us just how many pounds of bees there are in a big booming swarm that issues from a big hive. If we had a big pile of bees, as we sometimes do in the swarming season, when several swarms go together, how many would it be profitable to put together in a hive in dividing them up? I have sometimes hived these big abnormal colonies all in one hive, and given them room, and watched them with expecta- tion of wonderful results. To be sure, they work very rapidly at first, and do more than an ordinary colony; but they never come up to my expectation. They soon become normal in size, and never make a record that will compare with the same amount of bees in two colonies. During the swarming season last year my bees were in what I called very fair strength. In order to know just what my swarms were, I set them on the scales and weighed them be- fore shaking them out of the basket. I found them to weigh 7 to Tjo lbs., from single eight- frame hives. I could never see much gained by having swarms much larger than this. BUILDING UP COLONIES BY TIERING UP. I find no difficulty in getting brood reared in two hives by tiering up. In fact, I had thought that more brood could be secured by this meth- od than any other I had ever tried. It involves some extra labor, and requires plenty of stores, unless honey is coming in. When a colony be- comes strong, and needs more room, if a hive of empty combs be placed on top oroverit. the bees will soon occupy it. and the queen will not be long in following. The empty combs, with a strong force of workers, make the conditions favorable for the queen to do her best, and she will not be long in filling the combs with brood. I do not expect the queen to continue laying in both hives at the same time. I do expect, and am not often disappointed, when the queen goes above, that she will continue work in the upper hive until it is full of brood; and unless honey is coming in, the bees will remove a considera- ble portion of the honey above also, thus leav- 126 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1.5. ing the lower set of combs empty, or nearly so, as fast as the brood hatches. My hive being deep, no doubt gives different results from a shallow one. Bees are inclined to occupy the upper hive when tiered up. This I call forcing the queen. I can, if I wish to continue brood- rearing longer in both hives, set the bottom hive on top. and it is in the most favorable con- dition to tempt the queen above again. But it is not economy to push brood-rearing far into the honey season. The tiering feature I find valuable in uniting colonies. I just place one colony over the other, with a honey-cloth or oil cloth between, with a corner turned so that a small passageway en- ables them to get acquainted, and. after a few days, remove the cloth, place the hive to be oc- cupied on top, with the queen. In the same way I unite colonies when they are set out of winter quarters; but no cloth is necessary between the hives, nor is it necessary to kill one of the queens. Being of the same scent, they unite without confusion; and often both queens continue work for some time. There has been much of the best thought of our best apiarists expended in devising methods by which brood-rearing could be judiciously en- couraged early in the season, when the colonies are light, and are struggling against vicissi- tudes of weather, with a large amount of brood to care for. Contract the brood-nest by use of division-boards and dummies, the use of cush- ions, and packing and care resorted to for the purpose of protecting the colony and econo- mizing the heat. But these are all expensive, and involve much labor and continual fussing, and I think they are only arguments in favor of smaller as well as more properly constructed hives. I have not called attention to the advantage of a small hive over a large one, in the lifting, carrying in and out of winter quarters, etc. The ground has all been gone over, but this I consider an important item not to be overlooked. After all, the question is not whether A can get better results with a large hive than with a small one, but whether A can get better results with a large hive than B can with a small one under the same conditions. East Townsend, Ohio. [For a long time I have been more and more convinced, from various talks that I have had with Mr. Boardmaii, that he is one of the keen- ensi. brightest, and most intelligent bee-keep- ers we have; and if there is a closer observer of Natureand her laws I do not know him. I have been trying to get him to write; but it was not until now that I have prevailed upon him to give us a series of articles, and the one above is ihe first installment. The subject he has taken up and handled so well is one that I assigned to him, as I believed him to be as competent as any one to review the whole situ- ation, now that it is about time to draw the •^/ hive discussion, both large and small, to an end of the literature that has appeared in the past in Gleanings. I had expected in the present article that he would be somewhat on the "other side of the fence" in this hive discussion: but although he uses a different size of frame, it is somewhat encouraging to see that, with Dooliitle and a host of others, and over a different route, he has settled upon 2000 cubic inches as the correct size of brood-nest. Mr. Boardman says he finds no difhculty in getting brood reared in two hives by tiering up. This is the position that some of us, in opposition to that practical bee- keeper, C. A. Hatch, have held, and I am glad to see one more good authority to sustain us in this.— Ed.] A very interesting and valuable article quite in line with Boardman's views will be found in this issue, by G. M. Doolittle. on page 137. BEE-KEEPING AS A SPECIALTY. NOT A SUC- CESS. FRITIT-GROWING AND BEE-KEEPING A GOOD COMBINATION IN CALIFORNIA. By ll'm. O. Hewe« '/ for the present. Mr. Boardman's articles will probably be somewhat of the nature of a I'eview Essays advising that bee-keeping as a busi- ness be made a specialty by the persons en- gaged therein have been written from time to time. The essayists are often eloquent in their advice, but never, I believe, practice what they preach. One of the best of these articles was written by a gentleman in Michigan whom Ernest Root, in his recent bicycle- tour, discov- ered to have a very fine orchard. The "G. in M." has, no doubt, perceived, as has the writer, that the growing of fruit fits in more happily with the production of honey than does any other occupation. The bees in this part of California require constant attention during the months of April, May. and June. During the remainder of the year, a few days' attention each month is all that is needed. Now, during the months of April. May, and June, when the lees need con- stant attention, the requirements of an orchard are only cultivation, and this simple work can safely be entrusted to any ordinary farm help. The specialist bee-keeper, by the first of July, is beginning to wonder how he is going to "kill time" for the next nine months (and if it be a dry season following, he will have to kill time for the next twenty-one months) ; but the fruit- growing bee-keeper quits his extracting to at- tend to the drying of his apricots; and from apricots he goes to peaches, to prunes, to pears, to grapes, to figs, to apples, almonds, olives, or oranges, as the soil or climatic conditions of his locality make most profitable. By a proper se- lection of varieties the fruit-growing bee-keep- er can harvest fruit from the end of his honey harvest until the beginning of the winter rains, at which time he has leisure to plow his or- chards and paint his hives, thus occupying the whole year in a way conducive both to his hap- piness and his profit. Numerous have been the devices of bee-keep- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 127 ers to '•kill time" during the eighteen months which have elapsed since we last had honey to extract. Some have got a " job " on fruit-ranch- es, others roam the hills with guns, potting quail and rabbits for market; and others again have retired to the mountain fastnesses with pick and shovel, to delve in the gravel of the creek-beds for gold dust; but their realizations are generally smaller than their anticipations. Only once have I heard where, in this seeking after gold, the realizations equaled the antici- pation. But this bee-keeper did not dig his gold, for he was a bold bad bandit and wrecked a train. The sacks which he carried away are said to have contained $30,000. In course of time he was captured, and now he will never "herd "bees again, for both himself and his partner (a nice young man from the Salvation Army) are living in strict retirement. I wish here to place myself on record as say- ing that the making of bee-keeping in Califor- nia a specialty is the acme of asininity. Many bee-keepers owning plenty of land do not even grow fruit enough for home consumption, be- lieving it can not be grown excepting on those lands which can be irrigated. If they will plow deep, and then with harrows and clod-crusher pulverize the soil to the fineness of meal, and by constant cultivation keep it so, they can grow any thing. I care not how deep down it is to water. I have planted grape-cuttings, and gathered a bunch of grapes from them the same season. From apricots and peaches I have gathered fruit eighteen months after planting the tree ; and almonds, pears, and urunes will give fruit in from three to four years after planting. Newhall, Cal., Jan. 20. [If I understand you correctly you are not a firm believer in bee-keeping as a specialty; and you point to the gentleman in Michigan, who has been an advocate of this doctrine, and say in effect he is not a practicer of what he preaches. Mr. Taylor — and I presume this is the chap to whom you refer — makes a success in both lines, and very possibly he would of bee-keeping alone in good seasons; and, more- over, I understand he is a good lawyer; and that being the case he may and probably does get some revenue out of that profession. But dur- ing the past few poor honey years in Michigan, when many of its bee-keepers were glad to av- erage even 10 lbs. per colony, Mr. Taylor would not have found bee-keeping a good bread-and- butter specialty. One of the hardest blows to the idea of bees as the sole bread-winner has been the series of poor years. During the good old-fashioned years, and Mr. T. probably had reference to these, such as we used to have, when bees every year brought to their owner some returns, the specialty business was a suc- cess. But now I believe I can almost count on the fingers of my hands the number of men who derive their living largely from bees; and if I except from that number those who have ab- solutely no other source of revenue there is scarcely one. But take it in other branches of agriculture, those who make a specialty of any one line are very few. Even our friend T. B. Terry, who has been a strong advocate of spe- cialty on the farm, and one who used to grow potatoes exclusively, and buy his other prod- ucts, I believe now makes quite a business of growing strawberries, and lecturing throughout the State. Well, then, if we accept the idea that spe- cialty in bee-keeping to-day is not common, what other lines of business combine with it nicely? The one already mentioned — fruit- growing— is one of the best. Poultry-raising is also connected with it; but as a general thing you will find that the great majority of our bee-keepers are practical farmers, and that their bees are only a side-issue.— Ed.] OUR HONEY BESOURCES. HOW TO INCREASE THEM; A VALUABLE AKTI CLE REVIEWING THE ATTEMPTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THP: PAST. By C. H. Dihhan. Ever since I commenced bee-keeping, some thirty years ago. it has been a constant study with me how to increase the yield of surplus honey. Many a time during my enthusiastic periods, when the flowers yielded abundantly, I have thought that, owing to some device I happened to be trying at the time, I had "struck it rich," and visions of future wealth and position in the bee-world would loom up in the dim distance, only to be dashed to earth when the poor years came again. Indeed, bee- keepers seem to be of such a hopeful disposition, that, during years of abundance, they quickly jump to the conclusion that the coming years will all "flow with milk and honey," and that the hard times, when the flowers are scarce, or will not "give down," are indeed past forever. However much we may have indulged in such thoughts, the recent few years of poor yields, and failure, have dispelled the illusion. My first efforts to overcome short yields was to "invent" a new hive that would enable the bees, by its peculiar shape and heat-economiz- ing principles, to secure the honey whether the flowers yielded or not. This worked all right while the years remained propitious; but when poor honey seasons came again, I came to the reluctant conclusion that, after all, not so much depended on the hive as on some other things. About this time comb foundation made its appearance, and I straightway made up ray mind that this was the long-sought desideratum. Why! was it not perfectly plain that all we need to do was to give the bees frames and sec- tions, filled with these waxen sheets, and, pres- tol combs of nice sealed honey. But this, too, the hope-destroying poor years soon laid low. It was soon understood that, though It was an excellent thing to secure nice straight comb when honey could be found, it was utterly use- less when the flowers refused to yield. About next it was the particular strain of bees that was to give us the great yields. The superior honey-gathering merits of Italians, Carniolans, Cyprian, et al., were duly extolled. Some of our enterprising queen- breeders even 128 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 1."). tried to improve on these well-known old-fash- ioned names by advertising "Golden Carnio- lans," "Funics," "Five-banded Italians," and " Red-clover " queens that "just rolled in the honey." Well, the "rolling" business struck most of us, who had met so many disappoint- ments, very favorably, and many of us sent off our money-orders and received the coveted queens in due time. But again the poor sea- sons soon taught us that even the most indus- trious bees could not " make" honey. Then it was thought that, by manipulation, the desired results might be secured. Then the non-swarming craze, the doubling-up plan, and non-swarming devices; making two swarms work in the same set of supers had its day: but, strange to say, not much is heard of them of late. Now. I believe most bee-keepers who have been engaged in the pursuit for 15 or 20 years have had just about the experience here relat- ed, and I do not wish to be understood as run- ning down these efforts to improve our calling. I fully believe that all these things have been of great advantage. The hive, foundation, the kinds of bees, the manipulation, are subjects that can not be overlooked by the person who may hope to be successful. I think that most of us have learned that, really, there is no short cut to success in bee- keeping. The desire, however, to advance, and take advantage of every suggestion and im- provement, if it really is an improvement, is a laudable one, and should be encouraged. It has long appeared to me that the most promis- ing field to increase our surplus-honey yield was to increase our honey-yielding flora. It is, perhaps, well enough to hunt to " the ends of the earth "for better bees; but why not send practical bee-men to study the honey-plants of other countries, with a view to introducing them here? It must be that some of the plants that yield so abundantly in other countries would do equally well here. Our linden is rap- idly disappearing; and the white clover, owing to our scorching summers and snowless winters, is almost a thing of the past. It is becoming quite evident that something must take their places, if we may expect honey-yields in the future. Some fifteen years ago I commenced sowing honey-plants in waste places, about stone-quar- ries, along creeks and rivers, wherever a suit- able place offered, and where no objection would be likely to be raised. I have tried about all the honey-plants that have attracted atten- tion, including Simpson, Dr. Tinker's golden. Chapman's, Rocky Mountain, etc., and I now find some of these plants growing in the most unexpected places. The plant, however, that has given decidedly the best results, and one that is able to hold its own against all the world, is sweet clover. It is a "dandy," as Mr. Muth says, and, no matter what the season or the weather, it can be depended on to furnish a fine quality of honey. Some years ago I rented from three to five acres of land adjoining my apiary, and kept it in sweet clover for a number of years. While so small a field did not give a yield of surplus honey to 1.50 to 2.")0 colonies of bees during poor seasons, yet it kept up brood-rearing, and often gave me some surplus from fall flowers that I should not have secured otherwise. Strange as it may seem, the sweet clover has now spread for several miles, growing wherever it can gain a foothold; and in a few years more it will, no doubt, be the main honey-plant in my locality. I am glad to see such men as M. M. Baldridge write about sowing 80 acres to this plant, and shall anxiously watch the result. I see no rea- son why Mr. B. could not make it a paying crop for seed alone; and 80 acres of sweet-clover bloom, in the immediate vicinity of an exten- sive apiary, is a factor not to be despised. I have often wondered why farmers did not make more use of sweet clover as a forage plant and for fertilizing. I know of several hog-lots, of from 10 to 20 acres, that have produced nothing but dog-fennel for the past ten or fifteen years. Why not plow up, say, half, plant to sweet clo- ver, and keep the hogs oft' for the first year? The next spring, plow and seed the other half and turn the hogs in to live on the tender clo- ver-shoots. If not overstocked, enough clover would bloom and seed the ground to keep it from running out. Incidentally the neighbor- ing bee-keepers would be benefited. Who will try my plan? Of course, it is always a good plan to do what we can to induce farmers to sow alsike clover, buckwheat, and other honey-producing plants. One trouble with this idea is, that usually, when clover, alfalfa, etc., begins to bloom, the farmer appears with his mower and cuts it down. But it often happens that, if you can convince the farmer that the seed of the alsike, alfalfa, etc., will pay well, he may be induced to let it stand till done blooming, and ihus give the bee- keeper the full benefit of the bloom. Milan, 111. [As. Mr. D. says, there is no short cut to suc- cess in bee-keeping. But there are a great many conveniences or "little comforts," as some have called them. A good point is made in utilizing the waste weed - patches. Sweet clover is a sort of weed; but if nothing but weeds will grow in these places, put one there that will be worth something. Dr. Miller is a firm believer in this doctrine: yes. he practices what he preaches; but don't tell him that I said so.— Ed.] -^m — I ^ HONEY-PACKAGES FOR EXTRACTED HONEY. WHY HONEY-BARKEL8 LEAK SOMETIMES; THE remedy; ANOTHER VALUABLE ARTICLE. By E. France. In Gleanings for 1894, page 633, the editor makes a plea for tin cans. I think cans are all 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 139 right for small lots. I would a great deal rather handle a large crop in barrels. I have tried tin cans, and do use some yet for small shipments. For large lots barrels are cheaper, ship for less freight, in less carload lots. I don't know how it would be in car lots. When extracting in our out-apiaries we can with less trouble put the honey in barrels, and load them easier, than we could cans. With a pair of skids three or four boys will roll into a wagon a few barrels very quickly, whereas cans would have to be lifted in two at a time— heavy work; and when the cans are used, and the honey gets candied, they arc a miserable thing to get the honey out of. First the cans must be tilled full to hold ()0 lbs. Now, it must be melted to get the honey out; and unless you are especially fixed for the work it is no fool of a job. I have set a can in a wash-boiler: have set them in the water-reservoir back of the stove, and it lakes a long time to melt, as the honey is in one solid chunk. The screw-cap must be taken off: then, ten chances to one, the honey will swell up and run out of the top before it is melted, making a loss and a muss; and a6(»-lb. can is a pretty heavy thing to lift up high enough to put into a boih^r on the stove. First- class oak, iron-bound barrels cost me, made here, ipl..50 each, holding :!70 lbs., warranted not to leak. I have handled our honey in such barrels for -several years, and they do not leak. As for melting the honey in the barrels, I don't do it. I take the hoops all off' at one end of the barrel, then the head will come out. Take out the head, drive on the hoops again. Now dig the honey out of the barrels, and melt it in a tin pail; set in a kettle of water over the fire, or melt it in whatever you please; but have your melting-dish set in water to prevent scorchingthe honey. I can pack honey in bar- rels, and sell it for half a cent a pound less than if packed in OO-lb. tin cans ; and then the shipping freight is a good deal less. But there is a growing demand for (50 lb. cans. I suppose that is for the reason that such kegs as molasses is packed in are not suit- able for honey-packages. They are too frail, and leak. A good oak keg, made suitable to hold honey, costs too much. When I first be- gan to extract honey I had very much trouble to get a good package. I went to the best cooper in town, and bought some kegs that held 140 lbs. of honey-oak, with iron hoops. Being a cooper myself, I thought they were all right. He brought them out of the cellar. I took them home and filled them — 14 of them; also got one barrel that held 500 lbs. I had them in a room above ground. In a few days they began to leak, and made me a great deal of trouble. That year my home market took all the crop at retail, so 1 had all the kegs left over to fill again the next year. I made up my mind that honey kegs and barrels should be kept in a dry place; then, as fast as I get one empty, I put it upstairs in the shop, first washing the keg out clean inside, and putting in the head. I let them stay there and dry out until I wanted them the next year. I got some new barrels made and put them up stairs also. Result- when I wanted them the next year they were dried out. I drove the hoops, and they were tight. I filled them with honey, and there was no leaking. We have never been troubled with leaky barrels since. We now have our barrels made in the winter. We put them in a dry warm place until wanted; and if they are well made they won't leak. It won't do to keep honey- barrels down cellar. Barrels will soon leak when taken from the cellar and filled with honey. Honey doesn't seem to keep barrels from drying out. Leaky barrels filled with water will soon swell and hold water; but not so with honey. It won't do to pick up any thing you may find down town, for honey- packages. They will be sure to leak, as they are kept in a cellar. I think the honey will pay for a good package, clean and tight. After we had found out how to fix barrels so they would not leak, we found we could save a little money by buying barrels that would hold .5,30 lbs. in place of the ones we were using, that held 370. The small ones cost $1.50, the large ones f l.fiO, so we got 50 of the large ones. We found the large ones unhandy. They are too big. A 370-1 b. barrel is about right, we think. For retail trade we use tin pails. One and two quart sizes take the best in Platteville. Platteville, Wis. [Many of the difticulties between the bee- keeper and the buyer of honey is over leaky barrels. The one says that so much honey was lost, and the other doubts his statement, and so on the trouble goes. All of this may be avoid- ed by reading carefully what Mr. France has to say above. The trouble in many of the cases is not so much with the commission mer- chant or buyer as with the producer, or, rather, his (the producer's) lack of knowledge. Al- though the Dadants the Muths and ourselves haverepeatedly said. that barrels should be kept in dry places, and that they should not be soaked with water before putting in honey to make them tight, yet almost every vear there are a lot of bee-keepers who go on and do this same thing, and as a result reap the natural conse- quence—loss of honey, and a distrust of the buyer. I think it would pay every bee-keeper who ships his honey in barrels or kegs to paste this up in his honey-house, where he can read it once in a while. The editorial referred to was by our business manager, who has had some of the troubles above mentioned, and his solution of the diffi- culty seemed to be in the use of tin cans. When I visited Mr. France last summer I saw stacks of barrels of honey that were perfectly tight, not even showing the least trace of leakage. These same barrels, as Mr. France explains, were bought some time ahead, and kept in a dry place, and allowed to shrink all they would; then after being carefully coopered up they were ready for the honey. Regarding the square cans and barrels, it' seems to be largely a question of locality. In. California and certain parts of the West, on ac-' count of the dry climate, square cans are used as 130 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fkb. 15. a matter of necessity. In the New York mar- kets, and in Albany, I found that barrels and kegs were preferred by all the commission men and buyers. Two square cans in a box, they claimed, were heavy and unwieldy; and then if they were dropped, a bad leak was the result. One commission man, I remember, told me he would not have a square can of honey in his place if he could help it; that there was no reason for kegs and l^arrels leaking if the pro- ducer only understood his business, and that, in his opinion, it would not take them very long to learn after they had shipped honey once or twice, and had about half of it lost by leakage. I suppose much of the trouble from leaky barrels is owing to the fact that second-hand molasses-barrels, none too good in the first place, were used. The Frances, you see, buy new barrels and make sure that they get good ones at that. This article will be seasonable, inasmuch as it is the proper time now to procure your bar- rels for next year. They should be put up in a dry room, where they can season thoroughly.— Ed.] m — I ^ CALIFORNIA ECHOES. By Ramhler. Great Scott! I have just learned that there are 191,988 bachelors in California. It is a real pleasure to receive the first num- bers of the bee-journals for the new year. All show a progressive spirit, which is a sure indi- cation that the industry Is marching on. Glory hallelujah ! Hum! pull the cobwebs outen your ears, and listen. The word bee-paradise is floating in the air. Mr. Blankton, of Beeville, Tex., in A. B. J. , says, "This is, no doubt, the bee-paradise of this continent." Some time ago Dr. Miller wondered or specu- lated why the queen-bee has a curved sting. Did you ever see a queen-bee sting a rival in her cell? She clings around the cell; and the sting, following the curve of the body, strikes the rival in the thorax. Of course, the sting has to be curved to " get there." That was real mean for Mr. ThMlman to say that our beautiful white-sage honey tasted of alkali. Why, bless you, sir, our sages do not grow in the alkali lands. We have but little alkali lands here anyway; and where there is much alkali the ground is barren. No, sir; you will have to taste again; then taste of that basswood honey, and see how minty it tastes. In A. B. J., Bee-master says: " A narrow belt of the Dominion of Canada, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific, has no superior as a honey field anywhere in the wide, wide world." Gallup says, " So California is not only the bee- keeper's but the old man's paradise " — enough paradise for two. Paradise is also found in Florida, Cuba, heavenly Topolobampo, and Australia. So paradise seems to depend upon how much the love of one's locality is diffused over the cerebrum. It is clearly a brain trou- ble. Dr. Peiro, what shall we do with these fellows? I note that Dr. Miller is troubled about stop- ping cracks in boxes. Beeswax, if run into cor- ners of boxes, is sure to scale and crack. Try paraflfine. It is free from the habit of cracking, and sticks well. Quite a loose-jointed box can be made water-tight by fitting into it a piece of canton flannel; but before fastening it in, satu- rate it thoroughly with hot paraffine, then se- cure with small tacks, and your box is water- tight. That is the way I make cheap trays for photographic work. There, now. those Canadians are trying to get ahead of me on that magic-lantern business. I had that very idea maturing and experiment- ing on slides, when they popped up with their lantern plans. Well, this is a big country, and I think there is room for several operators of the slide; and there is a splendid opportunity In this direction for the proper education of the public in relation to bee-keeping, methods of work in the apiary, the opening flowers, and a hundred interesting things. I wonder if we cannot get up a bee photographic magic-lan- tern exchange club. What do you say, friends, in Canada? I notice, Mr. Editor, that your proof-reader, or some one else, in seeking to correct my pro- nunciation of Spanish names, is making some mistakes that will, of course, fall upon my head. The Spanish as spoken here is not the pure Castilian. It is corrupted more or less; and when I give the pronunciation after a word I give it just as I have heard it spoken scores of times. For instance, in Ramble 12.3 I used the name Jolon, a town. It is pronounced Ho- lon(% and your interpreter put it Jo—, which is wrong, as he of course knows, for all Spanish words having a J in them are pronounced as an H; as, San Jose (riosay), or San Joaquin (Hoa- quien), or, as it is popularly pronounced, here, Wauk-een. Then in the same ramble Gonsales is fixed over into goan-saw-lais. Now, that is near the Castilian pronunciation, but here it is cut short, and is pronounced as gun, or gu-saw- lis. I mention these words, and especially "Jo- lon," for California readers will notice the wrong rendering, and accuse me of being a ten- derfoot. [Regarding the Spanish words, it was a typo- graphical error that we did not represent Jolon as if pronounced Ho-?o?ie, as a Spanish J is a Yankee II; but Rambler makes three syllables of it, as if pronounced Ho-lo-?iaiy. In this re- gard we fear he stands " H'lone." We believe that even those who speak Spanish with a brogue would regard the figured pronunciation of the other words as correct, from the stand- ard of the Spanish Academy. The trouble was, if any, the pronunciation was too exact. We have always tried, and shall continue to do so, to give Rambler's exact meaning; and in the case in question we are glad we got it too good rather than too bad. So far we have fol- lowed Rambler very closely in his travels, by means of a map, lexicon, and Spanish books, and have tried to verify every word printed. — Proof-readkr.] 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 131 WEED SEEDS SOMETIMES FOUND IN CLOVER SEED. AN IMPORTANT WOKK BY THE NORTH LINA EXPERIMENT STATION. Bee-keepers have more or less to do with all tlie clovers; and as there has been in times past (luiie a little trouble in regard to various seeds, and some discussion as to what these seeds were, we have thought best to extract the following from Bulletin No. 108. of the North Carolina Experiin(uit Station, which station has kindly loaned us the cuts given: THE CLOVER FAMILY. The clovers are tlie most frequently adulterated, and generally the foulest samples found in the mar- kets Crushed quartz rock, either pUun or colored, t(5 resemble true seed, has l)een frequently employ- ed where dealers do not fear detection. Old, discol- ored, and worthless seeds are often dyed, and mixed Fig. 18.— Plantain —a. riuil.with attaclu-d cinulla; h, tin- 4 <'orolla-]ietals; c, twin .seeds; d. the inner smfaee of seeiis; e. bafk of seed ; f, seed, natural size. with fresh seed. These " doctored " .seeds can be de- tected by pouring: some of the seed upon a clean white cloth, sliglitly moistened, and rubbing- the seeds thereon. The cloth wjll remove the artificial coloring-, and show it. Quartz g-ralns can be readily detected by e.vamining the seeds with a magnifying- glass. "Uncleatied " sam|>les often contain a fifth of their weight in weed-seeds, the most common of which are plantain (Pkoitaiio lam-e. 0. .1. (liflferent views, nrnjinifieil. gg^^ ransied-weed (Lili- nrifi vulgaris. Fig. 28). corn cocTi\e {AaroxtrmiiKi ijitli- Of/o, Fig. SO), dog-fennel. o.\-eye daisy, and wild car- rot. Dodder (Fig. 24) is also apt to be present in samples of red clo- ver, though not so frequently as with lucerne. The least trace of dodder-seed should condemn the sample. n'hite-chwrr seed— shown in Fig. 31— is, to some e.xtent. im- ported from Europe, and it is sometimes adulterated witli old and dead seed, color- ed and doctored with sulphur, to resemble fk;. :!.!.-S.tiNKoi.N.-K. e. tju- huiie.i fresh seed. Quartz seed; l). d. tlie naked seed: a and li. grains, eitlier plain "atnrai size. or colorejd, are used for tlie same purpose. 'I'he most common impurities in badly cleaned samples are plantain (Fig. 18), sheep sorrel (Fig. 19). and spurry (Siierijula nrvnisis. Fig. 32). Dodder may be present in samples of white clover, but it does not affect this species as much as it does red clover, alsike clover, and lucerne. THE SEALED -COVER QUESTION REVIEWED. WHY THEY WERE CONDEMNED. Bii A. S. Martin. Friend Root:—l would ask those who make such a handle of bees wintering in cracked hives and rent hollows of trees if they ever took the trouble to observe the situation of the cluster. Were the bees really exposed to the draft from those crevices? Pshaw! nonsense! they can not be induced to form their cluster in the midst of an upward draft, if they can possibly avoid it. In all these cases it seems certain they were able somehow to shun it. Those reports in Gleaninos, seemingly so adverse to sealed covers, appear to me exceedingly defective and unsatisfactory. Thoy almost, without excep- tion, ignore bottom ventilation. How can such reports give the "black eye" to sealed covers, or "seal their fate"? The trouble seems to have been with the sealed or partially sealed bottoms. The interior of a hive with close walls and scaled cover is practically a dead-air space, subject to no fluctuations but such as the bees themselves create, provided the hive is as it sliould be, sheltered from the wind. In such a hive, bees have perfect control of ventilation, as* Nature evidently designed they should have. They will ventilate perfectly such a space if they have free access to the external air. They do it in summer, and why not in winter ? They are not then helpless hybernants, as some seem to suppose. They arouse at intervals and attend to their needs, and are never all a«leep at the same time. You can hear them at all times. Mr. Quinby's reversed hives had no upward ventilation. Mr. Taylor's results with lots 1 and 2 (see June 1st Gleanings, of l^U^) prove nothing more than that such methods may be practiced with impunity in a temperature of 42°. In summer he can go still further — leave both tops and bottoms off. and his bees will not perish if he will only give them shade and shelter. Hut what shall I say of lot No. 3? The damp interior, the wet moldy combs, the dead bees, conjure up visions of the Black Hole, of Calcutta. Mr. Boardman and others use sealed covers and have no such results. Why ? Because they provide sufficient bottom ventilation. IJees must have fresh air. and plenty of it; but how can you by upward ven- tilation adjust the supply to their needs ? You can't do it, and needn't try — too much or too little. In either case your bees are injured, if not destroyed. The mere fact of their living till spring is no proof that they have not been injured. Discomfort, sleeplessness, the wear and tear of their efforts to keep warm, fit them admirably for the process of spring dwindling. Bees do well under sealed covers in Virginia. I have kept them thus 4.5 years, and have never lost a colony in winter but by starvation or thieving. Perhaps Nature did not design them to live in more northerly climes, hence their propolizing instinct is there at fault. In order to do well they should there be endowed with a penchant for such abodes as disused chimneys and stovepipes, and, like bumble-bees, roof their nests with old rags, moss, and bits of stubble. Dear brothers, I am not trying to ridicule any of you; but I can't help pointing a jeering finger at the long ears of this ridiculous thing called upward ventilation. If you will stick to upward ventilation, suppose you try the cracked-hive plan. Seal a cover over .*« or '}<{ of the frames, or of their length, and then cov- er this and the remaining space with your absorbents, cushions, etc. May be this will prove a happy compromise. I use heavy cotton cloth, thoroughly saturated with melted bees- *Wlien a niedi2' cts., is taken for extracted, I have let the sections go in at the same price. Now, taking the figures of the same hive which you considered, let us make the calcula- tions, both with the highest market and the lowest market prices, and see how far I was wrong when I said the profit was more than ,50 per cent. 41 lbs. sections at 6 cts., 12.46; 106f5i' extracted honey at 7 cts., $7.48; a total of $9.94; llO^i lbs. finished comb honey at 16 cts., $17.72. Dividing ?«17.72 by 9.94 we have a quotient of 1.78+, showing a profit of 78 per cent. Again, taking the lowest market prices we have 147;?4 lbs. given the bees at 5}.f cts., 88.13; 110?4 lbs. comb honey at 14 cts., $5.51. Dividing $15.51 by 8.13 we have a quotient of $1.90. or a profit of 90 per cent. So when I said .50 per cent, I might reasonably have put it 50 per cent higher, unless there is something valid to be found in the further objections you make. You think the labor of feeding would largely offset the 233.2 per cent gain you figure. But, notwithstanding what you say, will not the im- proved condition of the colony more than offset the labor? I think so. I do not know how much this hive gained in weight; but in my e.x- periment, made in 1893, seven colonies gained on an average about SK; lbs., which alone would repay the labor. Then you object to the greatly increased amount of brood as being probably of no use. Consider at what time of the year this additional brood will hatch — in the latter part of August and the first of Sep- tember, just when they are wanted to get the colony through the winter in the best possible condition. In my estimation this would pay for the labor again. Y'ou are of the opinion that, in my experi- ment, the conditions were more than ordinarily favorable. In fact, they were quite the con- trary. The colony was far from strong— hardly up to the average— as at no time during the season had it more brood comb that the equiv- Lit; CiLEANINGS IN BRE CULTURE. Feb. 15. alenl of five L. combs. No attempt was made lo do a great thing, but only to show what could be done under very ordinary circum- stances. Then another adverse circumstance was the fact that the unlinished sections con- tained much less honey than would ordinarily be the case — a fact that would seriously reduce the apparent profit. It can be hardly be seriously claimed that Mr. Unterkircher's experience furnishes a case in point. It was clearly a case of gross misman- agement for which there was no kind of excuse. Whatever his intentions were, he evidently per- mitted the bees to store the honey fed in the brood-chamber. Lapeer, Mich., Feb. 4. [I fear I shall have to eat humble pie a (just) des(s)ert I don't like. My only excuse was carelessness in looking over the market reports, and I am the more sorry that they appear to favor my position. It was unintentional, how- ever. My eye must have dwelt too long on the California reports of the previous number.— Ed. J THOSE STRAWBERRIES. A POINTER. Bn M. Dm. Blamed if I don't believe Bro. A. I. Root's a crank— just like me— on the subject of straw- berry culture! Just about the full o' the moon at this season of the year the fit comes on — lie awake o' nights thinking just how and what kind to plant. I rather think the hill system is yet the best all-round method, every thing con- sidered, and that the Timbrell, take 'em all in all, is about as good a berry as any — not but that other kinds do excellently, and really should be a part of the patch, if for no other reason than help fertilize it thoroughly; but, you know, we've all got a particular fancy for some kind. But this must be considered: Strawberries are powerful pesky things to disappoint a fel- low just when he doesn't want any foolishness. You hear of a certain kind that Bro. Jones has, that he says bears so and so many quarts to the square rod. It sounds pretty big — heaps o' money and lots of fun in those berries. Bro. Smith resolves to have a half-acre, even if it costs his muly cow. Oh, yes! the plants come on— look fine; has his land just so — as recom- mended: gets Mandy (that's his wife) and Liza Jane to come over to help set the plants, and they nearly break their backs; and, there! now all those berries have to do Is to get right up and hump themselves to produce the stuff that sells at big prices for small quarts. That's it. Hang up the old tin pans, and make awful- looking scarecrows to keep the birds off that patch; and, Mandy, be sartain to shoo off the chickens and the boys. June comes along finely; the plants look per- fection; leaves like spinach, almost; buds a startin', big as buttons on Liza Jane's winter coat: yes, right down hloss(nns,OT I'm a hen. Well, well! now that's what I call big luck. Rushy Ann! Why, that means a big sum in our county bank, sure. Now let me see — 40 and 39 carried several times is so much, and so many of the last picking is so much; in all — Riah Jane! hoopie! whew! Why, there'll be 'nuff money left, after paying the mortgage, to buy the old .ady and darter each a tine dress, bon- nets, and folderolls. Oh! I'm smart, I am! Honey and slap-jacks! What ails them meech- en things? In a week the whole passel of buds and flowers has shrunk — actually turned yaller, and in July there aren't berries enough to make a respectable shortberry strawcake! That was the beatenest swindle! No, it wasn't. The man you bought your plants of was all right— in Neiv Jersey; what he said was so too; but his land is different — more gravel; yours is all rich loam, and that makes a world of difference in results. So you see the kinds that do so well on a special soil will hardly fruit at all on some others. Sabe? THE DOVETAILED CHAFF HIVE. fowls' improvemext. lili Chalou Fowls. I send you by this mail a photo of the Dove- tailed chaff' hive with some improvements which are new only in their adaptation to the Dovetailed chaff' hive. One thing I really felt the need of was handles. They should be made by nailing strips on the hive i.j or ;V inch thick by one inch wide by 4 or 5 inches long. I pre- fer them in the middle of each end, and one inch below the water-table. If you ever try to move one of these hives when filled with bees and honey I think you will appreciate handles. There is no reason why these hives should be any more clumsy or inconvenient than the old style Langstroth, which they very much re- semble. One of the conveniences of the old- Langstroth was the entrance- blocks. I've been bothered a good many times in the last dozen years in closing the entrances of chaff hives. Sometimes robbers would commence on a weak colony, then I must hunt for a stick. If too long or too thick it must be whittled; if too short or too thin, I must hunt another, the ras- cals all the while piling into the hive. A r.'x3-inch piece should be nailed on V or 34 inch below the entrance, so water will not run into the hive. Heing 3 inches thick it makes a good alighting-board, and the front side is left rough along in the middle so they can stick ISii.l GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 137 their toe-nails in to climb up, if they should bring in such "dead loads '" as to fall short of the entrance (which provision was entirely unnecessary this year, as a gimlet-hole might have answered for alighting and entering). The three-cornered block formerly used for an alighting-board is sawed in two to make en- trance-blocks, sawing a little piece out of the middle as shown in the picture. It is shown nearly closed, as used to keep out robbers. IJnt the most important feature is the tray to hold the top packing. The chaff cushion is all right for the old-style chaff hive. The old chaff hive admits of its being tucked down snugly in the corner so as to prevent drafts, yet secures per- fect ventilation up through the middle of the chaff, because all dampness can pass off at once, owing to the spore betireen the ciis}iion and the roof. Now, this requiren)ent is not met with the cushion in the Dovetailed chaff hive. The inside of the cover will become wet and moldy, as also the cushion. This tray se- cures all the conditions connected with the use of cushions in the old-style chaff hive. Ten years ago I visited Mr. J. S. Hill, at Mt. Healthy, O. He is the author of the Hill de- vice. I visited a few days with Mr. Muth, and he told me I must not fail to go to see Mr. Hill, as he had the best-kept apiary in the State. When I saw it I concluded Mr. Muth was not far out of the way. He had a hundred or more colonies in Langstroth hives: no grass was per- mitted in the apiary, but he had a stalk of flax to shade each hive. This was in the fall, and he was just cutting down the dead stalks. Each hive was provided with a Hill device and tray. I did not notice how his were made, but ril tell how I made mine. Either the sides or the ends should be 6 inches high, so as only to let the cover telescope over the rim-piece one inch. I made the sides from the crating the hives came in. The ends should be short enough so the sides can be nailed on to them, and leave the tray ^4 inch less each way than the inside dimensions of the cover. The boards for the ends should be sawed oft' perfectly straight, otherwise the tray will be diamond- shaped, and the cover won't slip on and oft' freely. It would be better to have the ends cut at the factory, as it bothers "some folks" to saw a board oft' accurately. To cut the burlap for the bottom, spread it out, and, taking the tray for a guide, cut an inch larger all around. To nail on. lay on a table or bench: put the burlap in with the edge sticking up in the inside, and fasten with thin strips, say I4 by 1 inch, clamping the cloth fast. It takes but a few nails this way. A brick laid under while nailing will make it loos'' enough to cover the Hill device, or what- ever is used across the frames for a winter- passage. For packing I shall use maple leaves for the tray, as they are easy to get— no grain mixed in to entice the mice to make nests, etc. In the spring they may be thrown away and fresh ones got in the fall. While discussing the matter of hives, I wish to call your attention to a point I mentioned to you three or four years ago. I told you that your Hat covers for the Dovetailed hives were too thick. Mine were only ^^ and ^^ inch thick. You were afraid the thin cover would warp worse than the thick ones. Well, after having had an opportunity to compare them since then. I want to repeat what I said then, that the thin cover will not warp or wind near- ly as much as the thick ones. You see, there is not as much wood to strain on the end pieces, which are just as heavy as those on the thick ones. In proof of this I will say I have covers only ;^H inch that I have used at least ten years, that are still as straight as ever. I don't ihlnk 1 should like the Higginsville cover as well as these. Oberlin, O., Dec. 1, 1894. [The tray may possibly give better results than the simple cushion: but as we have had good results with the latter, we have given it the preference in our catalog. The tray, if made of rough three-eighths crating, would be cheaper than the cushion, and would be easier to pack. We do not as a rule ship the hives with cushions, as each bee-keeper is supposed to fix up for himself what he likes best. I com- mend Mr. Fowls' arrangement. Aboitt that three-eighths-inch cover, I should like to hear from others who may be using them. I have been afraid that they would check. — Ed.] BY G.M.DOOLITTLE.BOROOINO.N.Y. liiiiiiruniiiiiinHiiiiimmmiim. niiiinn.ii . LAYING CAPACITY OF (QUEENS. (Juesti07i.—l see that very many of our most practical apiarists are recommending eight Langstroth frames as the right size of brood- chamber for a strong colony of bees. Such eight-frame Langstroth hive, if entirely occu- pied with worker comb, contains IKiS square inches of comb, or about .58,400 cells. From this we must deduct at least 10 per cent of the space for the usual supply of honey and pollen, leaving about 5:.',,i0() cells. Allowing 21 days for the bee to hatch, and one day for the bees 138 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feh. ]5. to fix the cell and for the queen to lay in it again, we have an average of a little less than 240() cells for the queen to fill per day. Now, is r.'4<)0 eggs the utmost daily laying capacity of a queen in a strong colony ? and if not, should any queen be restricted to that amount when she could and naturally would lay more? I ask these questions to help me determine what size of hive to build this winter, having up to this time supposed that a ten frame L. hive was the smallest hive that could be profitably used. Ansiver. — If a colony of bees having a good prolific queen is given 30 Langstroth frames, using but 8 to start with, and adding two or three at a time, as the bees can occupy them, until the BO are all in, it will be found that such a (jueen will lay from ,5000 to (1000 eggs daily, during the best part of the egg-laying season, and die of old age or exhaustion when but IS to 2i months old; while with the 8-frame brood-chamber she will give as good results in comb honey, if not better, each year, and live for four or five years. I take it for granted that our questioner is a comb-honey producer, although he does not say so, and shall give my views of the matter wholly along that line. With the large hive the bees are quite likely to get the start of the queen, and commence to store honey in the brood -combs before entering the sections at all, and in such a case the bees seem loth to go into the sections, and continue to store honey in the brood-chamber in prefer- ence to going into the sections, thus crowding out the queen with honey in the comb which ought to be occupied with brood, till we have as a result very little section honey in the fall, and a colony in poor condition for winter. Be- sides, it is well to remember that all queens are not equally prolific; and while 20 per cent of our queens would keep the brood-chamber of a ten-frame Langstroth hive properly supplied with brood to give the best results in section honey, the other 80 per cent would not be pro- lific enough to do so; hence in the majority of the hives in the apiary we should have a condition working against our best interests, which could not be overcome by the extra amount of comb honey produced by the 20 per cent whose queens were prolific enough to work in these ten-frame hives to advantage. For these reasons it would seem best to adopt a size of brood-chamber which any and all queens, which were worth keeping at all. would have occupied with brood at the commence- ment of the honey- flow, thus securing the best yields of surplus section honey at all times. Because a queen may lay 6000 eggs daily by using plenty of comb capacity and coaxing, it does not necessarily follow that it is to the best advantage of the apiarist to accommodate or even coax a queen to bring her fullest laying capacity to the front at any time. Queens, in any well-regulated apiary, are among the smallest part of the expense incurred, while labor, hives, and combs go toward making up the larger part of the same. For these reasons, I claim that the capacity of the queen should rather be above the capacity of the brood-nest than below it, so that all combs may be fully occupied with brood. Unless this is the case the outside combs continue, in most cases, to be dead capital from year to year, unless we argue that they are necessary to insure the safe wintering of the bees. After an experi- ence of over 25 years, I can not consider any argument along this insurance line as aught but fallacious. Again, suppose that a queen can average .5000 eggs daily for a certain period. What is the price or worth of those eggs? Does the sum and substance of bee-keeping depend on keeping all queens employed at egg-laying to their fullest capacity? Bees, when they come on the stage of action at just the right time, are very valuable; but eggs are of no value, onlv as they tend in the direction of producing these valuable bees. Aye, they tend toward a positive disadvantage, and to take away the value we already have, only as they are look- ing toward the end of producing the required bees in the field at the time of the honey-har- vest. Here is a point often lost sight of by the large-hive advocates. As I said before, eggs cost practically nothing; but as soon as the bees begin to perfect them toward bees, then they begin to cost; and if this perfecting is go- ing on to any great extent at a time when the perfected product is placed on the stage of ac- tion either before or after their presence in large numbers is needed, we not only have the cost of their perfecting to pay for, but the cost of their consuming, after being perfected, as well. This consuming part, we always have to pay for; but we willingly do it at any time when the production of the individual bee is greater than its consumption. But I can see no object in doing this at any other time, sim- ply that the extra laying capacity of any queen may be gratified. A hive that is large enough to gratify the greatest aspirations of very pro- lific queens, at the times of these greatest aspi- rations, will have too much capital lying idle in it the largest share of the year, and be a bungling hive at that. From all past experi- ence I think that 2400 eggs per day would be a good maximum average for any queen. Rain, cold, or other disturbing influences often retard the activity in the hive and of the queen, and thus it happens that at times the best of queens often do not lay more than 1000 eggs in a day, while, with the right conditions, she may mul- tiply this number by four, and still have plenty of room in a hive which will give an average of only 2400 daily. Then, again, as two and one-seventh generations of bees can be brought on the stage of action to where one steps off, we find that, in a hive giving an average of 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 339 2400 beps daily, we can have in that hive, if properly managed. 108.000 bees on the stage of action right in the honey-harvest, when their productive power is the greatest: and at such a time such a number of bees are a host to roll honey into the sections with the combs all filled with brood below; and this rolling of honey into the sections, means the rolling of money into the bee-keeper's till. Experience has shown these men who are advocating an eight-frame L. hive that such is the best, as this keeps the frames full of brood, and puts honey into the sections. However, all our questioner (or any one else) has to do is to use part ten-frame and part eight-frame hives in their apiary, when a little time will satisfy them which is best. In order to make a symposium on the subject of bee-paralysis, we have concluded to hold over Mr. Baldensperger's article, which we promised for this issue. A valuable one on the same subject will be given from the pen of Dr. J. P. H. Brown, of Augusta, Ga. The editor of the Review echoes the same thought that has come to me at times regard- ing the value of other bee-journals besides our own. He says: Apicultural literature was never better tlian it is to-day, and this in the face of about the hardest times financially and apiculturally that we liave seen in a long- time. As .iournal after journal came in for December, all bright, fresh, well-printed and Illustrated, and crammed with interesting: and help- ful articles, I fell to wondering' if my own journal appeared as attractive to the other editors as theirs did to me. If it did I am satisfied. Bee-keepers have every reason to be proud of their literature. "Honey-bee Concert" is the title of a leaflet gotten out under the auspices of the On- tario Bee-keepers' Association. It took place on Wednesday, Jan. 23. Its object was purely educational, designed to bring in outsiders. I have no doubt it was a grand success. The fol- lowing Is the program that was laid out: 1. Instrumental duet, Alls. Scartt' and Mrs. Bruce. 2. Address by President A. Pickett. 3. Quartette, Misses Mark and Eason, and Messrs. Ir\'ing' and Hepburn. 4. Solo, Mrs. Stone. .5. Address by Hon. John Dryden. 6. Solo. Mr. H. F. Gadsby. 7. Reci- tation, Mildred Gemmill. 8. Magic-lantern exhibi- tion and lecture, Mr. K. F. Holtermann. 9. Violin solo, Mr. R. W. Roberts. It could hardly fail to be entertaining and educational. The scheme is a good one, and I hope it may be repeated In some form at the next N. A. B. K. A., to be held at Toronto. D. A. JONES, PAST AND PRESENT. I LEARN from the CnnadUni Bee Journal that one of the factory buildings (the largest) of the former D.A.Jones Co., Limited, went up in fire on the 30th of December last. Bee- ton has been very unfortunate in its fires. The office of the Cnmtdian Bee Journal, founded by D. A. Jones, was burned out once, and now virtually all that remained of the once large supply business with it is gone also. The build- ing was used for other purposes, and was owned by Dr. Cheffy at the time of the fire. By the way. where is our genial friend of old, D. A. Jones, whose fame Shot forth so like a meteor? There was a time when he was the leading bee-keeper of Canada, the leading bee- editor, the leading supply-dealer, a leader in apicultural thought, and a man known the world over. He traveled over the Orient, and spent thousands of dollars in the pursuit of new races of bees, and later established queen-rear- ing on islands of Georgian Bay. While we remember him for his brilliant past it would be a pleasure to know something of his present, even though not a bee-keeper now. THE PRESENT WINTER, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BEE-KEEPERS. In our locality we have not had for years such prolonged and severe weather with high winds as we are now having. We scarcely ever have more than ten days or two v/eeks of cold weather, and then we have a thaw and a few warm days. But up to date, Feb. S, our bees have not had a flight since Christmas. Indeed, the mercury has scarcely been up to the freez- ing-point. For the past four days it has been hanging, both day and night, close to zero — scarcely varying a degree one way or the other; and. more than this, there are high winds. I am well aware this is not cold compared with some localities. Indeed, Dr. Miller says, in the first Straw in this issue, that his thermometer showed 23 below zero on the morning of the ,5th; and I doubt not it has been very much colder in other northern localities. Well, then, if this winter is so much colder than former ones, which I think it is, it is going to be a terribly hard one on bees, for bee-keepers have a habit of preparing rather for mild winters than for severe ones. The result will be, unless I am very much mistaken, and unless the weather moderates considerably, that there will be severe winter losses, and, as a consequence, there will be discouraged bee-keepers with a lot of supplies on hand, perhaps unpaid for. But it is the outdoor colonies that will suffer, I fear, and particularly those that have not been put into double-walled hives or winter cases. I do not wish to forebode calamity; but I think it would be well for bee-keepers to consider the possibility of their losing heavily, and there- fore not requiring the supplies that might oth- erwise be needed. I am well aware that this 140 GLEANIJVGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fkh. 15. may chop off some of our orders; but I think it is only fair for bee-Ueepers to be properly on their gnard. Now let us turn to a more encouraging view of the situation. Cold winters, accompanied with snow, a? is this winter, are said to mean an abundance of clover; and that, of course, means honey. The moral is, save your bees and get the honey. BOGUS HONEY. The following letter will explain itself: Friend Roof.— The altaclietl letter was received by me in answer to ati advertisement for a situation as stenosraplier or book-keeper. As it seems to settle a number of questions in reg-ard to bee-keeping-, I thought it migrbt interest you. The " king bees " had better get together and form a trust or they will soon find their oc<-upation gone. AV. HiCKOx. Lakewood, O., Feb. 2. And here is the letter referred to. It is very evident that Mr. McCarthy got hold of the wrong man. It is a little surprising that he should " give himself away " quite so bad. Box KiS, LakcwDiid, ().: Dear Sic:— Do you care to take an interest in a good paying business? I have an article whose merits are unequalpd in the markets: it is manu- factured Iioney, made from the oils and extracts of flowers tliat the bee gathers its honey from. I put it up in 1-lb. jars, labeled and sealed ready for the market, at a cost of 7 cts. per lb. It retails it 20 cts. per lb. I am a poor man, and have to work for my living. 1 have not got the money to go ahead with, and want some good honest man to take one-half interest and Vielp me put tlie goods on the mai'ket Thi^ is a sood chance for the right party; so if you do not caie to investigate, perhaps you have a friend who would. I have explained the best I can at present. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain Respectfully yours, 1732 St. Clair St., Cleveland. W. J. McCarthy. I thought best to give our readers the con- tents of the letter from Mr. McCarthy. I do not know certainly whether he intended to put this manufactured " stuff" on the market as pure honey or not; but the presumption is rather that way. Mr. McC. says he is a poor man and wants some good honest man to take an interest in the business. Honest man! it would be hard to find one who would engage in that business— that is, providing he proposes to sell bogus honey for the pure. If any of our readers in Cleveland are located where these eoods are sold they will oblige us by giv- ing the particulars. ADVANTAGE OF CHAFF HIVES IN THK CELLAR. Wk have generally supposed that single- walled hives wen^ plenty warm enough for cel- lar wintering; that to put chaff hiven in such a place was both an unnecessary expense and a waste of cellar room, to say nothing of the work of toting these unwieldy things, full of bees and stores, )ip and down steps back and forth. Notwithstanding it looks like wearing an overcoat In the house. Dooliitle has decided (see A)nericm> Bee Journiil) that it pn\is, both in the saving of stores, and the better condition of the bees. This conclusion he has reached after some carefully conducted experiments, and now not only seven-eighths of all his colo- nies are in chaff hives, but three-fourths of them are in the cellar. His chaff' hives have loose bottom-boards, and are raised up from the same while in the cellar by blocks of stove- wood. In summing up he says: I havejust been In to see theni, so that T might tell the reader the ditference between tliese 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 completely: 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 aides; but hs j'ou come to- ward the upper half of tlie colony, tlip bees stand out around the combs the same as they would in summer: while at the top, all along next to the cushion and cotton cloth, they make no pretension at clustering whatever, although you can look at them 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 parts of the hive, so a coloTiy never starves, so long as there is any honey in the hive, by theii' eating the honey from one side and failing to move over, as is fre- quently the case. But the greatest item of the whole is, that these colonies in chaff hives do not consume nearly as much honey as do those in single-walled hives, while the safety of their wintering successfully is more fully assured; for the less honey consumed by a good colony of bees insure their more perfect win- tering. Where hives are wheeled right into the cel- lar, as I do mine, the labor of putting them in is little more than with single-walled hives, and this labor question is all there is against the matter, ex- cept that a less number can be put into a given space; and the saving of honey will, T tliink, more than compensate for the extra room needed, and pay for building a little larger, where it should be necessary. I am inclined to think Doolittle is right. At all events, it would oe well for a few others to try the same experiments. If you have any double-walled colonies out doors that look as if they would go up before spring, put them in the cellar now. But, say— it occurs to me that the great majority of the makes of chaff" hives, perhaps all of them, have tight bottoms. Colo- nies in winter cases can be so tried at all events. FIVE-BANDEKS RECEIVING MORE HARD KNOCKS FROM BEE-EDITORS. The editor of the Canadian Bee Journal, after stating that he is as anxiousa s any one to have bees which will give large yields of honey, which are easily handled, and which have beauty, says this: Were we to engage a man or maid to perform our work simply on account of looks, it would he 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 141 lietter foi' us to give up business or for our fiiends lo lock Ub. up 111 !i Uinatic-asj'lum. We think it would be well for bee-keepers to examine tliLMu- selves and see what leads them to be favorably im- pressed with tlie ■• tlve-baiided Italian bees." Is it not their beauty? Should they not rather regard that as very seL-ondary, and look for the primary requi- sites before launching' out in eulogies ? We have tried vai'ious flve-banded queens from what were supposed to be the leading breeders of these bees. They have thus far done nothing remarkable in the direction of good works, wliatever thi-y may do dur- ing the coming season. Thus far we have not found them p.irticularly good for building up— rather to the contrary. Next, although they showed no mark- ed trait when in a normal condition, we have found the workers in two insiauces, being every instance in our case, very irritable when ia that condition. We remember a queen secured from a lady in the South in the fall of 1893. A good big price was paid for the queen, and also a second purchased. Al- though going into winter quarters strong in bees it was in pui)r couiiition iu the spring, and was on only three frames when the next poorest was on eight. After a gi'eat deal uf trouble, and the refusal on our part to add another $5 to the returned queen and get a " tirst-class," we had the otfer to give us a $5 queen at half the price of the first. This we accept- ed, and the queen came to hand, witli the admoni- tion that, for $5, the progeny would not be all tlve- banded. Thej' can not, therefore, be considered a very tixed strain of bees. Last year the Ontario Agricultural and Experi- mental Union took in hand to make tests with tiiese live-banded Southern queens. Five iiueens of the leather-colored Italian sti-ain were also supplied— in all, 3.i. The queens were supplied between July and October :i, and they are to be tested for gentle- ness, longevity, honey ■ gathering qualities, euc. Thus far every one having the leather-colored Italian auu the li\x-banded Italian, without soliciLiug this fall a reply in tliis direction, mentions the superior- ity of tne leather-colored queen as to prolific quali- ties. Four of the tive-banded queens have already been superseded, which does not speak well for their longevity; several were also lost iu introduc- tion. We notice that the Vermont bee-keepers are, at their coming convention, to discuss whether it is advLsable, In view of the prevalence of bee paralysis iu the South, to purchase queens from there. If those wide-awake Vermont bee-keepers begin to doubt the wisdom of such purchases, the rest of us may well hesitate. Let us not add another disease to battle with. I also notice that Editor Leahy, in the last Progressive, pays his respects to them in this fashion: I have never received a so-called "flve-banded" queen from Mr. Doolittle, but 4 or 5 years ago I ordered one direct from Mr. Hearn, paying him SS.bO for her, this being his price of tested queens. This queen produced the most worthless, and at the same time most vicious bees that I ever had any ex- perience with (hybrids not excepted), they being small, with a black shiny spot at the end of the abdomen. The following winter they dwindled away and died on the summer-stand, yet they were packed in sawdust. Since then 1 have ordered five- banded queens from a number of other breeders with .some very good results and some very bad. Editor Alley, in the Apicultvrlst, has been giving those golden fellows " regular fits." Ed- itor Hutchinson, in the Revttw — well, I can't find where he stands, so I'll put him on the fence, and p]ditor York beside him. I have been on both sides of the aforesaid fence; but I have stayed longer, and on the side of the op- posers of the yellow fellows; indeed, I feel more inclined to stay there because the majority of the testimony seems rather to be against them (the yellow bees). OUR KELKJIOUS PAl'EKS AND ELECTKOI'OISE. We copy the following entire from Electricity of Jan. U, 18<».i: There can be no defense. The publications ac- cepLing that advertisement confess a willingness to make money by aiding a swindle. Yet the Cliunh- inan has thehypocriticalefifrontery to descant upon the evils of the Sunda> newspaper: "The discussion of the Sunday newspaper at the Church Congress gave much satisfaction to Chris- tians interested in the preservation of the brief hours of the Lord's Day for the development of the spiritual nature of man; and the words of the more seriously minded of the spi'akers were uniformly devoted to impressing upon churchmen the inev- itable loss susiained by those who either neglect di%'ine worship for the attractions of the Sunday newspaper, or attend the services of the church with minds and hearts indisposed by such reading, to receive their hallowed influences." The evils of the Sunday newspaper, however great they may be, would better be pointed out by some paper like the Sunday Sclmul Timex, the Christia}) Advocate of New York, or the Wenleru Christian Aitviicatr of Cincinnati, papers whose advertising space is not for sale to promote a fraud, and which can at least come into the discussion of a moral qutsuon with clean hands. We do not know how many other religious papers are still carrying the Electropoise advertisement, but the stain of dishonor and corruption rests on every one of them. The moral is so plain that we need not add any thing. However, I wish to call attention to the e.xcellent recommendation they indirectly give our old friend the Sunday School Times, in the above. — A. I. R. COKKECTIONS. On page 110, the senior editor, in speaking of the cement pavement used in Jacksonville, meant to say that it is a sort of limy marl in- stead of marble. He says his araanuen-si-s wrote it marble, and that he is sure he corrected it; but there it stands, as plain as print, with- out a mark on it, marble. On page 111 he meant to speak of the children as being neatly dressed, and not motley. There being no loop in the top of the c, the word looks just like motly, and we supplied the last e, thinking he had omitted it by a slip of the pen. A. I. R. IS again writing on the subject of bees (see this and next issue), with his old- time enthusiasm, of what he sees in Florida. I speak of this because he has not written on apicultural matters to any extent for a number of years. His writings have been confined largely to general subjects of travel, gardening, and things that pertain to our general conduct and its relation to heavenly things. 142 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Fkb. 15. OUR RAILKOADS AND KAII-KOAI) CORPORATIONS. It is SO common to hear complaints in regard to our railroad companies that it may sound a little odd to say a word in their favor. So far in our experience, however, we have met noth- ing but the kindest courtesy. My wheel was laid down here in Jacksonville without a bit of expense. Of course, we checked it as baggage, and our luggage was laid down at our rooms at a very trifling expense. Porters were gentle- manly and exceedingly obliging. I met one of them on the streets of .lacksonville after I had been here a day or two, and I was really glad to shake hands with him, even if he is colored. By the way, I have heard people speak of the insolence and exorbitant charges of the wait- ers here in Florida. So far we have seen noth- ing of the kind, but quite the contrary; and I have been wondering if it is not true that edu- cation is beginning to tell on these people. I have been studying them, their ways and habits, very intently since we came here, and I think I can say this: They not only seem to be exceedingly good-natured, cheerful, hopeful, and full of spirits, but they are, as a rule, industri- ous working people, (^uite a little excitement has been occasioned among them by the advent of the Dahomey Village that appeared at the World's Fair. They have a tent here, and have a street parade during the day. The en- thusiasm among their own people herein Jack- sonville is almost wild. A circus or show en- tirely in the hands of full-blooded Africans from their own country is to them an event un- precedented. These native Africans are models of physical health and development. There seems to be a pretty sharp line drawn between the colored people and the whites in this city. Where they do business back and forth, each race seems to keep within certain limits; and I am told intermarrying and amalgamation is comparatively rare. When I explained to the different railroad officers here where I wanted to go, and told thera what I wanted to do, they were more obliging than I had any reason to expect; and not only in the way of giving me full directions and assistance, but in making very reasonable charges. IN SAN MATEO. This morning we are at A. F. Brown's beauti- ful ranch. The most conspicuous object on the grounds is the magnificent great live-oaks with their spreading branches draped with festoons of Spanish moss; in fact, nowhere else in our travels have we seen either, in such wondrous perfection. It is our pleasure to meet here two bee-keepers of considerable prominence — V. V. Blackmer and Chas. D. Duvall. Mr. Blackmer has been associated with friend Brown in his bee-business ; and friend Duvall, the queen- breeder, is assisting friend Brown, and raising queens for himself. There is a point right here, friends, that may be worth while to consider. After a bee-keeper away up north has his bees safely put away for the winter he can come down here and have lots of fun. and, may be, do some good by following his chosen pursuit all winter long. The principal drawback is the expense of so long a trip; and I hereby petition the railroad companies to make a low- rate round-trip ticket especially for bee-keep- ers to come down, say in December, and go back about the first of April. It would be a comparatively easy matter, it seems to me, for a hundred bee-keepers or more to club together and send in a petition before next winter. Gleanings and the other bee-journals will, without doubt, help it along, and may be we editors could take a trip down and look the boys over and see whether they beliaved (went to meeting Sundays, etc.), when their wives were not around — that is, providing said wives did not go along. Now for the oaks and moss: One great oak right close by the house — in fact, itshades quite a part of the extensive verandas — has great spreading branches that actually measure from " tip to tip " something like ttO feet. Imagine a large symmetrical apple-tree occupying a circle nearly 100 feet across, and every limb and branch draped with delicate lacework of this beautiful moss. Now imagine these long tress- es rippling in the wind like the soft flaxen hair of a playful child. Our friends mentioned have just been trans- ferring bees from box hives and log gums into the latest pattern of improved hives, sent by carload lots from a place away up north, where a lot of Roots, old and young, work to- gether to fix out bee-keepers down south and elsewhere. Perhaps you may be surprised when I tell you that these friends, in transfer- ring bees, have actually made thirty-two in a day. The new hives under the waving mossy trees present a very pretty view indeed. We are promised a picture of it. MIGRATORY BEEKEEPING IN FLORIDA. Friend Brown is making a specialty of mi- gratory bee-keeping. He usually gets his first crop of honey here from orange, then he trans- ports his bees by boat and rail to New Smyrna, or some place on the coast where his bees can get palmetto honey; then he goes to the man- grove regions on the coast, but ten or twelve miles from the palmetto country. After this he takes in the yellow-partridge peas on the pine lands of the interior; next he gets honey from wild goldenrod and sunflower on the prairie river- bottom lands, making four or five crops in a year. A single colony thus trans- ported by way of experiment, gathered last season alO^i lbs. of honey; and an entire apiary (he says) can be made* to average from 2(30 to 3.")0 lbs. Mr. B. has made 16 moves in four years, with only two failures. Of course, much judg- ment and skill must be exercised in deciding when and where to move. He has kindly given us the following list of sources of honey which can be reached within a radius of from forty to sixty miles: Pennyroyal, December to Febru- ary; orange, February and March; tyty, dur- ing March; tupelo gum, March and April; pal- metto in May; mangrove in June and July; cabbage palmetto, July; yellow-partridge pea. August; goldenrod, September; sunflower, and goldenrod of another species, in October and November; maple in December and January; gall berry, INIiirch and April. In this vicinity are acres upon acres of the most beautiful orange-orchards I have ever seen in my life; and at the present writing the ground is literally yellow — yes. sometimes heap- ed-up yellowness— with frosted oranges. Many fears are indulged in that the trees, at least many of them, are killed as well as the fruit. Of course, all the orchards are not up to such a standard of perfection as I have mentioned; and upon asking why one orchard showed such luxuriance of growth while the one adjoining was dilapidation and ruin, I was told it was all in cultivation and fertilizers; and our well- known northern brands, say the Bradley, Bowker, Mapes, etc., are being used largely with excellent results. I am very glad indeed to know this. I was curious to know whether the Florida rock phosphates were also used 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 143 here, but I am told they are not much used — at least in this locality. There is no gardening going on around here; in fact, we have seen nothing I could call gar- dening as yet in Florida — hardly so much as a bed of onions, lettuce, or radishes: neither is anybody planting potatoes, notwithstanding the fact that Irish potatoes shipped from the North bring 40 or .50 cts. & peel; .' neither does any one keep a cow and pig, as we people do up north, and yet milk is 10 cts. a ijuart; eggs. 2.5 to 35 cts. a dozen, and other things accordingly. I have several times suggested having potatoes shipped direct from expert growers up north; but people here mostly buy a peck or so at a time; and it takes so many " middlemen '" to get a carload of potatoes into the hands of the consumer that the expense would biidge over the difference between 50 cts. a bushel and .50 cts. a peck. Notwithstanding, I am sure there is an opening here, for both sweet and Irish po- tatoes are on the table at almost every meal, and I for one should like the fun of selling milk for 10 cts. a quart. If I couldn't get alfalfa or some other plant to furnish cow-feed it would be funny. I asked one of the milk-men, as he was going his rounds, what they fed theii-cows down south. He looked at me for a moment just as if he thought I was a meddlesome, no-account Yankee; but he finally answered in a sort of surly way. as he turned his back to me, "Cot- ton-seed meal and bian." Now, look here; why can't somebody get that cheap wheat and corn that comes from Missouri for 35 cts. a bushel, you know, down here, and convert it in- to milk at 10 cts. a quart? Why, there is a gold-mine in the speculation. You see, you don't have to lay out a great deal of money in frost-proof stables. Mr Brown said a wire fence around the outside, and a cotton cloth for a tent-like cover over the top would be all the stable the cows would need. Oh! just a word more about the moss. Friend Brown says it is an air-plant, and the only reason why it is found on the trees is that it wants a place to hang on, up in the air. He said it would grow just as well hanging across a wire fence as on a tree; but friend Blackmer says it isn't so. Mr. Blackmer is old and gray- headed, like myself, and knows a lot more than these young chaps, even if they have lived in Florida all their lives. I have a private specu- lation of my own. that perhaps we might feed the cows on the moss — that is, we would have the moss take the place of hay while we were feeding them on corn meal and bran. THE PICNIC ON THE KIVER. Bee-keepers are geniuses, as I have often said before; especially are the successful bee- keepers men of mechanical and scientific at- tainments. Friend Brown has an electric gaso- line launch for running about on the river. The boat is only 21 feet long, and it is worked by a 4>i-horse-power engjne. To-day it pulled a string of three boats, loaded with picnickers. When I first saw the crowd that was to go. I feared the little launch would hardly handle them all; but it took us some eight or ten miles and back in fine style, I tell you. I think I never enjoyed a picnic more. The thing that added to my enjoyment was that I had a place close to the engine, and was enabled to study carefully its working. Almost twenty years ago (in fact, it wa*; at the Centennial Exposi- tion, in Philadelphia) I first saw a gas-engine. In this first crude affair the gas was exploded by a burning jet. and it sent the piston away up with a tremendous explosion. The modern machine occupies veiy little room for the power it generates; in fact, the ei/Z/jide?' is about the principal part of the machine. A small quan- tity of gasoline, measured out exactly for the work required, is turned to vapor, then mixed with the pioper proportion of atmospheric air to produce an explosive compound. This com- pound is fired in the cylinder by an electric spark, and the force of the explosion gives the power. It seems almost incredible that all this could take place at each stroke of the piston when the engine made as many as five revolutions per saxnid. I enjoyed most hearti- ly every rod of our trip after I had the hang of the machine enough to .see how it did its work. It really propels the boat by a series of " kicks " —yes, vigorous kicks— and the kicks are at the rate of five a second. Where is the kicker who can beat that? Now, mind you, besides this it occupies such a very small space that it can not possibly blow up, because it really does blow up five times every second — that is. all it can blow up. There is no boiler, and no reser- voir of any thing but gasoline, and this is away oft' at the other end of the boat. Great precau- tions are taken to prevent this reservoir from letting loose the gasoline any faster than the engine uses it. By great carelessness the gaso- line pipe might be broken so as to let the dan- gerous liquid out into the boat. Then if some one should throw a match into it, it might burn. But even in such a case, as the boat is always in the open air there could be no real explosion. The occupants might get their clothing set on fire; but all they would have to do would be to climb over into the water and let themselves down until the fire was out. While I was enjoying seeing the thing work, I could not but refiect on the amount of brains and hard study that had, step by step, during these twenty years past, conquered obstacle after obstacle, and brought the machine to its present state of perfection. In fact, it seems almost impossible that any really valuable in- vention can come about in any other way. Not only must one man make it. perhaps, a life study, but other men, and often succeeding generations, work out the.se great triumphs of human intelligence over the forces of nature.* By the way, friend Brown proposes, if I am correct, to make this gas-engine launch help him ill his migrat(»ry bee-keeping. You see, he can put a pretty good-sized apiary on a cheap raft, or lighter, and then this litile giant of strength and power, this compact " genii " of boiled-down power and energy, will take the whole apiary and fairly make it skim over the St. Johns River and tributaries, to any point where honey may be coming in. We just had the nicest crowd of boys and girls, in my opin- ion, to be found in Florida, or any other land; and let me say to you confidentially that Mr. Biown's little sister, who presides over his housekeeping affairs in a model fashion, is not one whit behind the rest of the crowd; and. by the way, what a grand thing it is to }i(»() has so much captivated my fancy that he has promised to have a picture of it taken to l)e given to the readers of Gleanings, at an early date. Such a cottage rents for $'M a season, the season to be a whole year or any part of the year, only you must pay the ^90 if you have it during the season that Northerners usually come here. Bee-keepers will certainly do well to take in Daytona, and they shouldn't fail to call on Dr. Oren. for he can post them in regard to almost every thing they want to know. We find here these same artesian wells that are such a providence to all of Florida. By putting down a pipe only about 80 ft., enough water pours out for family use; and by going down still farther a much larger volume of water is ob- tained. Dr. Oren has just one such well for a group of cottages, and it furnishes something 14S GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. ir.. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiin Notice. I Pacific I Coast ! Bee=keepers. We are Northwestern Agents for The A. I. Root Com= = pany's supplies, and can make prices that will interest you. = Send us a list of your wants, and see if we can not save = you money. POSSON'S SEED STORE, | Portland, Oregon. E ?1llllllMIIMnilllllllllllllllllMIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIinilllllllinilllllllllllllllllllllllllll)IIIIIMIII!!:illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllin: SECTIONS. They are >?2.50. $3.00perM. too. We keep from two to three carloads of supplies in stock, hence eao till orders promptly. Let me know j'our wants. '9."> catalog ready. I. J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, N. Y.City. The New Craig Seedling Potato. For full description of this Potato, see page 9.")tt of this journal for Dec. 15, 1894. Prices: 1 lb. by mail, postpaid, 2.5 cts.; V4 peck, by freight or express, $1.00; peck, $1.75; H bushel, $3.00; bushel, $5.00; barrel of II pecks, fl3.50. The above prices will hold good as long as our stock lasts. All orders by mail will be filled as soon as received. Orders by express will be shipped at once unless ordered oth- erwise. All orders for potatoes by freight will be tilled April 1, or soon after that time, unless direc- tions are given to shij) at an earlier date. In this latter case I do not assume responsibility for loss in freezing; but where it is desirable to sliip earlier, and customers have bad luck. I e.vpect to help them out so far as I can consistently. In regard to mj' responsibility I would refer you to A. I. Root. In fact, where it is more convenient you can order po- tatoes of the A. I. Root Co., instead of sending your orders to me. GEO. E. CRAIG, Zimmer, Franklin Co., 0. B4UBuy5eeds, Send for my C^lfin'fc Annual Catalog. ndliua, It is ntatiy gotten up; no old stereotyped mat- ter about It; nothing sensational. The Hest Varieties truthfully described and honestly priced. A. 1. Root says, "I l)elie\e 1 have read evi'ry catalog you li:i\e put out clear through, and I wish all seedsmen would tell us their ex- perience with different varieties as frankly as you do." True I'rizetaker onion seed and plants a s|)ecialtj'. Vegetable and small-fruit p ants of all kinds, trees, and supplies for gardeners. Send tor free catalog at once, or send 10c for cat- alog, a pkt. of a new smooth very early tomato, a pkt. of the best new lettuce, a pkt. of true Pri/.etaker onion, and a pkt. of choice flower seeds, all for lo cents. Christian Weckesser, Niagara Falls, N. V. DON'T MONKEY ■"""" — Order early to be ready for the harvest. Root Co.'s Supplies kept in stock. ;i6-page catalog free. We have low freight rates. JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. Raspberry Plants For Sale. (Jregg for late; Hilborn for medium; Palmer for early. These are standard varieties, giving almost universal satisfaction. They are the kinds to plant for berries. Price $1.00 per hundred; *^7.00 per thousand, F. O. K. at Lodi. W. R. GRANNIS, Lodi, Ohio. FOWLS AND EGGS 1 r — . r.VM».VKi» i;kki:i».>»— IT Ml t'USH !>iilirilM Hcoriiii; 9^ puiiitH mill upwurdH. tiiir largf Car;ilo!;iic- mnilocl on rooeipt of4ci-nts. Ciriulars Free. F. 8. STAHI.. Quiney, IlllnoU tS^In responding to this advertisement mention Glkakdjos. ETAL WHEELS for your WAGONS Any 81 ze you want, 20 to 56 in high. Tires I to 8 in. wide— hubs to fit any axle. fSaves Vast many times in a season to have set of low wheels to fit your wagon for hauling Krain, fodder, manure. bogs, kc. No resetting of tttes. Catl'g free Address EMPIRE MPG. CO., Uulncy, 111 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 149 SWEET-CLOVER SEED. If any of our readers have sweet melilot or Bok- liara clover seed to sell, we shall be glad to have them mail us samples, stating- how much you have and what you ask for it per lb. We are sold out, and orders are cominjf quite freely. liOtAL DEALERS IN BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. As we go to press we are just issuing- our circular of prices to local dealers. We desire a progressive agent to represent us in every good locality for bees, and we have special inducements to offer. If your name is not alreadj' on our Itooks as an agent, and you are acting in that capacity, let us hear from you. ALSIKK (UiOVER SEED. The supply of alsike seed seems to be plentiful, and our offers for it have been so freely accepted that we now have a good stock of choice seed which we are able to offer at lower prices. For the pres- entwe offer clioice seed at the same price as peavine or mammoth clover— 16c per lb.; $2.00 per peck; $;i.80 per '^2 bush.; $7.'20 per bush.; $14.00 for 2 bush., bag included in each case. BEESWAX ADVANCED. The market continues bare of beeswax, and prices are higher. We quote an advance of 2 cents a pound over our last quotations, and will, until fur- ther notice, pay 28c cash, olc in trade, for average wax delivered. We can not offer refined wax for sale in small lots for less than 3.5 cents. Is there not an opening at such prices for bee-keepers in some sections to produce wax rather than honey, at the present low prices for the latterV SI.MPLICITV AND OLD-STYLE HIVES. Our readers who have received new catalogs, have no doubt noticed that we do not list the Simplicity portico and old-style cliaff hives. We consider the Dovetailed hives superior, and they are lower in l)rice. If any old customers who have a supply of these old-style hives, and do not care to change, wish to buy more of the same kind, remember we are still prepared to furnish them at the same prices as heretofore. DOVETAILED HIVES— NEW LIST. If any of our old customers do not like the new plan we have adopted this year, of including nails and brood-frame starters with complete hives, they are at liberty to order hives at the old list, put up in the old way. In that case be careful to state in your order that you order from old list. The freight rebate mentioned inside of front cover of catalog will not apply to such orders, but only to those ordered from the new list which comply with the conditions made in the catalog. CO.MMON-SENSE BINDERS. M. H. Mendlesoii, of Ventura, Cal., recently asked the price of these binders in lots of (i to 12, and a(l Address, KITSELMAN BROS., Rideeville, Indiana. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS., 110 Hudson St., N. Y HONEY WHOLESALE DEALEES 4 COMMISSION MEKOHANTS. Established 1875. BEESWAX. LIBEBAL ADVANCES MADE ON CONSION- UENTS. 150 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. 15. PATENTS Careful attention srivon to tlie prosecution of business before the U. S. Patent Otiife. All business treated as stiHctly aiiiftdoitinl. No charge m.ide for services in prosecu I iiiiur application, until the pat- ent is allowed. Send for " Inventor's Guioe." FRANKLIN H. HOUGH. 92S F STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C, Fruit Plants. •%WWW»M^^»VV^WWWWW^WWW^WWWWr< \ STAHL'S EXCELSIOR Spraying Outfits kill insects, pre- \ent leaf bliglit orniy fruit. e a heavx yield of ail Iruit and vegetable (•roi»s. Thousands in use. Send 6 cts. for catal'g and full treatise on i' spraying. _,, ■« frff. Address _ V\1I>M \.>I .>^T.\HI., QL'INCY, II.I.. Wlie-re ta TiuT^' til em nt whole- sale prices. Send ixwtal card for descriptive and wholesale catalogue of all of the leading varieties of f^t rft wherries, Iiasj)t>erries. lylacUlierrief^, C^nrrants, Ctooseherries. Ci!rcij>es, and l^ot ntoes. EZRA G. SMITH, Manchester, Ont. Co., N. Y. Please mention this paper. BEGINNERS, IJcginners should have a copy of the Am- ateur Bee keeper, a TO-page book by Prof. J. W. Rouse. Price 2.5 cents; if sent by mail, -He. The little book and the Progressive Bee keeiier (a live progressi\e:iy-|iage montli- ly journal) one j-ear, 65c. Address any tirst- class dealer, or LBAHY MFG. CO., Higoijvsvill.e, Mo. MMTuc HONEY ^^'^^^^ EXTPACTOP. Square Glass Honey-Jars, Tin Buckets, Bee-hives, Honey Sections, Etc., Etc. Perfection Cold-blast Smokers. APPLY TO CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. p. S.~Send 10-ct. stamp for " Practical Hints to Beekeepers' A Perfist Park Fence Is shown ill our January "Hustler," with a full view of ten large Elk. It surrounds the P. W. W. F. Co.'s Park of 40 acres, confining also a herd of 15 deer. We call it perleot be- cause no animal gets in or out "without a pass." Bound_^d on three sides by public roads, it has been thoroughly tested by dogs. With iiosts four rods apart there is no sag- ging, no obstruction to the view, and above all it costs less than a paling fence for the same puri>ose. Send for Free copy. Addr'<'ss PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. t#" In responding to this advertisement mention Gi.EANiNoa TAKE NOTIGEI DEFORE placing your orders for SUPPLIES, write " for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sections, Bee- Hives, Shipping-Crates. Frames. Foundation. Smo- kers, etc. PAGE & LYON MFG. CO., Stfdb New London, Wis. HATCHER & BROODER Combined. THEMO.'^T PKUFErT --^Incubator i>Iaiiig-cnses, and every tliiim- that bee-keepers use. Root's Goods at Root's Prices, and the Best Shipping^point in the Country. Dealers in Honey and Ueeswax. Catalog fiee. WALTER S. POUDER, 162 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Please mention this paper. PATE/\/T WIRED COMB FOUNDATION i -i Has Kn Sittr- in Uroocl-frames. Thin Flat - Bottom Foundation Eas so FishboQe is the Sorplus Hone^. Being the cleanest, it is usually worked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, 12tfdh Sole flanufacturers, Sprout Brook. Montgomery Co., N. Y. HATCH CHICKENS BY STEAM WITH THE MODEL > EXCELSrOR INCUBATOR. Thousand's in Suc- cessful Operation. SIMPLE, PEKFECT, nrul SELF-KEG I'LA TIAG. G uaranteed to hatch a larger percentage of fertile eggs, at less cost, than any otherlncubator. Send 6c. for UIus. Catalog. __ _ Circulars Free. BEO.II. STAHL,114toia3S.fithSt..Qiilney.lll. ONE MAN WITH THE UNION COMBINATION SAW C'ln do the work of four men us- ing hand tools, in Kipiiing. Cut- ting off, Mitering, Kaldieting, (irooving. Gaining, Diidoing, •'.dgiiig-up, .lointiug Stuff, etc. Full Line of Foot and Hand Power Machinery. Sold on Trial. Cut (III 111 Free. ' l-34ei SENECA FALLS MFC. CO., 44 Water St., Seneca Falls, N Y. 1 responding to this advertisement mention Oleaninqs, onSODaysTrial Kasy, durable and iclieap. A radical sealed catalogue. Temple, thieu&;n, Ul. isai (iLEANiNGS IN BEE CULTURE. 155 Largest ractory in the West, good supplies and low prices, our Motto Wr ;ue loie to serve you. .ind wil if ymi f;ivf us acluince. C^ntnloLi'tic I^re-e, Address LEAHY RHANUFACTURINC CO , Higginsville, Mo. ^^;awov#^S#J^^¥Mt' Blue Beauty or Giant Perennial Sweet Pea.— Flowers two iuches across aud two and a half inehes long: a lovely shade of azure-blue with feathery markings of deeper blue and a dash of ]iure. clear white in the ■centre of each. Forms a dense vine fi to 8 feet high, <*overed with blossoms, surpassing in beauty the finest Clematis. Hardy, growing more beautiful from year to year. Seeds, 15c per packet. Pink Beauty, {Kosf el rfzkya).— One of the greatest floral novelties of the age. Perfectly hardy and cov- ered all sunnner and autumn with flowers as large aud almost as round as silver dollars, which are of the most tender and charming bright rosy-piuk imagin- able. Blooms first year from seed aud forms a dense plant three feet high, that remains iu perfection a lifetime. Succeeds everywhere. Seeds, 25c per packet. Strong^ blooming Plants, of either, by mail, each 25c., or 3 for 50c. Eleaxok, the only large very early Strawberry. .Marv and IIknkv Ward ISeechkk, the bii^-jrest and best of all .strawberries. PLVMorni RocK, the most valuable cherry. I.Ovett's IJest Blackiierrv. SrMiEA.MS Canna. immense pure golden flowers. Faxon Squash, the finest vegetable of modern times. A host of other valuable novelties, and all the 'J^ood old sorts of I'RfTTS, FloWEUS and \"Ei;f,i ari.es. A FLOWER GARDEN for 25c. To prove by results the superior quality of our seeds we will mail ten full-sized packets of Flower Seeds for 25 cents. These packets contain hundreds of varieties and with the simple culture a child of ten years can give, will produce a brilliant display of beautiful flowers all summer and autumn and plenty for cutting for the house. Also ten fuil-sized packets of \'egetable Seeds, all choice varieties, selected especially for boys, for 25 cents. l-;verything is fully described in our Guide to Horticulture, a book of 150 pages, copiously illustrated and beautifully printed; and full instructions given for planting, pruning, culture and management. To all who order any of the above, the CriDE is sent Free. To those who send Ten Cents, and say where they saw this advertisement, we mail a bulb of the lovely \' ariegated-leaved Tuberose, three bulbs of Cladiolus and the Guide. 250 Acres of Nursery. 41st Year. 25,000 feet of Greenhouses. The LOVETT CO , Little Silver, New Jersey. 156 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1. Honey Column CITY MARKETS. Kansas City.— Hojicy.— The stock of comb honey is large; market well supplied. Fancy white 1-lb. combs, 15; amber, 12@13. Receipts of extracted, lig-ht; white, 7; amber, 5hi@6; southern. 4'-2@5. Beeswax, 32. Hamblin & Bearss, Feb. 20. Kansas City, Mo. Boston. — Ho7iew.— We beg- to quote you our mar- ket without cliaiigc as to price, and witli a little better demand for honey. Fair stock on hand. hand, with some inquiry. E. E. Blake & Co., Feb. 8. Boston, Mass. San FR.4NCiSCO.—Ho(it'j/.— Honey is scarce, but not in active demand. We quote extracted honey, 6@7; comb, 1-lb. frame, 8@10. Beeswax scarce at 37@28. SCHACHT, Lemcke & Steinek. Feb. 13. San Francisco, Cal. Kansas City.— Honej/.— There is no chang:e in the market on honey or beeswax. Honey is very slow sale. Business otherwise is about the same. C. C. CliEMONS & Co., Feb. 14. Kansas City, Mo. Denver. — Honey.— Our market remains without much clians-e. No. I comb honey in lib. sections moves slowly at 11@12; No. 2. 9'ffilO. Extracted, No. 1, in 60-lb. cans (2 in a l)oxi, 6@7 Tliere is an im- provement in the demand for extracted honey. We can handle to advantag'c a quantity of pure bees- wax at 22@2.5. R. K. & J. C. Frisbee, Feb, 11. Denver, Col St. Louis.— i7o7igi/.— Inquiries are larg-er, and di-- mand somewhat better. We quote choice clc.ir comb, 14X@1,"); amber, 13(5)13';.; extrncted, in bar- rels, 4@5. Prime yellow beeswax, 26^. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., Feb. 19. St. Louis, Mo. Philadelphia.— H'i/i('!/. —Comb honey slow sale. Large lots ottered at 9@11. No pure white-clover in tliis market Extracted honey is not in such good demand, on account of storm paralyzing all busi- ness; fair sale at 4@6. Beeswax verj' scarce; sells quickly at 30@32. Wm. A. Selsrr, Feb. 19. 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. New York.— Ho?tej/.— We are gradually working- down our stock of comb honey, and the indications are that we shall succeed in disposing of all of the while honey, and possibly all of the dark, during the spring, at following quotations: Fancy white 1-lbs., 13; fnir. 10; l)uck\v!ieat. 8@9. The market is well supplied with extracted. Demand is fair for choice grades, while i-ommon stock is neglected. We quoTe: White-clover and basswood, .5V4@6; buck- wheat. n@,5'2; Southern, 4.5@55 per gallon, according to quality. Beeswax firm, and in good demand at o0@3l. HiLUKETH UROS. & SEGEI^KEN, Feb. 20. 38 & 30 Broadway, New York. Milwaukee. — ffoHci/.— The market dr grades are verj- dull, and at irregular prices. Buckwheat honey slow at 8@10. Extracted, very little in market, and \'ery little demand. Batterson & Co., Feb. 19. Buffalo, N. Y. Cleveland. — Ho/i<'j/. — The demand foi' white comb honey is somewhat slow. No. 1 1-lb. sections- are selling at 13@14; No. 3. 11@13. Nn. 1 water-white extracted, 6@8. Beeswax, 38@30. WiLLi.^MS Bros., Feb IS. 80 & 83 Broadway, Cleveland, O. DETKOiT.—Ho?iej'.— Stock of comb honey slowly decreasing. Best white continues to sell at 14@1."). other grades, 11@13. Extracted dull at 6@7. Bees- wa.x in good demand at 37@28. M. H. Hunt. Feb. 19. Bell Branch, Mich. Chicago. — Ho?iej/.— Since the weather has moder- ated, a better demand has been felt on the market; yet the sales are of small volume. White comb brings 14®!"), according to its grade; dark is slow at 8@10. The demand for extracted is not brisk, and stocks are fair, of all kinds except whiteclover. It sells at 5X@7. Beeswax. 28c for ordinary run. R. A. Burnett & Co., Feb. 21. 163 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. For Sale.— Three tons of pure basswood honey in 30-gallon bairels; also nearlj^ three tons in 1.5- gallon kegs. Price, fiVjc: in lots of a ton or more, 6c. f . o. b. Barrels at Mauston. kegs at Dutand, Wis. Address F. McN.w, Mauston, Wis. Closing out balance of my fine extracted basswood honey at 7c f. o. b. Who is not supplied ': Elias Fox, Hillsboro, Wis. Alfalfa Honey, very white, thick, and rich. Two 60-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples, 8c. eift Oliver Foster. Las Animas, Col. We yet have extrncted alfalfa at f 7.80 per box of 130 lbs. Aikin Bros., Loveland, Colo. Beeswax wanted.— Will pay 31' ^c cash for abso- lutely pure beeswax that will stand chemical test. Write me at once. Wm. a. Selser, 10 Vine St.. Philadelphia, Pa. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market. BATTERSON & CO. Responsible. Reliable, Commission Merchants, igtfdb and Prompt. FAY'S Are a Paying Crop to Grow for Market. PROLIFIC Ihavea large quantity of extra strong RED well-rooted bushes for sale cheap. CURRANTS ^/?HO. h. burdett. CLIFTON, NEW YORK. 2 and 3 frame nuclei cheap bv the dozen. AUG. LEYVRAZ, Francis, Fla. 25 Imported Garniolans Ready for immediate delivery at $5 each. Bred in 1894 at the most elevated point ainong the Cnrnic Alps where be^s are kept. Daughters of these queens ready in April, bleach; $;10 i}er doz. Address The Carniolan Apiaries, Charlton Heights, Md. The Irish Daisy Potato Gave the largest yield of 11 varieties; 12 lbs. to the liill. Seed diii'ct f rom Wm. Henry Alaule. Will till oi'ders as long as my stock lasts at 1 lb., 3()c; 3 lbs., 7.5c postpaid; by express or freight, 1 peck, 60c; bushel, $1.75; barrel, *3.50. Second size by freight or express one-fourth less. L. D. GALE, Stedman, N. Y. EED POTATOE*^ Colvln's New Ideal. S*-*-*^ ' V ' " ' Vy to. Best new Potato, E. ^^ Vortlier, Carman No. 1, Banner', 20 varieties; Dutton Flint Curn. Seed Oats, Small-Fruit Plants, etc., ;it Hard Times Prices. Price List free. Address CEO. H. COLVIN, L. Box 6, Dalton, Pa. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Contents of this Number. All'alCa in Texas IT.S Bee-business. Leaving: 171 Bee-paialvsis Heierlitaiy — lT(i Bee-paialVsis in F'rance 17:' Bee-)iaialvsis. Brown on 177 Bee-trees in Winter Bee-tr Frnlileni. IK) Bees M(.vinn in Cl\ister 180 Beeswax. Adi'lteTation of. . .18.S Bicvcle-riile. E'nest's 18Ii Broover for Tanners... .181 CONVENTION NOTICES. The Utah Bee-keei>ers' .Association will hold its semiannual meeting- on Thnr.sday. April 4. at 11) a.m., in the Fish Commis- sioner's rooms, in the new city and eountv building:. Salt Lake City. Geo. E. Dudley, See., Provo, Utah. The next meeting' of tlie Wfsfcrn Washington Bee-keepers' Issoeiation will lie held on Monday. Aiiril 8th. in H(n-ticnltural iooms. Citv Hall. Bee-kecpirs are invited. G. D. LiTTOOY, See.. Taeonia. Wash. Peaches. CROSBY FROST=PROOF. — If you want Peaclies every year, and plenty of tliem, plant tlie Crosby. It fruits in New England every year, never liaving failed in eleven years, even when all others were killed by the winter. It is of larpre size, beautiful orang-e yellow, splashed with oarmine, and of best quality, ripeninfj about mid- season. 30 cents eaoh; $3.00 per dozen, postpaid. CHAIR'S CHOICE.— A very large, late, yellow- fieshed variety, verj' handsome; rich, .iuicy, firm; tiesh of excellent quality; freestone, and a superior canninff-peach. 30c each; $3.00 per dozen, postpaid. LOVETT'S WHITE.— For a late white Peach, nothing could be more desirable. Large, perfectly white, ifreestone; an annual bearer of rich, luscious, juicv fruit. 30 cts. each; $3.00 per dozen, postpaid. MOUNTAIN ROSE.— An old reliable and very val- iiable Peach, ripening' early; larg'esize, skin whitish, and nearly covered with rich, dark red; a valuable family and market sort. 20 cents each; $3.00 per dozen, postpaid. Larger trees of above, by express, at same price. I can also furnish Crawford's Early, Crawford's Late Elberta. Beer's Smock, Stump, Old Mixon, Wonderful. Ford's Late White Peaches. 30c each; ■6 for $1.00, postpaid ; or larger, by express, at pur- chaser's expense, at same price. The above "ad." is copied verbatim from a beau- tifully illustrated catalog for 189.5. These descrip- tions are accurate. The peaches are .just as repre- sented. I would, however, select Ford's Late and the old Smock as worthy of being- emphasized- equal to any peaches ever grown. I have all the ■sorts named above, and more. All are guaranteed true to name. Great pains and care will be taken that every tree that T send you shall grrow. 10 trees, one or several sorts, by mail, 60c: 100 trees, by ex- press or freight, $4.00. Ior%'in Dliimc Ahondance. Burbank. and Ucl|Jctll flUlllS>. satsuma. By mail, .5 for 60c; by freight or express, $10.00 per 100. Flora Vista, San Juan Co., New Mexico, ) .Jan. 17, 1895. ( John CadivaUnder.— Dear Sii-:— * * * I received • the order of 100 peach-trees last spring. They reach- ed me in splendid condition. Also ten plums. Henry Steinbach. Cedar Grove Farm. John Cadwallader, Proprietor, North Madison, Ind. i FirstNaiinnal Bank. Madison, Ind. "( A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio. Please mention this paper References: Pf\f Calp a,t hard-times prices, a winter home I Ul oaic, atTampa,Fla. Lot and two cottages. Rent of one cottage pays good interest on invest- ment. Twenty best colonies of bees in apiary, or- dered before April to ship May 1. $70.00. Write for particulars. Hrs. F. Averill, Howardsville, Va. For Persons Rcft'iciifi'. KiUtd)- of aitaniniis. 157 Desiring a milder climate, now is the time to invest in P^lorida. For information, write F. Danzenbaker, Box 100, Jacksonville, Fla. Ffir ^alp ''^'iiiO buys my home and apiary, 1 yjl iDai\i. just inside city limits; 1 acre of land. 4-room house, good shade and fruit trees, 35 colonies of line Italians; lots of sweet clover all around me. Address P. J. T., Box 2, Fredonia, Wilson Co., Kan. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be Inserted under this head at one-half our usu- al rates. All advertisements intended for this department must not exceed five lines, and you must SAY you want your adv't in this department, or we will not be responsible for er- rors. You can iiave the notice as many lines as you please, but all over tlve lines will cost you .loi-ordiner to our re^lar i-ates. This department is intended only for bona tide ex- changes. Exehansres for cash or for price lists, or notices of- fering articles for sale, can not be inserted under this head. For such our reprnl.\r rntesof 20cts. a line will he charged, and they wil 1 be put with the regular advertisements. We can not be responsible for dissatisfaction arising' from these "swaps." A GENTLEMAN owning a fruit-farm near this city wishes to employ a man with experience in the bee business to build up an apiary and mean- wliile a.ssist on fruit-farm. Address Walter S. Pouder, Indianapolis, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange bees, queens, and eggs (from B. V. Rocks, S. C. B. Leghorn, and Light Brahmas), for bee-supplies or offers. Chas. H. Thies, Steeleville, 111. WANTED.— To exchange Knickerbocker medical battery, breech-loading rifle, and Stainer violin, for bees, printing-press, or offers. D. H. Tweedy, Box 54, Dillon vale, O. WANTED.— To exchange some Bibles, albums, steel engravings, etc., for colonies or nuclei of bees, or offers. W. T. Atkinson, Auburn, N. Y. w ANTED.— To excliange cushion safety for blood- ed pigs or offers. A. .F Ames, Claremont, Va. WANTED.— To exchange strawberry-plants, the best varieties, cheap, for brood-foundation, yellow Italian bees and queens in their season. Mrs. Oliver Cole, Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. W ANTED.— Position in apiary, by man of experi- ence. L. H. Greene, Wichita, Kan. W ANTED.— To exchange 100 new and second-hand hives (standard L. frame) for offers. T. P. Andrews, Farina, Fay. Co., 111. WANTED.— By an apiarist, 10 years' experience, a position with sonic man making a specialty of bee-keeping or supply work. J. B. Henderson, Roney's Point, W. Va. Box 96. WANTED.— To exchange a 10-inch Root founda- tion-mill, good as new, for hives in flat, or sec- tions 4 14x4 ii^, 7 to foot. A. W. Gardner, Centreville, Mich. WANTED.— Position in apiary; experience, good reference, ■■ingle. E. H. Fuhrman, Pleasant Home, O. W ANTED.— To exchange supplies and other goods for honey. O. H. Hyatt, Shenandoah, Iowa. 30tf W ANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample. J. A. Green, Ottawa, 111. WANTED.— To excliange 300 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation. Anthony Off, Helena, Ark. w ANTED.— A quantity of drawn combs, eitf I J. Stiungham, 106 Park Place, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange telegraph stock for bees or nursery stock in spring. 4-5 W. G. Cha.mberlain, Pittsfleld, Me. 158 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak I. Over $5.00 Is what it costs to take the leading- bee - journals, even if secured at clubbing-rates. The Bee-keepers' Review endeavors to give the cream of all these journals, and it costs only ^1.00. If you can't afford to take all of the journals, yet wish to be well informed in apicultural matters, try the Review. W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Hich. LISTEN HERE ! 160-Page Bee-Book FREE To every Ne«v Subscriber sending $1.00 for the ^»^eekly Aiiierican Bee Journal for a year. (The book is " Bees and Honey " by Thos. G. Newman). Besides articles from the best bee-keepers, the Bee Journal now h is 6 Department Editors— Mrs. Jennie Atchley in "The Sunny Southland;" " Canadian BeeJom " by "Bee-Master;" "Questions and Answers" by Dr. C. C. Miller; "Notes and Comment-," Kx-Pres. B. T. Abbott; "Doctor's Hints" on good health, by Dr. Pelro; and " Among the Bee-Papers " by " Gleaner," who gleans the best from all the bee-papers each week. Space forbids tilling more. Better send lor Free Sample Copy, or II 00 as per above offer. i^~ 20-Oeiit Trial Trip i.3 months or 1.3 wks.) to New subscribers Address. GEORGE W. YORK & CO., 56 FIFTH Ave., CHICAGO. III. E. KRETCHHER, RED OAK, IOWA, •^ ^ 4-8 SENDS FREE HIS CATALOG OF 72 ILLUSTKA TED PAGES; DBSC KIBES EVERYTHING USED IN THE APIARY; BEST GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES. CAPACITY ONE CARLOAD A DAY. WHITE AT ONCE FOK HIS CATALOG. I told you so. Mrs. Atchley:— ^Ihe onc-fiame nucleus I got of you last spring gave me 120 well-lilled one-pound sections. J. A. Smith, Heber, Utah, Oct. 9, 1894.^;j Now, hiiven"t I told you that it will pay to send' bees north in the spring ? One-frame nucleus, $1.00; 10 or more, 90c each. Bees by pound, same price. LTntested queens to go with them, 75c each. Untested queens by mail. $1.00 each; $5.00 forH; $9.00 per dozen, till June; after, 75c each; $4.25 for 6, or $8.00 per dozen. 1 breed the leather-colored Italians, 5 bands, and Carniolans, in separate yards, at safe distance. Tested. 3 bands, $1.50 each; 5 band.s or Carniolans, $2.50 each. Fine breeders of either race, or imported queens, $5.00 eacli. Full colonies with untested queens. $6.00. Ask for discounts to dealers, and by quantities. The only steam bee-liive factory in south Texas. Root's goods, Dadant's foundation, and Bingham smokers. Safe arrival on every thing guaranteed. Send for FREE catalog that tells all about raising queens. JENNIE ATCHLEY, Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. To please all, am breediuM' liotli Leather-colored and Golden 5-banded Italians. Have five apiaries, ;i to 5 miles apart, running 350 nuclei. Your orders filled Q promptly. Can furnish ti£i£%t^cy queens from March 1st tt> UCCll^* Nov. 10. The Leather-col- ored 3-bauded Breeder, im- ported from Italy, Oct., '94. The Golden .5-banded Breeder, selected from 1000 ■4(!0 lbs. of honey to colony. Mid orders now for eai'ly delivery. Guaranteed ,,, a o 1 queens, 7.5c; special low Wni. A. i>elSer, price in qusuitities. Send w, j. n for descriptive catalog. WynCOte, Pa. World's Fair Hedal Awarded my I^oimdatlon. Siiid for free samples. Di'jilers, write for wholesale prices. Root's new fnlishc-bande frames, or the double brood-nest, is too large; that the twelve- frame* capacity seems to be a maximum. But I am not prepared yet to accept the state- ment that this size is the best, all things con- sidered, for all bee-keepers, although I am in- clined to think it is about right for the Dadants. If, then, we must have a large hive, the weight of testimony seems to be so far in favor of not more than twelve-frame capacity. Now re- garding the egg-laying of queens: On page 138 of our last issue, Mr. Doolittle seems to have almost anticipated an answer to Mr. Dadant's statements. Among other things he says: "With the large hive the bees are quite likely to get the start of the queen, and commence to store honey in the brood-combs before entering the sections at all, and in such a case the bees seem loth to go into the sec- tions." During the poor years of late it has been hard to get even an eight-frame brood- nest so crowded as to force any surplus above. Again, he says: "It is well to rememljer that all queens are not equally prolific; and while 20 per cent of our queens would keep the brood- chamber of a ten-frame Langstroth hive prop- erly supplied with brood to give the best re- sults in section honey, the other 80 per cent would not be prolific enough to do so: and that, because a queen m'ay lay GOno eggs daily by using plenty of comb capacity and coaxing, it does not necessarily follow that it is to the best advantage of the apiarist to accommodate or eveu coax the queen to bring her fullpst lay- ing capacity to the front at any time." Further on, he thinks that the qneeu should be rather above the capacity of the brood-nest than otherwise. From all his past experience he believes that 2400 eggs would be a good maxi- mum average. In the same number, Mr. Boardman thinks it is not so much the large hive as the laying capacity of the queen that regulates the size of the colony. My own views are subject to revision, for I can not, in the beginning of things, strike the golden mean. I do not wish to appear to be fickle, and jumping from one thing to another; nor do I desire to stick to one idea year after year, right or wrong, and try to bolster it up by all sorts of arguments. I do not wish to be con- strued as being strictly an advocate for an eight-frame hive, nor for a ten-frame or twelve- fiTame. In our catalog for this year we have given our customers the option of any one of the three sizes. We give them, as fairly as possible, the advantages of each size, consider- ing the matter of locality, so that each one may decide for himself. If one is a beginner, and does not know what he wants, we recommend the eight-frame size, because the majority of our customers have elected it in the past; and because, too. when we were making the ten- frame size onlv. the pressure got to be so great that we not only admitted the eight-frame size on an equal footine. but later on gave it the foremost position.— Ed.] EXPLANATIONS AND ANSWERS. MISfONCEPTIONS CORREr'TKI). B.I/ C. A. Hatclu One of the perils and disadvantages of writ- ing for the press is in being misunderstood and misrepresented by those who hold opposite opinions. I suppose one of the chief reasons for this is the poverty of written language as compared with spoken. In the written, all the * A twplve-frame Lanpstroth has about tlie same capacity as the Dadant liive.— En.] 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 163 expression of features, inflection, and gesture are all lost; and what would be very easily un- derstood in the way the speaker intended when standing face to face, becomes a mystery when reduced to the dead level of cold type. He must be a master indeed who can express his opinions and ideas as well with the pen as with the voice. While I think none have willfully misinter- preted my articles on the eight and ten frame question, many have ascribed ideas and opin- ions to me that I never held, and that have been furthest from my thoughts while pen- ning the articles; so I shall have to lay the cause to one of two reasons — either my povcnuy of expression is so great that I have failed to say what I wanted to, or their discernment has been so keen that they have read between the lines things that were never there. My time is so taken up at present that I can not hunt up each specific case, but must gen- eralize somewhat. DO I BELIEVE IN AND PRACTICE TIERING UP? Most assuredly, I do: and yet some seem to think that I advocate only side storage and the "Long-Idea" hive, simply because I think bees will increase faster, and get stronger by the beginning of the honey harvest, if a hive is used large enough to keep the queen laying up to her capacity, without putting another hive over it. After the harvest commences, tier up as high as you like — one, two, or three supers, as the strength of the colony will require. I do not remember of ever having a colony require more than three full-sized hives on top, to give all the room needed, but have had any amount of them that require four hives, in all 34 frames, to accommodate them. UUEEN GOING DOWN OIJ UP. I have never had any trouble from the queen going down afler putting another story on, if the top hive is allcnved to get full; but this fill- ing of the top hive with brood is (tlwdys at the expense of emptying frames in the lower hive, for I never had a queen that would keep both hives full of eggs; and if she is crowded down for lack of room above, it is two or three days before she will go, and hence so much lost time at the most critical time, just before the harvest begins. Therefore I'd rather have a hive up to her fullest capacity, and have her doing her best at all times. E. France asks if I would call a queen that could keep only eight framc^s full a " boomer." Yes. indeed, I would; but when I say " full," I mean full and kept so. AVHERE THE QUEEN SHOULD BE KEPT. After the honey harvest has commenced, and all has been done to get your force ready for onslaught of field and forest, it is of but small concern of mine where the queen is, or that they have a queen at all. In practice, no at- tention is paid to that part of the hive— i. e.. the lower story; the main thing is to keep plen- ty of empty combs over the brood-nest. THAT BEE -TREE PROBLEM. The facts as to the condition of the combs and colony living in the tree, as described by Mr. P>ance, are, first, the cavity occupied by them was largest in the middle, and tapered toward each end, being six feet long by 232 feet in the middle, and all the brood at the lower part, and two feet or more below the entrance. I infer that all the top part of the hollow was filled with honey, although Mr. F. does not say so; but as he says a tubful was taken from the two trees, and only two dishpanfuls from the other, the last must have had a washtubful, less the aforesaid two panfuls; as, of course, there was not much room, if any, for brood ex- cept at the lower end of the hive, or just heloiv the honey, where I should expect to find it. Now let me answer Mr. F. by asking him a few questions, like any other Yankee. 1. Was not this at the close of or after the honey harvest? and was not the queen crowded down by the honey stored in the combs above? or had not she arranged things for consumption rather than for production? Eemember, it is be/o?'c the harvest I have been talking about, not after, when instinct teaches the bees to ar- range their brood-nest for winter convenience and accessibility of stores. 2. Were the condi- tions, aside from time of year, the same where there was a continuous comb from top to bot- tom, and two hives, one over the other, with two strips of wood, and a bee-space varying all the way from .^4 down to M inch? I do not pre- sume there is one really essential thing that ray good friend France would disagree about under like conditions. Our fields vary some- what, and so require different management to meet those conditions; and this question of management answers many seeming differences of opinions. But this is leading into another field, and I shall have to leave this question for some other, so I can tell how I get along with- out the disadvantage of lifting my ten-frame hives much, and yet get all their advantages. Ithaca, Wis.. Feb. U. [I suppose, friend Hatch, you have myself in mind, as well as Dr. Miller and others who have been on the other side of the fence. I for one had not intended to misconstrue you. but perliaps I did so. In any event. I do not think your position can be misunderstood as above given. In the second place, you have the satis^ faction of knowing that you started this discus- sion, and have brought io your assistance njore bee keepers who are ready to support your views, wholly or in part, than you or any of us were aware of. I am afraid that some of our readers will not be able to decide this question for themselves. For instance, they will read Mr. Boardman's and Mr. Doolittle's articles in the last issue, and then read your own and Mr. Dadant's ar- ticle above. All four are men of sterling iur tegrity. and bee-keepers of large experience and ability. Then how shall we get at the truth ? Locality seems to me to offer the only 164 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1. solution; and if we are to follow the advocates of one or the other, we must consider our own locality compared with theirs. Perhaps I ought to say that the Dadants have a much better and more prolonged fall flow of honey than those who advocate a smaller size of hives. With the latter it is not desirable to have a large force of bees after the honey-flow, to be consumers and practically nothing else.— Ed.] ten-frame hives, more honey and fewer swarms; eight frames, less honey AND MORE swarms. My hives are all eight frames but one. I have endeavored to follow carefully in the footsteps of the majority, notwithstanding the fact that my one ten-frame hive did just as well as the eight, and never swarmed, and the fact that my neighbors with ten frames get more honey than I. In fact, for three or four years I have been looking for some big report from eight-frame in Gleanings and Review; but the big reports for some reason all seem to come from the ten-frame hive. I am sure that I have lost money and honey in runaway swarms from my small hives. I am confident that, with ten-frame hives and high shade, I shall have non-swarming bees, and shall not have to be always anxious about a shortage of honey in the hives. No more small hives for me at present. Newton Amerman. Rice Lake, Wis., Feb. 4. [I thought this would be a good item to put right after the article above; for. indeed, it confirms the position of Mr. Hatch when he had to fight single-handed.— Ed. J CHAFF VS. DEAD-AIR SPACE. not an eight or ten frame hive, but a combination of both. By C. W. Dautim. In a back number of Gleanings I find the assertion that there will be more bees reared in an eight-frame hive because it is warmer. I believe the bees form what is known as an " in- side hive." By this is meant that, around the margins of brood, the bees arrange themselves in such solid lines between the combs as to prevent a circulation of air from within or without the cluster, for the purpose of keeping a high temperature there while they allow the rest of the hive to arrange its own temperature; consequently, in cold weather the walls are often coated with frost; and in Southern Cali- fornia, where frosts seldom come, we find the walls and unoccupied combs dripping with moisture. From this it would seem that the ten-frame hive is actually warmer than the eight, as the cluster of bees and brood would be able to locate farther from the outside walls. Even if the cluster was warm enough and near enough to the walls to dispel the moisture or frost it would require warmth to do it, and such warmth would disappear in the operation, and could not aid in brood-rearing, as where there is no frost to be dispelled. In Iowa I wintered bees in a room which was constructed entirely within a cellar. There was a beam extending from the outdoor air to the inside room. As the cold increased, the frost began to creep down that beam, inch by inch, until it finally reached the inside room. Then when the weather became warmer the frost retreated up the beam. The farther the inside room was from the outside wall, the more secure from frost. The thermometer said so. Would not this inside room correspond to the inside hive of a colony of bees, and the out- er wall represent the outside hive? But the inside hive, of which we speak, is of the same size, whether the outside hive be adapted to eight, ten, or twelve frames. The more frames in the outside hive, the longer beam would there be required between the outside and in- side cellar walls. In the large hive there is a wall of wood and a wall of dead air. Will any contend that six inches of chaff packing is no better than two inches of the same material? But it is a mooted question which is warmer- chaff or the space filled with dead air. Where a colony fills the hive, as is likely to be the con- dition in the eight-frame si/.e, there is the pro- tection of the outer wall only, when, with a hive of greater width, a dead-air space occurs. The more dead air, the more protection. If the whole interior of the brood-chamber were to be kept warm, then the less dead-air space the better. Mr. Langstroth designed to have the winter stores deposited in the rear end of the brood-frames. At that early date it seems to have been known that the long frame was long- er than necessary for the accommodation of the brood. It might not be so very bad to have the winter stores in one end of the frames were it not that, a little later on, we j/iu.sf have a share of the working force of bees lodged there instead of above in the supers of sections, where they should be. Eight long Langstroth frames have the capacity of sixty-four 4J4x4>4' sections. Eight crosswise frames contain 48 sections— a difference of sixteen. These sixteen sections would fill 2-:j of the crosswise frames. Let the two-thirds of a frame go while we set one of the whole frames on each side of the original eight, and it results in a ten-frame hive with brood in eight combs instead of the old eight-frame hive with brood in only six, and that much exposed at the remote points of the brood-sphere. There might be a comb of pollen also. Since it is admitted that the two outside combs in any hive are not occupied with brood, there would be only four or five brood-combs in the eight-frame hive, while there were six or seven in the ten-frame hive, resulting in more early bees and a more populous hive later on, to send bees into the supers. It would be like a light-weight and a heavy-weight pugilist, both in the same ring; that is, the ten-frame colony 1805 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 165 would be the largest— more bees in a larger hive, and a larger super; it would hit just as often, and measurably harder. The eight- frame hive, on account of its hindrance of brood-rearing, defeats its own object— contrac- tion—to gel a large force of bees early into the super. If we admit that ten-frame hives give more honey, then more brood must be produced. I do not believe that more honey will be stored, or more combs be built, simply because there is vacant space; nor will the queen lay more eggs simply because there is a large area of comb; but the work done in the ten-frame hive may exceed that done in eight frames because of inadequacy of the eight: and because eight combs of brood is enough for a colony it does not follow that that number of combs in a hive is suHHcient for all demands of that colony. It has been said, that one fact is worth a bushel of theories. Theory tends to improve- ment: facts stand still. Facts may lead us to settle down upon a ten-frame hive as if it were perfection itself; but theory may devise a hive combining the best features of both the eight and ten frame hives. If it is proposed to discuss the merits of hives without alteration, then I say that the ten- frame is best to breed up and retain winter stores; but the eight-frame is cheaper, handier, and will send a given number of bees into the sections sooner. The retention of winter stores may be preferable to farmers and others who have several irons in the fire, and who would starve the bees were it not left in the hives; but the specialist is expected to look after such things in order to enable him to per- form other advantageous manipulations. The eight-frame hive is the farmer's substitute for contraction while he attends to a dairy or fruit- ranch. Said bee-keeper wishes to apply con- traction during the honey-flow, but does not want to watch his bees closely during the rest of the year. By his plans he may secure the most profit from a certain amount of labor; but more labor and more profit is what bee- keepers are most in need of. When bee-keepers discuss and adopt hives best suited for farmers they had best consider the advisability of be- coming farmers, for they must have missed their calling. A large amount of honey in a hive causes the colony to build up faster, and become stronger thereby, because there are more combs of honev to be mutilated by frost, moisture, or other con- sequence, causing honey to be removed and carried to the brood-nest. Again, where there is much honey in the hive, that needed for brood-rearing is brought from the most distant points, and especially where it is liable to be pilfered by robbers. Such manipulation of honey is a constant stimulation. It is not pos- sible for a colony to consume 30 or 40 lbs. of stores in two months' time without being stim- ulated. Last spring I had colonies which consumed 60 pounds of honey while others survived on 10. In the small hives, where there is only a small quantity of honey, and a comb or two more are put in when the first is all used up, the honey remains entirely within the guard-lines, and there is very little manipu- lation of honey, and, consequently, no stimula- tion. Last year the lower hives in my apiary were about half filled with winter stores (I use the crosswise L., ten frames in a hive). Then a super of half-depth frames was put on, which were filled up and capped nicely. For brood- rearing the month of January in my location corresponds to the month of May in Iowa or Illinois. They began to rear brood the fore part of the month, and have taken honey from the ends and corners of those super combs, so that they are not more than half full. Some hives have six combs of brood, flying drones, and young bees by the peck. The larger the size of the frames adopted, and the more in number, the more of this stimulation; especial- ly when the colonies are weak or starting to breed. It is my belief that a brood-nest can not be honey-bound in the spring — only in the fall, when there should be bees reared for win- tering. These super combs are the same size as single-tier wide frames; and when it is sur- plus time I will take out the super combs and put in the wide framesof sections in their stead, so quietly that the bees will hardly dream of what has happened. The combs taken out will be tiered up on colonies which will be run for extracted honey. Habit of clustering in the super is expected to make the bees remain there after the sections are put in. Then I will shut down on the storage of honey in sections soon enough to return the combs to be filled with winter stores. Thus the sections will be all completed. It is my opinion that a better hive might be devised by combining certain principles present in both the ten and eight, frame hives. How and what to combine is the question. Florence, Cal., Feb. 5. [You say it is a mooted question which is foremost — chaff or the space filled with dead air. Perhaps you do not remember the time when I tried to believe that dead air was just as good, and called for testimony to get at the truth. It came in so thick and fast in favor of chaff, or, rather, filling of some sort, that I think all of us were satisfied that dead air was not nearly as good. Dead air is all right providing you can get it in a space or compartment that is air- tight. But this is impracticable; therefore, to prevent the rapid circulation, and the air es- caping, it seems necessary to have obstructions in the way of filling, and thus prevent the too rapid escape of the warm air next to the bees. You say the eiglit-frame will send a given number of bees into the sections sooner. You are probably right; but would not six frames send them there sooner yet? By the way, what has becom of the idea of contraction, that we do not hear of it nowadays? There was a time when it was all the rage.— Ed.] 166 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1. KAMBLE 127. GAS FOR THE BEE-PAPEKS. By Rambler. Mr. Pryal, having the Rambler upon his hands, felt it his duty to ramble me in various directions around the cities. Near Mr. Pryal's were many beautiful residences, and ample grounds laid out in a paradisaical sort of way. The owners were men of wealth, millionaires; here a grotto of rockwork covered with ferns and flowers, and running water, a beautiful plaything costing only $3000; there a copper affair made in imitation of half of an immense time ago; and though he is now out of the busi- ness, residing with a daughter here in Oakland, he still retains so much interest as to be a sub- scriber to Gleanings. Our call was of such a pleasant nature that Mr. N. returned it the next day, and sojourned in our camp for awhile. Mr. Pryal, with cam- era in hand, gave us a shot while Mr. Wilder and I were enjoying our noonday meal, and a very good photograph of. Mr. Norton, leaning against our wagon, is shown. Immediately after dinner we all started for San Francisco, to make a call upon Mr. Harry L. Jones, a brother bee-keeper. On the way CAMP ON TEMESCAL CKEEK, NEAK I'KVAL, ,S. sea-shell; the cost of this plaything was s^OOO. Across the way is an i-state formerly owned by J. Ross Browne, who, when in this life, was a genial writer and traveler. The residence and grounds are fitted up in oriental style, or like a Chinese pagoda. There are quite a number of bee-keepers in a small way around the cities of Oakland and San Francisco, but not much at- tention is given to the industry as a business. Our first call was upon Major P. L. Norton, not only a veteran bee-keeper, but a veteran of the war, as will be seen by the handle to his name. Mr. N. is from Lanesboro, Pa., where himself and son were successful apiarists. Mr. N. imbibed the love of the bee in boyhood, and has never lost it. He invented a self-spacing frame that was illustrated in Gleanings some across the bay Mr. P. informed me that Mr. Jones, besides being interested in bees, was a gas collector. Now. imponderable substances, such as electricity, etc., were always a mystery to me, and I said to Bro. Pryal. " What on earth does he do with the gas when he collects it?" " Well," says Mr. P., " this gas business is a very deep question. Ask Mr. Jones about it; he will give you full information." Mr. Jones lived then away out near the Golden Gate Park; and after we left the cable car we had quite a climb up one of those steep streets for which the city is noted. The ocean breeze comes up here howling from the Golden Gate, and loose things go flying through the air; so the San Franciscans, when they speak of their bracing climate, mean much — its brace 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 167 against the wind; and that is not all of it: the evenings are so cool, even in August, that when we were pressing the streets with our feet an ■overcoat was not an uncomfortable piece of clothing to wear. We found the Jones residence, and I could not make much of a demonstration over his ■condition. I had to be decorous, you know. Mr. Jones is a benedict. The chains, however, seem to be worn lightly upon his genial nature. The chief attraction in the neatly furnished room was two bright children— a pretty little girl and a bright-eyed curly-headed boy. The latter lay upon a rug, kicking up his heels in childish glee, and showing to good advantage ihis first pair of trousers. I could well see that Mr. .lones was proud of his benedict condition, and. of course, I would say nothing to mar his pleasures of married life, and to make him wish himself a roving bachelor. Mr. Jones has 22 colonies located within a little grove of gum-trees. Every bee-keeper knows that a high bracing wind has a very bracing effect upon his bees; it puts them in a valorous mood. Owing to the amount of brac- ing climate that the Jones bees were subject to, they were sort o' educated up to a high pitch of aggressiveness. Upon our arrival upon the borders of the apiary the picket-line of cross bees commenced operations: and upon a closer approach, if we passed the entrance of a hive, hordes of bees would tumble over each other to get at us. Mr. Jones's smoker did not send out a sufficient volume of smoke, and we all made for the brush with alacrity; and, after peering through the leafy cover of a gum-tree at Mr. .lones over his pet colony, we all de- camped. The place was too hot for us. The stings we had received were longer than usual. . [In many respects the symptoms above given correspond with those of the same disease in this country; but it is a noticeable fact that they seem to vary under different conditions and in different localities. Mr. Baldensperger thinks the queen has nothing to do with it. The majority of testimony so far received seems to show pretty decidedly that she does.— En.] BEE PARALYSIS HEREDITARY. A REPLY TO S. A. SHUCK. liU T. S. Fdid. I read Mr. Shuck's article on p. .">4, and write to say that I am quite sure he is mistaken in his conclusion that bee-paralysis is not infectious; and I hope that you will adhere to the policy lately pursued by you in Gleanings, intended to induce queen -breeders to destroy all infected colonies. It is a step in the right din-ction. All the writers on this subject that I have noticed, who live in the South, like Mr. (retaz. of Ten- nessee, agree that it is a very serious disease. You know my reasons for concluding that it is infectious. It spread from a single diseased colony, purchased by me. to every colony that I had except two, in one season, assailing those nearest first, and then it extended from hive to hive as they we.e arranged in order on the benches; and to put the matter beyond perad- venture, when I introduced a queen from one of my hives to a colony of blacks in my brother's apiary, bee-paralysis promptly developed with the appearance of her progeny, and this though she was, to all appearances, perfectly healthy when introduced, and the colony shi- came from had apparently ma le a perfect recovery from the disease. Following this, and after the rob- ber-bees had cleaned out this hive, my brother had a well-marked case of the malady among his blacks; and, acting on my suggestion, he promptly got rid of the disease in his apiary by brimstoning the whole colony, since which he has had no more of it. Mr. Shuck's article was very interesting to me, though I can not agree with his deductions. The truth is, so far as actual knowledge is con- cerned we are just where Miss Gayton and Mr. Cheshire left us. We know that, back of the symptoms of the disease, as in the case of chol- era, consumption, erysipelas, and other diseases of the human subject, there is a bacillus; but how this germ gets from one bee to another, we don't know. It is a matter for the microsco- pist. It is true, that the infection does not seem to spread readily from using, in a healthy colony, the combs from an infected one. My own observation in this respect is in unison with those of others as reported, with the exception that, finally, all of my colonies got the disease at last; but whether from infection communi- cated from the combs, or through diseased bees entering the wrong colony by mistake, or by means of robber- bees, can not be told. Consid- ering the crowded state of the hive, and the close intercourse of its inmates, it is rather strange that the contagion does not sweep away the whole population at once. It is a fact, how- ever, that many hives show a few bees having the first symptoms of the disease, that do not reach the worst stage. In many colonies, bees that are hairless and shiny can be seen with (luivering wing's, staggering about, that go all through the season without any great mortali- ty. At this stage the guard -bees are still on the lookout for sick individuals, and they pull and haul them about and pluck their hair off until they are at last ejected from the hive and are too weak to return. But there comes a time when the diseas-^ Ijecomes epidemic, so to speak, when the guards cease to hustle the sick, and the swollen, bloated bees begin to appear, and the guards have plenty to do to carry out the dead, who are normal as to color, but most of them enormously distended. At this stage the bottom-board is sometimes splotched with the yellow f;eces of the sick. In cholera, typhoid f 'ver, and other infectious or contagious mala- dies, the chief source from which the contagion spreads is the dejections. May it not be true of this also? The colony has invariably perished when this splotched condition of the bottom- board has manifested itself. Mr. Shuck thinks that sour honey may have something to do with the production of the dis- ease. It may aggravate it, but the real cause is the specific germ that can be derived only from some other infected individual. Harvey's maxim was, nmiir vivKm^ e.r oro ^all life is from the egg); and the same principle underlies the propagation of disease-germs. They do not generate spontaneously. Bees have been kept in this county since its first settlement, and there was never a case of bee-paralysis until my unlucky importation. Yet if there is any sour honey now produced in a natural way. it certainly was here before; but it never made bee-paralysis before. I hope you will stand fast in your position, and do what you can to protect the inexperienced from being the victims of some careless (lueen-breeder who thinks the disease a trifling one. 1805 (JLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 177 I have come to think that humidity may have something to do with the fostering of the mala- dy. I have two colonies that came near being exterminated last spring: yet when warm dry weather came on they built up rapidly and be- came strong enough to lay up stores for winter. With the wet weather we have had of late, the old symptoms have returned, and they are near- ly as bad as ever. We have had a good deal of steady cool weath- er so far, and there is not a flower to be seen; yet, going among my bees yesterday, Jan. 24th, they were seen bringing in immense loads of what appeared to be pollen of rather peculiar color. The same day a neighbor remarked that my bees were swarming on his cotton -seed meal, and then I recognized the peculiar color as that of cotton-seed meal. They certainly bring in the most enormous loads of it. I won- der if it will serve their purpose as well as pol- len. I am going to buy some cotton-seed meal and give it a trial. There is every indication that we are going to have a fine honey crop this year. There has been so much cold weather that it is almost certain we shall have no bloom killed by frost. It will take a month of warm weather to start the trees to budding, by which time we ought to be measurably safe. Ky the way, a singular and most unfortunate thing happened in our neighborhood last fall. An unusual quantity of sugar-cane was raised, and the making of molasses lasted nearly three weeks, during which time the bees were drown- ed by the peck in the cane juice and in the boil- ing syrup. Our stocks were greatly reduced in numbers by this occurrence. If I live till next year I intend to close up the entrances with wire cloth during the grinding season. I am going to try sulphite of soda in syrup, for bee-paralysis. It is said to be a good germi- cide. Columbia, Miss., .Ian. 25. [And here is another article that seems to up- hold pretty well the position of Mr. Ford.— Eo.] BEE-PAKAI.Y8IS I'RIMAKILV FKOM THE (^UEEN, NOT FHOM THK. FOOD. I notice what has been written on bee-paraly- sis by different ones. In 1877, while in Milford, Wis., I bought a queen of an eastern breeder. She was very prolific, and produced fine bees. After her l^ees were two or three weeks old they would swell up and shake and tremble, and crawl about until they died. In the fall I add- ed a small swarm to the diseased one. and next season she tilled her hive with bees, but all the while they kept dropping oft' with paralysis. I reared six queens from her, and every one of them produced bees with paralysis. I let no drones fly from this queen, so all the young ones were mated with good drones. I sprayed them with salt and water many times; I also sprayed with a mixture of carbolic acid and water, hut all to no purpose. All remedies failed. Some- times there would be a pint of dead bees at each hive. I also noticed that, as the queens grew older, more bees died from each hive; and if I had not added frames of brood from other hives they all would have died. I kept them three years: and as I concluded there was no redemp- tion for them I killed all the bees and queens, and put new swarms on the combs, and 1 have never seen a sign of it since; therefore I believe the fault lies in the queen, as no paralysis ever appeared from the combs where the bees had been killed. 1 do not think that sour honey has any thing to do with it. I have also learned from the queen-breeder of whom I got her that his whole apiary was affected with it, and that the drones from such diseased (lueens would show the disease in their progeny, even when they had been mated to a healthy queen. Kedtield, N. Y., Jan. 18. J. R. Rked. BEE -PARALYSIS. A CRITU^UE OF PENDING THEORIES. Bu Dr. J. P. H. Browu. Bee-paralysis seems to be one of those occult diseases whose etiology is beyond the ken of the bee-keeper. I have never, to my knowledge, Seen a case of it. but I have read the writings of others upon the subject, with much interest. In Gleanings, p. 54, this year, there is an ar- ticle on the subject by Mr. S. A. Shuck, who advances the idea that it may be caused by poisonous, sour, or unwholesome honey. Now, Mr. Shuck's opinion may be considered untena- ble when placed by the side of so high an au- thority as Frank R. Cheshire, who considers this disease to be caused by a bacillus (l>acillus (T(ti/toiri, after a Miss Gayton, who first called his attention to itj. He says these bacilli are not only in the affected workers, but also in the queen. If such be the case, then it becomes a more terrible disease than foul brood — harder to reach and more difficult to eradicate. Any germicide sulticiently powerful to destroy these bacilli in the workers or queen, by any admix- ture of food, would also either destroy these in- sects or impair their future usefulness ; hence total destruction of every bee in the hive would be the only infallible remedy. Cheshire's bacillus theory has given rise to the remedy of changing queens. This course seems to have worked with some satisfaction with a few of the reporters of this disease to the journals, while others have reported that they could see no benefit. Mr. O. O. Foppleton, a very intelligent bee-keeper of long experience, reports in Tlic Bee-keepers' Review, p. :i(u, that he '■ changed queens, with no result."' If Che- shire is correct in his observations upon bee- paralysis (in many other instances he has not been infallible), then, let me ask, what benefit does the infected hive receive from a change of queen? The infected workers are still in the 178 ftLEANIN(iS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak. 1. hive, and they would soon communicate the ba- cilli to the introduced queen. Mr. C. W. Dayton, a correspondent of the Re- ryiew, p. 272, from Florence, Cal.. observes, when speaking of queens in hives affected, that " in every case I have seen, the queen was an unu- sually prolific layer.'" Mr. O.' O. Poppleton says, "My nuclei with young perfect queens have suffered much more than old colonies with old queens." Now, how can the idea be enter- tained that a queen whose ovaries are infested and swarming with Jxiclllus Oaytonl — whose vitals are being continually preyed upon by mi- crobes— can be " an unusually prolific layer " ? The idea is absurd. It would be just as ration- al as to suppose that a person Infested with the spores of yellow fever, cholera, consumption, etc., would be physically able to perform a full day's work. Mr. Poppleton says, " It is an exceedingly er- ratic disease. At times it seems to follow no rules; at other times it works in well-defined limits." Mr. Getaz remarks, in American Bee Journal, that " the malady is much worse some years than others, and generally much worse in the spring." Mr. Diyton says, " It usually at- tacks a colony about the time it gets populous enough for the surplus-receptacles." Mr. T. S. Ford observes, in Review, p. 240, that " the dis- ease does no harm except in the spring and dur- ing the honey-flow. At that period the bees die in such quantities that I have seen as many as a peck of dead ones in front of a single hive. When warm weather sets in during June it dis- appears in nearly all the colonies, and only an experienced eye can detect it." Sifting the various reports of the disease as given in the bee-periodicals, they all show that the symptoms of the disease vary very much during the season — at one time being very prominent; at another, scarcely if at all percep- tible. These erratic conditions of the disease are incompatible with the theory of bacillus Gaytoni, and we must look elsewhere for a cause. Mr. Shuck, the gentleman already quoted. says that, from his observations, he concludes " that, in some instances, this disease is the re- sult of a poisoned condition of the honey.'" and that the poisoning results from incipient fer- mentation— not that all honey with a slight tendency to ferment is injurious to bees, but that honey in this condition will readily absorb the poisonous effluvia from dead and decaying bees or other decaying matter in the hives. Then, too, I believe that, in many instances, the honey actually becomes sour enough to cause the disease; and I fear that this is the trouble in warm climates such as that of California and the Southern States." These conclusions of Mr. Shuck are worthy of some consideration by the scientific bee-keeper; for. if the symptoms of this disease are carefully studied, they seem to point to some poisoned condition of the food taken by the bees — it might be either honey or pollen, or both — rather than to the theory of bacillus. We know that every kind of plant and vege- table, when in certain condition, is liable to be attacked by the spores of fungus. We know that the grape, the peach, the potato, etc., are more subject to rot in some seasons than in oth- ers. In favorable atmospheric conditions of a week's duration the fungus may develop, and the disease show itself; while with a change of conditions the disease may check or disappear. In the Report of the Department of Agriculture for 188(5 the mycologist of the department ob- serves, when speaking of fungi, that " the fun- gi which infest our cultivated plants, and not infrequently cause their total destruction, vie with the insect tribes in numbers as well as in the extent of the losses they occasion; and in the transformations they undergo in their de- velopment they are equally complex and often more difficult to follow. They are. for the most part, so small, and the metamorphoses they undergo are so obscure, as to call for the greatest amount of patience, and the closest study, in order to obtain any satisfactory knowl- edge of their natural history; and in spite of all our efforts there will frequently remain many points which must be left to conjecture. That these fungi which make themselves manifest in the plant-diseases known as ' rust,' ' smut,' " mil- dew,' ' blight,' etc., are true vegetable para- sites; that they are governed by the same laws which control all living organisms; and that they are propagated by specially developed re- productive bodies called spores, are fundamen- tal truths to be kept constantly in mind in studying this subject." These spores are conveyed by the air, and only await congenial conditions for develop- ment. They would be as liable to attack the pollen or nectar secretion as any other part, if the conditions favored, and then be carried by the bee to the hive, in the shape of diseased food, to breed sickness to the inmates. In many portions of the South there are large plantations of melons that are grown for the northern markets. It is not unusual to find on these grounds hundreds of broken, rotten, and decaying melons, swarming with bees sucking the fermenting juice that is teeming with the spores of fungi. The effects of such rottenness on a hive of bees I can only conjecture. To say that the instinct of the bee is always sufficient to discriminate between what is wholesome for it and what is prejudicial, is all nonsense. They often visit places that are not overly nice. They will often visit poisonous flowers, for instance, the Oelserniurii scnipervlrens. In Gleanings for Jan. 1.5, Prof. Cook refers to a tree in Cali- fornia—BucaZy/^tus rostrata — that is very fatal to bees. I admit that the bee will swerve from the dictates of its instincts only from necessity and not from choice. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 179 I have penned the above to elicit thought, and to prompt observation. Our experiment sta- tions should talie up the subject: it is a field for the scientist. Scientihc observations should be conducted at different points, and notes com- pared. This is the only satisfactory way to de- termine the cause of the so-called bee-paralysis. Augusta, c;a. PUTTING SECTIONS INTO T SUPERS. A GItPJAT I.MPKOVK.MENT OVEK THE OF.D WAY. Bji Enimn WiJtioii. It is about the time when a good many bee- keepers get ready for the year's crop, and a ])retty good time to discuss ways and means. I have spent a good deal of time, first and last, in filling sections into T supers. I thought I had become quite adept at it. As I put the foundations into the sections. I piled the finish- ed sections oui^. above the other on a board, un- til I had put on as many as it would conven- iently hold — about a hundred, I think. Then I would set it to one side and commence on a fresh boardful. until I had a good many hun- dreds piled up in that way. Then I would have to stop, and commence putting them into the supers. I never enjoyed that part of the work very much. Some way it always seemed like so much lost time. Once in a while a boardful would come to grief by being upset all in a heap, and it would require some patience to straighten things out again. When supering I would put the super on a table of convenient height, put the T tins in place, and. by taking two sections in each hand, could fill one row across the super at a time. I really didn't see how there could be very much improvement on that plan of filling a T super. One day as I was putting in foundation Dr. Miller stood watching me, and wanted to know why I didn't put the sections directly into the super instead of piling them on a board. I told him T had tried it a good many times, but it was very slow work. The T tins would not stay in place; and even if they did, it took too long to fit each section in place. I could set them down on a board much more rapidly. He replied, " I believe I can fix it so that you can put them into the super just as rapidly as you can set them on the board." ClNow, I had a good deal of faith in Dr. Miller's ability to make the work very much easier, for he has a genius in that direction; but my faith was not quite strong enough to imagine he could fix any arrangement by which I could place those sections into that T super as rapid- ly as I could place them on a boaifd. But he did. If he did not quite revolutionize bee-keep- ing, as the stock phrase has it, he certainly did, in my estimation, revolutionize filling the T super. He took a board as wide as the super, and a little longer, and nailed a cleat as long as the width of the board, an inch wide and 5g' thick, on one end of the board, to push the super against. Two inches from this cleat he nailed a strip U}'4 inches long, ^^» inch thick, and I4 wide; 4I4 inches from this last strip, measuring from center to center, he nailed another strip the same size, and still another strip of the same size 4J4 inches from the last. That made three of these little strips. He nailed three other strips 2}4 inches from these strips, mea- suring from center to center, these last strips being IP4 inches long by 34^ inch square. That made the board complete. 1 placed this board on a box 20 inches high, at my right hand, one side of the board toward me, with the cleat at the back end. Over this board I placed this super, pushing it tight up against the cleat. As fast as I filled the sec- tions with foundation I set them in the super. I first filled the row of six sections at the back end. It was no harder to set them there than it would be to set them on any flat surface, for you understand that, as yet, there was no T tin in the super. Now I put in the first T tin, slip- ping it under the whole row of sections at a clip, and do it more easily and quickly than I could have done it had there been no sections there. The sections being raised J4 inch gave plenty of room to slip the T tin under. Now I put in the second row of sections and the second T tin, then the third row of sections and the third T tin, and, by crowding the T tin up tight, it gave me plenty of room for the fourth row of sections. When I lifted the super the sections all settled down in their places. I can not imagine how sections could be put in more easily into any kind of super. Marengo, 111., Feb. 11. WINTER IN FLORIDA. JACK FROST AMONG THE ORANGE-TREES. By Mix. L. Harrhon. Mr. Editor:— "The sunny Southland, with its sweet warm air and land of flowers," has been a misnomer during this winter. We have just passed through a severe cold storm, ac- companied with snow and sleet. As I sit by the table writing, and look through the win- dows upon the piny woods, a beautiful vision greets my eye. The tall pines, with their green branches, are decorated more beautifully than any Christmas-trees in festive halls. Their proud heads, crowned with sparkling diamonds and clear transparent prisms, are a thing of beauty, to be enjoyed once in a lifetime. There 180 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1. a great white sheet of snow is loosened, and slides gracefully to the ground: yonder, a great green limb is broken from the tree by its great weight of snow and ice. and comes down to the ground with a crash. In the early twilight of the night of Feb. 14, the large feathery flakes of snow began to descend, and fell upon the people gathering at a hall to celebrate the festival of St. Valentine. The snow v/as a great novelty to the young people, born and reared here, for they had never seen before more than a few flakes that melted as they fell. It continued to fall until it was three inches deep, and balls of the beau- tiful snow were brought into the hall, and were a source of much fun and merriment. Tiny balls were tossed at each other, in great good humor and pleasantry. This is the third time during the winter, when there was freezing during several nights, and all winter gardens were destroyed. A few days previous to this last storm I was delighted in watching a very large colony, sailing in with heavy loads of light lemon-colored pollen, gath- ered from the tyty. The sweet-scented bloom of the tyty thickets yields much white honey. Many colonies have died of starvation in this locality, and more will probably follow, as this last freeze will cut off the bloom for some days. St. Andrews Bay, Fla., Feb. 15. BEES MOVING IN THE CLUSTP;R. Question.— A neighbor tells me that the bees during winter are continually moving from the outside to the inside of the cluster, that they may have access to their honey. Is such the case? ^?is»'er.— This story of your neighbor is one that has been told a great many times, and is based on the very reasonable supposition that each individual bee must help itself to honey directly from the cells containing the same. But, reasonable as it may appear, I am led to believe that the story has no foundation in fact. I have just been in the bee-cellar to see if I could see any thing of the kind going on, and I have to report that I do not. Some of the colonies have bees hanging below the frames to the amount of one-fourth of a good sized swarm, at least; and if such changing for honey was going on as has been supposed, certainly now and then a bee would be crawling in after honey, especially as the lowest bees would have to travel some five or six inches up through or over the cluster, to get where the honey is. But I see nothing save a big cluster of nearly or quite motionless bees, hanging and over- lapping each other— each one, or nearly so, having its head under the body of some other bee. Of course, it is impossible to see or know just exactly what is going on inside of the cluster of bees during winter; but I had al- ways supposed, and so believe now, that bees give honey to one another ; that is, the bees which are near the honey give to those under them, and these to those next further away, and so on till the last bee is reached, and the very bottom outside of the cluster. Bees are continually passing honey around during the summer, and why should they not do the same thing in winter, when it is more to their interest to do so than in summer, when all can go about as much as they please? I am aware that these things are of minor importance; but I have always believed that it is better to be informed on all the minutite of bee-keeping than to pass any thing by as non-essential, as such a course allows us to easily drop some important point which would otherwise be brought to light. REMOVING POLLEN FROM COMBS. Question. — Having some combs stored away, left from queenless colonies last summer, which are pretty well tilled with pollen, I should like to know how I can remove the same before I give the combs to the bees. Will you please tell us in your department in Gleanings how it can be done? Answer. — Most assuredly I will tell you; for, did I have those combs, I should consider them worth almost if not quite as much as though they were tilled with honey. The very best way of removing such pollen is to insert one of those^ combs of pollen in each hive having a prosperous colony of bees in it, in the spring; and if you have enough of those combs to go around you can consider yourself lucky. They should be put into the hive next to one of the outside frames of brood, and the work should be done in early spring on some warm day, be- fore the bees procure pollen from the fields. This will save you all necessity of feeding your bees rye or wheat flour, or corn or oatmeal, and will be of more advantage to the bees, as it will give the pollen right where they wish it, and save the loss of bees which usually occurs from their going out in cool windy weather in search of pollen. It has been I'ecommended scores of times that we feed our bees flour or meal in the spring, to stimulate brood-rearing; but after years of experience along this line I have become satisfied that such procedure is a waste of time and material, where the bees have pol- len in the hive, and causes a loss of old bees to a greater extent than that gained in young ones. Thus you will see that ihese combs are very valuable for early brood-rearing, before pollen is plentiful in the fields. If you are so situated that your bees can secure pollen from the fields as soon as they can fly in the spring, so that you can not use the combs to advantage as above given, the next best thing to do is to 1805 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 181 give one of them to each new swarna when hiv- ed. In this way the swarm is spared the pains of searching for pollen, and can devote all its energies to gathering honey; and in a few days you will find your pollen all turned into brocd, if you open the hive and look. But should you not desire to use either of these plans, then I would either soak the combs in tepid water for a week till the pollen in the cells became soft so it could be thrown out with the extractor, or I would cut the combs out of the frames, melt them up, and (ill the frames with comb founda- tion. Should you do this last you will have to render the wax from these pollenized combs by the hot-water process, or you will not get enough wax to pay you for your trouble, as the pollen in the combs will absorb all the wax, or nearly so, if they are melted in the solar wax- extractor. MOLDY BROOD-COMBS. Question. — I fear, by the appearances of things, that I shall have some moldy combs in the spring, as my cellar is very damp, and I can smell the moldy combs already. What will be best to do with them in the spring, should any be very moldy? Answer. — We will hope for the best, thinking that your fears may prove unfounded. But should the combs come out moldy, probably not more than one out of four or five will be very bad. Those which have but little mold on them can be left on the hives, where they will soon dry out, and the bees care for them so they will do no harm. If any are from one- third to covered all over with mold, it is well to take them from the hive and hang them in some dry airy room till they are thoroughly dried out and needed by the bees. Don't at- tempt giving them to the bees while they are all wet and slimy, for nothing seems to so dis- courage a colony of bees as nasty, wet, moldy combs. When they get all dry, and your bees are needing more combs, take them down, and, with a rather stiff brush-broom, made from broom corn, brush them off thoroughly, but not hard enough to break the cells, when you can put them into the colonies one at a time, and the bees will clean them up so nice that, should you look for them two days after, you could not tell which they were unless you marked the place where you put them. It is best not to give any colony more than one at once, un- less the colony is a very strong one. In two or three days give another, and so on till you have them all in the hive. I never yet saw a comb so badly moldy but that the bees would make it as good as ever, if the above plan was followed. Some say, melt up such moldy combs; but so far as I have tried they give very little wax when melted by any process, and none at all when melted in the solar wax- extractor, as the fiber of the mold absorbs what little wax remains. ^^ctdM'^gffMi FISH-KEGS THE BEST PACKAGE FOR EXTRACT- ED HONEY, AND WHY. In your last issue of Gleanings, page 129, I noticed a controversy concerning the best and most practical package to put extracted honey in. If the parties had to transfer a hundred barrels into 150-pound kegs to fill orders that could not use barrels, or if they did, at a much reduced price. I think they would agree with us that the best all-around package to sell ex- tracted honey in, in quantity, is the 150-pound pine fish-keg, costing only about .30 cents, mak- ing it the cheapest package; and, holding only about 150 to 1<')0 lbs., it is within the reach and requirements of the small retail dealer who has not the money, facilities, nor room for handling the large barrels; and a great portion, especially of the dark and buckwheat honey, is sold to the small retail Polish Jew dealers who dis- pense it in small portions to their customers, who use it largely to make an intoxicating drink. The coldest day of last week we received an order for fifty 150-lb. kegs of extracted honey, and we had to transfer it from molasses-bar- rels into these kegs, or lose the order. It was no easy job, as, of course, we had to do it with- out heating it in any way, which we have a way of doing quite rapidly, but it necessitates extra cost of kegs, some waste, and requires a lot of patience. H. R. Wright. Albany, N. Y., Feb. 18. [I knew your market preferred the kegs; but in other localities the barrels seem to be none too large. I sincerely hope that the demand for honey to be converted into mead or hy- dromel will not increase. — Ed.] the sweet-clover plant; important to tanners. It may surprise many to learn that the sweet- clover plant is of immense value to tanners of leather. A practical tanner, an expert in his profession, assures me that the fraternity can richly afford to pay 10 cts. per lb., or $300 per ton, for the sweet-clover plant when properly prepared for their use. A number of years ago this tanner offered me about 5 cts. per pound for the plant if I would supply him with it, and prepare it as per his instructions; but at that time I did not care to bother with the matter. There may be some practical tanners or some who may know more or less about tanning the skins of animals, among your readers. If so, and if they should wish to know how to use the sweet-clover plant, as indicated, perhaps I can supply the information. The leather thus made is said to be of superior quality — in fact, when made with japonica and sweet clover, it is equal to that which is 182 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak. 1. commonly producfd from thfi best quality of oak-bark. M. M. BALmtiDOE. St. Charles. 111. FINDING BEE-TKEES IN WINTER. It may interest the readers of Gleanings to learn how to hunt bees before the snow is off the ground in the spring— especially those who live near large timber. It is well known by all persons conversant, with their habits, that, aft(!r a long confinement, the bees will improve the first good opportunity to have a general fly. Such an opportunity almost always comes toward spring. There comes one or more very warm days the last of February or first of March, and the bees are out in force, so to speak. Now is the time to look for the bees that either get chilled, snowblind, or, perhaps, from age and debility, fall to the snow and are unable to rise. You may find some, twenty or thirty rods from their tree. But as you gel nearer you will find them more plentiful, and immediately under the tree you will find the snow stained, so that it is not a hard matter to locate them. Bees falling on the soft snow will soon sink by their natural heat, so that it is essential to look, at least before there is any more snow falls; and the sooner after their fly. the better. I found three trees last winter, or spring— the first two by finding the dead bees as above stated, and the third by seeing them flying on a warm day. although the snow was a foot or more deep in the woods. The first one found was a basswood, the second a butternut, and the third a large hard maple. I am satisfied that bees have but little choice as to what kind of tree they go into. I have found them in nearly all kinds of wood. I now call to mind that I have cut 8 pine bee-trees, five hemlock, three basswood, three maple, one elm, and one butternut. If they go into one kind of timber more than another it is because there is more of that kind within their reach. Sullivan, Pa., Jan 17. A. Dewey. [It would look as if winter, or the latter part of it, were just the time to find bee- trees. When found they can be marked, and, later, can be taken. — Ed.] FEEDING BACK— A PROFIT OF .50 PER CENT. In Gleanings for Feb. 1.5th, friend Taylor gives about the same i-esults that I have reach- ed in feeding back. I have fed to finish up un- finished sections for the last three years, and I agree with him that there is a profit in it of about .50 per cent. Now about the work in feeding back: Come and see me and I will show you how to feed 300 lbs. a day, and not take over an hour's time to prepare the feed and place it where the bees can get it— no daubing, no robbers, and you can tell at a glance every day what colonies are in need of a new supply of extracted honey. Just let me whisper to you, that,during the one year that I kept track of every thing, I made .?5.00 per colony during the month of August for each colony fed. That year I fed extracted honey to 9 colonies to fin- ish sections, and I spent onlv about 15 minutes per day feeding. Results, M.5.00 for the month of August. This is nearly ?2.00 per day. Doesn't that pay? My new bee-house is nearly ready for bees; and just as soon as possible I will get two or three photographs taken, showing the outside and the inside of the building. Syracuse, N. Y., Feb. 18. F. A. Salisbury. [I am not only glad that Mr. Taylor proved himself right in our last issue, but that he has such a good man as Bro. Salisbury to come for- ward and substantiate his statements, over an independent route. As soon as the photographs are received the engravings will be made, and will appear in due time. — Ed. J STOPPING LEAKY GUTTERS, ETC.; ALSO SOME- THING ABOUT "SANDPAPERING"' GAR- DENERS AND FLORISTS. For leaky gutters in greenhouses or cracks in wagon-hubs, mix any good paint and apply with a brush, and have some hot dry sand and pour in, and work it into the crack with the brush. That will dry and not shrink. If the crack is very large it may need two applica- tions. Sometimes my hands chap or crack. I find a piece of sandpaper will cut oflf the rough piece of skin, and cut down to where the skin is hard; and then a little glycerine will heal them up quick. I find the sandpaper excellent in reduc- ing corns and bunions on the feet. I think it far superior to cutting them with a knife. To kindle a fire easily we have a 3-lb. peach- can, with one end out. We put in an inch or so of coal oil, and put in six or eight corncobs point down. We take one of these and lay it in the stove where it can be lighted from the draft, then put in some kindling and wood: light the cob, and you have a fire in short order. Geo. M. Kellogg. Pleasant Hill, Mo., Dec. 1(5. Well done, friend Kellogg. Any man who has set glass on the modern plan, with thick putty and dry sand, ought to have known what a grand cement it will be for fil'ing up cracks in any thing exposed to the weather; but I confess it never occurred to me before that gardeners and florists needed sandpit per ing more than people in general. Why, since you mention it I really believe the thing I have been suffering for for years is a good thorough '•sandpaper- ing;" and I rather think it ought to be done every little while. What a beautiful world this would be if all the rough spots and corners of so many queer and curious people were to get a good sandpapering regularly! Yes, we all need it more or less. And, by the way, old friend, making such a trip as I did, and meeting such people as yourself on the way, has (or at least I hope it has) knocked oft' or smoothed down a good many of the rough points in a naturally vehement disposition. Your corncob idea is a good one; and, by the way, if any of the friends should run short of corncobs, the State of Mis- souri alone can supply the world, and I shouldn't wonder if they would put in an extra shovelful to make good measure, if yon will only mention it. -A. I. R.] 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 183 Eight extra pages this time. In spite of the extremely cold weather, re- ports so far indicate that bees are wintering well. This is indeed surprising. When we re- member that cold winters are followed by early springs, usually, the prospect so far is en- couraging. O. O. PoppLETON, of Potsdam, Fla., writes that "the frost of last week has practically wiped out all the bee-industry on the east coast of Florida for the coming two or three years at least." This is rather discouraging, coming right on the heels of such a magnificent honey season as Florida had last year. It is with much regret tiiat I learn that Mr. S. I. Freeborn, one of the foremost bee-keepers of Wisconsin, and, I might say, of the United States, died suddenly at his home at Ithaca, aged H2. It seems that his health had been failing for some time, and some three or four weeks ago he contracted a severe cold, which resulted in pneumonia and death. Mr. Free- born's name was first brought prominently for- ward before the bee-keeping world through the Bee-keepers' Union. It seems that his bees were declared a nuisance, and an effort was made to gel them out of the town; but, as our older readers know, through the efforts of the Union, of which Mr. F. was a member, the case was finally decided in favor of the bees. This was its first victory. Mr. Freeborn was not a quarrelsome man — indeed, the very opposite. He was held in very high esteem, both as a neighbor, father, and a member of the com- munity. His son-in-law is Mr. C. A. Hatch, so well known to our readers. MIXED .JOURNALISM. The American Bee-keeper has decided to adopt mixed journalism. The size of the paper is doubled, the new matter being of a literary character. The fact seems to be, that, in spite of certain criticisms that seem to break out here and there, the bee-papers that adhere Mrictly to the subject of bees do not enjoy the circulation of those that have added subjects foreign to bee-keeping. Not a few of our readers take Gleanings simply for its religions matter, and others for the gardening depart- ment; and from the numerous letters received, it is evident that, in many of the homes of our subscribers, Gleanings is the only paper tak- en. One man wrote the other day, saying the times were so hard he was obliged to drop even his church paper which he prized so much; but (rLEANiNGS he must have. But why should objection be made when we add enough extra pages every year to make up very largely for the matter that is foreign to bee-keeping? During the early part of the year, our journal is enlarged all the way from 8 to Ki pages; indeed, this number has 8 extra pages. Let's see: Last year our volume show- ed a total aggregate of •.I68 pages, or an average of 40>H pages per issue, while the regular issue is 3(). Some years our volume shows over 1000 pages. A number of years ago we took a vote of our readers as to whether they would have the ex- tra religious matter or not. The result showed that, of those who voted, there were about 100 in favor, to one the other way. This is a con- servative estimate, too, and it is to be presum- ed that the rest not voting was represented by this proportion. These people who criticise our course in putting in religious matter and garden topics do not seem to be aware of the fact that they are in a very small insignificant minority. If they do not like those subjects they do not need to read them, or even take the journal at all, for there are very excellent bee- papers that confine themselves strictly to bees. ADULTERATION IN BEESWAX. Beeswax, as you will notice by the markets, is steadily going up in price, and we are just about out, although we are expecting more daily— enough to keep going as usual. I said we are about out. We have got some " stufif," more than we wish we had, which we bought for pure beeswax, thatis beautiful to look upon; and when we bought it, it seemed to stand all the tests for pure wax. It was analyzed, how- ever, and found to be adulterated largely with paralfine. It is now on our hands, and we do not know what to do with it unless we make the parties who sold it to us take it back or stand damages; for we would under no cir- cumstances use it for foundation. About .500 lbs. of the same wax was sent to M. H. Hunt, direct from the parties above mentioned, and whom we supposed to be reliable, before we suspected adulteration; but as he was on his guard he set it to one side, pending further in- vestigation. Another lot was sent to W. A. Selser, of Philadelphia direct, on our order from the same parties; but it was found by him to be impure. Fortunately we had used but very little of this wax ourselves, and that little, for- tunately, too, was mixed with a large lot of pure wax. Paraffine or mineral wax is a positive detriment in comb foundation, as we learned years ago. The bees will build it out beauti- fully, but it has a disagreeable fashion of melt- ing down in the hive. Even foundation from pure beeswax does this bad enough at times, but nothing like the stuff made of paraffine. Mr. Selser is a little fearful that a good deal of the wax on the market is adulterated. That being the case, let foundation-makers be on 184 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1. their guard. A large part of our wax comes in small lots from bee-keepers direct, and, of course, is all right. Later. — Since writing the foregoing we have received a letter from Ch. Dadant it Son, from which we make the following extract: We have received your sample beeswax, and must say that at first sight we should have been "taken in," for it smells and looks like pure beeswax. A careful test, however, by the alcohol and water test showed that it has a lighter specific gravity tlian average beeswax. We should like to ask you by what sort of analysis you found that it had been adultei'ated, and also who sold it to you. Such men should be spotted, so everyone maybewareof them. We never buy beeswax that has been remelted, for the only time that we ever received such a lot we found it to be very largely adulterated— much more so, in fact, than the sample you sent us. I will explain that we sent them a sample of the wax, stating that we had found it to be adul- terated, and asked their opinion on it. The wax is so skillfully adulterated that very few experts would have doubted its purity, and it is not much wonder that we were " taken in." We hardly like to give the name of the par- ties of whom we bought the wax yet, for it is not entirely clear that they were acting in bad faith. They declare that they bought the wax on sample, and sold some to us in the same way; but what we have been trying to find out of them is, who it is they bought of that is adulterating wax so skillfully that even experts are misled. It is presumable that the adulter- ators will be flooding the markets with these goods unless restrained. All foundation-mak- ers should be on their guard at all events. The chemist, under the instruction of Mr. Selser, our agent at Philadelphia, and without our knowledge, also analyzed a sample of our foundation— some Selser had left on hand. It was taken from our last year's stock, and, of course, was like all the rest we sent out last year. Well, now, this showed that it varied from 94 to 98 per cent pure. In view of the fact that pure beeswax will contain more or less impurity in the way of dirt, etc., and the fur- ther fact that chemical analysis can not be ex- pected to reach down to line notches, it is very gratifying indeed. Mr. Selser, in commenting on the above analysis, writes: "'My estimation of the A. I. Root Co. is higher than ever; for I am satisfied that, if it is possible for you to get pure beeswax you intend to do so." We are not afraid at any time to have our wax analyzed, and I feel very sure that the Dadants and Mr. Hunt have the same feeling regarding their own wax. WHAT AVE DO AND DO NOT KNOW ABOUT BEE- PARALYSIS. It occurs to me that the subject of bee-pa- ralysis has been discussed in our own columns as far as it ought to be for the present. Further experiments should be made by some of the ex- periment stations, by some professor with plen- ty of money and a good microscope at his dis- posal. There are a few things that we know about bee-paralysis. We all agree, perhaps, that it kills beos; is virulent in some localities, especially hot climates, and harmless in others, or in colder climates; appears and disappears as it pleases; bees swell up, look greasy, crawl out at the entrance, show a trembling, and die in the grass; the discharge is thin and watery. Now for the points upon which there is not an entire harmony of opinion: Is it contagious? is it hereditary ■? is it caused by bad food? can it be cured by the removal of the queen ? by ad- ministering salted water? can it be cured at all by any known remedy? Answering the two first questions, I am satisfied in my own mind that it is both hereditary and contagious. Certain- ly, if we accept that view of it, it will be safer for all parties concerned. It seems to me that our present knowledge of the disease is not sufficient for us to answer the other questions, and for that reason it is just as well to let the subject drop in our columns, for a time, at least, until further developments shall have taken place. While some are doubt- less interested in the discussion of the question, a great majority, perhaps, would prefer to read something else. WHAT HAVE WK I-EARNED FROM THE DISCUS- SION OF LARGE VERSUS SMALL HIVES? If our readers are getting tired of this hive discussion, large versus small brood -nests, I wish they would send in their postals, letting us know. On the other hand, if you feel that you are benefited, and would like to see the subject discussed further, let us know that also. Gleanings is published to please its readers and not its editors or its special correspondents. Let us briefly recapitulate some things we have learned in the hive discussion up to the present time. 1. There are more bee-keepers using large brood-nests than we were aware of. :.. Many more favor ten-frame hives in prefer- ence to the eight-frame than we supposed, al- though, if we could count the hands of those using the eight-frame hives and those using the ten-frame, I think we should probably find three of the former to one of the latter. 3. It seems probable to me, at least, that some are using too small brood-nests, say of eight-frame size, when they might possibly get better re- sults with ten and twelve frame sizes. 4. In colder climates, especially where there is one main honey-flow in June and July, with very little fall-flow, the eight-frame size seems to be used most. In warmer localities, in many portions in the South, in Cuba, where the sea- sons are prolonged, and where there are months when the bees can gather honey, instead of weeks, as it is with us up here in the North, a large brood-nest of ten, twelve, and sixteen frame capacity seems to have the preference. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 185 5. Instead of bee-keepers running: from ten down to eight, as formerly, the tendency now seems to be from tlie small size to the large. getal)le and small-fruit p ants of all kinds, trees, and supplies for gardeners. Send tor free <"italog at once, or send 10c foi' cat- alog, a pkt. of a new smooth very early tomato, a pkt. of the best new lettuce, a pkt. of true Prizetaker onion, and a pkt. of choice flower seeds, all for lo cents. Christian Weckesser, Niagara Falls, N. Y. Every Farmer Ought to read the Rural New=Yorker. (I'liblished weekly.) It is the business farmer's paper, and a most re- liable authority on agricultural and horticulturai subjects. Frauds and humbugs fear it. ONLY $1 A YEAR. Send for sample copy to THE KURAli INEW-YOKKER. New York. We have made arrangements so tliat we can send it and Gleanings for $1.75 a year. Please mention this paper. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 191 Combs for Sale. 12(10 s'ood combs in L. Iranies. IT's x Si's- Prices, packed lor sliiprueut; for combs having inore tliau 'M square inches of drone-cells. $3 00 per 11 0. Combs having- less tlian 30 inches of drone-cells, $.5.00. For reasons for selling, see article in this number of Gleanings. No foul brood. T. P. ANDREWS, Farina, Fayette Co., III. SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AGENCY FOR A. I. ROOT'S BEE = KEEPERS' SUPPLIES AT A. I. ROOT'S PRICES. RAWLINGS IMPLEMENT CO., Formerly Balto. Farm Implement Co. Jobbers & Dealers in Farm Implements & Hachinery 209 S. Charles St., Baltimore, Md. *3-9eoi C I : Choice Tested Italians, vig- Citliy : orous and prolific, *1.0() each. Ql These queens were reared in Uteris : the fall of '94 for our early gy : spring trade, and are guaran- p , : teed to give satisfaction. Mail : •'• ^' ^' SHAW & CO., iTlctlla ! Loreauville, Iberia Parish, La. OTTUMWA BEE-HIVE FACTORY. Bee-keepers, look to your interests. Every thing in the line of bee-supplies constantly on hand. Price list free. GREGORY BROS. &. SON, l-23a Ottumwa, la. South side. Ct*"!!! respDuclini; to this aavertisement mention (Ii.ka.mm.s Dovetailed Hives. Sections, Extractors, Smokers, and everything a Bee-keeiJers wants. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. (iO-page cata- log fn-e. J. M. JENKINS, Wetumpka, Ala. I A AC To mij (■((.s/o/nr/-.s- and friends: Please re- IHgSj member tliat W. H. Laws is again liead- ■"''^' quarters for Italian queens. I breed nothing but Uirge, well-developed queens, either Golden or Leathei-colored. My Golden strain is from Dooiittle's oiiginal i»)i('-;nu(d/r(/-do;;((;-queen, sent me after tie had reared over UiuO queens from her. For business and beauty, my bees are unexcelled. Price of queens, each, *1.0(i: 6 for $4. .50. Tested, $1.2.5. Breeders, $2 to $3. Address W. H. LAWS, Lavaca, Seb. Co., Ark. Golden Queens From Texas. My queens are bred for business, as well as lor beauty and gentleness. Safe arri- val and reason;ible satisfaction guaran- anteed. Untested. $1.00; tested, $1.50. Write for price list. .5-16ei J. D. GIVENS, Lisbon, Texas. Box 3. 500 Barrels Sweet=Potato Seed. Yellow Jersey, best variety, $3.00 per barrel. Red Spanish, Ued Bermuda, and Jersey Queen, $4 00 per barrel; o% discount On 5-barrel lots. Our stock is tine. Order now and secure a sup- ply at reasonable prices 7^. //. J\/AW..4A'", 3-Tel Bnx 1^,'i, T^rre Haute, Ind. SECTIONS. $1.S:\ $1.75, $'2.i)(). $2.50, $8.00 per M. We keep from two to three carloads of supplies in stock, hence can till orders promptly. Let me know your wants. '9.5 catalog ready. I. J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, N. Y. City. They good, loo. Giant Bees of India. I am now ready for orders for the /if 7>ees oil eorf/i— something new for bee-men. Bees that tear open red clover and other blossoms to get the honey. Half-breed colonies sometimes gather 20 pounds of honey in a day. Young queens, $3.00 to $8.0'. Orders booked now. Also choice White Wyandotte eggs, $2.00 per 13. C. D. HOLT. Murray, Ky. DON'T MONKEY "-'""^ ^ Send for our 36-p:ige catalog free. Root Co. 's Supplies kept in stock. We c;in save you freight. Let us know what you need for the apia- ry. Get our prices. JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo, Inc M ^mifh Perkiomenville, Pa., breeder of uas. 111. OllllllI, 16 leading varieties of Poultry. Eggs, $1.00 per 15. Catalog free. illus. catalog. B. Miniirm. Buff Leuhoni, P. Rock. TT'. Wyandotte, W. Leuhorn, R. Co- rhin. L(tngf:lian. Eggs, $1.00 per set; 6 for $5.00. Practical Fd) ni Ponltry says: "Get the B. Minorcas for layers; they lay 3tJ0 large white eggs a year." J Par- sons. Lindsey, Pa., hatched 12 chicks from 13 eggs. Fowls have tine lane'e and are pure Send for W. W. SHAMPANOEB, Little Silver, N. J. CHOICE 5WEET=P0TAT0 SEED Yellow" Jersey (the best). Red Bermuda, and Yel- low Nansemond, at $2. .50 for 11-peck barrels, till sold out. 4-8 L. H. REDD, De Soto, Illinois. ^Illlllllllllllllllllllllliilllilliillllilllllllllllllllllllillllli^ = r\y Strawberry Catalog = = FREE to all. = = C. N. Flansburgh, Leslie, Mich. = ^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin: METAL WHEELS for your WAGONS. Any size yon want, 20 to 56 in high. Tires I to 8 in. wide— hubs to fit any axle. Saves Cost many times in a, season to have set of low wheels to fit your wagon for hauling grain, fodder, manure, hogs. kc. No resetting of tires. Catl'g free. Address GMPIRE MFG. CO., Q,uliicy, 111. i3f-in Ffspondlntc to ttiis ment mention Glea.nisgs. 192 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1. BUSINESSfe^ Manager CARLOAD SHIPMENTS. We have shipped the past montli a carload of hives and supplies to W. O. Victor, Wharton, Tex. There were .■)00 hives in the car, all ten-frame, and mostly for extracted lioney, which shows the kind of hives preferred in that section. Mr. Victor lias 450 colonies of bees, and produced 45,000 lbs. of lioiiey the past season. Bee-keepers in that section may supply themselves from liis stock. We have also shipped a carload of hives and supplies to O. P. Hyde, Lampasas, Tex. These are almost all eight- frame hives, and for comb honey. But then the two points, although in the same State, are a good way apart. Mr. Hyde is also prepared to furnish the bee-keepers of Northwest Central Texas. As we go to press we are making up a car for St. Paul, Minn., and another for San Mateo, Fla. UONKY MARKET. The crop of honey tlip past seH.=on must have been more abundunt in many quarters than the reports indicated, or else the people are not eating as much as they did in better times. No doubt both are true to some extent. At iiiiy rate, there seems to be a plentiful supply, and very low prices are ruling. We are prepared to furnish, to those who need it, either comb or extracted of choice quality — comb, in 1-lb. sections, a^ 1.5c per lb.; large lots at a less price, which we will quote to those interested. Ex- tracted, in 601b cans, two in a case, at 8'.;c: two- cas'^ Jots or over. He. We liave choice white alfnlfa and clover and basswood at these prices; also some very good honey, not quite equal to above, at a cent a pound less. Samples submitted to those interested. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. Tlie wire netting was received in good order. I am well pleased with it. I don't see how you can sell it So cheap- just half wluit it would cost at my hardware .store, after paying the freight. Prosper- ity to the Root Co. is the wish of your friend. Hampton, Ky., Jan. 28. G. W. Duley. THOSE yKVf ROOT POLISHED SECTIONS. I am much pleased with the 8000 1-11). sections you sent me. I liave already set up 5000. They hold out all riglit, besides the breakage. They are very nice. Spragueville, N. Y , Jan. 30. Wm. Hull. OUR WORK CAN NOT BE BEAT. The goods were received, and the cases and frames are all nailed up. They were all perfect, and went together without any trouble. Your work can not be beat. Thanks for the extras. Manchester, N. Y., Feb. 2. Ezra G. Smith. THE CRANE SMOKER. I bought a Crane smoker of you last spring, and like it very much. I liave used other smokers, but find it far superior to any of them. The blast is as strong now as when I got it, and it saw as much service as a smoker generally does in a season. Calamine, Wis., Jan. 6. F. L. Murray. SECOND HAND FOUNDATION-MILLS. Since our last report five more of the second-hand mills have been .sold. One more ten-inch has come in since, and one or two more are expected. The stock at present stands as follows: Six-inch hex., No. 1461. Price f 10 00 This is in good condition, and just right for thin surplus foundation. Six-inch hex.. No. 1631. Price SIO.OO. In good con- dition, and will make thin surplus foundation 10 ft. to lb. Six-inch hex.. No. 156.5. Price $12.00. This is in good condition, with very light wall, and will make extra thin foundation about 11 ft. to lb. Six-inch hex.. No. 1669. Price $10.00. This has made a good many hundred pounds of thin surplus foundation in our wax-room, and will still do good work; has a few slight blemishes which are no det- riment practically, but hardly suitable for the high standard of excellence attained by our foundation. Ten-inch round-cell. No. J J. old-style frame. Price $10.00. Has been used but little, and is in good condition. It is well worth the price to any one wanting to make medium foundation for their i.)^n use. Samples from any of above mills sent on applica- tion to those interested. WINTER soon is over! \n(\ if you contemplate buying Bees and On'^er's You will do well to write eitf For prices to L.EININGER Bros., Ft. Jennings, O. W. O. Victor, of Wharton, Tex., took 45,000 Lbs. of Honey in 1894. He offers Italian (.)\u'ens — good, old-style honey- queens— untested, first order, to any address, at 50c each. Also bees in any quantity : 4.50 colonies to draw from. Root's goods constantly in stock. Prices to suit tlie times. Buy near home, and save freight. S. J. ENOLIEH. Enelishville. Ga.. will deliver f. o. b. Andersonville. Ga.. 30 COLOHES H7BEID ANB ITALIAN BEES, ON L. FEAMES, m $100.00. .ARTICLE MORE THAN FAIR. I have read your article in Gleanings (on the dovf tailed corner), and I thank you very muc-li for the kindly spirit in which you have written. Surely your article is more than fair, and I said to Mrs. Abbott that I had not a word of fault to find. There is one thing, however, that T desire to say, so I may not appear to condemn a thing without seeing it. I have one of your hives which came direct to me from you, and I have had a sample once before. They are made the best of any of the kind T have seen. E. T. Abbcjtt. St. Joseph, Mo. QUEENS ALIVE TO AUSTRALIA BY MAIL. Your postal card and queen-cage arrived here Jan. 16. All the bees were dead except two and the queen. I introduced her into queenless nuclei the same day, and she is apparently doins nicely. Tryphena, New Zealand, Jan. 22. John Blair. The queen you sent me arrived in splendid condi- tion Jan. 8, 1895: in fact, she looks as though she were iust caged. There were 7 bees dead, all the way from a d-y-looking bee to one just dead. I have put her in the hive, under wire netting. Al- thouph liberated by the bees, on looking through the hive I could not sight her. I am afraid I have made a mistake in putline her into a colony which was preparing to swarm, first taking five frames of bees and brood and queen to start another hive. James H. Colmer. Woolbrook, New England, N. S. W., Aus., Jan. 14. Dear Friend Bnof:— I have much pleasure in In- f'^rming you of the arrival of the queens .Tan. 10. I The select tested queen was dead, and all the bees I except one; but the other lot was in splendid con- dition—only 6 bees dead. I consider the double box a great improvment, and very suitable for this country; and they had abuTidance of food that would last them as long again, and it was in splen- did condition. I don't think the tested queen could have been long dead, because she looked quite fre«h. I am pIso sending you our local paper, where you will see the account of their arrival. Thave to thank yo\i very kindly for your prompt- ness in forwarding me the bees, lam liighly pleas- ed with the one that landed alive. Alex. Bain. Asylum, Toowoombo, Queensland, Aus., Jan. 17. lam glad to report that the Italian queen sent by you in September last has arrived alive, and has been introduced safely— only one worker was alive when she arrived. I have not seen the queen yet. as I was away from home on a visit to Sydney, and have only just come home again. I intend to raise some young queens from her at once. Please ac- cept thanks for sending the queen. She arrived here October 20. E. Linnell. Huonville, Tasmania, Nov. 8. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 19:? Alsike Clover Seed Fruit Plants, i^ For Sale. $6 per Bush. One bushel or more, sack included. SilverliuU Buckwheat, T5c per busliel. W. D. SOPER & SON, Box 565, Jackson, Hich ere to bn^' nt w/io7e- sii'.e prices. Send postal card foi- descriptive and wholesale catulogue of all of the leading varieties of St i-fiwl terries, Kasjjtterries. blucUberries, Currants, Ciooseberries. Grftpes, and 7-'of af oe.s. EZRA G. SMITH, Manchester, Ont. Co., N. Y. Please mention this paper. ■yilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIMI^ Notice. I K^^rTlf 1^3 ^^ ^^^ Northwestern Agents for The A. I. Root Com= = E .^__^^^^_______ pany's supplies, and can make prices that will interest you. = = ^^ Send us a list of your wants, and see if we can not save = = C03.Sl" y^" money. POSSON'S SEED STORE, | = ^^^^^^^^^ Portland, Oregon. E I Bee= keepers. ^liMMIIIMIIMIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIMillllllinillMIMinilMIMIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIMinilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltlllllllllllllin: BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES FOR 1895. Such as Dovetailed Hives, Sections. Comb Foundation, Extractors, and every thing- else used by a bee- keeper. All late improved sfoods. Immense stock. Goods sold at wholesale and retail. Write for our D/SCOUPJTS FOR EARLY ORDERS. Alsike clover and Japanese buckwheat furnished at lowest market price. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDER, Des Moines, Iowa. bred from my original strain of Maryland Italians, which has g:iven such g-eneral satisfaciion as honey-producers. Untested queens ready March 1st, ^l.(X) each ; (i for ^5 (10. Write for prices on lai'ge lots and special circular. Safe ari'ival guaranteed. Chas. D. Duvall, San Mateo. Florida. Florida Queens :i-7ei .\(idress until April !.">, Dirpft-Draft Perfect BINGHAM Bee Smoker Best on Earth. Bingham Perfect Smokers and Knives. LOW PRICES: All genuine are stamped with dates of patents and have all till' new improvcinenls. The Doctor. S'-j-inch stove, per mail, $1.7.5; Conqueror, 3-in., Sl.ou; Large, 2'j-inch, $1.00; Plain, 2-inch, 70c; Little Won- der, 1^-inch, .50c; Knife, 80c. The Doctor, Conqueror, and Large, have e.xtra wide shields, ci and double coiled steel wire handles to protect the hands X fr^m heat and soot. These shields and handles are wonder- "^ ful comforts. The Plain and Little Wonder have narrow ■g shields, and sing-le coiled steel wire handles. 1895 Bingham cs smokers will all liave movable bent caps to prevent drop- H S Pi"f? ttre when sending smoke downward. ^ CO Circulars, knives, and smokers sent by return mail, also <; 'I rates per dozen or 100. Address T. F. BINGHAM, Abronia, Mich. IIDDCC'C FARM ANNUAL for 1895 ■ Ijj^B^r^ ^^^C ^^ "^^*^ Leading American Seed Catalogue." B^ III ^^H ^HH ^Jr ^^ liundsome buok of 17-1 paijes with many new features ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^ for 1895 — luindreds of illustrations, pictures painted from nature— it tells all about the BEST SEEDS that grow, including rare novelties that cannot he had elsewhere. Anv seed planter is welcome to a cojjy VIX. K H. Snul t/ain- mlilrfss lo-da 1/ an '^. -.Hnrs:p hifh. hii 1 Kf:rnTirr 40 to 60 rods a day. catalog free. KITSELMAN BROS., Ridseville, (nd. Will pay 2Sc per lb. cash, or 31c in trade, for any | quantity of g"ood. fair, average beeswax, delivered j at our K. R. station. The same will be sold to those i who wish to purchase, at S.'ic for he.sf ."elected wax. Old einnhs Will not lir accepted under any cotiml- critUin. Unless j'ou put your name on the /»u-. and notify us by mail of amount sent, we can not hold our- __ _^^i^ t ik g n § r^ ,-. selves responsible for mistakes. It will not pay as h^ t^ C"^ I t\l l\l P^ hx'^^ a general thing to send wax by e.rp/T.s,s. ^•^ m^ ^.^ i « w * w im^ i % >.^> THE A. I. KaOT CO., Afecii/ia, O. '.Horse high, bull strong 'jii'^ixud chicken tight. Make it yourself for- i3to20iirJ^l . _ , SOstyles. A man aii;l boycaniuake | ^^'%/^/%/%/%/^/%/%/%/%/%>^%/%^%/^^ SPRAY YoORy m STAHT/S xcelsior tiprayinff Outtits kill insectti, prevent leaf blight and wormy fruit. Insure a heavy yield of all Fruit and Vegetable crops. Send 6 cte. for catalogue and full treatise on spraying. '^ Circular. s free. Address WM.STAHL,Quincy,lll. i ^„y„ S HONEY ■^^^^^^ EXTRACTOR. Square Glass Honey-Jars, Tin Buckets, Bee-hives, Honey Sections, Etc., Etc. Perfection Cold-blast Smokers. APPLY TO CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. p. S.— Send 10-ct. stamp for " Practical Hints to Bee-keepers.' HATCHER & BROODER Combined. THE MOST PERFECT Incubator .>Ia<.le. Hatches every egg that a hen coukl hatch; Regulates itself auto- matically; Heduces the cost o; piiultry raising to a mHi;niiiin bend for Ilhistratid fatalo- iie. IHOEersi siv.<- SI «.00. SIMPLEX MAHF'G. CO. Ouincv. Ijl. Promptness is What Counts. Honey-jars, Shipping-eases, and every thing that bee-keepers use. Root's Goods at Root's Prices, and the Best Shipping^point in the Country. Dealers in Honey and Beeswax. Catalog free. WALTER S. POUDER, 162 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Please mention this paper. IJeginiiers should have a copy of the Am- ateur Bee keeper, a 70-page book by Prof. J. W. Kouse. Price 25 cents; if sent l)y mail, 3Hc. The little book and the Progressive Bee-keeper (a live progressive 28-page month- ly journal) one year, 6.5c. Address any fir-^t- class dealer, or LEAHY MFG. CO., Higginsville, Mo. PATENT WIRED COMB FOUNDATION Has Tio Sag- in Brood-frames. Thin Flat - Bottom Foundation Has no Fishbone in the Surplus Honey. Being- the cleanest, it is usually worked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, 12tfdh Sole nanufacturers. Sprout Brook, Montgomery Co., N. Y. ''A COf^OmO^ NOT A THEORY" confronts the seai-cher for elasticity who i;ii!s up against Tlie Page fence. As he gtithers himself together again, he ponders tiot over "the mist al<('sof IMoses," but his own. He tliought because it had proved a myth in other cases it might in this. The suci-ess of Tlie B*age has induced the makers of soft wire f(mces ft) claim boundless elasticity in every little "hump" or twist, or perhaps it is carefully stowed away at the end of the line. "Live fences" in the sense tliat a snake lives as long as its tail '■wiggles." PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO.. Adrian, Mich. ty In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings TAKE NOTICE^ BEFORE placing your orders for SUPPLIES, write for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sections, Bee- Hives, Shipping-Crates. Frames. Foundation. Smo- kers, etc. PAGE & LYON MFG. CO., 8tfdb New London, Wis. HATCH CHICKENS BY STEAM WITH THE MODEL » EXCELSIOR INCUBATOR. TlioiisaiidM in Suc« cessful Operation. SIMPLE, PKRFECT.and SELF-REG VLA TING. Guaranteed to hatcha larger percentage of fertile eggs, at less cost, — than any other Incubator. .. Send 6c. for Dlus. Catalog. uai,.ur^t luaun. p CifculaTs Free. 8 pages, which will be sent free With Hrst order. If none of these sets suit you and you want anything in our line send lor CATAI.OGUE FREE. About <>0 pases devoted to VEGETABLE and FLOWER SEE OS, TO to I»1,AJVTS and the UeUauce to the €REAM OF THE FRUITS. Set B— ItJpkts. choice V^sreta'>Ie See«l«.l(i s'ts..50c " E— 20 pkts. choice Flower Seeds, 20 sorts. .M)c '• U— 2 Elegant Palms 50c " J— 10 Sorts Lovely Everl>loominK Roses. .50c " G— 10 Prize Clirysantheniuins, lOsorts 50c " H— 4 Superb Fren«di t'anuas, 4 sorts .50c " K.— 10 Showy Gefanitiins, 10 sorts 50c " I..— :iO Fine Gladioli Plowerinff Bulbs. ...50c " N— 10 Tuberoses, Double Flowering Size.. 50c " O— 10 Flowering Plants, 10 sorts 50c " P — K Hardy Ornamental Shrubs, 6 sorts. .50c " Q— 6 Hardy Climbinsr Vines, dsorts ,50c FRUIT TREES, Etc.— Mail Size. Set 103— 8 Peach, 4 sorts 50c " 104— 8Apple,4 sorts 60c " 10.>— 2 Pear, 2 Cherry 50c " 10e-€ Grapes, 3 sorts oOc " lOT— 8 Grapes, all Concords 50c " 108^ Gooseberries, 4 sorts 50c " 109—10 Currants, 3 sorts 50c " 110—80 Raspberries, 5 sorts 50c " 111—50 Strawberries, 5 sorts 50c " 113—1 each Japan Chestnut * Walnut. 50c " 113—20 Blackberries, 4 sorts 50c One-hal f each of any two sets .50c., any 3 sets $1.25, 5 sets J2.nO. EVERYTHING OF THE BEST FOR ORCHARD, VINEYARD, LAWN, GARDEN, GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. MILLIONS OF TREES, SHRUBS, VINES, ROSES, ETC. 4l?t YEAR. 1,000 ACRES. 29 GREENHOUSES. THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Box 69 Painesville, 0. Ijiiniiiii .■uiuiuiiniMniuiiiuminnni 'iiiinmiiiiiiiiiMimiiiiMinUHriiiniiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiMiii iiuniiiiininiiiiiniiiiiiiiniilillliiiiiiiuillll iiiiiiiiiilgiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniMi iiiniiiic. SMALL FRUITS, VINES, ROSES,! Ornamentals, Crates and Baskets. I Tlie largest variety, the most valuable specialties, S the latest novelties. All illustrated and described ins our NEW CATAIjOGUE. Also the famous = TIMBRELL Strawberry! ELDORADO Blackberry! " Thejr SURPASS ALL, OTHERS," says E. S. Cak-= MAN oi Rural New Yorker and 11. E. Vandeman,= U. S. Dept. Buy direct. Don't pay double prices. = REID'S NURSERIES, Bridgeport. Ohio.i iiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiT FARM ANNUAL for 1895 URPEE'S ''The haadin^ Americuii Seed Catalogue." A liandsome book ot 174 pages with many new features for 1895— liundreds of illustrations, pictures painted froni nature-it tells all about the BEST SEEDS that grow, including rare novelties that caiiiiot be had elsewhere. Any seed planter is welcome to a copy FREE. Neiul your uddrrss to-U. HONEY Column CITY MARKETS. Kansas City.— Ho»e]/.— The stock of comb honey is larg-e; murket well supplied. Fancy wliite 1-lb. combs, 15; amber, 13@13. Receipts of extiiicteci, lig-ht; white, 7; amber, 5i4@6; southern, i^«@n. Beeswax, :J2. Hamblin & Bearss, Mar. 8. Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis. — J7o?)e(/.— Inquiries are larg-er, and de- mand somewhat better. We quote choice clear comb, 14)^@15; amber, 13@13H; extracted, in liar- rels, 4@5. Prime yellow beeswax, 29^@30. D. G. TuTT Grocer Co., Mar. 8. St. Louis, Mo. CleveIvAND. — Ho7jf )/. — The demand for white comb honey is somewhat slow. No. 1 lib. sections are selling' at 13@14; No. 2, 11@13. No. 1 water-white extracted, 6@8. Beeswax, 2(j@28. Williams Bros., Mar. 7. 80 & 83 Broadway, Cleveland, O. Detroit.— Honf}/.— Best white comb honey is sell- ing- in a small way at 15c; other grades, 11®]3. Ex- tracted, 6@7. Beeswax firm at 2H@3n. M. H. HlTNT. Mar. 8. Bell Branch, Mich. Chicago.— Hone)/.— Diirinff the past two weeks a good movement has been felt in the market. Sales have been of small lots, or quantities, each time, but sufficiently frequent in occurrence to make the aggregate sales of some moment. While comb of the best grades, 14c; travel-stained or off in color, 13@13i2: yellow comb, 10@ll; dark, 7@0. Extract- ed, bV^'Wi, according to flavor and package— 60-1 b. cans of white bring highest price. Beeswax, 38@30. R. A. Burnett & Co., Mar. 7. 163 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. San Francisco.— Honc!/.— The demand for both comb and extracted honey is rather light, and sup- plies are ample to meet all local demand. We quote to-day: White extracted, 6S^@6M; 1 ght amber, 5J£(a 6J^; amber and candied. 3@4. Comb honey, choice white, 9'4®10; amber, 7@8. Beeswax, 26@-27. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER. Feb. 25. San Francisco, Cal. Denver.— Ho/irj/.— There seems to be an improve- ment in our market; still, the prices remain about the same. No. 1 comb, in 1-lb. sections, 11@12; No. 3, 9@10. Extracted, No. 1 white, in 60-lb. cans t3 in a box), 6@7. We could liandle to advantage a quan tity of No. 1 comb honey ; also pure beeswax at 32® 25 R. K. &J.C. Frisbee, Mar. 9. Denver, Col. Albany.— Honejy.— It is surprising where all the comb honey comes from. We supposed it was all in market, but we have had a large numlier of con- signments, for this season of the year, during the past month, and there is also a very good dernand. Clover sells atll@13; buckwheat and mixed, Extracted scarce, and sells at 5@7. Chas. McCulloch & Co., Mar. 8. Albany, N. Y. Springfield —Ho/iCi/ —Our market is very .slow. Buckwheat, 10; white-clover, 13@14. Perkins & H^tch. Mar. 9. Springfield. Mass. Chicago. —Hoiifj/.— We report our market well cleaned up on fancy white comb honey in 1-lb sec- tions. A neat package and a fancy article would sell quickly at 14c. No. 3 comb, or dark, would not sell at over 10(3>11. We repoi't better inquiry for extracted, at 5@7, depending on quality. Beeswax sellingatSOc. S. T. Fish & Co.. Mar. 8. 189 South Water St., Chicago, 111. Boston.— Honew.—We quote you our market on comb honey at 13@14c. with supply light, and fair demand. Extracted, 5@6. E. E. Blake & Co., Mar. 9. Boston, Ma.ss. Buff.-vlo.- Horigy. — Honej' market is extremely quiet; still, our stock has moved off quite well con- sidering the times, and indications aie that we shall be able to clean it up Sales to-day of fancy, 14@U): storage, 10@13. Off grades and irregular quality of honey are moving slowly at prices ranging from 8i75, 10c; buckwheat is also extremely dull at 7@8, F\- tracted honey finds very little sale here. Beeswax. 25@30. Batterson & Co., Mar. 7. Buffalo. N. Y. Philadelphia.— JJone;/.— Comb honey in better demand at 12@13 for best white. Extracted in fair demand at 5@6. Strictly white clover at 8@9. Wm. A. Selser, Mar. 8. 10 Vine St,, Philadelphia, Pa. Kansas City.— Hone?/.— The demand is only fair for both comb and extracted honev. We quote No. 1 white 1-lb. comb, 14@I5: No. 2. 12^13: No. 1 amber. 13; No. 2, 10@11. Extracted, 4/2@6. Beeswax, 22® 35. C. C. Clemonp & Co., Mar. 8. Kansas City, Mo. Cincinnati. — Honey —Demand is slow for ex- tracted and comb honey, with a fair supply. We qiiote extracted honey at 4@,7c per llj. on arrival. Comb honey at 14@16 in the jobbing way for be.st white. There is a good demand for beeswax at 2.5® 28c per lb. for good to choice jellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Mar. 11. Cincinnati, O. We offer California comb honey. 1-lb. sections. 36 sections to the case, at 10 and 11 cts. per lb., depend- ing on quality. New York State 3-lb. sections, am- ber, 10c per lb. ; white, 12c. We will either buy or sell extracted honey. Correspondence solicited. S. T. Fish & Co., 189 So. Water St.. Chicago. III. Four liarrels of basswood and fall honey for sale at 61^0 per lb., f. o. b. here. Chas. Dadant & Son, Hamilton, III. Closingout balance of my fine extracted basswood honey at 7c f . o. b. Who is not supplied ? Elias Fox, Hillsboro, Wis. Alfalfa Honey, very white, thick, and rich. Two 60-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples. 8c. eif t Oliver Foster, Las Animas, Col. We yet have extracted alfalfa at $7.80 per box of 120 lbs. AiKiN Bros., Loveland, Colo. Beeswax wanted.— Will pay 3mc cash for abso- lutely pure beeswax that will stand chemical test. Write me at once. Wm. a. Selser, 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market. BATTERSON & CO. Responsible, Reliable, Commission Merchants^ istMb and Prompt. Vnv QqIo fnp '180'^ ITALIAN BEES ANB aUE^NS. AND rUi Dale lui looj foots b"e keepers' supplie"!. Address OTTO KLEINOW, 122 Military Ave , Detroit. Mich. OK Swarms of bees for sale, with or without ^^ hives, at Mountain View, near F.l Monte. Cal. MRS. W. C. DAVIS, El Monte, Cal. PHTflTOF^ Colvin's New IdeaL §EED ru I Ml V^UO. Best new Potato, E. ^^ Vortlier, Carman No. 1, Banner, 20 varieties; Dutton Flint Corn. Seed Oats, Small-Fruit Plants, etc.. at Hard Times Prices. Price List free. Address CEO. H. COLVIN, L. Box 6, Dalton, Pa. lac M ^mi^fi Perkiomenville, Pa., breeder of J••• two frames, $3. .50. Also Barred Plymouth Kock eggs for setting, $l.(i0 per 15. 6-17ei MRS. A. A. SIMPSON, SwARTS. PA. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 201 Contents of this Number. AchiUeiations in Wax ■ A. I Runt, Smith Meeting....' Al^ike, Piiitits • Bee escape-; - Bee kee|iers' Union. Ele 'f n.- California B. K Association.' Cro.sye';. Five hand - Dafi'o FiUiet-nten '■ EchiH'.-i Cvuin Rambler ' Five-ljaud (.'■■iis;-e.s : Floi ilia, Niitc^ on bv Editor ; FloMda, Thcilnian on . ..,• Flririda li'i- l*..oi' Men t Foinidati.'ii (iiven. Rolled, : FonndaiiiMi lor- Section^ ' Hatcir- Conni>ents ; Hive, DanzenI al-er : Hone.v as a Diet ■, .,. ; Honev in Hotels Honev, E-\tiac-'il, Riperiinn'. .M.inev. Connt Yonr H.>nev, E\t'actin'.i' Thick... Honev, How to Sell Hotels of Flori, la planum in tlie ,\|)iavv rackanes tin- Ex'd Honev-. Patents-Oni' Position on . Randderat Black Diamond Sepal ato!', Tavhn-'s S'luar, Adnlteiations of,il2, S'.mars, Purity of Swai ni-hiver, Anderson Tiansfer, Wlu-n to T Supers, .Anthony on Ventilator. Mannni's Wax, To Test 2(9 2:9 207 CONVENTION NOTICES. The Utah Beedceepers' Association will hold its semi-annual meeting- on Thursday, April 4, at 10 a.m., in the Fish Conimis- tijoner's rooms, in the new citv and county buildinfr. Salt Lake City. Geo. E. Dudley, Sec., Prove, Utah. The next meeting of the Wesfein Washington Bee keepers' Association will be held on Monday, April Sth, in Horticultural Rooms. City Hall. Bee-keepcs aie invited. a, D. LiTTOOY, Sec, Taconia. Wa-h, CIRCULARS RECEIVED. Price lists of apiarian sujiplies in Keneral have been received from the t'ollowin.ij I'arties : Leahv Manuf actm int;' Co., Hifrsrinsville, Mo. Mrs. Fannie B. DeWitt. Sunnvslde, Md. Queens and bees, (i B Lew i- C;o.. Wateit.nvn, Wis. Emerson T. Abbott St Jo-eph, Mo. I. J, Rti insrham, lO.i Park Place New York. Charles F. Muth &Snn. 971) Cential Ave., Cincimmti, O. W. H Norton, Skowheiran. Me. George W. Stenhens, Denison, la. A new fiame-spacer. J. VanDeusen & Son, Sprout Brook, N. Y. Foundation. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be Inserted under this head at one-half our usn al rates. All advertisements intended for this department must not exceed five lines, and you must say you want your adv't in this department, or we will not be responsible for er- rors. You can have the notice as man.v lines as ,vou please , but all over live lines will cost yon according to onr regiilar rates. This department is intended only for bona fide ex- changes. Exchanges for cash or for price lists, or notices of- fering articles for sale, can not be inserted under this hend For such onr regular rates of 20 cts. a line will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. We can not be responsible for dissatisfaction arising from these "swaps." w ANTED.— Old combs in frames. DesctUie, with 1)1 ice. W. L. CoGGSHALL, West Groton, N. Y. WANTED.— To exehane'e one polony of bees for M. B. turkeys. Phil Tisher, Hannibal, O. WANTED.— To exchang-e the only wAx-extructor in the world that will extract all the wax from old combs rapidly by steam, also bee-smoktTS, for wax. C. G. Ferris, South Columbia, Herk. Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchanse Universal wood-worker, one groover, one dovetailer. and one cutter- head table; also short .jointer, all in good order. What have you to trade for one or all ? W. S. Bellows, Ladora, la. WANTED.— To correspond with parties wishing' to sell or test mv new hive. F. Danzenb.4kbr, nin New York Ave., Washington, D. C. • Reference, Gleanings. WANTED.— 2.5 to 100 hives of bees. Who can fur- nish them the cheaiiest? I will exchange, for bee-hive machinery, queens bred from a straight flve-banded breeder valued at $.50, or from imported stock, H, G. QuiRiN, Bellevue, Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange Black Minorca eggs at 6Uc per 15 for a few untested queens. H. Barber, Adrian, Mich. WANTED.— An imiiroved Barnes foot-power saw, for lowest cash price. J. Evlrman, North Middletown, Ky. WANTED.— To exchange raspberry and blackberry plants, $6 per lOtlO, bees $5, Japanese buckwheat, for beeswax. A. P. Lawrence, Hickory Corners, Mch. WANTED,— Bees, bee-supplies, and poultry, in exol ange for strong, well-rooted basswood- trees. This is the time to transplant. W. R. LiGHTON, 601 N. Y. Life Bldg,, Omaha, Neb. WANTED.— To exchange 200 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. \I7 ANTED.— To exchange yellow It.'lian queens Vt the coming season, also the best varieties of strawberry-plants, cheap, for foundation or otters. Mrs. Oliver Cole, Sherburne, Chenango Co., N.Y. WANTED.— To exchange alfalfa seed and span mare mules, for nuclei and queens and bass- wood-trees, eoi Bert. W. Hopper, Garden City, Kan. WANTED.— To exchange liees. queens, and eggs (from B, P. Rocks. S. C. B. Leghorn, and Light Brabmas), for bee-supi>lies or offers. Chas. H. Thies, Steeleville, 111. WANTED.— To exchange some Bibles, albums, steel engravings, etc., for colonies or nuclei of bees, or offers. W. T. Atkinson. Auburn, N. Y. WANTED.— Position in apiary, by man of experi- ence. L. H. Greene, Wichita, Kan. WANTED— To exchange a 10-inch Root founda- tion-mill, good as new, for hives in flat, or sec- tions 414x4.^, 7 to foot. A. W. Gardner, Centreville, Mich. ANTED.— To exchange supplies and other goods for honey. O. H. Hyatt, Shenandoah, Iowa. 20tf WANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample. J. A. Green, Ottawa, 111. w WANTED.— A quantity of drawn combs, eitf I J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, N. Y. SECOND-HAND TYPE. We offer for sale the samp'es of job type shown below. It is practically as good as new. Dbl. Small Pica Fashion, 5A, 9a, $3.00. This TYPE for Sale. L. P. Long Primer Fashion, 15A, 33a, 81.50. This is a Pretty Face Pica Condensed Fashion, 18A, 23a, $1.50. PIC^ 6IiIPTIC. 1^54i67S90 Pica Glyptic, 31A, $1.50. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABE U Pica Condensed Concave, 31A, $1.00. ■Z*l3.1)S its Tj-Krtexxdoca. Nonp Antique, 30A, 36a, $1.00. HENRY E. BLISS Long Primer Concave, 20A, 75c. THIS IS A PEARL LETTER Pearl Gothic, 40A, 75c. THE A. I. ROOT CO., Medina, O. 202 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 15. Over $5.00 Is what it costs to take the leading bee - journals, even if secured, at clubbing-rates. The Bee-keepers' Review endeavors to give the cream of all these journals, and it costs only fll.OO. If you can't afford to take all of the journals, yet wish to be well informed in apicultural matters, try the Reviev^. W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Hich. LISTEN HERE ! leO-Pa^e Bee-Book FREF To every New Subscriber sending $1.00 for the Weekly American Bee Journal for a year. (The book is " Bees and Honey " by Thos. G. Newman). Besides articles from the best bee-keepers, the Bee Journal now h is 6 Department Editors— Mrs. Jennie Atchley in "The Sunny Southland;" " Canadian BeeJom " tiy " Bee-Master;" "Questions and Answers " by Dr. 0. C. Miller; "Notes and Comment." Kx-Pres. E. T. Abbott; "Doctor's Hints" on good health, by Dr. Pelro; and " Among the Bee-Papers " by " Gleaner," who gleans the best from all the Dee-papers each week. Space f "-bids t lling more. Better send tor Free Sample Copy, or fcl 00 as per above oflfer. i^~ 20-€ent rrial Trip '^ months o- 13 wks.) to New subscribers Address, GEORGE W. YORK & CO., 56 Fifth Ave., Chicago. III. E. KRETCHHER, RED OAK, IOWA, -^ ^ ^ 4-8 SENDS FREE HIS CATALOG OF 72 ILLUSTRATED PAGES: DESCRIBES EVERYTHING USED IN THE APIARY; BEST GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES. CAPACITY ONE CARLOAD A DAY. WRITE AT ONCE FOR HIS CATALOG. I told you so. Mrs. Atchley:— The one-frame nucleus I got of you last spring gave me 120 well- HI led one-pound sections. J. A. Smith, Heber, Utah, Oct. 9, 1«94. Now, haven't 1 told you that it will pay to send bees north in the spiing ? One-frame nucleus, $1.00; 10 or more, 90c each. Bees by pound, same price. Untested queens to go with tliem, 75c eacli. Untested queens by mail, $1.00 each; $5.00 forti; $9.00 per dozen, till June; after, 7r)c each; $+.25 for 6, or $8.00 per dozen. I breed the leather-colored Italians, 5 bands, and Caruiolans, in separate yards, at safe dist;ince. Tested, 3 bands, $1..50 each; 5 bands or Carniolans, $2.50 each. Fine breeders of either race, orimpoited queens, $5.00 each. Full colonies w th untested queens, $6.00. Ask for discounts to dealeis, and by quaniities. The only steam bee-hive factory in south Texas. Root's goods, Dadant's foundation, and Bingham smokers. Safe arrival on evei'y thing guaranteed. Send for FREE catalog that tells all about raising queens. JENNIE ATCHLEY, Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. To please all, am breeding boili Leather-colored and Golden 5-banded Italians. Have live apiaries, 3 to 5 miles apart, rvumiug 8.50 nuclei. Your orders filled promi>tly. Can fui'nish ll4«/:k/:k«-io queens frnm March 1st to VUCC/Ilo* Nov. 10. The Leather-col- ^ ored 3-bandcd Breeder, im- ported from Italy. ( >it., '94. The Golden 5-banded Breeder, selected from 1(K)0 queens, some producing 400 lbs. of honey to colony. State what you want, and send orders now for early delivery. Guaranteed .•.7 a o 1 queens, TOc; special low Wm. A. bClSCr, price in quantities. Send Wvnrnfp Pa for descriptive catalog. YTyiicuic, ra. World's Fair Hedal Awarded my Foundation. Send for free samples. Dealers, write for wholesale prices. Root's new F'olisherl Sections and other goods at his prices. Free Illustrated Price List of every thing needed in the apiary. JVl H Hiin-f Bell Branch, Mich. ^'*» •*• HUOL, Woodcliff Business ™e have a large stock of SECTIONS now ready, " both No. 1 and No. 2. Wiite for special prices on winter- orders in large or small lots, including all other Suniijies. Also Berry Crates and Baskets made up or in flat. Addiess BERLIN FRUIT BOX CO., eitf BERLIN Heights, O. Are you Looking For tlie BEST In bee-hives, sections, cases, etc. ? If so, drop us a postal and we shall be pleased to send you a copy of our 1895 catalog" and price list. Q. B. LEWIS CO., Waiertown, Wis. 420 Lbs. Average Is what my bees gave that I moved to the man- grove; those at home, 300 lbs. each; 5-baiided bees, f oo. Queens, tired for business from this stock, will he sent in 1895 for $1.00 each until May; per doz., $8.00. Circular free. J. B. CASE, Port Orange, Fla. ■'^JOUR • DELVoTEL •andHoNEY •AND HOME, •INTE.FIEST^ 'ubhsheJby-THEAll^OoY CO. i»° PER YtAR^'\@"nEDiNA- Ohio- Vol. XXIII. HAR. 15, 1895. No. 6. What State society of bee-keepers has the largest membership? Ontario? VoGEL says the Egyptian bee is nearly trop- ical; and when 30° F. is reached, every bee in the hive is dead. I've had vacation for two weeks, even from bees, with almost nothing to do but sing. Makes me younger. I FOUND some beautiful sections in Southern Illinois, stamped P. H. Elwood, Starkville, N. Y. Say, Elwood, you keep out of here. I KNOW NOW, from that picture on page 167, what has become of Jake Smith. He got so puffed up with gas that he exploded. A warn- ing for others. The latest cure I've seen for a bee-sting is from Bicnen-Vater, a strawberry applied. I hope A. I. Root will no longer insist that straw- berries have no use. Honey DEW honey has a defender in Stan- ley & Son, in A. B. J. And no wonder; for in 12 years they have raised 80,000 pounds of it, selling it for $10,000. What's best for a cushion, a right soft one? At the rale they're settling the question of the size of hives, it looks as if I'd have to sit on the fence the rest of my days. The Bienen-Vater says queenless colonies frequently fill queen-cell cups with jelly just as if occupied by larvae, and build them out, some- times almost a finger long. J. E. Crane, in Review, leaves the big -little- hive question all mixed up. In his home apia- ry small hives are best, and large ones 6 miles away. The different conditions account for it. Sacaline is a Russian plant that is having something of a boom as a forage and bee plant. Director Wilson, of Iowa Experiment Station, says in Stockman that it grows 8 to 12 feet high in a year, but he has no hope of its being a for- age plant, because cattle won't eat it, even in Russia. MiEi> de Narbonne, or Narbonne honey, which sells in Paris at 60c a pound, Baist, in Noerdlichen Bztg. says, is a white honey from apple-blossoms. Phin's dictionary says, chiefly from rosemary. Caraway, says V. Wuest, in Noerdlichen Bztg., is a fine honey-plant in his locality. But Editor Vogel says, although cultivated largely in his region he never saw a bee on it. How is it in this country? B. Taylor says, in Review, that he has 10 hives with 12 frames, 20 with 16, and 12 with 19 frames. After giving them a fair trial along- side of 10-frame hives, he has thrown them aside as useless. H. L. Jeffrey writes, "Things that I knew for sure 2.5 years ago I have learned are quite different now, and it takes years to know for certain but very little of any thing." You've got it about straight, H. L. A HivELESS colony is reported in Deutsche Imker, hanging to the roof of a bee-shed. It hung in the form of a hemisphere, built nine combs, making them far larger than the stand- ard German frame, which is less than the Langstroth. "Do BEES PREFER uew or old comb?" is a query in A. B. J. One replier thinks they pre- fer new, three think they prefer old; three "don't know," and the great majority think they have no preference. Here's a nut for the experiment stations. According to Baron Ambrozy, at the big Vienna convention, the four notable steps of progress since Dzierzon's discoveries are, 1. The extractor; 2. Comb foundation; 3. The queen- excluder; 4. The improvement in the manu- facture of honey-drinks. When I read on p. 187 how nicely W. S. Hart has every thing arranged, and when I re- member what a nice fellow he is, I can't help wondering why a man of such good taste should remain a bachelor. Or has he such critical taste that no woman comes up to the mark ? 204 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 15. A PROJECT is proposed to establish at Paris an apicultural syndicate, not to divert tiie honey-market to Paris, but to secure that for which there is no market, manufacture it into eauxde- vie and stamp it with the label of the society, to secure its ready sale on account of its purity. "Mr. Freeborn's name was first brought prominently forward before the bee-keeping world through the Bee-keepers' Union." P. 183. Wasn't it the other way? I never heard of the Union till after Mr. Freeborn's troubles, and thereupon arose the Union. [I guess you are right.— Ed.] It's refkeshing to see on page 183 that we're not going to be less enterprising than the Germans in the matter of adulteration. So much adulteration there is one of the reasons that thousands of the Rietsche press are in use, so bee-keepers can make up their own wax and know that it is pure. Did you know you can tell the time by a stem-winder in the dark? Wind up your watch, and an hour later wind it again, counting the clicks. If it clicks ten times, that means G min- utes to a click. Then if you wind in the dark, and count 45 clicks, you'll know it's 4>^ hours since it was wound last. " Florists have so highly developed the rose that it has scarcely any pollen, and I am not sure but some kinds are so double they are en- tirely destitute," says Somnambulist. That's putting it very mild. Very few of the better sorts have a single grain of pollen, the stamens being all changed into petals. "I do not believe," says S.E.Miller, in Progressive, " there is one cellar in fifty that is a fit place to keep either comb or extracted honey." No; and in the fiftieth cellar it would spoil in this part of the country. In Colorado, where I'm told bread dries in the cellar, it may be all right, and in other dry climates. Honey soap, so called, says Deutsche Imkcr, contains no honey whatever. If you want the genuine article, something that will keep your skin soft and free from chaps, make it yourself. Take one pound common hard soap, add rain- water, place the earthen dish with the soap in a water-bath, or on a stove-mat, and boil till dissolved. Then add an ounce of honey, and continue boiling till the water evaporates. That article on p. 124 is very interesting; but that part of the heading which says, " Small hives more profitable," hardly fits. Boardman's 9 frames, l2%-x.\2% inside measure, are equiva- lent to 10)^ dovetail frames. [The heading to which you refer was based on the cubic capaci- ty of the Boardman hive. Nowadays the 8- frame Langstroth may be considered a small hive. This contains the same cubic capacity as thfe Boardman, and hence I classed it among the small hives. But when we compare Board- man's nine frames to the Dovetailed hive's eight, the case is a little different. One would not think there was so much difference in the capacity of the two frames; but I shall have to acknowledge that I can't find any thing wrong with your figures. But, say; Boardman doesn't use 9 frames or the larger capacity because it gives more room, but because he thereby less- ens the burr-combs.— Ed.] PACKAGES FOR EXTRACTED HONEY. BARIJELS FOR COLORADO NOT SUITABLE; WHY SQUARE CANS ARE BETTER ; CANDYING OP HONEY A SERIOUS DRAWBACK ; REACHING CONSUMERS direct; a VALUABLE ARTICLE. Bij R. C. Aikin. I have read with interest Mr. E. France's article on this subject, in Feb. 15th Gleanings, page 129. I have a little criticism to make, but mainly wish to add to what he has said. My criticism is in the use of barrels. Keep- ing the barrels in a dry place, and well coopered before using, is all right. It is a fact, that a barrel kept in a cellar or damp place, when filled with honey, will season and let the hoops fall off just as if it were empty. In the fall of 1887 I filled two 25-gallon white-oak barrels, they having been kept dry for months before, having eight hoops hard driven just before filling. These I brought with me to Colorado. In a few weeks after arriving here I found the honey— candied too — leaking out, and I could pull the hoops oft' with my fingers. Had the honey been liquid I might have lost the most of it. That the barrels can be made tight enough to hold the honey, by his method, there is no question; but a barrel shipped from Wis- consin here would not remain tight. A few days ago I received a 50-gallon barrel of sor- ghum shipped for Eastern Kansas. It may not have been thoroughly tlg}it when shii)\)ed; but right in zero weather, and exposed to the cold, it began to leak so that I have had to drive the hoops on it. I have, the past winter, liquefied and market- ed between six and seven tons of honey. It was in 6()lb. cans. I sold it to consumers very largely, it going here and there all over the country, in lots of from one to four or five cans. Few of the purchasers knew how to liquefy, or were fixed to do it. Now, had I stored this honey in barrels, then opened the barrels and spad4;d out the honey to liquefy in other ves- sels, then returned to the barrels to ship, I cer- tainly should have decided never again to pro- duce extracted honey. But should I put it into cans to ship, then I must have two sets of ves- sels— an additional expense. If I had a trade 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 205 that would take honey in such large packages, and take it nt the same price as in c8 thick. I tried thin ones of wood, and the bees soon gnawed and spoiled them. Those \ thick cost but little more, and, made like the one sent, will, with proper care, last a lifetime, and prove cheap indeed. I see narrow sections are attracting the at- tention of bee-keepers. They have so many good points, when tried, that they will yet cause the 4>4 X 43^ section to be abandoned, for they are too small to hold any thing near a pound, if only 1^2 inches wide, and this is the extreme wirlth of the coming section. The combs are fastened to all sides of 1}^ sections much bet- ter than to wide ones, and ship more safely with the separator I use with its slotted center, so the bees have free passage from comb to comb, without having to leave passages in the corners of the combs; and with narrow sections the combs are made solid to every side, and nearly every cell will be sealed; and these sec- tions, with their larger surface, and filled to }4 inch of their edges, solid fast on all sides, and every cell sealed, make a section that leaves the wide 43^ section, with its sunken surface and imperfect capping and fastening, far in the shade. Some years since, Mr. Keys, of the firm of James Forncrook & Co., visited the Forestville apiary. I took him into my honey-house, and showed the well-filled sections of 41^ x 414' size, 1% inches wide, and the 4 x .5 IJjj' sections, and he agreed, without argument, that the latter made a much finer appearance, and looks go a long way in selling comb honey. So impressed am I with the superior advantages of the larg- er and narrower sections that I would not ac- cept as a gift a future supply for all time of i}^ X 4^4 and IX sections. Forestville, Minn., Jan. 23. [I am well aware that there are advantages in the use of narrow sections. The combs are filled out better, honey ripened perhaps better, and customers will take them, because, while they appear to be as large as the regulation 1%, they are cheaper. In Canada, the 7-to-foot and 1>2 section rather take the lead; in this country, 1%; in England, full two inch, but all mx'^H in size. But you probably do not over- look the fact that, while you may be able to get more for your 4x5 sections, as a general rule they list in the market quotations, or did so, at least, until they were driven out of the market, from one to two cents lower than the regular 43^ size. I believe your separator is a good thing. It :.'13 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 15. certainly would greatly improve the T super; but cleated separators, yon are probably aware, are not new. In Nov. 1st Gleanings, 1888, p. 833, Oliver Foster set forth their advantages. His article was accompanied with an engrav- ing which, for the convenience of our readers, we now reproduce. FOSTER'S SEPARftTOK You will notice it is not exactly like yours, but it embodies the same principle. The cleats on both sides are half a bee-space thicl^. Mr. J. E. Crane, of Middlebury, Vt., is an- other bee-keeper who has been enthusiastic, I believe, in the use of the cleated separators. Wlien I called on him in 1890, on that bicycle trip, he showed the advantage of this sort of separator in connection with sections having no bee-ways or openings, the bee-spacing being entirely provided for by separator-cleats.— Ed.] CALIFORNIA ECHOES. By Rambler. At the recent California State convention of bee-keepers. Prof. Cook called out quite a num- ber of test votes. In the use of quills of various kinds over the frames, 10 had used them, and now only 9 of the 19 use them, showing that 10 had discarded the useless, mussy things. California bee-keepers are invited to make exhibits of their products in the Chamber of Commerce. An attractive display here of sev- eral feet of floor space would be a standing ad- vertisement of California honey. People from all portions of the earth are visiting the Cham- ber daily. The bee-escape was considered not so much of a success here in clearing an extracting-super as it might be. The escape clears the super of bees; but the honey, deprived of its warming factor, gets cold during the night, and is ex- tremely hard to extract. What we want is something to clear the super as quick as a brush would do it, or .from three to five minutes. Mr. Brodbeck had one of his hives in the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. B. has taken a step in the right direction. He uses the Dove- tailed hive with Hoffman frame; but hive and frame are shallower than the standard, by an inch or more. That's right, Mr. B. You will soon progress to the use of the shallow divisible brood-chamber. The rainfall up to date in the San Bernardino Valley amounts to 17 inches. This, with a few inches in March and April, will probably insure a honey crop. But even after profuse rains, there are sometimes climatic influences at work to prevent the secretion of nectar. These ex- traordinary influences, however, appear so sel- dom that plenty of rain gives great buoyancy to the spirits of the bee-keeper. " Skim-milk queens " was a very happy term applied by Mr. Mclntyre to those queens reared under the forcing plan, and where the royal jelly is thin and scarce. Skim-milk queens and successful honey production do not work well together. In this valley, thousands of acres will be planted to what has hitherto been considered a worthless plant — canagrie, with the newly dis- covered tanning properties. Reliable authori- ty claims that it does not yield honey. Per- haps, with thousands of acres, the bee will find a sustaining forage upon it. In these days of foul brood, bee-paralysis, etc., it behooves bee-keepers to be very careful about introducing queens, honey, or second- hand hives into or near their apiaries. Our most successful bee-keepers breed nearly all their own queens, and would not feed honey bought up promiscuously, under any consider- ation. A pastor of a Disciple church informed me that such a purchase of honey, and a feed- ing of it. inoculated his whole apiary of 50 colo- nies, and he lost them all. His experience was brief but pointed — spent 400 dollars on bees; never received a cent in return. Moral: Be careful what you feed your bees. ^ I — ^ EAMBLE 128. AT BLACK DIAMOND. By RamhJer. Mr. Jones, collector for the Pacific Gas Im- provement Co., a few evenings after our call upon his quarrelsome bees, reciprocated, and sat down with us by our camp-fire. We found Mr. Pryal an adept at keeping up the flames. We had been chaffing him some about the raw and foggy condition of the nights around the Bay, and had urged him to visit the more salubrious clime of our sunny Southland. Of course, like a true native son his Oakland possessed the best climate in the world; and then he wonld emphasize his remarks by throwing another armful of brush on the fire. Where nature requires so much aid in August to keep up a comfortable warmth, it is indeed pleasant to find such an efficient helper. Around the fire the conversation circled; and bees, best locations, hunting deer, bear, and even hogs and their profitable culture as a side issue with bees, was discussed. Mr. Jones thought a hog-ranch out in the free air of the country preferable to those everlasting side- walks and tall brick buildings. A good apiary in connection with it would just profitably round" out the season. Pryal and Wilder held a grand idea that, when prices in pork and honey ruled low, the hog might be raised profitably for its bristles. For instance, a tooth-brush is sold for 15 cents and upward; a good-sized hog, with his back well cultivated, would yield bristles for a 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 213 thousand tooth-brushes. In view of the bo- nanza before us I had only one suggestion to make; and for the moment I was inspired to put it into rhyme, as follows: That is riglit, Bro. Pryal; On the Are put a lop, And by the cheerful flames We'll view the festive hog. You may make him into bacon, Or fry him in the pan. Or his bristles use for brushes. But here's a better plan : Tour highfalutin schemes. Like mice and men, will fail. Unless advice you take — Make whistles of his tail. This ended the hog discussion for the evening, and our convention resolved to adjourn. It As we climbed and climbed the moderate mountains, the landscape grew behind us, and we were soon at such an elevation that the cities, the bay, the islands within the bay, the Golden Gate, and the broad ocean, were spread out before us in one grand panorama; and when we consider that a genial clime touches with its magic wand the vegetable world, and gives one round of growth and bloom from one end of the year to the other, it is no strange thing that people enthuse over the wonderful climate of California. We are now in Contra Costa Co., and we drop down on the north side of the mountains; and 18 miles from Oakland we halt for a few days in Walnut Creek, a pleasant little town. Hard times seemed to be knocking at the doors of the majority of the people. The saloons, how- PUMPING WATEK TO SPRINKLE THE HIGHWAYS. was hard upon 1"2 o'clock. Mr. Jones disap- peared in the darkness with a kind farewell, and we made an opening in the fog and sought our tent. The days sped by so full of duties and plea- sures that a week elapsed ere we were again ready to proceed on our journey. Our evenings of social converse with bee-keepers, and espe- cially in the Pryal home, when the family gathered around the hearthstone, and, aside from the words fitly spoken, there was vocal and instrumental music in the air — those eve- nings will not soon be forgotten: and on the nth of August, when we took our departure, and climbed the hills that rise abruptly in the rear of Temescal, I cast glances below and ex- claimed in heart-felt tones, "May the shadows of all the Pryals never grow less!" "Amen!" says Bro. Wilder. ever, seemed to be doing a good business— even better than the churches. Spending Sunday in town I patronized the little M. E. church, and found 40 in attendance. At the close of the services there seemed to be a greater crowd and more lively times around the saloons. The pastor was young and earnest, and disp*ensed the word with ability. Still, there was apathy in the outside crowd, that left the church with a meager attendance. Spaniards and Portuguese were numerous here, and the Spaniards often indulged in a barbecue. We camped near the scene of their festivities. In a shady nook on the banks of the little creek the Toro Club assembled occa- sionally to eat the face off a bull's head and crack a few bottles of vino. The master of ceremonies, the barber of the town, came around to prepare for one of these 214 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 15. gatherings. We had noticed a deep hole In the ground near the creek, and curiously wondered what It was used for. It was 4 feet deep and 3 feet In diameter. Our barber built a fire In the bottom of the hole, and kept feeding it with hard-wood chunks until there was a thick bed of coals. A bull's head was then carefully roll- ed in a burlap sack, and dropped upon the coals. Immediately the head was covered with dirt to the depth of about three feet. From 16 to 34 hours was considered long enough to cook the head. It was then taken out piping hot. The Toro Club would assemble around a rustic table, under the walnut-trees, and enjoy the festal board. Our camp was furthermore enlivened by its proximity to the cooler, made necessary by the aforesaid saloons. The cooler was very appropriately located near a huge water- tank. It was the duty of the waterman to put his three docile horses to the turntable pump and fill the tank regularly every day, and as regularly every night deliver it to the thirsty and dusty road all about town. There were no bee-keepers here to enliven our evenings, and with whom to trade jokes. We longed again for Bro. Pryal's camp-fire and Bro. Jones's en- thusiasm. We knew, too, that they would enjoy the numerous mosquitoes just as we did. We realized the full beauties of cool foggy nights, for the result was fewer mosquitoes in Oakland, and a double portion in Contra Costa Co. When the days were fulfilled for us to move along we left Walnut Creek in peace, and next surprised the town of Black Diamond. This queer little town is located on the Suisun Bay, at the point where the San Joaquin and Sacra- mento Rivers mingle their chocolate-colored waters. We expected to cross the bay imme- diately; but the town was so inviting we resolv- ed to stop a few days. The streets were not as inviting as they are in some towns in which we have been; for numerous pigs, goats, dogs, and urchins ran at large, and preyed upon the un- suspecting camper. Black Diamond, as the name suggests, derives it name from coal-mines in the hills beyond; but the mines have been paralyzed by a ten-years' litigation. Salmon- fishing, however, is a flourishing industry, and several score of Italians reside here, and daily mend their nets, and nightly go forth to swoop in the fish, which they do by the boatload. Canneries dot the s-hores of the bay, and the business of putting salmon in cans is nearly as honorable as the production of honey. The that sweet disposition so characteristic of the American bee-keeper. The Dago wives are sharp-tongued, meddlesome, and saucy. Their pigs, their goats, their urchins, and mosquitoes, were ditto. Saturday night th(! fishermen all came in for a grand pow-wow, more than less; wine was guzzled, and Italian language was slung through the air in volleys, salvos, and broadsides. We know, for a whole brigade of Dagos hung to the fence near our tent, and fired words at each other until one volley knocked a fellow over our tent-rope. Well, now. wasn't there music! Our lantern came rattling from its hook; Wilder yelled, and I did. The meeting outside was broken up in confusion, and the participants scattered to the four winds of Black Diamond. One of the DAGO FISHERMEN AT BLACK DIAMOND. Dagos was, however, polite enough to hug him- self into a comfortable feeling, lie came back and apologized. He explained a fact that we already knew— that the rest were all drunk. Between Dagos and mosquitoes, we slept but little that Saturday night. Sunday I found peace and quiet in the little Congregational church. A young and earnest pastor preached a helpful sermon; but his au- dience v/as small, and the cause languished. On the public square, in sight of our camp, however, that afternoon times were very lively. There was a baseball game, and a hundred and fifty people in attendance. Contra Costa Co. can not be classed as a hon- ey-producing locality. About the only bees we find are in nondescript hives, and few in number. Mount Diablo (devil) in the eastern portion of the county should bear upon its sides a rich honey-flora; but from its name, or some other cause. Mount Diablo is not worth much if any thing, in a practical way. There are, no doubt, good locations along the San Joaquin River which could be made profitable with fruit-raising. That these places may soon be Dagos, however, even if they did come from occupied by some happy bachelor is the wish of the land of our gentle Italian bees, have not the Rambler. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. M5 T SUPERS. WHY BETTER THAN SECTION-HOLDERS OR WIDE FRAMES ; THE PROPER WAY TO MAKE A T TIN. Bji A. n. An(hi))m. I have produced comb honey in several styles of surplus-cases; and if I could have the T tins made as I like them I should like the T super best. Two-tier wide frames are away behind, because the valuable feature of tiering up is lost. Single-tier wide frames are good, but they can be rigged for only one width of sections, and then if made for separators they can not well be used without. Pattern slats, or bottom-bars, are a slight disadvantage because they place the sections that much further away from the brood-chamber. Could they be above the sec- tions their clean tops would be valuable. As for the bottoms, no one hardly ever sees them. T tins as I use them are fastened permanent- ly to the crates. Simplicity should be the rule with all fixtures a bee keeper has to deal with. Section-frames make extra pieces: separators, that many many more. Some think that shift- ing section-frames will pay: I think not. I used to do that too, but don't any more. A su- per should be suitable for sections open on all four sides. We, the majority of bee-keepers, I believe, have always been wrong in the use of closed- end sections and open-end brood-frames, where we should have had open -end sections and clos- ed-end frames. I think, also, that those of us who use separa- 11 tors, and get ordinary prices for 1 our honey, do so at a loss. One J great trouble is, that we use sec- ( " v> tions that are too wide. The T tin that I think would be more suitable would be like the diagram above. The worst trouble with the old T tin is, that the rounding at the point 1 took up so much room as to separate the sections. The T form is a strong one. By using thin tin, and bending as I suggest, it would leave hardly a visible space between sections when compressed. Also, the points 3 3 would not form cutting edges for hands and fingers, and would never become bent out of shape as much as the old kind do. I hope, Mr. Root, I am right in the above, and that you can see it so. Of course, a new ma- chine would have to be gotten up to bend this form. If some of your help could turn out one to make these tins I should be pleased to have it so; and if they should fail, and you really felt that you wanted one, perhaps I could try for you. Coleta, 111., Dec. 17. [So few, comparatively, use T tins now that it is a question whether it would pay us to build a new machine to make the tins as you recom- mend, providing we admit that they are better when so made. Of course, I see that it might be an advantage to have the point 1 as thin as possible; but there is no reason why it can not be just as thin when con>d. Miss Constance was not going with her father, but would go on the same train with me to Tarpon Springs, where I had expected to meet her and have the pleasure of getting better acquainted with her, and of introducing her to a number of my friends; but when I went to look her up next morning I found that she had left the place. THE ANDERSON SWARM-HIVER Bii Lduis A)Hlc)v<))i. In the spring, or before the swarming season, prepare a hive-stand large enough to hold two Dovetailed hives placed side by side, and two inches apart. Place the colony of bees upon the left end of the stand, and an empty hive on the right (the bee-keeper is supposed to be stand- ing in front of and facing the hive.) As the swarming season approaches (say from the first to the tenth of May), reverse the hives, placing the empty hive on the left and the colony on the right, taking care to have the front of the hives on a line with each other, and about two inches apart: then set the swarm-hiver upon the alighting-boards and fasten with a screw through the blocks on each end of the hiver, and screw up tight. If the hives stand, upon a line, there will now be no outlet for the bees except through the hiver. Now close the entrance to the empty hive by placing a wood strip large enough for the pur- pose against the entrance upon the inside of the hive, to keep the bees out until they have become accustomed to the hiver, which will be after the first day. As soon as they have be- come accustomed to the hiver, remove the strip and put in frames of empty comb or foundation, and the hive is ready for swarms. A small alighting-board should be placed from the entrance to the ground, for the bees to alight upon. If the hives, are placed well to the front of the hive-stand when first placed, and well to the rear when reversed, the en- trance to the hiver will be very near where the entrance to the colony was before the hives were changed. OPERATION OF THE SWARM HIVER. When the swarm issues, the bees and queens pass out of the chamber in the hiver in front of the colony through the perforated zinc and the wire-cloth cones, into the chamber in front of the empty hive, and the queen is there trapped. The swarm, upon discovering the absence of the queen, returns to the hive, and, finding the queen at the entrance of the hiver, which, be- ing directly in front of and communicating with the empty hive, the bees at once enter the empty hive with the queen, and commence work. The hiver may now be removed by taking out the two screws, and all queen -cells except one cut out of the parent hive. The swarm may be strengthened, if desired, by removing the hiver in the middle of the day, when the bees are flying freely; the entrance to the hiver being in front of the swarm-hive after the hiver is removed, the field-bees will return to the swarm-hive. If the swarm is considered to be strong enough, the hiver should be removed early in the morning, before the bees are flying. WHAT IS CLAIMED FOR THE ANDERSON SWARM -HIYER. 1. It will hive lai'ge full swarms. 2. To see if the bees have swarmed, it is only necessary to raise the cover to the empty (or swarm) hive. 3. Either of the hives may be examined with- out disturbing the other. 4. If a second swarm issues before the hiver is removed, it will be hived with the first swarm; in such case the old (or laying) queen will be accepted by both swarms, and the young queen balled and destroyed. 5. If the bees do not swarm, the colony gathers honey just as well as without the hiver. During the season of 1892 the colony that made the most comb honey in my apiary of 40 colo- nies had a hiver attached, but did not swarm. 6. If drones clog the entrance to the hiver, the perforated zinc slide may be withdrawn, the drones liberated, and the slide returned; the drones may then be destroyed, in the even- ing, at the entrance of the hiver. Or make a small box, three inches high, the size of the en- trance to the hiver, but without top or bottom. For a top, nail on a strip of perforated zinc; and in place of a bottom, make a tin slide to work the same as the perforated zinc slide in the hiver. To clear the hiver of drones, with- draw the tin slide from the box and place the opening in front of the entrance to the hiver. Now remove the slide in the hiver, and the drones will enter the box. As soon as the drones are in the box, return the tin slide and remove the box, and replace the zinc slide in 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 321 the hiver. The drones are now all prisoners in 'the box. As soon as the worker bees that have been cauRht with the drones have escaped through the perforated zinc top, shake the box pretty hard for a few moments, which will stnn the drones, then withdraw the tin slide and empty the box on the ground, where the drones may be killed by tramping them with the foot. THE ANDERSON SWA KM -HIVER AS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMB HONEY. For the production of comb honey I have found no better method than the following: After putting on the swarm-hiver I place four frames filled with sheets of foundation in the empty hive. The fourth or fifth day after the bees have swarmed, the swarm will have settled down to work, and will have the foun- dation in the four frames well drawn out. I then in the middle of the day, while the bees are flying freely, take four frames of hatching brood, with the adhering bees, out of the parent hive, removing all queen-cells if there are any on them, and place two of the frames on each side of the four frames of foundation in the swarm hive. I then take the half-story with the sections and bees off the parent hive and place it on the swarm-hive; then remove the hiver, and move the parent hive with the four remaining frames of brood to a new location. All the field-bees from the parent hive will now return to the swarm-hive, which, with the four frames of hatching brood taken from the parent hive, will make the swarm very strong; and the swarming fever having been satisfied, work will go right along in the sections. When the next colony swarms I proceed in the same manner and place the parent hive, when re- moved, by the side of the parent colony that cast the first swarm. As soon as the first parent hive has a laying queen I remove the queen from the other hive, if they have one, and then double the two together by placing the frames from each hive alternately in the same hive. I then put on a super full of sections, and if hon- ey is coming in freely the bees will enter the sections at once. By this method the increase is kept down to one colony for every two swarms. If increase of colonies is desired, instead of doubling the parent hives put in each parent hive four frames of comb or foundation, and allow them to build up. By the above method there will be no second swarms, as the removal of the four frames of brood and bees, and the loss of the fii^Jd-bees. so weakens the parent hive that, as soon as the first queen hatches, the remaining queen-cells are destroyed. [After friend Anderson had sent the forego- ing, he later sent the following, with another drawing showing the arrangement somewhat simplified. We have had it also engraved.— Ed.] Within the past two days I have thought of a slight improvement in it, as will appear in the drawing which I inclose herewith. You will ''notice T have cut olT the corner of the chamber in front of the colony, and beveled the hive, thus doing away with a useless vacant ^-^. space — making the hive less bulky, and con- siderably decreasing the amount of lumber re- quired to make it. When made as shown in the drawing, a k'-i'ich board 10 in. longer than the top board of the hive sent you, cut diag- onally, will make both top and bottom of the hive, and no end board is required in the bev- eled end, as the front board nails! up to the block in the end of the hive. Bloomsbury, N. J. THE DANZENBAKER HIVE AND SECTION. By F. Dnnzenhaker . Forty years ago I managed bees in box hives, and then progressed to the Quinby and Amer- ican hives, with large and deep brood-chambers and combs, liable to stretch, sae, and bulge, when heavy with honey. The care of keeping the hives exactly level to secure nice straight combs true in the frames led me then to desire a shallow comb-frame, more than 35 years ago, which I laid aside when the Simplicity hive came in vogue, that I might be in fashion with those using the standard hive and 4^| x A}^ sec- tion, the production of comb honey being my specialty; and during that time I have been a close observer of others, testing what I thought desirable improvements, including the open and closed end frames and the Hoffman deep top- bars, etc. However, I am chiefly indebted to the champion comb-honey producer, Capt. J. E. Hetheringtou, of Cherry Valley, N. Y. (who has raised 40 tons of comb honey in a year), from whom I learned the superiority of the ob- long deep honey-sections as used by him and others in New York and the East. Twenty-five percent more of them will stand on a given hive surface than the standard 4I4 x 4V sec- tions; and this form conveys a better impres- sion of full weights. Having space for a deep- er cluster, the bees enter them more readily; and, filling them out better at the sides, they are safer in transportation; more attractive in appearance, they sell for two cents each more in market. Thirty-two of these deep sections, in a case, require no more hive surface than 24 43^ X 4J4 sections on the eight-frame Dovetailed 222 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 15. or any other hive. They are scored out at the corners, providing side openings for free pass- ago of air and bees between the tiers of sec- tions, also saving the irksome labor of scraping propolis from the corners of sections; said cor- ner being cut away, the bees do not daub or glue the openings which they can pass through. The sections are nicely filled at the corners, and are ready to set right into the shipping-cases, as taken from the supers. The Root style of section-holder (put togeth- er by dovetailing) is made to hold four of these sections, there being eight holders for each case, supported within the metal hangers and case, provided with wood separators nailed to them to make the sections of uniform size and weight. The entire case of sections and holders is cov- ered air-tight with a layer of paraffine paper, which the bees do not cut away if covered over with other paper or cloth, and held down close and smooth by thin boards beneath the outer cover. This is of the utmost importance, as bees can not work to advantage until the top of their hive is air-figfht to retain the warmth of the colony, provided there is abundant ventila- tion at the entrance of the hive, which may be controlled to suit the seasons and conditions of the colony, to restrain the swarming impulse. When extra stories are used, and more ventila- tion is needed, it can be given by reversing the bottom and shifting the first or second story forward, thus giving full and direct ventilation at front and rear if desired, which will cause the bees to store their honey at the top of the hive, instinctively to avoid danger from robbers. The hive-bottom is made to give a deep space and opening under the frames by reversing it when desired to admit more light and air to force the bees to store their surplus at the top of the hive. The bodies and supers are all alike, square edged, to fit tightly together for tiering up, consisting of but two pieces, ends and sides dovetailed to go together the same as four-piece sections. The brood-frames are made in the same way; but the ends and top and bottom bars being alike there are but two kinds of pieces used in them. The section -holders are also made of two pieces, so in each of the separate parts of the hive they duplicate each other, to have the fewest separate pieces possible; and as all are made for me by the A. I. Root Co. with the lat- est Improved all-iron machinery, the work is as nearly perfect as possible to be, and is very easily put together. The hive proper consists of two stories used as a brood-chamber, and one story for a super; extra supers can be ordered to use if two tiers are needed. Two stories are intended to be used in wintering, as well as breeding up in spring, as the full bee-space is at the top of each case, independent of the others. The lower hive is intended to be placed at the top in putting on a super to bring the brood directly beneath the sections, which stimulates the bees to storing honey directly above it; by alternat- ing the bodies at proper intervals, the uncapped honey will be carried from the lower one to give room for the queen; and the two stories giving ample room for a brood-chamber, no queen -excluder is needed where separators are used between sections filled with worked foun- dation, as the queen will not leave a large brood-nest for single sections, except to raise drones when not allowed drone comb in the brood. METAL HANGER. The brood frames for sections, and the brood- frames, are supported in the case on a remova- ble sheet metal provided with turned edges or flanges on alternate sides, to hang upon the top edges of the cases, with the end-bars of brood- frames or section-bars resting upon its lower edge, this unshrinkable metal having such bee-space that will not be contracted by shrink- age above the brood-frame and sections as may be desired, and determined by the width of the sheet metal and corresponding depth of the cases. These metal supports are adapted to either deep or shallow hives, using close-fitting end-barred brood-frames. This arrangement gives increased capacity and facility of manip- ulation, as these removable supports can not bti glued fast to the hive, and are fully covered by the end-bars of the frames, which they sup- port and protect from touching the end of the cases, so that the bees can not glue the frames fast to these supports, nor to the sides of the hive, and they are easily removed with the brood -frames or sections by reversing the case and lifting it off, or they may be pressed down over a follower the same as a " T super," leav- ing the sections or frames free for removal or inspection. Paper or other elastic material may be placed between these supports and the cases to form a cushion giving flexibility, if de- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 223 sired, to facilitate the nlllng and removal of frames or sections. Washington, D. C. FLORIDA MOSS AND HONEY-PLANTS. By Mri<. L. Harrison. I read with much pleasure A. I. Root's notes of travel in Florida. For four seasons it has been my wintf^r home. This winter is very materially different from previous ones that I've known, for frost has robbed the orange and lemon trees of their shiny green leaves, and kept the roses from blooming. Whenever I pass under the magiiilicent live-oaks, hung with nature's drapery, I feel like raising my hands in adoration to the Giver of all good, with an invocation that this great work of his, for centuries, may not be rudely destroyed. "The groves were God's first temples." The botanies class Spanish moss as an air- plant, and I fail to find any roots that would indicate that it is a parasite; but it is said in time to kill trees. To-day I passed through a grove of live-oaks, and I noticed several great trees, heavily laden with this moss, that were entirely dead. If it is a parasite, it draws life from both living and dead trees — from the sap of the living and from the decaying wood of the dead. I think it is a mistake, that it will grow hung on a wire. Many observing persons think that its presence indicates malaria, and, by a wise provision of nature, absorbs it in some way. It evidently thrives best where the fogs are the thickest and most frequent, holding moisture in its meshes. It does not grow nat- urally on our own grounds; but when I put it upon the limbs of scrub oaks it lives, but does not thrive as it does in its native habitat. I grow it as food for my fowls, for they are very fond of it; so are cattle; and I wonder why the residents do not pull it down for them, when forage is so scarce that they will eat dagger- pines. I've not been able to learn whether bees work upon this moss while it is in bloom. If this moss is gathered and put into pillows and mattresses in its green state it will soon smell very offensive. The parasite must be killed by burying in the ground, or by boiling, before it can be utilized in this way, when it will make good mattresses and pillows. The ti-ti is an excellent honey-plant, and should be spelled with a hyphen. It may be found in a Southern botany, and is known as Cliftonia Ugustrina. It is an Indian word, and means tangle, or thicket. The name is given to the small trees; also the places where it grows are known as ti-ties. It grows only in living water; and if the water is dammed up, and becomes stagnant, it will perish. The bloom is small and white, growing in racemes, and is sweet and fragrant, yielding honey that is white and of good flavor. It had commenced to bloom before the great Valentine storm of snow and sleet, which put an end to it; but it is again opening, Feb. 2.5. It is much used for decorations at Eastertide. I see that you class goldenrod as blooming here in September; it may bloom then, but I've seen bouquets of it gathered in April. You should not fail, while in Florida, to visit the largest apiaries in the State, of Alderman and Roberts, located at Wewahltchka. This is an Indian name, meaning the " lakes of the two eyes," or eye-glasses, as they are shaped like them, and are about 3.5 miles long and 18 miles wide — otherwise known as the Dead Lakes. They are thickly studded with dead cypress- trees. One of the most weird experiences of my life was while returning from visiting an api- ary located on an island. It was in the gloam- ing; and the approaching darkness, as I sat in the canoe, with the tall cypress-trees bearing upon their branches a heavy drapery of moss, and only the strong arms of a trusty colored man to guide and propel the little craft through the intricacies, was a scene long to be remem- bered. The trade-mark of this firm is "Orange Bloom." Their surplus honey is not gathered from this source, as that from the orange is used in rearing brood. There are many groves in this locality. The surplus honey is gathered from tupelo. There are several varieties, known as black-gum, sour-gum, and gum-trees. Bees also gather honey from moonflower, an aquatic vine. This region will support more colonies than any other I ever saw; but it has its drawback, in being very malarious. St. Andrews Bay, Fla., Feb. 26. AVHEN TO TRANSFER BEES. Question. — Having quite a number of colonies of bees in box hives which I wish to transfer, I should like to know when this can be done to the best advantage. Can I do it as soon as spring opens? or had I better wait till the bees are securing honey from the fields'? Answer. — The transferring of bees from box hives, or "gums," or from one style of frame hive to another, can be successfully done at any time of the year when bees can fly, if the operator understands just the needs of the case; and I always look with pride on that man or woman who has ability enough to accomplish any thing successfully which it is necessary to 224 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mab. 15. do at a certain time, no matter whether said time is the most proi)itious or the most unpro- pitious. The one who can set out a row of small-fruit plants, and make all live in a time of extreme drouth in midsummer, or the person who can successfully transfer a colony of bees in early spring, when robber-bees are prowling around, is to be admired; yet unless there is some urgent reason why a certain thing should be done at a certain time, it is always best to wait about doing any thing till that time when every thing is the most conducive toward a successful outcome. As I consider it, there are two seasons of the year when bees can be trans- ferred to the best advantage, the first being during fruit-bloom, and the other 21 days after a prime swarm has issued. During the first part of fruit-bloom the scramble after new honey is such that one is not liable to be an- noyed with robber-bees, and at this time there is very little honey in the combs to cut through and make a sticky mess of every thing which is used during the operation. Again, as the bees are getting their first honey they are eager for something to do inside the hive at night, hence will repair all the mutilations of comb, fasten the same in the frames, etc., much more readily than at any other time. With all the above being true, fruit-bloom brings the most aus- picious time for transferring bees, but it has this drawback: As a rule, the bees have got under good headway rearing brood, and we shall find the combs half or two-thirds filled with the same, so that, in cutting them to fit our frames, much brood must be sacrificed, as well as displaced in the brood-nest, owing to our not being able to secure all in the shape in the new hive which it was in the old one. All of this has a tendency toward a loss of bees; and as all of the brood which is sacrificed at this time would become bees of the right age to do the best labor in the honey-harvest, had we left the transferring till later on, we can see that a loss must be made by doing our trans- ferring at this time of the year, with all colo- nies except those which have little brood In their combs. For this reason I prefer to wait till 21 days after the prime swarm went out. At this time all of the brood will have hatched from the combs, except perhaps a few drones, and the young queen will have laid but a few days, not long enough so that there will be much but eggs in the combs, so that all we have in our way now is the honey which the combs may contain. As this comes at a time of year when the bees are securing all of the honey they want, and the weather is always warm so that no brood or bees will become chilled, we can now do our work right out in the bee-yard, this making it more convenient. Then should you desire to use the Heddon, or modern plan of transferring, by driving out the bees and hiving them in a hive filled with comb foundation, this is just the time to do it, for the combs are free of brood, so only the one operation is needed, and the old combs can be cut out at once and placed in the solar wax- extractor, doing this work right beside the wax- extracior, so that in an hour or two you can have both the honey and wax in shape to use, thus saving time and delay which would result at any other time of the year. HOW MUCH FOUNDATION SHOULD BE USED IN SECTIONS ? Question. — As I wish soon to prepare my sec- tions for the coming honey-harvest, I should like to know just how much thin comb founda- tion it is best to put in each one. Shall I put in just a small triangular starter, or fill the section full? Ansiver.—The answer to this question will depend quite largely on two things. The first and most important is, have we the necessary means to procure all the foundation which will be needed to fill our sections, without depriving ourselves or family of some of the necessities or comforts of life? If we have not, then my way would be to use triangular starters, the same having each of the three sides about two inches long, in three-fourths of the sections I was to use; and when the season opens, put in starters of white new comb, which it is always easy to find or produce during fruit-bloom in any api- ary, in the remaining sections. In this way little if any difl'erence as to the yield of honey will be seen in an ordinarily good season, es- pecially if the sections containing the starters of comb are scattered uniformly among those having the foundation starters. The differ- ence when so working will be that the sections will not contain all worker comb, nor present quite so fine an appearance, nor the combs be attached to the wood of the sections all around quite so well, as where the foundation in full sheets is used; still, very little difference will be made in the selling price for the lack of the full sheets of foundation. Again, if I thought it best to hive my new swarms on frames filled with comb foundation, so that wired frames filled with worker combs would be a certain result, then I would use only starters in the sections as above. When a prime swarm issues, they go forth, as a rule, with wax already secreted in their wax-pockets, so that they may at once commence to build combs in their new home; and if the new home is already supplied with all the necessary combs this wax is wasted, or, what is often the case, worse than wasted, it being added to the foundation already in the sections, so that, instead of drawing out the side walls of the foundation, they build with their own wax the cells of the combs, thus leaving the foundation in the sections the same as it left the mill. This causes the grumbling about " fishbone " in section honey, which we often hear- about. Now, where I hive swarms on full combs, or frames filled with foundation, I use only start- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. ers in the sections, and tind that the bees will build the combs in the sections while they are drawing out the foundation below, and thus a saving is made. But as a rule I prefer to till the sections with foundation, that I may have handsome salable sections of honey, and use only starters of foundation in the frames below, having the starters in the frames, say from one to 1,1 o inches wide. By contracting the brood- chamber to six frames, the bees go to work at once in the sections, drawing out the founda- tion there, while at the same time they build all nice straight worker comb in the frames, which does not detract from the amount of sec- tion honey in the least, so far as I can see. doing so. I was watching the man all the time, and counted the bills at the same time he did. He must have been very expert at his trade. The moral it taught me is, always re- count your money when it has been taken from you for recounting and handed back to you. Benjamin Passage. Stark, Mich., Jan., 1895. THE CROSSES OF FIVE BANDERS. I notice in January 1st Gleanings, page 23, an editorial stating that a cross between a queen of five-banded stock and a black drone, or a five-banded drone and a black queen, will, according to your experience, result in all the bees showing at least three yellow bands. Now, there must certainly be a mistake some- where, as our experience has been to the con- trary; for we have had many a fine golden five- banded queen mated to a black drone, which in every case produced from the finest five- banded bees to the blackest native, and we had also the reverse. A black queen mated to a five-banded drone produced bees as black as tar, and now and then a bee that showed three, four, and five bands. Leininger Bros. Ft. Jennings, O., Feb. 6. COUNT YOUR MONEY OVER. When I was selling my honey this fall, the last I sold came to about S30.00. It was in De- troit, and on the street. The man took it at my weights, and we reckoned the price the same, and he paid me before the honey was ta;ken from my wagon. He took a roil of bills from his pocket, counted them, and handed them to me. I counted them, and found 121.00. Said he, " Let me see them. I thought there was more." He counted them over again, and said, " Yes, that is right — twenty-one," handing the roll back, which I put into my pocketbook by itself. He then paid me the rest in silver, put the honey in his wagon and went his way, while I went home congratulating myself for selling out at a good price. You can imagine my feel- ings, when I got home and counted my money, to find his roll of bills just $10.00 short. It made me blue for a while, I tell you, for I could ill afford the loss; but God probably knew what it was for. It is the first time I ever lost any that way, but have since learned of quite a number HOW TO EXTRACT THICK HONEY. I wonder if all honey is as hard to extract as was mine last season. I left the honey on the hive till it was well ripened. The frames weighed about 7 lbs., and the honey was so thick I could not extract all of it, as it would break the combs. What was the cause? Is all honey so hard to extract, or was it the extract- or? The extractor was of my own construc- tion. Frank N. Blank. Prairie Home, Mo., Feb. 18. [You must have some extra fine honey, for the thicker it is. the better. How shall we get it out of the combs? Fii'St store the combs in a warai— yes, hot room for a few hours. Use a re- versible extractor; extract one side of the combs partially; reverse the pockets, throw out the lioney, and then return to the first side and throw it all out. The combs break because the great weight of honey on the side opposite the side extracted presses upon the bottom of the cells; but by reducing this weight by a gentle turning of the handle, greater speed may be used to get the honey all out without breaking the combs. Of course, they should be wired. —Ed.] H. R. BOARDMAN'S ARTICLE AND C. A. HATCH'S COMMENTS. Feb. 15th Gleanings is at hand, and I have read Boardman's article on hives with much interest, and can say " me too " to almost every line, especially on the tiering-up part. The whole article is well written, and the ideas are good. But let me call your attention to some points in the tiering-up paragraph. 1. He says it "involves some extra labor." Good! just my idea! 3. He says, "I do not expect the queen to continue laying in both hives at the same time." " I do expect, and am not often disappointed, when the queen goes above, that she will continue to work in the upper hive until it is full of brood." Just so !, what we have always said; and while this is going on you are getting empty combs or combs of honey below, by the hatching of the brood. Do you see my position on this tiering-up question? Let me try once more to explain it. Plenty of room below for the queen, so she need not go above to lay, to the neglect of the combs below. 1. Because we do not want any empty combs in the hive. 2. Because if they are empty of brood, and the workers fill them with honey, it discourages storing above. See? But, why do you claim Bro. B. on the eight- frame side? Simply because his frames count eight? He advocates nine, however; and when you figure out the comb surface of his 326 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1.5. nine frames, V2^\12% inside measure, you have rather more comb surface ihan ten L. frames with %-in. top-bars. The comb surface of 9 frames, 12%xl2% in., is 1463+ in., and the comb surface of 10 frames 8H^i"H i"- (L. size with «8 top-bar), is 14.5.5+ in. Is that difference enough to argue about? Really, Bro. B. differs from the ten-frames in favoring closer spacing, not in number of frames. Am I right? Ithaca, Wis. C. A. Hatch. Eight extra pages as usual. Our revised booklet on Bees and Fruit Is now out. See Special Notices for further particu- lars. Reports show that bees are still wintering comparatively well, considering the extremely cold winter that we have just had. We shall be sending out our statistical blanks soon. We have just had a delightful visit from the Hon. Geo. E. Hilton, one of our bee-keeper legislators, just from the Michigan State As- sembly at Lansing. He is chairman of the Railroad Committee, and had arranged matters so as to get away a couple of days to make us a call — a pleasure he had promised himself for years back. Mr. Hilton is one of God's noble- men, and I wish more of our legislators had the same honest heart and the same earnest desire to do good to their fellows as he has. Although the opposition at the last election made a tremendous effort to defeat him, even putting up a union ticket combining three parties, he was elected by a handsome majority for the second time. THE BEE-ESCAPE FAD AND BEE-ESCAPE IN- VENTORS. It seems as if almost every mail was bringing in a bee-escape that some fellow has just in- vented. The ground has been so well gone over that none of them, so far as I know, con- tain any new idea other than that recently ad- vanced by C. W. Dayton— the flood-gate princi- ple combined with the going-toward-the-light idea. This combination, I believe, is new, though the two separate ideas are old. Well, how about these fellows who are send- ing in their escapes? I have to write and tell them that their idea belongs to so and so, as described on such a page of Gleanings. One man wrote that he had an escape that would rid supers of bees in two hours' time. I some- what doubted it, and the more so when I came to examine critically his escape. If I am cor- rect, the most we can expect of any escape, on the average, is to get the bees out of the super over night; and I am inclined to think that those who thmk they have something that is away ahead of the Porter, the Dayton, or some of the other well-known forms, that will do the work in a half or a sixth of the time, will find, upon further experimenting, their mistake. The bee-escape fad has assumed, within the last six months, or year, something of the na- ture of the reversing-frame fad of a few years ago. Our older readers will remember that al- most every thing conceivable, in that line, was invented. Well, that condition of affairs is pretty nearly true of the escape. The old forms may be improved some, but that is about all we can expect. HONEY IN HOTELS. I BELIEVE it is a fact that hotels throughout the country seldom put honey on the table. The proprietors may be laboring under tlie im- pression that it is too expensive. But honey is something, a little of which will go a great way; and if only some means could be employ- ed to induce the proprietors to place the article on the table, even if only once a week, it would add greatly to the sale of honey, and at the same time advertise it among a class of people who would use great quantities of it. If bee- keepers, whenever they patronize hotels, espe- cially when in attendance at conventions, would call for honey at the table, it would be put there. Then producers should make an effort to sell to them direct. The following is an ex- tract from a letter, that I take pleasure in giv- ing here: The writer was in Grand Kapids last week, and the first time he ever found a hotel that served comb honey to tlie guests was the Morton House. Upon questioning lie found out that they served it every Friday night; and as they gave about H of a pound to each one, you see they are liberal in serv- ing it. You might mention this fact in your paper, as it might assist some of the bee-keepers to inter- est other hotels in using it, thereby making a larger outlet. S. T. Fisn. Cliicago, 111., Mar. 7. The proprietor of the Morton House ought to be congratulated. We feel sure that their pa- trons will appreciate the favor, even if comes only on Friday. Let more hotels follow the ex- ample. GIVEN FOUNDATION MADE ON ROLLER MILLS. We have finally turned out a mill that dupli- cates almost exactly, in my estimation, the same article that comes from the Given press. Besides that, it has the advantage of the rolls in making a more regular sheet, and, I hope, a thinner base, and, in a given time, a larger quantity. Here is what Mr. R. L. Taylor says, to whom I sent some samples: Fikvd R.:—YouTs of a, late date, as also samples of foundation made on new style of machine, Is re- ceived. The foundation is very mucii like the Giv- en; looks exceedingly well, and, when properly 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 337 made for sections, I believe It will prove to be a decided improvement over the old kind. Of course, the main advantage will be in its use for sections, and for that purpose the sheets of wax must be made so even and thin that, in milling', the raised cell-walls will not be pressed on top. I shall, of course, be very anxious to test it when the honey season comes. K. L. Taylor. Lapeer, Mich., Mar. 8. I wrote to Mr. Taylor that we would send him some of the Given rolled wax in sufficient quantity for him to test, to see whether it com- pared favorably with that made by the press. In the mean time, doubtless, other bee-keepers would like to try it. I am glad to say that we are now in position to furnish it at the same prices as other foundation, when called for. But you must bear in mind that it does not look like ordinary rolled wax. The walls are very thick, and the sheets of foundation have a rather clumsy appearance as compared with the regular article that we have been selling. SIMPLE METHODS OF DETECTING WAX ADUL- TERATIONS. In speaking of detecting impurity in bees- wax, the Dadants, in our last issue, refer to the water and alcohol test. It has occurred to me that some of our readers would like to know what it is. On page 596, Vol. 11., of Cheshire, we find the following: Fresh wax melts at about 144°, but the melting- point rises 2° or so by a few months' keeping. The specific gravity of wax is nearly equal to that of water, and ranges between .960 and .965, water being 1.000. When adulterated with hard fats, its specific gravity is reduced, and on this fact Mr. Hehner has suggested an exceedingly simple test. Take a piece of undoubtedly pure beeswax, and cautiously mix alcohol (methylated spirit) with water until the wax just sinks. A piece of wax so adulterated would, in the same test-fluid, rise to the surface. The test must be applied, however, with great care, as any air-bubbles in or on the piece to be tried might lead to its being condemned unjustly. A simple method for the detection of par- affine adulteration, though not entirely relia- ble, Is to take a small piece of the suspected wax and chew it. If it crumbles up within seven or eight minutes in the mouth, it is prob- ably pure wax. If paraffine is mixed with it, you can chew it longer without its crumbling, but it will not crumble quite so much. To suf- ficiently acquaint ourselves with paraffine mix- tures, we took a small quantity of beeswax and melted with it an equal quantity of paraffine, and then tried it by all the various tests; but we were greatly surprised to see how very much like pure wax this half-and-half stuff looked; but according to the chc^wing test it showed the presence of paraffine; but the stuff which we spoke of in our last issue, and which we came very near accepting as pure beeswax, seemed to stand the chew test pretty well. It smelled like real wax; and in breaking a cake of it, it had the regulation granular appearance along the line of fracture. But the wily chaps have discovered the process of mixing in paraffine of a higher melting-point, and had been "doctor- ing" it up in other ways so that it seemed to stand ordinary tests. But now since the chem- ist has declared the wax to be adulterated, we find that, according to the chew test, the wax does not crumble quite so promptly as it might. Another method of detecting grease, besides the alcohol and water test, is in the use of chalk. Besides a greasy appearance of the cakes, if a piece of common blackboard chalk be scratched across the smooth surface the chalk will slip along without making any marks. If there is no grease present, a white mark will be made. Grease is also detected by the smell and by the character of the fracture. When a cake of such wax is broken, just how this fracture should look can be determined only by experience. THE SUGARS OF COMMERCE PURE, AND WHY. Mr. C. Davenport, on page 217, gives it as his opinion that sugars, even the best grades of cane sugars, are largely adulterated. Since his article, with my footnote, was made up, I have found Bulletin No. 13, from the United States Department of Agriculture by the Division of Chemistry. I find that several of the United States chemists analyzed 500 samples of sugars obtained in the open market, and that all were found to be pure, with the exception that a few of the lower grades contained an excess of water, which could hardly be called an adul- terant. The Chief Chemist goes on to tell of the attempts that have been made to adulter- ate or counterfeit cane sugars, but all have ended in failure; and he says further, that the low price of cane sugar renders adulteration practically out of the question, even if it were possible. I think we may set it down as a set- tled fact, then, that granulated sugar — indeed, all of the white sugars— are absolutely pure. We know there are adulterations in other lines of food stuffs; but let us not make the mistake of jumping to the conclusion, without good ev- idence, that all foods are adulterated. Perhaps it would be well to state that, in cer- tain grades of powdered sugars, especially con- fectioners', will be found a small percentage of starch. But this is hardly to be regarded as an adulterant, because the sugars in question are designed for making frosting for cake, and the starch is an important element in making good frosting, if I am correct. Another interesting fact— one that we have generally accepted as true, however — is, that the chemists say, " In general it maybe said that, for a given sum, a greater quantity of saccharine matter can be purchased by taking the high-grade sugars." They admit that maple sugar may be adul- terated with cheaper varieties of sugar, because "at the present time the resources of chemistry 228 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 1.5. are powerless to detect such an adulteration. The sugar of the maple sap is identical in com- position with that of the sugarcane, sorghum, and sugar beet. No discrimination in such cases can be made by analysis." I think, there- fore, we may set it down as a fact, that, when we feed our bees syrup from white sugars, we are sure we are giving them the very best pure sweet, and at a price that is cheaper than any thing else on the market. we may desire to use or manufacture. Any other course would be inconsistent with the senti- ment written by A. I. R. in '84, and, more than all, dishonor the Lord and Master whom we are trying to serve. OUR POSITION IN REFERENCE TO PATENTS, AND TO DIVISIBLE BROOD-CHAMBERS. I THINK we are misunderstood; and to cor- rect some misapprehensions I will try to set forth our position. Years ago, A. I. R. gave ex- pression to the following: I am very glad indeed to note the disposition among bee-keepers, of forbearing to copy the works of e;ieh other, patent or no patent. The sup- ply-dealer who would unliesitatingly copy some- thing well known to be the property of another, without getting the privilege of so doing, by pur- chase or otherwise, would very likely lose more than he made, so strong is the disposition of our people to give honor to whom honor is due. We believe every word of it to-day, and pro- pose to abide by its spirit. We are paying roy- alty now on some four or five patents, and we may do so on more. We are also paying royalty for the use of certain inventions on which no patent was ever taken. "But," you say, "how about Mr. Heddon and his divisible brood- chamber hive?" We propose to honor and re- spect Mr. Heddon's rights, so far as we honest- ly understand them. We never made or offered for sale his hive; but should we ever do so (1. e., such a one as is specified in his patent) it would be under royalty, or such an arrange- ment as we could make with Mr. Heddon him- self. " But," you say, "how about the Danzenbaker patent, and his hive, as described in this issue? " That is a point which the interested parties wllTperhaps settle between themselves. But, again, you may ask, "Have you not been try- ing to evade Mr. Heddon's patent in recom- mending two Langstroth bodies, one on top of another, as one brood-nest?" Inasmuch as two-story Langstroth hives, through both of which the queen has had access, have been in use many years, we did not, and do not now, think they conflict with Mr. Heddon's claims. Before perforated zinc was known, queens must necessarily have had access to the several parts of the hive. I understand that Mr. Heddon has criticised us pretty severely in the January number of his Dowagiac Times extra. No copy of it has as yet been received at this office, so I do not know what has been said, other than what has been reported to us second hand. In any case, we de- sire to arrange honorably and amicably for any invention properly belonging to another, that OFFICIAL CANVASS OF VOTES. General Manager Neavman has sent the following report: To Members of the National Bce-?ffcp(';>' Union: The canvass of all the votes received, up to the time of closing the polls, Februaiy 1, 189.5, shows that 1.51 ballots were recorded, as follows: For President— Hon. R. L. Taylor, 126; Dr. C. C. Miller, 5; G. M. Doolittle, 4; Hon. Eugene Secor, 3; A. I. Root, 2; scattering and blanks, 11. Total, 151. Fob Vice-President— Dr. C. C. Miller, 114; G. M. Doolittle, 113; Prof A. J. Cook, 102; A. I. Root, 101; G W. Demaree. 77; Hon. Eugene Secor, 38; C. P. Dadant, 31; C. F. Muth,22; P. H. Elwood, 16; G. W. Brodbeck, 14; G. W. York, 11; E. R. Root. 7; Hon. R. L. Taylor. 7; Mrs. Jennie Atchley, 6; Hon. James Heddon, 6; AV. Z. Hutchin- son, 4; S. I. Freeborn, 3; R. F. Holtermann, 3; Frank Benton, 2; C. W. Dayton, 2; H. G. Acklin, 2; scatter- ing, 17. For Gen'l Manager, Secretary and Treasurer. Thomas G. Newman, 149; blank, 2. Total, 151. Although several have expressed their desire for a change in the officers, the members have decided to keep the management in the same hands for another year. Mr. G. W. Damaree, who has served as vice-presi- dent for 10 years, now states, both publicly and privately, that he positively declines to act on the "advisory board" for the coming year, as he de- sires a change in the "official board." This will elect Hon. Eugene Secor, who has received the next highest number of votes. We welcome friend Se- cor most heartily, because of his eminent ability, influence, and sound judgment. This is a place where the latter is a very necessary qualification, and the sagacity of the Board is sometimes quite severely tested. Several more decisions from Supreme Courts are needed as precedents, for the guidance of judges in lower courts, and one of these, I hope, is about to be obtained, covering a very important point. The "Treasury" being in a satisfactory condition, the Union is fortunately in a position to demand justtee, and protect the rights of its members in the courts of law. This is a place where " money counts." If the Union were a bankrupt concern, quite powerless to "help in time of need," its influence would be in- finitesimal, and itself a laughing-stock for all. The "sinews of war" makes all the difference in the world. Thomas G. Newman, General Manager. Beginning with this issue we shall al- low space in our Trade Notes department for inventors to describe some of their recent in- ventions as they come forth from the Patent Office. In doing so I shall neither indorse nor condemn, but let the inventions stand on their own merit. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 229 :!:tps HIGH-PRESSUKE GARDENING IN THE SWAMP WOODS, OR HAMMOCKS, OF FLORIDA. Another trip on the cars, and we struck Ti- tusville. I have just been out in the woods with friend Froscher, and have seen something that I shall not soon forget. Imagine a low piece of ground covered with palmetto-trees, with all other growth cut away. Now imagine open ditches, two or three feet wide, cut through at intervals so as to draw oflf the water. The bottom is pure white sand; and the water, as it runs through, is as soft as rain water, and as clear as water well can be. These ditches are cut through at intervals of from one to five hundred feet, as may be needed to take ofT the surplus moisture. The gardener goes to work and gets out every thing except the palmetto-trees. These are all, or nearly all, left standing. They are, on an average, perhaps ten or fifteen feet apart, may be far- ther. When they have oak stumps diflficult to get out. rubbish is piled on them and burned. Then the ground is grubbed up into ridges and furrows, sav averaging 25 or .30 inches apart. The k'lad of soil selt-cted for this sort of garden- ing is a soft, black, sandy loam. It looks a good deal like what we call woods dirt. On the tops of these ridges the crop is planted. This morning we saw a patch of beans. The plants stood evenly three or four inches apart. They were large enough to have four or six beautiful, thrifty leaves to each plant. As we approach- ed the garden the luxuriant bright green, part- ly in the shadow of the palmettoes, made one of the prettiest sights I ever beheld in ihe way of gardening. Closer inspection showed thrifty tomato-plants, some of them nefirly a foot high, standing at intervals in the furrows between the beans. These tomato- plants were saved at the time of the freeze by bi-ing bent down and covered with the loose dark soil; and now right here is a strange phenomenon. The beans and other plants grow just as thrifty right close up to the trunk or stump of a palmetto-tree as anywhere else. The gardeners say the beans require some sort of fertilizer that the palmetto does not use; and it has been suggested that the palmetto is a sort of air-plant, so that it really takes very little from the soil. But the principal object in leaving these palmetto- trees is, that they keep off fi'ost from the beans and tomatoes, and also keep off cold winds and the extreme heat of the sun. In fact, it makes a sort of shaded greenhouse during the heat of the middle of the day. The gardener works in a shady woods, with damp soft soil under his feet, and pure running water always close at hand. The gardens seem to be in small patches of from one-half to a whole acre. Around this little circle or square, a thicket of woods is left for protection. Of course, no horses are used. The work is all done by hand: but the soil is .so light and soft that hoes and steel garden-rakes enable the workman to prepare the ground and keep out the weed-, with comparatively little labor. ]}esides beans and tomatoes we saw cu- cumbers, lettuce, radishes, cabbages, onions, and, in fact, almost every thing grown in gar- dens, cared for in this way. Friend Froscher has his gardening ground so arranged that he can shut up the ditches and raise the water to any height, just as we do in our celery-grounds north; and. in fact, he has made quite a little start in producing fine cel- ery, to be shipped to the northern markets during the months of March, April, and May, when celery is out of the markets in the North. The bleaching is all done with boards. The principal impediment just now is the matter of express charges. For an illustration: P'ive boxes of celery shipped to Philadelphia brought $12.00. The express companies took $9.00 of the $12.00, leaving friend Froscher the remaining $3.00. May be this matter can be remedied when the express companies have more competition, and the work is more fully established. In anv place except Florida, so much shade would be more of an objection; but even up north, dur- ing our hottest summer months, I have observ- ed that certain garden-plants do better when somewhat shaded, more especially celery. Now in regard to rotation of crops. The friend we visited, Jas. Cole, has raised two crops of Refugee beans, picked for enap beans, of course, in a season; and he would have had three crops had it not been for the big freeze. He succeeded in harvesting and selling one crop in the fall, cleared ofif the ground, and planted another; got them just about as far along as those we saw to-day, when the freeze demolished them. Therefore, during ordinary seasons there would be no difficulty in getting three crops During the very hot weather of the summer, however, they have diflHculty in keeping the ground occupied, unless it is with cucumbers, pumpkins, or squashes, or some crop that bears extreme heat. Even sweet po- tatoes fail to do any thing if started before August or September. Friend E'roscher says they do just as well as if planted earlier. ONE OF THE FLORIDA INDIAN-RIVER HOTELS. For the first time we find it convenient to stop at a hotel instead of accepting invitations from bee-keepers. We were told several times that we must not fail to visit Rockledge. Now, we did not feel called upon to pay $.i.00 a day; but we chose the moderate price of $2.50. and are abundantly pleased with the Rockledge hotels at that price. There are five hotels in the place: a beautiful, commodious drygoods store, drugstore, postot'hce, etc. At the 'entrance to the road leading to the Indian River Hotel we found an archway of incandescent electric lights. A little railway for running baggage extends from the depot platform to the hotel. A similar one extends from the steamboat land- ing to the hotel. There seems to be a disposi- tion down this way to avoid the necessity of horses. Boats on the water, that is almost everywhere; railways and plank sidewalks for Daisy wheelbarrows (and other kinds), seem to be the general plan; and, in fact, without shell roads or some other kind it taki s a horse a good while, and even then considerable muscle, to get any kind of a load through the soft and yielding sand. The grounds in front of the hotels are finely lighted by electric lights and gas. Fountains are playing on the green lawns, and people are walking about in the thinnest summer clothing. Women folks are barehead- ed at that. Scarcely a breath of air is stirring, and the thermometer is well up toward 80°; and yet, even in the evening we have not seen a gnat or mosquito. The porter says they "don't have any here." Steamers and craft of all sizes are on the Indian River in front of the hotels, with their lights marking out their location. We have not paid out very much money so far on our trip; but I feel just now as if I would almost give $25.00 to have the Root family here for just an hour. Of course, I should want the grandchildren counted in. Some of the friends may think $2..50 a day for a single individual is pretty expensive. Well, so it would be perhaps if followed up. But let me give you some of the advantages: The postoffice 330 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 15. is just across the way; stores and places of business, I liave mentioned; boats are conaing and going constantly at the wharf, right at the door of the hotel; we have beautiful, spacious, airy rooms. The parlor and even the office is carpeted and furnished in excellent style. Every thing is clean, beautiful, and new. The most courteous and civil people are always ready to help and advise. I was obliged to change the tire of my wheel in consequence of running over a catfish on the beach. At least half a doz(!n different persons offered to help me, or bring me any thing I wanted. Last, but not least, a beautiful, cushioned naptha-launch is in use every day, solely for the benetit of the guests of the hotel, and entirely without charge. I wanted to go over to Georgiana, six or eight miles distant, and they carried me over and waited an hour for me to make my visit. My good friend O. N. Page, at this place, and his family, were delighted to see me, but scold- ed pretty severely because I came all the way down to Florida and then stayed only an hour. One of friend Page's grandchildren, a curly- headed, bashful little chap who has commenc- ed going to school, couldn't learn to recite the vowels — a, e, i, o, u, y, because, whenever he got started, he would always run off into A. I. Root. You see, A 1. Root is such a household word at Georgiana. Here we first saw a pine- apple-garden, and cocoanut palms large enough to bear; and when we saw some strawberries large enough to be red, friend Page climbed over the fence and picked a berry. Then we told the owner afterward. It seems too bad to hurry by friends who are so glad to see you in this way; but how else shall I ever get around '? Friday, Feb. 1, we found ourselves at Palm Beach. I enjoyed a ride on my wheel for sev- eral miles before breakfast. It is daylight here at half-past five, and the earliest breakfast is at half-past seven. Iran down the west coast of Palm Beacli through beautiful grounds interspersed with cocoanut palms and various other tropical products. Patches of tomatoes more than a foot high greeted me at every turn. At one point I saw a beautiful garden of cacti. Of course, the frost has marred the beauty of all the grounds more or less, but not nearly so much here as farther north. Orange-trees here have all their foliage, and the fruit is said to be uninjured; but veiy few oranges are grown in the vicinity of Palm Beach, it seems. The grounds around the great hotel. The Royal Poinciana, are not only beautiful, but are kept constantly neat and tidy. The hotel at Palm Beach I should call the handsomest structure of its kind I have ever seen anywhere. The Ponce de Leon, at St. Augustine, is admired by many, and is called the finest in the world. But what prejudiced me at first glance was to see the breaks in the paint, and unsightly stains running down on what I supposed to be stone work. All over the edifice were glimpses indicating that the building was cement and veneer, and not what it purported to be. The Moorish architecture, I admit, is beautiful. The hotel here is built to represent wood, and nothing else. The wood is neatly painted. There are no rusty spots or unsightly cracks caused by the wear and tear of the sun and storms. It is perfectly bright, clean, and hand- some. I tried my wheel on the ocean-beach; but the sand seems to be too soft down here. The walks along the shores of Lake Worth at Palm Beach are very fine for wheeling. Along here, as at Rockledge, the shores are mostly lined with a queer rocky formation called coquina. This seems to be all made up of fragments of shells. In many places it is made up entirely of polished fragments, or of shells almost pure white, these fragments being ce- mented together by what seems to be a trans- parent cement.* It has been suggested it was first made solid by the salt of the ocean, and, after the lapse of time, by some change caused by the sun and air, this salt formed an insolu- ble compound. The stonework of the Ponce de Leon is mainly of this material. It would seem asif there were fragments of ^5hells enough in Florida to furnish lime for the world. A word in regard to the multiplication of shellfish. Friend Hart showed us something that look- ed like kernels of sweetcorn strung on a thread. He said that these eggs were produced by the fish that inhabits the great conch-shells- Each grain of corn, as it appears to be, in due lime bursts open, and is then found to be full of lit- tle shells not larger than a cabbage seed. These shells grow. I don't know how rapidly, until they make the great heavy handsome shells we find and use so often as ornaments. The ani- mal, when it is alive in salt water, has a neatly shutting lid that it can pull down and be al- most absolutely beyond the reach of its en- emies. The old mound-builders used these shell-fish for food, for we find the remains of many conch-shells in the oyster-shell mounds, with a hole broken in a particular point to enable them to extract the fish for food. SHALL, I RECOMMEND FLORIDA AS A PLACE FOR A POOR MAN TO GET A LIVING? In some respects, no. Florida seems to be a camping-ground for rich people — millionaires if you choose. Almost every man who has made a fortune in soap, chewing-gum, or any such commodity, has a winter residence in Florida. There are almost no manufactures or other similar industries, except factories espe- cially for these rich people. For instance, there are ice-factories in every considerable town. Then fishing is constantly going on to supply the great hotels and fine residences. Orange-growing seems to be the one great in- dustry— that is, for a crop to ship long distances. There is no doubt a gooa opening, and always will be, for gardeners who will furnish extra fine products for the great hotels. Every one who raises a crop, however, must look out that he has a market for all he raises; and he must see to it that he can get a product into the mar- ket before it goes to waste on his hands. I should say there is plenty of opportunity to get good wages in most places where one has the energy and strength to work during the hot weather. I warn you, however, that it is the grandest place on the face of the earth to sit on a cool piazza and rest instead of working out in the sun; and if you don't look out you will find yourself giving way to this prevailing fashion. A great deal of the work done is to accommo- date tourists and pleasure-seekers. The yachts and launches that are flitting about on Lake Worth right before our eyes, while we take down these notes, are far more for pleasure- parties,than they are for business. This' morning at six o'clock the weather was oppressively hot; but by eight o'clock we had a brisk breeze on the water that has several times made me think of putting on my coat. Here for the first time we find cocoanut palms scattered about almost everywhere. Young trees are starting up all through the brush, especially along the bank of the lake. In the little flower-beds in the neat cottage where we are staying are cocoanuts lying on top of the ground, with sprouts from a few inches to a foot or more in length. The smaller ones have as yet no root at all, but those with the larger tops have roots starting out from the other end of the nut, reaching down into the ground. It would seem that they are the easiest things to grow in the world. We are much indebted to 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 231 Mr. Wallace R. Moses and Dr. Stites, of this place, for points of information, and many courtesies. When I asked if cocoanuts grew naturally at Palm Beach, Mr. Moses said they did not; that, if he was correctly informed, they originated from a wrecked schooner con- taining something like 40.000 nuts. These nuts were washed up on the shore, and took root in the way I have described, thus lining the shores with these beautiful tropical trees with their handsome fernlike foliage. These fern-leaves, however, are anywhere fi'om len to twenty feet long. The nuts hang in great clusters just below where the branches start out at the top of the tree — each nut, of course, being envelop- ed in its husk. So far as I can gather, however, cocoanut-growing is not as yet a paying indus- try here. The sharp competition from Cuba seems to stand in the way. The people here gather enough of the nuts for their own use. or for retailing in the Florida tnwn«, and that is about all. In the evening Mr. INIosos brought his wife and children to the cottage where we were stopping, and we had a very pleasant visit. Mrs. Moses is quite an enthusiast with poultry and ducks. You know I have suggest- ed that this business could be profitably car- ried on in Florida. Ifere are some figure^ she gave us. During the month of .Tanuarv. just finished, they sold G91 eggs from .58 laving hens, and 607 eggs from 32 ducks. The hens' eges brought 40 cts. a dozen, and the ducks' eggs 3.5. This large price was probably owing to the demand for eggs from the large hotels and hoardinff-houses. Mrs. Moses said if I gave these figures in print I must be sure to state that nearly all of the food for the poultry had to be purchased from the North. They also have toshut up the pnnlrrv nights and let them out again mornings, as the opossums and other enemies would be sure to make short work of them. West Palm Beach has all grown up in one year — at least I am told there were only two houses there a year ago. There are now toward one hundred houses in the place. All kinds of business are carried on. Two papers are pub- lished. Beautiful drinking-water is pumped from a fresh-water lake half a mile from the center of the town. The bottom of the lake is of the most beautiful pure white sand. It is about as nice as water can be for any purpose. The pumping-«tatibn furnishes an abundant supply for the great hotel, for the town, and for the railroad. Building is going on briskly on almost every street. You can s^e the carpen- ter and the owner of the property working to- gether like a couple of brothers, and almost the next day a grocery, barber-shop, restaurant, or printing-office will have out a newly painted sign. Of course, a good many things are pretty crude and unfinished: but the weather is so warm, something that looks like a house is all that is needed. A« there is never any mud, it is not a difficult thing to keep the floors and verandas clean. Almost every house has a porch in front, and iilenty of rocking-chairs. The latter are generally in use, for almost every one prefers to stav out of doors. On Saturday, Feb. ;.'. we found ourselves at the home of O. O. Populeton. who is so well known to most of the readers of Gleanings that a further introduction will hardly be necessary. Here we seem to be right in the midst of the pineapple industry, and this is so strange and unusual that I hardly feel able to describe it accurately, much less teach the people here how to manage their gardening or farming. In the first place, I rather expected friend Popple- ton to meet us at the train with some sort of horse and carriage; but he came with a boat. Pineapples are a scft of air-plant that grow in the clean white sand. When I asked him if stable manure wasn't cheaper than the chemi- cal fertilizers they were using, the question arose, where would they find any stable ma- nure? for, although there is quite a community of people gathered here, there is not one of them who has a horse or cow or pig. Just at this point we were interrupted by the visit of a boat containing a couple of Indians — one of them a boy of seven, the other a young man of twenty; at least, the latter said he guessed he was about twenty. Although the day is so cold that I have been wearing my fur cap and overcoat on account of the chilly north wind, these Indians were bareheaded and bare- legged—in fact, bare almost all over, especially when the wind blew aside their clothing, which was exceedingly short. The little fellow could not talk our language, but he could smile in a way that was quite taking. They were of the Seminole tribe, the remnant of th^ native Indi- ans of Florida. They stepped out into the wa- ter, without the least hesitation, and stood there while we talked. I asked the older one a great many questions. Some of them evidently taxed his learning and intelligence somewhat, for at first he would say he didn't know; and then after studying a while he would give an answer a little at a time. He said he was mar- ried; had a squaw of his own; that his name was Billy Ham. He said they had over in their camp a "horse-wagon." I joked friend Pop- pleton on being behind the Indians in methods of locomotion. The boy had nothing on but a thin calico shirt, and his hair was clipped ex- cept a tuft just on top, and yet he seemed to be perfectly indifferent to the brisk north wind. I told friend P. I wotild give thousands of dollars for such a constitution as these Indians have. They were exceedingly pleasant and friendly, and I could not but admire the manly frankness of the older one, especially his readiness to say he didn't know, when such was the case, and his willingness to give me all the information he could possibly scrape up on any point I was curious about. Although help is needed on the pineapple grounds, and good wages are offered (SI. .50 per day for good stout men), these Indians never hire out. friend P. says. The squaws do the work while the men shoot deer, and then peddle them out among the white people, with their canoes. After he had sold us a half of venison he inquired for oranges and then honey. We sold him some of the latter for 60 cts. a gal- lon, he promising to bring back the pail. Friend P. says thev are straight and fair; have one price for what they have to sell, and always pay down without any attempt to beat down the price they are charged. Billy had a tunic of many colors, with flounces and fancy stitch- ing that was so neatly done a schoolgirl might be proud of it. When I asked him who made it he answered, "Me," pointing to himself; and when I expressed wonder and surprise he said they had a sewing-machine. You see, the Indi- ans are beginning to " catch on " to the latest form of civilization. The men are doing the women's work, and the women are doing — well, we don't know what they are going to do when they get settled down to it. Now, the Bible says it is wicked to covet; but I want that seven-year-old boy more than I have want- ed any thing else in a long time. I feel just as sure I could bring that boy up, God helping me, so he would be a good boy and a Christian, as that I could grow pineapples if I lived next to friend Poppleton. Well, suppose we get back to the pineapples, as we are pretty nearly around to it. When I asked friend Poppleton if stable ma- nure wouldn't be cheaper than chemical fertil- izers, he laughed at me and asked where they 232 GLEANIiNGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 15. would po to get stable manure. In the first place, there are no stables; second, there are not any horses anywhere within miles, and there are no roads on which to travel, even if there were horses. Neither are there any wag- ons. Every house is planted by the river, and in front of the door there is a wharf or landing where one or more boats are tied up. People go everywhere in boats. They ship their products in boats. The oranges and pineapples are all wheeled down to the landing in wheelbarrows; and, by the way, the manufacturers of wheel- barrows will please take notice right here. They are to make some with a light steel tire at least four inches wide. Furthermore, this steel tire. and. in fact, the whole wheel, is to be gal- vanized so it will stand the salt sea-water. There are miles and miles of country down here where wheelbarrows are almost the only vehi- cles used in gathering crops, and they should be made so they can run over the soft sand, and go clear down to the beach and into the salt water. A LETTER TO MT SUNDAY-SCHOOL CLASS; WHAT I FOUND IN THE SALT WATER. It was the last day of February that I stepped on board a little steamer to ride from Punta Gorda to Fort Mvers. Our route lay down through Charlotte Harbor, around Pine Island, and finally up the Caloosahatchee River. While most of the passengers proceeded to pass the day reading papers, talking politics, etc.. I de- cided to find out what I could of the inhabi- tants of the tropical deep. I felt sure that, by practice and study. I could learn to see fish in the water, like the old veteran fisherman, and in a little time I was rewar led by seeing great numbers of a round light-colored fish which the captain said were "needle-fish," a species of gar. These dart about with incredible rapidity, and one must get his eye trained be- fore he can follow them. They have a long ducklike bill, and the fish are from one to two feet in leneth. As the boat comes along, they, in their fright, often run right in front of it, and sometimes even jump out of water. Very soon I thought I could in many places see the bottom, and the captain told me I was rieht.* The sea-water is often very clear and clean, having only a greenish tinge; and the pure white sand at the bottom makes it very easy to see any object. Think of looking overthe side of a steamboat, and seeing the bottom as yon go along, and seeing also almost every object quite plainlv. I soon found crabs and turtles; and finally I started back in fright, for a hide- ous creature as big as a cooking-stove, with spotted wings, came almost up to the surface, and seemed to care very little for me or the steamboat. His tail stuck out like that of a turtle, and his wings were painted as gay as if made of curtain calico. The captain said it was called " whippera," and is near akin to the order of devil-fish. A school of porpoises came next, and they evidently proposed to give me a better chance to get acquainted. They rolled and tumbled partly out of the water until I became very anxious to .see the whole of one at once: and just about then one of them seemed to say, "All right; we will do almost any thing to accommodate 'brother Root.' since he has come clear down here to see us." And. suiting the action to the word, he hopped clear out of the water, going out head fir-est staeU in O/iio. L,owest prioes. Many new novelties, such as Greenville andTimbrell strawberries, Eureka and Miller rasi)beriies, Eldorndo and Ohmer blackber- ries, North Star currants. Crosbey peach, etc., etc. Catalogue free. YXT XT Cpjif-ff dJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIillllllllMIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIMIIIILh = r\y Strawberry Catalog = = FREE to all. = = C. N. Flansburgh, Leslie, Mich. = ^lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllliililllllllllllillllllllllllllli? iWln responding to this advertisement mention Glkaninqs, Rest New :md Old varie" ties. Best grown Plants. CaialoK Free. With in- structions for their culture. Send for it Now. Mention this paper. Address P. O. Bo.x 213. E. J. SCOFIELD, Hanover, Wis. USE THE COMMON^SENSE BERRY-CRATES and BASKETS. None cheaper. For circular addi ess eitf H. H. AULTFATHER, MINERVA. O. Sweetheart. A Regular Sugar Lump. LEADS / Early, Large, Handsome, Good Ship- ALL S per. Best Quality. Send for circular WATER- ( giving important facts to growers and MELONS / shippers, with comparative sales and ON S opinions of many commission men in THE < lending northern markets. MARKET. } Seed, Packet, 10 cts.; lb., *1 .-)0. AT^BEKT WITTENMYKR. Originator, Grower, and Shipper, Emison, linox Co., Ind. CHOICE 5WEET=P0TAT0 SEED Yellow Jersey (the best), Red Bermuda, and Yel- low Nansemoud, at $^.50 for 11-peck barrels, till sold out. 4-8 L. H. REDD, De Soto, Illinois. The New Craig Seedling Potato. For full description of this Potato, see page 9.59 of this journal lor Dec. 15, 1894. Prices: lib by mail, postpaid, 25 cts.; V4 peck, by freight or express. $1.00; peck, $1.75; % bushel. fS.OO: bushel, $6.00; barrel of II pecks, $12.50. The above prices will hold good as long as our stock lasts. All orders by mail will be filled as soon as received. Orders by express will be shipped at once unless ordered oth- erwise. All orders for potatoes by freight will be filled April I, or soon after that time, unless direc- tions are given to ship at an earlier date. In this latter case 1 do not assume responsibility for loss in freezing; but where it is desirable to ship earlier, and customers have bad luck, I e.\pect to help them out so far as I can consistently. In regard to my responsibility I would refer you to A. I. Root. In fact, where it is more convenient j'ou can order po- tatoes of the A. I. Root Co., instead of sending your orders to me. GEO. E. CRAIG, Zimmer, Franklin Co., 0. Plants, B 4 U Buy Seeds Send for my Annual Catalog. It is neatly gotten up; no old stereoty]ied mat- ter about it; nothing sensational. The Best Varieties truthfully described and honestly priced. A. I. Root saj^s, "I believe I have read every catalog you have put out clear through, and 1 wish all seedsmen would tell us their ex- perience with different varieties as frankly as you do." True I'rizetaker onion seed and plants a specialty. Vegetable and small-fruit p ants of all kinds, trees, and supplies for gardeners. Send tor free catalog at once, or send lOc for cat- alog, a pkt. of a new smooth very early tomat^i, a pkt. of the best new lettuce, a pkt. of true I'rizetaker onion, and a pkt. of choice flower seeds, all for lo cents. Christian Weckesser, Niagara Falls, N. V. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 235 Best ^ Goods At lowest prices are what we are all after. The er and fruit- grower sometimes comes in conflict. It will be re- membered that, last year, we got out a special pamphlet showing that bees and fruit do not con- flict; that they are mutually interdependent on each other to a very great extent. This yetir we have a revised booklet of 16 pages that gives all the evidence that we have been able to gather to- gether for the last three or four years, boiled down in a nutshell ; ;ind the matter is put in such away that the fruit-grower, if he is intelligent aiid fair, will be willing to accept the evidence, and thus un- pleiisant feelings and perliaps a suit for alleged damages may be avt rted. We will furnish it at the bare cost of printin.c-, postage, and wrapping, be- cau-e we feel tliat Ihey ought to be very liberally distributed in almost every locality. Price for 2.5. 25 cts ; .50 for 40 cts. ; 100 for 75 cts., postage prepaid In each case. THE SEED BUSINESS MARCH 15, 1H95, I find our pet pie have been doing quite a brisk trade during mj absence, and certain lines of seed have advanced considerably, owing to tlie wide- spread drouth of last season. 1 shall, however, continue to furnish every tiling at the prices given in our catalog, with the excci)tion of the Red Weth- ersfleld onions. Instead of the prices given in the catalog, read us follows: Oz., 10c; lb, $1.25; 10 lbs., $10 00. We can fill orders for all kinds of potatoes, at the prices given in our issue for Jan. 15, with the exception of the second-size Rural New-Yorker. These all run so large that there is i.o more second- size left. I would call special attention to our late-grown Monroe Seedlings, such as we had last year. They were dug and put into the cellar at the very last minute. In fact, our grower, Mr. Wilbur Fenn,of Tallmadge, O., came pretty near getting caught by the frost; but lie managed to get his whole crop into the cellar in nice shape. The consequence is, they are as nice and firm as the day they were dug; and if you want some first-class table potatoes, I think these will suit; and at the price we offer them, $2. .50 per barrel, they are almost as cheap as anything you are likely to get in the market, for table use. Now in regard to shipping potatoes. As soon after the 1st of April as the weather seems favora- ble, we send out all potatoes, unlesrs we are notified to the contrary by the purchaser. If not notified, we shall expect them to go at your risk. Therefore please write us at once, if you want us to keep your potatoes for you later than the 1st of April. We have arrangements to keep them clear through the month of April, with very little danger from sprouting. A. 1. R, VEGETABLE PLANTS READY MARCH 15. Our boys, Fred and Frank (the ones who put the roof oti the greenhous^ ). have managed so well in my absence that we now have a fine stock of cold- frame cabbage-plants, onion-plants, lettuce-plants, and celery plants, ready to send out. We have also a splendid lot of both one and two year old aspara- gus-roots: also rhubarb-roots one year old, and huge ones for forcing in hot-beds, or under the benches in greenhouses. For prices of all the above, see our catalog, mailed free on application. Large rhubarb-roots, just right for forcing, for early pie-material, $.S..50 per 100 roots. Tiiese latter (the fnrf/c roots) are packed in barrels, and shipped by freight from Mercersburg, Pa. A. I. R. At present writing, March 14, the season is quite backward; in fact, no maple sugar or syrup has been brought in. This is exceedingly unusual, as we generally get more or less during the month of February. A. I. R. Kind Words From Our Customers. I have a fault to find with Gleanings— it takes so miicli time to read it! I hardly get one half read iM til the ne.xt one comes. It is all cream and no skim milk, as they say. Daniel, E. Robbins. Paysen, 111., Mar. 6. our goods no. 1 IX wokmanship, and cheaper THAN THE RA^W MATERIAL. I received the hives, etc., to-day, in good order, and am moi-e than satisfied with them. Everything is finished up in a No. 1 workmanlike style; and after paying freight I find they come cheaper than the raw material. I am sorry 1 did not order more; but as I am an amateur I will make out with what I have this year. Frank Woollard. Savannah, Ga., Mar. 9. FOWLS AND EGGS lt_STAM»AKI» 1{KEE1»!«— II All i-KS" fold Iroiii bird* sforliis 9~ pointH iiiid U|>\rurdH. Our large CatMlogue niailed on receipt | of 4 cents. Circular.s Feek. F. 8. STAHI.., Oulncy. llllnoln 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 237 ifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiii Notice. = l-^^r^lf IC ^® ^'■^ Northwestern Agents for The A. I. Root Com= | = ^ _____^ pany's supplies, and can make prices that will interest you. = = Send us a list of your wants, and see if we can not save = = l30rl ^t" y**" money. POSSON'S SEED STORE, = I ^^^^^*«^t-^ Portland, Oregon. E I Bee=keepers. # # # # j ^IMMIIMIMIIIIMMMMMMIMIMIIIIiilllMMIIiinMIMIIinilJllMMIIilllMMIIMIIIIIIMMIIIUIIIIIilllinMIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIliP I5EE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES FOR 1895. Such as Dovetailed Hives, Sections, Comb Foundation, Extractors, and every thing- else used by a bee- keeper. All late improved goods. Immense stock. Goods sold at wholesale and retail. Write for our DISCOUNTS FOR EARLY ORDERS. Alsike£lover and Japanese buckwheat furnislied at lowest market price. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDER, Des Moines, Iowa. Root's Goods at Root's Prices, May be had, with occasional exceptions, of the following agencies in the territory named. Eastern and Central New Vork, N. E. Pennsylva- nia. North New Jersey, ;irid adjacent Now England territory, of P. A. Salisbury, Syracuse, N. Y. S. E. Pennsylvania and South New Jersey, Wm. A. Selzer, No. 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. Maryland and Delaware, Rawling-s Implement Co., Baltimore, Md. Florida, A. F. Brown. Smu Mateo, Fla. Minnesota and Dakotas. H. G. Acklin, 1024 Missis- sippi Street, St. Paul, Minn. ,-ji ,; j Michigan, M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch. Mich., near Detroit. Indiana,, Walter S. Ponder, Indianapolis, Ind. Southern Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, Chas. P. Muth & Son, Cincinnati, O. Iowa, Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, Iowa. Besides a multitude of other dealers and agents too n\imerous to meution, who buy iu smaller quan- tities than carloads. _:___ ' When you buy Root's goods you know what you are getting, and can depend on getting the best and most practical bee-keepers' supplies of all kinds that are mad The A. I. Root Co., Medina, Ohio. Patents Pending On new process, new ma- chines, new product, in manufacture of comb foun- dation. I am manufacturing BEE=KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. Every thing you need. PRICES REDUCED. Send for new Price List. GEO. RALL, Frenchville, Wis. Trempealeau Co. Result: Lowest prices, best work. Samples and price list free. Wax wanted. W. J. Finch, Jr., Springfield, III. LARGE yellow tested queens, delivered as the weather will permit, at 75c each, $8.00 per dozen. Solid yellow brciMliTs, $1.50; young and pro- lific. Safe delivery. Money-order office. Decatur. Cleveland Bros., stumper, Newton Co., Miss. 3=R^tiHpr1 **^*'^" Queens, UClllvlWvl from my own imported queens, $1.00 each. Max Brauer, Beeville, Bee Co., Tex. I Fruit and^'^v I Bee Ranch for Sale, Address REV. L. J. TEMPLIN, Canon City, Col. Eggs Hatching f^ta From Prize - Winning Fowls, lUr .5Uc and $1.00 per 15. Send foi- citcular. AUGUST QOETZE & SON, 3822 Wood St.. Wheeling, W. Va. 3 Great PAfjitAPe ^^^^ ^°^^ Seedsman lUiaiUUDi Catalogue. That fr-rent Carman No. 1 (10 lbs. grew 24 bushels); Maule's Irish Daisy; and Everett's Onward (new); all three mailed, 5()c (large, $1). i^' bu. each of Puri- tan, Rural New Yorker No 3, American Wonder, and Everett's Early Six Weeks, with 1 lb. your choice, $3.(i0. Last four named, $3.0J per barrel. Smith's Stock and Seed Farm, Padelfords, N. Y. 238 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. 15. Alsike Clover Seed For Sale. $6 per Bush. One bushel or more, sack included. SilverhuU Buckwliejit, T5c per bushel. W. D. SOPER & SON, Box 56S, Jackson, Hicli. nifldinlll<: Rlllhc; * ^""^ mixed, 25c perdoz. UldUIOlUh DUIUSs , Common mixed. 18c " Maria Lemoine (orchid nmrkcd), 25c per doz.; Maria Lemoine bulhl ts. 10, 15, and-'Oc per 100. AUpostiiaid. FAY KENNEL, GKOWEE, EOCHE&TEE. N. Y. BOX 2. >^ww^>v^vwswr^www^wwwww^w^>< i STAHL'S EXCELSIOR Spraying Outfits kill insects, pre- ^ent leaf blighl aii-d woimy fruit, Insuie a heavy yield of all liuit and \ egeta b 1 e cioi»s. Thousands in use. Send 6 cts. tor catal'g and ful 1 tieatiseon spraying. hn s f?fe. Address W1LI.1A.1I STAIIL,, ULINCY, ILL. SIMPL FY HATCHER & BROODER Combined. THE MO.ST PERFECT Incubator ;>Ia^ It will do all you say it will." Catalogue and Price List free. Address W. F, & JOHN BARNES, 645 Ruby St., Rockford, 111, When more convenient, orders for Barnes' Foot- Power Machinery may be sent to The a, I, Root Co, WOVEH WIRE FENCE Horse high, bull strong, pig and chicken tight. Make it yourself for 50 styles. A man and boy can make 40 to 60 rods aday. catalog free. KItSELMAN BROS.. Rideeville, Ind. BEGINNERS. Beginners should have a copy of the Am- ateur Bee keeper, a 70-page book by Prof, J. W. Rouse. Price 25 cents; if sent by mail, 2Hc. The little hook and the Progressive Beekeeper (a live progressive 28-page month- ly journal) one year, 65c, Address any flrst- class dealer, or LEAHY MFG. CO., Higbinsville, Mo. There ss No Substitute For EL,ASTIls, in Ripping, Cut- ting otr, Mitering, Rabbeting, Grooving, Gaining, Dadoing, F,dging-up, .lointiug Stuff, etc Full Line of Foot and Hand •owcr Machinery, Sold on Trial ('(italoq Fire. l-24ei SENECA FALLS MFC. CO., 44 Water St., Seneca Falls, N Y. oqSODagsTrial 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 243 THE Aspinwall Hive THE HIVE FOR BEES. THE HIVE FOR BEE-KEEPERS. Aspinwall IVtanufacturing Co., Jackson, Mich. We beg to announce that we have completed arrangements with the Porters whereby we secure for this country the control of the sale of that very excellent and almost indispen- sable implement, The Porter Bee=Escape. It will be manufactured by the Porters, as formerly, but write to us for prices in both large and small quantities . ^-^^^^^ The A. I. Root Co., Medina, 0. WE WILL PREPAY Freigiit cliMitivs oil (jrders for Koot's polished sec- tions, and ]t5-sectioii white basswood shiiiiiinjr-cases, at his pt-lces. to lie ^sllipped from I'aftorj- to points within 300 miles, in lots of .=iO0O and aOO or over re- spectively. Seiid for c.ita ot. B. WALKER, Evart, Hich. We' uld not Imve expended HUNDREDS QF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS donig i:ulvanizint:, for which we made no extra charge, had there not been merit in tt. GalvanizinK consists in coating the strong but most perishable (in tliin sheets) metal, steel, with the almost indestructible (even when very thinj metals, zinc and aluminum. If lliere were not great merit in galvanizing, no one would pay hi more for galvanized hai bed wire oi sheet iron than uugalvanized costs. If w'e were making painted windmills to-day, we should furnish an That IS a too'l i.rice for an 8 foot iniiHteil vvii,.lmill. WE HIILU HOR IHE AGES. WE W()l 1,1) NOT SELI YOU A POOR, I'AINrEtl WHEEL, HOR ONE .HADE OF lUETAI, (9AI.VANI/,EI> KEFOKE BEING PIT TOGETHER, IF YOU WOULD PAY rs UOIBLE PRICE FOR IT. We build the best we know, and knowing tliat painted thin sheets are practically worthless, we have nothing to do with them. The enormous cost of preparing to do galvanizing, and of doing it well on a large srnle, deters others. SOME BUY GALVANIZED SHEETS AND PI XCII AND SHEAR AND MAKE TIIE.1I IP AFTERWARD WHEELS OR VANES MADE OF GALVANIZED SHEETS RUST OUT FIRST AROUND THE RIVEIS, .101NT8, AND EDGES, AND ARE, THEREFORE, NOT SO GOOD AS PAINTED ONES, How amj concern can get our jirices for jyauited windmills and painted towers, or those made uj) ojf galvanized material, cut, sheared and punched after the gal- vanizing is done, can on/i/ be ej-jilained by the fort that 2K0ple Ufhobmj them are ignorant of the value of galranizntg. We now galvanize everything after it is completed, even bolts and nuts. We galvanize with ihe most improved processes and in the most perfect known and attainable manner. The process: When a section of an Aermotor Wheel is all ■iveted up, completed and cleaned of ru.\t and imjmrities, it is ^rsed in melted zinc there until it becomes until every crack, and opening of ererg closed up and sat u- ntolten metal, and 2)ieces composing the soldered and welded then you have some during and reliable, doers cannot afford to aluminum melted f i oi sih'erg white coating which every portion of the A is zinc and alu atime, forms, u alloy, which indestructible. prices (j£ w: illustration of what we REDESIG.iJINO AN OLD IT IN INFINITELY SU- RIDICULOUSLY SMALL e, pore filed, rated with the the whole 23 section become together as one 2>'ece, thine that is stroni;, en- expensive to do, and small We keep bU tons of zinc and year's end to another. The fills every pore and covers tor Wheel, Vane and Touer, tt is frsf ptit on, but after a cheutuat combination or melted and is practically vious ad. we talked of towers, etc., and as an could do in the way of ARTICLE AND PUTTING PERIOR SHAPE AT A PRICE, ANNOUNCED THE OFFER OF AN ALL-STEEL VERY SUPERIOR FEED CUTTER, WORTH .S40 AS PRICKS (iO, AT .?10. IN OUR NEXT AD. WE SHALL OFFER YOU SO.METHING OF STILL iKEATER INTEREST. AermOtOr Co.. Uhicttgo. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES FOR 1895. Such as Dovetailed Hives, Sections, Comb Foundation, Extractors, and every thing- else used hy a bee- keeper. All late improved g')ods. Immense stock. Goods sold at wliolesale and retail. Write fot our DISCOUNTS FOR EARLY ORDERS. Alsike clover and Japaiuse buckwheat furnislied at lowest market jiricc. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDHJ7, Des Moines, Iowa. brtd from my orig-inal strain of Maryland Italians, which has given sucti fit-nctal satisfac.iou as lioney-producers. Untested queens ivad.x March 1st, $1.00 each ; fi for $.5 00. Write for prices on large lot^ ami special circular. Safe arrival guaranteed. Chas. D. Duvall, San Mateo, Florida. Florida Queens 3-7ei Address until Apiil ]•"), B—em»99fmem—9m9—99090^Q99®9Q&®®Q9»<^'ii®®9999»999^99tt URPEE'S for "Tbe I,euuing Aiuvricau Seed Catalogue." A hand.some booK ot 171 pages with many new features for 1895 — liunrtred.s of illustrations, pictures painted fiona Inature-it tells all about the BEST SEEDSthat grow, inoludingrare novelties that cannot be had (elsewherp Any sped planter is welcome to a copy KR RK. iSend your address to-dai/ on u postal. '\A/ ATLEE BURPEE &. CO., Seed Growers, PHILADELPHIA. 244 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. Honey Column CITY MARKETS. Denver.— iT())if}/.—Tliere seems to be an improve- ment in our market; still, tlie prices remain about the same. No. 1 eomb, in 1-1 h. sections, 1I@,13; No. 2, 9@10. Extracted, No. 1 wliite, in 60-lb. cans (2 in a box), 6@7. We could handle to advantag-e a quan- tity of No. 1 comb honey; also pure beeswax at 22® 25. R. K. & J. C. Frisbee, Mar. 21. Denver, Col. Chicago.— Honey.— We report our market well cleaned up on fancy white comb honey in 1-lb sec- tions. A neat package and a fancy article would sell quickly at Uc. No. 2 comb, or dark, would not sell at over 10@11. We report better inquiry for extracted, at 5ffl7, depending- on quality. Beeswax selling- at 30c. S. T. Fish & Co.. Mar. 19. 189 South Water St., Cliicago, 111. Chicago.— Honej/.— During- this month a good movement has been felt in the market. Sales have been of small lots each time. t)ut sufficiently fre- quent in occurrence to make 1he aggreg-ate sales of some volume. Wliite comb of Mie best grades, I4c; travel-stained or off in color, 13@i.Si,; ; yellow comb, 10@11; dark. T@9. Extracted. .'i'JOf, according- to flavor and package; GO-lb. cans of wliite bring the highest price. Beeswax, 28@30. R. A. Burnett & Co., Mar. 19. 163 So. Water St., Chicag-o, HI. Detroit.— Ho/iej/.— Best white comb 14^ T); sup- ply moderate. Darker grades, 11@I3 Exiracted, 6@7. Beeswax in good demand at 3«&29. M.H Hr^T. Mar. 19. Bell Branch, Mich. Phii^adelphia.- Honey — The supply of comb honey is getting low in this market, with consider- able call; selling at 11@14, as to qiialilv. Extracted honey in fair demand and good supply at 6@6' bc. Wm. a. Selser, Mar. 21. 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. Buffalo.— Ho?iey.— The honey market is getting well cleaned up; fancy exceedinclv .scarce, selling readily at 13@U; choice, 1]®13; commoner grades, 8@9; buckwheat very slow and dull at 8@9. Battekson & Co., Mar. 19. Buffalo, N. Y. Albany.— Honey.— There has been ajj unusual demand for both comb and extracted honev since the beginning of Lent, and we have but very little of either now on hand. We would advise parties still having honey to dispo=eof to forward it at once. Chas. McCulloch & Co., Mar. 23. All)any, N. Y. Kansas City.— Honey.— The demand for comb and e.xtracted continues fair. We quote No. 1 wliite 1-lb. comb. ]4@1.5; No. 2, l-i(S),13; No. I atnber. l-'Olo; No. 2, 10@11; extracted. 4'2@.6".,, Beeswax, 32@35 C. 0. Clkmons & Co., Mar. 21. Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City.— Honey.- The stock of comb honey is large; market well supnlied. Fancy while Mb. Receipts of extracted liglit; ; Southern, 4i2@5. Beeswax, Hamblin & Bearss, Kansas City, Mo. comb.s, 14; amber. 12, white, 7; amber, .514 22 "'kar. 20. Cleveland. — Honey.-Honey remains at about the same price as in our last quotation. Parties are buying sparingly, and we quote No. 1 fancv 1-lb. sections at 13@l-); No. 2, 11®12. White extracted, 6 @8. Beeswax, 28@;30. Williams Bros., Mar. 19. 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland, O. Cincinnati. — Honey.— There is a fair supply of extracted and comb honev, while demand is slow. \\ e quote extracted lioney at 4®7 on arrival. Comb honey, V.WjUi in the johbinar way. There is a good demand for beeswax at 25@28 for good to choice yel- low. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Mar. 19. Cincinnati, O. Boston.— Ho?iej/.— Our market on No. 1 white comb honey is well cleaned up. and it is wanted. Price for comb, 13@14; extracted. h@.^. E. E. Blake & Co., Mar. 20. Boston, Mass. Closingout balance of my fine extracted basswood honey at 7c f . o. b. Who Is not supplied ? Elias Fox, Hillsboro, Wis. Alfalfa Honey, very white, thick, and rich. Two 60-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples. 8c. eift Oliver Foster. Las Animas, Col. We yet have extracted a'falfa at $7.80 per box of 120 lbs. AiKiN Bros., Loveland, Colo. Beeswax wanted.— Will pay 31i4c cash for abso- lutely pure beeswax that will stand chemical test. Write me at O'lce. Wm. A. Sklser, 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market. BATTERSON & CO. Responsible, Reliable, Commission Merchants, igtfdb and Prompt. Queens by Return Mail. Choice tested Italians, $1 each. Un- tested, 7.5c each. .?8 per doz. These queens are from fine stock, vigorous and prolilic, and are guaranteed to be No. 1 honey-gatherers. Send for price list. J. W. K. SHAW & CO., Loreauville, Iberia Par., La. Aiippnq If j'ou want bees that will stand the se- yUGulJOi veiest winters, and roll in the most honey in summer, send for price list. /=■. B. YOCKBY, NORTH WASHINGTON, PA. Eggs From 8 leading varieties of fowls, in- cluding Imperial Pekin Ducks. Send for de.scriptive list to J. S. MASON, Medina. 0. FOR SALE! SAFETY BICYCLES, ^ "^^ with pneumatic tires. $26.00. Remingt(Mi sporting-rifle, 3f-4ii, cost $17; sell for $7. Robert B. Gedye, La Salle, 111. John F. Nice still has for Sale 2.5 colonies of nice Itali.in bees in Simp, hive for 3=4.00, in chaff hive for $.5.00. 329 Maynard St., Williamsport Pa. PURE ITALIAN QUEENS, Postpaid to Australia, $3.00. MISS BIANCONCINI, BOLOGNA, ITALY. I eather-colored Queens. -tOc each, or $4.00 *- per dozen, June or after. Orders taken now. A. T. NIcKibben, Morrill, Morrison Co., Minn. Ree=supplies Cheap! ^^SlS"^ — ^— 5(j.5, Jackson, Mich. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 245 Contents of this Number. Bees. Giant 271 Bee-escajies. Opeiating aW Coloiiif i. IMvi.ling-. 2(15 Coldiiies. T.i Tm-rease 2(;j Convention, Madison 2.").) Covers. Hig. v. Gable 270 Eggs. Bees Cai-rying 27(1 Elei'tropoise and Oxydonor.27-( Five-banders 26(1 Five-banders. Taylor on 27(1 Florida for Health 277 Giant Bees 271 Gri].. ToCnie 250 Hastv ..n (ilcMMings 270 Hed(i. Address W. H. LAWS, LAVACA. ARK. oo Are a strain of business Italians tliat winter in the cold North, and are ready for business, with a bush- el of bees, when the tlowers bloom. They are gentle and industrious. Queens warranted purely in June. Each, $1.00; six, $5.00; doz., $9.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Never had any disease. Address E. F. QUIGLEV, Unionvil-le. Mo. A Bargain. I have a complete set of the back numbers of Gleanings, unbound, clear up to the ])resent, that I will sell for $10. liegular price, bound, $25. MRS. A. A. RICE, Seville, Ohio. 3 Great PntAtAae ^^^^ ^°^^ Seedsman ■ WId, $3.00 per barrel. Smith's Stock and Seed Farm, Padelfords, N. Y. SPRAY . PUMPS . AND . SPRINKLERS. A Complete Line for Large and spray sprinkler Fig. 3. " -- - i-C^. i«:sa Myers nozzle. Small Growers, at Prices Witliin Reach of AIL It is becoming- every year more evident that, in order to secure peifect fruit or foliage, it is absdlutt'ly essential that the trees and slirul)s be spr.iycil wit li poisonous arsenit.es one or more times eacli season at just the rig-ht time In order to kill the insect pests which worls so much havoc. If you would secure a crop of salable fruit, spr.iying' is as necessarv as the proper cultivation and enriching- of the soil. To do this work most easily and economically you require the best tools to work with. W e have carefully examined many spraying outfits, and be- heve the line we offer here can not be surpassed in quality, efliciency, and price. The Myers Bucket Brass Spray-Pump is shown in Fig. i. It includes 4 ft. of 'o-inch hose and Myers spray and sprinkler nozzles as shown. The Vermorel or Bordeaux nozzles maybe had instead ol Myers, when specified, at :ir.c each extra. These nozzles are shown half size in Fig. 3. The Myers IS the simplest and least liable to get out of order. The aperture in the Bordeaux can be varied in size from the finest spray to a stream. The de- gorger in the Vermoiel is very handy for clearing the sprav tip of any ob- struction. The Myers is regularly furnished on the bucket pump. Fig. 1; the Bordeaux on the knapsack. Fig. 3, and the Vermorel on the bar- rel inimps. Fig. 7. unless otherwise ordered. These spray nozzles throw a spray as fln^ as mist, so that it floats up like a cloud, settling on the foliage like dew. This Is more effective, and uses less than a fourth of the 1 1 (1 ui d re- quired in us- ing a perfor- ,ited nozzle. The bucket pump. Fig 1, IS the same Fig. 6. ' as we have sold for several years, but improved mhnisli and reducedin price. It is madeeniiie- lyot biass, -nith rubber l>a 11 valves; has an au- chambei making a contin- ■"^ uoiis spia^ , and a steady pressuicot "50 lbs can easi- ly be maintauKd. A hue jet is discharged Iroin the liottom to keep the solution thor- oughly mixed. By unscrewingthe nozzle you can throw a stream, and thus use the pump lor wash- ing windows, bug^-ies, etc. Fig. (i sliows the man- ner of operating the pump with pipe extension, which is necessary to reach all parts of the tree from the ground. Knapsack Spray=Pump. This is shown in lig. 3. TIk> can is uf galvaiiizid iron, and holds gallons. The puiiii) is the same kind as the buekot ))ump. but made shorter It may be entirely removed from the can, and usrd as a bucket pump if desired. ^_ It is the only knapsac-k having an agi-/^ -=f. tator to keep the solution stirred. TheJ . , . , ,^ , lever handle may be changed to usefl ■with either hand, and one of the straps having a snap may be passed \v across the top, and hooked, forming a bail to carry the can "by. As reg- ularly sent out, it includes Bordeaux nozzle on 2 ft. of pipe" extension and .5 feet of 'i-in. hose; can Iw furnished with copjter tank at $3.60 ex- tra. Vermorel nozzle substituted at same price, if so ordered. Fountain Sprayer. Fig. 4 shows this valuable instrument, and its PRirP With 2 manuiT of use is shown in Fig-. 5. It is tlie same in principle as the xv'-'MBl/ir ot nn -^ tt Lenox sprayer, on this page, but is made neater and more substun- vY^»VVi ' 1 '^^•""- Qfes. ^'cse, tial. The most couvenient implement for potato vines and small \,^^\ \\\lll UWi. $8.00. shrubs. Price $3.35. Extra tul)e bulb and rose furnished for *l.~'(i. Myers Barrel 5pray Pump. Wliereyouhavealargeramountof spraying to do, you can ac- complish it more easily with an outfit of this kuid. It has our patent submerged cylinder, is double-acting, has patent expansion rubber bucket, has a large air-chamber to cushion the spray, is provided with TWO DISCHARGE PORTS, one or both of which can be used for spraying. It has S„ ,^ steel pins, brass plunger cylinder, and brass- / / lined lower cylinder, good leverage, is very // / powerful, and easy to operate, will throw a ^ // l\ spray as fine as mist over any ordinary fruits n f] tree, and will throw a solid stream 60 feet from I" 'I ' the point of the nozzle. This can be mounted either on the side or end of a common barrel. The barrel may be mountedon wheels; or. If you have a horse to spare, it can be drawn around under the trees in a wagon or on a stoneboat. This outfit in- cludes vermorel nozzle, the same as the bucket , . ^ .- pump, and the pipe extension can also be used, If needed, for high trees. We can furnish the outfit, as shown, witliout the barrel, consisting of pump with three feet of suction pipe, strainer, and agitator, 5 feet of rubber hose and vermorel nozzle, with extra tip, for $7.00; or the same with two r)-foot lengths of hose and two nozzles, for $8.00; 8- foot extension, at 50 cts. extra. We are prepared to f ur- T isli the Myers Knapsack ^ prayer, with copper tank. . ( omplete, for $9.60; and the Myers Hydraulic Spray- Pump, largcenough fortlie largest growers, for $22.00. Our space is too limited on this slieet to do more than mention these two items. If any are interested we will gladly mail circular with full description and illustration on application. This circular contains two pages telling what mixtures to use for different crops, and when to spray. One of these circulars is included with all the Myers pumps we furnish. It contains fuller descriptions of all the foregoing spray pumps. Smith's Novelty Force=Pun,p. ^^l^'^^^^^^ sold for many years. Four nozzles are included with each pump as No. 1 for upward stream, 3, for horizontal stream for washing buggies, windows, etc. : 3. for watering and spraying ]>hinls and tiowers, and 4 inr spray- ^ ing trees. This is a strong pum]i, madt^ of tin, with wood plunger, and will . throw a stream 30 to 40 feet high. Price $1.0U; 12 for *10.(jO; 24, $18.00; 36. $2.-).00. r"^.^.^^^ c^^^^ c~..».r D..m.« The adjoining cut shows Its Conimon=Sense 5pray Pump. construcli;'n and manner of 1 working. The piston, or plunger, is worked with a lever handle, giving greater force for the same power exerted. The plunger-tube is shorter, and larger in diameter, than the ordinary pump. If the water comes over the top it spills right into the pail again. It has an air-chamber, with valve, giv- ing a continuous stream or spray. It has a short rubber hose to give direc- tion to the stream or spray, without moving the pump. It has also an ad- justable nozzle for stream or spray. We i\xe able to otter them for only 60c each, or $1.00 postpaid. In - IT -mw i< .^-^-tt quantities the price will be fii.lO per doz.; 3 doz. for £^ /i!l%ik '• \\ /i^ri iltJ-UO. Larger quantities quoted on application. TU^ I ^^^-L, C^-tttraf In I^i^- 11 ■^S show 1 ne Lenox aprayer. ^^^ ^^^ ^1,^: jj^^g^ conven- ient implements we know of for applying poisons to potato-vines and other small plants and shrubs. With this the work can be done with pre.itcrease and speed than you would think pos- sible. You can spray as fast as you walk. No waste, because by releasing the pressure of the thumb the spray stopsinstantly till you direct It toward I \« iiiiiiiimi I m II . II the next vine. Price of Lenox Sprayer, F " 'Jllfflli, l|| Ji—^ jlJ complete, with tank to hold 23 quarts, I ^^^^ ,=_ n '.-■ J3.00. The sprinkler rose with bulb and shown. hose, no tank, $1.20. Post. 15c. ^ ^ The Lenox Atomizer. ►r]5| In Figs. 13 and 13 we show Fig. 10, the Lenox Atomizer, a very y handy implement for various M uses. Foi-sprinkllngclothes, or watering i)lants in the window, you use imre water. you use any of tlu> solutions of London purple, Paris green, hellebore, pyrethrum, be banished. For convenience you want an extra rubber ball for the poisons. For applying poi according to the ii It uses the liquids with sucli economy that a pint bowl of solution may be made to go over a very large sur- face. It is recommended for bugs and insects on carpets, _, » » r» J. n Il/I J* /\ furs, o- clothes. For this purpose a carbolic acid solution is | HC A. I. KOOt CO., iVleflina, U. used. Price 3.5c each; post. 10c, 'c^+.-o >...i.i^,... i oii= ir>o Extra rubber 1 alls, 15c. 243 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. Advertising Costs money, but we can't do business without it. It is a comfort, though, to know thati the better the advertising the greater the business. For years I liave made of advertising a study, and, since publish- ing the Keview, I liave put thousands of ads. into type, and have thus had an opportunity to study the effect of different combinations of type in display- ing advertisements. If an advertisement is sent to the Review I will do my best to set it up in an effec- tive manner. If desired, I will also compose the advertisement, the advertiser sending me his catalog, or, if he has none, giving me the strong points to be made in favor of his business. I also offer my services to those wlio do not advertise in the Review. I have a good assortment of type, borders, ornaments, etc., and shall be glad to submit proof of my efforts in composing and displaying advertisements. Send me your circular, and I will send proof of an ad., and put a price upon the work if it should be accepted. As a specimen of my work in this line, see the ad. of W. W. Gary, in this issue of Gleanings. W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, flich. ^ Vkm Cut Out i To tlie M)M\m of TSrs whole Advt. .^igu, uiid Mail. 'i^W" Please send me the Americiui Bee Jnuriml eac-h Week for Three Months. At the end of that tiiTio I win re- mit $1 00 fori year's suiascription. or 25c. in case I decide to discontinue. 56 Fiftb Avenue, CHICAGO, ILI^. Name P. 0. State CO 0> CD C9 CD CD IMEW SUBSCRIBERS are given a free copy of Newman's " Bees and Honey "—Kid-page book— upon re- ■^ ^ ceipt of Sl.OU tor a ye tr's subscription to the Am. Bee Journal, or this book will be sent at the end of the 3 months, as per above offer. You ought to have the weekiy Am. Bee Journal, even if you have Gleanings. For $1.75 we will send you the Bee Journal and Gleanings for a year, besides a copy of the " Bees and Honey." Address your order as above, or for sample copy. E. KRETCHHER, RED OAK, IOWA, 00^ SENDS FREE HIS CATALOG OP 72 ILLUSTRATED PAGES; DESCRIBES EVERYTHING USED IN THE APIARY; BEST QOODS AT LOWEST PRICES. 4-8 CAPACITY ONE CARLOAD A DAY'. WRITE AT ONCE FOR HIS CATALOG. I told you so. Mrs. Atchlcjj :—'Ihe one-frame nucleus I got of you last spring gave me 120 well-tilled one-pound sections. J. A. Smith, Heber, Utah, Oct. 9, 1894. Now, haven't I told you that it will pay to send bees north in the spring ? One-frame nucltus, $1.00; 10 or more, 90c each. Bees by pound, same price. Untested queens to go with them, 75c each. Untested queens by mail, $1.00 each; $5.00 for 6; $9.00 per dozen, till June; after, 7.ic each; $4.25 for 6, or $8.00 per dozen. I breed the leather-colored Italians, 5 bands, and Carniolans, in separate yards, at safe distance. Tested, 3 bands, $1.50 each; 5 bands or Carniolans, $2.50 each. Fine breeders of either race, or imported queens, $5.00 each. Full colonies with untested queens. $6.00. Ask for discounts to dealers, and by quantities. The only steam bee-hive factory in south Texas. Root's goods, Dadant's foundation, and Bingham smokers. Safe arrival on ev^ery thing guaranteed. Send for FREE catalog that tells all about raising queens. JENNIE ATCHLEY, Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. Woodcliff Business To please all, am breeding V)Oth Leather-colored and Golden 5-banded Italians. Have five apiaries, 3 to 5 miles apart, running 3.50 nuclei. Y'^our orders filled Q promptly. Can furnish tiac%*%cr ^ inches wide); now two boards the same width to go across the ends; then we want some one-inch hoop- iron. Cut off a piece 30 inches long. Roundoff the two upper corners, then drive the iron into the division-board between the two thicknesses. Drive it in half an inch, leaving half an inch above the division-board. Now cut two pieces of hoop-iron to go into the short divisions, the same length as the division-boards. This iron is for a safeguard to keep the bees from passing from one colony to another over the divisions, in case the honey-board should be warped enough to let bees pass over. We want quite a lot of IJ-g-inch strips, same thickness as the hive lumber. Place a l^o-inch strip around the top of the hive, }.< inch down from the top. This is for the top chamber to rest on. If you now look at the pictures you should get a good idea of the hive. The entrance is put at the corner furthest from the center of 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 253 the hive. The bees in winter cluster about the center of the hive, away from the entrance. The open hive shows the large entrance open for summer. The closed hive shows the large entrances, 1}4 in., closed by the button, down to the small hole, K inch for winter. The closed hive also shows the ten-inch belt, as we have them in summer, when the third stories are on. The belt is in two parts, hooped to- gether. When we open the hive, one-half of the cover is turned over on to the other half. We can then work two colonies, can take off one-half of the belt, and all the loose stories, if we wish. If we want to get into the lower story, or brood-nest, when we are done with ting in the half-inch lining, take the square block (that you see upon the open hive), four inches square, IX inches thick, and put it in between the outside of the hive and the half- inch lining. Make the hole match with the hole through the hive; nail through the half- Inch lining into the block; pack chaff around it. For those bottom entrances, cut out half of the thickness of the bottom part of the cushion frame, opposite the holes in the side of the hive; also see that there is a passage through the half-inch lining. Those loose parts for second and third stories are made with a cushion in one end and one side. Make them the right size to fit one of the quarter- fkance's quadruple langstroth hive, closed.* the two colonies, we can put on the loose stories and the half belt, then shut down the cover; then if we want to work the other two colonies, just turn over the other half of the cover or chamber, and work the other two colonies. In winter we take olT the third stories and the belts, and pack them away in the storehouse. There is a two-inch lining inside the liive. All around the outside we use the IJ^-inch strips to make a frame; nail the frame to the hive, then side up inside the hive with 3^-inch lumber; fill the vacant space with chaff, well packed in. When lining up the end chaff-box, leave the half-inch lining low enough to form a rabbet to rest the end of the frames on, as shown in the cut. There must be a bee-passage through the chaff lining. Bore a hole through the outside of the hive; then when you are put- divisions of the main hive. Rabbet out a frame-rest from the single-board end. The rabbet at the cushioned end is made by leaving the half-inch lining down %" of an inch. Make these upper stories 9^^ deep. I use a solid board (honey-board) over these hives, made to fit one division or quarter-section; cleat at the ends to keep them from warping. Honey- board is shown in the cut, up in the turned- back cover, with two holes through it, holes covered with wire screen. The holes are used for feeders. When I have to feed I set one of my pepper-box feeders over each hole. Now for the roof, or top chamber. The cut shows how they are made. We want them *The camera has distorted the true rectilinear lines a little in the hive and building- in the back- ground, for which allowance should be made.— JEo. 254 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. deep enough to cover one set of upper stories, and leave room above the honey-boards for some straw packing for winter. The gable-end boards in my hives are 17>2 wide at the ridge, below the roof- boards, and ISK in. under the eaves. The roof is hinged together with three heavy 5-inch strap hinges. My frames are L. size, 17%xy,V. Now I believe the hive is made. You can see very nearly what kind of a stand I set it on —6 stakes driven into the ground, 2 feet four inches out of the ground; 3 boards, 4 inches wide, nailed on top of the stakes crosswise of the hive, all leveled with a spirit-level. My bees are wintering finely in those hives this winter — 140 colonies; not one yet dead. All had a good fly Feb. 27. an hour or two, then smoke them a little and put in the upper set of frames fixed to suit you; or if the swarm is small, drive the bees down into the lower story, and put the honey-board on that. I find this hive safe to winter bees in. Wind doesn't blow it over; farm stock don't push them over. One thing I forgot to mention. That single story, shown with the open hive, shows a strip of galvanized iron nailed on the single side, raised up }{ inch above the wood. That should go around the single end also. It is put on as a safeguard to prevent the bees from passing over from one colony to another. We cut a strip l>o inches wide, and long enough to go around one side and one end; nailed on the kkance's quadruple hive opened and dissected. Some one says, " How in the world can you hive a swarm in that thing?" Easily. First, hive your swarm in a common box hive; then turn up one half of the roof over on to the other half. Put your frames into the lower story containing combs, or foundation or starters; set on the second story empty, no frames; have the honey-board ready to put on. Now get your box hive that has your swarm in it; bring it to your prepared quadruple hive; hold your box hive over the empty second story of the frame hive — box hiveopen end, of course. Now give the box hive a good chug down on the frame hive, and your bees are all in. Put on the honey-board quick, then let them alone for honey-board; and other single stories fit right in there. The iron is not in the way at all. Platteville, Wis. [It may be a little difficult to understand the exact construction of the quadruple hive from the description; but if you will examine care- fully the engravings I think it will be plain. It will be seen that these quadruple hives are large, and it would almost appear that they are clumsy, and would require clumsy and difficult manipulation. But friend France has got the handling of them down to a science. When I saw him work them he did nothing with them except what any frail woman could have done. Indeed, although he is over 70 years old he handles one yard entirely alone, taking large crops of honey. My purpose in saying this of the quadruple hive as used by Mr. France is 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 355 not to boom it nor to say that everybody should use it. but only to show that it is not such an awiivvard hive as it appears to be. — Ed.] THE MADISON CONVENTION. KEPOKT OF THE EI-EVENTH ANNUAL CONVEN- TION OF THE WISCONSIN BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION, HELD AT MADISON, FEB. 6 AND 7, 1895. By H. LaUirwp. It was with some misgivings that the officers of our association wended their way to the State Capitol to our regular annual meeting. For some years past the attendance had been get- ting smaller; and just at convention time this year there occurred one of the most severe storms of the winter, which would discourage some from coming. But the outcome was the reverse of what we feared. There was a good representation of the old stand bys, and a num- ber of bright young men who attended for the first time, and who will doubtless be among the future successful bee-keeters of our State. Much of the discussion related to questions that have been discussed many times in con- ventions before, and which might seem to have been worn out; but we must not forget that much of our work is for the benefit of the younger and inexperienced, to whom these questions are important. Some of the members of the Southwestern Wisconsin Association were with us, of whom N. E. France, the president of that society, was elected to an office in ours. Messrs. Van Allen and Williams, two enterprising young men from Boscobel, Wis., had on exhibition a six- frame automatic honey-extractor that seemed to please every one who examined it. The following is taken from brief notes of the ses- sions: The convention was called to order by Presi- dent Frank Wilcox, at 1:30 p.m., in a room of the State-house. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. N. E. France, of Platteville. stated that he had been sent as a special delegate of the Southwestern Wisconsin Association, for the purpose of working w ith us for the passage of a foul-brood bill, and asked the privilege of hav- ing the question inserted in the program. Pres. Wilcox replied that it is proper to intro- duce any question by simply writing it on a slip of paper and handing it to the chairman. Mr. Tawle called for the report of the com- mittee appointed last year to present the re- quest of the association for lower freight rates on extracted honey. H. Lathrop reported that the request had been presented in due form to the chairman of the Western Classification Committee, Mr. Ripley, who had promised to bring it before the meeting of the committee in November; but a list of tariff changes made in that meeting, which had since been sent out, did not contain any reference to extracted hon- ey. A letter from the commission house of S. T. Fish & Co., Chicago, was read, in which they answered several questions on the program, as follows: Glass fronts to shipping-cases should not be dispensed with. We would not allow any one to ship us comb honey unless it had glass fronts, and we think that any one who wants to change the present style of case is making a mistake. The railroad companies request that the glass be covered; but in every instance where this has been done, honey has arrived in bad order, as the freight-handlers are not aware of the contents of the cases; while if the cases have glass fronts it is handled with care. They also spoke very decidedly against dis- pensing with the use of separators. They do not think statistics of the bee-keeping industry is of any benefit. They preferred extracted honey in barrels, half-barrels, and kegs, or in <)0-lb. cans; but they could not pay any more for it when in cans. Mr. Van Allen said it was of great benefit to the retailer to have glass fronts in shipping- crates. H. Lathrop described how he protect- ed the fronts of single-tier crates by tacking a short piece of lath across each end, and then tacking a piece the full length of the crate on to these short pieces. This protected the glass, and conformed with the requirements of the railroad companies, and did not hide the con- tents of the crate. When the honey arrived in store these strips can be pulled off. In regard to the use of separators the conven- tion was about evenly divided for and against their use. It was generally considered safest for all, except the expert and careful bee-keep- er, to use them. The question of supers was taken up, and on this there was also a division. Some declared they had the best success with deep wide frames, and others used the T super, or topless wide frame. It is evident that we have not yet found a surplus arrangement of such marked superiority that it will supersede all others. It was voted to make the presidents of other bee-keepers' associations, attending our con- vention, honorary members. This admitted N. E. France, president of the Southwestern Wis- consin Bee-keepers' Association. At this junc- ture Mr. France announced that the next con- vention of their association would be held the first week in October, at the house of E. France, in Platteville, to which he invited all. The question of foul-brood legislation was taken up. Mr. France spoke of the great dan- ger to bee-keepers from foul brood, and read the draft of a proposed foul-brood bill, which was similar to the Canada law. A committee was appointed to present the bill to the legislature, and work for its passage. 256 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. The question, " Does it pay to feed back in order to finish partly tilled sections ?" was de- cided by vote in the negative; though some maintained it could be done with profit if properly managed. It was the general opinion of the members, that extracted honey should be thoroughly ripened, and on the hive was the proper place to do it. Mr. Wilcox stated that, in melting up granu- lated honey, the water should not be allowed to get hotter than 140°, lest it should injure the delicate flavor of the honey. MORNING SESSION, FEB. 7. The first item of business was a resolution offered by Mr. Winter, extending the sympathy of the association to the bereaved family of our deceased brother, S. I. Freeborn, of Richland Center. The resolution was adopted, and a copy ordered to be sent to the family. It was the sickness and death of Mr. Freeborn that prevented the attendance of our former presi- dent, C. A. Hatch; if he had been present we expected something from him on the important question of brood-chamber capacity. The question was not discussed to any extent, and nothing new presented. A letter from an absent member, Gustav Gross, of Milford, was read, in which he called attention to the fact that sweet clover was in- cluded in the list of noxious weeds. He thought we ought to do something to have the law changed. It was decided that, as we were ask- ing for legislation on foul brood, it would not be best to do any thing about it now. In some places it would not do well, and in a few cases only the weed commissioners had condemned it. Mr. Hoflfman said it was not a very good honey - plant in his location. Mr. France thought we had better sow alsike clover. On the question, " What can we do to im- prove our association?" one suggested that each member bring one new one; another sug- gested that we get the ladies to attend. This was warmly seconded. Take notice, sisters, we expect you next year. Several members re- ported that their wives had intended to come along, but were prevented by sickness among the children at home. The following were elected officers for the ensuing year: President, Frank Wilcox, of Mauston; Re- cording Sec, H. Lathrop, Browntown; Cor- responding Sec. and Treas., N. E. France, Plattevllle. A paper sent in by W. H. Putnam, of River Falls, entitled, " Honey; how it should be Pre- pared for Market," was considered very good, and we therefore give it here in full. Browntown, Wis., Mar. 5. honey; how it should be prepared for mar- ket. I shall confine my remarks to the production and preparation of comb honey for the market. I do not wish or expect to impart much information to my fellow-members of this association, as most of them, at least, are experts in this line. The s'reat bodj- of bee-keepers, however, are not members of this or any other association, and they are the peo- ple who need to improve in the preparation of their honey for the market. My ideal of a packng'e of comb honey, if a 13-pound case, should weii-h 11 pounds net; if aa4-pound case, it should weig-h Zi lbs. net. The comb of each section should be con- fined within tlie Wood of the section, so that, if a straight edge were drawn across its face, resting on the edge of the rim, it would not touch the comb. If honey is produced in this shape, each individual section can bo removed from, the shipping-case without disturbing tlie others. Precaution should also be taken against leaking. These are qualifica- tions which the market demands, and the success- ful business man will cater to the trade. People in other lines do put up their goods to suit the purchaser, and we must do the same if we would make money. For instance, a few years ago it be- came fashionable to color butter. The conserva- tive people argued against it, and there was no end of clack and clamor against coloring butter. One of the most successful dairymen in my State (Wis- consin) favored the coloring of butter, because he said his customers demanded it; "and," he added, "if my customers send in an order for butter col- ored blue, the next sliipment will be colored blue." I make this digression to try to impress upon bee-keepers that the end of all our efforts is to make bee-keeping profitable; and if we would succeed we must cater to the trade. I had occasion recently to criticise a large producer of comb honey. That man raised nearly -tOOO lbs. of comb honey in the poor year of 1894. I bought the whole amount at the price he asked, 10 cents a pound. I had difficul- ty in disposing of that honey because the crates were overweight, and the sections were not straight. You could not get one out without tearing the crate to pieces. When I had sold a customer one lot I could not sell him another. I criticised my friend, the producer, stating the reason why the trade wanted the scant sections, and got the follow- ing reply: "I do not care to put up honey for the dealer to beat the consumer on if I can help it." Along argument might be had on this point; but to cut it short, and state my view of the point, I will say, "Don't bite off your»own nose to spite some one else;" dealers don't have to buy any man's honey unless it suits them, and it will suit tliem if they can make money on it. Moral: Cater to tlie trade. i i Tlien I may briefly state my ideal crate of comb honey to have four necessary requisites: 1. It must be scant weight. 3. Combs must be straight. .3. They must not leak. 4. The'l-lb. is the standard. How shall we obtain these requisites? If we would compete with Bro. Wilcox and Bro. France at the State fair next fall, we must lay the founda- tion now. If we would compete in the markets of tlie world we must make preparation at home long before tlie bees begin to swarm. To accomplish these points we must adopt a sec- tion that, when filled full, will weigh about a pound. I consider the 4^^x4.^x1 's the proper size for general use with separators, and I do advise the use of sep- arators by the general public. The members of this association do not need to use separators; they are skilled in their profession; they look to all the points; they keep their hives level; they keep their bees strong, so that, when they go into the surplus case, they fill it. and straight combs come naturally. For such bee-keepers I would advocate the 4ii x4i4x 7 to the foot, and a full sheet of comb foundation. The average bee-keeper uses about 1 lb. of comb foundation for a bunch of 500 sections; his bees take care of themselves; some are strong, but most of them are weak; but a few bees go into the super at first; they cluster on some section; there is a vast unoccupied space all around them; honey is coming in slowly; they draw out the comb, and there is no limit to the size; it may bulge out on both sides, away past the edge of the section, and weigh 1^ to 3 pounds. Later, honey comes in more freely; more bees are hatching all the time, and after a while the case is filled. Later, when the bees- more perfectly fill the case, some very straight combs may be found in the same case with some very bad ones. Had this person used separators he would have had all the combs straight, because the few bees would have occupied one or two sections somewhere in the centerofthesurplusca.se; where 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 257 tliej' liad drawn out the conibs within about ;'« of an inch of lliC separator, they would liave cupped it over and g'one on to the next section. In tliis way tlie honey of no section can protrude beyond tlie edge of the section, and we have g'ained our tirst two points. The combs are scant weight, and tliey are straiglit, and we have almost gained our third point; for, when the combs are straight, and do not bulKe, there will be very little leaking. We can guard against all leaking- it we will cut a piece of newspaper an Inch larger than the bottom of our shipping-crate, and place it in the bottom, allowing- the edge to turn up all around about M to Jo inch. One more point about preventing- honey from leaking-. Wlien lioney is tirst stored in the combs it is tliin and watery. It needs to be ripened. The water in it needs to be evaporated. Honey may be ripened on the liive; but it it is white it is better to remove it from the hive, because, if left on tlie hive, the bees will run over it, and the yellow pollen will fall off trom their legs, and soil the combs, and the honey has to go for second quality, and be sold at from one to two cents a pound less. If, however, the houe3^ is of a dark color, or is produced in a re- g-ion where no buckwheat or g-olaenrod exists, it may be ripened on the hive. The reason why honey should be removed trom tlie hive as soon as com- pleted, if i-aised in a region where buckwheat ex- ists, is that buckwheat lioney, if dark-colored, and if only a few cells of dark Jioney are stored around the edge, even of the section, it places the whole in a second grade. When honey is removed from the hive, never place it down cellar; that is the worst thing you could do, because there is always more or less moisture in a cellar. It you place your honey down cellar, I will tell you what happens. The honey takes on moisture; and as two particles can not occupy the same space at tlie same time, the cells are expanded, the capping bursts, the contents of the cells become more watery, part of it oozes out, a chemical process takes place, and, the tirst you know, that noney is all over the floor. You taste of it, and it is sour. I presume what I have just related takes place in nine-tenths of the gro- cery stores in the countrj'. Grocers are in the habit of keeping their molasses, vegetables, and other produce in the cellar, and naturally the honey goes down there also, and it is damaged more or less ac- cording to the length of time it has been subjected to this process of taking on moisture. The custom- er pays i!U to 'Za cents tor a comb of that stuff called honey; they take it home; they taste potatoes, on- ions, codtisu, and every thing usually kept in a gro- cery cellar. That flue flavor that bee-keepers talk about is gone, they don't like honey any way. Then people talk about adulterated honey, and no won- der. What shall we do V Kipen our honey above ground, in some dry, clean, warm room where the air is pure, so that what surplus moisture there is will evaporate. If the weather is damp and rainy, use a stove to dry the air, then our honey will thick- en and preserve its flavor. When you sell a box of honey, tell the party not to put tne honey in the ice-box nor down cellar, but, rather, put it on the pantry-shelf. If your customer is a grocer, give him a few pointers in a friendly way. And now I come to the fourth point. The one- pound is the standard. The pocketbook argument should have its effect here. I'iist, if you use an odd size you must expect to pay the supply-dealer from 50 cents to $1.00 extra per lUoO, because it is more trouble to make odd sizes than regular sizes. Sec- ond, you must expect to get less for your honey. I will show you how much you would lose if you Used a two-pound section. Suppose 2U00 one-pound sections to cost at the factory $5.UU, you could not expect to get lOOU two-pound sections for less than *-i.uU; and supposing aUUU lbs. of honey to sell at If cents a pound in one-pound sections, you could not expect it to sell for more than W cents in two-pound sections, in proof whereof i quote from the Minne- apolis Journal, dated January 4, 1895. Hiiney.— The market is slow, and prices are steady. Minnesota white clover, 14@15c; Wisconsin white clover, I4@15; dark honey, 1(J@12; extracted honey, 7c; a-lb. combs, lo®14. Then we have saved Sl.UO on the cost of the sec- tion.s, and we have lost $:JO.uO on the honey; $19.U0 would be a big Christmas present; but it would be just like flnding it, to a bee-keeper who was in the habit of using a :i-lb. section. I wish to touch briefly upon how to secure the greatest amount of white honey. We hear so many bee-keepers say every year that they did not get any white honey, or very little white honey. The plan generally pursued by the ordinary bee-keeper is to let his bees alone in the spring until they De- gin to swarm; then he hives the new swarm, and, after about two weeks, he puts on his surplus- cases. A little knowledge of honey-producing plants, and their time of blossoming, would change all this; for, be it understood once for all, bees do not make noney; they simply gather it, and store it in the hive. In my locality the flrst surplus honey comes from white clover, in May and June, followed by a short spell of no honey at all, and then comes the basswood the last of June and flrst of July, liasswood bloom is all over from July luth to the 15th, and then comes another famine. In order to get white honey in my locality, the bee-keeper must have his bees in conuition to gather honey by the middle of May. He must put on his surplus-cases as soon as his bees begin to build brace-combs. It is my practice to tier up as fast as possible, and sometimes I have two or three surplus-cases nearly tilled at swarming- time. As soon as a new swarm issues I remove the old hive a little to one side, placing it at right angles to the old stand. I place the new hive exactly where the old one stood; place the partly tilled settion-cases on tne new hive; and in less than ten minutes after swarming, the cases are again tilled with workers; each worker carries a sackful of honey with her when the swarm issues, and thirty or forty thousand bees can hold a con- siderable amount of honey. I have weighed new swarms that weigh eighteen to twenty pounds with- out the hive— ill fact, before they haci been put into the hive at all. i have no doubt that two-thirasof this weight was the honey in the bees. With me, bees swarm during white honey-flow; and by following the method here described, no time is lost; they go right on, and more cases may be added. Meantime the old hive is moved nearer and nearer the new hive, day by day, until they stand side by side and very close. On the seventn day after swarming, in the middle of the day when the most workers are in the Held, quietly anu carefully pick up the old hive; carry it quietly, and set it down softly at the great>- est distance possible in the same yard, from its former position. Notice the ettect. Almost instant- ly you will see a swarm, as it were, collecting around tne place where this liive had stood; they are the workers returning from the field; their home is gone; they are confused, and tiy aimlessly about for a few seconds; they alight at the entrance of the new hive; tiieir mother is the queen there reigning; the bees have the same scent; they are receivea, deposit their load, and go again to the field for more honey. Likewise tne woi-kers that were in the old hive which we moved so carefully do not know their home has a new location; they go forth, but return to the old location; they are received, and a rousing swarm is the result. No wonder the honey-sections fill up quickly, as there are so many workers. But what happens at the old hive in its new location ? Nearly all its working force has been drained away to the new swarm. In a day or two the new queen hatches. She has few bees to hamper her actions; she makes a tour of the hive, and murders her sleeping sister-queens, yet unborn. She is monarch of all she surveys, and there is none her right to dispute. You will not be troubled with seconil swarms. No time has been lost since white honey began to flow, and now we have the whole working- force concentrated on com- paratively few sections. If there is any white honey, we get it. After a week or two we can put sections on the old hive, and all our bees will be in shape for dark or fall honey. W. H. Putnam. Kiver Falls, Wis. DRONE -TRAPS, SELF-HIVERS, AND NON- SWARMERS. DRONE AND QUEEN TRAPS MOST PRACTICA- BLE; "YOU PRESS THE BUTTON AND WE DO THE rest" HIVER WILL NEVER BE INVENTED. Bij C. H. Dibbern. A good deal has been said of late about how best to manage our apiaries in the bee-keeping of the future. It is generally admitted that, 258 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. for small apiaries of, say, less than 50 colonies, it will not pay to spend valuable time watching for swarms, especially in poor seasons; neither will it pay to let them go to the woods. In the large apiaries and out-yards the swarming sea- son is usually a time of great anxiety and loss. Even if one has all his time free to look after the swarms, and every thing ready to do the hiving, it is usually hard hot work; and losses by doubling up and absconding are not always avoided. Now, as the swarming season will soon be here again, the question is, no doubt, puzzling a good many — " How are we to control swarm- ing?" Of all the many methods suggested of late years, the drone and queen trap method is, perhaps, the simplest and most satisfactory, so far as generally known. What is easier than putting the traps on the hives on the approach of the swarming season, and, when a swarm issues from one of them, simply putting an empty hive in its place, attaching the trap with the queen in it, and allowing the swarm to return when they please? There is no danger of the swarm absconding or doubling up with others as long as you trap all the queens. Should no one see the swarm it makes little difference, as the bee-keeper can easily determine any time, within two or three days, what hives have been swarming out, by finding a handful of bees with the queen in the trap, and fixing them up as desired. Surely this beats climbing trees, or running up and down the apiary with swarm-catchers, a la B. Taylor, all to pieces. But why not carry this idea out further, and let the bees hive themselves? But how is this to be done? is the question I have studied for several years. Last year, and the one before, I described my devices that had proved partially successful; but the season developed serious defects. When the weather became hot, the strong colonies would crowd through the wood- zinc boards under the empty hives, and take possession and build comb there. This made it difficult to tell when a hive had actually swarmed, and it interfered too much with the work in the sections. Then, again, a hive would swarm ; and when I supposed them nicely hived they would all go back through the board to their old home, except, perhaps, a handful or so, with the queen. To overcome these difficulties I substituted a solid board, except 4 inches of wire cloth at the rear end, to afford ventilation to the old hive, for the wood- zinc board. This worked ail right; and when a swarm issued I would cut off the old entrance, and every bee would go into the new hive, where the queen was trapped, awaiting their return. When not present to cut off the direct entrance I would get only a part of the swarra; but I could always tell what hives had swarm- ed by looking in at the top, as the new hives are so cut off that the bees never take possession without swarming. When I found these self- hived small swarms I had but to cut off the direct entrance to the old hive, to throw as many workers as wanted into the new one. But now another difficulty appeared. When all the entrance was cut off, except through the bee-escape cones, from the old hive, the re- maining bees would become alarmed, and com- mence in a day or two to destroy all their un- sealed brood. This may be caused by their in- ability to get water, as bees never return when once through the escapes. I now leave an inch or so through the lower perforations, so that some bees can work from the old hive. At first I was a good deal puzzled to account for the small number of bees, and entire absence of brood in the old hive at the end of 10 or 12 days. I found invariably that, when cut off so that no bees could return, the unsealed brood would be destroyed. This, perhaps, explains the failure of such devices as the Langdon non- swarmer. I found that about 8 to 10 days was long enough to leave the old hive to boom the new, after hiving the swarm. If the surplus- cases are changed to the new hive at once, the work goes on with little interruption. It has been urged against self-hivers, that the work and expense of preparing so many hives with foundation, in a large apiary, was too much work and bother. It is not necessary to prepare hives any faster than bees are ready to occupy them. As soon as I suspect there will be swarms soon, I put the queen-traps on all the strong colonies, and keep adding more as I have time. Now, as soon as a swarm issues from one of these hives I allow them to return once. This shows where an empty hive to receive the swarm is needed. I usually mark these hives, and fix them up during the day or evening, as I find time. When they again swarm out the next day or so, I simply place at the entrance a square stick, and fasten by a tack or two, to keep the bees from pushing it away, thus cutting off the old entrance, and compelling all the bees to go into the new hive. It seems to me it would be difficult to manage swarming more easily or more surely. Cer- tainly it beats swarm-catchers, where one must be constantly on the watch, and generally on the jump, or cutting off limbs from valuable fruit-trees, and hanging them in holes dug in the ground " big as a barrel," to keep the swarms from doubling up. I want to say, I do not claim that my device is entirely perfect, and I have no hivers for sale. Of course, in all such devices one must use a good deal of common sense. I do not be- lieve that a "you press the bottom and we do the rest" hiver will ever be invented. The truth is, bees act very differently one season from another. I do know, however, that the idea is entirely practicable, and will soon come into general use. Milan, III. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 259 BAMBLE NO. 129. AT NAI'A; ON THE SACKAMRNTO; JACK; GREAS- ERS: WINERIES, ETC. Bij Rawhler. HERE were a few par- tially civilized Ameri- cans living in Black Diamond, and these were allowed to come inside the "dead-line" around our camp. Mr. Wilder had established such a line with our picket-ropes, to keep the horde of Dago kids from a too promiscuous mingling with our uten- sils. One of our American friends was pleased with our easy camp-chair, and, having appar- ently loaded up with beer, would come around and look at us as we worked at the picture business. It pleased him to tell us that he was electioneering for the office of justice of the peace, and had great hopes of election. He evidently thought that each jag of beer taken aboard was a harbinger of success. His heart was warmed toward us, and he gave us a sort of judicial opinion that our outfit was not com- plete without a dog; and as he had a surplus of that commodity on hand he would give us one. Aft»»r seeing the embryo justice kick the dog with his heavy boot, and send him home limp- ing, we decided to accept the gift. Jack was a splendid-looking specimen of the water spaniel, and his dam and granddam were traced back to Alaska. Jack adhered to the traditions of his forefathers, and was a good temperance dog, therein showing more sense than his master. OFF FOK COLLI NSVILl^K. We were to cross the river here. We had sought this place, for it was the cheapest one to cross. We were very busy until within an hour of boat time, and our spread-out camp had to be hustled into the wagon. Our would-be justice said we could not do it, and that we should have to wait two days for the next boat. But that man knew no more about hustling than a tadpole. He did not know of the con- veniences of a collapsible camping-outfit, and we surprised him by driving to the wharf some minutes before the boat arrived. The boat was one of the regular river craft that ply between San Francisco and Sacramen- to, having a large undershot water-wheel in the rear. We just crossed the river to the town of Collinsville, not over five miles, and were on board less than an hour; and the ferriage, in- cluding the dog. was the modest sum of ^4.00. When we landed at Collinsville, and were hitch- ing our ponies to the wagon, a fellow chipped another 25 cts. out of us for wharfage. We de- murred greatly, and called it by its right name, a species of highway robbery. The explana- tion for this state of things is, that the rights and privileges of this waterway are controlled by the Southern Pacific Railroad. Their rule is to carry such an outfit as ours from San Francisco to Sacramento, over 100 miles, for .*4.5(), or five miles for the same price, and we have to submit. "For ways that are dark, and tricks that are vain, the S. P. R. R. will beat the heathen Chinee." We camped at Bird, four miles from the riv- er; and the county we are now in bears the name of an Indian chief, Solano. A good por- tion of it rests upon Suisun Bay, and lOO.CXX) acres of the county is tule swamp. These tule swamps are very fruitful all the year round, and the leading crop is mosquitoes. It is also a prolific breeding-place for frogs; and their hind quarters are temptingly displayed in the city markets. The next day, as we journeyed, a cloud of mosquitoes followed us. We were, for- tunately, facing the coast breeze, and the cloud was left in the rear. Every conveyance we met, and that was going with the wind, had a fuzzy halo of the insects hovering over them. Our observations in relation to bee culture were not rewarded with much success. Now and then a patch of wild sunflowers by the road- side would reveal various insects upon the flowers; but I saw only one honey-bee. Mr. Wilder saw another, showing that a colony was in the vicinity, bravely hold- iiig its own with the mosquitoes. Owing to the flat country, and its liability to inundation, the bee can not tind lodgment in the ground: neither are there large trees or rocky hills; so if the bees live here in the wild state it must be in the cornice of some residence; and even a house with such an ap- pendage is somewhat rare after we leave the towns. The lands above the river-bottom are devoted to the production of grain, and there is but scanty pasturage for bees. The'tule' lands are, however, in a fair way to be reclaimed. Great schemes are now on foot, so that, by a system of dykes and waterways, the rivers will be held in their natural beds, and the rich alluvial soil utilized for agricultural purposes. Then these low lands will become the natural home of al- 260 gleanijngs in bee culture. Al>R. 1. falfa; and wherever that is grown, we find the thriving bee-keeper; and I am not sure but some portions of Solano County already enjoy the benefits derived from the growth of alfalfa. The hoarse croak of the frog, and the high- keyed note of the mosquito, must give way to " SANTA MAKIA ! DYNAMITO 1 " the more industrious civilized hum of the honey-bee. It has been said, that the planting of eucalyptus-trees will banish mosquitos from a locality; but here we saw clouds of them while passing through avenues of gum-trees. Perhaps the avenues were not plentiful enough, or enough trees in the avenues. This being near the breeding-grounds of the insects it would probably require a tree to every sciuare rod; and in case they were EucalypUis lomji- folia, here would be another source of honey for the bees. Whether it was mosquitos behind our horses, the untiring efl'ortsof Jack to circle around our outfit, or our desire to get our mail, or a little of all three, we made a long drive that day: and in the early evening we dropped into the city of Napa. We were directed to a fine camp- ing-place in the shade of some trees, and in that portion of the city known as Spanishtown. We were congratulating ourselves upon the shady situation, and had scarcely begun to erect our tent, when a woman with a very shady complexion, very large (I judge she weighed 300 lbs.), fat and greasy (you know these Spanish Mexicans are sometimes called greasers) appeared. Her first salutation was, " Why, what a pooty tent you have ! Ble've I'll come and sleep in it to-night." Bro. Wilder dropped a tent-pin he was just going to drive, and I dropped a corner of the tent I was hold- ing. Bro. Wilder recovered in a minute, and whacked away at the tent-pins again; and, not knowing what else to do, I took out my Water- bury watch and commenced to wind, wind, wind. The shady fat woman had a look of curi- osity at first; but wind, wind, wind; then a troubled expression of her swarthy features. Wind, wind, wind, and a step toward her, and she took alarm and shouted, "Santa Maria I dynamite I" and fled. No, she was loo fat to flee; she got to her little cabin. She evidently thought I was fixing an infernal machine to throw at her. We were soon after accosted by another Span- ish woman, from another cabin. She was quite voluble of speech, and invited us to " beber vi- no" (drink wine) with her. " No, sefiora," said I. " No necesitamos vino. Bebemos agua " (no. marm, we don't need wine; we drink water). We were thankful at last to be left in peaceful possession of our camp. We tied Jack in front of the tent, and, with my good Waterbury watch close at hand, we felt perfectly safe among the shady greasers. We found in the morning, however, that these people were not all greasers. We could find no wood in the morning with which to pre- pare our breakfast. I entered one of the cab- ins to purchase a few sticks. The head of the house said I could have some; and after select- ing four or five billets I asked him how much. "don't you know I AM A MISSOUKIAN?" "Oh ! go along," said he. "We are Missou- rians; and don't yer know that, wherever you find a Missourian's home, you must walk right into the house and help yourself?" 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 2fil I pocketed my dime I thought to give him, and paid him in thanks, which seemed to be satisfactory. Napa is the great center of the wine industry of California. Vineyards and wineries are up- on every hand. The viticultural associations and many good people, including some very prominent ladies, recommend the use of wine as a Deverage. or as an appetizer at each meal. Owing to a delay in the arrival of our mail and express packages we were obliged to stop over here one day. and we had an opportunity to witness how delightfully the wine-bibbing practice worked. Several of our Spanish neighbors, of both genders, and including our fat and our volu- ble acquaintances of the previous evening, gathered under the trees a few rods from us. around a demijohn of wine. It rapidly circled from person to person, until it was emptied; and after a short season it was sent to some convenient saloon and filled. It then circled again. Result, a young Spaniard slipped from his chair and sought a slumberous attitude on the ground. A blanket was spread, and he was rolled upon it by the fat woman. If he as much as opened an eye, the dames were on hand to offer him more wine. Others of the group staggered off to some more private place to have a lethargic sleep. The senoras wound up their afternoon with what might be termed a jamboree of angry words. As the cool of the evening came, there came also two men and carried, rather than led, the limp form, that was still on the blanket, into one of the cabins. Thus the picture of the afternoon vanished. Shall we take a little wine for the stomach's sake? Thus far on our journey Mr. Wilder and myself had not patronized the drink-shops, and this temperance lecture before us gave us an opportunity to renew our allegiance to cold water. I have no sympathy with viticultural associ- ations, for the scene among these poor Span- iards is daily reproduced in higher walks of life, and where the public eye can not behold the lethargic sleep or the domestic brawl. Therefore, still in the ranks of temperance re- form will be found the Rambler. JAKE SMITH'S LETTEK. FIVE-BANDED OR LONG-TONGUED BEES. Mr. A. I. Gleenings—deer Sir.-— Our Zed's always a fussin at something. Last summer he got a lot of oyster-cans and put them on the different hives, with a little bit of feed in them. I didn't mind it. for it was a bad season and the bees wan't a gettin' nothin; and I didn't care if he did feed em sunthin'. Zed's a good boy. If I do say it, and when he hain't into no mis- chief I let him have his own fun. One day Jim Short he come over, and we was a talkin' about how the corn was a dryin' up without fillin', when Jim see Zed a fussin' at the hives. "What's Zed up to now?" says he. "He ain't a takin' off honey, is he ? " "Oh, no!" says I; "the bees ain't a makin' any honey now. It's a bad year for bees as well as every thing else. I guess Zed's a tryin' to get the bees to hatch out a crop of oysters." I jist said it for fun, for I knowed he was a feedin' em. And I told him so. Then he went over toward where Zed was, and says Jim to Zed, "You'll get your bees trained so they'll be no good." " How's that ? " says Zed. "Why, they'll git used to lookin' to you for feed, and then when any honey does come in the blooms they won't go after it." "I guess all I give 'em won't spoil 'em very bad," says Zed. "Come and see how much I give 'em." " Jimminy!"says Jim. " Why, they hain't no feed there at all." " Yes, there is too," says Zed. " You see, there's a false bottom there. And you see all those little holes in it for the bees to reach their tongues through. Well, there's just a little feed on the true bottom. And the true bottom's on a little slant, so you can tell just how far the bees' tongues reach. They'll suck up the feed just as long as they can; and when it's out of their reach, of course they'll have to stop." " Oh I I see," says Jim; " you make 'em reach as long as they can, and then they'll stretch their tongues a little farther, and that way you'll grow a long-tongued set of , bees." "Say-ee!" says Zed, "why wouldn't that work ? " " I guess," says I, " you'd have to have a good many stretches to make much difference, and the whole hive would have to be at it all sum- mer long, and may be a hundred summers for any thing I know." " I guess that's so," says Zed, a fetchin' a long breath. "But that wasn't what I was after, though it ain't so far from it either. You see, bees' tongues ain'.: all of a length, not by a long shot. Now you see that feed comes up to the seventh hole. Now let's go to this next hive. Two, four, five — this comes only to the fifth hole. You see there's a good bit of difference in the tongues of these two colonies, and it's that way all over the yard. Some of 'em must have tongues a half longer than others. I guess I belter get this cover on, for the robbers are gettin' around." " Well, now," says I, " what goodwill it do if you take the measure of everv bee? It won't make 'em any longer or shorter. If you could make 'em longer you might git 'em to work on red clover. But you can't do it." " Don't be too sure of that," says Zed. " You can do what amounts to the same thing. Sup- pose you measure tongues in every hive. Then 262 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. breed from the long-tongued chaps, and weed out all the short ones. You know there's been red-clover queens one time and another wrote about. But I guess they all run out in a little while. My notion is, that those red-clover bees had extra long tongues; but the only way to tell it was to see the difl'erence in their yield, and you couldn't keep that up soze to rely on it. Now, if you had a red-clover queen to breed from, or, what's the same thing, breed from your longost-tongued bees, and raise drones from the same, don't you see you could tell what you was a doin'? And you could keep that up." "It wouldn't be no use where there's no red clover," says Jim. "I believe it would," says Zed. "You know you'll have two hives just alike every way, fur as you can see, and one will store ever so much more than the other, and nobody can tell why. It's the difference in their tongues, along with the difference in flowers. Red-clover honey's too deep to reach. Now, it stands to reason that other flowers may be as deep or deeper than red clover; and even on white clover the bees with the shortest tongues might have hard work to reach all the honey in the blos- som." I thought to myself that wasn't sech a bad idee, but I didn't say it. Zed went on, and, says he, "When they're tryin" to make out which is the best race, and whether five bands or three bands is best, let them settle it by measurin' of their tongues." "Yes,' says ,Iim, "first thing you know they'll have a Jair, and bees from all over will be sent in to get the prize for the longest tongues. Then they'll quit advertisin' 5, 10, or l.T bands; but the advertisements will read, 'Queens for sale warranted to raise bees with tongues three-quarters of an inch long.' " 1 I ^ OPERATING A BEE-ESCAPE. THE I'ORTEK AND ITS I'RINCII'I>K KKfONSlIlKKKI) ByC. 11' Dnyfiiii. I consider that the stateint'nt (in Review and (Jleaninos), that I was using Porter escapes both in experiment and actual practice, was a fair acknowledgment : but the final report upon them I shall not be prepared to make for a season or two yet. The past season I used four different kinds of escapes in removing (iOOO lbs. of comb and extracted honey. Also several colonies were kept busy going through escapes from May to October, and it has become my opinion that the Porter, or. for that matter, the Stampede, is only a "stepping-stone" to an escape which is far better than either. That escapes are an advantage is no question with me; for, during the past season. I kept an apiary within 54 feet of a much traveled highway. To open a hive and brush bees from the combs of but one hive sent angry bees thickly after passing teams and people. Es- capes, on the other hand, prevented a single molestation. To keep bees and take honey where I was located, without escapes, was pos- itively out of the question. Where bees were once looked upon as a terror, there became a friendly disposition toward them. When I began to experiment it was found that the bees of some colonies went out much more readily than others. The stampeding disposition was discovered, and some of the forms of escapes sent were far more favorable to stampeding bees than others. Prior to this 1 had used Porter escapes, but did not inquire into the philosophy of their operation any more than to put them on and remove the supers when empty. But when two escapes, which were exactly alike, were placed upon two col- onies apparently alike, and the operation consid- erably different, it was queried where the dif- fering existed — in the escape or in the disposi- tion of the bees, or what? The average time taken was perhaps twelve hours; but sometimes the time would be short- ened down to three hours. I began to inquire into the reason for having the channel of the single-exit Porter of double-bee-space depth. Then after a bee gets down into the channel, and is about to proceed toward the springs, it must ascend an elevation in the Hoor. Under this elevation is an opening as if prepared for the deception of bees which were seeking a route to get back into the super. At the side of the elevated portion of the floor are two spaces as if for the passage of air. This eleva- tiua in the floor is a hindrance to stampeding bncs. Then the round entrance to the channel is widely flanged downward, so as to interfere witli stampeding bees passing forward. Asa rule, the first bees to try the springs seldom go tlirough until they return and inspect every other part of the escape or escape- board. I don't believe they want to go through the springs. But the depth of the rear part of the channel, and the flanged aperture, prevents their getting back into the super again, and they are finally forced to go through the springs, from thinking there is no other exit; thus when the bees get down into the channel they are in a trap. Observation teaches that, when the main force of bees get started they crowd through without attempting to turn about toward the super. Now, the number of bees which are liable to be trapped by this double depth of channel and flanged entrance to the same does not amount to .50 bees per super, which bees, if joining the throng, would go through in a few seconds. But these arrange- ments tend to defeat the purpose of the escape by retarding the main tumult. These first bees to test the springs are of a meddlesome dis- position, and do not know that they are sepa- rated from the queen; and to construct imple- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 263 ments to trap them is impractical. After a while a few of the clustered bees come down on the escape- board. They are not meddlesome, nor will they fight. These are the bees to set up a line of fanners, as soon as they discover the route to the brood-chamber, which rapidly augments in numbers. Many times I have held the Porter escapes in my hands and wished they (Porters) had only done enough " ax-griuding " to explain the disposition of the bees toward every part of the implement. I would furnish the "' stone " glad- ly. It was the failure in them to do this which caused me to do so much experimenting and philosophizing, and I produced the Stampede to illustrate the necessity of a wider exit; the going-toward-the- light, and other principles. I believe that the going-toward-the-light is one of the best principles in an escape, if we find out how to apply it. If we do not know how to apply it, it may be the worst. I do not think it can be employed in the Stampede or Porter as conveniently as In an escape that is surely to arrive within one or two years hence. I believe the perfect escape will possess a trap, but not a channel. When the bees progress a distance in a horizontal direction, turn an angle, and pro- ceed onward to reach the brood-chamber, ener- gy is wasted, the same as draft is wasted by an elbow in the pipe to the stove. I do not think escapes can be compared accurately by adjusting several In a board. It is the opera- tion of the bees more than of the escapes. 1 challenge any one to produce one line of theory from my articles which can not be demonstrated as actual fact, beyond a reason- able doubt. Florence, Cal. [Yes, I hope our inventors will not be too backward on this "ax-grinding" act. If they go too far I'll try to shut 'em oft'.— Ed.] THE PART THAT LOCALITY PLAYS IN DECID- ING UPON THE BEST SIZE FOR THE BROOD-CHAMBER. Btl J. K. Crane. It is not often that I " take my pen in hand " to write to any of the bee-journals; so that, while I miss saying a good many things I should like to say, I am at least left to judge more dis- interestedly in regard to what others write, be- cause I have not committed myself to many of the views advanced. As I look back over the years, there seems to be something of fashion in bee-keeping as in other things. Only a few years ago, revolving hives and frames were the fashion, though we hear but little of them now. Farther back, large brood-chambers were strongly advocated; and, later, smaller ones have been considered best; and now, again, like the sleeves of a fash- ionably dressed woman, the tendency is to en- largement. Meanwhile Dr. Miller sits serenely on the fence, the most sensible man in the crowd. I do not now remember any good reason for the adoption of a large brood-chamber, unless it has been that bees do better in them. And so small hives were adopted because they were thought to be more profitable than large ones. It has surprised me that so little proof, by act- ual experiment, has been offered. Surely here is a nut for the " Experiment Station" to crack. And yet I doubt whether, if it were conclusive- ly proved that large hives were better than small ones in a given apiary, it would follow that they would be better in some other apiary five miles away. Here in my home apiary I use, mostly, hives with seven or eight Lang- stroth frames. Some years ago I brought in six or seven hives with large brood-chambers— ten or more combs. As the combs were crooked and irregular I let them remain for several years as they were unless it was to remove the surplus drone comb and substitute worker comb instead. And now I think I can say that I re- ceived twice the profit, on an average, from ray colonies in small brood-chambers that I did from those in large brood-chambers. More than this, within a few years a neighbor has put out an apiary near me. He worked for me two seasons, and knew very well how t6 care for bees before that; but he has kept his own stock in large brood- chambers, while I have kept mine in small. I told him recently that I thought he had not received one-half the profit to the hive that I had, and he was quite ready to agree with me. Now, does not all this prove quite conclusive- ly that a small brood-chamber is better than a large one? It certainly looks so. But, hold on a little. I have several out-apiaries. One of them, six miles away, I have for several years kept mostly on seven or eight Langstroth frames. Close by it my brother's wife has a small apiary in large brood -chambers, with ten or eleven Langstroth combs to the hive. She does not believe in feeding— says that, if bees can not get their own living, they may die. So she did not feed at all the past season, while I had to feed quite heavily both spring and fall, and her yard averaged more marketable sur- plus honey to the hive than mine, and I think twice the profit with one-half the care. Hurrah for the large brood-chamber I Now, here is experiment and positive proof to ray raind that both are best and that neither is best. But what raakes the difference? What are the principles that underlie the subject that raake a large or small brood-chamber more valuable in a given location than the other size? All were wintered alike out of doors, all were on the same size of frame; and, so far as I know, the bees were equally good workers. I believe we have not far to look for an an- swer. In my home yard the bees have an al- 364 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. r most continuous flow of honpy from willows and maples, from flower-gardens, fruit-trees, and dandelions, from early April until June, and brood-rcarins progresses with great rapid- ity. The brood cliamber being small, the brood can be kept warm with fewer bees, and more workers are sent to the fields; and, the faster the honey comes in, the faster the brood is spread, and strong colonies early in the season is the result. How is it in the ynid six miles away? The conditions are quite difl'erent. Very little early honey is to be had; and, while the small brood- chamber always contains ample honey for pres- ent needs (for we feed if they do not), the bees will not spread their brood as fast as where there are from 15 to 20 lbs. or more of old honey at the sides of their hives. Again, I have found hives with a large brood- chamber and "lots" of honey, rearing brood later in the season than hives with less room and less honey, and so go through the winter stronger. Again, it is necessary to feed colonies in a small brood-chamber much more in autumn to winter them than is necessary to feed to those in a large brood -chamber; and it now seems vgry doubtful whether sugar syrup is as good to stimulate brood-rearing as is pure honey. So It comes to pass that, where but little honey is gathered in early spring, the large brood-chamber has the advantage of a small one. But suppose we feed the colony in the small hive very heavily in autumn, will not that help the matter? My experience has been that, where a small brood-chamber is crowded with bees and honey, the bees will rear a large amount of brood in winter, and the vitality of the bees and their stores both be exhausted. I formerly reasoned in this way: What is the use of letting a colony of bees occupy eleven frames when eight are all they really need for brood and a moderate supply of honey? Why not have the eighteen pounds of honey that it would take to fill those extra combs, stored in boxes which would sell for ?=3.00 above the cost of sections, etc., and then in the fall feed 15 lbs. of sugar, which, would cost less than a dollar, and thus make a dollar clear to each hive, which, on 500 hives, would be no small sum? The logic seems to be all right; but in practice I have only one yard where it is an entire suc- cess, and that is where the bees get an abun- dance of early honey, and here a small brood- chamber is much more profitable than a large one. In our other yard it would seem to be about an even thing, and in all my other yards the large broedchamber has decidedly the ad- vantage, unless in exceptional seasons when there happens to be an unusual yield of early honey. Middlebury, Vt., Jan. 19. — Bee-keepem^ Review for February. Br G.M.DOOLITTLE.BOROOINO.N.Y. '■''■"'"'■"'■■■'■""■"I ■^•- ■' "!' !'■ ""■ INCREASING COLONIES. Question.— Owing to the past cold winter, bees are coming out very poorly this spring, some having lost from one-third to two-thirds of their colonies, and others nearly all they had last fall. Now, what we wish to know is. how to build up the colonies we have left, so that the combs can be occupied, and our apiaries be prosperous again. We elect you as our general; so, go ahead that we may follow. Answer. — I am very sorry to hear of the many losses, from reports which are coming in, but am glad to see the cheerful spirit manifest- ed in going about building up again, and will gladly do all I can to help. In this building-up process, all want one or more boxes similar to a honey-case, only having wire-cloth sides, and a hole in the top which will admit a funnel, such as is used in putting up bees by the pound, this hole having something like a door to easi- ly close it with; and one of the wire-cloth sides should be tacked to small wooden strips, and thus made easily removable. All how to make these ''nuclei boxes " has been given by myself in back volumes of Gleanings. As early in the spring as you can do so withoutloss by cold spells, begin to stimulate the very strongest colonies you have, by spreading the brood and feeding (being sure that you do not go too fast), so that these colonies may swarm early, thus giving you queen-cells, or build queen-cells for you by the plan given in my book, so that you can have plenty of queen- cells to use as you wish them, if you prefer to raise your queens to purchasing them. Having the queen-cells nearly mature, or having queens on hand by purchase or otherwise, go to the colonies which can spare bees without damag- ing their building-up as fast as you desire, and take out two frames having to the amount of about one-half pound of bees on them, being sure the old queen is not on these combs. Set them down on the outside of the hive, and tap gently on them so as to cause the bees to fill themselves with honey; and as soon as they are filled shake them down through the funnel into the box, removing the funnel and closing the hole. While the bees are filling themselves with honey, you can go to other colonies and take out frames of bees from them, and thus keep things moving right along, instead of waiting as you will have to if there is only one colony in the apiary. Having the bees in the box. return the combs of brood to their old place in the hive, marking the one having the most hatching brood, so you can get it in a moment when wanted. Now set the boxes of bees in a cool dark place. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 365 and leave them till near night — just lime •enough so you can finish your work before it becomes so dark you can not see. At the right time, go to the hive from which you took the bees, and get the marked comb, shaking the bees which are on it in front of the entrance, and put a frame of comb from which the bees have died, in its place. Now take your comb of brood and a frame of honey, left from your dead colonies, and place them in a hive where you wish a colony to stand, putting in a divi- sion-board so as to make a small hive for the two combs. Go to your hive having queen- cells, and take one of them, fitting it into the comb having the brood, at the upper edge of said brood. Now close the entrance to the hive; get the box of bees, and put it with the funnel-hole next the combs; open the door over this hole; and if the box is within three-eighths of an inch of the brood, the bees will immedi- ately run out of the box on the combs. As soon as they begin to run out, close the hive, and the work is done till next morning, when you will take out the box, adjust the division-board, and open the entrance. As soon as the young •queen from the cell given gets to laving, you are ready to insert your combs from the dead colonies till the hive is filled, giving the combs as fast as the bees can occupy them. In the above, I have given the mode of making one little colony; and you are to make as many and as often as you have colonies that can spare bees and queen-cells to give the bees, using about half a pound of bees for each colony made during June, one pound during July, and two pounds during August. Where we have plenty of combs to use, there should be no trouble in making ten colonies from one old one in the spring, as I have repeatedly proven. If you prefer to purchase queens, instead of rais- ing them, then you will proceed the same as above given ; but instead of doing any thing about putting the bees in the hive at night, you will place the queen in a provisioned cage, go to your box of bees, and, by setting the box down suddenly, drop them all to the bottom, when the caged queen is to be hung in so the top of the cage touches the top of the box, and the bees left till the next morning, when the hive is to be fixed as before, less the queen-cell; and, instead of opening the funnel-hole for the bees to run out of it, the movable side is taken off, and the bees hived like a swarm, letting the queen out of the cage so she can go in with them. Or if you do not prefer this plan at all, then let the colonies swarm as fast as they will; and, six days after any swarm issued, di- vide the old colony into nuclei, using two combs with bees, brood, and a queen-cell to start a separate colony, and build up these nu- clei with the combs not occupied with bees. In this way you can make six good colonies from one in the spring, and often secure quite a sur- plus from the new swarm. DIVIDING COLONIES. Question.— I wish to divide each of my colo- nies just once; thereby securing the increase I desire. How would you proceed to do this if you had virgin or laying queens to give the queenless half? Answer. — Having the queens on hand, as it is supposed in the above question, go to any col- ony 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. Now look over the combs until you find the one having the queen on it, when you will place said comb in the new hive. Next give them a frame having some honey in it, and then fill out the hive with empty combs or foundation, when about two- thirds of the bees in the old hive are to be shaken in front of the new hive, and allowed to run in. Now arrange the frames back in the old hive, putting a division-board in place of the frames taken out, when the old hive is to be carried to a new location where it is wished that it should remain. After the bees thus re- moved have become reconciled to their queen- less condition, or in from 24 to 36 hours, give them a virgin or laying queen in a cage, in the mouth of which is enough Good candy so that it will take them from three to four hours to eat it out, thus liberating the queen. When the queen gets to laying, take out the division- board and fill out the hive with combs or foundation. In this way we secure a new swarm, control all after-swarming, and intro- duce a young queen, all to our liking and with but little trouble. '^ci^g^rgk^ HONEY-CAKE RECIPE. As I know a good recipe to make honey-cake, I will publish it for the benefit of others: Five eggs; 2 cups honey; 1 cup sugar; cinnamon; one teaspoonful soda. Beat the eggs with sugar; heat the honey lightly; stir in soda with one spoonful of warm water, then pour it all together. Stir as much flour to it, to roll out for cakes. When eggs are scarce I take two eggs or none, but a cup of lard, two cups honey, one of sugar, etc. I prefer this recipe. I make cakes, or pour it in a pan. It never fails to be good in either shape. Just try it. You and the children will be satisfied. We eat honey three times a day, the whole year round. Guajilla and catsclaw honey have a fine taste. The more you eat, the better you like it. Mks. Annie Schuddemagkn. Sabinal, Texas. '-•()(; GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE Apk. 1. NO SE1>F-S1'ACING DEVICE WANTED. The 1(X) thick-top frames I ordered of you, and received Aug. 30. 1894, I think are the best made; in fact. I would not give them for any other. I like a plain frame. I do not like the Hoffman, or a frame vv'ith a tack driven in the edge to space them. I always fix the space on the hive, and not make the frames self-spacing: by doing this there is no need of having any other than a plain thick-top frame. S. F. Sampson. Ronceverte, W. Va., Feb. 11. eny, but many running as high as four bands — none less than three. I bred from these queens, and found one to reproduce the markings of the mother; but the other two did not reproduce their markings in their daughti-rs. Some of their daughters wore not more lit to breed from than a hybrid mother; and I will state right here that no queen that will not reproduce her- self in her daughters is fit to breed from. So I came to the conclusion that the first cross on these queens, even if by a black drone, the progeny would be a respectable three-banded [All the manufacturers, I believe, allow their bee; but to breed further would be a cross hy- customers the option of self-spacing or non- spacing frames, for it is impossible to please every one with one style of frame.— Ed.] brid of the most vindictive nature. My experi- ence proves to me, at least, that all bright queens will not do as breeders: for, while black ROBBERS, and CRACKS AND CREVICES. blood may uot show on the first cross, it will I want to say something to you. where you crop out in the continuation of breeding, if are giving advice about robbing. You say. on there ever was the least particle in the mother, p. 2.51, in the A B C. "Close all cracks and crev- Coronaca, S. C, Feb. 13. J. U. Fooshe. ices." Now, I want to ask right here, what will start robbing quicker than to have such cracks how to protect an apiary from thieves; A SILENT night-watch THAT BOARDS ITSELF AND WORKS FOR NOTHING. 1 have been troubled with thieves in my apiary this season robbing one colony of fine Italians of all the honey, with frames, right after the fall flow, thus destroying the colony entirely. Now, what I should like to know is this: Can I procure some powder cartridges, similar to the .5 or 10c. caution firecracker, sold and crevices in a hive? I want to say again, that, if bee-keepers can't make or furnish hives for their bees, that have not such cracks in, they ought not to keep bees at all. Big Rapids, Mich. A. A. Joles. [The item to which you refer was written be- fore the advent of the present modern factory- made hives, with their nice-fitting joints, and referred more particularly to the bee-keeper who made them himself. I agree with you, that there should be no cracks or crevices in a for 4th of July celebration for the small boy. well-regulated apiary: for surelv in this case prevention is better than cure.— Ed] FIVE-BANDED STOCK; DIFFICULTY OF BREED- ING THEM TRUE TO MARKINGS. I ordered, about three years ago, a five-band- ed queen and two untested queens from a pure explode the cartridge, causing a loud report, that will explode by pulling it apart, or, in other words, by friction, instead of a spark of fire? My idea is, to have one of these fitted to a hive using an outer case, and so adjusted that, when the cover or top is removed, it will five-banded mother. The queens reared from the five-banded queen, in every instance so far as I know, produced queens that, in every re- spect, resembled the mother— finely marked, and, in the majority of instances, the daughters thus not only frightening the thief, but also giving the alarm to the apiarist. I intend to fix up something that will do the business, even with shells used in a shot-gun, 3;'.j drams of powder, and heavy wads; but I think cartridges produced a full three-banded stock, while the designed for this special purpose, making a other two untested queens, from the five-band- ed mother, or claimed to be, produced as fine, distinct, three-banded bees as I ever saw; but neither of them was fit to rear queens from. The daughters from them were a motley set, and, in the majority of instances, would pro- duce hybrids, from black all the way to four bands. Some of the daughters from these queens would be black, while others would be yellow to the tip. I keep no black bees in my apiary, and there are but very few in the vicin- ity—none less than two and three miles. That was my first experience with these bees. I made a further experiment, however, and found about the same. I ordered, in August, 1892, three untested queens from a pure five- banded mother. This, as in the other instance, I believe to have been from a perfectly reliable breeder. They were all safely introduced, and proved to produce strictly three-banded prog- loud report, would be much better if they could be procured, which could be exploded by fric- tion of the parts. John K. Goodkich. Waterbury, Conn.. Nov. 2.5. [It would be rather expensive. T think, to get up a special cartridge that could be attached to hives; and even then, if it worked as i)lanned, it would scare away the thief instead of aiding in his capture. Afar better and cheaper ar- rangement, and one that we once used around a poultry-yard to keep away thieves, is a sim- ple electric bell, small battery, and a spool of linen thread. We simply stretched the thread around where the chickens were housed in small coops. It was black, and was passed through small screw eyes attached to trees. Of course, in the nighttime this would be invisible, es- pecially if only about two feet from the ground. This thread should run clear around the apiary or poultry-yard. One end should be made fast, and the other tied to a wooden plug slipped be- tween two brass clips, representing the poles of the battery. The battery wire and bell may reach to the house and into the bedroom. The 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 267 minute an intruder runs against the linen thread it will draw the wooden plug out and al- low the spring clips to come together and com- plete the circuit of the battery, when the bell will ring in the bedroom and give the alarm, unknown to the thief. In our own case, for- tunately or unfortunately, the thii f did not come any more. If he had he would have been surprised. Now, this plan will protect 100 colo- nies at a cost not to exceed $i.'>0 for material, and perhaps three or four hours' time in put- ting up.— Ed.] THE HEDDOX DIVISIBI-EBROOD-CHAMBER HIVE; THE DANZENHAKER HIVE, AND THE QUESTION OF INFRINGEMENT. When Mr. Heddon saw the article by Mr. Danzenbaker, which we published on page 221, he requested the privilege of replying to the same, saying his reply would be fair, courteous, and logical. As Rambler and one or two others had expressed themselves privately as of the opinion that the D. hive was a direct in- fringement on the Heddon patent, if any thing was, it seemed no more than fair to Mr. Heddon that the request be granted. It is im- portant, I think, that the question of infringe- ment, if any, and just what Mr. Heddon's patent does cover, be discussed fairly and can- didly— more so than for the parties to resort to the process of law. The reply is as follows: THE DANZENBAKER (?) HIVE. Bro. Root;— I have just read Mr. Danzenbaker's article and your editorial comments regarding the same. On this, above all other subjects, do bee- keepers need information. I am very glad to note your sincere and intelligent views regarding our national laws giving adequate titles to the earners of property. First, I will say that I am surprised at your statement that you have not received the Quarterly edition of my paper, devoted to bee cul- ture. It was mailed you promptly, over six weeks ago; but we know mistakes will occur in our offices and on our railroads. But now allow me space to make clear to your readers the relation between Mr. Danzenbaker and myself. Bro. John H. Martin (Rambler), of California, has sent a communication to me which will appear in my April issue. In that communication occurs the following: Recently in my travels in this State I have found a great variety in the size of brood-frames, and tlie tendency seems to be toward the shallow frame. Mr. Brodbeck, of Los Angeles, reduces the depth of the Hoffman an inch or more. Mr. Flory, in Central California, uses a similar frame. These straws show the tendency of the times; and the shallow- er the hive used, the more pronounced becomes the liability of infringement. Mr. Heddon says that, when straws become sawlogs, there is some meaning to them. Here comes the sawlog. When in Los Angeles a few days since, attending our State convention, my attention was called to a divisible- brood-chaniber hive, invented and patented by Mr. F. Danzenbaker, of Washington, D. C. I do not know what Mr. Danzenbaker's claims are; but this 1 do know, that, at first glance, any person at all familiar with the Heddon hive, would snyatonce, " Why, there is a Hi ddon hive." A closer examina- tion reveals the fact that t)ie thumb-screws are mis.sing; and the case, insiead of having eight frames, contains ten, and thei'e is a sheet metal lining in the ends which also serves for supporting tlie frames, which are adupliCMte of the Heddon. In making his frame close fitting toaeiher, and also to the case, tlie combination is clearly an infringe- ment upon the Heddon claim. The sheet-metal lining and rest, or frame-sup- port, used by Mr. Danzenbaker, we consider very objectionable, expensive, and a failing effort to overcome supposed weaknesses that do not exist In our hive. That sheet metal will not hold the frame tightly together, nor tightly to the case, for shaking and inverting; and if it would, it would be an infringe- ment upon that special function of my invention, in the use of close-titting frames, at the same time closely fitting the ends of the case. Whether Mr. Danzenbaker's features are better or worse, they can not be made, used, or sold, without laying all parties liable for infringement. My circular quotes patent laws, giving all the reasons why. The only damage Mr. Danzenbaker's hive can do is to lead bee-keepers into infringemeiits, and away from bet- ter devices. Mr. Martin says that a brood-chamber, made in divisible parts, and used as specified in our patent, is well adapted to California, and we are sure he is correct; for it is equally adapted to any spot on earth. While it was constructed principally for safety and time-saving in manipulating the apiary, it has been repeatedly demonstrated, since we brought out the hive, that a divisible or multiple brood-chamber winters bees more safely, and that they breed up faster in the shallow tiers of frame, than in any other style of hive. Hundreds have so testified; but, as stated before, to fully carry out safety and economy in manipulation, the frames must be fixed, and our manner of adjusting them tightly to each other at their ends, by the use of set- screws, and sufficiently close to the ends of the case that they are readily movable, yet the bees can not go behind them, is the only one we believe to be possible, so long as bees keep their present in- stincts. The set-screws are the only device which will securely hold the frames, for the needed manip- ulations in carrying out to completion the new system of management. Mr. Martin is acquainted with the state of the art, consequently he knows what is my property, and in his article makes that knowledge Known to our readers. It must be his inquiry relates to the question as to whether there may not be a flaw in the Mf/e upon which I depend for the protection of my property. I am quite cer- tain there is not, Bro. Martin ; but if there were, do you understand that bee-keepers would rob me of what they know to be the results of my labor, pro- vided the sheriff was absent ? Laws are not virtues, but necessary evils; necessary to protect virtue and industry from crime and idleness. Law doesn't make right and wrong, per sc. You know of what my invention consists, and you know it is my property, whether I had any patent-deed to it or not. But I have, as you know; and allow me to add that it is a good strong one, for, as the great author- ity. Walker, states, " The state of the art to which an invention belongs, at the time that invention was made, must be considered In construing any claim for that invention." 268 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. Since Lang-st roth was robbed, a patent court of equity has been established. This was done in 1870. The establishment of that court enables you, my rambling brother bee-keeper, to make a much bet- ter guess as to howl shall come out when I am compelled to defend my natural rights in United States courts than could a judge on tlie United States supreme bench, who was not acquainted with the state of the art to which my invention belongs. The patent court of equity gives unto Cfesar the things which are Caesar's. We have no dispute about the ownership of what the state of our art sliows through its literature and otherwise, as was brought forward by me. The divisible brood-chamber, with its collateral functions, was constructed especially to carry out a new system of management, neither one of which was known before the issuance of my patent. I have none, nor could I have a patent on any partic- ular depth, length, or capacity of a frame or brood- chamber. My patent covers a divisible brood- chamber, xised as and for the purposes specified in said patent. These purposes specified are the same as have been time and again written in bee-jour- nals, my circulars, and book. There is no mistaking it, and no getting around it. In Langstroth's time, a popular method of deceiving the public was to procure a hive-patent on some minor or inconse- quential feature which the claims covered, while the specifications (of wliich the drawings form a part) showed the essential feaiures of father Lang- stroth's valuable patented invention. The unedu- cated public supposed it liad a right to use the "patented hives," just as illustrated in the Jones, Smith, or Brown patents; but no such thing is true. They procured the right to use only what was claimed in the claims in these worthless patents, the patent office presupposing that Jones, Smith, and Brown would purchase of Mr. Langstroth the right to use his invention before they would use or sell their own. It is as though I had invented a bundle-carrier for a McCormick reaper. Before my invention is available, I must procure a right of Mr. McCormick, or sell my invention to him for what I can get for it. A patented machine or man- ufacture may infringe some other patent just as much as one that is not patented; rememl)er that. Also, please remember that a patent is not property, but an attempt to give a title to property. One writer has asked me why I don't begin prose- cution against Mr. Dauzenbaker. Why should I make haste ? In most cases it is much cheaper and better for me to begin suit against his customers; but why make haste ? Every one infringing my patent is liable, and the law gives me six j'ears after the expiration of my patent, or until 11(08, to collect royalty from all who infringe. There is no hurry; nearly all bee-keepers are fairly well intoimed, and it is rarely that one would make, use, or sell the Danzenbaker hive without knowing he was infring- ing, as certainly as Mr. Martin, the reader, and our- selves know it. It is, perhaps, a fact that we have done too little in the direction of introducing the new hive to the public. Bee-keepers have been so writing us ever since our last issue of The Quarterly containing the more complete directions for properly making and using tlie; hive, written by a thoroughly honest and un- biased friend. So far as our financial interest is concerned, which is by no means the paramount one, we have been in no hurry, knowing that time would bring the truth uppermost, and feeling whol- ly secure in our patents. There is also another phase to this subject. That strong sense of justice among bee-keepers, men- tioned in your editorial, will very likely make it un- necessary for us to spend large sunis of money in U. S. courts, provided the people are properly in- formed regarding the rights and wrongs of invent- ors, and it rests largely with our literature as to whether or not honey-producers shall receive such information. Ja.mes Heddon. Dowagiac, Mich., Mar. 20. In the meantime Mr. Danzenbaker was ad- vised that Mr. Heddon would reply to his arti- cle then in type. In anticipation of this he directed his attorney at Washington to send in his opinion on the legal aspect of the question, to us. It was received before Mr. Heddon's article, and is reproduced herewith: The A. I. Boot Co. .'—Mr. F. Danzenbaker requests me to give you an opinion upon the question of in- fringement of the patent to James Heddon, for bee-hive. No. 32V,~'68, issued Sept. 29. 1885, by such a hive as that shown in Mr, D.'s patent. No. 6~1,873, issued June ~6, 1894. A careful comparison of the hives shown in the respective patents discloses a similarity of struc- ture only in the following respects; viz.: Each hive is composed of several (three) removable cases, containing respectively brood-frames and honey- sections, and each has a similarly made top or cover for the hive. Such similarity being found to exist, the question is presented. Has the Heddon patent any claim which, by a fair construction, can be held to cover the same, and hence be infringed by the Danzenbaker hive ? In my opinion, this question must be answered in the negative. The only claim of the Heddon patent, that even remotely touches upon the features of construction common to the two hives, is the 5th; but under no principle of construction, recognized by the courts, can his claim be held to be infringed by the Dan- zenbaker hive, because the latter does not contain the cleats and thumbscrews that are specified as essential elements of the combination in said claim. To infringe this claim, a hive must not only eon- tain the thumbscrews and cleats, as the means for holding the brood-frames in position, but such screws and cleats must have substantially the location and relative position specifically defined in the claim. The scope of this claim of Heddon, furthermore, is not only restricted l)y reason of its express limi- tations, but by the fact that the records of the Patent Oftiee, in connection with his patent, show that he was not the originator of a hive composed of several horizontal sections, to enable the capacity of the hive to be increased or diminished according to the size of the colony. When his application for patent was pending, Mr. Heddon tried to obtain the following claim : "In a bee-hive, a brood-chamber constructed of two or more horizontal separable and interchange- able sections." This claim the Patent Office refused, as being to a construction that was old at the time of Heddon's Invention, as shown by patents 33,668; 196,060; and 203,890, and the claim was accordingly dropped. You will see that tliis claim contains no such limi- tations as the 5th of his patent; and had he secured 895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 269 the same, he could well assert the Danzenbaker hive to be an infring-ement. Unfortunately for Mr. Heddon, however, not being the first inventor of the subject-matter set out in said claim, he had to content himself with the 5th claim of the patent, with its limitations to thumbscrews and cleats, and he has no right to prevent others from making- hives having a brood-chamber composed of two or more horizontal, separable, and Interchangeable sections, unless they use in connection therewith the thumbscrews and cleats. No principle of patent law is better settled than that, where an inventor in applying for a patent makes a broad claim, and drops it in view of its refusal by tlie Patent Office, and in its stead takes a narrow claim, having limitations to a construc- tion not specified in the rejected claim, he can not be permitted to repudiate the limitations of his narrow claim, so as to make one an infringer who does not use what is specified in the claim, but uses onl}' what was set forth in the claim originally made and dropped because of its rejection by the Patent Office. This is Heddon's position exactly. In view of the foregoing, it is my opinion that, upon neitlier legal nor moral grounds can Heddon properly claim that he is entitled to stop the manu- facture and sale of the Danzenbaker hive. Washington, D. C. C. J. Willi.4mson. The 5th claim of Mr. Heddon's patent, re- ferred to above, reads as follows: In a bee-hive, a brood-chamber consisting of a series of reversible and intercliangeable cases, each of said cases being provided with thumb-screws ex- lending through one side, and with cleats at the corners of the other side and facing said thumb- screws, and of a number of reversible frames rig- idly secured therein between said thumbscrews and cleats, and a stand and cover, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I have already sent for the copies of patents stated by Williamson to cover the divisible- brood-chamber idea: but at this date they have not arrived. I desire to take no side in this matter, any more than to give each party a fair and impar- tial hearing. Eight extra pages as usual. The two-pound vs. one-pound section ques- tion is very nicely answered by W. H. Putnam, in his paper in the Madison convention report in this issue. Do not forget that now is the time to dis- tribute the little pamphlet on bees and fruit, among neighbors who are disposed to call the bees a nuisance. The editor of ReMew,vf hUe admitting that the cutting-down of the labor item by the use of labor-saving hives helps to make a success of the business, says that, " if the flowers fail to yield nectar, all the short cuts in the world will not save us." Quite right, Bro. H. When a writer condemns a thing he has never tried, and speaks from his own standpoint, and not from that of another, and judges from his own climate, and not from that of another, his criticism is weak, to say the least. The February Apiculturist comes to hand with a smiling face and a cordial good will to all its sister-cotemporaries. It is largely, as are the preceding numbers, made up of editorial matter written in Mr. Alley's characteristic style. The editor of the Review agrees with me in thinking that Mr. Boardman is one of the keenest, brightest, and most intelligent bee- keepers we have. He is a man who writes but little, but thinks much. He has followed the bee-journals closely; and now that we have succeeded in getting him to write a few articles for Gleanings, I shall expect something un- usually good from his pen. In this issue his articles are begun again. Cards are beginning to come in thick and fast, showing that there is a strong desire on the part of our readers for the continuance of the discussion, large vs. small hives. We have received only one request to have it dropped. So, unless the straws, or "sawlogs," point dif- ferently, we will keep up the question a while longer. It is a very important subject, and each bee-keeper should settle it in the light of the discussion brought out for his locality. Upon its right solution hinges largely the bread-and-butter side of bee-keeping. A SUBSCRIBER writes that he likes our way of tiering up hives in the cellar for wintering, but he wants to know how to get rid of rats and mice. Our plan is none other than that used and recommended by H. R. Boardman; namely, piling bottomless hives, with cover sealed down, one on top of two others, so as to leave a large open space at the bottom. If the cellar is not mouse-proof, and can not be made so, use "rough on rats " or some other poison, nicely concealed in one or two kinds of food, as de- scribed by a correspondent recently. If there are only mice, the nicest way is to use common traps. rERCOLATOR SYRUP A SAFE WINTER FOOD. We fed our bees last fall in two different ways. The majority of them were fed by the percolator plan, and the rest with syrup made in the old-fashioned way— X sugar and X water, by the use of heat. Although the for- mer were fed with very much less labor, and with far less danger from robbers, and with no heat or mussing of pans or cans, they wintered just exactly as well. You see, the percolator syrup is made half sugar and half water. The bees receive it in a condition about as thin as nectar from natural sources. They ripen it thoroughly, and of course it is the best feed 270 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. they can have. I shall expect that, in a series of years, comparative tests will show that such feed is far preferable— that is, that thin syrup is much better than thick feed, either early or late. THE HIGGINSVILLE AND GABLE COVER MIXED. It appears that some of the correspondents of our exchanges, in criticising the Higginsville gable cover and the ventilated gable cover, have got the two mixed. It is perfectly evident that they have not studied carefully the en- gravings and descriptive matter of each cover; otherwise they would not make such blunders in their criticisms. The ventilated cover is intended primarily for the South, and all cli- mates where the sun pours down hot. It is not a cover that I would personally use, as I prefer a single-thickness cover, flat on the under side; but as all people can not be made to think alike, and as climates vary greatly from each other, manufacturers try to make covers that will suit all classes and conditions. Why one should condemn one style and praise another, I can not understand. ' One might as well con- demn climate. DO BEES TKANSPOBT EGGS? Considerable speculation is now being in- dulged in as to whether bees ever transport eggs in their hive. Most authorities in this country seem to agree that they do. So far as I am concerned I know that they do, for I have seen them carry eggs— not once, but a number of times, and I do not understand why our good friends the Germans have not seen a similar thing. Mr. Hasty, in commenting in the Re- view on the fact of my having witnessed the transportation of the egg, says I " neglected to follow on and see whether the egg was used for lunch or queen-rearing, or what." This is true; but I was not then particularly interested in the point, because I assumed that the mere fact that they carried them at all was evidence that they intended to use them in some queen- cell. This they may have done, but I feel tol- erably sure that bees do at times use them for "lunch," for I have repeatedly noticed, as have others, that, when I have put a frame of eggs into a colony, for the purpose of obtaining queen-cells, two or three days afterward a large portion of the eggs would have disappeared. HASTY ON GLEANINGS. The following very kind notice is from one of our old correspondents— Mr. E. E. Hasty: Let me see; what kind of paint did I put on Gleanings the last time she was in dry dock ? Whatever coating' got put on for some of the prom- ising writers seems to have peeled off since. I was going to name Jolin Smith as a "peel-offer;" but Jake, after sleeping in his bunk for many months, has been on deck quite recently. But if tliere is a little peeling off occasionally. Gleanings is the same nice ship— same assortment of captains and pilots, and same boa's'n. And ?he rides the waves of tlie hard-times cyclones a little easier than any other craft. No other seems to t)e saying, "Eight pages extra this time." The editori il work in the line of travel notes and interviews keeps well up, if not expanding a little in space. Friend Norman seems to be the nvw " middy," with more frequent hearings from friends France and Dayton. Portrait- publishing, which had declined a little, is being revived. The opening number of the year has two excellent portraits; and the persons are people of general interest whose pictures have not been trotted around much it' at all. Tliey are John T. Calvert, of the A. I. Root Co., and N. E. France, of E. France & Son. And putting footnotes of the Gleanings variety on the Straws gives an added vivacity to the first page of late. Coming from such a source, it is highly ap- preciated, and we tender friend Hasty our sin- cere " thank you." AVINTER LOSSES. Our wintering loss up to the 20th of March was only 2 per cent, out of a total number of over 200 colonies. Three of the colonies were made up of a number of small queen-rearing nuclei, united late in the season. Such made-up stocks are liable to succumb any way, so we al- ways take our chances on them. The other col- ony was one of those handsome five-banders. Winter losses among careful and expert bee- keepers this winter will be comparatively light; but among the slovenly and slipshod it will be heavy. It seems to be a fact that cold winters (that is, continuously cold), where the bee- keepers are of the class first mentioned, are favorable. The bees do very little brood-rear- ing, and the spring usually comes on quick, and opens up warm and balmy. As I have often remarked, it is not as difficult to winter bees as it is to spr-hig them. Well, then, if the winter suddenly turns into good warm spring, as we hope it will do this spring, and as it generally does do after such a cold winter, this spring will be comparatively easy on the bees. There! I am afraid I am counting the chickens before they are hatched. NON-SWARMING DEVICES AND FIVE-BANDERS. Experimenter Taylor, in the Review, in referring to non-swarming devices, says, "One can hardly avoid the suspicion that the Lang- don device and the Conser hive depend for their success upon principles which the bees are by no means uniformly careful to observe." From all I know regarding these non-swarmers, I think Mr. Taylor is about right. Further on, referring to the five- banded bees and his ex- perience with them, he says: Though called "golden Italians," I should have pronounced them any thing but Italians, judging from the disposition they exhibited. While they are not the most irascible of bees, they are yet very nervous, and quick to manifest a recognition of intrusion, from which characteristics I should have 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 271 judged them to be larg-ely of Syrian blood. But the most noted characteristic exhibited by at least one of tlie two colonies was an inclination to rob. If there was any attack to be attempted ou a colony, or any chance to pry into a case of honey, about one-half the would-be thieves out of a large apiary were from one or both of these colonies. It is to be hoped that this peculiarity may stand them in stead in the gathering- of nectar when an opportu- nity occurs. I can personally vouch for the truth of Mr. Taylor's statements; for while I was in his apiary last summer they exhibited several of the characteristics he has pointed out. THOSE GIANT BEES OF IXDIA. Perhafs our readers will remember seeing in our columns an advertisement of "Giant Bees." We accepted the card for two insertions, and in the mean time wrote to the advertiser, asking him to send samples of the bees, as it is not our custom to accept an advertisement of a novelty unless we know what it is. We re- ceived no response to our first request, and finally wrote again, and still the request was ignored. We dropped the advertisement, and finally the following card came to hand: I have been led into the Giant-Bee business througli my ignorance, and am out $14 cash. I should like to liave you discontinue my advertise- ment. I have received a good many letters and postal cards asking for descriptions, samples, etc., but no orders or money. If I receive any it will be returned at once. I have answered none of them yet, and am very much ashamed of having been mixed up in this matter. C. D. Holt. Murray, Ky., March 12. Inasmuch as Mr. Holt claims, in the Ameri- can Bee Journal, that the drones of the "Giant " bees will fertilize queens in confine- ment— yes, several of them — even in a queen- cage, it is evident he could not be fully inform- ed in regard to the habits of bees or of the experiments that have been made in the past. We should not have inserted his advertisement in the first place; and it is due to our readers and Mr. Holt's patrons that his card should be published. I do not mean to give the impression that Mr. Holt intended to be dishonest; but it is a little singular that he refused to send samples of the bees or reply to those who wrote. If he really has the bees, and inasmuch as he has adver- tised them, it seems to us he ought to be willing to send at least the editors of bee-journals dead specimens, even if it is difficult for him to get live ones at this time of the year. The $14 that he refers to is probably the total cost of adver- tising in all the bee-journals. WAX ADULTERATIONS. AND SIMPLE METHODS FOR DETECTING THE .SAME. Since our last issue we have been carrying on quite a series of experiments, taking wax of known purity, wax adulterated with paraffine, and wax mixed with ceresin, and carefully noting the results in each case. I procured a lot of test-tubes, such as are used by chemists, and told the foreman of our foun- dation department to put a small quantity of each of the samples into each tube. These, together with a thermometer, were to be placed in a bath of water, the temperature of the water lobe gradually raised, when he was to be careful to observe the melting-point of the contents of each tube. The different tubes were numbered, and the results are shown in the following table: No. 1, white wax, commenced melting at 156° F.; entirely liquid at 160. No. 3, half wax and half ceresin; commenced mtlting at 160; entirely liquid at 166. No. 3, red wax, probably Southern; commenced melting at 153; entirely liquid at 158. No. 4, recently bought wax, commenced melting at 153; entirely liquid at 159. No. 5, ceresin only, commenced melting at 163; entirely liquid at 173. No. 6, half wax and half parafBne; commenced melting at 140; entirely liquid at 148. I will explain that No. 3, the red wax, is a product from the South or from Cuba, the real color of which is a brownish red, and at first it appears to be suspicious; but, as I shall show later on, it is probably all right. Nos. 1, 3, and 4 are probably pure wax. The slight difference in the melting-points is due to the amount of dirt, or whether the wax had been recently remelted often or not. Now, then, referring to the table you will see that the pure wax begins to melt at from 153 to 156. and becomes a perfect liquid at from 158 to 160. You will observe that No. 6 (wax that we adulterated ourselves) half paraffine and half wax, commenced to melt at 140, and became liquid at 148. No. 2, half wax and half ceresin, commenced to melt at 160, and became liquid at 166. No. 5, pure ceresin, began to melt at 163, and became liquid at 173. We therefore observe that the melting-point of ceresin is much higher than that of wax, and that par- afBne is correspondingly lower. No. 6, half paraffine and half wax, shows the melting- point just where we should expect it. No. 2, half wax and half ceresin, shows figures that are- half way between the pure wax and pure ceresin. You see. therefore, that something can be told by the melting-point of doubtful pieces of wax. I wish to remark right here, however, that the text-books put the fusing- pointofwax anywhere from 145 to 1.50. This, doubtless, applies to wax as it comes from the hives, and which has not been rendered pre- viously. It is observable that, the more wax is melted over, the higher the fusing-point, and the tougher it becomes. Now, then, I want to give you a simpler and easier test, and one that may be, I think, fairly reliable. In our last issue we quoted from 273 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. Cheshire, giving the alcohol test. But he seems to assume that it is valuable only for the detection of grease; but we find that it will apply not only to grease, but to wax and par-- affine as well. We procured a large Mason jar — one holding two quarts; and in the bottom were put several pieces of wax of known purity. Water was poured in, to a point say half full. Of course, the wax would all rise to the top. Alcohol was then added until the wax had set- tled to the bottom; then we took a piece of No. fi, half paraf'fine and half wax, and found that it floated readily; also a piece of No. 2, half wax and half ceresin, did the same. Pure par- affine and pure ceresin seemed to be more buoyant on the surface of the liquids, as a matter of course. Later on we took a sample of wax containing 10 per cent only of ceresin. It hovered nearer the top of the liquid, but did not seem inclined to come entirely into the "bad company " of the pure ceresin and pure parffine, and the mixtures, 50 per cent of each. The alcohol (or specific-gravity) test is not entirely reliable, but sufficiently so to put the wax-buyer on his guard, and cause him to have a chemical analysis made. I think there is no question but that the mixtures of half cere- sin and half paraffine can be readily detected by the above test; and it is to be assumed that, if adulteration is practiced at all, the mixers will put in at least .W per cent of the cheaper article, and that, likely, would be either ceresin or paraffine. These experiments were performed in my presence by our Mr. Kindy, foreman of the wax-working department, and Mr. Karl Ru- dolph Mathey. who, I found, is quite an expert in the wax business. He tells us that the Ger- mans make ceresin foundation, two-thirds cere- sin and one-third wax— that is, they sell it for what it is; but from what experiments we have made, I am rather of the opinion that the bees will not work this article nearly as well as they will pure wax; indeed, we find it impossible to roll foundation from pure ceresin. It is too hard and brittle, and is lacking in that ductile quality so necessary in hive-work, and would not, I imagine, be very suitable in the hive, even when mixed with pure wax. The ordinary paraffine of commerce has a beautiful milky whiteness, and, as explained, it has a lower specific gravity than pure wax. It is more ductile, and has a lower meliing-point. Ceresin, in color, may be milky white, or so nearly resembling the color of wax, as to deceive the most expert, from its mere appearance. We are now buying our supply of wax through a New York inspector, who has made this busi- ness of sifting the adulterated from the pure almost a life-study. To give you an idea of how the fakirs are trying to palm their adul- terated goods off on the unsuspecting, let me give you an instance. Out of 23 sacks of wax that were inspected by him, only 17 were ac- cepted, and were subsequently shipped on to us. I can hardly think that any of the foundation- makers have been deceived. The adulteration of wax has seemed to spring up within a year; and I trust that the simple tests above given will assist our co-workers or others to "spot" the spurious at once. ROOT brothers' HOME REPAIRING OUTFIT. Let me explain, to begin with, that the Root brothers are no relation to A. I. Root. That is, they are no relation without going away back. Their celebrated repairing outfit was first worked up by George A. and C. F. Root, in the middle of the year 1890; and I remember of being greatly pleased to see the unique engrav- ing of the cast-iron lasts, clinch-nails, etc., when they first put it out upon the world. You now can readily understand how vexed I felt when I saw unscrupulous imitators come out and copy even their advertisement before the idea had been out in print much more than a year. One of the first men to copy their idea entire, without so much as saying " by your leave," was one John H. Grant, of Chicago. I have had in mind, for a year or two past, holding these imitators up to public gaze; but I finally decided that the man who would appropri- ate ideas would, sooner or later, take other things, and so I let him alone, thinking it was not really my affair, any way; but the para- graph which I give below, from the Rural New-Yorker of March 9, seems to open the way to give Mr. Grant a little free advertising. Read it, and then give the gentleman a wide berth. There may be a less satisfactory business man in this country than Jolin H. Grant, of Chicag-o; but if there is, the R. N.-Y. has yet to find him. We con- tracted with liim recently to furnish a kit of tools for our subscribers, at a certain fixed price. When we sent him the orders, lie shipped about one-half the tools promised; and when we complained, he assured us that we had made a mistake— that he had two sets of tools, and that he had given us prices on the small kit. His story seemed plausible, and we accused ourselves of a blunder, and told him to send the rest of the tools at our expense. We also ordered the large kit sent to 27 more per- sons. This he promised in writing to do at once, six weeks ago, and sent us a bill for the same. We then supposed that he had sent them; but finding that the tools were not delivered, we kept writing to find out why. He now has the impudence to write that the orders are not filled, and that they will not be uulil we comply with unreasonable de- mands, which he now mentions for the first time. Fortunately, we are able to get the tools elsewhere, and we have sent the orders to another factory, where they will be filled promptly, and where we will get our future supply. Tliis explanation seems due to the subscribers who have been so long and patiently waiting for the tools which they should have received weeks ago. All the orders will now be forwarded at our expense to those who received only a part of the set. The full set will also go promptly to those who have received none. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 273 SACALINE— THE NEW AND WONDERFUL FOR- AGE-PI.ANT. I find that much interest seems to be center- ing in this new plant. I have already seen it growing at the Florida Experiment Station, at Lake City. While it does certainly promise a good deal, the statements we find in the seed- catalogs are, without question, greatly exag- gerated. As an illustration, the following is copied from a circular, with cut: Is perfectly hardy, even in Siberia— Flourishes in the Indies. Requires no plowing before plant inij. Needs no cultivation, no manuring, no replanting. Roots ))enetrate deep into the soil. Once planted, stands for ever. Endures severest drouth with impunity. Grows in poorest soils. Luxuriates in wet lands. Thrives where no other forage-plant will grow. Young shoots and leaves eaten as a vegetable. Stems and leaves, green or dry, greatly relished by cattle, sheep, and horses. More nutritious than clover or lucerne. Gives three and four cuttings per year. Produces 90 to 180 tons uf green forage per acre. ,. Grows 14 feet high by June. Excellent soil-enricher. Planted at any time. Affords shade to cattle in summer. Protection against storms in winter. Floods will not destroy it. Fire will not kill it. Cattle can not trample it out. Seed has been sold at .$10tO per pound. Indorsed by the highest authorities. Stock is limited. Some who have tested it claim that their stock will not eat it. This may be because they have been too well fed. It may be, also, that they have not learned how, or have not acquired a taste for it. The wild cattle in Florida will not even eat corn meal or bran, without "learning the trade;" and a cow that is dying with starvation would die all the same if ears of corn were all around her. Under very favorable circumstances, the plant may grow from 12 to 14 feet high, and so will a good variety of field corn down on the rich corn-bottom land of Missouri — at least, it comes pretty near that. The claims, however, of ■'liO to 180 tons of green forage per acre," I should say, are away ofi" — that is, if we are to understand by the above that this enormous product will be eaten by "cattle, sheep, and horses." You will notice the plant is said to be hardy from Siberia to the Indies. Well, when I saw it in Florida, toward the first week in March, the growth of last year was all killed down to the ground— killed, I suppose, by the frost; but new shoots had started up, some of them a foot away from the original plant. These shoots were from 3 to 6 inches in height. By permission I picked some of them, and felt cer- tain by the taste that all kinds of stock will eat it— at least, in this stage — and I also think it likely it might be cooked like asparagus. As to whether one would want to eat it unless he was very hungry, will have to be tested by ex- periment. SACALINE {Polygonum, Snchaltnense) the new forage and honey plant. It will, without doubt, grow from 6 to 10 feet high in a season, on any tolerable soil, when well started; and I believe cows and horses will eat it to some extent when it is young and ten- der, especially after they learn how. In this respect it is something like sweet clover. It takes a year or two, if I am correct, for it to get firmly rooted. After that it makes this tremendous and extraordinary growth. We can furnish the seed in five-cent packets, but Last, but not least, there are reports floating around that sacaline is a great honey-plant. I can not find out any thing very definite in regard to it. There do not seem to be any "posies" in the picture, but perhaps the plant had not got quite tall enough to bear honey when the photograph was taken. We will give further reports in regard to it as soon as we get hold of any thing really au- thentic. 274 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. ELECTROPOISE, OXYDONOR. ETC. THE "BLIND LEADING THE BLIND." Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing-, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them hy their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?— Matt. 7; 15. 16. Electropoise has been imitated. Just think of Itl Somebody, excited by the idea of getting $25.00 fo.' what costs about as many cents, has copied Electropoise! The new machine is ad- vertised, with the names of twelve ministers Df the gospel to back it — at least, they have got "Rev." before their names. The thing is more cheeky than even Electropoise itself. It also claims there are many imitations. It will not only cure people, but it will make plants grow. The picture of it is so exactly like that of the Electropoise that you can hardly tell one from the other. Price $25; or you can rent it for S3 a week. They admit there is nothing inside of the little metal case except sulphur and carbon. I really do not understand why people can not copy it and make one them- selves. But the manufacturers say it is "com- bined in certain delicately adjusted propor- tions." Here is a sample of their reasoning, to show how this machine takes oxygen from the air and transfers it to the body: We take from page 8 of Oxydonor circular: HOW DOES IT CUKE ? „ Electricians have known for years that any body connected with the earth by means of a conductor, like a wire, soon becomes "negative." A square and positive untruth in the outset. Nothing whatever pa^ses along the wire under the circumstances mentioned. The earth attracts the positive fluid from the body; and as all bodies have both po>itive and neg- ative electricity in them, when one is withdrawn the other remains. Another untruth. We now know that difiference of temperature lies at the bottom of this transfer. Hence, if the little plate of the " Oxydonor " be attached to the ankle, and the metal cylinder— or " vocor"— be placed in a temperature colder than the body (as in ice, cold water, or air), the positive fluid leaves the body and goes to the colder substance, thus leaving the body "negative." So much is plain. Exceedingly plain, Mr. Oxydonor ; by sup- porting the human body, or any other body, on a stool with glass legs, or insulating them in any way, this insulated body may be made either positive or negative, by means of a suit- able electrical machine. But the idea that human bodies, or any thing else, becomes posi- tive or negative when standing on the ground uninsulated, is a simple absurdity, even if it is quoted over and over again by venders of quack medicines. Now, we are surrounded by the air, four-flfths t)f which is free oxygen gas, and— Now, I do not know whether this is a sort of typographical blunder, or whether it is part and parcel of their other awful misstatements. We have given them the benefit of the former. Common air is about one-fifth oxygen and four- fifths nitrogen. See under "air" in Webster's dictionary. But let us now take the last half of the sentence. —oxygen gas has a strong affinity for the negative state. One begins to be puzzled a little as to what they mean by a "negative state." If they mean electrically negative, then it is another stupid falsehood. Oxygen has no more attrac- tion for a body negatively electrified than a horse has for a snapping-turtle. One statement would be just about as sensible as the other. Therefore, because you are connected with a cold- er substance, because that colder substance draws the positive fluid from you, thus leaving you "neg- ative," because the air is touching your body at all points, because the oxygen of the air is free, and has an affinity f.jr the negative state— you absorb the ox.vgen in the skin and tissues. The colder the substance with which you are connected, the more rapid the transfer of positive fluid, the stronger your negative condition, and the more intense the absorption and action of the oxygen. This last scientific (?) explanation of the way in which Oxydonor works is just like what I have quoted above. There is just as much science to it as there is in the ravings of a maniac. Now, if any of you think A. I. Root is mak- ing a mistake, and that he is doing injustice to an honest invention, find an educated man, if you can, who can make any sense of the above quotation. A good man may pass counterfeit money by mistake, not knowing that it is coun- terfeit; but the man or men who rmi'de the counterfeit money did not make a mistake. And the men who make Electropoise and Oxy- donor did not make a mistake. They knew they were humbugging the people by lies; and the men who put up this little metal case, filled with sulphur and graphite, know that it has no virtue, exactly in the same way that the counterfeiter who is at work with his counter- feiting-tools knows the money he is making is not genuine and honest. Quite a few who use the machine are now admitting that it is not electricity, but they claim these people have discovered some new and heretofore unknown force or agency' for the cure of the disease. My friends, if a new force in nature had been dis- covered, the whole scientific world from the Atlantic to the Pacific would be in an uproar about it. It would be of a thousand times more importance than a new planet, comet, or any thing of the kind. But the truth is, scien- tific men and scientific journals know nothing of any such discovery, for no such discovery has been made, in fact; and yet we have a case where a schoolteacher is taking the thing into a school and teaching the pupils that it is a scientific instrument! Again, they are making an excuse for charging $2.5 for a thing that costs only from 40 to .50 cts.. by saying that it is customary nowadays. Everybody who is charging more for a book than it is really worth, or for some secret in agriculture, or for some cure for disease, seems to have got hold of the following story. I will give it briefly in sub- stance: A big factory was standing still because they could not make the engine work. They tele- graphed for a man, and with two taps of his hammer he made it all right, and took the next train back to his city home. His bill was $25.25. When asked to explain, he said the 25 cts. was for doing the work, and the $25 was for know- ing how.* Now. a great many people are re- peating this, and thinking it is the honest truth. I want to say that I have never met with such a case in all my experience, nor any thing like it. We get experts from the large cities, to teach us how to do any thing we want done, or to make plans for us, etc. They charge us for only their time and traveling ex- penses; and we seldom pay a man more than three or four dollars a day. While in Orlando recently, a subscriber of Gleanings told me that his pastor's wife had recently purchased an Electropoise, and, like * Quite a compliment the above story pays to the ability and skill of the engineer placed in charge of the engine belonging to a great factory. I rather think our engineer would smile somewhat to see a city chap— one of the know-how sort— doing things after that fashion. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 275 all the rest, she thought it was doing wonders in the way of improving her health. My friend heard of it, and gave his minister, who is a Congregationalist, a copy of our journal. He read it carefully, and what do you think the verdict was? Why, he spoke out square and honest, as any educated minister of the gospel must speak. Said he, " Why. Mr. Root is right about it — unquestionably right. There is no possibility of his being mistaltc. No resetting of teres. Catl'g free. Address GMPIRK MFG. CO., Q,ulxicy, 111' 500 Barrels Sweet=Potato Seed. Yellow Jersey, best vaiieiy, $3.00 iier bari-el. Red Spanish, Ked Bermuda, and Jersey Queen, $4.00 per barrel; i>% discount on .5-barrel lots. Our stock is line. Order now and secure a sup- ply at rea-sonable prices. /,. H. JMA.HAN, 3-7ei Box 1^3, Terre Hnute, Intl. SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AGENCY FOR A. I. ROOT'S BEE = KEEPERS' SUPPLIES AT A. I. ROOTS PRICES. RAWLINGS IMPLEMENT CO., Formerly Balto. Farm Implement Co. Jobbers & Dealers in Farm Implements & Hachinery 209 S. Charles St., Baltimore, Md. 23-9eoi STRAWBEREY AND Best New and Old varie RASPBERRY PLANTS, lifs- , Best grown Plants. CataloK Free. With in- structions for their culture. Send for it Now. Mention this paper. Addrt»ss P. O. Box 213. E. J. SCOFIELD, Hanover, Wis. USE THE COMMQN=SENSE BERRY-CRATES and B.ASKETS. None cheaper. For circular adilio^s eitf H. H. AULTFATHER, MINERVA. O. Sweetheart. A Regular Sugar Lump. LEADS < Early, Large, Handsome, Good Ship- ALL \ per, liest Quality. Send for circular WATER- \ giving important facts to growers and MELONS < shippers, with conii)arative sales and ON t opinions of many commission men in THE > leading northern markets. MARKET. < Seed; Packet, 10 cts. ; lb., $1..50. Al^BBRT WJTTBJS'JMYHR, Oriiiii>atni\ Grower, and Shipper, Bmison, Jinax Co., Ind. CHOICE SWEET=POTATO SEED Yellow Jersey (the best), Red Bermuda, and Yel- low Nansemond, at $:i.50 for 11-peck barrels, till sold out. 4-8 L. H. REDD, De Soto, Illinois. The New Craig Seedling Potato. For full description of this Potato, see page 959 of this journal for Dec. 15, 1894. Prices: 1 lb. by mail, postpaid, 25 cts.; 'A peck, by freight or express, $1.00; peck, SI. 75; H bushel, $3.00; bushel, $.5.00; barrel of II pecks, f 13.50. The above prices will hold good as long us our stock lasts. All orders by mail will l)c tilled as soon as received. Orders by exjji'ess will be shipped at once unless ordered oth- erwise. All orders tor potatoes by freight will be filled April 1, or soon after that time, unless direc- tions are given to ship at an earlier dhte. In this latter case I do not assume responsibility for loss in freezing; but where ii is desirable to ship earlier, and customers have bad luck, I expect to help them out so far as 1 can consistently. In regard to my responsiliility I would refer you to A. I. Root. In fact, where it is more convenient you can order po- tatoes of the A. I. Root Co., instead of sending your orders to me. GEO. E. CRAIG, Zimmer, Franklin Co., 0. " Every Farmer Ought to read the Rural New= Yorker. ( Published weekly, i It is the business farmer's paper, and a most re- liable authority on agricultural and horticultural subjects. Frauds and humbugs fear it. ONLY $1 A YEAR. Send for sample coi\v 10 THE RITRAC >E\V-YORliER.NPW York. We h;ive made ananuenients so that we can send it and Gi^eaning^ lor $1.75 a year. Pleasi- mentioir ttiii- paper. Control Your Swarms, Requeen, Etc. Send 2.")i' for samples of West's Patent t^piral wire ^Queen-Cell Protectors, and Pat. Spiral Queen Hatch- ing and Introducing Cage, also best Bee-Escaiie. with circular exiilaining. Twelve Cell-protectors, (iOc; 1(K), ^i. 12 cages, *1; 100, $'\ by mail. Circular free. Ad- diess N. D. WEST. nid= dieburgh, Scho. Co., N. Y. Soldjalso by all the leading supply-dealers. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 279 Best ^ Goods At lowest prices are what we are all after. The (luality oi Gary's goods has never been questioned. His X X white thin foundation and polished one-piece sections are the tinest on the market His bees and queens are from the best strains, and reared and shipped in the way that long years of experience have shown to be the best. He has the largest stock of BEE- KEEPEES' SUPPLIES in New England ; and as to prices you have only to send for a catalog and compare them with those of other dealers. To those living in the East, there is the still further consideration of low freight rates. Address W. W. GARY. MASS. 300 Colonies Of A No. 1 Italian bees in 8- frame Dov. hives cheap. Queens, bees by the pound, and !i full line of new first-class apiarian supplies. Send for catalog to Box T83, Belleville. 111. OTTUMWA BEE-HIVE FACTORY. Bee-keepers, look to your interests. Every thinj; in the line of bee-supplies constantly on hand Price list free. GREGORY BROS. &, SON, l-23a Ottumwa, la. South side. WINTER now is over! And if you contemplate buying Bees and Queens You will do well to write eitf For prices to Leininger Bros., Ft. Jennings, O. W. O. Victor, of Wharton, Tex., took 45,000 Lbs. of Honey in 1894. He offers Italinii Qtieens — good, old-style honey- queens — untested, first (jrder, to any address, at nilc each. Also bees in anj' quantity: 4.50coloni( •= torliaw from. Root's goods constantly in stock. Prices fo suit the times, iuiy near home, and save freight. 25 Imported Garniolans Ready for inimi'diate delivery at $.5 eacli. Bred in 189i at tlie most elevated point among the C; rnic Alps wliere bees are ke|>f. Daugii'ers of these queens read j' in April, $1 eai h: SIU per do/.. Afldress The Carniolan Apiaries, Charlton Heights, Md. Rose Comb White and Brown Leghorns, And Silver-Laced Wyandottes. l."> t^n'j", ^\ (0; 39 Pgfi-s, *:.'.(»0. J. \V. COO/v, i'oneto. Ind, 2 and 3 frame nuclei cheap hy tlie dozen. AUG. LEYVRAZ, Francis, Fla. THE SOUTHERN Home of the Honey-Bee Is ready for your oid'MS for 3 or .5 banded queens, as good as tlie btst, giiai-anteed i ri e from paralysis. Warranted queens, 75c ea<-li; tested. $1 On. After .Tune 1, warranted, ."iOo each: tested, 7')C each. Good breeders, *3.0(). Straight S-bnnded. or "faultless," queens, $3.50 each. Special in'ices on lots, also to the queen -dealer. Safe delivery and satisfaction guaranfeed. rirculai- •"'ce. Address HUFSTEDLER BROS., Clarksville, Tex. T will give 10 per cent off on all cash orders of $5.00 worth of sup- plies or over, except foundation, up to May 1st, 1895. Send for catalog to manufacturer. J. J. BRADNER, Marion, Grant Co.. Ind. MUTH'S HONEY- EXTRACTOR, SQUARE GLASS HONEY-IARS, Bee-keepers' Supplies in general, etc.. etc. Send for out new catalog. "Practical Hints" will be mailed for 10c in stamps. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. Hives, Sections, Foundation, Bees, Queens, Or any thing a Bee=keeper Needs. In April and May I shall receive from the South (via steamer) cases of 8 frames of capped brood, well covered with bees. These are just right to build up colonies with. Single frame, 90^; 4 frames, $3.35; 8 frames, $3.25; 8 frames, $6.(10; 16 frames, $11.00. Untested queens included for 90 cents. Every thing sent from this city. Let me know your wants. Catalog free. I. J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, N. Y. City. Golden Queens From Texas. My queens are bred for business, as well as tor beauty and gentleness. Safe arri- val and reasonable satisfaction guaran- teed. Untested, $1.00; tested, $1.50. Write lor price list. 5-16ei J. D. GIVENS, Lisbon, Texas. Box 3. •*I^ -^i*- Dovetailed Hives. Stctions, Extractors. Smokers, ami every ihing a Bee-keeper wants. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. 60-page cata- J. M. JENKINS, Wetumpka, Ala. CCC^EY'S GOLDEN ITALIAN QI' r are large, beautiful, bred for ^ business, eijual to all. and su- perior fo mauv. LTntested, April, 80 cfs. each; 'i do7,.. $4..50; Maj'. TO cts. each; V4 doz., $1.00 Tested, $1.00 each; fine breeders, $2.tK) each extra. Fine straight .5-banded breeding-queens, $4 (10 each. Sat- isfaction and safe arrival guaranteed. E. A. SEELEY, Bloomer, Ark. p. O. Money Order office, Lavaca, Ark. V-:.'0 280 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apb 1. Manager Notes of Travel tliatwere written for this issue were crowded out by a mass of other matter. They will appear In our next. BEESWAX WANTED. Since our last we have received a goodly number of g'ood-slzed shipments of beeswax; but we can, for the next two or three months, use all that our readers can send to us. We are paying now 29 cts. cash, 33 in trade, for average wax delivered here. ALSIKE CLOVER SEED. We have a good supply of choice seed, and it is plenty early enough to sow. There are many good reasons for soM'ing. Price of seed, f 3.00 per peck; $3.80 per half-bushel; $7.20 per bushel; $14.00 for 2 bushels; .5 bushels or over, at $6.60, bags included in each case. CHOICE EXTRACTED HONEY WANTED. We are in need of choice extracted basswood and clover honey. We prefer it in 60 lb. cans; but if we can not get it that way we will take it in some other way if we c:in buy it. Tliose who have a supply which they desiie to sell, we sliall be glad to hear from, with samples, stating quantity you have, how put up, and the price, WHEELBARROWS AND LAWN-MOWERS REDUCED. Wc call your attention to the adv't on the 3d cov- er page, and to the marked reduction in price, es- pecially on lawn-mowers, which we have reduced one dollar each from the prices of last year. Surely at these low prices there are few in need of a mow- er who need remain witliout one. We still offer the same styles we have sold for several years. PLANET JR. GARDEN IMPLEMENTS. We are now supplied with this year's catalogs of Planet Jr. tools, wliich we shall be pleased to mail to those interested, togetlier with our net-price sheet. We are making lower prices on these excel- lent tools than ever before, and there have beeu some valuable improvements added. Write for cat- alog, if interested in hand seed-drills, for all kinds of garden seeds, onion-sets, etc., hand or liorse cul- tivators for all kinds of work in the garden. CARLOAD SHIPMENTS. Since our last report we have .shipped the second car to Florida, to A. F. Bi-own, at San Mateo; a sec- ond car to F A. Salisbuiy, Syracuse, N. Y.; a second carload to Wm. A. Selser, 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa.; a carload of export orders through the port of New York, including about a tiiird of a car for J. H. M. Cook. 78 Barclay St., New York. As we go to press we are loading a car for H. G. Acklin, St. Paul, Minn., which will be followed by one for G. G. Wick- son, Los Angeles, Cal., and another to Barteldes & Co., Denver, Col. MAPLE SUGAR AND SYRUP. The weather so far has been very unfavorable to the production of the delicious sweets from tlie sugar maple, and the season is so far advanced that there can be at best but a light crop In this vicinity. Few will take the trouble to make sugar if the.v can get a market for syrup. Our orders for syrup are all filled, and we can supply many more at $1.00 per gallon, in quantities, for choice syrup. We have booked a number of orders for sugar, but so far it has not been offered to us for sale by the producers, and we may be obliged to disappoint our friends; but we hope soon to be supplied; can offer no bet- ter prices than named in our last, and these only subject to our being able to get the sugar to fur- nish on orders we receive. HIVE-MAKING MACHINERY. If any one is interested in an outfit of machinery for hive-making we liave a hai'gain to offer at Otta- wa, Kan. Tlic outfit consists of a 4 H. P. engine and boiler, a liive-dovetailing machine, a saw-table with a lot of grooving-saws and cutter-heads, a 10- inch foundation-machine, and other tools. Cost new over $500. Is in about hs good condition as new. and can be bought for $325 casli. Will send • further particulars to tliose interested, on appli- cation. WIRE NETTING AND FENCING CATALOGS. We have for some time been short of wire-netting catalogs, but we are now supplied with a large new edition which we shall be pleased to mail those in- terested, on application. It uicludes a discount- sheet giving very low prices, and incorporates a page describing a new and very cheap sheep and hog fence. We are also prepared to furnish No. 12 smooth galvanized fence wire, 100-lb. bundles, at $2.25 per 100 lbs., or barbed wire at $3.75 per 100 lbs. LABEL CATALOGS EXHAUSTED. We regret to be obliged again to disappoint our friends who apply for label catalogs. Our store is exhausted, and our printers are now and have been so crowded witli work that they have been unable to print a new edition. It is likely to be six weeks or two months before they will be able to complete an edition. We have a number of new designs in hon- ey-labels, which will appear in the new catalog when ready, and we trust it will be ready in good time be- fore the next honey-crop is taken. We will file all applications, and send catalogs as soon as ready. SWEET-CLOVER SEED WANTED. If you have any for sale, mail us a sample, tell us how much you have, and what .voti will take for it. By the way, it is really remarkable what a demand there is getting to be for sweet clover; and I for one should be very glad to know what people do with it. We are jnst now in receipt of an order for 350 lbs. Some time ago I used to feel troubled about large orders, for fear the friends did not know what the.v were ordering, and did not know what they wanted; but with the steady demand that is coming in now, there can hardly be a question but that it is being used as a fodder crop, oi- for .something else besides these. Can anybody enlighten us ? OLD- STOCK SECTIONS. We still have the following list of old-stock i\ix4:M sections, made two or three years ago, which we offer, to close out, at $2.20 per lOOO: 3000, $6.00; 5000, $9.00; 10,000, $16.00. 109,000 4!4x4i4xi;2, open top and bottom. 13,000 " " " open four sides. 9,000 " " x7 to ft., closed top. 7,WX1 " " " open top and bottom. 8,000 " " " cream, or No. 3, new stock. .5,00t) " " xl3i closed top. 9,000 " " " open top and bottom. 3,000 " " " open four sides. 4,000 " " xl!i. closed top. 5,000 " " " open top and bottom. ]0,0a) " " xHS. open 4 sides. 30,000 " " x2, cream, open top, new stock. 30,000 " " " cream, open four sides. At the very low price named above, these are a Viargain This is especially true of the l^j-inch sec- tions, w hell are about equal to our extra polished as now made. If any one can use or handle a quan- tity of this width we shall be pleased to hear from them. PARSNIP SEED AT A BARGAIN. Last fall we succeeded in getting a tremendous crop, and the seed is all from the Improved Guern- sey, nice large roots; but either we have not the proper machinerj- or else we do not understand the business of cleaning the seed. There are no seeds of weeds nor any thing of that sort, but there are little bits of stems and branches of tlie parsnip itself that can not be got out in any way we know of except bj' expensive hand-picking." These bits of stem no not, of course, hurt it in the least for sowing, but they make it look untidy; therefore we offer it at tlte fol- lowing exceedingly low prices: 1 lb., 30 cts.; 5 lbs., 75 cts. ; 10 lbs., $1.35. Just now parsnips are selling in our market for 6 cts. per lb. Those that wei'e dug and placed in the cellar last fall might have beeu sold at about the same price all through February and March if we had had enough of them. If you can not sell them all, horses, cows, pigs, and even chickens, are very fond of them. The above prices are to hold only so long as our stock holds out. The quicker you get them into the ground the better, after the frost is out, for parsnips will make quite a 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 281 growth before miiny kinds of weeds get up, if you give tliem u cliaiice^^ PRIZETAKER ONION SETS. We liiivo several bushels of these which we can furnish at 10 cts. per i int: i5 ets. per quart; $1.00 per peck; $3.50 ])er bushel. If wanted by mail, add 10 cts. pel' quart extra. Large sizes, iialf above prices. LATHYRIS SYLVESTRIS AND SACALINE. We have seed of both of the above in 5-cent pack- ets, and can furnish sacaline-plants by mail post- paid for 20 cts. each. Plants of Lathyris sylvestJis, or flat pea, 5 cts. each ; 2'y cts. for 10, or $1.50 per 100 —postpaid by mail at above prices. SEED POTATOES. At present writing- all our second-size potatoes are sold out. I think I must have made the price pretty low— half price right through. Well, I want- ed some plan by whicli we could get rid of all small and otherwise objectionalile tubers, so that we could give out for first-class only nice-lookitig, good-sized ones. We have so far all kinds of the No. 1 size, but several kinds are iieaiiy sold out. SPRAY PUMPS AT REDUCED PRICES. The time for spraying fruit-trees is near at hand; and those not already provided with a good spray- ing-apparatus, if they have the trees, and expect to get aiiy cQoice fruit, should not fail to secure in time the necessary spraying-outflt. It is being demonstrated more suiely every year, that it is absolutely necessary to spray "fruit-trees of all kinds one or more times in order to secure a stand of reasonably perfect fruit. There are pests which attack the foliage as well as those which destroy the fruit. For the latter you should not apply the poisonous spray till the petals of the blossoms have all fallen off. Tlieii ihere is no danger of poisoning the bees as tlie.v gather the nectar from the blos- soms. To spray before the petals fail is worse than useless. We are late in getting out our list of spray pumps this year. We call your attention to our line in the advertising- pages. We do not believe you will get better \alue for the money anywhere than in the lino wo offer. To dealers, and those who buy to sell again, we will make special low prices in quantities on application. The adjoining cut shows a pump which we secured after our other line was made up. This is very much like the Myers bucket pumix Th(» rubber hose, '.1 incli, is attached to the top of a brass tube running up through the center of the air-chamber. This re- duces the capacity of the air-chamber. The pump is lighter, and we do not think quite as good as the Myers; but for tlie price at which we offer it, $3,50, it is a bargain. It can be sent by mail, postpaid, for f3.25 An eigbi- foot pipe extension, not mailable, will be included at 35c extra. OXYDO^OK AND D. L. MOODY. On the second page of the Oxydonor pam- phlet, the O.xydonor people make use of the name of D. L. Moody as follows: Our manager, Capt. R. Kelso Carter, is well known all over this country, and in England, to many thousands of the best people, as a college pro- fessor, a scientific and religious writer, and a prom- inent evangelist in Christian work, and as a lecturer of great ability and magnetism. As to his charac- ter, ask such men as Rev. A. J. Gordon, of Boston; Dwight L. Moody, and Major Cole. I at once wrote to Mr. Moody, forwarding a leaf from their circular, containing the above paragraph. I also inquired of him wheth- er it could be possible that he knew that his name was being used to push a fraud. His re- ply below comes to hand just as we go to press: I know nothing ab(5ut this, and never indorsed it. Chicago, March 26. D. L. Mot)DV. " Magnetism'' indeed ! It must be this sort of magnetism that prompts them to use a good man's name in this way without permission. I am manufacturing BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. Every thingr you need. PRICES REDUCED. Send for new Price List. GEO. RALL, Frenchville.Wis. Trempealeau Co. Fruit and~^v Bee Ranch for Sale, Address REV. L. J. TEMPLIN, Canon City, Col. From Prize = Winning Fowls. .50c and $1.00 per 15. Send for circular AUGUST GOETZE & SON, 3822 Wood St., Wheeling. W. Va. Patents Pending Eggs for '"'''"' Hatching On new process, new ma- chines, new product, in manufacture of comb foun- dation. Result: Lowest prices, best work. Samples and price list free. Wax wanted. W. J. Finch, Jr., Springfield, III. LARGE yellow tested queens, delivered as the weatlier will permit, at 75c each, $8.00 per dozen. Solid yeilow l^reeders, $1..50; young and pro- lific. Safe delivery. Money-order office. Decatur. Cleveland Bros., Stamper, Newton Co., Miss. 420 Lbs. Average Is what my l)ees g-ave that I moved to the man- grove; those at home, 300 lbs. each; ii-bancl&d bees, too. Queens, bred for bijsiness from this stock, will be sent in 189.) for 11.00 each until May; per doz., $8.00. Circular free. J. B. CASE, Port Orange, Fla. \l\^ M Smith Perkiomenville, Pa., breeder of Eggs, $1.00 per 1.5. 16 leading varieties of Poultry. Catalog- free. ITfll IAN RFF*? Ready in May. Queens fl.OO. -«« «..,.Vl.« I^ees by the pound, $1.00. One- ANO QUEENS, frame nucleus with queen. $2.00; •■■••" ■■"»■ two frames, $2. .50. Also Barred Plymouth Rock eggs for setting-, $1.00 i^er 15. 6-17ei MRS. A. A. SIMPSON, Swarts. Pa. SPRAY.* ' STAIITi'S Excelsior Spraying OutlitB kill insects, S^. prevent leaf blight X and wormy fruit. Insure a lieavy yield of all Fruit and Vegetable crops. Send 6 cts. for catalogue d full treatise on spraying. Cirrulais nee. Address WM.STAHL.QuincyJII. 283 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1. Lnst year we commenced an elaborate plan of advertising, liut btf.iie wo were lialf through, OIK AUVERTISEJIKNTS DISAPPEAiiKU. Why? Because WE WERE OVERWHELM EU UITII ItCSINESS. There was hut one thing to do: withdraw the advertisrng and devote every energy to filling the orders wilh which we were flooded. Tiii- wi- dhl, nnd handlr.l with reasonahle promptness a most im j.i rcrilrnli-.l v it ^ iHivni.-s^. WITH ENLARtiEU.KACi'OKIKS, IM'KI- (SMI F\( IMIIKS, AM) TWENTY KRA.NCH HOI SKS FltOJi Wllhll HI HIS- TKIBITE OIR GOODS, WE CAN NOW CARE KOR ALL WHO CO.IIE, Last year we could not reduce prices Iiecause we were compelled in some way to limit the demand for Aermotoi- goods. We would have been satisfied with low er prices, hut why create a demand which we could not supply? We have made the heaviest purchases of steel and material bought in Amei ica this year, and at unprecedented prices, and have niade terms to dealers which enable them to make unprecedented prices. In quality, character, variety, finish, and accessibility to full stock of goods and repairs, we are without competitors. In our plan of advertising last year, we proposed to furnish a feed cutter under cert;i in conditions for $15. For reasons stated above we did not comi-lete the advertising, and the feed cut- ter \ AS not put out. We now propose to make amends in the fi, lowing manner: AVewill aiinounoe in this paper our MEW ALL..STREIi VEIiT SI PERIOR FEEU riTHER, WORTH $40 81 $10 cash with order, f. o. b. Cliica^o. Only one to one person, he to furnish addresses of ten neishhors wlio ought to have some- thing in our line. Cut. description and fnll information re- garding it will appear soi.n. We especia Jh/ (le. excessive prices for im Hon on the jyart of the great, $J0 addfd to price is $10 clenr dealer. To be sure proper prive and arti- your needs and you are, and always have been Because of the prodigioi are enabled to have speci thus re, Rookwell & Enimore Sts. , Ohieagot World's Fair Hedal Awarded my Foundfttion. Send for free samples. Dealers, write for vvliolesale price^. Root's new F*olislier dents of the lar- gest mills in the country liave spent d.'iys at our factory studying our pa-licular needs. "This wire co.sts more than the common article, which could not be used if furnished free. Our complete fence costs the fiirmer less than /lecan buy the wireofwhi-h it is made and IS the cheapest in the end. PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. t^'ln reajKindlng to this advertisement mention GLEANiNoa TAKE NOTICE! DEFORE placing your orders for SUPPLIES, write " for prices on One-Piece Basswood' Sections, Bee- Hives, Shipping-Crates. Frames. Foundation. Smo- kers, etc. PAGE & LYON MFG. CO., 8tfdb New London, Wis. HATCH CHICKENS BY STEAM WITH THE MODEL > EXCELSIOR INCUBATOR. Tlioii8niidM in Suc- cessful Operation. SI.Ml'LE, I'ERFECT, „nd SELF-REG I'LA TI j\G. Guarantet'd tobatcha iarsrer perceiitnge of fertile eggs, at less cost, than any other Incubator. Send 6c. for Illus. Catalog. , Circulars Free. BEO. H. 8TAHL,114toTg8 8-6thSt..Qiilncy.lll. ONE MAN WITH THE UNION COMBINATION SAW Cm do the work of four men us ing hand tools, in Ripping, Cut ting off, Mitering, Rabbeting, Giooving, Gaining, Dadoing, KdL>ing-up, Jointing Stuff, etc Full Line of Foot and Hand '■/ ~^\ Power Machinerv. Suhl on Trial. i^J^ VoUihxi Free. ]-34ei ^' J,- SENECA FALLS MFC. CO., ^3^^ -^ 44 WaterSt., Seneca Falls, NY. USSES onsoDayslrial F.asy, durable and heap- A radical cure effected. Send for sealed catalogue. EUliLESTON TKl'SS CO., Uasanle Temple, Chicagu, III. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 287 THE Aspinwall Hive THE HIVE FOR BEES. THE HIVE FOR BEE-KEEPERS. Aspinwall Manufacturing Co., Jackson, Mich. {^"In respondinfr to tills aavemseiiif III iiif-nijon »+i,KANiN(i>i We beg to announce that we have completed arrangements with the Porters whereby we secure for this country the control of the sale of that very excellent and almost indispen- sable implement, The Porter Bee=Escape. It will be manufactured by the Porters, as formerly, but write to us for prices in both large and small quantities . The A. I. Root Co., Medina, 0. ee=supplies Cheap! Ko?En%^SrBo''. ■^— «™i^— — ««»— 565, Jackson, Mich. B WE WILL PREPAY Freight charges on orders for Root's v>olished sec- tions, and 16-sec'tion white basswoud sliipping-cases, at his piices. to be shipped from tactory to points witliin 300 miles, in lots of TOGO and :J00 or over re- spectively. Send for ciita'oy. B. WALKER, Evart, Hich. Tested Italian Queens. I will oflfer for sale in April, tested Italian queens bred for business and gentleness. Leatlier-colored gueens at 90 cts. each; 3 for $3.60; 6 lor $4.50. Test- ed golden Italians, yellow to the tip, bred for busi- ness and beauty, easy to handle, $1.00 each; 6 for $5.00. Will have untested Italian queens ready to mail the 1st of May at 76 ct.s. each: 3 for $3.00; 6 for H.OO. Bred from the best 5-banded stock, free from disease. W. A COMPTOH, Lynnville, Giles Co. , Tenn. Please mention this paper. Promptness is What Counts. Honey-jars, Shipping-cases, and every tliinj^ that bee-keepers use. Root's Goods at Root's | Prices, and the Best Shipping^point in the Country. Dealers in Honey and Beeswax. Catalog free. WALTER S. POUDER, 162 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Patents Pending On new process, new ma- chines, new product, in manufacture of comb foun- dation. Result: Lowest prices, best work. Samples and price list free. Wax wanted. W. J. Finch, Jr., Springfield, III. Flea'^e "lention thi.« paper. Fruit and~^>- Bee Ranch for Sale, Address REV. L. J. TEMPLIN, Canon City, Col. Aiinpno If you want bees that will stand the se- yUGCUOi v^eiest winters, and roll in the most honey in summer, send for price list. F. B. YOCKEY, NORTH WASHINGTON, FA. BEE-KBEPERS' supplies for 1895- Sections, Comb Foundation, Extractors, and every thing- else used by a bee- oods. Immense stock. Goods sold at wholesale and retail. Write for our Such as Dovetailed Hive keeper. All late improved DISCOUl\/TS FOR EARLY ORDERS. Alsike clover and Japanese buckwlieatf urnished at lowest market price. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDER, Des Moines, Iowa. •••••••«»«««««««««««««««9«e<««e999co«®e9«»««o«««««««««««« URPEE'S FARM ANNUAL for 1895 "The heading American Seed Catalogue." A Ijanilsome book of 174 paj^es with many new features for 1895 — hundreds of illustrations, pictures painted frorii Inature— it tells all about the BEST SEEDS that grow, including rare novelties that cannot be had (elsewhere Any seed planter is welcome to a copy FREE, f^eiid your address to-day on a postal. 'W. ATLEE BURPEE &. CO., Seed Growers, PHILADELPHIA. In wiiting iidvertisers please mention tlH^ p.ipui . 288 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. Honey Column CITT MARKETS. Chicago. — Hoiui/.—We report our market well cleaned up on fancy white comb honey in 1-lb sec- tions. A neat packag-e and a fancy article would sell quickly at 14c. No. 2 comb, or dark, would not sell at over 10@11. We report better inquiry for extracted, at 5@7, depending on quality. Beeswax selling- at 30e. 8. T. Fish & Co. , April 8. 189 South Water St., Chicago, 111. Philadelphia.— Honey.— The supply of comb honey is getting low in this market, with consider- able call; selling at U@14, as to quality. Extracted honey in fair demand and good supply at 6@6'2e. April 9. 10 Vine St., Philadelphia,' Pa. Boston.— Honej/.— Our market on No. 1 wliite comb honey is well cleaned up, and it is wanted. Prices for fancy 1-lb. white comb in cartons, 14@15c. E. E. Blake & Co., April 9. Boston, Mass. Kansas City.— Honey.— The stock of comb honey is large: market well supplied. Fancy white 1-lb. combs. 13; amber, 11. Receipts of extracted light; white, 7; amber, 5}i@.6; Southern, 4i2@-5. Beeswax, 22. Hamblin & Bearss, April 8. Kansas City, Mo. KvNSAS City.— flonej/.— Tlie supply of cmib and extracted, fairly large. We quote No. 1 v^liite 1-lb. comb, 14@15; No. 2, 12@13; No. 1 amb. r. 13@13; No. 2, 10@11; extracted, 5@7. Beeswax, 22fr(;2.5 C. C. Clemons & ( I)., April 8. Kansas City, Mo. Buffalo.— Howei/.-The honey market is cleaning up quite satisfactorily. Sales, however, are light. Fancy moderate at 13@14; choice, 11@12; commoner grades, ranging from 8@9; buckwheat very slow, and hard to sell at any satisfactory prices. Battekson & Co., April 9. Buflfalo, N. Y. Detpott — HoHej/.— Best white comb in light de- niHud at l.Sfai4; darker and inferior lots, 10@11. Ex- tracted, 6@7. with few sales. Beeswa.x in better de- mand, and selling on sight at 29^'30. M. H. Hunt, April 8. Bell Branch, Mich. ChiCaoo — Hojiej/.— The market is well cleaned out at t hi'^ writing, of all grades of comb honey ex- cepting some lots of comb in cartons, which is not a popul-ir w;iy of marketing in this citv. Best grades of comb sell at 14 : dark, 8@10 ; yellow comb, 10® 12. Extracted, .5' a@7, .according to quality, flavor, and package. Beeswax chiefly at 30. R. A. Burnett & Co., April 8. 163 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Cincinnati. — /7o)iej/.— There is a slow demand for all kinds of honey. We quote extracted honey at 4@7 on arrival. Comb honey, 12@,I6 in the .lob- bing way for best white. Dark honey is unsMlable. Beeswax is scarce and in good demand at 25@28 for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, April 9. Cincinnati, O. Cleveland. — Honey.— Our honey market is very slow at present. We quote No. 1 white, 1-lb. sec- tions, 13c; No. 2, lie. There is a better demand for extracted; No. 1, white, 7@8. Beeswax. 28@30. Williams Bros., April 8. 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland, O. Milwaukee.— Honey.— This market for honey presents no new features since our last, and we are enjoying some trade both for comb and extracted. Our supply is fair, and the quality the very beM. We quote finest 1 lb. sections. ]5@16; good, 14@1.5; common, 12^13; mixed, 10@12. Extracted in barrels and kegs, white, 7@T'i; dai-k, R@6'i; white in pails, 8@10. Beeswax wanted at 26®28. A. Y. Bishop & Co. April 8. Milwaukee, Wis. Albany.— Honey.— Have received quite a number lots of comb honey during the past few days, and it has found a I'ead.v sale at a slight advance in price. We quote fancy white, 13c; mixed and buckwheat, 9@11. Extracted, bVi^HK. Chas. McCulloch & Co., April 8. Albany, N. Y. Alfalfa Honey, very white, thick, and rich. Two 60-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples, 8c. eift Oliver Foster, Las Animas, Col. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market. BATTERSON & CO. Responsible, Reliable, Commission Mercliants. igtfdb and Prompt. High=QradeBicycles These are high-grade in every re- spect, both as to material and w^ork- manship. We have personally test- ed them thoroughly, and know that they are first-class. Tires, Moi-gan & Wright or Hartford single-tube pneumatic tires; wheels. 28-inch, wood rims; ball bearings tliroughout; pedals, lat-ti-ap or rubber; handle-bars, raised oi' drop; frame of best (luality of drawn seamless steel tubing; weight, 28 lbs. The entire bicyles are built bv one of the largest bicycle works in tlie country. The extremely low price is owing to the fact that they are made on '94 machine- I-J-, and under another name-plate. We can furnish gentlemen's or Ladies' wheels at this price. Write for circular. THE A. I. ROOT COMPANY, MEDINA, O. FOR SALE. 250good Brood-combs. Jas. F. Goodwin, Danbury, la. QUEENS BY RETURN MAIL. Fine tested, yellow to the tips, 75c each, $8.00 per doz. Solid yellow breeders, $1.60. These are e.xtra large and prolific, and are good from 3 to 5 years. Safe delivery. Money order oflBce, Decatur. CLEVELAND BROS., Stamper, Newton Co., Hiss. ITfll IAN RFF^ Ready in May. Queens. $1.00. !..?«-..-_:.> Bees by the pound, >fl.iiO. O.ie- ANO QUEENS, frame nucleus with queen, *2.()0; ■•■• two frames, $2. .50. Also Haried Plymouth Kock eggSifor setting, $1.00 per 15. 6-17ei MRS. A. A. SIMPSON, Swarts. Pa. Eggs From 8 leading varieties of fowls, in- cluding Imperial Pekin Ducks. Send for descriptive list to J. S. MASON, Medina, 0. In writing advertisers mention this paper. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 289 Contents of this Number. Blow's Letter from Tropics . 3(15 Brooil. Spreading SIS Catalogs. New 32(1 Catnip Honey SIB Codling: Moth 327 Coggshall's Management 303 Corn, Sweet 328 Cuba— Oslrani's Apiarv SIO Elei'tropoise. Wilev cm :;il Florida. Fc.oil supplv of :ii ; Foul BrcMid. l)iii^;s for :;ii(; Foundation in Mails :;-jii Foundation tinm Ol.l (•(luib^.'.i)-.' Foundation. Adulterate, I . ."IS France on Cund> Honey :«H German Bee-assoeiations .Ul Hive. Heddon, Illustrated... .sul Hive. L. vs. Cubical 2!l4l Hives, Long- .•?2()[ Honey as a Diet .3(10 Hone.v, Non -candying' 31.s| Jellvtlsh 30fi Lvsol 308 .Mail Matter, Our 318 Manuni and Abe Jones 296 Onion-midge 327 Paris Green for Moth 327 Pineapple-growing .324 Pooii bvHaiis 302 Propolis. Liquid .316 Rambler at St, Helena 29'J K,.l.biny Sick People 311 Sa-lie:., Five ,327 Sections, When to Put on... 313 Scpai ators. West on 207 Space. Uead-air 31!t Sulpliur. Danger from 317 Swarms, Earlv 313 Ventilation, Upward .301 Water Cress— a Caution ,327 Water. To Find .323 Wintering, Boardman's 319 CONVENTION NOTICES. The seml-annnal meeting of the Southern Minnesota Bee- keepers' Association will be held on the flr; t Monday in May, 1895. at La Crescent, Minn. All liee keepers aie invited. E. C. Corn WELL, Sec, Winona, Minn. The siu-ing meeting of the Northern Illinois Bee-keeners' As- sociation will be held at the residence of H. W. Lee, in Pecaton- ica, 111., May 21— one week later if it is a stormy day. B. Ken-nedy, Sec. New Milford, 111. W&nts or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our usu al rates. All advertisements intended for this department must not exceed five lines, and you must say you want youi adv't In this department, or we will not be responsible for er rors. You can have the notice as many lines as you please, but all over live lines will cost you according to bur regular rates. This department is intended only for bona fide ex changes. Exchanges for cash or tor price lists, or notices of- fering articles for sale, can not be in.serted under this head For such our regular rates of 20 cts. aline will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements We can not be responsible for dissatisfaction arising from these "swaps." w ANTED.— Old combs in frames. Deiicrihe, with price. W. L. Coggshall, West Groton, N. Y. WANTED.— To excbange Universal wood-worker, one groover, one dovetailer. and one cutter- liead table; also short jointer, all in good order. What have you to trade for one or all ? W, S. Bellows, Ladora, la. WANTED.— To correspond witb parties wishing- to sell or test my new hive. F. D.\nzenb.\kbr, 1110 New York Ave., Washington, D, C. Reference, Glkanings. w ANTED.— To exchange 200 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation. Anthony Off, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange yellow Italian queens the coming season, also the best varieties of strawberry-plants, cheap, for foundation or offers. Mrs. Oliver Cole, Sherburne, Chenango Co., N, Y. WANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample. J, A. Green, Ottawa, 111. WANTED.— To exchange Australian stamps for any other denominations. Send along from any part of the world, and I will return equivalent, H, L, Jones, Goodna, Queensland, Australia. WANTED.-To exchange 6 and 12 inch Root foun- dation mills for wax, honey, or oflers. I. J. Stringham, 106 Park Place, New York, N. Y, WANTED.— 20 lbs. of bees and 10 tested queens in exchange for Gregg raspberry-sets. H, H. Aultfather, Minerva, O. WANTED.— To exchange raspberry and blackberry plants, $6 per lOUO, bees$.5, Japanese buckwheat, for beeswax. A, P. Lawrence, Hickory Corners.Mch. WANTED.-To exchange supplies and other goods for honey. O. H. Hyatt, Shenandoah, Iowa. 20tf WANTED.-To exchange pure-bred St. Bernard pups. My stock is of the best. Would like some fine queens, and nuclei and bees by the pound. Scott Brillhart, Millwood, Knox Co., Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange 100 8-frame hives, with comb, smokers, bee-escapes, lu-inch founda- tion-mill, shipping-cases, a general outfit of Root's supplies, for offers. Oscak Kerns, Cowgill, Mo. \\; ANTED.— To exchange bee-keeping supplies for TT full colonies of pure Italian bees, or two and three frame nuclei. Send me prices and get my an- nual price li.st. Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont. Mich. vr ANTED. —To exchange safety bicycle, ~'f<-inch M pneumatic, bees, queens, B. P. Rock, L. C.B. Leghorn and L. Brahma eggs, for honey or bee-sup- plies. Chas. H. Thies, Steeleville, 111. WANTED.-To exchange E-flat cornet, new, for bees, comb foundation, violin, or offers, at once, P. W. Stahlman, Ringgold, Pa, W ANTED.— Helper in bee-yard and orchard, Waltkr L. Hawley, Fort Collins, Col. w ANTED.— To exchange Buff Wyandotte eggs at $1.50 per 13 for 5-banded golden Italian queens. A, G. Guifein, Hadlyme, Ct. WANTED.— Active young man to work in apiary. Give age, experience, wages wanted, references, etc. W. D. Wright, Altamont, N. Y. II' ANTED.— To exchange poultry and eggs (3 best TT kinds) for ihin foundation, sections, shipping- cases, or new smokers, D. F. Lashier, Hooper, Broome Co., N, Y. Second-Hand Bicycles Cheap. We have one ladies' Victoria, last year's model, made by the Overman Wheel Company, that has been used but liitle. and cost last year $l~."i,(iu, that we will sell tor ii*75. We also have one ladies' Mon- arch, last year's model, for $60. Also one gent's second hand Monarch, 30-in. wheels, in first-class running order. Price, $50,00. Reason for selling cheap is to get new 'i)5 mounts, AVill take lionev or wax in payment. Wiite what you have, sending samples, and we will give you further descripiion of the wheels, THE A. I. ROOT CO.. Medina, Ohio. Alley's Combined Description and i)rice list now leady. HENRY ALLEY, Wenham, Mass. Please mention this pape Queen-Trap and Swarm-Catcher. A Tested Queen Free ! Pure Italians. To every one buying W2 ^f^ doz. untested queens I will give a tested ^I^ one free. Untested, 60c; tested, $1.00; selected tested, $1.50; breeders, $3.00. STEWART BROS., Sparta, Tenn. Bees In good new eight-frame L. hives, good full swarms, $4.00. Three- fiaiiie nuclei, with queoncj, $2.25, Wn. H. STANLEY, Dixon, Lee Co., IIL / COLONY ITALIAN BEES, in 10-frame L ingstroth hive, $4. .')(!; 2 .ir more, $4 00 each; tested Il;iiian (ineen. fl (0: ,'? or more. 9Mc each Ad iress OTTO KLEINOW, J22 Hilitary Ave., Detroit, Hich. ^ '^-R^^nr^ OllPPriS reared last fall by C. lot of O-DdnU V;Ueeni5, d. Dnvall: tested, $1; selected, fl..5(i. L. H. EOBEY, Worthington, W. Va. In writing .-xdveitisers mention this paper. 290 GLEANIMGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. HATCH CHIOKENS BY STEAM WITH THE MODEL ■> EXCELSIOR INCUBATOR. TlioiiiiiaiKli^ in Shc- ctssful Operation. SIMPLE, PERFECT, and SELF.REG ULA TING. < J uaranteed to hatch a LI:irgeri CEO. II. STAHL.114tolga8.6th8t..Qiilnoy.lll. lyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. WOVEN WIRE FENCE Horse high, bull strong, pipr and chicken tight, MaliO it yourself for cents. a Rod Mali6 It yours 13 to 20 50 styles. A man and boy can make 40to60rodsaday. catalogf - KITSELMAN BROS., RidgevilK ONE MAN WITH THE UNION COMBINATION SAW Can do the work of four men us- ing liand tools, in Ripping, Cut- ting off, Mitering, Rabbeting, Grooving, Gaining, D'doing, Edging-up, Jointing Smtt', etc. Full Line of Foot and Hand Power M.-iehiuery. Sold uii Trial. Cainloq Firr. l-34ei SENECA FALLS MFC. CO., 44 Water St., Seneca Falls,N Y. ^^In responding to this adveitisenient mention Gleakinos. T RUSSES cure effected. Sen EOUIjESTON Tlil SS CO. onSODaysTrial Kasy, durable and icbeap. A radical 1 tor sealed catalogue. nasuDlo Temple, Chlcagu, III. G^li ding to this adverti.-enient nmntioii (iiKAv Read what J. 1. Parent, of 'Charlton, N. Y., says— "We cut with one of your Combined Machines last winter 50 chaff hives with 7-inch cap, 100 hone.y- racks, .500 broad frames, 3,000 honey-boxes, and a great deal of other work. This winter w e tiave doubled the amount of bee- , hives, etc., to make, and we ex- 'pect to do it all with this saw. -"5^ It will do all you say it Vill." Catalogue and Price List free. Address W. F. & JOHN BARNES, 545 Ruby St., Rockford, 111. When more convenient, orders for Barnes' Foot^ Power Machinery may be sent to The a. T. Root Co. METAL EELS for your Any size yon want, 20 to 56 in high. Tires I to 8 in wide— hobs to tit any axle. Saves ( '(>»t many times in ft season to have eet of low wheels to fit your wagon for hauling eriin, fodder, manure, b''2s. <-o. No resetting of Ur<^s C-iU'efree. AddroBS eMPIRE MFG. CO., (^uincy. 111. I^ln responuiiig to tills advertiseii Books for Bee-Keepers and others. Anyoft'*ese books on which postage is not given will be- forwarded by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price. In buying books, as every thing else, we are liable to disap- pointment if we make a purchase without seeing the article. Admitting that the bookseller could read all the books he offers, as ne has them for sale, it were hardly to be expected he would be the one to mention all the faults, as well as good things about a book. I very much desire that those who favor me with their patronage shall not be disappointed, and there- fore I am going to try to prevent it by mentioning all the faults, so far as I can, that the purchaser may know what he is getting. In the following list, books that I approve I have marked with a * ; those I especially approve, "* ; those that are not up to times, t ; books that contain but little matter for the price, large type, and much space between the lines,^; foreign, §. The bee-books are all good. BIBLES, HYMN-BOOKS, AND OTHER GOOD BOOKS. As many of the bee-books are sent with other goods by freight or express, incurring no postage, we give prices sepa- rately. You will notice, that you can judge of the size of the books very well by the amount required for postage on each. 8 I Bible, good print, nei^tly bound 30 10 I Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress** 30 20 I Illustrated Pilgrim's Progress** 7S This is a large book of 425 pages and 175 illustrations, and would usually be called a 82.00 book. A splendid book to pre- sent to children. Sold in gilt edge for 25c more. 6 I First Steps for Little Feet. By the author of the Story of the Bible. A better book for young children can. not be found in the whole round of literature, and at the same time there can hardly be found a more attractive book. Beau- tifully bound, and full.y illustrated. Price 50 c. Two copies will be sold for 75 cents. Postage six cents each. 5 I Harmony of the Gospels 36- 3 I John Ploughman's Talks and Pictures, by Rev. C. H. Spurgeon* 10 1 I Gospel Hymns, consolidated Nos. 1,2, 3. and 4, words only, cloth, 10 c ; paper 05 2 I Same, board covers 20' 5 I Same, words and music, small type, board covers 45 10 I Same, words and music, board covers — . . 75 3 I New 'Testament in pretty flexible covers. . . 05 6 I New Testament, new version, paper covers. 10 5 I Robinson Crusoe, paper cover 10 4 Stepping Heavenward** IS- IS I Story of the Bible** 1 00 A large book of 700 pages, and 274 illustrations. Will be read by almost every child. The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life**.. . . 25 Same in cloth binding 50 " The Life of Trust," by Geo. Muller** 1 25 1 Ten Nights in a Bar-Room, T. S. Arthur*.. 06 5 Tobacco Manual** ' 45 This is a nice book that will be sure to be read, if left around where the boys get hold of it, and any boy that reads it will be pretty safe from the tobacco habit. BOOKS ESPECIALLY FOR BEE-KEEPERS. Postage [Price without postage. 15 A BCof Bee Culture. Cloth 110 5 A Year Among the Bees, by C. C. Miller. . . 45 Advanced Bee Cultvire, by W. Z. Hutchinson 50 3 I Amateur Bee-keeper, by J. W. Rouse 22' 14 Bees and Bee-keeping, by Frank Cheshire, England, Vol. I.§ 3 36 II. m GLEANINO& 31 I Same, Vol. II. § r 3 79 or, $5.25 for the two, postpaid. 10 I Bees and Honey, by T. G. Newman 10 Cook's New Manual. Cloth 5 Dooiittle on Queen-Rearing 2 Dzierzon Tlieory 3 Foul Brood; Its Natural History and Ra- tional Treatment 1 I Honey as Food and Medicine 15 Langstroth Revised by Ch. Dadant & Son.. 10 i Quinby's New Bee-Keeping I Thirty Years Among the Bees, bj- H. Alley 4 I Success in Bee Culture, by James Heddon I Handling Bees, by Langstroth. Revised by Dadaut 1 Bee-keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker 5 I The Honey Bee, by Thos. William Cowan. . I British Bee-Keeper's Guide Book, by Thos. William Cowan, England § 3 I Merrybanks and His Neighbor, by A.I. Root 4 I Winter Problem in Bee-keeping, by Pierce MlSCELLANEOyS HAND-BOOKS. 5 I An Egg-Farm, Stoddard** I Amateur Photographer's Hand-book** 3 I A B C of Potato Culture, Terry** This is T. B. Terry's first and most masterly work. The book has hai an enoriiiuus sale, and has been leprinted in foreign languages. When we are thoroughly conversant with friend Terry's system of raising potatoes, we shall be ready to han- dle almost any farm crop successfully. It has 18 pages and 22 illustrations. 90 1 15 95 10 22 05 1 25 1 40 60 46 08 25 95 40 15 46 45 70 35 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 391 5 I A B C of Carp Culture, by Geo. Fiiiley 35 5 I A B C of Strawberry Cultuie**By T. B.Terry 35 Probaljly the leading book of the world on strawberries. I Barn Pluiis and Out-Buildings* 160 I Canary Birds. Paper, 50 2 I Celery for Profit, l)y T. Greiner** 26 The first really full and complete book on celery culture, at a moderate price, that we have had. It is full of pictures, and the whole thing is made so plain that a schoolboy ought to be able to grow paying crops at once, without any assis- tance excejit from tlu' book. 8 I Dotncstic Economy, by I. H. Mayer, M. D.** 60 This bonk oiiii'ht to save at least the money it costs, each year, in every household. It was written by a doctor, and one who has made the matter of domestic (cononiy a life study. The regular price of the book is.tl.OO; but bv faking a large lot of them we are euabled to make the price only 60 cts. Draining- for Profit and Health, Warring:.. 1 50 10 Fuller's Grape Cuiturist** 140 Farming For Boys* 76 This is one of Joseph Harris' happiest productions, and it seems to me that it ought to make farm-life fascinating to any boy who has any sort of taste for gardening. 7 I Farm, Gardening, and Seed-Growing-** 90 This is by Francis Brill, the veteran seed-grower, and is thi only book on gardening that I am aware of that tells hon market^gardeners and seed-growers raise and harvest theii own seeds. It has l£6pages 12 I Gardening: for Pleasure, Henderson* 1 85 while " Gardening for Profit "is written with a view of mak- ing gardening pat, it touches a good deal on the pleasure pai-t ; and "Gardening for Pleasure " takes up this matter of beauti- fying your homes and improving your grounds without the special point in view of making money out of it. I think most of you will need this if you get " Gardening for Profit." Thif work has 404 pages and 203 illustrations. 12 1 Gardening- for Profit 1 85 The latest revision of Peter Henderson's celebrated work. Nothing that has ever before been put In print lias done so much toward making marketrgardening a science and a fasci- nating industry. Peter Henderson stands at the head, without question, although we have many other books on these rural employments. If you can get but one booji, let it be the above. It has 376 pages and 138 cuts. I Gardening for Young and Old, Harris** 1 25 This is Joseph Harris' best and happiest effort. Although it goes over the same ground occupied by Peter Henderson, it particularly emphasizes thorough cultivation of the soil in preparing your ground; and this m.atter of adapting it to young people as well as old is brought out in a most happy vein. If your children have any sort of fancy foi gardening it will pay you to make them a present of this book. It has 187 pages and 46 engravings. 10 75 1 80 25 25 25 10 1 40 15 25 Garden and Farm Topics, Henderson**. Gray's Scliool and Field Book of Botany Gregory on Cabbtiges; paper* Gregory on Squashes; paper* Gregory on Onions; paper* The above three books, by our friend Gregory, are all val uable. The book on squashes especially is good reading for almost anybody, whether they raise squashes or not. It strikes at the very foundation of success in almost any kind o( business. 10 I Greenliouse Construction** 1 40 Tliis book, by Prof. Taft, is ju^t out. and is as full and com- plete in regard to the building of all glass structures as is the iie.xt book in regard to their management. Any one who builds even a small structure for plant-growing iinder glass will save the value of the book by reading it "arefully. 15 i How to Malie the Garden Pay.** 1 35 By T. Greiner. This is a new book, just out, and it gives the most explicit and full directions for gardening under glass of any book in the world Those who aie interested in hot-beds, cold-frames, cold-greenhouses, hot-houses or glass structures of any kind for the growth of plants, can not afford to be with- out the bonk. I Handbook for Lumbermen 10 Houseliold Conveniences 2 How to Propagate and Grow Fruit, Green* 2 I Injurious In.sect8, Cook 10 I Irrigation for the Farm, Garden, and Or- chard, Stewart* 1 40 This book, so tar as I am informed, is almost the only work on this matter that is attracting so much interest, especially recently. Using water from springs, brooks, or windmills, to take the place of rain, during our great droughts, is the great problem before us at the present day. The book has 874 pages and 142 cuts. 5 I Manures; How to Make and How to Use tliem; in paper covers 46 6 I The sarue in clotli covers 65 Covering the wliole matter, and discussing every thing to be found on the firm, refuse fioin factories, mineral fertilizers from mines, etc. It is a complete summing-up of the whole matter. It is written by F. W. Sempers. 7 I Market-gardening and Farm Notes, by Burnett Landreth 90 The Landreths ate the pioneer seedsmen of America; and the book is worth fully as much as we iniglit expect it to be. I think I riciived liiiits from it worth the price, before [it had been in m.v li.inds fifteen minutes. It is exceedingly practical, and tells wh:it has been done and what is BEING done, more than it discoiiises on theory. 3 I Maple Sugar and tlie Sugar-bush** 35 By Prof. A. J. Cook. This was written in the spring of 1887 at my request. As the author has, perhaps, one of the Hnest sugar-camps in the United States, as well as being an enthusi- astic lover of all farm industries, he is better fitted, perhaps, to handle the subject tha an sther man. The book is written in Prof. Cook's happy styl combining wholesome moral les- sons with the latest and best method of managing to get the finest syrup and maple sugar, with the least possible expendi- ture of cash and labor. Everybody who makes sugar or mo- lasses wants the sugar-book. It has 42 pages and 35 cuts. I Our Farming, by T. B.Terry** $3.00 In which he tells " how we have made a run-down farm bring both profit and pleasure." This is a large book, 6x9 inches, 367 pages, quite fully illus- trated. It IS Terry's first large book; and while it touches on the topics treated in his smaller handbooks, it is sufficiently different so that no one will complain of repetition, even if he has read all of Terry's little books. I should call it the bright- est and most practical book on farming before the world at the present day. The i)rice is «2,00 postpaid; or clubbed with Gleanings for -iSM. Those who are already subscribers to Gleanings may have it postpaid by sending us 1.50 more. We are so sure it will be worth many times its cost that we are not afraid to oft'er to take it back it any one feels he has not got his money's worth after he has read it. If ordered by ex- press or freight with other goods, 10c less. 3 I Onions for Profit** 45 Fully up to the times, and includes both tlie old onion cul- ture and the new method. The book is fully illustrated, and written with all the enthusiasm and interest that character- ize its author, T. Greiner. Even if one is not particularly in- terested in the business, almost any person who picks up Greiner's books will like to read them through. 1 I Poultry for Pleasure and Profit** IQ 11 Practical Floriculture, Henderson* 1 35 10 I Profits in Poultry* 90 3 I Practical Turkey-raising '.". iQ By Fanny Field. This is a 25-cent book which we offer for 10 cts.; postage, 2 cts. 4 I Peabody'.s Webster's Dictionary iQ Over 30,000 words and 2.'i0 illustrations. 2 I Kats: How to Rid Farms and Buildings of them, as well as other Pests of like Char- acter 16 This little book ought to be worth dollars instead of tlie few cents it costs to any one who has ever been troubled with these pests, and who has not? It is written in such a happy vein that every member of the family will read it clear through, just about as soon asthe.y get hold of it. It contains a com- plete summing up of the best information the world can furnish. 1 I Silk and the Silkworm iQ 10 I Small-Fruit Cuiturist, Fuller l 40 10 I Success in Market-Gardeningr* 90 This is a new book by a real, live, enterprising, successful market-gardener who lives in Arlington, a subui-b of Boston, Mass. Friend Rawson has been one of the foremost to make irrigation a practical success, and he now irrigates his grounds by means of a windmill and steam-engine whenever a drought threatens to injure the crop-;. The book has 208 pages, and is nicely illustrated with 110 engravings. ! Ten Acres Enougli ..100 I Talks on Manures* 1 75 This book, by Joseph Harris is, perhaps, the most compre- hensive one we have on the subject, and the whole matter Is considered by an able writer. It contains 366 pages. 2 I The Carpenter's Steel Square and its Uses. 15 10 I The New Agriculture; or, the Waters Led Captive 75 2 I Treatise on the Horse and his Diseases 10 6 I Tile Drainage, by W. I. Chamberlain 35 Fully illustrated, containing every thing of importance clear up to the present date. The single chapter on digging ditches, with the illustrations given by Prof. Chamberlain, should alone make the book worth what it costs, to every one who has occasion to lav ten rods or more of tile. There is as much science in digging as in doing almost anything else; and by following the plan directed in this book, one man will often do as much as two men without this know ledge. The book embraces evei-j- thing connected with the subj,^ct, and was written by the author while he was enga-ed in the work of digging the ditches and laying the tiles HIMSELF, for he has laid literally miles of tile on his own farm in Hudson. O. 5 I Tomato Culture 35 In three parts. Part first— by J. W. Day, of Crystal Springs, Miss., treats of tomato culture in the South, with some re- marks by A. I Root, adapting it to the North. Part second- By D Cummins, of Conneaut, O.. treats of tomato culture especially for canning faetoiies. Part third— By A. I. Root, treats of plant-growing for market, and high-pres.sure garden- ing in general. This little book is interestingbecause it is one of the hr.^t niral books ti' come from our friends in the South. It tells of a great industry that has been steadily growing for some years past; namely, tomato-growing in 'the South to supply the Northern markets. The little book, which is fully illustrated, gives us some pleasant glimpses of the possibili- ties and probabilities of the future of Southern agriculture. Even though you do not ^'low tomatoes to any considerable extent, you will find the book brimful of suggestions of short cuts in agriculture and horticulture, and especially in the line of market-gardening. 3 I Winter Care of Horses and Cattle 36 This Is friend Terry's second book in regard to farm matters; but it is so intimately connected with hi.'- potato-book that it reads almost like a sequel to it. If you have only ahorse or a cow, I think it will pay you to invest in the book. It has 44 pages and 4 cuts. 3 I Wood's Common Objects of the Micro-' scope** 47 8 I What to Do and How to be Happy While Doing It, by A.I. Root 50 THE A. I. ROOT CO., MEDINA, O. 293 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr 15. TESTED QUEENS Are usually-sold for $2.00. I will explain why I wish to sell a few at less than that. As most of my readers know, I requeen my apiary each spring with young- queens from the South. This is done to do away with swarming. If -done early enough it is usually successful. It will he seen that the queens displaced by these young queens are never more than a year old; in fact, they are fine, tested, Italian queens, right in theih prime; yet, in order that they may move off quickly, and thus make room for the untested queens, they will be sold for only ONE DOLLAR. Or I will send the Review for 1896 and one of these queens for only $1.15. For $2.00 I will send the Review, the queen, and the book "Advanced Bee Culture." If any prefer the young, laying qvieens from the South, they can have them instead of the tested queens, at the same price. A discount on large orders for untested queens. Say how many are wanted, and a price will be made. Orders can be filled as soon as It Is warm enough to handle bees and Ship queens with safety. W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Hich. i i!^Si^. i To the PuMisiiers of \mman Bee Journal, i^lgu, and mall. i^^ Please send me the Americau Bee Journal each week for Three Months. At the end of that time I will re- mit $1 .00 for 1 year's subscription, or 25c. in case I decide to discontinue. 56 Fifth Avenue, CHICAGO, II.I.. Name P. O. State CO 0> CD C3 CD CD NEW SUBSCRIBERS are given a free copy of Newman's "Bees and Honey "—160-page book— upon re- ceipt of Sl.OU lor a yeir's subscription to the Am. Bee Journal, or this book will be sent at the end of the 3 months, as per above offer. You ought to have the weekly Am. Bee Journal, even if you have Gleanings. For $1.75 we will send you the Bee Journal and Gleanings for a year, besides a copy of the " Bees and Honey." Address your order as above, or for sample copy. E. KRETCHHER, RED OAK, IOWA, ^ ^ ^ SENDS FREE HIS CATALOG OF 72 ILLUSTRATED PAGES: DESCRIBES EVERYTHING USED IN THE APIARY; BEST GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES. 4-8 CAPACITY ONE CARLOAD A DAY. WRITE AT ONCE FOB HIS CATALOG. I told you so. Mrs. AtchUy:—The one-frame nucleus I got of you last spring gave me 120 well-fllled one-pound sections. J. A. Smith, Heber, Utah, Oct. 9, 1894. Now, haven't I told you that it will pay to send bees north in the spiing ? One-frame nucltus, $1.00; 10 or more, 90c each. Bees by pound, same price. Untested queens to go with them, 75c each. Untested queens by mail, $1.00 each; $5.00 for 6; $9.00 per dozen, till June; after. 7."ic each; $4.25 for 6, or $8.00 per dozen. F breed the leather-colored Italians, 5 bands, and Carniolans, in separate yards, at safe distance. Tested, 3 bands, $1.60 each; 5 bands or Carniolans, $2.. 50 each. Fine breeders of either race, or imported queens, $6.00 each. Full colonies with untested queens, $6.00. Ask for discounts to dealers, and by quantities. Tlie only steam bee-hive factory in south Texas. Root's goods, Dadant's foundation, and Bingham smokers. Safe arrival on every thing guaranteed. Send for FREE catalog that tells all about raising queens. JENNIE ATCHLEY, Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. Please mention this paper. Woodcliff Business To please all. am breeding both Leather-colored and Golden ■5-banded Italians. Have five apiaries, 3 to 5 miles apart, running 350 nuclei. Y^our orders filled promptly. The Leather- Qt^r\r\*^r< colored 3-banded Breeder, UCCIlo* imported from Italy, Oct., '94. The Golden 5-banded Breeder, selected from 1000 queens, some produc- ing 400 lbs. of honey to colony. State what you want, and send orders now for early delivery. Guaranteed Wm A ^f»l Tubiishedy THE>l1^ooY Co. i£° perYear'^'N© ""Hedina-Ohiq- Vol. XXIII. APR. 15, 1895. No. 8. Five cents is enough to Invest in sacaline till more is known about it. Sliced onions are given to bees 24 hours be- fore uniting, by Wm. Stolley. — A. B. J. F. L. Thompson has been doing some good work culling from foreign journals for Review. Gleanings is troubled to know what's done with so much sweet clover. M. M. Baldridge says some of it is used for tanning. Chaff hives are the things for East Tennes- see, with its ever-changing warm and cold spells in winter, according to Adrian Getaz in A. B. J. A CRUSADE ought to be started against re- spectable papers— at h^ast respectable in other respects— for advertising such frauds as Elec- tropoise. That man Boardman must be squelched. He's trying to break in on established tradi- tions and customs, getting us to hanker after old straw skeps and square frames. Vm glad the big-little-hive discussion is not to be closed yet. Not that a positive de- cision is sure to be reached, but incidentally the discussion brings out points of value. The Wisconsin convention seemed to think the " expert and careful bee-keeper" could get along without separators. Don't you think he'd get along just a Icttle better with them ? Mrs. Edith Miller is the name that stands at the mast-head as editor of the new paper, The Kansas Bee Jcmrnal. If Mrs. Edith is a genuine live bee-woman, that paper ought to succeed. Brood-spreading seems to be taking a back seat. Of 23 repliers in A. B. ./., only one in- dorses it unqualifiedly. Doolittle and a few others use it less than formerly, and the major- ity will none of it. Large-hive advocates are appearing in A. B. J. Adrian Getaz says, " Eight hives of thir- teen frames each will probably give more sur- plus, and certainly as much, as thirteen hives of eight frames each." Do bees WORK on strawberry-blossoms? Ab- bott says, in ^1. B. J., that Secor's wrong in thinking they don't. I don't remember ever seeing them at it, and I've had strawberries by the acre; but that isn't proof positive. " I placed in a long trough, in separate piles, wheat flour, wheat Graham, rye flour, rye Graham, ground oats, oat-meal, buckwheat flour, and corn meal, and found the bees would hardly touch any thing else till the cornmeal was all gone."— O. K. Omstead, in A. B. J. " No dangp:r of the swarm absconding or doubling up with others as long as you trap all the queens," says C. H. Dibbern, p. 258. But I'm sorry to say swarms sometimes return to the wrong hive, which is the same as doubling up. The Australian Bee Bulletin says, at the last of January, "Swarming may now be said to be practically over." I should think so! That accounts for the big crops they get there. We could get big crops too if we would work the poor bees right through the winter. The past winter has been a terror across the sea. In England the mercury went down to 8° below zero: and one man says in B. B. J., " If a recurrence of this extreme weather takes place, we should make some experiments on the American plan of cellar wintering." Alfalfa in Wisconsin. A report of a third of an acre is given by S. Favil, in Prairie Farm- er. P''irst year it didn't show much; second year gave two good cuttings, and four cuttings the third year. Flourishes in drouth that checks red clover, and doesn't need re-seeding. Foundation made of two-thirds ceresin, we are told on p. 272. is sold in Germany for what it is. I'm afiaid there's some mistake about that. Thi^re's much complaint in the German journals about adulteration, but I never saw a word in favor of the mixed article, nor any of it offered for sale. Clover seed. Waldo F. Brown says, in Prairie J'ar/rier, "In my experience the mam- moth clover will in good seasons average about 294 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. one bushel of seed more to the acre than the medium; and from reports at institutes the past winter, the alsike will give nearly double the yield of the red clover. Adulterated honey from America, accord- ing to one writer in Centralblatt, floods the German markets to the extent of 5,500,000 pounds. On another page of the same journal, H. Guehler, the C. F. Muth of Berlin, asserts that there is probably very little adulterated American honey, what is adulterated being generally done by Germans in Germany. Hasty says in Review that he believes the leading thinkers no longer hold to the old the- ory that the queen at impregnation receives in- to her spermatheca a supply of spi-i matozoa that lasts for life. Don't you be fooled by noise. Hasty. That battle is being mostly fought in Germany, and the bulk of the leading thinkers hold to the old theory. Catching swarms. Here's how it's done in Florida. A box 14x8x4 inches placed on the end of a long pole, placing in it a queen with a handful of bees and hanging it out every day during the swarming season. Clipping the queens' wings throughout the apiary, the bees in coming out to swarm will cluster around this box, sometimes? or 8 swarms together, and are hived as one swarm. — A. B. J. Bee paralysis. Joshua Bull, in Review, says he failed to cure a very bad case with salt brine, then made a success in this way: "I took a large spoonful of salt, and dissolved it in a little water, just enough to get the salt all dissolved, and mixed this with a gallon of hon- ey and fed it to them just as fast as I could get them to take it." That cured for good. Now the question is, whether it will work the same with a bad case down south. THE LANGSTROTH VS. THE CUBICAL HIVE. THE QUESTION CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY AN ADVOCATE OF THE LATTER; A VALUABLE AND READABLE ARTICLE. By H. B. Bttardman. The lifting and carrying of hives in and about the bee-yard in the hot and busy part of the season, when the hives are stored with honey, is certainly an important item of the hardest, most trying work of the apiary. Then the carrying in and out of winter quarters, where bees are wintered indoors, all suggests, in a forcible manner, the convenience of hives for such manipulation. The square hive is most perfectly adapted to this purpose. I could suggest no improvement in that respect. When lifted by the cleats it makes a well-balanced load, and is easily car- ried. In this respect the least that can be said of the long hive is that its construction suggests little thought of convenience. I have seen two men tugging away at a Simplicity hive, to carry it into winter quarters, when either of them would be able to pick up a square hive of the same weight, and carry it in quicker and easier. In these times of sharp competition and short honey crops it is the sum total of these little items that sometimes tips the balance toward the side of success or failure in bee-keeping. It is only along the lines of strictest economy that we can now hope for success. The queen insists on a round, compact brood- nest, when unrestricted. In carrying out this natural instinct in the long shallow hive, the brood nest is necessarily carried into the sur- plus-chamber. In order to correct this fault (?) perforated-zinc queen-excluders and other ex- pensive devices are used to keep the queen out of the surplus-chamber. The trade in perforat- ed zinc for this purpose has become an impor- tant item. That this is wholly a fault of the hive, it is only necessary to say that, with the square hive, this fault does not appear. The queen never goes into the sections unless by some mistake or awkwardness of management. The brood-chamber furnishes just the natural requirements for a brood-nest. A few years ago 1 was one day in the apiary of; a friend who used the Simplicity hive. He had Ibeen at work taking oti sections. " My bees are very cross," said he. " I am having a disagreeable muss. The frames in my hives, in the upper and lower stories, are built solid together; and when I lift off the section- chamber it pulls up the brood-combs from the lower hive. I am getting a little disgusted with the way it works. How do you manage this trouble?" " I never had any such experience," said I. " Let me see your hives." We lifted the cover from a hive that had just had the sections removed. I did not wonder that my friend had become disgusted. There was enough to disgust any ordor-loving bee- keeper. The long top-bars had sagged until the bee-space over some of them was at least an inch, others were less, while some were nearly straight. All of these spaces, of course, had been filled with irregular masses of comb and propolis, and were stored with honey. " I do not need to tell you that all this trouble is the fault of your hive. Look at those thin top-bars. Their strength is out of all propor- tion to their length, and the weight they have to support. I think the remedy for this trouble is a properly constructed hive." " I guess you are nearly right," said he, " and if this accumulation of old traps were all off my hands I would improve upon your sug- gestion as well as my own past experience, and 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 295 I will assure you that I would uiake some very radical changes in starting again. To mend these faults, honey-boards of vari- ous kinds have been introduced. The bracing and strengthening of the frames in various ways to prevent sagging was resorted to. and finally the thick top-bar came to cure a multitude of evils. It certainly is gratifying to note that this improvement is at least a safer extreme than the other. It is claimed, as a valuable feature of the long hive, that it furnishes a large amount of surplus room close to the brood-nest. I think it remains to be shown that this is a valuable feature; that there is any advantage in such an arrangement. I am quite sure that this is also a mistaken economy. CLUSTEKS IN SQUARE AND LONG HIVE A considerable degree of heat is necessary in order to carry on comb-building. How to con- serve and economize this heat in the surplus- chamber to the best advantage is an important question; and especially when the nights are cool, it sometimes becomes difScult and perplex- ing. The best and most satisfactory work in the sections can always be obtained directly over the brood-nest, and in a central compact form tiered up to the capacity desired. Being placed directly over the heat-center, it best conserves and economizes the accumulated heat from the brood-nest within; and, being in a rather compact form, protects from needless surface exposure without. In the square hive the sections are thus tiered up in a compact form over a compact brood-nest. Now if, in- stead of being thus tiered up, these sections were disposed in one tier to adjust them to the long hive, so that a greater number would come next to the top of the brood-combs, would it need much argument to demonstrate that we have spread out, or dispersed, the heat over more surface, and at the same time placed a part of the sections farther from the heat-cen- ter? We have also increased the outside sur- face exposure to a considerable extent. I am quite sure that the second or third tier of sec- tions on the square hive is in a more favorable position for good work than are the outside sec- tions on the long hive. What is the testimony of the bees themselves? Have your bees got nicely at work in the sections? Go out into the yard and examine a few cases, and see where they commence their work and how they continue it. This is what I think you will find, if you have the long hive: Work beginning centrally in the cases, and extending toward the outside, finishing in the cen- tral part, may be, before work is much advanced in the extreme outside. If a second case is on, work begun centrally, and well ad- vanced, before the outside of the lower tier is finished— if you do find this, it will, no doubt, suggest to you that the central portion is the preferred part of the case for work. There is one argument yet unan- swered, that stands upon the side of the long hive. It is one which pre- sents a barrier more potent for op- position in the human mind than all the other arguments that reason can array. It is popular; it is in gen- eral use. The beginner inquires, "What hive shall I use?" He is recommended the one in general use, and the question is settled. Any other hive would have been as readily accepted. By far the larger part of the trade in hives has been, and is now, with a class of bee-keepers who know nothing at all of the requirements of a bee-hive. Having once adopted any style of hive, it is by no means an easy matter to make a change to some other kind, nor is it advisable to do so without some very good reasons. Every bee-keeper knows how important it is to start right; but the question after ail is, how to be sure we are getting that right start. A tight or fixed bottom to a bee- hive is a fea- ture that I have never been able to appreciate. Its economy or use I have never been able to comprehend. A great deal of my valuable manipulation of hives depends upon the open bottom. The tiering-up feature, perhaps, is the most important, but is not all, by any means. Examination from the bottom, without opening the hive, has for me some decided advantages. 296 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. In the spring I wish to keep in touch with my bees, and know at all times their exact condi- tion. To examine them I pass rapidly along on the back side of the hives, weighing each one with delicate scales which I have in the ends of my fingers, and at the same time I tip the hive up and count the spaces between the combs in which there are bees. I have learned to do this work very rapidly; 30 minutes is suf- ficient time to go over 150 colonies. When I wished to examine the combs briefly, to locate the queenless colonies that may be in the yard, or for any other purpose, I tip the hives in such a manner that the sun will shine straight in at the bottom. With a few puffs of smoke I drive the bees from between the combs to be examin- ed; then by pulling them slightly apart I have a good view clear to the top of the hive. This has the advantage of being quick and easy, and can be carried on at any time without attract- ing robbers; and in early spring you can take a look at the brood-nest without exposing it to the cold. The open-bottom hive is, in my mind, intimately connected with the solution of the winter problem. My hives have been carried in and out of winter quarters for years, without bottoms; others report that they are not able to make it a success. I was puzzled at first, and thought it was because they did not know how; but I suspect it is the exposure of the large open bottom of the long hive that causes disturbance of the bees. Now, may be this is also the key to the origin of this feature. East Townsend, Ohio. [You say there is one argument yet unanswer- ed that stands upon the side of the long hive. Aye, there's the rub. It is the standard. It is adopted ni the United States and Canada, in many of the islands of the sea, in jNew Zea- and, and also in Australia. We may admit all your arguments in favor of the cubical hive; but what are we going to do about if? The sit- uation, it seems to me, finds a partial parallel in this: Our present system of spelling is outra- geous. All schoolchildren have to waste years over something that might be much better spent upon some other department of learning. Printers have to waste tons and tons of type for useless silent letters; and they have to waste years of time in setting them up and in throw- ing them down again. Pressmen have to waste press room, to say nothing of valuable space on the pages of our books and journals, and all for what reason? Because we are helpless, and can not change. Our books for centuries have been printed so as to accord essentially with our present methods of spelling. The Langstroth system is adopted through- out the United States and a large part of the world ; but, unlike the spelling of our lan- guage, it is not outrageous. By many it is con- sidered unique. We have for years made our hives so that the earliest frames we ever made will fit the hives of our present manufacture, and vice versa. There is one point that it seems to me you have not considered in speaking of the advan- tages of the cubical hive. It requires wider lumber, or else boards of one or more pieces matched together, because the hive is tall or deep; and the fewer cracks we can have in the side of a bee-hive, the better. The long hive takes narrow barn-boards — lumber compara- tively cheap in price; and a side or end of such a hive can be made of a whole board. It is true, you?' hive may be; but when you go be- yond ten or twelve inches with the boards, you have got to pay more than jjvo rata price for the extra width. It appears, therefore, that the Langstroth hive is the cheaper of the two; and it is, therefore, cheaper to the bee-keeper. There is one other point that has not, per- haps, been considered, and that is this: Bee- keepers who use the long hive seem to produce as much honey as those who use the cubical; at least, in all my readings (and 1 am forced nec- essarily to read a good deal on the subject of bees, both published and unpublished manu- script) I have never run across a case that I re- member, where the square or cubical hive had the advantage in net results of comb or ex- tracted honey produced. There was a time when we had deep hives; and the experience of my father as well as my own seemed to be that the Langstroth frame was more easily manipulated and withdrawn from the hive. In your case you overcome the disadvantage somewhat by the use of the side- opening hive ; but these are used but little, comparatively, if I am correct; and, besides, it is not possible to make such a hive as tight as one that has permanent sides and ends all around. As to your last sentence, about the bees flying out from the bottom of the shallow hive, pre- paratory to putting them into the cellar, I be- lieve you are entirely correct. I came to that conclusion myself after seeing you handle your hives, and trying the same in our own Lang- stroth. It is not my purpose to make an attempt to overthrow your arguments, but only to give our readers an opportunity to see the question on both sides. You have fairly presented many of the arguments in favor of the long hive, and I only wished to add a few more that perhaps you have overlooked. — Ed.] MANUM IN THE APIARY. EARLY SPRING MANAGEMENT OP BEES; HOW TO LOOK OVER COLONIES WITIIOLTT WASTING TIME UNNECESSARILY, OR EXPOSING BEES TO COLD AIR. By A. E. Manum. "Good-morning. Leslie. Are you out taking a sun-bath this fine morning?" " I have come over to get a setting of eggs. I want to try your new breed of fowls." "Well, just go into the house, and my wife will put them up for you. I want to show this man where to put his horse." " Manum, who is that chap ? " " His name is Abe Jones. He came here last week to see if I would allow him to work with me one day each week, during the bee season, and show him what I could in the management of bees, as I now manage them, and I consented to do so. He has a few bees." "Well, that is a new kink in the business. It's a grand chance for him. He can care for his own bees, and at the same time take lessons of you. Does he pay you any thing for it?'' "Yes, he pays for his dinner, and for hay for his horse; in other words, he offered me $10.00 for the season." 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 297 "Well, Mr. Jones, I suppose you are here for business; so we will get our smokers and go for the bees." " Yes, Manum, I want you to put me through while I am here. I am not afraid of bees or work." "Now, Jones, it is early in the season; and I want to say to you now that a colony of bees must not be kept long exposed to the cold air. We simply need to open the hives, and quickly look in to see if we can assist the bees in any way. In the first place, we will go through the yard, and open all the entrances to their full size by pulling out the slides. It being a warm spring day, and bees are flying nicely, this will give them a chance to clean house; and when we get through work, we will return the slides, because they require but a small entrance through April and the first half of May." " Won't there a great many bees get lost or die on the snow?" " No doubt a few of the old bees will never return to their hive; but that we can not help; however, it is so warm to-day there will be but few lost. If there were much wind, or if the air were chilly, I would not open a hive. You would, therefore, lose your journey this time. " We will open this hive, No. 1, and take tlaem by course. First, raise the cap very carefully, so as not to disturb the bees. Now remove the cushion, and next the ventilator and honey- board. 1 puff a little smoke to drive the bees down. It seems too bad, they are so very quiet. There— you can see now; they have a plenty of sealed honey: another puff of smoke, and now we see a small patch of capped brood. This colony is all right. They have a laying queen, plenty of honey, and are strong in bees. Now, Jones, as you were timing me, how long did I have this colony exposed?" " I am surprised when I tell you that the hive was open only 41 seconds. Now, it would have taken me at least five minutes to satisfy myself of the condition of the colony; and if I learn no more to-day, I shall feel well paid for this day." "Here we are to the 23d hive, and all have so far been nearly alike as to condition; but here we have a change. This colony is light, and short of honey. I will cover the bees at once with the cushion, and go to the honey-room for a comb of honey. I break the cappings, that the bees may get at the honey more readily. Now I will place it near the cluster, so the bees will have it near by, where they can keep it warm. I must take out a comb here from the cluster, to see if there are any eggs, as I see no capped brood. Yes, there are eggs; they are all right. Now I will cover them with this old meal-bag, and over it put the honey- board and cushion. This is to keep them as warm as possible. If I can keep them along until May, I can then assist them with brood and young bees from a strong colony." " Why not give them brood now, and have the benefit of it sooner ? " " Because they aie not strong enough to prop- erly care for it; and, furthermore, it would be bad policy to take brood from any colony this early in the season.. It would damage a strong colony more than it would help a light one. In fact, it would be no great help to the light one; better by far leave the brood in the strong colony to hatch, and then give the light one a few of the young hatched bees. You must re- member that it is only the first week in April, and we are liable to have several days of winter weather yet. My experience teaches me that, the less I do with the bees thus early, the better for them. Here is No. 28, with a mouse-nest in it, and two of the outside combs badly muti- lated. Close the entrance at once: I will try to kill the mice with this new ventilator. Here is a new use for my ventilator. It is just the thing to punch the mice with. There ! there! and there! 1 guess, that is all there are — three of them. Now 1 will remove the nest, and put in two combs partly filled with honey, as I see this colony has not an overabundance, and they are quite strong in bees." " Oh, my ! this 29th colony is dead." " No, there are a few bees away down in that corner. I will remove a comb and examine. There is the queen — a nice one too. I will set the comb back, cover the hive, and get a par- tially filled section. I usually save out a few for this purpose. There! this section, you see, has wood sides, making a box of it. I'll now put 40 or .50 bees with the queen into this box, and break up the colony entirely. I can in this way keep the queen several days by keeping the box in a warm room in the house. Now, when I come to look over the remainder of my bees, which I hope to do this week, I may find a queenless colony. If I should, this queen will come handy. Next week, the work will be a little different. Be sure to choose a still, warm day, or you may lose your journey. Bristol, Vt. [I take it from the foregoing that Mr. Manum is going to give us a series of practical articles especially designed for beginners, so that not only Abe Jones, but a large number of Abe Joneses, will have the beuetit of tutor Manum's instruction. As Mr. Manum makes tiis bees pay, I have no dou bt that many of the veterans can glean here aiui there a fact worth much to thein. Yes, Mr. M.,i hope you will give us a lull report of your instructions to Abe, and give him a hearty hand shake forme. — Ed.] SEPARATORS. A READABLE AND PKACTICAL ARTICLE FROM A PRACTICAL BEE-KEEPER. By N. D. West. I notice on page 210, B. Taylor would have us fall in line with him — make our sections narrow, and cleat our separators, and all this and that. 298 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. Why, Mr. Taylor, we can't, can't do it. We ought not to do it. Why, sir, if we should change our sections every year or two, we should not get anywhere. We take only one step ahead, and then we only step over in a side rut in the road, when we change; no better, but we get another rut in our road, and it costs something to change. Now, sir, it does not matter so much what kind of sections we use, if all would use one kind, so that a box of honey would be a box of honey, just as much as a barrel of flour is a barrel of flour. So far as the size is concerned, it would be far better for the supply-dealers, better for the producers, better for all who have anything to do with the honey crop, if we could have a uniform section and shipping-crate. How many poor widows have had to sell their bies at less than half their value because their husbands had kept chang- ing their hives, their sections, etc., from time to time, until their barn, shop, and every store- room on the place was filled with all kinds of bee-rubbish, good for nothing! The poor widow can't run the bees, and has to sell fhem at auc- tion in about 14 kinds of hives, together with the rubbish, to the highest bidder at about the price of kindling-wood. If everybody would make his hives and sections alike, we could buy and sell bees at any time for their value; but we are not all alike, and so we must differ from other folks. The4)4x43^xl%'is the section that I am using, and I like it best of all. First, 4^^x434, because more use this size than any other. Second, I want them IX wide because that width suits me best, all things considered. I am producing honey for the money there is in it, and I can as yet get more clean money from my bees by using a section 4J^x4i4xl% than I can by using a section 43^x4)^x1?^. I have had a little experi- ence with these two widths. A commission merchant told me that my honey would bring more in the narrow section, which weighs from 10 to 13 ounces, or one pound with glass on. Two years ago I used (JOOO of these 1% sections, and about 16,000 of the IK section, and last sea- son I used up about 2000 of the l^-il sections that I had left, and I gave them a fair test, and the 1%-wide section was decidedly the more profit- able section for me. I wish I had the figures to give exact, but I can't now find the paper that I kept the account on. But I figured it as closely as possible. To begin with, I will say that I can use one kind of section as well as the other on the hives, as 14 sections 1% wide fill one of my half- clamps, including separators and follower; and 16 sections I'X wide fill the same clamp, includ- ing separators and follower, and two clamps cover one hive; sections run the same way the brood-frames do on this kind of hive; and, again, I have 200 swarms in smaller hives, the clamps of which hold 21 of the IX sections, and 24 sections 1% wide; and on these hives the sec- tions run across the brood-frames. Now, Mr. Editor, I figured from 100 colonies in this way: Say KX) colonies fill four clamps of honey each ( I will not give all the figures now, as they are laid aside). I could not get any more clamps filled of one kind than of the other, but the best work was done in the clamps with wide sections. But the 3200 sections IX wide did not weigh as much as did the 2400 sections IX wide. But in using the IX section I had 800 sections more to pay for; also the extra founda- tion to fill them, besides all of the time needed to handle them. This I do remember: that, if I sold the honey in the IX section from the 100 swarms for 10 cents per pound, I should have more money than by using the IX section, and selling the honey at 11 cents per pound. Both were sold at the same price. My shipping-crates hold 24 of the IX sections, and the same crate will hold 28 of the IX sec- tions, but the latter does not weigh as much per crate, so the cost is more to buy crates for the narrow section. Again, the comb in the narrow sections is more liable to be attached to the separators than are the wide ones, from this fact: If a hive does not stand level, so that the foundation in the narrow box can swing but a trifle, it will cause the bees to attach the comb to the sepa- rators more or less. Mr. Taylor says that, long ago, he discovered the great value of drawn empty combs in sec- tions for getting a large yield of white comb honey; and he found, too, that, by using them, he wanted separators. I am glad of it. So do I; but I don't want the kind he uses. dI was going tosay more about separators when I commenced, but will not now. But I will say a word about what I have noticed with drawn comb in tlie sections. I prize them very much, and use one row (the center one) in every clamp that I put on my hives before I tier up. Here, again, the narrow sections are more liable to be occupied with brood than wide ones. I will admit that the section 5 inches high has an advantage over a lower section of the same weight. Middleburg, N. Y. [On my first bicycle-tour I called at the home of N. D. West, in isc>0. The gentleman himself was absent, hut I was kindly shown about by his son. I saw evidences enough to convince me that Mr. West was one of the bright, intelligent bee-keepers of York State. I afterward learned that he was a successful manager of some 300 or 400 colonies distributed in one or more out- yards. I had the pleasure of making his ac- quaintance at one or more of the York State bee-conventions. At the meetings which I at- tended he was full of ideas, and was ready to give them to his brother- workers. The article is a fairly good sample of what he knows about bees; and the arguments he presents seem to be almost incontrovertible, not the least important of which is the idea of having regular goods- something that everybody can use, and which have a par value among bee-keepers everywhere. -Ed.] 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 299 RAMBLE NO. 130. AT ST. HELENA. By Ramhlcr. ITR Spanish neighbors had regained their equilibri- um in the morning; and as we departed they gave us a kind '■ adios." St. Helena, IS miles from Napa, is another of those beautiful towns we have so often ob- served. Like Napa it is surrounded with vine- yards, and boasts of one of the largest wineries in the State. It would have been very pleasant to camp in such a town; but thinking we might get among the festive Spaniards again, we pushed along. Our friend H. L. Jones, the gas-man of San Francisco, having our welfare in mind, said we would find a beautiful camp- ing-place beyond St. Helena— streams of run- ning water; fir and madrone trees interlocking their branches, making a cooling shade, and, above all, it was near the residence of his friend W. M. Cole. We found the camping-place all he had pic- tured it, and Mr. Cole was a Missourian of the "walk right in and help yourself '" order. It seems that he delighted to have the camping public rest under the shade of the trees. For his special friends he had a cosy nook on the banks of the stream near his residence, which he offered to us; but as we were to stop only one night we preferred the more public place near the highway. Mr. Cole's house was so embowered under fruit-trees that but a small portion of it could be discerned. A thriving family of boys and girls were romping among the trees. As to how Mr. C. was getting along in other directions. I know not; but in the mat- ter of a family he was a success — not the evi- dence of things hoped for by some, and not found, but here was evidence and reality. Mr. Cole was a bee-keeper after a fashion. He allowed his few colonies to manage things their own way in the far corner of his garden. They held proud possession of a few cracker and soap boxes, and, according to Mr. Cole's ideas, they were a strain of bees known as the French bee. One of their shining characteris- tics lay ill their fighting qualities. A neighbor across the valley brought in some Italian bees; but the French bees pitched into them. They had a general fight, and '" fit and fit," and the French bees came off victorious. "'But I ain't no bee-keeper," said Mr. C. "I kin go out into the woods and get more honey than 1 can from my hives. These French bees work better in trees than they do in hives, and the woods are full of bee-trees." Said he, '" You tell Harry Jones, the gas-man, to come right out here and set up a bee-corral. It will pay him." Mr. C. made some complaint about moths getting into his hives of French bees, and didn't see why, when they were such good fighters, that they let that pesky moth in to eat up a whole colony. Then grapes and French bees did not agree. In his little vineyard of choice grapes he left two rows for family use; but the P'rench bees got after them after awhile, and cleaned them all out, and left nothing but the shucks. Mr. Cole's swine-corral was located near the bees, and the pen and the hives were elbowing each other, as it were, for room. This led to a discussion in relation to hog and honey pro- duction vs. hog and hominy. I told him our gaseous friend in San Francisco proposed that line of labor. "Just the thing," said Mr. Cole. "This is the best hog and bee country north of the city; and such an energetic fellow as Jones would make things lively up in this country. As you observe, my bees and hogs agree well together. And say, stranger, did you ever know of a bee stinging a hog?" I had to confess that, though I had seen many hives located near hog-pens, I had never witnessed or heard of such a case. " Well, it's a fact, sir, a bee will never sting a hog. If you get the scent of a hog on your hands or clothing it is the best of preventives to bee-stings. Smokers! wouldn't have one around. Just step over into the pen and rub your hands on the old sow's back, and you will have apifuge enough to last half a day." Un- fortunately I am not so situated as to test Mr. C.'s plan. Bui when Mr. Jones gets his ranch started, and has several fat sleek porkers near at hand he can call up Peggy, Betsy, or Han- nah, as the case may be, and secure the api- fuge. It is quite possible, though, that the hog antidote could be successfully practiced with only oiir friend's French bee. There were other small apiaries in this vicin- ity, but they were not numerous, and not man- aged according to modern methods. Our fine camping-place was made desolate again in the morning, and we were rolling through that other beautiful town, Calistoga. The attractions of this resort are sulphur springs, mountain scenery, and climate. The vineyards sliiide off here into prune-orchards, which, healthfully and morally, is a good snade for the people. Our friend Jones, of gas memory, had, at some preceding time, spread himself all over this country; and, knowing what he was talk- ing about, he advised us to cross the St. Helena Mountains to f^ake Co. by what is known as the Oat Hill route. We followed his advice, with "cliildlike and bland" confidence. We had an arduous climb again, winding up and around the mountain-spurs. As we were lifted 300 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. by the grade high above the Calistoga Valley, a scene worthy the artist's brush lay beneath us. The level valley is broken in manv places by quite sizable hills; these, covered with trees and luxuriant deep-green foliage, looked like so many islands rising in the midst of vineyards, orchards, and homes, while the distant Coast Range gave a fitting background to the lovely landscape. I was also told that a view from this mountain road was peculiarly pleasing and novel when the fog was resting low down in the valley, every thing being hidden from view except the projecting hills, and the appearance was that of a large lake dotted here and there with islands. Oji the mountain summit we found a cabin and a refreshing fountain of water, where we were glad to rest our horses and eat our noonday lunch. The geological outcroppings here were of a hard and stern character. The rocks were jagged and pointed, and we could imagine many an ancient castle with its towers and battlements frowning down upon us. Such a geological upheaval would naturally presage something of an unusual character; and here upon the northern slope of the mountains we find a profitably worked quicksilver- mine, known as the Napa Consolidated Mine. Quite a little town is perched here upon the rough and rugged side of the mountain. There is scarcely room for dwellings; but by digging out niches, removing boulders, and placing long stairs, the thing is accomplished. The mines are owned by 300 stockholders, ail Maine capitalists. The laborer earns all the way from $2.00 to $3.00 per day, and quite a sprin- kling of Chinamen are employed. The shafts, or tunnels, are run in horizontally from the side of the mountain; and little trucks, with a don- key attached, run out the ore to the smelter. Around the latter, where the fumes of mercury rise, is the only unhealthful place to work, and much of this is overcome by wearing sponges over the mouth and nose. It is said that cor- porations are soulless; but it seems that this corporation has a soul in the direction of tem- perance, and, let us presume, in other directions also. The stockholders, being Maine men, have brought the prohibition principles of that most Eastern State, and planted them here among the hills of the most western of our family of States; and, though great induce- ments have been oilered to allow liquors to be solc^ in the only store, which is owned by the company, it is not allowed, and is kept from the grounds as far as possible. A few miles beyond the mines we found a fine camp beneath the outspreading arms of oak-trees. Here we quietly rested over Sun- day, the 36th day of August. Bro. Wilder, taking Rom. 14:5 for a text, went off in the morning early with his rifle, in search of signs of deer. There were some sheep around that country, so the signs, supposed deer-tracks. were plentiful. He also found another fellow with a rifle who had strangely taken the same text; and when they returned in the heat of the day the signs on their faces plainly echoed the words of the Preacher when he said, " Van- ity of vanities, all is vanity." We are now in Lake Co., called by the inhab- itants the Switzerland of America. We had previously heard of so many Switzerlands of America that we suspected these people were hallucinated by local pride, and we resolved to have a lookout for the grand features. Our first day in the county was not favorable to Swiss impressions. It was hot, 108° in the shade, and the roads very dusty. After a long drive, wherein we could find no water for our ponies or dog, we made Lower Lake— tired, hungry, and dusty, and straightway camped. HONEY AS A DIET. A REPLY TO C. DAVENPORT, PAGE 317, MARCH 15. By Thaddeus Smith. I wrote the article on "Honey as a Diet," printed on page 93, which, through some over- sight, appeared without a name to it, and upon which Mr. Davenport makes some comments and criticisms. Mr. D. says he does not agree with me, that a great many people do not like honey or care for it as food or a relish. He finds no dislike for good honey in his locality; but my experience in a different part of this wide country has been the reverse of his. We may both be right, and the apparent contra- diction m'ay be owing to the different location and the different class of people we have come in contact with. Mr. D. thinks that only those who never saw good honey dislike it. I can assure him that the good lady who gave me her reasons for not using honey on her table knew what good honey was, and I am confident that most of the persons I have alluded to have have had opportunities for seeing and tasting good honey— fine white-clover honey. I have known some progressive bee-keepers who care but little for honey, and do not use much of it in their families; and in the article referred to I called upon bee-keepers, especially those at the " Home of the Honey-bees," to give their testimony as to the amount used in their fam- ilies. If Mr. D. had read carefully he should not have made the mistake of supposing that the editors wrote the article. HOJ^EY AT HOTELS. In a recent trip to Florida, of six weeks, I did not stay long at any one place, and conse- quently was a patron of many and a variety of hotels. The bill of fare at most of these hotels contained a great variety of all the sub- stantials and delicacies of the season, usually including maple syrup and other syrups; but 1 found honey on the menu of only three of the hotels that I stopped at. It so happened that I 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 301 took a breakfast at the grand Tampa Bay Hotel (cost one dollar and tifty cents), and there I found "orange honey" on the bill of fare. But there was such a grand array of good things displayed on this menu that I did not call for it. At Atlanta, Ga., I also found "orange hon- ey," and this time called for it. I was brought a dark liquid resembling Florida syrup — fully as dark— which had a bitter and astringent taste. I could not eat it, and called for maple syrup. At another hoiel I got some comb hon- «y. The comb was white and tender, but the honey was darker than any fall honey I ever saw in the North. The quality was a great improvement upon the first, but not up to our standard. I should like to hear from A. I. Root in regard to the honey he found in P^lorida. XJPW^AKD VENTILATION WITH A VENGEANCE; A SINGULAR CASE. A friend in Kentucky kept bees many years ago. Thirty years ago he had some of his bees in movable-frame L. hives, and a very nice little apiary; but in the pursuit of other mat- ters he soon lost interest in them, ceased to care for them, would not hive new swarms or have any one else do it. He had so completely aban- doned and banished them from his mind that he did not know whether there were bees on his farm or not when I visited hira last fall. I looked around his place where he used to keep his bees, but could see nothing left of the old frame hives except the body of one up in the garret of his two-story house, where a line colo- ny had once flourished and stored large quanti- ties of surplus honey. The hive contained the litter of the combs, eaten up by mice and moth. The frame hives outside were all gone, but there were a few remnants of box hives, some partly broken up, some filled with moth- cocoons, and one without cap or cover, with live bees in it. All were nearly rotten. I do not know positively how long these bees have been in that hive, but I think they have been there 13 or 15 years, and probably longer. The hive had a l^^-inch auger-hole in the center of the top — uncovered — exposed to rain and snow. To protect them a little I kicked an old hive to pieces (and it was easily done), and laid one of the pieces over the top, with a stone on it. But as there were some strips on top of the hive the board did not fit down close to the hole; it was still open. So much for the intro- duction, now for the sequel. My friend, his wife, and myself went to Florida. They will remain there until April. I returned March 5th, and am staying at their house with their two sons. I went to look at the bees, and found the hive turned completely upside down, with- out any cover over it; but the bees were alive, and seemed to be quite strong. I called up the colored man, who seems to be a kind of fore- man while the owner is away, and asked him what he knew about the bees. He said, "I reck'n the mules must have knocked it over; they were in the yard here the other day. They knocked it over once before in cold weather, and I turned it up again." But he could not tell me how long it remained turned over either lime. In another place, in the orchard, March 13th, I found another box hive turned upside down and full of comb, no cover on it, and, to my surprise, there were live bees in it. I care- fully turned it up and sought the colored man again, who, by the way, is quite intelligent and very reliable. He said the hive had been in that position all winter; he thought the bees were all dead, and he did not pay any attention to it. From the indications around it, and the impression on the grass, where the hive stood, I am satisfied that it did stay in that position all winter; and this has been the coldest win- ter known here for many years. In December the thermometer was 14° below zero, and in February 18° below, and either down to zero or below every day for three weeks in February. This is a case of extraordinary upward ventila- tion, and shows what an amount of exposure bees will sometimes endure. But why is it that this is only sometimes ? There must be some cause for it. I have a theory in regard to this particular case. There was a great deal of snow— ground covered all the time of the cold weather, and no rain all winter. The combs were level with the bottom of the hive (now top), old and strong, and became covered with snow which remained until warm weather, it being too cold for the heat of the bees to melt the snow above them. This was some protection to them dur- ing the coldest weather; but when this melted off they remained in that unprotected condi- tion up to the time that I discovered them. March 19th I examined the hive to see if the bees needed feeding; and in raising the box up, every comb in it dropped out. The exposure to rain, snow, and frost had loosened all the combs from the box. The colony was not large, and there were but comparatively few dead bees. Two combs contained large patches of brood, and they still had plenty of honey. I transferred them to a clean box, and they are doing well. These hives are cases of extreme ventilation, and of upward ventilation at that. They wintered well, but probably will not de- cide the much-mooted question of sealed covers or upward ventilation. I merely give the facts, without entering into the discussion. Midway, Ky. [In regard to the honey I found in Florida, I would say I saw^ little or none on the tables of the hotels; but 1 found beautiful honey in great plenty at the homes of all the bee-keepers. I do not think I saw any poor honey even once. Very likely they brought out the best, or saved up some of the best for me. I learned to be very fond indeed of honey from saw-palmetto. And that makes me think I am guilty of putting a wrong title undercut on page 14G. It should be saw-palmetto and not cabbage. The cabbage- 302 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. palmetto does, however, furnish good honey also. Honey from mangrove and that from saw-palmetlo were pretty nearly the only two kinds I found. The honey from orange-blossoms is so often mixed with that from other sources that it is a pretty hard matter to get it any where near pure, as a general thing.— A. I. R.J HOW TO CONVERT OLD BROOD COMBS INTO FOUNDATION WITHOUT MACHINERY. A NOVEL TDEA. By TV. M. Little. During the past season, 189i, I succeeded in working over old brood-combs to my complete satisfaction. I had about 200 old combs, that had been in constant use for 12 years. I tried rendering them, but could secure but little wax from them, as the cocoons and other substances absorbed all of the wax, and I had nothing left for my labor. So I began to experiment a little. I began, with a sharp Bingham honey-knife, trimming down the cells of these old combs (some of them were old transferred combs taken from old box hives ten years ago). I soon found I could cut through the cocoons down to the septum by care, and leave the base of the cell intact; then, turning the L. frame over on a board, cut the right size to tit the frame, thus supporting the comb, and I could trim down the other side in like manner, leaving a sheet with the base of the cells well defined. The bottom of each cell will be filled with the base of the cocoons of all of the past generations bred in them: these, however, the bees remove in a short time, leav- ing the septum much like the sheet of founda- tion at the first. If the sheet is torn, or if there are patches of drone comb that I desire to dispense with, I cut it out, and patch it with brood foundation, using melted wax to hold the patch in place until the bees fasten it permanently. I succeeded in getting l.'iO combs of this kind rebuilt in a few days in the early part of June last, before the honey-dew began to be gathered by my bees, when they would not build comb of any kind. These combs were mostly built on wired foundation in the first place, and, having been rebuilt, are firm, and stronger than those built first on foundation. After working at cut- ting these combs down I became quite expert at it. It takes a keen, stiff knife, using cold water to keep the septum stiiT, so that it will not stick to the blade, and tear. With a little experience at the business, one can trim them down quite rapidly, and can make brood combs much more rapidly, and with less waste of wax than by rendering the combs and molding them again. The bees seem to delight in pulling out the base of the old swaddling-clothes of former genera- tions of bees, and mending the rents and patches in the old comb, and working them over. If my health permits, and the bees have work to the coming season, I will work over a large number of my old combs this year, as I am well pleased with the result of my experiment last year. Wm. Little. Marissa, 111., March 9. HANS READS A. I. ROOT'S BEE-BOOK. I reads riot book dru ant dru, Und I studies it ore and ore. Mine liet It vas most bustln, I c m not stand upon der floor. I reads about dot Doolittle, Und pee-mons by der schore; I yust can not sit sthlll, I gets me yup and vakes der floor. I goes to see von nabor-mon. He gots do, dree hlfes or more, He dt Us me n e dot does beemons Dravels der gundry ore. I sthudies dot bee-book in und oud. But 1 denk di.es bee moiis Knows vat dere about, D,)es bees make you look a little oud. Und as I reads dot pook 1 denk, " Hans, you get some bees, Und dry your luck mlt liuijy, Und lilfe dem In der trees." I gets mine bees from Alley, Dot new fan-dangh d kind; He says ciey makes der most iiunys, Una works qulie to der mlud. I gets my bives all redy, Und fix d.-m out among der trees. Und I denks " Now, Hans, you bees bappy Mit your lotiy little bees." Does bees gomes out To liaf a 11 tie fly Sblmney Grislmas! One sthlcks me in der ey! Dot ey it keeps a swellin, I can not see no more. I denk I fi.x does bees; I siimoke i liem do, dre dimes or more. Does bees dey come a pllin out. And I runs me all about To get der bit's all redy For does lofly little bees. Does bees crawl up my bant legs, Und stbings me on der knees, I runs arount most gracy, Und get some vater tor does bees. I dink does pees of Alley's, He says dey bees so kint. When dey gets a sthinglng me, Dey works quite to der mint. I hife does bees do, dree times or more; Mine hart mit dlspalr was akin, For yust so sure I liaf dem rite. So sure I vas mistaklu. I c-lls mine wife to help me oud, Mlde demper vas most rilin, Ven oud gomes does bees Yust a billn'. Then I say, " Hans, you bees a fool. To be so long a lookin," So I gets me in dot house, Und gets dot book to look in. Does bees flies round and round. In does trees dey sthop not eny; Mine vife she say, " O Hans! Der bees so very meny." I gets does bees right in dot bife, They goes to makin huny; I say, " Now, Hans, olt poy. You ged your bokets full of muny." I reads about dot Rambler, Dot funnj' mon is he; He no likes the vimens. But he lof es dot little bee. But now I bees so happy. Dot book It helps me oud; Und I sthudies it some more. To knows what I bees about. I denk does bee mon's Heads is level dot rites Dot book about der bee; It has helped a greenhorn yust like me. Hans Vonderblinken. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 303 COGGSHALL'S SPRING MANAGEMENT. ONE day's AVOKK AT THE OUT-YARDS OF AN EXTENSIVE AND PRACTICAL I>EE~l\.l!jEPEK. By Harm S. Howe. On Thursday, May 10, 1894, I received the following card from Mr. W. L. Coggshall: Friend Hairy :— Come over Saturday, and help us make the grand circuit. If weather is favorable. Apple-bloom is nearly over. W. L. C. West Groton, N. Y., May 9, 1894. With me the apple-bloom had been for some time over, for I was teaching at that time twelve miles west, near Cayuga Lake. We always wish to unpack the bees just at the close of apple-bloom, for there is nothing to gather for a time then. If they were un- packed during the flow, they would lose a day or two of honey. There is sure to be a slacking- up of brood-rearing at the time of unpacking, and also when apple-bloom is over; so we bring the two together when we can, for they are not apt to slow up much more for both than for one alone. Of course, the weather has also to be consulted in regard to the best time to unpack, for it would not be well to set them out when a cold wave was expected, even if they had to stay in another week. This time, however, the weather was all that could be desired. When school was out Friday afternoon, I got out my wheel, and arrived at Mr. C.'s house in time for supper. After supper, Mr. Coggshall, Russel, and I sat down to talk over the cam- paign for the morrow. Just here, perhaps, is a good place to introduce Russel Stennet, a young man from Virginia, who came North to put the finishing touches on his education as a bee- keeper. This was to be his first trip to the south yards. After talking a few minutes, Mr. C. remarked, "Well, Harry, I have started a new yard this year again." "Where?" "In that nice location near Etna we talked about last year." "Why did you like that better than the oth- ers?" "It is near the station, and will make a good place to store the honey from the other south yards, if I do not want to ship right off early." " Yes, I remember that we figured out that the Etna station was the nearest one to most of the honey. By the way, how are we going to- morrow?" " We will take the team and democrat wagon. It would be a rather big load for the buggy; be- sides, I want to take some smoker fuel." " When were you at those yards last?" "I have not been to Ellis since they were packed last fall." " What time shall we set the alarm-clock?" "It is a long drive there. Perhaps we had better start by six; that would get us up by five." After some more talk on bees in general, we went to bed. The next thing I knew, the clock was ringing away for us to rise. The chores were quickly done, and the wagon run out and loaded with the things that were to be taken. After breakfast, came the seven-mile drive to the Brown yard. Arrived there, Mr. C. showed Russel where to put the team, while I unlocked the honey-house and lit the smoker. The sup- ply of fuel for the season was put in place, and a box of matches in the match-box. The fifty colonies at this place are in chaff- packed Eclectic hives. It took but a short time to take off and pack away the cushions from the tops, and see that there was no loss. The bees were apparently in need of nothing, plenty of honey having been left the previous fall. Russel and I put the team out while Mr. C. went over the yard to see that every thing was all right, and that no fire had been left. Then the three miles to Etna quickly passed, where the same business with the team was re- peated. This yard required more work, how- ever. It was put in place while the snow was on last winter. vSome of the bees were drawn from other yards; others were bought. Those new ones were not in the best shape for rapid handling. The combs of some had grown to- gether so they had to be cut apart. The five miles of road to Ellis is over a high ridge of hills, the last two miles over an old wood road upon which three or four families have settled. Russel said that it looked much as it did down home in the mountains, where they have done no work on the road in years. The land on each side had been covered with pine, which had been cut off, giving place to thickets of chestnuts and brush. The Ellis yard, however, is situated iu a fertile valley. We ate our din- ner, which we had brought along, before be- ginning work. For a cold dinner we have found nothing to equal good bread and milk. This time we had a loaf of Mrs. Coggshall's bread, and she can't be beat as a bread-maker. A two-quart can of milk, some strawberry sauce and cookies, taken together, makes a meal which a king might envy. When I go on my wheel, I take my dinner with the people we rent the yard of; but it would not always be convenient for three to drop in on them just at meal time. This yard of 67 live colonies was set out in a hurry. They are in Mr. C.'s own style of pack- ing-case, which he will describe for Gleanings soon. The places where the stands stood were plainly marked in the grass. This yard is the hardest to reach, but every thing is so handy when we get there that we do not have to stay long. We are now fifteen miles from home, and two o'clock finds us on the road back over the hill. The road we take is, if possible, worse than the one we came by; but we are at Varna at last. Here the work is much the same that it was at Ellis, except that about 40 of the 90 live ones we find are in chaff hives, which do not have to be 304 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. handled. When this yard is finished, we drive home rather leisurely. Just after sundown Mr. C.'s little boys stop from their chores to shout, "Here is papa! " We had driven over thirty miles, unpacked 131 colonies, besides going over 110 colonies that were in chaff hives. We have a regular system upon which we work, not only in unpacking, but in all the work with the bees. To do rapid work, one must have, first, handy hives and fixtures; second, a system that fits the hives: third, men who are used to both^ In the case of that big day's work we had hives of two entirely different patterns, neither one of which has proven itself so superior as to drive the other out of use. We had a system that is the result of over a quarter of a century's constant effort to system- atize the work. We had two men who had worked together more or less for seven seasons; the third was an experienced bee-man, quick to learn, but he had never worked on that system before. We go to work as soon as we reach the yard and every thing is ready. The first step in unpacking is to place the bottom- boards. These are loose. They an- placed where they stood last year. They can be told by the places where there is no grass. One man carries them out from the honey-house, where they had wintered, and sees that they are level from side to side, and tipped slightly forward. The others take off the covers from the packing-cases, which hold eight colonies, and place them near where the empty cases are to stand, then the hives are lifted out one by one, after being slightly smoked at the en- trance, and placed upon tho stands. Care! is taken to place the weaker ones where the cases stood, while the stronger ones are placed on the ends of the rows. The empty cases are placed out of the way, but handy for the following fall. The covers are carried out and placed on them, and that is the end of that boxful. This is re- peated with each box until all are out. The hives are all looked into to see that they have a queen, etc. Sometimes the one who is looking through the hives calls a consultation of doc- tors to see what to do to some one that is out of the regular run, or perhaps it is a coroner's jury that is called to find the cause of some mysteri- ous death. Mr. C. himself, however, is rarely at fault in such matters, his long experience enabling him to see at a glance what it would take one of us younger generation hours to study out. He is always willing to impart his knowledge to those about him. The work of the day goes along without many directions being given. Once telling in the morning is supposed to be sufficient; in fact, Mr. C. very mucli prefers to have experienced help. Of course, when he has a green hand, he has to keep watch of him and see that he is working to good advantage. The things that are used during the day are all picked up at once. It seems to be cheaper to drop empty hives, extra covers, etc.. where tliey happen to- be. and then carry them all in at once, than to make a separate trip for each article. Mr. C. says that he is handling bees for the honey, and that, if he can work faster or easier by having things handy, he is going to have them so. He carries his system of rapid work to his farm, and even to the harness. There are no buckles on his harness to unbuckle; those places are all fastened with snaps. His idea is, to get a good system, and then stick to it, study it, perfect it in every detail until you can do your work with the fewest possible motions and the least expenditure of time and strength. One of the best ways to make bees profitable is to reduce the cost of the production of honey. Groton, N. Y. PRODUCING COMB HONEY A LA FRANCE. CAN IT BE PRODUCED OVER TWO EIGHT-FRAME BODIES? By E. France. I am asked to give my plan for producing comb honey. I suppose you all know that I am not a comb-honey producer usually, al- though I have raised some. I have been think- ing of working a part of my home yard for this purpose, but I have not got at it. Several years ago I got 100 supers, right size to fit my hives. They hold 24 sections each. I got 400O sections. I have the most of them yet. The question that is put to me is this: How would I produce comb honey, using a two-story eight-frame brood-chamber? This would de- pend on circumstances. If the bees gather and store that much, I must have eight frames full of good sealed honey to winter the bees first; then if honey is coming so they can store more, I will have it put in sections; confine the queen to the lower story with zinc, then put on the sections with foundation starters; put the sec- ond story of eight frames full of honey on top of the sections, if the colony was strong. I think it would be best to give them two supers — one over the other. I would not put on the second super of sections at first. Wait until they get crowded for room. As fast as the sec- tions are completed take them out. Give them plenty of work to do between their winter stores and the brood-nest. I am keeping their winter supply overhead to save it. If the frames of honey were below the sections, the bees would likely put some of it up in the sec- tions, and I don't want them to do it. I want to give the bees their share, and I will take what I can get after they have theirs. If the colony is strong they may swarm. If they do, put the queen in a cage, and put her into one of the upper sections, after removing all queen-cells; then in ten days remove all queen-cells again. In ten days more, liberaty 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 305 the queen. I have tried this plan with six colo- nies. In 18Sii I got both supers filled with hon- ey— 48 sections. Another plan. As I am working for extracted honey mostly, with three sets of combs, I made the extracted bees feed the comb-honey bees. In this case I don't wait for the section bees to fill the combs to winter on, but put the sections on earlier, and not have the combs above them — just sections with the honey-board on top of the sections, queen below the zinc in the lower story. Give them all the sections they can fill, to the very last of the honey season; then take off all the sections and zinc queen-excluder; put on a second story, and fill it with full combs of honey from the third stories of the extracted bees. This plan gave the most section honey; but they are more liable to swarm. Bees could be worked on this last plan, and then give them a set of empty combs, and feed sugar syrup for winter feed. But for me I like the honey best. I was forced to feed my bees 14 barrels of sugar in the fall of 1892, and that winter I lost lOO colonies of bees— a greater mortality than any year before or since. Now, I don't know but the comb-honey men will laugh at me, or at my way to get comb honey; but I don't know any better. Remem- ber that location makes all the difference you can imagine. What is best in one place would be folly in another. Platteville, Feb. 27. BEE-KEEPING IN THE TROPICS. SOME INTERESTING ITEMS KELATIVE TO BEES IN GUIANA, ETC. By TJiomag B. Blow. Denr Friend Root: — I wrote you some months ago that I was going to take a complete change tnis winter, ill health having been troubling me much for the past year; and I said that, if I saw any thing of interest in the West Indies or elsewhere, I would write you. You very kindly sent me letters of introduction to all the people you knew in that part of the world. I received these at Trinidad, and you have my heartfelt thanks. I was, however, prevented from going to the larger islands, where those bee-keepers lived. My route was to British Guiana via Madeira from London, and I found that very little bee-keeping was carried on there — none commercially. There are two or three bee- keepers in Georgetown, with small apiaries, and their bees are kept in rough boxes or rough hives, with American frames. There appears to be a moderate yield of honey; but owing to the great equality of the climate the year round (the variation not amounting to more than 10 degrees of temperature) there is nothing in the shape of a harvest as we under- stand it. The bees I saw were all descendants of imported bees, and greatly resembled Carnio- lans. There is a wild bee here of the genus Apis (about half the size of Apis melliflca), stray swarms of which often take possession of an empty box in an apiary. They, however, yield but little honey, and are few in numbers compared with a colony of common bees. After seeing some of the sugar-factories here (for su- gar is the greatest industry here, though at present in a very bad way owing to the great competition with German beet sugar, Aanyof the estates being abandoned; for, though they are in a high state of cultivation, and some have upwards of $500,000 worth of machinery in the factories, yet they are quite unvaluable), I proceeded to see the gold-mines, which are becoming quite a great industry. They are, however, rather remote from civilization, the nearest being between 200 and 300 miles up the Essequibo River and its tributaries, most of the ground they occupy being part of the territory so long in dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela. The only way to reach them is by open boat rowed by (or, rather, paddled by) about twenty colored men ; and as a great many rapids and falls are encountered, it takes about seven days to accomplish the journey. Each day, when we halted the boat for the midday rest, I went into the bush as far as possible, to see what bees I could find. There were great numbers of the small stingless bees (M. trkjona) that store their honey in little bladder-like re- ceptacles; and at one place I noticed quite a number of bees, pollen-laden, at a creek, taking water. They much resembled Carniolans, but were fully a third larger, and much more hairy. I was sorry that time did not allow me to trace them to their nest. This journey, botanically, was most interesting; for at the rapids, which are the only parts of the river that support any vegetation at all, I was able, during the time the boat was being drawn up, or portages made, to study the habits of about three species of Podostomacea:, of which very little is known. Altogether this journey was a great treat. The camping at night, our hammocks swung between the trees, and the numerous campfires, with the men cooking their evening meal, was something quite new to me. Leaving the South- American mainland. Trin- idad was the next point of call; and, though so beautifully written about by Charles Kingsley, in " At Last," yet I somehow failed to appreci- ate it, and I was rather glad, at the end of 12 days, to make ready to depart. There are a few bees kept near the town, and quite a lot in Maraval, on the Mocha estate there. Their owner is Mr. Watkins, who hails from near Hereford, England, and I had a real good time with him. Mr. Hart, the government botanist, keeps a colony of the stingless bees (trigona) near the door of his laboratory; and he told me that at dusk each evening the entrance of the hive was sealed up by the bees to prevent in- truders entering during the night. Granada, 306 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, Antigua, Nevis, St. Kitts, and Redonda, were visited; but the last and most interesting was Montser- rat. I was here enabled to make an interest- ing observation as to the quantity of beeswax produced in a given area. The island is quite a small one — 30,000 acres — with a population of 9000. Bees are kept to some extent, but I im- agine a quantity of the wax is got from the wild bees in the forests on the mountains. I had the good fortune to be provided with a let- ter of introduction to a gentleman who is prac- tically the sole buyer of all the beeswax that is exported. The whole appears to be brought to him with the exception, perhaps, of a little that the chemist gets for local use. The average quantity is about 1120 lbs. per annum, or about 1 lb. to every 27 acres. This island is in a better position than any other I visited, for the pro- duction of comb honey, owing to the vast plan- tations of limes, the property of the Sturgis Montserrat Lime-juice Co. The honey is very superior, being much like the South-European orange-bloom honey, and commands quite a high price locally— about 5 cts. per lb., being put up in empty whisky-bottles, which, I com- pute, hold about 2}>4 lbs. each. The surplus honey finds a ready market in Trinidad. I here found my time was exhausted, and was hence obliged to givfe up any extended visit to Cuba. Hayti, and Jamaica, which, of course, are the great bee-keeping islands, and I am writing this at Barbadoes, on my way home. [I will explain to onr readers, that Mr. Blow is one of the leading-supply dealers in England. He has traveled extensively throughout Con- tinental Europe, and to some extent in the United States.— Ed.] with the ability to sting, it can make its pres- ence felt, and its memory a "possession for ever." One species is frequently two feet in diameter, and moves about in schools, or shoals, which oftentimes are sufflcient to interfere with the progress of boats. Irridescent in the sunlight and phosphorescent in the twilight and darkness, their course is a path of light. The jelly-fish is the glass-umbrella of the sea, and in place of the handle are numerous deli- cate filamentary tentacles. By the contraction and expansion of the muscular umbrella-like body, the creature makes its way through the water. Its tentacles, however, contain a sting and a poison-cell, so that, while admiring its beauty, one must remember the maxim, " Do not touch me." All animals' bodies are partially water; but the jelly-fish contains only about thirty grains of solid matter out of a possible ten pounds of weight. Many a person who has admired the beauty of the floating jelly-fish has been sur- prised to find it almost vanish after it had been caught. A story is told of a thrifty farmer who collected loads of jelly-fish, thinking to fertilize his land therewith, but found that he had rather discovered a new method of salt-water irrigation. JELLY-FISH. AN INTEKESTING DESCRIPTION OF THEM By J. W. Bud. The Discophera (disk-bearers), such as jelly- fish, sea-nettle, etc., are a very numerous, at- tractive, and (under some circumstances) trou- blesome community in the waters of the ocean. They seem restricted to no temperature or clime. They exhibit the most infinite variation in size, form, and color. Many of them add to their personal charms the phosphorescence which is so charming a feature of evenings at the sea- side. Their delicate tissues assume all imag- inable forms, and rival the magic of the kalei- doscope. The arms proceed from beneath the umbrella-like disk, and resemble the four posts of some grotesque arbor. The mouth, when existing, is placed in the lower wall of the disk, and is furnished with tentacles. A common species has a multitudeof filamentary tentacles which resemble a fringe dropped from tlie seat of a chair; these it entwines about any object of contact. As each one of them is endowed DRUGS FOR FOUL BROOD. WHY THE OPPOSITION TO THE DRUG METHOD. By F. L. Thomjjson. At various times in the past you have said that you took no stock in drugs for the cure of foul brood. I differ with you, if you meant that drugs never cured foul brood. We have had cases enough, with three dlff'ereut drugs, to prove that they do. Cheshire and others (among them one of our county inspector.^) have suc- ceeded in curing foul brood with carbolic acid; Ed. Bertrand cured 37 colonies with salicylic acid; and others in Switzerland have recently succeeded with formic acid. In the face of such evidence we are justified in simply disre- garding the assertion which Mr. McEvoy and others make, that foul brood can not be cured with drugs. But it seems a little singular to me that en- ergy should be wasted in these fruitless asser- tions when there is another evident loop-hole by which the drug cure (for that is the proper term) can be attacked; namely, its great slow- ness. Even lysol, for which so much is claim- ed, took three weeks to effect a cure. Now, if one man's sick colonies were all he had to look out for, the drug cure would be the thing, though it needs skill and thoroughness, as many have failed with it; but when there is danger that not only his remaining healthy colonies, but also his neighbors' bees, will be infected, while he is puttering over his drug cure, it is evident that we, as a community of bee-keep- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 307 ers, can not allow it. There is nothing better than the old way of inspectors and transferring, or possibly the Baldridge method as amended in the August Review. But where I am criticising you, Mr. Editor (and nearly every writer on the subject, for that matter), is right here: Here are all these drugs, of such proven efficacy in their relation to Bacillus nlvei that they will stamp it out, even when it has accumulated in such propor- tions as to cause the death of the brood; and, on the other hand, there is foul brood itself; and no one who has not been through the mill can realize what a disagreeable .job it is to deal with, not to speak of the loss. Is there not the strongest kind of presumption that some one of the drugs mentioned can and ought to be used as a preventive by bee-keepers who are any- where near foul brood, and that every contri- bution to drugs as cures ought to be eagerly welcomed, whether slow or not, for the good it may do in prevention'^ Our wise shakes of the head ought to be reserved for the impractical method of relying on drugs, without transfer- ring, after the disease has obtained a foothold. So much for a priori grounds. Are there any a posteriori? Yes, and good ones, though not extensive as yet. I have not at hand the number of the Progressive (page 76, 1894) which contains what I refer to; but the following is Mr. Hasty's comment: " D. L. Tracy, of Den- ver, makes a success of preventing foul brood by the use of dilute carbolic acid. For four years neighbors all around had it badly, and he escaped. He merely sprinkled heavily the tops of the frames three times each breeding season. Formula: Carbolic acid Jl ; salt' 3 ; water 2Ufi. D(One part of carbolic acid to 300 of water, and a level tablespoonful of salt to every pint of the mixture is an easier way to remem- ber it.) Easy enough to try. But don't put on iire-proof paint as a preventive after your building is all ablaze at one end. That's about the way half the boys would do— if they did any thing." But that last statement shouU not be construed to indicate that preventives should not be made known for fear they would be taken as cures. The rest of us ought not to suffer, even if some men are fools. The first year I began bee-keeping I had to transfer all I had — 30 colonies — on account of foul brood. Being a novice, and pressed with other work, my colonies were so weakened that they took until the fall of the second year to build up; and the second spring after, the spring count was 7 to show for the original 20. A knowledge of a preventive, and a sense of the desirability of using it (which the bee-papers do not give) at the time I bought my bees, would have saved me SlOO at the least. It is a terrible mistake, sometimes, to be too cautious, when nothing would be lost by venturing. Let us admit that a colony in full robbing career would contract the disease anyhow, pre- ventives or no preventives; still, the evidence that the preventives would make a great dif- ference in the degree to which that colony would be afflicted is strong. Compare Mr. R. L. Taylor's occasional plan of holding the dread disease in check by the use of medicated feed until the close of the season— not that such a procedure is to be recommended; but for evi- dence, it is just what we want. But in the majority of cases it is probable that the disease does not begin by excessive robbing. A taste here and there, and a bee entering the wrong hive occasionally, are mainly what we have to look out for, and are precisely the con- ditions which we have very strong reasons to suppose would be rendered harmless by those drugs which have been able to effect cures. Mr. Adams, the inspector for Boulder County, who constantly uses and recommends the form- ula referred to, and can furnish other evidence besides what I have given, spoke of it at the meeting of the State Association last April, but said plainly that he did not recommend it as a cure. After learning about it I told a near neighbor, who had about 3.50 colonies among which he had discovered two cases of foul brood shortly before, that I would apply the method to the rest if he would furnish the ma- terials. He agreed, and I did so. Neither his bees nor mine showed a trace of the disease last season. Perhaps they would not have done so anyway; but who knows? I do know this, though; that, if the disease had spread among those 250 colonies with the same rapidi- ty that it did among my 30, the labor, the loss, and the vexation would have been enormous. Another use of drugs, and an important one, is in treating colonies after they have been transferred. That is the very time when, if by any hook or crookf a drop of foul-broody honey should be left exposed, they would be apt to get it; and such treatment is especially desir- able when, for any reason, the remaining colo- nies have to be transferred during the day, in- stead of in the evening — and that is quite often the case^when there are many to attend to. Experience soon shows that the assumption, that more than a very, very few colonies can be properly transferred by one or two persons, after the bees have stopped flying and before it gets dark, is fallacious. Robber-bees fly as late as they can see, anyhow; and the average bee-keeper can not muster a gang of men for this business, even if he could afford it. Here is where the Baldridge method, if approved will be a boon indeed. I transferred most of mine during the day (after a few frantic and unsuccessful attempts to do it up in the eve- ning), and fed a part of them with medicated honey, after boiling. At this time the bees had begun to show a slight propensity to rob, the main flow being over. If I had to do it again I would sprinkle the hives of all after transfer- ring, and give medicated food to all. The next 308 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. spring but two colonies showed slight indica- tions of foul brood, and were again transferred. If I had known of drugs as a preventive, per- haps not even that much would have reappear- ed. " An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure," said one of our Denver bee-keepers, re- ferring to foul brood; and every one who has had it among his bees will say amen. The question becomes doubly important when we reflect that, as Mr. Getaz suggests, whatever cures foul brood will probably cure paralysis, and therefore prevent it. No, sir: we can not go back on drugs yet. I move that the bee- papers change their attitude in this respect. Arvada, Colo., Mar. 4. [I sincerely wish there were a reliable drug cure; and I shall be only too glad if such has been found. I believe I never said that carbolic and sali- cylic acid would not cure; but the former, at least, seemed to do no good in our case. I tried (or, rather, a college jfriend for me) carbolic acid diluted according to Cheshire. A quantity of this mixture was introduced into test-tubes containing pure cultures (i. e.. the growing germs of foul brood in beef-gelatine). Did it kill them? Not at all. Every one, so far as I know, has been success- ful with the mere starvation (or foundation and clean hive) plan; but very few by the drug plan; hence I have recommended the former. I am not opposed to the drugs, and I sincerely hope that the time will come when we all shall be able to use them with satisfaction, because it will be far cheaper. Perhaps you will be in- terested in the foUowins: very readable article from Mr. Gravenhorst: but don't forget to note that he says foul brood will go ofif many times of itself. If he is correct, and I think he is, it is easy to explain some of the drug cures. — Kd.] LYSOL ITS USE AS A CURE FOR FOUL BROOD; CRUDE CARBOLIC ACID PREFESiRED TO THE REFINED. By C. J. H. Oravenhorst. Referring to a report from Germany, where a Mr. Fulde has cured foul brood by means of a new disinfectant, lysol. Dr. C. D. Miller asked in Gleanings, page 88. "What's lysol? and will it work as well in the English language as in the German?" The editor remarks thereon: " I should be interested, also, in knowing whether the disease stayed away. Perhaps Mr. Gravenhorst will answer the question." Yes, I will answer the question according to the best information I can get. I have not tried lysol, because I did not know of it before September of last year. The new disinfectant has been manufactured for a few years by Schi'ilke it Mayr, at Ham- burg, Germany. They produced it from coal- tar. It has a brown color, and smells like tar. In Germany it is to be had in every drugstore, and perhaps in America also. Mr. Fulde pur- chased a bottle of lysol for 2} .3 cents, and there- with cured his bees, which were badly infected with foul brood. He took ten pounds of sugar- syrup, boiled and skimmed it, and mixed it up with 24 drops of lysol and 4 drops of carbolic acid. He gave a colony a soup-plate full of this food. After three days he found the sick larvte dry in their cells, and in a lapse of three weeks not a trace of foul brood was to be found in his colonies. They were sound, and did swarm. Later he has fed lysol in the same way, partic- ularly in the spring, to protect his bees against foul brood. He never saw a trace of it again. That's all I know about lysol. I hope some of the German and American bee-keepers will try the new disinfectant. It would be a great benefit to bee-keeping if lysol should prove to be a remedy for such a rapidly spreading disease as foul brood. Then it would be a trifle for every one to cure the malady himself. How- ever, I confess that I do not have such confi- dence in lysol as Mr. Fulde has. Experienced bee-keepers in Germany, and I myself, too, are of the opinion that the disease will disappear, oftentimes, without any cure other than a good honey-flow, when good sound honey is coming in, and that most of the remedies tried in such cases did not cure foul brood at all. The good honey-flow only, did it, nothing more. Hun- dreds of remedies have been recommended, but, when tried, they would not work as was claimed. May be that, in one or the other case, the remedy was not used as it should have been ; but I think most of the recommended remedies are worthless, and rest upon illusion. On account of the importance of the matter, it may not be out of the way to report concern- ing a disinfectant that I have used nearly twenty years, with such resu>ts, that, for my part, I hold the foul brood question as fully solved. I have had to fight hard against foul brood, as I resided in Brunswick, and, later, here in Wilsnack; but I have never lost one colony by it. I had to guard my apiaries against neighboring bees infected with foul brood, in apiaries only a thousand paces, or less than half a mile, distant. Well, it was a very bad position for myself; but I have fought it out. In a few cases, where the neighboring apiaries were lost by foul brood, I have found in some of my hives slight traces of the disease. However, they disappeared swiftly by my treat- ment. I used, and have used till to-day, al- though I have not at present any apiaries near by that are infected with foul brood, carbolic acid — not the refined article you get at the drugstore in the shape of white crystals, but black and unrefined carbolic acid, which is in- termingled with coal-tar, and mostly used as paint. Refined carbolic acid is too strong, and the sanative power of the tar is absent in it. I am of the opinion that just the tar, in connec- tion with the carbolic acid, has much to do in the cure of foul brood, as Dr. Preuss said. He was the first bee-keeper who studied foul brood. This opinion is confirmed by 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 309 another prominent German bee-keeper, Mr. Schroeder. at Frankfort-on-Main, who has mixed up refined carbolic acid half and half with coal tar, and thus cured foul brood. I, however, prefer the unrefined carbolic acid, not this mixture. Although among foul-brood-in- fected apiaries at Brunswick, I have never lost a, colony by this disease: yes, and I have cured the foul-broody apiaries of my neighbors, except one. which was a total loss, as the owner was careless and did not follow my directions. I bought his hives and combs, disinfected them, and used them without harm to my bees. All the bee-keepers who followed my directions strictly, succeeded in getting rid of the disease. To guard my bees against infection by foul brood. I take J^ gallon rain water, add to it a teaspoonful of unrefined carbolic acid, and stir it. With a brush, dipped in this solution, I wash the bottom -boards every spring, after the first cleansing flight. By doing this I destroy not only the germs of foul brood, but also the eggs of bee-lice and wax-moth which may be there. In badly infected apiaries, I found now now and then some traces of foul brood in some of my colonies. Then I applied such a washing ■every eight days. The steam of this solution disinfected the bees, the food, and the cells. Now and then I examine the brood-combs of a auspicious colony, and when I see that there are many empty cells which I had seen some eight days before filled with eggs or larvie, I am sure I have before me the first traces of foul brood. The bees, in helping themselves, had borne out the dead larvte. Then, among the capped brood are to be seen many empty cells. Should I find, besides this, some sunken cells, and, after opening them, that brownish, tough matter in them, I spray such combs besides washing the bottom-boards by means of a "refraicheur," with a warm solution of four or five drops of ray carbolic acid to a teacup of water, thoroughly mixed up in a bottle. This does no harm to the open or sealed brood. Besides this treatment I feed now and then such infected colonies with sugar syrup and add to a teacupful of the food three or four drops of my carbolic acid. Colonies badly infected with foul brood I treat in the following manner: At a time when the bees will build comb I brush them upon starters in clean hives, wash the bottom-boards, and feed the bees with those solutions of food 1 have mentioned above. I have found out that starters are better than foundations. I give only four or five frames with starters according to the size of the swarm: and later, before the combs are finished; and, further, only founda- tions. The combs of the colonies I render part in'o wax and part are disinfected. Outof some of the badly infected colonies I hunt the queen. When all the brood is emerged from the sound cells, I brush also the bees upon starters; or if the bees do not build combs, from want of a honey-flow, upon comb foundation or disinfected combs. Later in the season, when comb-build- ing is out of the question, I unqueen the colonies and unite tlie bees, after all brood is emerged, with those I had brushed upon starters. Then the combs are disinfected. This I do in the following manner: At first I uncap the cells, then I lay one frame after the other in a vessel filled with a solution such as I use for washing — perhaps a little stronger. The comb floats on the solution. Now I take a hand-syringe and squirt the solution with all my force into the cells to fill them, first on one side, then on the other. This is necessary, as otherwise the cells will not be filled to the bottom; the foul -broody matter will not give way, and the solution will not penetrate it. If all cells on both sides are well filled, then I extract the solution by means of an extractor, or by jerking the combs, and then hang them up to dry. After from eight to fourteen days in the open air, when they do not smell any more of carbolic acid, I use them as I would any other good combs. The infected hives were also washed inward thoroughly with the washing solution, and, after laying two or three weeks in the open air, were used as new ones. I am so very cautious in this matter that I wash the inside of every hive in the spring, ex- cept the new ones, with my disinfectant, before I put in a new colony. I need not say that all the tools used by infected colonies must be dis- infected; also, that one must wash his hands after he has had to do with infected bees. I know, however, that American bee-keepers do not have much confidence in the carbolic- acid cure of foul brood; but it is a question whether they treated their sick colonies with a remedy that is composed of and used in my way. If it is true, what Fulde says about lysol. and if he is not misled, as are so many others who recommend foul-brood remedies, then lysol will surpass the unrefined carbolic acid as a disin- fectant for foul brood, especially as it is em- ployed with less labor and cost. On the other hand, if lysol does not prove to be such a remedy as is claimed, then I will use the unrefined car- bolic acid in my way, as I have done till now, which has saved rae from any loss by foul brood under dangerous circumstances. Lysol consists of cresylic acid made soluble in water by a patented process, by means of sapon- ification. It is a powerful disinfectant and antiseptic, and is largely in use in the hospitals of the Old World as a substitute for the less active but highly poisonous carbolic acid. It is further much employed in horticulture, where it has proved, in weak solutions, a very active remedy against vermin and parasites of all kinds. It is manufactured by Schiilke Sc Mayr, Hamburg, and sold by their general agents for the United States, Lehn ilk Fink, 128 William Street, New York. It is put up in 1-lb. bottles, at 60 cents. Wilsnack, Germany, March 9, 1895. 310 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. BEE-KEEPING IN CUBA. 60,000 LBS. HONEY PEK YEAR, AND LOOKING TOWARD A QUARTER OF A MILLION; FOUL BROOD IN CUBA INCURABLE. By W. W. Somcrford. Mr. Root:— In your footnote, Jan. 15, to Mr. Fred L. Craycraft's letter from Cuba, you say some of your readers would perhaps like to view some pictures of Cuban shed or house apiaries. No. 1 is a picture of a part of the main shed that covers Mr. A. W. Osburn's 700 hives that with his record-book of queens, for he believes in keeping up with them closely, and breeding queens only that " give results " in the way of honey-gathering. Hanging from the plate of the shed you will see scores of Miller feeders, which are used to advantage during the rainy season only. His honey-carts you will also see in the main alley between the rows of hives. The eaves of the shed come down so near the ground, and guava-bushes grow up so thick and close, that bees hardly ever sting a person while working underthe roof, and are not much inclined to rob. You may ask why the bush- FIG. 1.— A SHEDDED APIARY IN CUBA; A. W. OSBURX IN THE FOREGROUND. are all under one roof — twelve miles west of Havana, near the little town of Puntabrava. Fully 17,(X)0 square feet of tile and corrugated iron roofing is required to cover the apiary, one main shed running straight up the hill 300 ft., crossed by two others of about the same length, all opening into or joining the main shed, thus makingall convenientlysituatedup the hill from the honey -house and that big steam hon- ey-extractor. Mr. Osburn uses a honey-cart that holds 7.5 or more combs at a time, and it is a downhill pull to his honey-house; so, hauling in his tons of honey is only fun for his son Harry, who is an expert in all the branches of the industry, hav- ing been raised from childhood in an apiary, and continually among the bees, for his father has for years been one of the largest honey- producers on the island, or anywhere else, for that matter. His average crop is about 60.000 lbs. annually, which he intends, if honey goes much lower, to increase to a "'quarter of a million " per annum. You can, as usual, see Mr. O. at his desk. es are not cut away. Because they save honey, or the consumption of honey, by keeping the bees quiet during the long hot summer days, which is very essential in hot climates; for hives well shaded will have plenty of stores, while those in the sun will be starving. Picture No. 2 is an interior view of the Casa- nova apiary, situated 21 miles east of Havana, and at present in charge of my brother, Fred O. ISomerford, who has resided in Cuba over four years, continually among the bees, and has had, I presume, as much experience with foul brood as anyone during the past four years, never being without it, scarcely, during the whole time. He, like Mr. Taylor, has conclud- ed that it can be transmitted by foundation made of foul-brood combs. Mr. A. W. Osburn, who has had varied ex- periences with the disease in California as well as in Cuba, thinks, like myself, that foul brood in a hot climate, and in largti apiaries, is some- thing too progressive for any remedy yet known to the fraternity. I have, after reading all the fossil works on the subject, and experimenting 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 311 for three years with various remedies, such as phenol, starvation, melting up all combs, scald- ing hives, killing queens, caging all queens 21 days to stop breeding for a time, v/hile new combs were being built out, come to the con- clusion that a new and more effectual remedy will have to come along before much foul brood in the tropics is eradicated except by total annihilation, which surely follows if the disease is not checked each year by melting all combs and putting the bees on new foundation. I have lost 350 colonies by the disease — worth in Cuba not less than 11000, and all my neigh- never uses German script, but plain English letters, so his writing is read as easily as the printed page. But here's his letter, which loses by the translation: My experience agrees with yours iti the matters you mention, except tlie case in which you saw a queen kill a worker. To balance tliat, I once had a young- queen sting me, which I had taken out of an after-swarm, and held in my closed hand. The sting did not remain in the flesh, and it was less painful than that of a worker. Since then I have had in my hand thousands of queens young and old, but have never again been stung by one. FIG. 3.— CASANOVA APIARY, CUBA. bors around have shared my fate, or their bees have. Navasota, Tex. (at present). BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS IN GERMANY. WHY THEIR MEMUERSHTPS ARE SO LARGE. By Dr. C. C. Miller. I have a letter which I esteem very highly, not only because it clears up a matter concern- ing which I have for a long time been curious — the reason why the Germans have such large bee-conventions — but also because it comes from one whom I am proud to number among my friends, the able editor of the Deutsche II- lustrierte Bienenzeitung (German Illustrated Bee Journal), who is already well known to the readers of Gleanings through his contri- butions to its pages. I wish I could show to all of you his writing. Although past his threescore and ten, the address on the envelope would easily be taken for copper-plate. Al- though his letters are in the German language, in pity for my lack of familiarity therewith he I have read in Gleanings for January 1 your statement concerning the number of members of the German Central Association, as also the remark of Ernest Root. Now I will impart to you the secret why it happens that the Centralverein (Cen- tral Association) has such a large membership, and if you wish you can betray the secret to Ernest. In thickly populated Germany there are minis- ters and teachers wlio form about them little Vereine (societies or associations) wliose members generally meet monthly or quarterly. Every one wlio has bees, even if only a couple of colonies, al- lows himself to be enrolled, without attending each meeting tliat is appointed. These small Vereine obtain at a very low price one of the reasonable bee-journals, as the Coitralhlatt or Lcipzlger Bienen- zeitung for 1 mark (26c), or 6.5 pfennig (about 13c) a year. Many of these small Vereine have their own bee-journals, wliich then cost more, but never more than 50cents. These small Vereine (Special-Vereine) are united to tlie Centralvereine of the different provinces or small states. For example, in Mark, my province of the kingdom of Prussia, the Mark- ische Centralverein consists of 77 Specialvereine, with 1539 members, who, in the fall of 1894, put into winter quarters 15,000 colonies. Now comes, however, the principal thing, which 312 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. explains all. All the Centralvereine receive a grant or allowance from the government yearly, and all the members share alike in this grant. Whoever is not in a Verein has no sliare in the money wliich the government grauts yearly. Many of the Central- vereine receive so large an allowance that they deliver to their members one or more bee-journals free. At the large conventions, where all the Central- vereine come together, extra money comes from the government, and even from private sources, from which premiums are offered, transportation paid orr objects for exhibition, and often free rail- way passage, as well as payment for articles dam- aged or lost in transit. In Vienna, at the conven- tion which I reported in Gleanings, it went even so far that the members had their common meals, including wine, /ree. "There's the rub," says Ham- let I Whoever is not a member of a Verein must wipe his mouth— that is, he gets nothing of all this. I once traveled to a convention of this kind with a man who admitted that he no longer kept bees, but had himself enrolled in a Verein, and paid his dues of 30 cents, for which he received the bee-journal and the opportunity of visiting strange places. In our deliberations at Kiel he took no part, but prob- ably in all the favors, visit to the museum, man-of- war, etc. Yes, friend Miller, you must set all sail to pro- cure such a cement in your States, which will not only secure many members, but also hold them to- gether. Freundlich gruessend, C. J. H. Gbavenhorst. For one, I feel like giving a vote of thanks for this information. Just the thing we needed. Now, can any thing of the kind be done in this country? The answer has always been that distances are too great and bee-keepers too scattered. Eight there is the rock on which we have always split, depending for member- ship solely on those who could attend the meet- ing. You will readily see that not all the mem- bers attend the German conventions; but the inducements are sufficient to make a man keep up his membership, even if he never attended a single meeting. So while our great distances may count against the largest attendance at conventions, it counts for nothing whatever against a large membership. The only thing needed, then, to bring us up on a level with Germany, and, for that matter, with Canada, is to get the grant from the pub- lic treasury. I think I hear some one say, " Oh 1 there's no use. We can't get any thing of the kind." How do you know we can't? I feel quite sanguine that there's just as much enter- prise here as abroad; and if we go at it in the right way we can get all the help we need. In- deed, something has already been done. The bee-keepers of Illinois succeeded in getting, at least for one year, an appropriation of S500. It was given to the State society, with the ex- press stipulation that it should be used to spread information— in other words, to publish their report. Good was done by it; but it had very little effect in the direction of increasing membership. Probably a large number had the benefit of the reports who were never mem- bers of the society, and, under existing circum- stances, never will be. With a large member- ship it would be much easier to get an appro- priation from the State legislature. Now, suppose the Illinois society receives an- other grant of $^00\ how would it do for them to profit by the example of their foreign breth- ren? I think it could be so managed as to make the society five or ten times as large, and still keep within the restriction that the money must be used for spreading information. Let's figure. Suppose the society make arrange- ments to furnish free to its members a bee- journal, and on any one of them it could prob- ably get special rates so that, at the highest, it would pay not more than 80 cents per copy, the journal publishing in full the society's report. Now, suppose the membership-fee be placed at 2.5 or .50 cents. Does any one doubt that a large number would be induced to join who are not now members, and many who now take no bee- paper would do so by paying to the society less than the regular subscription price of the pa- per, without saying any thing about the privi- lege of membership ? Let's see how the thing would come out if the annual fee be placed at 35 cents. Allow $hO to be reserved for expenses, and we have $450 left. Each member pays in •J5 cents, and the society takes that, and 55 cents more, to make out the 80 cents it must pay for his paper. It seems clear that the so- ciety can afford to do that just as many times as 55 cents is contained in the $450. If I figure straight, that would make 818 members. Could not get 818? Well, then It could reduce the fee, making it only 10 cents per member, and take in 64:.' members. There's a power in num- bers, and I believe the thing to work for lies in that direction. The fact that such a thing is done in one State will give strong leverage to work upon the legislature of another State. Don't you believe that, if bee-keepers push as they might, in a few years there might be large societies in each State? Marengo, 111. [We are always glad to get anything from the pen of that practical German bee-keeper and bee-writer, C. J. H. Gravenhorst. If our read- ers do not know him through his own most ex- cellent journal, they surely do know him to some extent from his writings in our journal. On account of the magnificent (geographical) distances, I am afraid, as you suggest, we shall never be able to see a complete realization of such a plan as is now in vogue in Germany. Our country is made of so many little countries, and so much has to be done through State ap- propriations, that it is very difficult to get any thing from the national government to help all bee-keepers alike. Instead of concentrating any great effort on any particular State. I should be more in favor of getting an appropriation, if times ever do get better, from the powers that be, at Washington. A State association, no matter how flourishing, would never be more than a Slate organization.— Ed.J 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 313 KARLY SWAKMS. Question.— I am desirous of securing early swarms. Would there be again or loss along this line by putting on surplus cases of sections? Ansiocr.—lt might be safe to say that, tak- ing early swarms into consideration, there would be a disadvantage or tendency toward a few days' delay, if the surplus arrangement is put upon the hive before the bees swarm. Heat is one of the elements in forcing early swarms; hence, by putting on the surplus arrangement before the hive is crowded with bees, much of the heat from the colony will be distributed up among the sections, which would retard swarming, as it also does brood-rearing. If early swarms are what we must have, even if we have to sacrifice other values, then it is best to keep the top of the hive as close as possible, and stimulate the bees by feeding them or otherwise. Later on, when the hive becomes crowded with bees, and preparations for swarming begun, the placing-on of sections may not delay it. But if we count surplus honey a gain, then I can conceive where there would be a gain in putting on sections as soon as our main honey-harvest opened, as it is often the case that, with all our crowding and de- siring early swarms, the bees will obstinately refuse to swarm, when we not only fail to ac- complish what we are after, but lose a part or all of the honey crop we might have had if we had put on the sections at the proper time. I verily believe, that, during the past, when con- ducting experiments along Ibis line, I have sus- tained more loss by trying to force swarms by crowding the bees than by giving them too much room. Hence my advice of late years has been to place the section'* on the hives at the proper time, no matter whether swarming is desired or otherwise, resting assured that, with the majority of bee-keepers, moi'e swarms will issue, when doing our best to secure a good crop of section honey, than we could expect under any conditions, and fully enough to sat isfy any reasonable person. WHEN TO PUT ON SECTIONS. Qiiestion.~\Yhen is the proper time to put on sections for surplus ? Ansioer. — Xo set time as to month or day can be given for putting on sections in any locality, as all depends on the strength of colony and the time of the opening of the blossoms which give us our main honey crop, both of which are ad- vanced or retarded in accord with the earliness or lateness of the season. Some say, put on all surplus arrangements as soon as the first buds giving our surplus honey are about bursting open, no matter about the strength of the colo- nies. Others tell us to put on sections as soon as the colonies are strong enough, without any reference to the time of the blooming of the flowers, they saying, " It is a mistake to put off putting on sections till the honey harvest is upon the bees, as they will sometimes waste time looking through the surplus apartment before going to work." I can not agree with either of the above, as it savors too much of the old " luck in bee-keeping " we used to hear so much about, and does not give credit to any apiarist of managing his business intelligently. After years of experimenting, to know just when the sections should be placed upon the hive, I have arrived at this: Wait about put- ting the sections on till the hive becomes popu- lous with bees and the combs well filled with brood, and till the bees are securing enough honey from the fields to begin to lengthen the cells along the tops of the combs next the top- bars of the frames, or build little bits of comb here and there about the hive. When we see this it is time to put on th"e sections; for if we delay longer we are sure to lose in time and honey; while if we place sections on the hive, no matter how populous with bees it may be, before any honey is coming in from the fields, we shall lose by the bees gnawing or tearing down more or less of the foundation placed in the sections. If we use only starters of natural comb in our sections, then they can be placed on the hive as soon as the colonies are strong in bees and brood, if we so desire; but even then 1 can see nothing gained over the other, unless we are liable to be crowded for time at the right time for putting them on. If my memory serves me rightly. Dr. Miller has put forth the claim that it is only after the honey season is over that the bees gnaw holes in and tear down foundation, which may be correct with him in his locality; but with me bees always mutilate foundation in the sections, more or less, at any time of the year when an abundance of num- bers, or hot weather, crowds them into the sec- tions at a time when there is no honey coming in. I had scores of sections one season in which all the upper half of the foundation was gnawed away but a little strip or neck about i^^ to }i of an inch in width; and when honey began to come in. and the foundation was woiked out. it twisted and turned to such an extent that it was attached to the separa- tors on either side, thus spoiling such sections for market when they came to be removed, as the honey would be set to running in getting the combs loose from the sections WHEN TO PUT ON SECTIONS ON NEW SWARMS. Question. — When is it best to put on sections on a hive having a new swarm? Answer. — That will depend somewhat on how you work. If your swarm is large, and you have full sheets of foundation in the brood- frames, it is well to place a case of sections (and they should also be filled with foundation) 314 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. right on the hive when the swarm is run in; but should you fill the sections with foundation, and use only starters in the brood-frames the queen would be likely to go into the sections to deposit her first eggs unless a queen-excluder were used, in which case she could not get into the sections, no matter how the hive was ar- ranged below. With nothing but starters in the brood-frames, and no queen-excluder used, then it is best to wait about putting on sections till the queen has commenced laying in the new comb built below, when the sections can be put on without fear of brood in them. The plan I consider the best, and the one I use more largely than any other, is, to contract the brood-chamber to two-thirds its usual size, us- ing only frames having starters in them of foundation about half an inch wide, on too of which is placed a queen excluding honey- board. The new hive thus prepared is set on the stand of the parent colony while the swarm is out. and the sections from the removed hive placed over the qUeen-excluder on the new, when the swarm is hived in this new hive on the old stand, when the old or parent colony is placed at some distance away on a new stand Vhich we wish it to occupy. In this way work does not stop in the sections at all, and we. as a rule, get the frames in the contracted brood- chamber filled with nice straight worker combs, at a less cost to us than the purchasing of foundation and fitting it into wired frames. THE DIVISIBLE-BROOD-CHAMBER HIVE. By Homy Producer. is to obtain his product at the least cost possi- ble. Where this is accomplished, his hive will be so constructed, and its manipulation such that he applies the principles of bis art to each individual colony, 1, with the greatest effective- ness; and, 2, with the least expenditure of labor. However, be our hive construction and manip- ulation never so good, we can not force the productiveness of any colony beyond the limit of its ability, nor, on the other hand, lessen the labor of manipulation beyond the point of profitable efPectiveness. We see, therefore, that, in order to be the most effective, these two ele- ments must be made as weighty as possible, and so adjusted in our hive that it will exactly bal- ance upon its fulcrum, honey-production. It must also be remembered that the natural principles which govern tha developraentof the honey gathering and storing instinct of our bees can not be changed, but that the methods of applying them can, and that they either hinder or help the effectiveness of these prin- ciples. That the sectional hive and system, from which we can not with justice separate the name of James Heddon, lis inventor and patentee, requires, in practically applying prin- ciples, the least known amount of labor, does not seem to have been generally disputed, ex- cept by some who, for some cause, have been troubled with brace-combs between the sections; but that it is also pre-eminently adapted to the most cifecttue application of these same prin- ciples to the colony it contains, and hence to the securing of the greatest amount of honey from each individual colony, is ignored by a few. disputed by some, doubted by others, and entirely overlooked by many. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE HEDDON HIVE SET FORTH BY AN ADMIRER OF HIS SYSTEM. In all the arts with which we have to do, there are certain governing principles or laws peculiar to each, with which we have to comply if we wish to accomplish a certain definite result; and, reasoning at least from analogy, honey - production and hive-construction should be, and are, no exception to the rule. However, as with the farmer, so also with the bee-keeper, there are climatic and other conditions or principles over which he has no control, and which affect the obtaining of the object he has in view, thus giving varying results, no matter how correctly and effectively he has applied those which he can control. The honey-producer applies the principles of his art largely through his hive, which fact shows its important relation to the cost of his product. Like other producers, his first object The cut is a good representation of this hive. ^ is the stand, Iv the loose bottom-board and two loose entrance-blocks; B and If are shallow brood-cases, one or more of which are used for a brood-chamber. Each is of five Langstroth- frame comb capacity, and contains eight shal- low combs in close-fitting end-frames, which 1835 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 315 also closely fit their case endwise, and are sup- ported on tin rests, and held tightly together and securely in position by a thumbscrew at either end, which arrangement allows the cases to be handled in any position as one solid whole, and yet, by loosening the thumbscrews, it leaves the frames readily removable. M should be the queen and brace-comb excluder, but is not shown and is generally wrongly named " honey-board." D and E are wide-frame surplus-cases for comb honey. These have the same kind of frame adjustment as the brood-cases which are used forsurplus-cases when extracted honey is wanted. F is the cover. Besides, there is the escape and board which are not shown, and without which the hive is incomplete, although not a part of the invention. Each brood- case, outside measure, is 19X inches lung, by 13 inches wide, and 5fJ inches deep. The wide-frame surplus-cases are the same length and breadth, but only 5^ inches deep. Considering, now, the size, shape, lightness, and construction of the parts, you will see how admirably adapted it is to its system of case (sometimes called hive) manipulation, no matter whether of the brood or surplus apartments, or these as used in connection with each other or any of the other parts of the hive, or of the hive as a whole, and for which it is intended and expressly built. When left to themselves, and under natural conditions, bees will store a little of their honey about the sides of their brood-nest; but the great bulk of it will be above. Besides, they store it as near the top of their hive as possible, and for consumption use that lowest down and nearest the brood. In breeding, the upper part of the brood-nest is kept immediately next to the honey. When the upper brood hatches, and the honey-flow is suificient, the bees will fill with honey the cells out o which it hatched, thus continually working to connect the brood and honey by filling with honey the s^iaWo?/; space continually being created between them. From these natural conditions we learn some important principles as they relate to a hive's construction and its manipulation. 1. That surplus cases should be added above the brood-nest, and hence our hives built for top storage. 2. That we should not compel our bees to travel over honey at the top of the brood-nest in order to store their honey, and hence the di- vision between the surplus-apartment of our hives and the brood-chamber should come right where the brood and honey meet. In other words, the construction of our hives, and man- agement, should be such that there will be no honey, or as little as practicable, at the top of the brood-chamber when we wish the bees to store in the surplus-cases above it. 3. That brood should extend under the whole bottom surface of the surplus-cases; hence sur- plus-cases should not extend endwise or side- wise beyond the brood-chamber; neithershould there be combs of honey beneath them, at the sides of the brood-chamber. It is a fact, that a brood-chamber of sufficient capacity, and more than eight combs wide, is quite liable to have its outside combs filled with honey; hence a brood-chamber should not be more than eight combs wide. 4. From principles two and three, we see that any hive or system which attempts to fill the brood-chamber with honey for winter stores, either before or while the honey-harvest is on, does so at the expense of important conditions necessary to the development of the strongest honey gathering and storing instinct of the bees. 5. That when one or more surplus-cases have been filled sufficiently to justify the addition of another, it should be placed right between the brood and honey already stored, and, as might also be inferred, and which experiment proves true, the shallower the opening which we make for storage between the brood and the honey already stored, the stronger the instinct of the bees to fill it. It is also much better that the first surplus-case which is put on be shallow rather than deep, and of large capacity. 6. A little reflection shows, and experience proves it true, that the deeper the brood-cham- ber the greater the liability to have honey stored at the top of it by the bees, which they will have to traveise to store honey in the sur- plus-cases, greatly lessening their energy. 7. A little mathematical calculation shows, too, that, the deeper the brood -chamber, the less surface there can be above it for top stor- age, and hence the deeper will the surplus-cases have to be in order to have sufficient capacity, in adding which the deeper will be the opening made between the brood and honey, thereby again lessening the instinct of our bees to fill this space promptly. 8. It is a fact that, wlaen a brood -chamber is larger than a queen can keep filled with brood, the remaining space will be filled with honey. We at once see, therefore, that such is a mis- take, where we wish a brood-chamber tilled with brood, and devoid of honey. You will now look at the cut, carefully study the hive, its shape, construction, and size of the different parts, and connect therewith the fol- lowing manipulation, and carefully compare any and all of its bearings with the above prin- ciples. Suppose our colonies are in normal condition, and ready for the surplus-cases at the opening of the summer honey-flow. When we put on the first case we will interchange the two brood- cases— that is, place the upper one below and the lower one above, and then put on the honey- board and surplus-case. When this shalloiv case is sufficiently filled, we will add another on top of the honey-board and beneath it, and so on with others as required upon the tiering- up plan. You will notice now, 1, that the brood-uest is flat on top instead of rounding; 316 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 1.5. 2, the brood extends to the very top of the brood-chamber; 3, that the brood-nest was di- vided where it was largest across, and thereby the brood was. so to speak, spread out under- neath the surplus-cases; 4, that placing the honey where the bees want brood, induces them to remove it and put brood in its place, thus filling the brood-chamber with brood; .5. that, in adding surplus-cases, we continually create a shallow opening between the brood and honey stored. The swarms we hive in one brood-case; place them upon the stand of the parent colony, and give them the unfinished surplus from the same, and add an empty case, if needed. From this arrangement of the hive, you will notice the following conditions which now exist: 1, the brood-chamber will be filled with brood, because of its small capacity ; 2, brood will extend to the top bars, because of its shallowness; 3, when filled with brood, it will extend under the whole bottom surface of the surplus-cases; 4, the whole body or bulk of the brood is nearer to the surplus-cases than it can be brought by any method of narrowing the brood-chamber to contract it; and, also, the bees are in a more compact form to work; ,5, that a shallow opening between the honey stored and the brood-cham- ber is established for storage. In my opinion, with no other hive or system that I know of can all the principles of honey- production, as mentioned, be so easily and per- fectly applied to our colonies, either before or after swarming. " But," says some one, " there are other things to be taken into consideration if we are to be successful." True; but can the most indulgent of editors be expected to permit the space? Just as I finished this article. Gleanings came to hand; and you may guess of my sur- prise upon finding another claiming nearly all of the essential features of Mr. Heddon's hive and system. However, it is a pretty late day to succeed in this kind of work. [As there are some who think the divisible- brood-charaber hive is the coming system, I have asked one of them (a user of the Heddon, and one who thinks there is nothing like it) to write it up for the Trade Notes department, and this he has done in the foregoing. Along in the same mail came, unsolicited, an article from Ezra G. Smith, also an admirer of the Heddon hive. He writes of it as follows:] I want to say something about Heddon's hive. You say in Gleanings. Mar. 15, that two-story Langstroth hives were used years ago. That is so; they were used, but not as divisible brood-chambers. We had no way to restrict the queen. It was intended and advertised, sold, and used as a single-brood-chamber hive. When the queen went above, it was not because we wanted her to do that, but because we could not help it. I have used the Quinby, Langstroth ( Hoffman frame ) hives ; have used the Heddon hive five or six years; and if I had to go back to the other hive I would quit the business. I can take care of my bees with one-half the work that I formerly had to lay out on them. I think the Heddon hive is as much ahead of the other hives as those hives are ahead of the old box hive. Ezra G. Smith. Manchester, N. Y., Mar. 19. [I shall endeavor, so far as it is possible, to make the Trade Notes department represent fairly the views of our subscribers along the line of practical bee-hive construction. While I understand that there are some who like the Heddon system, I am also told that there are others who have tried it and abandoned it. Now let us hear from these latter, and wherein the multiple chamber is not a success. I am not seeking this information pro and con because we desire, or may desire, to go into the extensive manufacture of Heddon's hive under royalty, but only to get at the truth. It is true we did write to Mr. Heddon, asking royalty price per hive; but it was only that we might be in a position to supply such hives, in a limited way. when ordered, and not that we considered it the best hive, as Mr. Heddon seems to think. At present we are satisfied with what is com- mon property, viz., the Langstroth system. On the other hand, we shall endeavor to hold our- selves open to intelligent conviction. — Ed.] catnip honey, a barrel or more. In 1892 one extracting, of 500 to 700 lbs., was either pure catnip or else so strongly impreg- nated with that flavor that no other could be detected. Besides, I could not find that they were working on anything else in particular at the time. Once or twice before when I had not many bees I secured some. But that year the bees fairly swarmed on it, as they some- times do on basswood. Sang Run, Md., Feb. 25. C. A. Montague. PROPOLIS deposited IN A LIQUID STATE. Before the introduction of the movable frame I used the Miner cross-bar hive. A piece of thin cotton cloth was spread over the bars when a swarm was hived, to prevent the bees from attaching their combs to the loose cover between them. This was allowed to remain two or three days, and then removed. On re- moval it was generally found to be almost or quite saturated with liquid propolis, and was as limp as if wet with water. This and some other circumstances have led me to believe that bees use propolis in only the liquid form. Indeed, it is difficult to conceive how they can handle it in a semi-solid state. I have often seen them loading their pollen-baskets with the solid material; but I think they liquefy it before using it. With this liquid they varnish their combs, and all other surfaces within their hives, and wherever else they may cluster. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 317 That motion called "raking," so puzzling to many of ns, is, I think, simply a part of their manner of during this job. A. S. Martin. Roanoke, Va., March 4. [It can scarcely be doubted that propolis is put on in a liquid, or partly liquid, state. The bees secrete some soi't of fluid that seems to cut it enough to render it plastic and liquid. lean hardly think that the "raking motion " has any thing to do with propolis. The motion is witnessed only at the entrances; at least, I do not remember to have seen it elsewhere. At all events, there is no sign of propolis where they have been raking: but I do find particles of paint removed. — Ed. J GOOD WINTERING SO FAR. I have been much pleased to-day, Feb. 19. AS I was sitting in the office a hen cackled in the workshop, and I opened the back door to see what was the matter. The sound that struck my ears caused an alarm. I thought robbers were at work in the apiary, and hur- ried out. A glad surprise met me. It seemed that all the bees from every hive were in the air giving one glad hallelujah for a free foot, or, rather, a free wing. I went to the hives, and pulled away the blocks which some of them had in front, and they had a general house-clean- ing. I think there were not more than 100 or 150 dead bees thrown out of each hive, notwith- standing the severe zero weather and the snow 15 or IS inches deep for the last three or four weeks. They were in single-walled Dovetailed hives, without a particle of protection; for if they can not live in such hives through our winters, only 6 below zero, I want to know it before I get any deeper in the business. Port Norris, N. J., Feb. 19. J. R. Prichard. gained some very valuable pointers from his writings, and believe he is one of the safest guides in the United Stales. Mt. Pleasant, Mich. H. S. Wheeler. [The sample of wood sent is considerably dis- colored on one end. I think Doolittle is all right, and that the trouble was in your giving the honey too much sulphuring. Too long a sulphuring will turn every thing yellow, as I happen to know. Let me give an illustration: Years ago, when I slept in the shop as a sort of " night watch,"' I discovered, much to my dis- may and sorrow one morning, that bedbugs — yes, real live crawling ones — had gotten into our little room. Now, you know I couldn't stand that, so I sulphured the room a little, in- cluding its contents. Bul it didn't kill 'em. "Next time I'll kill 'em sure." I said, and ac- cordingly built up a big sulphur fire in a large kettle, and shut the room up tight for three or four hours. Did it kill the bugs? Indeed it did, and, more than that, the side walls of the room were covered with a yellow sulphur deposit; in fact, every thing was covered. There! don't tell any one I've slept with bedbugs. — Ed.] danger in sulphuring comb honey; a bed- bug STORY. I should like to caution beginners in the bee- business about using sulphur smoke on comb honey to destroy miller-worms, as directed by Mr. Doolittle. Last fall I sold my honey to Byron Walker, of Evart, Mich. He directed me (after grading up the honey) to burn sul- phur in the room; to cork it up around the win- dows, and burn a pound of it. Inclosed I w ill send you a piece of wood showing what sulphur smoke will do. 1 had to put more than 1(X) lbs., out of 1400 lbs., that Mr. W. had graded A, into grade B; and some of grade B was not fit to send to market at all— not that Mr. Walker would not have been obliged to take it, but I could not afford to sign my name to it. After I wrote him about it he said he had tried burn- ing sulphur on old comb only, but got his au- thority from ^Ir. Doolittle. By the way, Mr. Walker buys a very large amount of honey every fall. He is a square man to deal with. His own honey amounted to about 3;.'.()00 lbs., counting in what he got from one apiary that he has in Wisconsin. Now, I am very much in- terested in Mr. Doolittle's writings, and have THE FOOD SUPPLY OF FLORIDA. This is the fourth winter that I have spent in Florida, and I've watched with much interest to see where the food-supply of the inhabi- tants came from. In mingling with them on sailing excursions I took note of their lunches, and I invariably discovered food obtained from the stores. I can speak intelligently of only this portion of the State. Plums, peaches, pears, mulberries, dewberries, nectarines, and scuppernong grapes grow in great profusion. Christmas day, oranges and lemons amid the green leaves were a thing of beauty; but now, not a green leaf decorates the trees. This is a new town, settled by Northern people, and fruit-trees are too small to bear much. In the issue of Gleanings for Feb. 15, there is a good representation of the head of saw- palmetto, under the large letters " red cabbage- palmetto." In looking at it I wondered where th"? head "of"cabbage was, and I failed to dis- cover it. I think what is said of the edible part is rather misleading. I've questioned many persons who have lived among it all their lives, and they tell me that the cabbage is the bud; and in order to make it palatable it must be parboiled to remove the bitter. I would obtain one of these cabbage-head if I did not consider it sacrilege to destroy one of these noble trees to obtain a bud of about the size of my fist, which would require a great stretch of imagination to think was cabbage, which can be raised in a short time, of much finer quality. If I'm not mistaken, the name is not derived from this bud, but from the im- brication of the leaves. If you look at the trunk of one of these trees you will see the bark imbricated, overlaping each other like the leaves of cabbage. Most of the native women know how to make palmetto hats. They take the center leaf while it is folded together, before it spreads 318 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. out, and it does not harm the tree. These hats are very comfortable and durable. Palmetto logs are used for building piers, as they resist the ravages of time and corroding worms more than other wood. St. Andrew's Bay, Fla. Mrs. L. Harrison. Atchley, who speaks for it. For her locality— the extreme southern point of Texas— there is no danger; but experience seems to show that, when practiced in the spring, usually more harm is done than good. If the experts are shy of it, the beginner had better let it entirely alone. I have spread brood, however, in early summer, with great advantage; for I was after increase with a vengeance, and got it. I in- creased some fifteen colonies, fair to middling, up to 80 good ones, by the first of September. Of course, to do this I had also to divide. Sixteen extra pages this time, instead of eight. Advertisers who see fit to patronize us now ought to get good returns. We shall be publish- ing, from now on, until the early part of sum- mer, extra editions. The present issue reaches 15,000 copies, and it appears evident that we shall have to print extra copies, for a time at least, to keep pace with the demand. In speaking of winter losses in his vicinity, Mr. H. R. Boardman. of East Townsend, O.. at the end of a letter, writes: Of all those in my vicinity who have kept bees, and have taken no bee-papers, I can not think of one who has not failed; while those who have taken a journal have nearly all succeeded. I think this needs no comment. H. R. Boardman. East Townsend, O., March 37. We are giving our readers now a very large amount of reading-matter — perhaps more than many of them will be able to cover; but I ap- preciate the fact that what may be interesting to one may not be to another, and I try, there- fore, to give a wide range in apicultural lore. I am sorry that so many unused manuscripts are now on hand to which I fear I shall never be able to give a place in our columns; but I am striving earnestly to give you the very best we have, properly seasoned and dished up. A very tall compliment was paid us by Mr. D. M. McGafhck, who gave us a call, also of the United States mail service, from Pittsburg to Chicago. Said he. " Of the tons and tons of mail matter that I handle, that which comes from the Home of the Honey-bees is the nic- est." "Why? "said I. "Because your packages are always nicely wrapped, and the county is invariably supplied. If manufacturers only appreciated the impor- tance of this one item they would greatly facil- itate the delivery of their mail matter." Here is a point for our subscribers. The question is asked in the Am,ericnn Bee Journal,'' Question-box " departiwent, whether it is advisable to spread brood. Of the 23 who answer, all advise against it excepting Mrs. Mr. S. E. Corwin, of Sarasota, Fla., seeing the recent article on candied honey, forwarded the following that he received from one of his old customers who. it appears, purchased hon- ey of him seven or eight years ago: Friend Corwin:— Do you remember the case of honey you sent up h^re while my father was sick, some seven or eight years ago ? Well, I have three or four bottles of it now. I opened one night before last, and it was apparently just as good as when fli'st received, and not at all candied. Fall River, Mass. Chas. B. Luther. I have long known that honey would keep almost indefinitely; but it is very seldom in- deed— in fact, I do not remember to have seen an instance before — that pure honey had kept as long as this without candying. Can any of our subscribers trot out a better? adulterated foundation. A FEW weeks ago we sent to Mr. O. O. Popple- ton, of Potsdam, Fla., some small pieces of adulterated foundation, half ceresin and half beeswax. The amount was so small we were afraid that perhaps the experiment might not be satisfactory; but we had only a little of the ceresin wax on hand. Here is what he writes: I mail you to-day those tliree pieces of foundation from adulterated wax you sent me to have drawn out by the bees. 1 don't think it will take more than a glance to show you that it's "no good." Had it shown no stretching wlien used in such small pi< ces, I should not have considered that an adequaiL- lest had been made of its value when us- ed ill full sheets; but if such small pieces will stretch, what would full sheets do? You will ob- serve the sample of thick foundation has stretched less than the medium, and the medium less than the thin; but all entirely too much. I suppose my extreme southern location, and our having a, usually steady How of honey all winter and spring makes it easier for us here to make any such experiments as this has been than almost any- where else in the United States. Potsdam, Fla., Mar. 37. O. O. Poppleton. We hope to get a larger quantity, and have the experiment tried by different bee-keepers — not that we have any desire to put such an article on the market, but only to prove more conclusively what our early experiments years ago seemed to demonstrate ; viz., that pure beeswax gives altogether the best results in the 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 319 way of foundation. How any one can be satis- fied with a half-and-half mixture, even at a reduced price, is beyond our comprehension. Theke is talk in the American. Bee Journal of reorganizing the old Northwestern Bee-keep- ers' Association. The old organization was a power for good, and would never have disband- ed except that it was deemed advisable to con- centrate its energy in the State association, having an annual appropriation of ?!.500. Foul-brood Inspector Wm. McEvoy, it ap- pears, has done some pretty thorough work in eradicating foul brood in Ontario. If he con- tinues in office (as we hope he will) the disease will soon be a thing of the past for Canada. Every State on this side should have at least a foul-brood law. While it is improbable that we should be able to get a State appropriation to defray the expense of an inspector, we should have the law, so that it may be used in case of emergency. In our next issue. Trade Notes, Mr. Heddon and Mr. Danzenbaker will discuss further, in a friendly way, the patentability of divis- ible brood- chambers. Some interesting points will be brought out on the subject of pat- ents in general, by both parties. I do not know to what extent this question will be interesting to our general readers; but unless they signify a general desire to have the subject continued, I believe it would be better to have it dropped with our May 1st number. As I have already said, we desire both parties to have a fair hearing. If they wish to continue it fur- ther, they can probably do so through the medium of Mr. Heddon's paper. The time has now arrived when we should be gathering our usual annual honey statistics, or, rather, statistics of winter losses. We desire every bee-keeper who will, upon receipt of this number, to send us, on a postal card, answers to these two questions: 1. What per cent of your own bees were lost during the past winter, up to the time of your writing? 2. What per cent were lost in your vicinity '? In order to get the facts in time for our May 15th issue, it is absolutely necessary that you give this your at- tention at once. The more distant States, such as California and the like, do not have the winter problem to contend with; but we think the most of the others will be able to report so we can get something of an idea as to how bees wintered, by our May 1st issue. Do not pass the matter over, thinking somebody else will do It for you. We need reports from every one. Langstroth hives. If he will procure, say, a dozen colonies in such hives, with loose bottoms, we will pay the expense of transferring to his own hives if they do not winter as well. This is not a challenge to Mr. Boardman; but it might help to throw light upon a point concern- ing which there has been more or less guessing. For the present I can only say that, with his square and deep hives, he seems to winter better than his neighbors with the Langstroth. In fact, he appears to be the only man, so far as I know, who winters year after year with no loss. Years ago we gave a picture of " the man who never loses bees," and that was none other than our East Townsend friend. In another column, H. R. Boardman writes that he put out his bees on the 5th, from his bee-house, and reports " no loss, and condition perfect." I should like to know, just for the fun of it, whether he would winter as well in Winter losses throughout the country, so far as I can gather from the reports, will not be nearly as bad as I at one time feared. The heaviest losses seem to be among the careless beekeepers— those who have a fashion of let- ting the bees take care of themselves, largely, or among those who, as Mr. Boardman himself says elsewhere, do not take any bee-paper. Our colonies at the basswood yard, all in one- story chalT hives or winter cases, wintered per- fectly, so far as I could see when I went down a few days ago. A large part of their stores was sealed basswood honey that had been kept in combs stored away in stacked-up hives. Late in the fall these combs were distributed in some of the more needy colonies. In addition, we fed very little sugar syrup. Our home-yard loss will aggregate more than I stated in our last issue, from the fact that I supposed we had more colonies than we actually had. The cor- rected per cent of loss is 4. DEAD-AIR SPACE HERMETICALLY SEALED, VS. PACKING-MATERIAL. The following short editorial is from the Bee- keepcrs'' Rente w : " Dead air is all right, providing- you can get it in a space or compartment that is air-tight," so reads a sentence in an editorial in a late issue of Glean- ings. I beg to differ. It makes no difference, If the space is between two walls that are hermetically sealed, if these walls are placed between two differ- ent temperatures, the air next the wall on the warm side will become warmed and will rise, while the air next the cool wall will become cooled and will settle; thus there will be a circulation inside of even an hermetically sealed space, that continually robs the warm wall of its heat and passes it over to the cold wall. The filling of this space with sawdust or chaff breaks up this circulation. When I first read it over I was inclined to think Mr. Hutchinson was right and I wrong. Then it occurred that I had read recently in one of the mechanical journals that a steam- pipe Incased tightly in wood, leaving an air- space of one to two inches around the pipe, was a better protector than a similar pipe similarly incased in wood, with packing-material occu- pying the air-space. I am sorry that I can not now refer to the authority; but a long series of 320 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apk. 15. figures by the government inspector was pro- duced to show this. And here is another illus- tration that means a good deal: Years ago the cylinders around steam-engines of the highest grades contained a casing of wood ; and be- tween the casing and the cylinder proper, pack- ing-material; but latterly it has been found that a casing of either iron or wood, leaving a dead-air space of two or three inches, without any packing, gives the best results — that is. the least condensation. The point is ri^ht here: Packing-material itself becomes, to a greater or less extent, a conveyor of heat or cold. The better the material, the less it conveys. But the best non-conductor of all seems to be air, pure and simple. If this is correct, my original proposition is all right, friend H.: but dead air space in hive-construction is impraticable and out of the question, and we therefore have to resort to packing. It is true, you may say steam-pipes are usually covered with pipe- covering or plaster; but it is not always found practicable to make a wooden casing around a pipe air-tight; and, moreover, insurance com- panies do not recommend it. But my proposi- tion was for a space hermetically sealed. SHALL FOUNDATION BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MAILS? As our readers know, we have for many years sent small quantities of comb foundation by mail to all parts of the United States, and there has never been any question till recently but that such matter was permissible in the mails. On the 1.5th of last March. Route Agent C. M. Cot- terman, of the United States mail service, came across a package of foundation from us that. It seems, had come in contact with, or at least very near to, a coil of steam-pipe, and melted, leaving, as he said, little but the wrapper. In his opinion, this was not a proper subject to send through the mails, and so reported to headquarters. The matter was referred to our local postmaster, and by him to us. On the 25th of March we dictated a note stating that we had for 20 years been sending foundation by mail, and that no question had ever arisen as to whether it was legitimate mail matter. We sent a duplicate packet to the department, ask- ing them to examine carefully the same, ex- plaining that it was simply pure beeswax em- bossed with the impression of the base of the honey-cell. On the 28th of March we received the following, which settles the question, at least for the time being: Mr. L. S. Smitli, P. M., Medina, O. :— You can con- tinue to accept and forward these packages. If we have furtlier trouble with them it maybe necessary to exclude them from the mails, but this office does not feel justified in doing- so as yet. Section 32:^, Postal Laws and Keg-ulations, 1893, prescribes that salves and ointments must be put up same iis liquids, wliile hard candy, yeast cakes, and soap can be forwarded when simply wrapped in paper and enclosed in pasteboard or wooden boxes. Beeswax, ■while having some of the characteristics of both of these flasses, really belong-s to neither, and I tliink we can give it the benefit of tlie doubt until it is demonstrated that further restrictions are neces- sary. Ai.v.x. Grant, Aciitig OeneroJ Si(iieiiutendcnt. Washington, D. C, March 28. It seems to me that comb foundation would pretty nearly come under the category of soap. It would not soil articles in the mail-pouch any more than that article, and its melting-point would be about the same. As it is, we do not see how the General Superintendent could have decided other than to accept. As the temperature next to the steam-pipe must have been alsont 180 degrees, it seems to us unreasonable to throw mail-sacks against it. and yet demand that articles in the sacks injured by such treatment should be excluded. When absent-minded Isaac Newton found his fireplace so hot as to singe his clothing and chair, he ordered his servant to come and re- move it; but his servant, when he came, said it was easier to wheel Sir Isaac a little further off. "Good I" said Mr. Newton. "I never thought of that." Perhaps Route Agent Cot- terman had not thought of the foundation question in that light liefore. LONG HIVES HORIZONTALLY. VS. TALL OR TWO" STOKY HIVES. In my Notes of Travel I omitted to mention friend Poppleton's apiary at Potsdam. He still uses what was called, years ago, the " Long Idea" hive. Of course, you can use whatever frame you choose; and where there are no up- per stories at all, a frame a little narrower and a little deeper than the Langstroth may be advisable. Friend P., like some of the rest of us. is not very strong. He says that, for years, he has not been able to do heavy work of any kind, and it would be out of the question for him to think of lifting off an upper story; there- fore he makes his hives as long as the needs of the colony demand it, and has the combs all side by side. In opening a hive, nothing is nec- essary but to remove a very light thin cover. As a proof that his plan is not a very bad one, he has succeeded in harvesting some of the largest crops of honey made in Florida or any- where else, and I believe the work has almost all been done by himself and wife. Of course, they have to work pretty hard when a big honey - flow comes suddenly; but with the honey-flow come inspiration .and energy; and, so far, with the inspiration and energy, strength has been vouchsafed, so that no honey has been wasted. May be you have seen bee-keepers before who were unable to do hard work; but when the honey came in at the rate of several barrels a day, some way they managed to get it out. Now, friend Poppleton has quite a few disciples scattered throughout Florida, and they are sufficiently successful to show that his plan is certainly not a very bad one. May it not be that such an arrangement succeeds bet- ter in the warm climate of Florida than it would away up north, where it is so much more important to economize the animal heat of the brood-nest? A. I. R. 198a GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 231 KOBBING SICK PEOPLE. STATEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CHEMIST IN REGARD TO THE CLAIMS OF ELECTROPOISE. Notwithstanding the plain and clear expose that has been given for months past in these pages, there are quite a few who continue to in- sist that the Electropoise people, and others of the same stripe, ha%'e made a scientific discov- ery. They admit that physicans do not accept it, but give, as a reason, that they are jealous, because " it will spoil their business," etc. Now. I felt almost ashamed to refer any thing so ridiculously and plainly a sham to such an authority as the United States Chemist; but I finally decided to do so; but in order to have the matter perfectly fair and clear, I give you my letter to Prof. Wiley first: Prof. H. ir. Wiley.— Dear Sir;— We come to you this time with something' that may not be altogether in your line; but even if this is true, you could do us and the people at large just now a great service by even a couple of Ihies with your signature at- tached. Very likely you are acquainted with the humbug mentioned and described in the little pam- phlet inclosed. If you are not, please turn to page 6 and read the paragrapli around which I have penciled a line. Now, if you can give us permis- sion to say that vou pronounce this neither sense nor science, it will be all we ask. Should you care to say more, however, it will be more acceptable to us than you can imagine. Tlie inclosed galley-proof of an article that ap- peared recently in our journal will give you some idea of the periodicals that have been helping in the e.r po.se. Your in the cause of fruc scioicc, and especially medical science. A. I. Root. Medina, O., March 27. The pamphlet mentioned above was, of course, the Electropoise company's circular. Well, here is his answer in plain black and white: U. S. Department of Agkicultube, Division of Chemistry, Washington, D. C. Mr. A. I. Root, Medina. Ohio: Dear Sir— I was mucli interested in reading your letter of the 27tli ultimo, and also in looking over the enclosures which you sent. You ask my opin- ion of the marked part of page 5 of the circular which you enclose. From a scientific point of view it is rank charlatanry. I should want to go no fur- ther than such a sentence to form an opinion of the merits of the invention. 1 do not think, however, that I could properly give an opinion on the inven- tion itself, as I do not claim to he- an expert on electrical matters. I fully agree with you, howev- er, that it is a humbug, pure and simple. I am, respectfully, H. W. Wiley, April 1. 189.5. Chemist. You will see that I expressly asked his opin- ion in shape so that I might make it public. I liope the above may settle the matter in regard to the scientific part of their invention. In re- gard to the electrical part of the discovery, all electricians have pronounced it a fraud so far as that goes; and, in fact, the Electropoise people themselves now admit that it is 7iot elec- tricity, though they did not at first. To meet the charge that 1 have not made an actual test myself, let me say that I have now in my possession one of these instruments; and, after testing it thoroughly, I can say conscien- tiously that it amounts to nothing more than would a brass button dropped into a bowl of water, a piece of wire being attached to the button, and the other end connected with the ankle of the patient. It is true, the metal case contains sulphur, carbon, etc.; but as the case is perfectly tight, and none of the water in the bowl touches the chemicals, the said chemicals have absolutely nothing to do with the instrument. There is nothing at all about the arrangement to make it worthy of the name of apparatus ; and if it does perform cures, it is, as I have said before, exactly in line with the idea that a horseshoe nailed over a door wards off disease. Pardon me for saying once more that this revelation of fraud that has been practiced up- on intelligent people forces us to the conclusion that Tammany Ring, of New York, was not the only place that needed ventilating and holding up to the public gaze. The saddest part of the whole matter is, that it is a great part of the religious papers of our land that need the e.rpose. It pains one to the bottom of his heart to see the excuses the managers have made, for continuing to accept such an adver- tisement. When summed up it amounts to but little less than that there is " big money " in it, and that they need money, and viust have it. If there are among our readers those who would like to help in ferreting out and exposing this fraud, I would ask them to examine the advertising department of their family papers; and whenever any thing of this sort is found, write at once to the publisher, with a protest. Mail them this number of Gleanings, or clip out this article, and we will send you as many copies of Gleanings as you can use for the purpose. We will have some extra slips pre- served containing this item. Any one can have as many of these slips as he can make use of. They will be a little handier to put in a letter instead of taking the trouble to mail the journal. A. I. Root. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.— Mark 10:9. There was once a schoolboy whom we will call John ; and there was also in the same neighborhood a schoolgirl whom we will call Mary. Mary was a professor of religion: John may have been, but I do not exactly remember now. At any rate, they were very good people, and, I believe, they stood well in the communi- ty round about them. By accident, perhaps it was, these two became somewhat intimate in their schooldays. John, however, decided, be- fore the intimacy had gone so far as to attract attention, that she was not exactly the woman he would choose for a wife. This may not have been through any fault of the young lady, but simply because he judged their dispositions were not exactly congenial. Some time passed ; and as he gave her no more attention than he did the other girls of the school, a third party — a young man whom we will call Henry — began to ioe somewhat intimate with Mary. Of course, this was nothing to John, until finally Henry made some disrespectful remarks about the young lady, in John's hearing. Perhaps Henry did it on purpose to see whether John still felt any particular interest in her. John, of course, felt pained. He studied the matter over, and decided that some one ought to tell Mary what Henry had been saying, for she would most assuredly cut his acquaintance if she knew it. For reasons that may be guessed, John thought he was hardly the one to give her a warning; but as things went on, and they seemed to be getting still more intimate, Henry at the same time continuing to show a low and depraved tendency, John finally decided it his duty as a friend toMary to suggest to her she had better cut Henry's acquaintance. Mary, 332 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. of course, thanked him for his friendly interest, and gradually excused herself for having noth- ing more to do with Henry. So far all went well. But this incident seemed to have opened the way, as it were, for further acquaintance and friendship between John and Mary. His better judgment told him again he had better not go on; but as Mary evidently preferred he should, it was a rather hard matter for a boy yet in his teens to break away. My friend, have you not, at some time in your life, had more or less of a similar experience? Duty points the way. but inclination does not run exactly the same way duty points; and it is no easy thing, I tell you, to always follow duty instead of inclination, especially when an in- teresting young woman stands in one direction and duty in another. However, John finally declared in his own mind that things had gone far enough, and turned to his studies with an earnest and manly determination to follow duty, no matter what influences were brought to bear in any other direction. By this time, however, both John and Mary were getting past boyhood and girlhood; and when he held aloof from her she remonstrated, and finally told him that, had it not been for his interference, she might have married Henry, and all would have been well; but now it was too late. If he did not want her himself when he cautioned her about being intimate with Henry, what did he want? I do not know for sure, but I suspect a woman's tears came in somewhere along here. Dear friends, it occurs to me just now that I am (perhaps unconscious- ly) reflecting a little severely on Mary. May be be some of my fair readers will say, "That is just about the way it generally goes. The nian is all right, and the woman is enti7'e?!/ to blame." You remember how Adam, away back in olden time, undertook to make out that he would not have got into any trouble if the woman — yes, the very woman whom God had given tiim — had not led the way. Well. I did not mean to blame poor Mary. Very likely she was more or less at fault; but the truth is, the story came to me from John's standpoint, and not from Mary's. I still think, however, that John meant to do right, for they were married soon after, and every thing should have been pleas- ant and lovely — yes, I am sure every thing might have been pleasant and lovely had Christ Jesus and not Satan been taken into that household. I feel sure that neither one of the two meant to take in Satan, and I know they will both claim that Satan was not invited by either one; but yet he got a foothold almost at the outset. My friends, I am a great believer in letting every young couple start out in married life by themselves— that is, if it can be so man- aged. For a time at least they do not need a third party to manage or suggest; and if there is ever a time in the life of any person when Satan is not needed, it is when man and wife first begin to ?f7Km' each other. "What there- fore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." I told you Mary was a professing Christian. I am afraid, however, her Chris- tianity was not of a real practical kind. If I could talk with her about it she might insist that it was. I think John, at this stage, made no profession whatever. Very likely he was skeptical. Still, I believe he aimed to do right — at least, as nearly right as anybody is likely to do without Christ Jesus to guide and direct. You may guess, from what I have told you, that their start-out in life was not just the best kind of a start-out, and it was not long be- fore little disagreements arose. John was cash- ier in a bank, earning a fair salary, and gave promise of being a good careful business man. He had saved a little money. Of course, his wife knew just how much, and where it was. That is right. She ought to have known. Some of you may object to this, and there may be circumstances that would justify the hus- band in keeping his business from his wife: but as a rule they two should be one. in business and every thing else. But Mary had seen a piece of furniture that could be bought for just about the sum of money laid aside. John pro- tested that it would be wisdom to keep a little laid up for a rainy day, or for sickness. She suggested he could earn more, and there was no peace in that little household of two until the piece of furniture was bought, to be put into a rented house. Even the coveted object, however, did not bring permanent peace, and dissension and discord soon began again to be the rule. The advent of a bright little boy did not seem to make much difference, or the dif- ference did not last very long, and things pass- ed on until there were two boys and a girl to be part and parcel of that home. John was get- ting farther and farther away from religious influence; and I am afraid the wife was only professor and not possessor. Dear married friends, do you know what a terrible thing it is for discord to get possession of a household? I wonder if you have ever resolved, over and over again, that you would, on your part. stop. I wonder if you have felt sad to see this thing steadily gaining a hold, and growing, almost in sjylte of any thing you can do. I remember once, years ago, of visit- ing a home where Satan seemed to have become so thoroughly intrenched in his work that it was really fearful to contemplate. I changed the subject again and again; but every new topic seemed to raise the same trouble as the others. I remember I praised the meat that was served for our breakfast, and innocently asked what it cost in that region. Somebody said it was 14 cents. The mother replied that it was no such thing— they got the best kind of steak for 12. The man of the house retorted that he oueht to know, for he bought it and paid for it. And so they went on until I was really afraid they might come to blows, not- withstanding my presence. Then I said some- body told me there were a good many rattle- snakes in that vicinity. But they disputed, and almost called each other names, because they did not agree any better about the "snakes." My good friend, were you ever in a hurry in the morning, when breakfast happened to be late? Did you ever, almost before you thought, suggest that things were always late in your especial household ? If the good wife had been trained to the business — but I sincerely hope she had not— she might retort that you ?c?icu; you did not have to wait for your breakfast once a month. You see, husband and wife get so well acquainted with each other that it is their p?'(/tnicge to talk plain; and some people pride themselves on their habit of plain speak- ing. God forbid. You have no more business to give pain to your wife by your plain speak- ing than you have to wound or hurt the feel- ings of some good wife whose guest you are. Bv the way, shall I tell you that a great many of my sins come right along here with that restless and impatient disposition of mine? When business is pushing— and it is almost always pushing when I am around — I am up early in the morning; and if breakfast is de- layed, it is the most natural thing in the world for me to become impatient, and to scold. We expect our men, as a rule, to get to their work at about 7 o'clock; and a great many times, if I am not on hand when they start out, some- thing goes wrong. The team may go in the wrong direction, or the team and two or three 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 323 men may all be standing still and waiting for a tool if I am not on hand to find the tool or take a new one out of the store rather than waste more time than the old tool is worth. Well, if I should start everybody off at work before breakfast, Mrs. Root would be annoyed by hav- ing the breakfast late, and having her work thrown out of joint. Another thing, our morn- ing prayers very often come right in when the men and team are waiting, or something else of a similar kind. The temptation is great to skip worship for just this time. Shall we skip it? God forbid. There may be important duties to be attended to; there may be others waiting; it may be a question of duties; but my verdict, after long years of experience, is that we had better delay almost any thing else, or, I might almost say. eiiery thing else, rather than think of skipping the daily Bible-reading and prayers. A good friend of mine has said, " Stick to your family worship, and it will drive out all discord;" or. in other words, " if discoi'd does not drive out family worship, then family worship will surely drive out discord." I know how distasteful it is to think of taking the Bible in hand just after you have been scolding or contradicting; but I have sometimes thought that we might consistently sum it up in the words of the old veteran commander Joshua, *' Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." I do not know for sure that the husband is alwdys the aggressor. I am afraid, however, he usual- ly is. In a fit of impatience he makes a state- ment, and overstates it. When you are vexed, Satan always stands at your elbow, and urges you to put it strong. If you listen to him you will go so far that your wife takes it up and says, " Now. that is not true, and you 'know it is not." The latter, of course, is an additional sting to the lash; and Satan prompts you to reply, even though you know better when you say it, " It is true." By this time your faces are both flushed. Children are iiery apt learn- ers in such matters, and the disease is terrlb/i/ catching. It pains my heart as I go over it now; and yet I have, during my travels, heard almost or quite as bad as the above, even while I, a stranger, was present. Dear friends, do not be alarmed. It was not in a bee-keeper's home, and it was years ago. Perhaps I have taken an extreme case. I sincerely hope it Is extreme. But now and then I get glimpses of the outcome of these things. It grows and grows; and the very best disposition in the world is hardly proof against it if one remains long where it is going on. Were I so disposed, and if Satan would lend his help— and, by the way. he is always exceedingly ready to help— I verily believe that I could, in process of time, make the sweetest-tempered man or woman in the world bitter and hard and ugly. I have been told sometimes that I have a 7'«re to/ent for provoking people, when I feel that way. God helping me, I never mean to use that talent any more; and if I have such a talent, Christ Jesus has, I believe, given me another talent or gift. It certainly must have come from him, for it never belonged to A. I. Root himself — a talent for helping people to be gentle and kind — to turn away wrath with a soft answer. To turn the figure round, Christ helping me I have sometimes thought that, by taking plenty of time and great pains, and much prayer for help, I might succeed in taking one of the most bitter, hard, and ugly persons, and making him gentle and kind. It is hard work, though. A grown-up person who has fallen into a way of being hateful can be made to give it up and be- come sweet-tempered, only by a tremendous deal of hard work. It must be " line upon line, precept upon precept." It must be a continual rendering of good for evil, and replying to hard and cutting speeches with soft and gentle an- swers right straight along for months, and per- haps years. The disagreeable person must be loved with no common love. That 13th chap- ter of I. Corinthians tells how it is done. You must suffer long, and be kind. You must not get provoked, no matter what happens. Neither must you even think evil—" bea»-eth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things." This is the way the teacher must go to work to redeem the pupil. I know it can be done, for I have seen it done. A gentle, loving, pious wife or mother has again and again transformed a bad and wicked man, with Jesus' help. When I heard the story of John and Mary I fell to wondering how it would have turned out had Mary been my wife — I mean, suppose I should have been suddenly converted when well along in life, and suppose my wife was not converted, but remained just the same. The man is the stronger of the two; and if he succeeds when he takes the lead in educating his wife to dis- cord, he can usually, by taking the lead, and asking for grace, lead her back to gentleness and grace and truth; and when it is done — when you have succeeded in winning your w'Ife. oh what a glorious victory! If there is joy in heaven among the angels over a reclaim- ed sinner, what joy must there be over the mother of a home, who has been reclaimed and brought from darkness into lightl If you should be away from home, the invited guest of some well-bred people, you would never think or dream of grumbling— no, not even if the breakfast were so late as to cause you to miss your train. Now. if there is any one on earth who demands your most gentle bearing and your kindest courtesy, it is the wife whom God gave you. Some of you may suggest that God did not give her — that it came about some- thing the way I have described in the story of John and Mary. But, my friend, you are wrong. "What therefore God hath joined to- gether, let not man put asunder." If you are lawfully wedded man and wife, that is enough —the command of our text holds. If there are children in the home who belong to vou two, then a sacred seal has been placed by Ood him- self on the union that exists between you; and whether yon. during the marriage ceremony, promised to honor and cherish this partner or not. all mankind and God himself expect you to do so. I shall have something further to tell you in regard to John and Mary in our next, Provi- dence permitting. FINDING WATER WITH A SWITCH. Severai. good friends have written me that this thing is true and honest, and that there really is a force in nature, heretofore unrecog- nized by science and scientific men; and several declare they can trace underground streams as you would trace a stream or brook on the sur- face. Now, this is going to make the test com- paratively easy, if it is true: First, have a row of stakes set, outlining the course of the under- ground stream; then let the operator be blind- folded, and see if he will set some stakes along the same line. When you find a person who succeeds in doing this, then I am ready to pay him a visit, and perhaps take along some one from some of our experiment stations, so as to have the matter tested by a competent official. A. I. R. 324 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. PINEAPPLE-GROWING, ETC. Now, then, if you please, let us go back to pineapples. I think my last Notes of Travel were when I was stopping at Mr. Poppleton's. It costs from $50 to $75 an acre to clear up the land, and get it ready for pineapples. It is mostly done by hand, digging out the saw- palmetto roots and other trash. These saw- palmetto roots, however, are quite valuable. The State Chemist at Lake City told me that fresh roots, burned to ashes, show 42 per cent of potash— that is, 42 per cent of the ashes is potash. This is remarkable, when we consider that the best hard-wood ashes seldom contain more than 8 or 10 per cent, and often not half of that; and potash is in constant requisition in Florida in considerable quantities. After the land is all ready for the plants, it needs from $25 to $.50 worth of fertilizers every year. The crop of pineapples, however, brings from $100 to $400.* The fertilizers used are cotton-seed meal principally; a good deal of sulphate of potash, some fish guano, and large quantities of fertilizers from the North, are used right along. Mapes', Bradley's, and Bowker's are all largely .used. Pineapples are cultivated about once a month, with a scuffle-hoe. The work is all done by hand. Mr. Dyer, a neighbor of Mr. Popple- ton's. had a few that withstood the December freeze, and we enjoyed beautiful fruit all the time we were in that neighborhood. There are, perhaps, a dozen different varieties of pine- apples in cultivation. Some of the new vari- eties sell as high as 40 or .50 cents per plant. We rather thought the "sugarloaf" the most de- licious. There is no seed to the pineapple— at least, I never heard of one.t New plantations are made from little plants, and the little plants are obtained in four different ways: First, the crown that comes out of the top of the pine- apple; second,slips that grow around the bottom of the fruit; third, suckers; fourth, rattoons. The rattoon is a little plant that starts up out of ground somewhere near the mature plant. In many places they protect from the frost and sun by means of strips of board. This * Like most other fruits and vegretables, there is a chance to do big thing's with pineapples under fa- vorable circumstances Hnd with the best of care and fertilizers. For instance, Mr. Poppleton sent six pineapples to Jacksonville, and tliey sold for $1.25 each, and he actually received from the commission merchant $1.(0 apiece for them I think ihe.v weighed 15 or 16 lbs. each A pineapple has been produced in tliat neighborhood, having the enormous weight of tHriit)i-twi) pounds. 1 mention this only to show the possibibties in tiiat line. tAfter the above was in type, friend Poppleton kindly sets me right, and gives us the following Information: Fi-irnd Roof .---Pineapples do have seeds, either a mature or immature one in each ej'e. You ma.y remember I told you that the apple had a small purple blossom at the point of each eye. I don t think any were quite far enough along when you were here to be in bloom; but you might have seen them later on when you were at Fort Myers. Mr. Johns told us the sheds we visited near here were so much of a protection that the February freeze did his no damage. Ordinary seasons we have ripe pineapples everj' month in the year. The main crop comes in June and .July; but a plantation of, say, 10 acres would ship a few crates to market every month in the year, excei)t, possibly, April and May, and would have enough more ripening along at all times to fully supply a family. Potsdam, Fla., April 4. O. O. Poppleton. forms a sort of roof above the plants, just high enough so one can walk under it. It is sup- ported by posts. The strips of board are three inches wide, and the space between the strips is three inches. The cost of covering a whole acre is about $800. This protection keeps ofT any ordinary frost; but during the severe /reezes of February, the protection did not seem to amount to very much, unless it was pretty well south. At Fort Myers, for instance, the plants seemed to be almost, if not quite, uninjured underneath the covering. Friend Poppleton kindly took us in his sail- boat, and we visited pineapple-growers and gardeners for quite a distance round. Florida is just commencing to do considerable in the way of irrigation. The nicest apparatus we found on the East Coast was at Dr. Howland's, who has a gas-engine, such as I have described, for pumping water. We found it down in the woods, at work all alone by itself, pumping the water out of a spring. The doctor was in his garden with his men, perhaps a quarter of a mile away, at work with his crops. He has iron pipes laid on top of the ground, 20 feet apart. At intervals of 20 feet along these pipes a 5^-inch standard goes up perhaps four feet high, having a revolving sprinkler on top. This gives the effect of a gentle rain all over the ground where the pipes are laid. The capacity of the engine is hardly sufficient to pump water enough to sprinkle the whole acre at once. Perhaps a quarter of an acre is sprinkled at a time; but by running it about four hours, the ground seedis to be sufficiently wetted. In Florida they are hindered a great deal by dif- ferent kinds of insect-enemies; and certain kinds of garden vegetables, in some localities, cannot be grown at all on account of these. Well, the doctor informed us that the sprinkler proved to be a perfect remedy for these pests. There are not many kinds of insects that can do much damage while it is raining; and with the light, sandy soil they have, there is not very much danger of injuring anything by too much wet; therefore the doctor had some of the most beautiful summer squashes, onions, beans, and almost every other vegetable, just smiling under the influence of water and sun- shine all at the same time. During our many pleasant boat-rides around the home of friend Poppleton, we met again and again the queer phenomenon of a tree hav- ing limbs at both ends. One set of limbs goes up into the air, and the other set goes down into the water. As a consequence, in the course of time one single tree may cover an acre or a whole island with its growth so dense that nothing larger than a cat or dog would be able to get through. This queer tree is called the red mangrove, or aerial plant. According to Webster it "spreads by emitting aerial roots, which fasten in the saline mire and eventually become new stems. The seeds also send down a strong root while yet attached to the parent plant. The fruit is sweet and eatable. The bark is astringent, and is used for tanning." It does not bear honey, or, at least, not enough to be of any actual use like its near relative the black mangrove. The seed is a queer- looking thing, about the size and shape of a cigar. When it drops off into the water, one end sinks and the other end floats on top. When it comes up near the shore, so the lower end touches the bottom, then roots put out. and the queer-shaped tree is the result. Whenever one sees these queer-looking trees skirting the edge of the shore or an island, he thinks of the banyan-tree that we used to look at in our geographies, away back in the old schoolhouse on the crossroads. While visiting the pineapple groves we saw 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 325 a queer animal washed upon the shore, about the size of a cow, and with a head looking con- siderably like that of a cow. This is called the sea-cow, or " manatee." Friend P. tells me these are quite common in these waters, notwith- standing ihe fact that many of them have been exhibited in shows as being "the only living specimens," etc. These animals are 1;") feet or more in length, and are found both in fresh and salt water. About the 7th of February, we bade adieu to the kind friends at Mr. Poppleton's, and moved on further north to Gilford Station. Constance had got rather used up by mosquitoes at Lake Worth, and moving about so constantly every day, so she went back to Jacksonville for "re- pairs." Even if Gifford was in the wilderness, I found a very good road for my wheel, and in due time reached ihe Gitford mansion. This is only about a quarter of a mile from a town, called Vero. But the conductor would not let me off at Vero, so I had a wheel ride as a conse- quence. As 1 came at a time when they were not expecting me, I found no one at home but a miss of ten years old. She and I soon became excellent friends. She told me how they man- aged the postoffice, and said she could do it all herself; and I was greatly surprised to hear her answer questions that 1 put to her in regard to general postoffice business. Her name is Ruby. She not only told me about the postoffice. but about the neighbors and other things. They are so far away from everybody that they have no schools for her to attend; and, in fact, there is not any little girl for a playmate within miles in any direction. The State of Florida, how- ever, is not forgetful of her childien. There is a provision by law, so that each pupil receives, if I am correct, $10 for a term of 16 weeks. The county superintendent decides, at his examina- tions, whether the money has been well ex- pended. Accordingly. 1 found my young friend Ruby remarkably bright and ready. I suppose one reason why we became fast friends in so short a time was that she rather hungered for companionship of any kind. If she could not have a little girl to talk to, a man 55 years old, like myself, would do a great deal better than nothing. After a while I took my wheel and went out to meet her brother, who was at work with the horses and farming-tools, a couple of miles away. You see, friend Gifford has horses and wagons, etc., after all. And, by the way, he has some land around him that warrants hav- ing Northern tools. It is not All sand, let me tell you. After I found Charles •(Ruby's broth- er), I went out to meet friend Gifford himself. His garden was of wonderful interest to me, especially the new, strange fruits. There were mangoes, guavas, mulberries, sugar-apples, tamarinds, sour-sops, cherries, grape fruit, etc. The last-named tree was left with part of its crop hanging to its limbs for my special benefit. The tree was scarcely as high as my head, only three years old, and yet it had borne three bushels of fruit. One bushel remained on the tree, left for me. The grape-fruit grow so close as to touch each other, and I believe this has suggested rhe queer name— grape-fruit. When one is tired and thirsty during hot weather, it is wonderfully delicious. When I arrived the mulberry-trees were bending with loads of berries almost big enough to begin to turn red. During the night, how- ever, both berries and foliage were literally cooked by the frost. Friend Gifford is an enthusiast on mangoes. It is a tropical tree of most rapid growth, and the fruit is greatly sought for after one has learned to eat it. Friend G. is satisfied that it has wonderful curative properties, especially where one is troubled with disordered stomach or bowels. Some people, who have not learned to eat it, say it tastes like cotton batting soaked in coal oil; but. notwithstanding this, others are so extremely fond of it that the fruit on a single tree at St. Lucie, one season, brought the sum of $150; and Mrs. Prange (who is kindly taking down these notes for me) adds that the family found this one tree their main support. In fact, it>is about all they have to get a living from. Now, when I was writing, a few months ago about supporting a family on a (luarter of an acre, some of you were inclined to make fun of the idea; but here is a family depending upon a single fruit-tree, without saying anything about as much land as a quarter of an acre. When I expressed my incredulity in regard to this statement, friend G. said the man's name is Alec Bell, and that I could easily get the full facts if need be. He added, however, that one reason why they received so much money from the crop was that it seemed to be an extremely fine variety, and many sold for an extra price because the parties buying wanted the seeds to plant. Friend (J. added further, that there were mango-trees standing in his garden that he would not have taken $100 for, before the December freeze. J suggestt d that, for $100, he could have covered the whole tree, trunk and branches, with a heap of dirt; and this, indeed, might have been done, or something like it, in many cases; but the frost came " like a thief in the night," and nobody thought it was going to hold on so long without letting up. Another of friend Gifford's hobbies is Japan persimmons. This is a new fruit that has not been very much grown in Florida; but fine specimens, I am told, have been sold for a nickel apiece. The fruit of a good variety is as large as a good-sized peach; in fact, they have been raised i^o inches in diameter. And this fruit is clean pulp clear through— there is not a stone or seed of any kind. The tree is a wonderful grower, like the mangrove, and I think it has not been very much harmed by the freeze. Another of the Florida fruits is the Avicado pear; but almost everybody calls it the "alli- gator" p^ar, because it comes handier to say alligator than "Avicado;" and after you have it said, it is not a pear at all, even then; but it is a beautiful fruit. Did I tell you that Florida is the greatest place I ever saw in the world for fertilizers of every sort? Why, the outbuild- ings of even the humblest home to the biggest hotel are almost invariably provided with gal- vanized iron pails, or some equivalent (Terry's plan, you remember), to receive and preserve the night-soil. When anybody wants to plant a tree he digs quite a little cavity, pours in a pailful of this night-soil, mixes itwith the sand until it is thoroughly incorporated, and not at all offensive, then plants the tree, and it has a good send-off. No matter what a man works at, he has some trees or fruits of some kind growing in his dooryard, and therefore he is in- terested in saving everything in the shape of fertilizer. Well, near friend Gifford's home there are great droves of wild cattle; and up near the river there is a clean spot of ground that, for some reason or other, is almost free from vegetation. Here the cows come to lie down nights. At intervals friend Gifford goes out with his wagon and scoop-shovels, and gathers up the " cow-chips " as they call them in Florida. His beautiful fruit-orchard is fer- tilized almost entirely by this manure. On one of our visits we called on a Mr. Weis. This man, although he lives a sort of hermit life, all by himself, away out in the swampy woods, where not even a road of any kind runs anywhere near him— this poor lone bachelor friend has one of the prettiest gardens I ever 326 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. saw. We found bananas, date palms, potatoes, cabbage, string beans, and even some beautiful flowers, and nobody but himself to enjoy ihem. You might have known I would have made a protest against such a waste. Why, there are thousiinds of industrious, intelligent German women who would delujlit in tinding such a home, and they would give this poor, lonely man a glimpse of happiness and companionship such as he has never dreamed of; and then there would probably be some reason, in course of lime, for building a neat little schoolhouse away down in those Florida wilds. Several times I wondered why it was that everybody in Florida was planting beans; and it was just one kind of bean, too — the Refugee, or Thousand-to-one. They say the golden wax beans do not do well in Florida; but they pro- duce this one kind of string bean. I did not see any beans in Florida, however, with the rank, luxuriant growth we have here on our clay soil; but when I suggested as much to friend Gifford, he replied that they sometimes sold a single crop for $400 per acre, even if they did not get such tremendous crops as we do. His daughter, Mrs. Sprange, here puts in, by way of paren- thesis, that sometimes the crop brings nearer 4 cents per acre. Ruby's mother died of consumption less than a year ago. They brought her to Florida when it was too late, although her life was prolonged several years, so the friends believed, in conse- quence of getting to Florida when she did. The cook of the family, while I was there, was a boy who had formerly served in that capacity on board of a steamboat. In consequence of dull times he was out of employment, and friend Gifford took him in, and I found him making himself exceedingly handy, indoors and out. In one of our trips through the woods, we came across a deserted plantation, where orange-trees were planted twenty years ago. Nobody has tried to do anything with It for years past, and the place has all grown up to forest; but the orange-trees, mostly the sour variety, grow right out in the woods, and bear considerable crops. I found some of them that had escaped the frosts, and I thought them quite delicious. Almost all through Florida, bee-keepers com- plain of the depredations of bears. Once upon a time a bear visited an apiary where there were cases of sections all ready to come off. The bear took off the top of the hive, then took two cases of sections, one under each "arm," and started off for the forest. I presume he was a little bashful about sitting down and eating his honey there so near the bee-keeper's home. The owner of the hives, however, heard the racket, and put out after him. The consequence was, Bruin dropped his cases of honey in the bushes, and put off without them. I asked the owner if he actually s<(i« the bear going off with a case of sections under each arm. He admitted that he did not see the operation, but replied, "But, Mr. Root, how else couUl he have carried them? Please tell, will you? I chased the bear away, picked up my two cases of sections which he dropped on top of the bushes, so as not to break or injure them; and, in fact, they were in such good order that I shipped them both to New York, and sold them with the rest. Now. how did the bear carry those two cases out into the woods unless he had one under each arm and walked on his hind feet? Please tell." Now, friends, I am sorry to say that I can not at this very minute tell who told me this bear- story. It sounds very much as if it were A. F. Brown; but if he absolutely declares that he did not tell it, then it must have been somebody else. I suggested to friend Gifford that he should keep store in connection with his postoffice, and that Ruby would make a tip-top clerk. But he said he had had " store" enough in the North — that he does not want to be bothered any more. Theri^ is not a store or grocery of any sort within six miles of him. I happen to know, however, that he does quite a retail business as it is. for Ruby says they sell oianges for a cent apiece, and honey for .5 cts. a pound, at retail. You remember what I said about the Weather Bureau and the oranges? Well, during the freeze of Feb. 7 I had an opportunity of seeing something of the difficulty of transmitting cold- wave messages in the interior of Florida. On the Gth of February, about 10 o'clock in the morning, Jacksonville was notified that a cold wave would reach there during the night. This message was promptly telegraphed to Titus- ville, where they ran up the cold-wave flag. The displayman also mailed cards of warning lo ail the postoffices in the county. One of these cold-wave cards passed Vero postoffice on the train at 7 o'clock in the evening. There is so little mail in the evening, however, that they have decided to let it all go down to West Palm Beach, and come up the following morning at 10 o'clock; and, accordingly, at that time next day, we were notified of a cold wave coming. We got the notice several hours after the mis- chief was done. Now, this happened right on one of the main lines of railway too; how would it be several miles away from either railway or telegraph lines? THE NEW CATALOGS. Look out for the catalog that praises every thing unstintedly, and especially where the good qualities are mentioned of every fruit and vegetable, and none of the objectionable qual- ities. We have catalog men now who report almost as faithfully and disinterestedly as do our experiment stations, and these men should be encouraged and patronized. Take the Tim- brell strawberry for an illustration. How many of the catalogs tell you that, while it is one of the grandest new berries, it has one very objec- tionable feature — a mottled white tip, even when the berries are perfectly ripe? VAKIATION IN PRICES OF POTATOES, ONION- SEEDS, ETC. If you will look over the seed -catalogs you will see what a wide margin of prices is given on the same article.' For instance, one seed- catalog will put seed-potatoes at !?2.25 per bush- el, while another one quotes the same variety Sit $2. 2~i a hari'el. Again, some of our le-iding seedsmen in the great cities are still asking $2.50 a peck for onion-sets, potato onions, mul- tipliers, etc., while other friends who live out in the country are offering the same thing, and would be glad to get 12.50 for a whole bushel. Perhaps it is no particular business of ours; but I would advise that, before you send off your hard earnings, you look over the agricul- tural papers and see the bargains offered in their advertising columns, and also look care- fully over the catalogs sent out by practical farmers. WHITE VICTORIA ONIONS. I believe we were among the first to intro- duce and recommend these beautiful fine large onions; but of late there has been more or less 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 337 complaint that the seed produced onions of different kinds, not true. etc. In Burpee's 1895 catalog we tind the following by way of ex- planation: Since first introducing- these onions, we have each year heretofore imported seed direct from the orig- inal growers In Soutliern Italy (wliose gardens we have several times visited); hut we regret to an- nounce that the seed sent in the autumn of 1893 i to V2 inch In diameter. The first spraying reaches the eggs laid hy the moth In the flower end of the fruit, shortly alter the falling of the blos- soms; and the second, tlie later eggs laid by belated moths. Do not spray trees when in bloom; and if a 'washing rain Immediately follows treatment, repeat the application. " Knapsack sprayers suitable for applying the in- secticide can be obtained at reasonable prices at all agricultural-lm piemen t stores. ' ' Washington, JX. C, March 23. ed with London purple, and that did no good. Next I took slacked lime and put it into a coarse sack and dusted the onions in the morning when the dew was on. I made them clear white, but that did no good. Then 1 got some soot from the chimney and dusted them early in the morning, and made them clear black; but they worked right on, and killed all my sets and the big onions too. Are there any of the Gleanings readers who know any thing about the insects? I should be glad to Hnd out what to do to get rid of that onion -destroyer. Henry Paulus. New Philadelphia, O., Feb. 13. I myself have been considerably troubled for fear the onion-midge might commence again in our locality as it did last season. Some of the onion-growers think, however, it was main- ly caused by the drouth — that plenty of rain would have drowned them out, or at least hindered their enormous propagation. I am glad you have tried all the things you have mentioned, and reported to us, for it will save others from going through the same experi- ments. On page 596 of this journal for July 15, 1894, I described the onion-midge, and said that our experiment-station folks visited the large onion- fields, and made some experiments; and they decided, I believe, that the only feasible remedies were tobacco tea or dilute carbolic acid. The latter will be the cheaper — one part of carbolic acid to lUO parts of water put on the onion-tops with a spray- pump. If our Ohio Experimeiu Station, or. in fact, any other, have any thing better to offer than the above, we shall be very glad indeed to liear from them. Our American Pearl onion is so early that it has so far n.atured a crop before the; midge really got to work. WATER CRESS— A CAUTION. This variety is what the English and Ger- man people are so fond of. I have a large spring in which, a few years ago. some roots were set. They im-ri'ased very fast from seed floating down .'« Are a strain of business Italians that winter in the cold North, and are ready for business, with a bush- el of bees, when the flowers bloom. They ai-e gentle and industrious. Queens warranted purely in June. Eacli, 11.(0; six, $.5.00; doz.. $9.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Never had any disease. Address E. F. QUtGLBY, Unionv'ilue.Mo. Please mention this paper. Apiary for Sale. ^ M <\ ^ $800.00. Eight hundred dollars in cash will purchase one of tlie best appointed apiaries in Canada. One hun- dred colonies; good location. Every thing flrst- class. The best of reasons for selling. If j'ou mean business write me for particulars, or come and see for yourself. F. A. CEMMELL, Atisistdut Fiiul-Biood Inspector, Mention thijS paper. Stratford, Ont. Queens by Return Mail. Choice tested Italians, . SI each. Un- tested, 75c each, 18 per doz. These queens are from fine stock, vigorous and prolific, and are guaranteed to be No. 1 honey-gatherers. Send for price list. J. W. K. SHAW «St CO., Loreauville, Iberia Par., La. I3'"ln responding to tins adverti.senient mention GLEANINGS. Given Foundations****^ Ready for Delivery. We are now making, as previously announced, Given toundatioii on rolls. We can supjily thein-od- uct at thesame piicc as tlie regular wax. ( 'ustomers who desire a small !h;im"8 five sizes of bee-smokers raiig'e in jirice from 50c to 4?1.75 per mail, and are tlie lowest-priced of any in the market, aci'ord- ing to size. Ringliam Smo- kers and Knives are made only by llie inventor, and can be dejtended on every time, as tliey liave been for 16 yenrs as the best that could be made or used. Mention Gleanings, and send for circular of prices. J p BINGHAM, Abronia, Mich. Please mention tti\>' paper DON'T MONKEY NOW. Send for our SB-pag'e catalog' free. Root Co.'s Supplies kept in stock. We can save you f reiglit. Let us know what you need for the apia- ry. Get our prices. JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. Please mention this paper. Control Your Swarms, Requeen, Etc. '> i&JSS, Send 25c for samples of 1-^^^ West's Patent Spiral wire 5' ^pfe Queen-Cell Protectors, and r/^fc Pat. Spiral Queen Hatch- ing and Introducing Cage, al.'^o best Bee-Escape, with circular explaining. Twelve Cell-protectors, 60c; 100, ^i. eag-es, ^1; 100, $5, by mail. Circular free. Ad- dress N. D. WEST. nid= disburgh, Scho. Co., N. Y. Sold also by all the leading' supply-dealers. |^"ln responding to this advertisement mertiun Glkanings. < >^wr>^^>^wv^wwfv^^v^w^^^yvw# "S EXCELSIOR Spraying Outftts kill insects, pre- ^ I nt leaf blight i ormy fruit. e a heavv yield otall iruit a n d vegetable croi*s. Thousands in use. .Send 6 cts. for catal'g and full treatise on spraying. I 9 ^rfc. Address .I.IA3I STAIU>, QUINCY, U.K. I3rin responding to this advertisement mention GLKA.MNGa STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY PLANTS. Best New and Old varie- ties. Best grown Plants. Catalog' Free. \\'ith in- structions for their culture. Send for It Now. Mention this paper. Addr ss P. O. Box 213. E. J. SCOFIELD, Hanover, Wis. lyin responding to this adveitisement mention Glkanings. PATENT WIRED COMB FOUNDATION Thin Flat - Bottom Foundation Has no Fishbone in the Surplus Honey. Being the cleanest, it js usually woiked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, IStfdb Sole rianufacturers, Sprout Brook, Montgomery Co., N. V. tyin responding to this advertiseincii I inHntlon gleanings. Sweetheart. A Regular Sugar Lump. LEADS < Eai'ly, Large, Handsome, Good Ship- ALL ? per. Best Quality. Send for circular WATER- S giving important facts to growers and MELONS \ sliippers, with comparative sales and ON > opinions of many commission men in THE \ leading noi'thern markets. MARKET, i" Seed, Packet, 10 cts.; lb., $1 .50. ALBERT WITTBNJXIYKR, Originator, Grower, and Shipper, Emison, linojx: Co., Incl, C^In responding to this advertisement mention GLEANlKGa. CHOICE SWEET=POTATO SEED Yellow Jersey (the best), Red Bermuda, and Y'el- low Nansemond, at $^.50 for 11-peck barrels, till sold out. 4-8 L. H. REDD, De Soto, Illinois. t^'ln respondintc to this adverU^eiiiuiit mention GLtANii-GS. The New Craig Seedling Potato. For full description of this Potato, see page 969 of this journal for Dec. 15, 1894. Prices: 1 lb by mail, postpaid, 36 cts.; V4 peck, by freight or express, $1.00; peck, $1.75; % bushel, $3.00; bushel, $5.00; barrel of 11 pecks, $13.50. The above prices will hold good as long as our stock lasts. All orders by mail will be filled as soon as received. Orders by express will be shipped at once unless ordered oth- erwise. All orders for potatoes by freight will be filled April 1, or soon after that time, unless direc- tions are given to ship at an earlier d;ite. In this latter case I do not assume responsibility for loss la freezing; but where it is desirable to ship earlier, and customers have bad luck, I expect to help them out so far as 1 can consistently. In regard to my responsibility I would refer you to A. I. Root. In fact, where it is more convenient you can order po- tatoes of the A. I. Root Co., Instead of sending your orders to me. GEO. E. CRAIG, Zimmer, Franklin Co., 0. fSrin responiiirv- !■. : !. -Milv.ni h nL Mifurimi (4ik vmno.i World's Fair fledal Awarded my Eoxindation. Send for free samples. Dealers, write for wholesale prices. Root's new F'olished Sections and other goods at his prices. Free Illustrated Price List of every thing needed in the apiary. JVl H Hiitrf Bell Branch, Mich. ^'** •'• liU"»-» Please mention this paper. BEFORE placing your orders for SUPPLIES, write for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sections, Boe- Hives, Shipping-Crates. Frames. Foundation. Smo- kers, etc. PAGE & LYON MFG. CO., 8tfdb New London. Wis. Please mention Glkanings. 21-8db 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE THE SOUTHERN Home of ths Honey-6ee Is reiidy for your orders for 3 or 5 banded (jueens, as good as the best, guaranteed free from paralysis. Warranted queens, 75c each; tested, $1.00. After June 1, warranted, 50c each: tested, 75c each. Good breeders, ^2.00. Straight 5-banded, or " faultless," queens, $3.50 each. Special prices on lots, also to the queen -dealer. Safe delivery and satisfaction guaranteed. Circular free. Address HUFSTEDLER BROS., Clarksville, Tex. [ iTlii responding to tnis aavertisement mention GLiSANINGS. MOTH'S HONEY- EXTRACTOR, SQOARE GLASS HONEY-JARS. Bee-keepers' Supplies in general, etc., etc. Send for our new catalog. "Practical Hints" will be mailed for 10c in stamps. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. Hives, Sections, Foundation, Bees, Queens, Or any thing a Bee=keeper Needs. In April and May I shall receive from the South (via steamer) cases of 8 frames of capped brood, well covered with bees. These a,re just riijht to build up colonies with. Single frame, 90c; 4 frames, $3.35; 8 frames, $3.25; 8 frames, $6.00; 16 frames, $11.00. Untested queens included for 90 cents. Every thing sent from this city. Let me know your wants. Catalog free. I. J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, N. Y. City. tyin respondinfr to this advertisement mention Gleanings, Golden Queens From Texas. *My queens are bred for business, as well as for beauty and gentleness. Safe arri- val and reasonable satisfaction guaran- teed. Untested, $1.00; tested, $150. Write for price list. 5-16ei J. D. QIVENS, Lisbon, Texas. Box 3. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Rleaninos Dovetailed Hives. Sections, Extractors, Smokers, and every thing a J5ee-keeper wants. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. 60-page cata- log tice. J. M. JENKINS, Wetumpka, Ala. QrgLEY'S GOLDEN ITALIAN ^E^ ai-e larjie. lifumiful, bred lor busiue.-,s. equal U> all, and su- perior to many. Untested, April, 80 cts. each; V- doz., $4.50; May, 70 cts. each; Vi doz., $4.00 Tested, $1.00 each; fine breeders, $3.00 each extra. Fine straight 5-banded breeding-queens, $4 00 each. Sat- isfaction and safe arrival guaranteed. Best - Goods At lowest prices are what we are all ^% after. The qunlUy of Gary's goods has a'% never been questioned. His X X white pT thin foundation and polished one-piece >|^ sections are the finest on the market. ^3 His bees and queens are from the best ^j^ strains, and reared and shipped in the ^^ way that long years of experience have ^W shown to be the best. ^q He has the largest stock of BEE- A^ KEEPERS' SUPPLIES in New England; W and as to prices you have only to send '%^ for a catalog and compare ihem with ^^ those of other dealers. ^%, To those living in the East, there is 3^ the still further consideration of low Cr freight rates. Address <^^ ^ W. W. CARY ^ COLRAlN. MASS. 14 I3rin responding to this advertisement mention Gleaning* WINTER now is over! And if you contemplate buying Bees and Queeiis You will do well to write eitf For prices to Leininger Bros., Ft. Jennings, O. W. O. Victor, of Wharton, Tex., took 45,000 Lbs. of Honey in 1894. He offers Italian Queens — good, old-style honey- queens— untested, first order, to any address, at 5()c each. Also bees in any quantity ; 45(1 colonies to draw from. Root's goods constantly in stock. Prices to suit the times. Buy near home, and save freight. t^In re.spondinjr to this advertisement mention Rlkaningb, 25 Imported Garniolans Ready for immediate delivery at $5 each. Bred in 1894 at the most elevated point among the Carnic Alps wliere bees are kept. Daughters of these queens ready in April, $1 ea' h; $10 per doz. Address The Carniolan Apiaries, Charlton Heights. Md. «win r.'-ri.mriinir to tlJls a{AaA.:S. Beginners sh(juld have a copy of the Am- ateur Bee-keeper, a 70-page book by Prof. J. W. Rouse. Price 25 cents; if sent by mail, 28c. The little book and tlie Progressive Bee-keeper (a live progressive 28-page month- ly journal) one -year, 65c. Address any first- class dealer, or LEAHY MFG. CO., Hioginsviuue. Mo. ^P*In responding to this advertisement mention GLKAXDJGa. 332 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. ODD-LOT SECTIONS. Of the list of sections otfered in last issue at spe- cial prices, we liave sold tlie i]l, open top and bot- tom, but still have the other sizes listed. BUSINESS CHOWDING. We are having all we can manage to keep our or- ders filled witli reasonable promptness. Some or- ders for odd goods which have to be made are delay- ed longer than we like to have them; but we hope, by putting in extni time, to keep pace with the orders, and get goods out promptly. There will be a good demand this spring for bees by the pound, nucleus, and colony, owing to the heavy losses in some quarters. We do not now sell bees ourselves, and there are only one or two who advertise nuclei in our columns. If you have bees i to sell, advertise; but get your aniiouncemeuts in quick if you desire to catch the orders. manufacture of these mills. It will answer nicely tor lieavy foundation. Ten-inch round-cell, old style. No. N N. Price $11.(10. This answers to about the SHme description MS No. M M, bui is in a little better condition. Eitlier of these is good value for the money. Besides the above we liave a number of new six- inch mills which are far superior to what we sent out a few years ago. but are not quite up to the present standard of excellence required by the large users. We will sell these mills at from $12.00 to $15 00, depending on value; will submit samples and full particulars to those interested, on application. ONE PIECE SECTIONS. As a sample of tlie way our one-piece sections go together without waste from breaking, we mention the fact that, during the past week, one of the girls in our employ folded on a Hubbard section-press, in less than inilf iin hour, ."jOOseci ions taken from stock, only two of which were broken in folding. These sections, when folded, are much more rigid than any four-piece section can be unless glued. Think of the time sHved in putting together, as well as the saving in first cost. HONEY MARKET. Our last call for extra ted honey has brought us a number of favorable offers, some of which we have accepted. We are again able to supply choice ex- tracted honey in'60-lb. (^ans, 2 in a case, at 8Xc; two- case lots or more, at 8c; in 115-lb. kegs at 8c, or di- rect from Wisconsin at 7c. Barrels of ij50 Ihs., direct from Indiana, at Vc. Special prices on large lots. These offers are pubjf ct to previous sale. We have calls for choice white comb honey. If any of our readers still have some unsold we should be pleased to hear from them, stating quantity, price and how put up. WIRE FENCING AND NETTING. The attention of those interested in fencing is di- rected to oui adv't on another page, offering special bargains in remnant rolls. This has not ap- peared since last June; and by com()aring prices now and then you will find a marked reduction clear through the whole list. You will find at pres- ent prices some decided bargains in the list. We have in stock here 6 rolls of 8-in. mesh. No. il wire, 48 inches wide, which we offer at S3. 60 per roll, or the 6 rolls for $20.00. This is a size not regularly kept in stock, and it will make a very desirable yard fence. SECOND-HAND FOUNDATION-MILLS. Two or three weeks ayo we were sold out of second-hand mills, all but one six-inch. More have come ill since, so that we now have the following list to otter: Six-inch. No. 1467, hex., thin-surplus mill. Price $12.00. This is the mill exhibited at the Worlds Fair, and was for a time used in our wax-room. It is good value for the price. Six-inch, No. 16.31, hex , thin-surplus mill. Price $10.(jO; good value at the price. Ten-inch, No. 1728, hex. Price S12.00. This will make ft)undation 6 or 7 feet to the pound; was used in our wa.v-room. and is still an excellent mill, ex- cept for a blemish in the rolls, caused by a small hard substance passing through in t he wax. Ten-inch round. No. L L. Price $14.00. This is a late-pattern mill, and in excellent condition; suit- able for medium foundation; practically as good as new. Ten-inch round cell, old stvle. No. M M. Price $10.00. This mill has the old-style frame: was made a number of years ago. Although used very little It shows the great advance we have made in the DOMESTIC ECONOMY. I do not know of any thing of more importance to the inmates of the homes of our land just now than tills matter of domestic economy; or, in other words, in deciding how to make what money there is go the furtliest. The first real start lever made in the world, financially, wsis by making the outgoes less than the incomes; and Mrs. Hoot and myself gave the matter as much study in those earlier years of housekeeping as we would give to one of the fine arts — perhaps even more study. We learn- ed not only to make tvery thing go as far as it could be made to go, but to utilize all the waste products. In the last few > ears it has been mypiivilege to get occasional glimples of the inside workings of many home.s, and it has pained me again and again to see the losses that are permitted to go on, a great many times, because the newly married couples had not learned a belter way Well, we now have a book of almost 300 pagesdevoted to this very subject — Domestic Economy; or. How to Make Hard Times Good, or Good Times Better. Written by a physician of much experience. Just let me mention a few of the things it treats of. First, drinking-water; where to place the building; arrangement of the kitchen; doors and locks. (Oh dear me! how many times I have seen people annoyed by badly working locks and hinges I A great many times I have call- ed for the sewing-machine oil-can, and -have receiv- ed smiling thanks when I showed them what just a single drop of oil would do. Sometimes with a sew- ing-machine screwdriver, the single turn of a screw would make every thing work nicely.) Well, let us go on. The book treats of where to buy; how to buy; wasting; good morals; education; how to care for the baby; cooking; going to school; what books to read; habits of industry ; house-cleaning; recrea- tion; rats and mice; time wasted; fuel; how to make afire; clothing; dogs and cats; fleas and bedbugs; washing-daj'; broken furniture; springs and cis- terns; good bread; soups; sugar; doctors; exercise; care of the body; accidents; contagion; water- closets, etc. The price of the book is $1.00: but by buying a large lot at one time, we have been en- abled to get them so we can sell them for just 60 cts. If wanted by mail, add 8cts. extra for postage. THE GAULT RASPBERRY. Our creek-bottom ground has given us a thousand or more beautiful plantsof the above \-ariety. They are the strongest, and finest of any thing in the way of a raspberry plant 1 ever saw in my life. Many of them have three or four large shoots just coming to the surface of the ground while I write. Now, I am not at liberty to Sell these plants for less than ."jO cts. each; but I am permitted to sell one plant to every subscritier to Gie.^nings for 25 cts. each, postpaid by mail, in a strong wooden box made expressly for mailing them securely. Or if any subscriber will get somebody else to subscri be we will send him a plant free; or whoever sends $2.00 for Gleanings two years may have a plant free. Even if you have only the tiniest bit of garden, I think you should liave" one Gault raspberry-plant. They begin to bear when they are not much larger than a strawberry, and keep bearing right straight along until frost. Each plant will make you ten or a dozen plants next fall, and the prospect is they are going to be worth a good deal of uKincy next year at this time. Without taking any sjucial care, we have secured ov^er a thousand nice strong plants from not quite a hundred plants last .'-pring. The voung plants will (irobably bear fruit this year, un- less you pick the blossoms off. The lierries are so very heavy they almost need mulching like straw- berries to keep them out of the dirt, unless they are tied up to a stake or some sort of trellis. See cut and description on page 959. last year. Or we will mail you drawine-s from a photo, with full descrip- tion of the new raspberry. A. I. R. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 333 THE SEED AND PLANT BUSINESS BY APRIL 15. On account of the late spring', and much frost re- maining- in the ground, the plant-trade is rather slow as j'et; but tlie demand for seeds has been larger, perhaps, than in any other spring since we have been in the seed business. Onion-sets are still going down. We can offer nice Yellow Globe Dan- vers sets at 16 cts. per quart; 75 cts. per peck, or $2.75 per bushel. Eitlier White Victoria or Prize- taker, $1.00 per peek or $3.50 per bushel. White Multipliers, while they last, $1.00 per peck, $.3.50 per bushel. Large-sized sets. )4 above prices. If want- ed by mail, add 10 cts. per quart for postage. By the way, the White Multiplier is the best onion to keei> over winter of any thing we have come across. They are about as handsome as any onion in the world, and about as nice to eat. They never send up any seed stalks, but just keep right on multiplying; and if you gather the bulbs when the tops are dry, you can keep them without any trouble from sprout- ing or getting soft; and even where they have been repeatedly frozen, they stand it about the best of an.y onions I know of. The objection is, that they sel- dom get as large as other onions, and that they do not yield as many bushels per acre. I am inclined to think, however, that, with the right kind of soil and cultivation, the yield is going to be pretty sat- isfactory. You can plant them either in the fall or spring, as you choose. Our own. planted last fall, seem to have stood the winter with very little dam- age. SEED POTATOES. At the present writing we are sold out on Everett's Six Weeks, and second-size potatoes of all kinds e-Y- cept Monroe Seedling. We can furnish the latter at fl.50 per barrel; or first size, $3. .50 per barrel. Early Ohio, Early Puritan. Lee's Favorite, Rural New-Yorker, $1.. 50 per bushel or $3.50 per barrel, so long as they hold out. We have a nice supplv of asparagus-roots, two years old, 75 cts. per 100, S6.00 per 1000; one year old, .50 cts. per 100, $1.00 per 1000. The latter can be sent by mall lor 25 cts. per 100. At present writing we have a nice lotof both cold- frame and greenhouse cabbage-plants; ditto cauli- flower. Onion and tomato plants are hardl.y ready yet to send out; but we have a splendid lot of White Plume celery-plants just riglit to ship. Sacaline and Lathyris sylvestris have been pretty freely criti- cised by the press; but I feel sure the latter, at least, is worthy of trial. It has stood the severe winter without a bit of damage except to the great- er part of the foliage. But they started out bright and green with the first warm weather; and when we come to dig up plants to ship, we find them go- ing away down below any kind of clover; and the root is of such size that throwing out of the ground by frost would he almost an impossibility. During my recent visit with Pres. Clute he gave a very en- couraging report of his experience with the plant at the Michigan Agricultural College. We can mail you a good strong plant for 6 cts. ; sacaline, 20 cts. don't SPRAY WHILE YOUR' FRUIT-TREES ARE IN BLOSSOM. On page 327 the Department of Agriculture says: "Don't spray trees wh^n in bloom," but does not take space to give the reasons. First, it is not nec- essary; but second, and most important of all, it is liable to kill tlie bees and poison the honey if spray- ing is done while the trees are in blossom. Bee- keepers are interested in having this matter well understood and emphasized, even if other people are not. Kind Words From Our Customers. BETTER THAN EXPECTED. Dear Friend:— I want to send you a few words by way of thanks for your promptness in business. Why, sirs, a man can see the spirit of our blessed Savior in your work, and in your way of doing busi- ness. You say. " Did you get your goods all right? " Well, yes (if I know what is right); yes, every thing was even better than I expected, and I now send you another small order. W. H. Box. RusscUville, Ala., Feb. 2. [We try alwa.^■s to live up to the teachings of that Savior; but sometimes our efforts are greatly mis- construed.—Ed.] Roofs goods are always as represented, and we get what we send for. We can not keep house with- out Gleanings. H. Boswohth & Son. Ford, O., Feb. 8. I take pleasure iu saying that the goods which I purchased from you last May were all flrst-class, every thing just a,s ordered, entirely satisfactory. I know that you shipped them promptly by the shipping-ljill which you sent me. EastFarnham, P. Q., Dec. 28. .Ioshua Bull. I have received Gleanings regularly, which gives me much pleasure. I have read your ABC and Langstroth on the Honey-bee. I found wonders unfolding on every page. All praise to the patient investigation bestowed by the studj^ of bees by the various authors, unfolding, as they do, the handi- work of the great Architect of the universe. All praise be to him. C. F. Garland. Grose Vale, N. S. W., Oct. 2. KIND WORDS notwithstanding A REPORT DIS- COURAGING. I commenced the season with 120 colonies; took 300 lbs. honey, no increase. Prospects are not very encouraging for next year, but we (wife and I) in- tend to do our best, and trust God lor results. I feel that, whatever success I have in bees or other business, I owe a ffood share of it to Gleanings, more especially to the Home talks. Fifteen years ago I had scarcely any thing; but by being faithful in "that which is least " I have been enabled to pro- vide a home for a loving helpmeet, and now a third party has arrived on the scene— a little blue-eyed girl. We started out to give you a report on bees and honey, but some way home thoughts crowded in, and we felt like giving a glimpse of our home life. Go on with your Home talks, and success to you and yours. H. L. Rouse. Republic, Iowa, Dec. 14. OUR RELIGIOUS LITERATURE AND ELECTRO- POISE. At present writing; there seem to be just four of our leading religious periodicals that are proof against the money that the Electropoise people offer. They are: Tlie Sunday-School Times, The Christian Advocate. The Indepen- dent, and Tlie Advance. If there are others, I should be glad to give them honorable men- tion. The temperance periodicals seem to be accepting the advertisements blindly ; and, when called to order, the principal excuse I have been able to find is, that they are sadly in need of money. Not an agricultural paper in our land, so far as I can discover, has given them a single Insertion. What sort of showing, dear friends, is this for temperance and religion and science? Dr. DePuy. of The Christian Advocate, who has been paraded po largely by the Elec- tropoise people, severs his connection with that journal on the 1st of May. Electricity says: " The Electropoise killed Dr. DePuy." The same paper also says: Not one medical man of standing, not one single scientist, can he found to indorse it. FJlectricity re- ferred it to six of the leading electrical scientists of the country, and to a dozen of the leading physicians in New York (^ity, every one of whom pronounced it an unqualified fraud. " O CONSISTENCY ! " The following bright hit comes from our old friend the Baral New-Yorker : Imagine a man teaching his pupils that whisky and tobacco are harmful, and then being caught by the boys, smoking a cigar on the sly ! Ernest remarks right here, that one of the best talks he ever heard on whisky and tobacco was given by a minister of the gospel who was afterward caught by the boys, smoking a cigar on the sly. There are a good many ministers of the gospel, as I happen to know, who take this journal. Dear friends, does the above searching suggestion hit you in any way? 334 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. 15. "G & B" Web=Wire Fencing MEETS THE POPULAR DEMAND FOR A Harmless Fence at a Reasonable Cost. HUNDREDS OF MILES IN USE BY SATISFIED CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE FOUND IT PERFECTLY SAFE for horses and cattle. SUFFICIENTLY STRONG for vicious stock. A SURE INCLOSURE for sheep and hogs. A RELIABLE PROTECTION against dogs for sheep. A SATISFACTORY FENCE to property-owners along railroads. A FENCE COMBINED for both large and small animals. A COMPACT MATERIAL for portable corrals. Excellent for grapevine trellises. Animals will not bend it to crawl under or climb over, or loosen it from the posts. "G & B" WEB-WIRE FENCING is made of the best quality Heavy «jiiilvanlzed Steel Wire (No. 14 in the meshes, No. 13 in tiie selvages) woven into diamond-sh;ipe meshes by automatic machinery, insuring a regulir and smootli fab- ric, strengthened by tliree-»traiid rope sel- vages at botli sides. The 3.x6 inch Mesli Is suggested for sheep-enclos- ures; the 4x8 for cattle and hogs, and the 5i4x 10!^ for a ver.v low-priced funce lor any purpose named. PRICE IN FULL ROLLS, 20 RODS EACH. 3x6 inch Mesh. 4x8 inch Mesh. SKxlOKinch Mesh. TIDTI PRirE. WIDTH. PRICE. WIDTH. PRICE. 26 in. Rod,:-7L- 26 in. Rod, 31 c 28 ^n. Rod,2oc ;«in. Kod. 4:! c 31 in. Rod, 36 c .36 in. Rod, 31 c 38 in. Rod, 48 c 42 in. Rod, 42 c 47 in. Rod, 36 c 60 in. Kod, 58 c 50 in. Rod, 47 c All widths put up in bales 20 rods (330 feci) long. A higher price charged for lengtlis shorter than a full bale. Sliipped direct from Chicago or New York. What we wish to call your attention to especially is tlie following list of pieces and short rolls which we can sell, to close them out, at less than fidl-mll prices. In this list are some full rolls and pieces of sizes which the factory have discontinued making, and for that reason they offer them at a sacrifice to clean up the stock of odds and ends. The above, you notice, is woven from galvanized wire, while yon will find the most of the following list is 4x7-inch mesh, galvanized after being woven, and on that account very much superior, and more expensive to make. It foiinerly sold for about double the prices named below. It has also one number heavier wire in the meshes than the rest, being No. 13 wire throughout. All other sizes are made of No. 14 galvanized wire, woven in the meshes, anda3-strand rope of No. 13 wire for selvage, ex- cept the 4x8, which has No. 10 wire selvage. The wide fencing is designed to be put up alone, while the narrow widths are used at the top or bot- tom in connection with barb-wire or other strand fencing. Much narrow is used at the bottom of posts for hogs and sheep, while for horses and cat- tle it is often used at the top of posts in place of a board or rail. All the fencing in the list, except the last few lines, is in stock in Chicago and New York, and shipments will be made from these points. That you may know what is in stock at each place we have inclosed within brackets [ ] all the stock in New York ; and what is not so inclosed is at Chicago. Tlie length of the pieces is given in feet, and the price per foot as well as per rod. This fencing is usually sold by the rod; but for convenience in ascertaining the cost of each piece we have jriven also the price per running foot, and you have sim- ply to multiply the combined length of the pieces you require by the price per foot to get the cost. We get an additional discount if ordered in lots of 10 pieces; and, therefore, if you can use so much you can secure this fence at a price which is below what new regular stook in above list costs us at wholesale. The freight from New York to Chicago in l(X)-lb. lots or more is only from 2 to .5 cts. per rod; so it any of our western customers desire some of the New York stock they need not refrain from or- dering on account of fieight charges. In the following table the width in inches is given in the first column; size of mesh in second; price per rod in third; price per lineai' foot in fourth, and a list of the pieces, with length in feet, in fifth. Inches. Price. Wide Mesh Rod, Ft. 4x7 8x 13 5x 11 ,28 .1?< 40 .2k. 4x 7 .2.') .IV. 28 ■m :u 2 .37 .2>4 .to •zv, .43 .'i% 46 .t% 61 :iv, .64 4 4x X '£> W, 31 2 46 .tx 3x6 3.T 2 3x 6 .41 .m List of Pieces, and Length in Feet. Multiply by price per toot for cost. 53 .3,, 65 .4 2 bales, 20 rods (330 ft. ) each. 13. [.50.42]; [330 of 54-in.] 260 , of 36 in. at 2X c. ; 43, 38, 100. 25, 60. 241. 206.108 [98]. 32 [145, lOoJ ; of 22 in. at 2 c, 75, 22 [297], 1(12.35.11 [110.95.59,40]. 144.50.25,25 [14.5]. 90, 80, 48, 44, 43, 2o, 17, 14. 29, 20. 13, 9. 26.130 [330.317]. [290.] [1 hale. 20 rods (3 0 ft.> each]. [4 ba es iO !■ hter. Strictly fancy No.'l white is selling at 13c; No. 2. 11. The demand for extracted is livelier, and prices are from (5(0,8. Bees- wax, 28@.S0. WILLLA.MS Bros., April 17. 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland, O. Detroit.— Honey.— Very little No. 1 white comb honey in this market, with fair prospect for selling out befoi'e new comes in. Extracted, 6®7; sales slow. Beeswax is in good demand at 30®31. M.H Hunt, April 18. Bell Branch, Mich. Denver.— Ho»ey.—Tlipre is an improvement in our market for both comb and e.xtracted honev. We quote No. 1 comb, in i-lb. sections, at 11>^@12'4; No. 2, 9@10. Extracted, No. 1 white, in 60-lb. cans (2 in a easel, 6®7. We are shoi't on No. 1 comb, and could handle a quantity to advantage. R. K. & J. C. Frisbee, April 20. Denver, Col. Kansas City.- Honey.— The demand for comb honey is light; demand for extracted, good. We quote 1-lb. comb, No. I white, 14: No. 2, 12@13; No. 1 amber. 11@12; No. 2, 8@10; extracted, .5®6'>. Bees- wax, 22@2,5. C. C. Clemons & Co', April 18. Kansas City, M* St. Louis.— Honey.— We have fiirly good trade in honey, and on account of early receipts of new crop expect an improvement. We quote comb, 10@13; extracted, in cans, 6'2®7; in barrels, 5@5' 2. Prime beeswax scarce at 30K@3]. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., Apr. 18. St. Louis, Mo. Alfalfa Honey, very white, tliick, and rich. Two 60-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples, 8c. eift Oliver Foster, Las Animas, Col. No. 1 extracted honey in 50-lb. pails at 7c per Ib.- $3.50. J. B. Murray, Ada, O. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market. BATTERSON & CO. Responsible, Reliable, Commission Merchants, istfdb and Prompt. High=QradeBicycles These are high-grade in every re- spect, both as to material and work- manship. We have personally test- ed them thoroughly, and know that they are first-class. Tires, Morgan & Wright or Hartford single-tube pneumatic tires; wheels, 28-inch, wood rims; ball bearings throughout; pedals, rat-trap or rubber; handle-bars, raised or drop: frame of best quality of drawn seamless steel tubing: weight, 28 lbs. The entire bicyles are built bv one of the largest bicycle woi'ks in the country. The extremely low price is owing to the fact that they are made on "94 machine- ry, and under another name-plate. We can furnish gentlemen's or Ladies' wheels at this price. Write for circular. THE A. I. ROOT COMPANY, MEDINA, O. gllk JJtic .iiiftiir iilllliir Jk. .iiilllir Jiaftir jiillllliir. .iiitflk jHHiir JItiit. jiilBk jHUiiu J^ Untested Italian Queens. E ~;«;i JMi ||' Reared from a queen valued at $50. p' Can't be excelled as honey-gather- ' ers; 7.5 cents each. Address ^ W. J. Forehand, Fort Deposit, Ala. ^ gj|||iirjii|unr 3iin|iiir:)ini|ir-jipii: aiiijpii miF :JHIl»'-- '%¥ 'mi'"%¥""%¥'^Wm^ Sr^ln resixindine to this advertisement mention (tLkaninrs 1, 2, or 3 S. frames, 90 cents each. Queens from import- ed stock. Hardy, beautiful, iud proliUc. Untested, $1; tested, $1.. 50. Portico S. hives. 7.5 cents. eitf MES. 0LIVE2 COLE. SHEEBUENE, CH2NANaO CO., N. Y. t^lii re.>.poMiUnK to this auverti. nem mention Glkanings. NUCLEI. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 341 Contents of this Number, Ants of Florida :W, Bees on rfiicli-hlossoius 362 Bees, UeraiiipiiiK 361 Bees. Noii-swaniiins 360 Bee-foive. To Anaiise .'Ull Beyinnei's' Que>tioiis :i('i" Brooil-i-liainlier. Divi-ible. . :;:.; Danzenbakef and Heddoii ..SoT Deer-sliooting Eleetropoise.. .;W7 Math Feeder, Boardnian's .341! Feeding- Bees 344|\Vfaki:f .: Hives. Syniiiosiuni on 34S'Winterin Lathyrus Silvestris Maniini in Apiary Paralysis. Bee. in Florida Pelieans in Floriila 367 i.)neens to Anstralia Sni Hairdilei' in Lake Conntv .. ^'m :;:.; Kas|il.enies,Ked tor Honev.362 S.V Siii,,ker. Ciane. Patented. '...360 36-JSiiii.ker. .Antcnnatic 362 ..372 T Siipcis, .Miller on 3.53 3.52 d Bees 347 Miller on 3.10 I ool^ Here, Bee=keeper! If you arc in neid of lire supplies. write for catalog- and lu-it-c list. Every ihing-sold as cheap as the cheapest. WT T^ ^ '4-1% Kenton, Hardin Co., 0. W. C. 0011111. C^"ln responding: to this advertisement mention (il^KANINGS PURE ITALIAN BEES. By the pound, nil cents. Untested (jueens t'ntm imported mother, 90 cts. Two-frame nuclei, iiotli fi'ames con- tainiu?' brocid with all adhering- bees, and untestccl queen from imported motlier. ^'r.'.dn. Tested 4 HH H. Barber, Adrian, Mich. «pl.UU Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our usu- al rates. All advertisements intended for this department must not exceed five lines, and you must say you want your adv't In this department, or we will not be responsible for er- rorB. 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 ex- changes. Exchanges for cash or for price lists, or notices of- rering articles for sale, can not be inserted under this head. For such our regular rates of 20 cts. a line will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. We can not be responsible for dissatisfaction arising from these "swaps." WANTED.— Old combs in frames. Dcscrttie, with price. W. L. CoGGSHAt^L, West Groton, N. Y. w WANTED.— To exchange Universal wood-worker, one groover, one dovetailer, and one cutter- head table; also short .iointer, all in good order. What have you to trade for one or all ? W. S, Bellows, Ladora, la, ANTED.— To exchange 200 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark, WANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample, J. A. Green, Ottawa, 111, WANTED, -To exchange 6 and 13 inch Root foun- dation mills for wax. honey, or offers. I. J. Stringham, 10.5 Park Place, New York, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange raspberry and blackberry plants, $6 per 1000, bees $5, Japanese buckwheat, for beeswax. A. P. Lawrence, Hickory Corners,Mch. WANTED,— To exchange supplies and other goods for honey. O. H. Hyatt, Shenandoah, Iowa. 20tf WANTED.— To exchange 100 S-frame hives, with coml), smokers, bee-escapes, 10-inch founda- tion-mill, shipping-cases, a general outfit of Root's supplies, for offers. Oscar Kerns, Cowgill, Mo, WANTED.— To exchange bee-keeping supplies for full colonies of pure Italian bees, or two and three frame nuclei. Send me prices and get my an- nual price list. Geo. E, Hilton, Fremont, Mich. WANTED.— To exchange safety bicycle, 28-inch pneumatic, bees, queens, B. P. Rock, L. C. B. Leghorn and L. Brahma eggs, for honey or bee-sup- plies. Chas. H, Thies, Steeleville, 111, WANTED.— To exchange poultry and eggs (3 best kinds) for thin foundation, sections, shipping- cases, or new smokers, D. F. Lashieh, Hooper, Broome Co,, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange warranted Italian queens bred from imported motliers. for poultry or eggs, nursery stock, seeds, or plant-s, or offers, J, H. Garrison, fiflOO Bleeck Ave., St. Louis, Mo. WANTED.— To exchange S. C. Brown Leghorn pul- lets, at 7.5c, and eggs from breeding-pens, at fl, for pneumatic safety ijicycle in good repair. Write quick. G. D. Clapp, Chatham, O. w ANTED.— To exchange eggs from choice fowls and ducks, finest stock, for Italian queens. Leslie Stewart, Jefferson, N, Y, WANTED.— To exchange second hand 60-lb. cans, in good condition (boxed); delivered at j-our station at 2.5c each, for worker comics, or white comb or extracted honey, crop of '95. B. Walker, Bvart, Mich, Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. A few first-class black and hybrid queens ready to ship; blacks, 2,5c; hybrids, 30c. W, J. Forehand, Fort Deposit, Ala. 343 gleanijngs in bee culture. May 1. TESTED QUEENS Are usually sold for $2.00. I will explain why I wish to sell a few at less than that. As most of my readers know, I requeen my apiary each spring with young queens from the South. This is done to do away with swarming:. If done early enough it is usually successful. It will be sem that the queens displaced by these young queens are never more than a year old; in fact, they are fine, tested, Italian queens, right in their prime; yet, in order that they m:iy move off quickly, and thus make room for the untested queens, they will be sold for only ONE DOLLAR. Or I will send the Review for 1896 and one of these queens for only $1.75. For $3 00 I will send the Keview, the queen, and the book "Advanced Bee Culture." If any prefer the young, laying queens from the South, they can have them instead of the tested queens, at the same price. A discount on large orders for untested queens. Say how many are wanted, and a price will be made. Orders can be filled as soon as it is warm enough to iiandle bees and ship queens with safety. _ . _ W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Hich. To tk PuMisiim of AnK^rJcaii l>ce Journal, 56 Fifth Avenue, CHICAOO, ILI.. Ndine CO 3 CD ^ Please Cut Out CO 00 Tli's whole Advt. ^ i^igUi aud. lUulI. — J^~ Please send me ^ the Ainericau Bee Jnunml Q> each week for Three ^ Months. At the end :s of tbat time I win re- -o mit $1.00 for 1 year's S Bubscription, or 25c. ,2 in case I decide to discontinue. NEW SUBSCRIBERS are given a free copy of Newman's "Bees and Honey "—160-page book— upon re- ceipt of $1.0u for a yetr's subscription to the Am. Bee Journal, or this book will be sent at the end of the 3 months, as per above otter. You ought to have the weekly Am. Bee Journal, even if you have Gleanings. For $1.75 we will send you the Bee Journal and Gleanings for a year, besides a copy of the " Bees and Honey." Address your order as above, or for sample copy. P. O. State CD CD E. KRETCHHER, RED OAK, IOWA, ^ ^ * 4-8 SEND< FREE HIS CATALOG OF 72 ILLUSTKATED PAGES: DESCRIBES EVERYTHING USED IN THE APIARY; BEST GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES. CAPACITY ONE CARLOAD A DAY. WRITE AT ONCE FOR HIS CATALOG. I told you so. Mrs. AtchJey: — The one-frame nucleus I got of you last spring gave me I'^O well-filled one-pound sections. J. A. Smith, Heber, Utah, Oct. 9, 1894. Now, haven't I told you that it will pay to send bees north in the spi ing ? One-frame nucleus, $1.00; 10 or more, 90c each. Bees by pound, same price. Untested queens to go with them. 75c each. Untested queens by mail, $1.00 each; $5.00 for 6; 89.00 per dozen, till June; after, 75c each; $+.25 for 6, or $8.0e times) were held to be spend- thrifts. Besides for candles, wax had a further use in the manfacture of artificial flowers and fruits, which were used as room ornaments, for at that time the use of sealing-wax and other kinds, for that purpose, was not known. Besides beeswax we are now familiar with a list of vegetable fats which more or less resem- ble it, known by the common name of vegeta- ble or plant wax; in addition to which has been recently added mineral wax — ozokerite — which, when refined, is known as ceresin, which is used to a great extent in the adulteration of beeswax. Wax is still used nowadays for illuminating- purposes in divine worship, not only by Chris- tians but by Jews. But the Orthodox Greek Church makes the most conspicuous use of it. It serves, also, for a number of technical, medi- cal, and artificial purposes; and in spite of the diminished production of wax candles, beeswax alone will not supply the need of wax, as the different kinds mentioned allow of a wide use of that substance. Clint iinial. T SUPER VS. SECTION-HOLDER SURPLUS ARRANGEMENT. WHY THE A. I. KOOT CO. KECOMMEND THE LATTER. By Dr. C. C. Miller. A question is asked me on p. 315 that I shall be glad to answer as well as I can. It is about T tins; but in introducing the question a state- ment is made, or at least implied, over which I have pondered—" So few, comparatively, use T tins now." Now see, Mr. Editor, whether I give an entirely fair puraphiase of what you meant to express. *■ There was a time when T tins were much used, but not now. Section- holders are better than T supers, and are now taking the place of the latter." I should really like to know just how much truth there is in that. Are T supers less used than formerly? Can you give us the names of practical honey- producers who have thrown aside T supers for section-holders? You may say that you know section-holders are taking or have taken the place of T supers, because you now sell many section-holders and scarcely any T supers. If you should tell me that about diflferent kinds of sections, I should at once see the weight of the argument, for it would tell me about the preferences of bee- keepers in general; for bee-keepers who use sections are continually buying new ones. But those who use T supers do not need to buy new ones, and so their lack of buying doesn't prove they think any less of T supers than they did.^ I don't expect to buy another T super as long as I live; but my not buying them doesn't prove any thing about my preference. Now, if you say to me, " We sell a great many section-hold- ers to those who have used T supers and have cast them aside," I shall, in all fairness, have to admit that, for such persons, with their pres- ent knowledge, section-holders are preferable. But who are the purchasers? As surplus- honey arrangements last a long time, a large portion of the purchasers will be beginners. The beginner looks to you for guidance; and you say, in very plain print, " We consider the section-holder arrangement for holding sections on the hive superior to any other." That set- tles it for him, and you lake his purchase as a proof that section-holders are best. It doesn't prove any thing of the kind: it only proves that you think so, and that the beginner has confi- dence in your judgment. Other purchasers are those who are still increasing their require- ments and need more supers than they now have. Such a one will say, "I want the best that's to be had. Mr. Root says it's the sec- tion-holder. He's so thoroughly reliable that I'll trust to him and get section-holders." Very likely he'll make an improvement, for he may be using something not nearly so good as sec- tion-holders; but if he has been using the T super, and finds on trial that he doesn't like the section-holder so well, it is not at all certain he will piomptly make it known; and in any case, the fact still remains that he has increased the sale of section-holders without preferring them. There are those — I have your own word for it— "there are those who have used the T super so long, and to the exclusion of all others, that they are not easily persuaded to use any thing else." Now, why? I suppose you include me in the number, and I suppose that I adopted the T super for the same reason others did — at least some others — because it was better than what I had been using. Would not the same reason make me change from T supers to sec- tion-holders that made me change fi'om wide frames to T supers? I think I made a pretty fair trial of the two side by side, and, like the others who are stubbornly holding on to the T super, I did so because I believed it best. Please remember this: The friends of the T super are not likely to say any thing about your preference. Take my own case. Personally, what difi'erence does it make to me what you think about it? I have all the T supers I need; and if others buy section-holders, it's nothing to me. If you should try to rule out the kind of sections we prefer, then a howl would be raised because we should be stopped from getting what we wanted. But booming section-holders 354 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. doesn't touch in the same way, so nothing is said. But try to take away T supers, and then you'll hear something. You will probably say I'm prejudiced. Why sjiouldlbe? I've changed before; and unless I should die young I expect to change again. I am on the lookout for something better than the T super, and then I'll change to that. But it will hardly be the section-holder, for I have tried that and don't know of a single feature it has better than the T super. Can you name one? Now, instead of its being all prejudice that makes some stubbornly hold on to the T super, is it not possible there is some prejudice on your part? While giving you credit for none but the best of motives, I sincerely believe you are misleading those who look to you for guid- ance, and using your powerful influence in fa- vor of an inferior article. And now that I've made a good deal longer introduction than you did, I'll answer your question. Let us look at the points in the T tin proposed on page 21.T. Friend Anthony says, ( " v2 "The points 2, 3 wouldn't form ^ cutting edges for hands and fin- gers, and would never become bent out of shape as much as the old kind do." I've no trouble with their bending outof shape with fair usage, and the duller edge would be had at the expense of nearly .50 per cent more tin; and, worse still, it would perceptibly raise the sections, making a larger space between top-bars and sections, and the bees would do a worse job of propolizing on this rounded edge than on the sharp edge of single thickness. He thinks it would be a good thing to avoid " the rounding at the point 1 " and have the sharp edge of the tin there. Well, my first T tins were all made that way, and I am still us- ing them by the hundred. An objection to them is, that the sharp point 1 catches on the sections as you put them in the super, especial- ly the last sections. There is much less trouble about the section catching on the rounded edge. Now to come directly to your question, " Is a thickness of ^ any worse than g'j?" Not a bit. It's just as easy, and a little easier, to close the larger space, for a thin piece hasn't as much stiffness to allow its being wedged in. You say, " If we could reduce it to nothing it would be desirable." No, it wouldn't, begging your pardon. Try once tilling sections in a super where there is no play ; and if you've quit swearing, there may be danger of a relapse. I want full ^g" of an inch play, then the three lit- tle top separators }{ inch wide, and a shade less than 3^ thick, can be forced in and make a snug fit that would be utterly impossible with no play whatever. Whoever tries the two kinds of T tins side by side will, I think, prefer them as the Roots now make them. Marengo, 111. [Your paraphrase of the quotation from my footnote does not quite give it as I would have said it if 1 had been enlarging upon it. T supers formerly had the lead; but they were not very well adapted to the Dovetailed hive, without making supers of different lengths from the regular hive- body. As the single-tier wide frame was very popular, and is now, and probably always will be, and as it seemed to have all the advantages of theT-super arrange- ment, and some peculiar to itself, we adopted ii, but left otf the top-bar. This omission, we find, had been begun by others before us. We give customers the option of the two kinds of super; but if they do not know what they want, we recommend the section-holder arrange- ment. We boomed the T-super arrangement in our 1895 catalog harder than ever, putting in a nice wood cut. But our packers hardly know what it is. You ask me to give the names of those who have thrown aside T supers for section-holders. This 1 can not do. Why? I can best answer by making a quotation from your article above, wherein you say, *' I do not expect to buy an- other T super as long as I live." The reason is, you have enough for your requirements, and you could not afford to throw them away for something perhaps slightly better. Now, then, if there ax"e hundreds of other T-super men in the same fix, it is not likely they will discard their arrangement for the section- holder de- vice; but we have had in times past a good many letters stating that they preferred the section-holders to the old T supers, but could not change for the reasons already given. I could not give you the names, because I was not then interested, and did not preserve them. The fact is, doctor, you have become accustom- ed to the T super (and it certainly is one of the very best arrangements), and your habits of working fit it better than any thing else. I have said before, there is a good deal in get- ting used to a thing. For instance. I know of some women who would not change their old cook -stoves, true and tried, for ail the neAv- fangled stoves in the market. They have be- come accustomed to them, and know just how far they can go without burning their bread. They have become used to the swing of the doors, the position of the reservoir, the han- dling of the griddles, and yet nine judges out of ten would say their old stoves were very much inferior to the new ones. There, doctor, I do not mean to say you are an old fogy, and have become wedded to your old arrangement; but honestly now, doesn't the stove illustration partly fit your situation ?— Ed.] MORE QUEENS SAFELY TO AUSTRALIA. I beg to announce the safe arrival of the two queens by September mall. 1 sliould have written you before, but I have been very busy. All the bees except the queen were dead Iti one cage; queen and all tlie bees alive in the other. Candy was In a good state of preservation. Bees commenced comb- building: in the one all were alive in. My friend Edmunds informs me to-day that two out of three queens forwarded to him arrived all safe on the 16th of this month, so that you are much more success- ful this year than last, in so far as this district is concerned. I find your queens and progeny pro- duce splendid honey-gatherers, besides being very gentle and prolific — all the advantages required by any bee-keeper. Your queens should command ready sale. It seems all that is required is safe mailing to Australia, when no doubt you would ob- tain many orders from Australian bee-keepers. Jno. Gardner. Hurstville, Sydney, N. S. W.. Oct. 27. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 355 BAMBLE 131. IN LAKE COUNTY. By Rambler. HEN we rounded over the hill that looks down upon the little strag- gling town of Lower Lake we could see no signs, even, of a lake far or near. When we were putting our camp in order, an inebriated Dutchman came sham- bling along, and I ask- ed him how far it was to the lake. He bland- ly replied that it was 12 miles. "There, Wilder," said I, "I told you there was no lake near us. How many rivers, creeks, and lakes we have crossed that have had no water in them!" When we had our camp all set, and horses picketed out, we discovered we were in the next yard to a winery. That accounted for the drunkenness of the Dutchman. The poor fel- low lost his hat and his bundle, and lay beside the fence as stiff as a poker for several hours. This was another object-lesson showing the beauties of wine-drinking. Our next socially disposed visitor was an old resident of Lake Co., and in age he was an octogenarian, his silvery locks falling over his shoulders; his bent form and staff reminded one of an ancient prophet. He informed us that only an arm of the lake projected into that portion of the county, and it was only a mile and a half away. Our venerable visitor being an old resident, and having filled various offices of trust, he, in true California style, ex- tolled the many good features of Lake Co. He said but little about its being the Switzerland of America; but he said, in a half-serious way in relation to the bealthfnlness of the country, that no one ever died in Lake Co. If they wished to shuffle off the mortal coil they would have to go over inio Napa or Mendocino Coun- ties. He gave us the average death-rate, and it was only 1 in 114, and this was not a very good day for death-rates either. He was thor- oughly posted otherwise in relation to the statistics of the county, and informed us that there was plenty of room for settlement, as only a tenth of the land was occupied. The hills and mountains produce the best of fruits, while the valleys were adapted to grain and stock raising. There were but few signs of apicultural pur- suits, and the country so far had the appear- ance of scant honey-bee pasturage. We had observed, however, several familiar eastern honey-plants. Here was a patch of heartsease; then a sprinkling of sweet clover; here a fine field of buckwheat, and mulleins. Their tall stalks and yellow blossoms transferred our thoughts in an instatit to the old back pasture- lot in Eastern New York. Mr. Wilder inquired of our neighbor the fruit-rancber and winery- owner if there were any bee-keepers about. " Yes," said he, " there's one just out at the other end of the town— Mr. Shires." I resolved to spend at least a portion of the evening with him, and made tracks for his res- idence. I broke in upon him just as he was finishing his supper. Of course, having sup- plied the wants of the inner man, he was in a good humor, as all good men are upon such occasions. I found him a progressive bee-keep- er, well acquainted with the reputation of A. I. Gleanings and the Rambler, and his greeting was cordial. Allow me to introduce Mr. Z. P. Shires. Mr. S. is not a very tall man, but he has much steam-engine about him. He is a married man, and has a swarm of seven chil- dren— four boys and three girls; and although he has so many strings to hold him down to one location and a steady occupation, he is quite a rambler. He was born in Tennes- see, had lived in Florida. Alabama, Texas, Washington, and California. Even now in this glorious Switzerland of America he showed some signs of discontent, and thought of mov- ing to Upper Lake; and if that did not suit him he would go back to Alabama. Mr. Shires is a very enthusiastic bee-keeper. He had been in his present location only eight months; but in that time he had cut down 60 bee-trees, all of them within two miles of town, and many in town. From the 60 colonies thus obtained he had saved 54, and had them nicely at work in Langstroth hives of his own con- struction. I visited him Aug. 26th. Since Feb- ruary, say a little over six months, he had cut the trees, transferred the bees, and, in addition to building the most of their own brood- combs, they had made a good amount of honey in 1-lb. sections, and his sales of the same had amount- ed to $96. The bee-trees would sometimes yield a wash-tub full of honey. One colony occupied a cavity 6 inches in diameter and 14 feet in length. His bees were then, Aug. 26, at work upon honey-dew on the oak. Mr. Shires described a remarkable feature of the country in the fact that, at certain seasons, honey-dew comes in veritable showers. The dew is seen to drop from the sky — not only seen, but felt on the clothing, and It covers all manner of vegetation with a sticky substance. The bees work upon it with great energy, and the quality of the honey is good. There were but few bees kept in the Lower Lake region, and the persons who owned them had a mortal dread of the moth-miller. Mr. S. thought if they knew a little more about bees they could easily manage the pest. Foul brood Is unknown here, and we hope it will continue so to be. 356 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. Like all of California, the spring months gave an abundance of flowers; but in June there is a short time of scarcity which sometimes en- dangers the life of the colony unless closely watched and fed. At Upper Lake much alfalfa is grown, and Mr. Shires had an idea of moving to that local- ity, where he thought a greater amount and better quality of honey could be produced; but there is no better evidence needed to show the abundant honey-flow of this locality than the number of bee- trees. In the morning Mr. Shires came over to our camp with a nice basket of fruit and some sam- ples of his comb honey; and, how opportune! We had ceased to say, "May the shadow of Pryal never grow less," for the honey he gave us was all gone; and now we changed our opinion, and thought that the Shires shadow ought never to grow less; and how can it, with a swarm of seven children ? The objection to making a business of bee- keeping in this locality is its distance from railroad transportation. Mr. S. found sale for his honey in the home markets. We felt much benefited by meeting Mr. S., and were better posted in relation to honey-production in Lake Co. At the close of our fraternizing we turned our faces in our respective directions; and soon Lower Lake was a memory of the past. Lake Co. is noted for its numerous mineral springs and health resorts; and, as a native said, the country seemed to make a good share of its living off the tourist. We desired to do our share toward supporting the country, and resolved to take a turn among a few of these resorts. At Seigler's Springs we found a fine hotel, many cottages, and tents; but owing to the hard times there were but few occupants. The sparkling waters reminded me much of the mineral waters of Saratoga, N. Y. We lunched at Seiglers, and then pushed on toward Adams Springs; a rough, stony, and steep road tried the mettle of our ponies, but we accomplished the journey without accident, I was pleased to note in many places by the wayside quite thrifty little fields of sweet clover. The bees were working upon it quite freely, and they were presumably from the surrounding trees, for there were no bee-keepers in the vicinity. At Adams Springs the mountains closed in to a narrow gorge. Here we found hotel and stables, and numerous cottages. There was barely room for a road, and we nearly desr aired of finding a camping- place. We did, however, find a little sq\iare spot large enough for our tent, and we decorated the side of the moun- tain with our wagon, blocked with stones, and our ponies hung, as it were, to the bushes. When we bade Mr. Pryal farewell in Oakland he partly promised to join us in Napa and enjoy with us for a season our travels and camp-life; but hearing no word from him we could only hope that he would follow on and overtake us. We had been two weeks from Oakland, and his shadow had grown very dim, and here in this wooded country we had given up all hopes of his arrival. MR. PRY At- S UNSEASONABLE VISIT CREATES SOME ALARM IN CAMP. We had retired, and were about to send up our somniferous orisons, when we heard a tramping of many feet up the narrow roadway — a lantern and a rough voice intimating that those hobo fellows had better get their tent out of that or they'd get pitched out. Our valiant Jack rushed out to the defense, and the parties halted. Mr. Wilder followed the dog to see what all the racket was about; and whom should he meet but our friend Pryal? It is needless to say that we gave this bee-keeper of Oakland a cordial greeting. He had been upon our trail for several days, and an extra push on the lines, and a late drive enabled him to over- take us. We gave him a soft corner of earth in our camp for his bed ; here he rolled his blanket around him and soon forgot the toils of the day in sleep, witli the rest of us. MK. PRYAL AND HIS RIG SUSAN B. ANTHONY. In the early morning we saw a sort of nonde- script animal across the gulch, and Mr. Wilder was the first to exclaim, " Hello! Bro. Pryal, where in the name of the equine race did you get that hoss?" 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 357 "Eh? oh: That horse and cart is the prop- erty of the paper I represent— the Pacific Rurat Press — best agricultural paper on the coast; only 82.00 per year; circula — " "But that hoss," said I, "what's the pedi- gree? Whafs the name of the animal, any way?" "Well, gentlemen,'" said Mr. P., "she's a strong-minded animal, and her name is Susan B. Anthony. Her pedigree is from away back. She's the missing link between the donkey and the giraflfe." We all gathered around Susan B., and ad- mired 1 he various points of interest; and a snap shot will enable the more expert horseman to judge the ancient dame. THE DIVISIBLE - BROOD - C H AMBER IDEA WHOSE PROPERTY IS IT 1 AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION ON PATENTS AND PATENT DECISIONS. As announced in our last issue, we give space to both Mr. Heddon and Mr. Danzenbaker to reply to statements on pages 267,268. Neither one has seen galley-proofs of the articles in this number, and so both stand on an equal footing, i desire, above all things, to give both an equal and perfectly fair hearing. To let one reply to either one of the two articles in the present issue, and not the other, would be hard- ly fair; but as either one in a very large mea- sure covers the points advanced by the other in this issue, it seems to me that further replies are unnecessary — at least in our columns; and I feel very sure that Mr. Heddon will grant space to Mr. Danzenbaker. if he so requests it. in his own paper, for the further discussion of the matter. As the latter's article came first we give it first. It is as follows: -. Editor Gliy tilings:— J hare neither time nor incli- nation for needless discussion, and I had hoped the world was wide enough for Mr. Heddon and the rest of us; but as he talks titles, laws, courts, and the sberitt', I desire the privilege of defending' my position. Mr. Heddon says: "My patent covers a divisible brood-chamber, used as and for the purposes speci- fied in said patent." These purposes specitled are the same as have been time and again written in bee-journals (by himself), in his ciixrular and book; there is no mistaking- it, and no g-etting around it. Dear reader, sometimes good men are honestly wrong. Two locomotives can not pass each other on a single track, and we can't both be rig-ht. The unsupported word of either of us can be weighed by all intelligent readers at their own estimate. If friend Kambler, and others whom it may con- cern, will refer to the flies of record in the U s. Patent Otfiee. showing- the history of Mr, Heddon's case, they will And that he was not the Hrst to in- vent and patent a multiple or divi.sible-brood cham- ber hive, and has no legal or moral right to support his threats of prosecutv>n, as he was informed at the time, when applying- for his patent, in which he made a broad claim as follows: "7. In a bee-hive, a brood-rhanitier constructed of two or more horizon- tal, separable, and interchangeable sections," This clear-cut claim shows plainly his purpose; but it was rejected, with all of his ten claims except the 3d, by the Patent Ollice. as being nld undconnndn rights, and ivere dropiicd by his attorneys, and he was restricted to limited and combined claims, as title-deeds are made subject to existing- incum- brances. The Patent OfHce, by these limitations, e.xpressly reserved what it had already gianted to others. Mr. Heddon had to confine his claims to a construction of bottom-board, break-joint honey- board, and a case with thumbscrews through its sides, and cleats in the opposite corners, expressly limited, showing that the cases, cleats, frames, and screws, all old and common, were combined to ef- fect his purpose, which defines and limits him to using these things as described, but does not pre- vent others from using any of them in other ways for the same purpose; and he is debarred from in- terfering with others using what the records of his own case show were denied him, and yielded abso- lutely by him at the time of his application. Nu- merous and recent decisions of the Supreme Court can be cited, showing the fallacy of Mr. Heddon's pretensions, as in the two cases below: Sargent vs. Hall Safe and Lock Co. lU U. S,, Judge Bhiteliford. "In patents, for combinations of mechanisms, lim- itations imposed by the inventor, especially such as were introduced into an application after it, had been persistently rejected, must be strictly con- strued (7S against the inventor and in favor of the puhlic, and looked upon as in the nature of dis- claimers," In case Keystone Bridge Co. vs. Phoenix Iron Co, 95 U, S,, 279, S. C. said: "As patents are pro- cured 6.r par-fe, the i)ublic is not bound by them; but the patentees are, and the latter can not show that their inventions are brooder than the terms of their claims; or if broader, they must be held to have surrendered the surplus to the public." What if Mr. Martin does say, " In making my frame close fitting, and also to the case, the combi- nation is clearly an infringement upon the Heddon claim"? If Mr. Heddon had such claim (but the history of his case shows clearly and distinctly that it was denied him, as old and a common right), neither Mr. Heddon nor myself have been allowed to fence it off from the public, and we can not honestly claim it. Mr. Heddon's objections to the sheet-metal lining and frame support have never been made by others who have seen my hive. This sheet metal does not warp, shrink, nor swell, and is covered over be- tween the uprights and cases, insuring a uniform bee-space, with slack enough to press lightly against the uprights, and yielding enoue-h to avoid jamming, if the frames swell. This end play is a decided advantage over the Heddon hive. They can not be glued to the case by the bees, and are easier to empty than a T super when full of either frames or sections. I first made and used it in place of the T supers, having never seen a Heddon hive until several months after I got my patent, al- though I had .seen the drawings. If Mr. Heddon's claim did cover the close fitting of the upright to the case, my hive would not in- terfere with that claim as they do not touch the case at all, but rest and bear against the metal sup- pe of the liive and atford admission-space for the bees, substantiallj' as and for the purpose set forth. 3. In a honey-board for bee-hives, the combination, with a frame, of a number of slats secured to the bottom sides there- of at a bee-space distance apart, said frame being even with the bottoms of said slat-; and projecting a bee-space above them, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. i. In a bee-hive of the de.scribed class, the combination, with the brood-chamber of a hive tlietopsot the frames of wliich are n bee-.'-pace below the top edges of the hive and a case for surplus honey the bottoms of the frames ol which are even witli the bottom of the case in which they a re secured, said frames for .-surplus honey hanging parallel with and directly above the frames of the brood-chamber, of a honey-board consisting of slats secured to a frame, said frame beiiig even with the bottoms of said slats and projecting a bee-space above them, said slats being so arranged that the spaces be- tween them will be between the tops of the frames in the brood chamber below and the bottoms of the frames in the case above, and the slats themselves will be parallel wiih the frames, and between the spaces between the said frame, sub- stantially as and for the purpose set forth. 5 In a bee hive, a brood-chamber consi.^ting of a series of reversible and Interchangeable casc^, each of said cases being provided with thumb-screws exti mliiig Ihrcnigli one side and with cleat" at the corneisof the ..tlur Mib- and facing said thumb-screws, and of a number of reversible frames rigidly secured theiein between said thumb-screws and cleats, and a stand and cover, stibi-tantially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto fixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. [I have since obtained copies of patents No. 33,668, 196,060, 20,'5,890, tliat are said by the at- torney of Mr. Danzenbaker to antedate Mr. Heddon's claims of the divisible-brood-chamber hive. We can scarcely afford to give room to the whole of the patents in question, but we make extracts touching upon the points at issue, so far as they concern the novelty of a horizontally divided brood-chamber. Patent 196.060, bearing date Oct. 8, 1877, by J. C. Train, makes the following claims:] 1. In a sectional bee-hive, the combination, with each of the sections thereof, of two or more fixed partitions, G, and a corresponding number of comb-supports, H, removably se- cured to the (ixed partitions, substantially as described. 2. In a sectional beehive, the ininliination, with the lower section having grooves or mllrti^e- foinied in its lower side edge, of a hinged bottom, substantially as set forth. 3. In a sectional beehive, the sections formed with two upper edges provided with tenons and two with rabbets, the inner edges e of which are cut away to afford bearings for the corab supports G and H. while the lower edges are formed with two mortised edges and two rabbeted edges, in combination with such supports, substantially as set forth. [Two paragraphs in the descriptive matter also read as follows:] My invention relates to an improvement in bee-hives, the object being to provide a bee hive of such construction that it may readily be adjusted in size to meet the wants of either large or small colonies of bees, and the several sections re- movably secured together in a water-tiglit manner, to ex- clude moisture and dampness from the interior of the hive; also, to provide space in the lower portion of the hire wherein the moths may collect and be removed therefrom without disturbing the bees. It is evident that any number of sections may be employ- ed, and a complete hive secured to the apiarian at all times, as, in case the honey is to be removed from the upper sec- tion only, the upper section may be removed entire, if de- sired, and, thr" cover or top J being replaced, as all the sections are made to accurately lit each other, a complete and water-tight hive is thus secured. [Patent 36,668, dated Nov. 5, 1861. by H. R. Terry, contains these paragraphs in descriptive matter:] My improvement consists in constructing the hive in hori- zontal sections, fitted to a suitable base and provided with a top, which forms a roof or cover, each section being sep- arated from the others by series of slats, and connected together when in use by hooks or other equivalent fasten- ings, which admit of the ready detachment and removal of any one of them The sections are three or four inches in depth, which permits the formation of combs, which are suspended from the upper series of slats. Each section is provided with a glass light F, cover- ed with a slide, to admit of the inspection of the bees while at work. These sections being readily removable, any one of them may, when tilled with new honey, be changed for an eiiiiity section thus taking the place of honey-boxes, and any number may be added to increase the capacity of the hive and adapt it tc) the size of the swarm. By this means the troublesome method of transferring the bees from a smaller to a larger hive, and vice versa, is entirely dispensed with and much time and labor saved. [Patent 303,890, under date of May 21, 1878, shows a series of shallow cases containing reg- ular frames over the brood-nest. The only claim under this patent is for a brood-chamber having concave or arched sides. Patent No. 2592, dated April 29, 1842, shows a series of shallow chambers fastened together with bolts. They were simply shallow boxes, I judge, without Ijrood-frames or any thing of the sort. There is no printed descriptive matter. Patent No. 2929. dated Jan. 27, 1843, by J. Harris, contains a similar series of horizontally divided hive-sections, one piled upon another. These, like the one just preceding, contained no brood -frames, as a matter of course. If any one is interested in following these up further, he can secure them by applying to the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C, giving the number and dates as above given. It will be necessary to inclose 15 cts. for each patent called for. Stamps are not accepted. Possibly our readers would like to have me enter an opinion (inasmuch as I have studied the patent question to some extent) as to whether the patents above cited would cover the divisible-brood-chamber idea specified in Mr. Heddon"s patent. Such a statement as I should feel like making, I am sure, would please neither party; and I therefore prefer, for this and other reasons, to take no sides at all, as I take it that our readers are intelligent enough to decide the merits of the case after comparing the claims of Mr. Heddon's patent with those above cited, and reading his article. As Mr. Heddon seems to be pretty well ac- quainted with the patents above given, the references that he makes to them, and his reply thereto, will probably cover what he desires to say concerning them in the article that now follows:] 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 350 REPLY TO ATTORNEY WILLIAMSON. Infringement, oi- desire to infringe, are, eitlier or botli, prinia-fac'ie evidence of utility.— Walker. Bro. Rout :—l Ivavo lliis day discovored Mr. Daii- zetibaker's attorney Willi.inison s silteDipted defense of his client's infrinjiinsr hive (not pa;tent), in your Tradf N(jtes in April Ist Gleanings. While I re>fret that you should have printed such a communica- tion, and al.so that two weeks should elapse before the sopliislry could be shown up, I am pleased at your editorial remark that " both sides sliall have a fair and impartial liearing-." Mr. Williamson is in the position of a paid attor- ney, and we all know what that means. It is no reflection upon the gentleman's character, to infer that he deems it a moral duty to carry the point desired by his client, rig-ht or wrong-. Now, Mr. Williamson is discussing- a subject before an audi- ence of bee-keepers, not one in tifty of whom have sufHcient knowledge of the same not to be misled. The members of this audience have been compelled to devote their time and intelligence to other mat- ters; but these other matters have cultivated their inherent logic; consequently, it is more in this line than strictly in the line of patent law that I shall reply to the learned attorney. My own knowledge of patent law enables me to answer definitely and successfully every point raised by Mr. W. ; and, in fact, my article preceding it, and the paragraphs from Walker's Patent Law, found in my 1890 circu- lar, do most completely answer every point that he brings up; and these I commend to those of your readers who may understand patent law as well as or better than I do myself; but this article I shall contine principally to the illogical position of Mr. Danzenbaker and his attorney, believing it will be the better understood by our just and logical bee- keepers. Allow me to call the reader's attention to the fact that Mr. Williamson makes no mention of patent law in equity. He speaks of my natural or "moral rights" as though he had seen a proof of my fore- going article, jf Mr. Williamson is given room for another article, T request you to mail me proof at once, when I will have my Washington attorney append a reply to the same, which will unquestion- ably end all discussion on the legal aspect of my right to my earnings as an apicultural inventor. No one knows the state of the art so well as bee- keepers; such students of our literature as Prof. Cook, Hutchinson, Clark, Mason (and, without tak- ing further space, twenty other prominent bee- keepers), would never have proclaimed "new, orig- inal, unexcelled, a revolution," etc., were I now the owner of nothing- of any value. If such could be true, of what use is our patent office ? and of what service are our patent-solicitors? Such would be an everlasting stain upon Mr. Williamson's pro- fession. My attorneys will undoubtedlj' be as anxious to defend the title to my property, a docu- ment of their creation, as Mr. Williamson is anxious to tear it down, as a paid attorney in the interest of Mr. Danzenbaker. They will undoubtedly be able to defend the right, especially as "possession is nine points in law." The misleading arguments of Mr. Williamson, made for the purpose of dispossessing me of my earnings, by claiming that there is a Haw in my title to the same, are an exact repetition of the Langstroth history; of the attack upon the nat- ural rights of the man we have subsequently saint- ed as the bee-keepers' greate-st benefactor. If it were true, that any of the features of the Danzen- baker hive, which belong to Mr. D. (claimed in his patent), were of any value, Mr. Williamson's line of argument would as completely rob Mr. D nzenba- ker, could it be successfull.y carried out in ihe prac- tice of bee-keepers, as it is intended to rob me. I call your readers' attentiiiu to mi-staki's, both in statements and deductions, in Mr Williamson's article, as follows: He says the two hives are similar in construction, (jitly in the matter of divisible brood-chambers and top covers. That is not true. If Mr. W. knew aught of the state of our art, he never would have mentioned "top covers," and, further, would have known that the close-fitting frames, at the same time closely fitting the case, prior with me, was the second essential feature of my hive, and imitated b.y Mr. Danzenbaker. He asks if my pitent contains any claim which by a "fair construction" can be held to lie infringed by the D. hive. ''Fair construction!" Here Mr. W. admits that paient courts take into consideration the matter of " fairness" in construing the breadth of a patent-claim, and by this bee-keepers may know just where our suit at law will come out at the end of a damag'e-suit against Mr. Danzenbaker's cus- tomers. Of course, Mr. Willldmson must say some- thing, because he is paid for so doing. The above shows clearly that Mr. W.'s statement, that claim five of my patent is the only one that touches upon the features of construction common to the two hives, is a gross erroi'. Next, Mr. \V. quotes a claim of my original appli- cation wliich was rejected by the patent office, but fails to infcnm your readers that it is whoU.y cover- ed by the last eight words of claim five, which read: "substantially as, and for the purposes set forth." In answer to another misleading statement of Mr. D.'s attorney, let me explain that I never claimed to be the prior inventor of every kind of brood- chamber which could be divided "fir the purpose of increasing or diminishing its capacity." I so stated in the discussion which arose relative to the Ekes and Nadirs of Fiance and Germany. My claim is on a divisible brood-chamber containing frames; one capable of the manipulations of modern apicul- ture, for the purposes set forth in my specifications. What are these purposes? Not only to " contract or enlarge" the brood-chamber, but to alternate its upper and lower parts, to produce certain results in the surplus sections of the hive. Now let me quote to you from the great authority. Walker: "Novelty of a thing is not negatived by any other thing fundamentally incapable of the functions of the first." " Novelty and patentability are not negatived by the fact that every part of the thing is old." "Novelty of any thing is not negatived by another thing which was not dexigned or used to perform the functions of the first." The above is a complete answer to Mr. W.'s mis- leading quibble regarding the revision of my claims, made to suit the Patent Office, and still holds as much as before. Now, Bro. K')()t, you say that you have .sent for the tliree copies of old patents my attorney was cited to, as referred to by Mr. Williamson. Why, bless your soul, 23 citations were handed out by the examiners, and yet only three or four of them con- tained a single feature in any way resembling any part of my hive, and these were nothing fatal to the value of my patent. Firing at us irrelevant citations is a privilege of the examiners. These 32 copies I lost in the fire in Patent- Attorney R. B. Wheeler's office in Detroit, about four years ago. I have never replaced them, because they have no bearing against the title to my property, when lightly understood. I will ask one question, which, if bee-keepers can not answer in the affirmative, the argument based upon these citations falls to the ground. Are you willing to, and do you expect to use. the features and functions shown in these old patents, as and for the purposes therein specified ? If not, what do you propose to do ? What is it that is just now so greatly desired ? Fill Gleanings from cover to cover with nothing but .sophistical, mis- leading, and confusing discussions b.v patent-law- yers, and, in the end, down in the hearts of all honest bee-keepers will remain this verdict: "To Heddon belongs the practical, divisible brood- chamber, with its reversible cases and close-fitting frames closely fitting the case, as and for the pur- poses specified in his patent, and further explained in his book, Success in Bee Culture." To close, I will say that I notice your statement, that you "take ni> side in the matter." I believe you should, and believe j'ou will — not with persons, but with principles. I know that you know the property to be mine, all the time you are discussing the question of the technically legal title to the same; and I think it strange that, in your last J^sue, you confine yourself wholly to the matter or title, utterly ignoring the question of right per se. It seems to me that this is almost the only point the mass of your readers can understandingly decide upon, and upon that I know they are already decid- ed. However, if you wish to educate us all in the details of patent law I will not be displeased, and my attorneys will be on hand promptly. It seems to me that the matter stands about like this: Mr. Martin has voiced the sentiments of nearly all of our bee-keepers in proclaiming the fact that Mr. Danzenbaker's hive is a " gross infringement" on my invention. No one has ever claimed that I have infringed a ny man's rights. Nine years elaps- ed before any such claims as attorney Williamson's were made, because it required that length of time • for Mr. Danzenbaker to discover the value of my inv^ention. Why does not Mr. D. apply ?i is patent- 360 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. claims to a hive-construction which does not infringe mine? (Remember that it is his cimstniction and not his claims of invention that infringes.) I tliank you for J our offer to give us all a fair and impartial hearing.' James Heddon. Dowagiac, Mich. [Mr. Heddon indirectly asks whether a proof of his former article was sent to Mr. Danzen- baker's atioriiey. No such proof was sent; but I wrote to Mr. D., requesting that his attorney state whether Mr. H. had either a legal or a moral right to the divisible-brood-chamber idea, and hence Mr. Williamson's reference to the "moral right." Whatever legal claims Mr. Heddon may or may not have, if he has. by these years of ad- vertising, made popular a certain system — if he has been the lirM one to show the world at large that it may have points of merit, then he certainly has a kind of moral right— a right which I think bee-keepers will be quick to re- spect. Understand, I do not go so far as to say that he has or has not legal or moral right to certain hive-constructions. I could render an opinion, but. as I said. I shall adhere strictly to the ground of taking no sides. lean not do any better than to repeat the words of the great Master of all things, who said, under similar circumstances. "Render unto Csesar the things that are Cte^ar's." Naturally, after the severe way in which Mr. Heddon has criti- cised us in the Dowagiac Times extra, we should be Inclined to take sides against him, but this should and does have nothing to do with the matter at all. I do not very often stand "on the fence;" but for the present, at least, I do not know of any reason why any of us here at the Home of the Honey-bees should desire to get on either side of said fence.— Ed.] is properly constructed I believe these ad- vantages are fully attained. So far as I know, the use of a jacket of tin completely surrounding and extending some way below the fire-chamber toward ihe bellows is original with me. I think it would be better if plain tin were used for this purpose, and small washers were used where it is riveted to the lire-chamber, so it would set out }-s inch from it on the back, although it might not look quite so well then as now manufactured. My claims were allowed some months ago; but for various reasons I delayed having it is- sued until the present month. There are some obvious reasons why a new invention, or an improvement on an old one, should be patented, one or two of which I will mention: It greatly facilitates its introduction to the industrial world, and often enables the manufacturer to pay the inventor a fair royalty, and then, by manufacturing in large quantities, be able to sell them for even less to the consum- ers than would be possible if a large number of persons engaged in their manufacture without paying royalty. J. E. Crane. Middlebury, Vt., March 22. A NEW DEPARTURE. " Trade Notes," a corner in which we poor in- ventors may blow our horns "with none to molest or make us afraid," as I see from the last issue of Gleaking.s. Now, that is " fair play," and we all like fair play — at least, for ourselves; we are not always so particular about the other fellow, I am afraid; so I will just trot out my hobby— a kind of hobby it is, the Crane smoker, which is henceforth to wear that little motto, ''Patented March 12,1895," which witnesses that the United States govern- ment, through one of its departments, has care- fully examined into my claims, and has pronounced them " new and useful," and that it is ready, through its courts, and, for aught I know, its army and ironclads, to defend them. My claims are very quickly told: An air-cham- ber ^ituated between the fire-chamber ^and bellows, one end extending and opening into base^f the~ fire-l;hamber7and {he other com- municating with the outside atmosphere, and a valve so situated as to open and close alter- nately this opening, so that, as the bellows closes, the valve opens, thus forming a continu- ous passage from the bellows to the fire-cham- ber; and when the bellows opens, the valve closes, thus giving a draft to the fire-chamber. The advantages to be obtained are twofold— . a strong blast, and the exclusion of smoke and sparks from the bellows; and when the smoker NGN -SWARMING BEES. Questioji.— Three years ago last June I pur- chased a queen of you said to be reared by the plan given in your book. This queen has done well for me; but the point of interest just now is this: Although she has kept her hive full to overflowing with bees, fully as well as any queen I have, yet only one swarm has issued from her colony since I got her. About the time I received her I purchased your book and reared a few queens in accord therewith. Very few of the queens so reared have led out swarms, and the bees behave very similarly to those from the queen purchased from you, while my other colonies have kept up excessive swarming each year. The queens not reared in accord with your book were reared under the swsrming impulse, by colonies casting swarms, as are the most of the queens in any apiary where the bees are allowed to swarm. Now, I should like to know if you claim that queens reared by the plan given in " Scientific Queen- rearing " have a greater tendency not to swarm than those reared by the bees during the swarming season, as most bee-keepers allow their bees to rear them. Answer. — I have never made the claim that queens reared in upper stories, over a queen- excluder, while the reigning queen was doing good work below, were less inclined to swarm than were those reared when the bees were pre- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 361 paring to swarm, as I formerly raised all queens, then claiming, as niany do now, that queens reared under the swarming impulse were the very best possible to raise. Some twenty years ago I noticed that queens reared to supersede a failing queen were less inclined to swarm than were those reared during the height of swarming, and so noted the matter on my diary; and during all the time intervening, since I first noted this matter, 1 have had no cause to change my first conclusion. Queens reared as given in my book are brought to per- fection in very much the same way as are those reared when a case of supersedure hap- pens; and I have noted that I have had less swarming in my apiary during the past eight years, through which time I have reared near- ly all my queens over queen-excluders, than I formerly had; yet I would not think it best to put forth the idea that a continuation of thus rearing queens for a quarter of a century or longer would give a race of non-swarming bees. When God told all animated nature to go forth, "multiply, and replenish the earth," he im- planted in the same a nature so to do; and if that nature is not carried out in bee-life, through the issuing of swarms, it will come about through the intervention of men, by way of such manipulation of hives as will throw the colony out of its normal condition, rather than by breeding for a race of non-swarming queens. At least, such is my opinion. I have received many letters similar to the above, relative to less swarming occurring since the parties writ- ing had practiced the plan of raising queens as given in "Scientific Queen-rearing;" but it must be remembered that the past few seasons, taking the country as a whole, have been rather poor seasons, hence would be conducive to less swarming. Of course, there is no harm in watching this matter; but to put forth the claim that a persistent rearing of queens over a queen-excluding honey-board will bring forth a race of non-swarming bees would only end in disgusting those who went into such a trial with a full belief in the honesty of the one making such claim. COLONIES LEAVING THEIR HIVES. Qwcsttou.— What is the cause of bees leaving their hives with clean honey, clean hives, and quite a quantity of brood, in the spring of the year? Three of my colonies have deserted their hives in this way on warm days; and al- though I have put them back they will not stay. What can I do to remedy this matter? Answer. — This is a case of what is termed "swarming out " by some, and "spring deser- tion " by others. In an experience of a quarter of a century I have had about a dozen such cases, and in each one it has happened after a hard winter, such as the past has been, and with colonies which had wintered imperfectly. Some think it is caused by the bees becoming discouraged, and abandoning further effort to keep up the temperature of the hive so as to keep the brood from perishing. In nearly every case which has come under my notice, colonies deserting their hive have become re- duced as to numbers to a greater or less extent by spring dwindling; while the number of bees, compared with the amount of brood, was ill proportioned, considering the outside tempera- ture. 1 used to think that such swarming out could be accounted for on the ground of lack of stores, moldy combs, etc., as has been told us many times in the different bee-papers of the past; but after having several swarm out when all was clean and nice, the same as is spoken of by our questioner, I had to give that up and con- clude that those who had told us that such was the cause were mistaken. Some seem to think that the chief cause of this swarming-out mania lies in excitement on the part of the queen, the same happening at a time when few young bees are in the hive to keep company with the queen, when a general flight of the bees takes place, which often happens during the first warm days in early spring. During such occasions the queen becomes excited about being left with so few bees with her, goes to the entrance, takes wing, and sallies out to join the circling bees; and when once in the air with the bees the whole alight as a swarm. But I can hardly accept this as the cause, for the reason that, as our correspondent states, when we hive them back again in their own hive, they will swarm out again and continue to swarm out till they enter some other colony or go off entirely. As to a remedy, I doubt whether there is any better than to unite such with some other colony, although I have tried giving a frame of hatching brood from some strong colony to them, removing all their brood and giving it to the strong colony from which the frame of hatching brood was taken. Next, place this frame of hatching brood together with one frame of honey next one side of their hive, and confine the bees to these two frames by means of a division-board till they become strong enough to take more frames, when they are built up to full colonies. This is the plan I used to adopt with good results, where for from any cause I desired to save just that individual colony. Lately, since the queen-excluding zinc has become common I have simply hived back in its own hive the colony swarming out, and placed a strip of perforated zinc at the en- trance, thus keeping the queen from going out, in which case the bees will retui'n after each swarming-out; and if such colony so treated does not die by dwindling it can usually be saved in this way. But, as 1 said, unless for some reason you wish to preserve the individu- ality of any colony which once swarms out. the best thing to do is to unite it with some other colony, as the work required to make a good colony of such a discouraged colony amounts to more than any ordinary colony is worth. 302 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. THE KECORD BKOKEN AGAIN ON DEER- SHOOT- ING BY A BEE-KEEPKR. On page 170 Mr. J. D. Given asks for a better record on shooting and killing game than he has. I will admit his score is good, and hard to equal. I used to think 1 was fairly good with the gun myself. I use a rifle instead of a shot- gun. I have stood in one place and killed five deer with six shots. The gun was a single- shot breech-loader. The first shot I fired, the deer was about forty feet distant, and the last one was about 400 feet. There were only five deer in the band, all full grown black-tails. I have frequently killed three and four out of a band before they would get away. At another time there were four of us boys worked up to a band of elk. I killed three while the other boys got none. At another time there was a party of ten of us went on a buffalo-hunt. We killed 42 buffalo, 6 antelope, and 2 deer. I killed 39 of the buffalo, the 6 antelope, and 2 deer. I have fired 2fi cartridges without missing a single shot, and with the same I killed not less than 10 tons of meat, beeing inis is not a sporting-paper I will let up; but we have bee-keepers here who have records all right. This shooting was done from 1868 to 1876. Use this if you see fit; and If you wish any more records I have plenty left, on up to killing Indians. Buckskin Charley. Aurora, Neb., Mar. 13. [Among his other accomplishments " Buck- skin Charley " is the inventor of a section-press and foundation-fastener that seems to have merit, judging from the engravings and de- scription in a circular sent. Verily, is there any thing bee-keepers can't do between be- tween being legislators and breaking the rec- ords on shooting deer? By the way, I am interested in gunning. When I was sick last fall, and convalescing, the doctor prescribed the shotgun and long tramps. I got both of them, but yame— not any. Indeed, I "broke the record for the county " in missing every thing I shot at. May be if we had deer here I could miss them too.— Ed.] SCORE FOR THE BEES. At the Oregon Experiment Station, peaches were grown under glass, and forced, by artificial heat, out of their natural season. In such cul- ture, it is necessary to pollenize the flowers by some artificial means — a brush or otherwise. This is very slo\v, tedious work. Bulletin 34 of this station tells what was done: " To save la- bor in transferring the pollen, some trees were sprayed when in full bloom with warm, others with cold water. This proved very unsatis- factory, more fruit dropping at the stoning period than in the case of trees pollenized with the brush. As a further exneriment, a hive of bees was placed in the house when the trees commenced to bloom. This was in November, and a heavy fog prevailed for 1.5 days; and although the flowers were constantly opening, not a bee showed itself. During the night of the l.Tth the fog lifted, and the next morning was bright and clear, causing the pollen to burst. Then the bees came from the hive and kept up their work for eight or nine days. The result was, that not a single peach was observed to drop at the stoning season. So great was the amount of fruit on the trees, that it was nec- essary to thin it. On 3 tree in the house was securely protected, so that bees could not gain access to it, and all of the fruit dropped at the stoning period."— R?t7'ai New-Yorker. THAT EUROI'EAN AUTOMATIC SMOKER. Mr. Chas. Norman, in " European Matters," talks about an automatic smoker. I inclose an Illustration. I don't think it will ever do for any "go-ahead '■ bee-keeper. Some one of my acquintance having seen it says the automatic movement, produced by a kind of clockwork, is very noisy. My impression is against this smoker. You can judge for yourself. Winter has been very severe in France; but our situation behind the Alps, in Nice, has kept away the fierce cold all our neighbors had to undergo this exceptional year. We had snow three times, though not to stay longer than a day or two. In Palestine my people want rain, especially in Jerusalem — very much exposed to east winds, which dry up every plant. Last year, 1894, was a very poor season here. I hope 1895 will be better. I didn't have one-fifth of my usual honey-harvest. Nice, France. Pii. J. Baldensperger. [The smoker is not reproduced because I think it practicable for this or any other coun- try, but because it represents an idea.— Ed.] HONEY FROM RASPBERRIES. I wish to attempt to correct two mistakes in your list of seeds of honey-plants, which I cut out and inclose. I was brought up on a fruit- farm, and have kept bees since I was 12 years old. It is the red ra^'pberries that the bees work on principally. They work some on black raspberries, and a very little on blackberries; but the bulk of the raspberry honey comes from the ivild red raspberry. The cultivated is as good, or better, but there is not enough of ii;. Sang Run, Md. C. A. Montague. CORRECTION. Friend Root:— In Gleanings for March 15, you apparently committed me to the proposi- tion that bee-paralysis Is hereditary, by your 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 363 headline to my paper on that subject. It should have been headed " Bee-paralysis Contagious." I do not believe that the disease is hereditary in the strict sense of the term, but that an in- fected queen will communicate the disease in the ordinary way by contact. I do not wish to reopen the discussion of this matter, but simply to make a correction. T. S. Ford. Columbia, Miss., April 9. THE GOSPEL OF ART. Work thou for pleasure; paint or sing or carve The things thou lovest, though the body starve. Who works for glory, misses oft the goal ; Who works for money, coins his very soul. Work for work's sake, then, and it may be That these things shall be added unto thee. Kenyon Cox. H. Y., Wash. — Bees can not, with any satis- factory results, be kept in a room adjoining the kitchen over winter. You had better leave ohem outdoors. In your climate they will prob- ably winter all right. It might be advisable to put over them winter protecting-cases. W. S. Y., la. — We leave chaff cushions on the hives along toward the first of June in our lo- cality. It is better to leave them on a little too long than not long enough; in fact, it does no harm to leave them on all summer, only that they take the place of section-crates or any supers designed to take surplus. W. B. R.. Fa.— The braula, or bee-louse, we sometimes find on the backs of imported queens direct from Italy; but we never knew them to make any serious trouble. The bees themselves will soon remove them when the queen is in- troduced into a strong colony. We do not know where you will find any further particulars than those given by Prof. Cook in his book. H. M. S., O.—We would say we recommend the use of full sheets of foundation in the brood-frames; medium brood if wired, and heavy brood if unwired. Yes, we recommend wiring, running the wires parallel with the top-bar. Yes, use thick top-bars.— Carniolan queens are preferred by some; would refer you to John Andrews, Patten's Mills, N. Y., or Mrs. Jennie Atchley, Beeville, Tex. M. J. A., R. I.— Hives, as a general rule, should face the east. If they are placed toward the south it gives them too much sun in the middle of the day. If they face the west they are apt to get too much wind; if toward the north, also too much wind and too much cold. Taking all things into consideration, having hives point toward the east is preferred by the majority of bee-keepers. W. F. C, Ore.— When the bees build the combs crosswise we don't know of any way but to cut the combs out, straighten them out, and fit them back into the frames by the directions that are usually given for transferring. If they are too crooked for that, use the Heddon short way, given on page 32 of our catalog. We al- ways advise beginners, and everybody else, in fact, to put at least a small starter in each brood-frame; otherwise they may have a condi- tion of things much like yours. W. H. W., Tex.— The half-inch space in the Dovetailed hive, back of the division-board, has a purpose. If every thing fit down in the hive snug and tight you would have difficulty in removing the Hoffman frames. We therefore have provided what we call the "lateral play." Remove the brood-frames; shove the division- board into the half-inch space. That breaks propolis connections. Remove the division- board, and then you have room to shove over the brood-frames and handle the same easily. J. M., Kan.— A good deal will depend upon locality as to whether you can use two-story eight-frame hives with the section-crate on top. The colony should be a tremendously strong one, with brood and honey in both stories before any surplus will be put into the sections. —Bees will be likely to fill the second story with honey or brood before they occupy the section-crate.— The yield of section honey from the two eight-frame bodies all depends upon your locality, season, and size of colony. J. R. W., Minn.— The circumstance you re- late regarding drones from black queens is not an unusual one. Indeed, the progeny from hybrids— that is, a black queen fertilized by an Italian drone— will vary all the way from black to bright-yellow bees or drones. We very often See some very nicely marked Italian drones from queens that are perfectly black; therefore it is not color always that decides purity. If you were to take some of those nicely marked drones, and mate them with pure Italian queens, if it were possible, you would find the resulting progeny only % Italian. O. F. H., Cal.— The best inside lining for a solar wax-extractor of small size is Russia iron. Zinc and galvanized iron would darken the wax, and, besides, would reflect back too much of the light. Of course, if you can get an asphaltum that will not be affected by the heat or the wax it will make no difference what metal you use. The asphaltum used by photo- stock dealers for painting developing-trays would be about the thing. For large-sized extractors there is nothing better than matched boards of butternut .wood, or something that will not shrink much. These, of course, should be painted black. 364 GLEANINCxS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. Extra pages and extra editions as usual. It is a good lime to advertise and to send in new names. Yes, indeed, the new names are coming in fast now, so our subscription clerks reports. Bright sunsliine, the merry hum of the bees, good bicycle roads, piles of orders, lots of work, and a good spring all around, are making us here ^t the Home of the Honey-bees happy. Our buildings were never tilled with so many employees as now. W. O. Victor, of Wharton, Texas, one of the prominent and leading bee-keepers of that State, sent us a couple of twigs from the rattan vine. It yields considerable honey in that State. He says it usually yields first-class hon- ey anywhere from ten to twenty days. In our occasional department, headed " Ques- tion-Box," I hav6 concluded not to state the question, because it is usually implied in the answer. I do this in order to save space. The answers that are published are a few selected from our daily correspondence, that I think a^e of general interest to A B C scholars. It is a pleasure to announce that our friend and co-worker, Mr. R. F. Holtermann, of the Ccmadian Bee Journal, hsiS received from the Ontario government the appointment of Lec- turer on Apiculture at the Ontario Agricultur- al College. He is also in charge of the experi- ment apiary connected with the college. He is a good man for the place, and we shall look for some good work. We have received but one call for Given foundation made on rolls. Either it is or is not a good thing; and I am anxious to see it tried by different bee-keepers, not so much for the paltry profit there may be in fussing with a small quantity, but to determine whether it has real merit in the hands of others. We are ready to put in one, two, or half a dozen sheets with your regular foundation, when so re- quested. From the last American Bee Journal it ap- pears that the usual^SOO appropriation for the benefit of the lllinoi.s State Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation will not be granted this year. "The dairymen fared the same as the bee-keepers, and the horticulturists are not sure of getting any thing much better," writes Secretary Stone. The cause is attributed to the condition of the State treasury. We have now obtained some lysol, that new drug for curing foul brood, mentioned by C. J. H. Gravenhorst as giving very satisfactory re- sults in Germany. See his article on page 308, last issue. We will, till the supply is exhausted, send out a small vial of the liquid, a sufficient quantity for curing several colonics (lOcts.), to those who may have foul brood in their apia- ries, and who care to make a trial test and re- port. It will be folly for American bee-keepers to shut their eyes against all drug remedies, and claim that there is no cure but extermina- tion and the foundation plan. Whatever legal or moral claims Mr. Hed- don may really have over the Danzenbaker hive, it is but just to Mr. Danzenbaker to say that, so far as I know him, he would not appro- priate any thing that properly belongs to an- other, not even an idea. He thoroughly be- lieves, and I think he is honest in that belief, that his hive is not an infringement, and that Mr. Heddon does not have either moral or legal claim over any feature of the Danzenbaker hive. HOW father i-angstroth is appreciated BY A BEE- keeper IN COSTA RICA. A prominent bee-keeper, who does not wish to have his name printed, but living in Costa Rica, the most southerly of tlie small republics constituting Central America, seeing the article on page 170, March 1st Gleanings, soliciting funds for Mr. Langstroth, very generously sent a contribution of ^10.00, asking us to forward the same to Mr L., whom he considered a real benefactor to him also. The amount was for- warded, and has been acknowledged with thanks by Mr. Langstroth's daughter. I am sure our American bee-keepers appreci- ate this, not because of the largeness of the gift, but because of the spirit which prompted it. I can only regret that many of our Amer- ican bee-keepers, using the Langstroth system, have forgotten to send in their annuity fund even when they agreed voluntarily to send it each year as long as Mr. Langstroth lived. I am informed that our venerable and much- respected friend is in very feeble health, and he does not seem to improve with the charm- ing spring weather. Any funds that may be sent in will be received by ourselves, or by Geo. W. York, 5G Fifth Ave., Chicago. DEATH OF CHRISTOPHER GRIMM. As we go to press, a notice reaches us tliat Christopher Grimm is no more. Most of our readers knew him as the brother of Adam Grimm, and one who has for many years made it almost a religious duty to be present at the meetings of the North American Bee-keepers' Association. In fact, we weil remember his genial smile and hearty handshake at our last meeting at St. Joseph. Christopher Grimm was known all over the United States as the suc- cessful and intelligent bee-keeper, his number of colonies reaching at one time 1000 or more. GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 365 I remember him as one of the brighest types of a genial, good-natured representative of Ger- many— a man of the most strict integrity and honesty. He was born at Haienbrunn, Ger- many, March 18, 1838, and died April 20, 1893. His home for the last thirty years has been at Jefferson, Wis. A. I. R. STATISTICAL REPORT ON WINTERING. In response to our inquiry in our last issue, for reports on wintering, we have received about 100 letters. I was surprised at the good showing. Scarcely one had lost over 33 per cent, and there was a very large number who had lost absolutely none whatever. As was to be expected, inexperienced and slipshod bee- keepers did not winter as well as those who read bee-journals. But before these reports came in, quite a number of our agents who are selling our goods wrote that they would not be needing the usual amount of bee-supplies, as bee-keepers had lost pretty heavily all around them. I have wondered whether they, the agents, were not guessing that the losses would be much greater than they really were. «The fact of the matter is, that, although we have had very severe winter, the spring and fall were unusually favorable; and experience has shown, time and again, that it is much harder to " spring"' bees than to winter them. After a severe winter and a moderate spring, bees will come out from their winter quarters in very much better condition than when the reverse is true— a moderate winter with a prolonged cold spring. HAS "he done and GONE AND DONE IT?" " Observer," in Progressive Bee-keeper for April 1, gives expression to the. following: We knew Ernest Root was Incubating- something to take us in with some time ago, and now he's "done and gone and done it." That twelve-frame hive is what's the matter now. Say, friend R., can't you give us a rest ? We don't want any more new hives for a while yet. What we want is more honey, and more money for the honey. Will the twelve-frames give us that ? If I have advocated the twelve-frame hive i n preference to the eight or ten, I did not know it. I believe the most I have ever said in its favor was that there was a possibility that large hives would give better results. I knew our sixteen-frame colonies at our basswood yard last summer had done better than the eight-frame; but this was only one straw. A short time ago, from the testimony that came in I concluded, and so expressed myself on these pages, that sixteen was too large, and that, if we must have large hives, the twelve-frame was the extreme limit. The substance of this opinion is given in several different numbers, and I do not see how from this I have "gone and done it" or how I was " incubating some- thing " to take in the unsuspecting. I have written the hive matter in our catalog; and while admitting that ten and twelve frames may be preferred by a few, I urged strongly the use of the eight frame — see second para- graph, page 4. Dear mel Some one else has been saying that I am an advocate of a double brood-nest. I did not kno^v it before. I am simply open to conviction, and have been trying to call forth the truth, no matter whether it favors supply-dealers or anybody else. If we ever adopt the twelve-frame as the standard it will be much against our will and our pocketbooks, as well as the pocketbooks of bee-keepers who might be foolish enough to follow every such fad. Take it all in all, Ob- server, if I am not very much in error we stand on about the same footing, and I therefore in- dorse your two last sentences heartily; but at the same time do we want to shut our eyes to the value that there may be in other systems and in other managements '? It is a publisher's business to dish up the truth impartially. Am I not right? WHAT I THINK ABOUT PATENTS. What do you think I have on my desk, in a prominent position? A patent - binder — not something that I patented myself, but a binder containing copies of patents of all important apicultural inventions. We have made ar- rangements whereby we now receive a copy of all patents on apicultural inventions as soon as they are issued from the Patent Office. Some of them, I feel sure, will never bring their own- ers any return; others give promise of being useful, and perhaps will be of some advantage to their owners in a pecuniary way. I hope so. Whatever may have been the opinions of my respected parent in the past, the more I look into the patent system in the United States the more I feel like admiring it. Although it has its defects, the system in our country, I believe the world acknowledges, is the most perfect in the world. And the fact that some of the greatest and most useful inventions have emanated from this land is evidence along this line. Are we going to patent any of our recent de- vices? No— that is, we have no intention of doing so now. But I have advised one or two — yes, several — to secure their ideas by patent, even when I knew that such a patent might compel us in time to pay royalty. As examples of this I would refer to the Crane smoker and the Porter bee-escape, both now well-known and useful implements. I believe most thor- oughly in the idea that inventive genius, and the product of the brain in this line, should be rewarded. On the other hand, I believe that our patent system should be so modified as to restrict some of the fearful abuses connected with some of these patent-monopolies. I am glad to see that the Supreme Court has recently made some much-needed and substantial limi- tations. 366 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. ON THE INDIAN RIVEK. The Indian River is generally mentioned as a synonym of something balmy and tropical. On the morning of the 7th of February, however, there was a keen northwest wind, and things were not so very tropical after all. Friend GiflFord is employed by the government to light and trim the lights that are kept constantly burning for beacon-signals along the Indian River; and you know Uncle Sam's business must be attended to, visitors or no visitors. Friend GifTord had been planning to take me on this trip; but I was pretty nearly sick, and the state of the weather seemed to indicate that the trip would have to be given up. But I changed my mind before he reached the boat- landing and followed after him. Up in the garret of the Giflford home there was a heavy old overcoat that had done service away back in Vermont. After having had about ten years of repose in said ganvt it was brought down on that eventful morning. It was large enough so I could get it on over my own over- coat, and. thus rigged, I began to take almost my first lessons in running a sail-boat under a heavy wind. I enjoyed the trip, however, very much, in spite of the wind and cold. These beacon-lights are to direct the boating craft after dark; and as it is necessary to go several miles to replenish the lamps, they are allowed to burn night and day, the expense of the oil being less than the cost of travel needed to keep them lighted all the time. One not ac- customed to boating might think a steamer could go anywhere. Not so. however. The highways of vessels are laid out almost like the roads overland: and wherever there are dan- gerous points, piles are driven at stated periods, projecting above the water enough so a board may be nailed on, indicating to the pilot of the boat the channel. Sometimes these guiding- posts are within a quarter of a mile of each other or even less; again, they are a mile or even two miles apart, the pilot understanding the signification so that he may avoid the shal- lows. Well, in the night time they use these lamps as a guide to the pilot.Fand they are near enough together so that one or more of them are always in sight. At each lighting-station our little sail-boat had to be securely lashed to the framework of timbers supporting the light. Then friend Giflford climbed aloft with his sub- stantial copper lamps, carrying a great hood made of sail cloth, to cover himself and lamp while he did the trimming and filling, and clean- ed the chimneys, etc. It seemed as if the wind would tear the boat loose sometimes; and, in fact, unless very stout ropes are used, boats often do break away. When the wind was the highest, it was necessary to lower the sail be- fore tying up the boat; and then it had to be hoisted again when we started out amid the boisterous wind. Sometimes it seemed as if we surely would upset. But fri(=nd GifTord had a knack of handling the flapping sail as an expert would handle a vicious colt. Just once the rope got caught, and I thought we were go- ing over sure into the cold briny water, amid the boisterous and almost deafening gusts of wind. But lie was equal to the occasion; and once when the water actually came over into the boat a little, and I began to turn white from the scare, a single glance at his self-pos- sessed smilingcountenance reassured me. Ishall long remember that experience on the water; and I enjoyed it greatly, although I did get cold and stiff before we fiuished our day's work. He said it was almost the first unpleasant day for the work he had had for the business in all the years he had held the post. The next day, although it was still cold, we started out to see the bee-keepers. We stopped briefly at the home of Mrs. J. D. H. Weir, Tole- do: but the weather was so cold that both the bees and the interesting family of children were kept pretty well indoors. Children seemed to be so scarce in that part of P"'lorida that it re- joiced my heart to get a glimpse of even a tol- erable-sized family. If we don't have any chil- dren we surely can not have any schools; and if we do not have schools, what will become of us? We made a brief call at Wood ley, and then pushed on to friend King's, where I reluctantly decided I was too sick to go any further. I have mentioned briefly something of that pleasant visit prolonged to several days when I expected to stay only an hour or two. Friend King is a very quiet, still sort of man; but even if he does not talk much he does a tre- mendous lot of thinking; and, by the way, a big lot of work comes about in his quiet sort of way. Several times I heard him nailing up work before daylight; and when I was up so as to look out of the window, there he was out in the dooryard. working by the light of his lan- tern. He has now several hundred colonies of bees, and has secured some crops of honey al- most equal to those a little further north around New Smyrna. His good wife busies herself with a fine flock of poultry numbering almost a hundred laying hens, while he looks after the bees and makes the hives. FLORIDA ANTS, ETC. In many parts of Florida they are pestered with a species of large ant. At Daytona I found some of the bee-keepers setting their hives on legs, and planting each leg in a dish of water. But even then leaves blew in on top of the water and made a bridge for the ants to get over. Besides, unless the water was watched it would evaporate from the dishes, and then the ants would get through again. Friend King studied over this matter, and finally went to the woods (all about him), where pine-trees are so plentiful and cheap, and cut down some tall trees. Two of these were placed side by side, and spiked together just far enough apart to hold a hive conveniently; then legs were put on to this lone frame so as to raise it up to a convenient height for working. Then the legs of this huge bench were set in wooden troughs hewed out from these same pine logs. You see, when the wooden trough is filled with water it lasts a good while: and three of these troughs will hold a frame long enough to sup- port, say, a dozen or may be twenty hives of bees, the long frame being supported at each end and once in the middle. After he had got his apiary of several hundred colonies fixed in this way he decided it would be cheaper to cut a ditch clear around hi* apiary, house, and garden, and then fill the ditch with water. The ditch is needed any way. where there are so many forest-trees, to prevent the roots from the forest coming in and using up his expensive fertilizers. After the ditch was finished, how- ever, he found that the water was not actually needed. The soil is so sandy that, when the ants get to the bottom of ttie ditch, they find it impossible to climb up the steep sides, because the sand gives way, especially if the ground is dry, and lets them roll back into the ditch. After he got the ditch all finished he said the ants came from the woods in great bodies, and literally piled up beside it, and stayed there days, evidently mad because they could not get over to the hives and help themselves to the 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 367 honey and young larvae as they had done in former days. Ky the way. friend King is a pretty deter- mined man when he sets out to succeed. He found the ants did most of their brooding in rotten logs in the woods, so he took his wife's flock of poultry, coaxed them out into the woods with corn or other grain, then chopped open the logs and taught them to devour the white larviv of the ants. The chickens soon became very fond of such food, and in time he came out victor. The ants got along very well with the water-troughs and even the ditch; but when he retaliated by taking his hens out into the woods to eat the ants' larva? — their children — instead of letting them eat the young bees from his hives, they concluded, evidently, that this was a little too much. It was the last straw that broke the back of the camel, you re- member; so the ants packed up their tents and moved away to a healthier locality. And, by the way. there is a lesson or two right here. When we begin to wage a determined warfare on any insect-foe— so determined as to take up the aggressive instead of the defensive, and follow "them to their holes as it were — they will pretty soon take the hint and abandon the ranch. Tracking and chasing them up to their breeding-places is. a great many times, cheaper than drugs— Terry's plan of managing potato- bugs, for instance. BRE-PARALYSIS IN FLORIDA. Friend King has had some experience with bee-paralysis, and he tried an experiment that was new to me. He took some of the brood from a suffering colony, and put it with a healthy colony to see whether the bees, when they hatched out, would have the paralysis. Has anybodv else ever tried this? Is the disease one of the brood, or is it something that the bees get after they are able to fly ? If I re- member correctly, he said they had no paralysis in the new hive on a new location. This does not strengthen my position that I took so many years ago; namely, that the diseased bees were those reared from a certain queen, and that, when you remove the queen and put in a healthy one, the disease is cured. On this Florida soil, where fertilizers must be used, at least on the greater part of it. I found there is much discussion and much uncertainty, as with u<5 up north. Friend Kins paid $22.00 for a ton of what he called Gainesville fertilizer, and he says he does not believe it did him a nickel's worth of good. Very likely it was something his soil did not need. His poultry manure, however, always gives a sure and profitable return; and he says he verily be- lieves the manure from the poultry is worth half as much as it costs to feed them, even when fed on grain that has to be shipped down from the North. In other places I found simi- lar statements. Poultry manure always tells on almost all kinds of garden stuff' or fruit. One of Mr. King's neighbors saved half an acre of melons during the freeze by covering them with sand. He is an unmarried man, and went out to see his " best girl " on that event- ful night. When he returned home to his ranch at half-past eleven at night he realized the danger his melons were in. You know melons are planted a good way apart, and therefore it does not cost so much to cover each hill with sand. He worked about three hours, and all were saved except a few where he did not put on quite enough sand. Friend King saved 1500 tomato-plants through the first freeze, by a similar proceeding; but he lostthem all during the second. Some of them had to- matoes on at the time, as big as hickorynuts. When I was able to get around, my friends de- clared I must stay at least one more day to visit PEIJCAN ISLAND. It was not altogether curiosity that made me want to see this wonderful island. As the water all about the island was quite shallow, we were obliged to use a row boat; and even this ran aground so many times that we were some time in finding a landing, and succeeded only by wading (Mr. King curryUig his better half) ashore. Before we reached the island a swarm of these strange birds, with their queer- looking pouch or gripsack hanging to the under side of the bill met our view. They are as large as a good-sized goose, or perhaps a little larger; and we found them not only filling the air but on the water all around the island; and on the island itself were hundreds and thousands, ap- parently sitting still with their funny-looking heads sticking straight up. and that long queer bill, with its appendage, hanging almost straight down. They did not seem to be very much afraid of us, for we could come up near enough to hit them with clubs were we vicious- ly disposed. Hundreds of nests met our view containing eggs, young just hatched, and from that up to birds of all sizes until some of them were ready to fly. The freeze had driven the fish away into deep water, and the poor things were having a sort of famine on account of the unu«ual cold. In fact, the young pelicans were suffering to such an extent that, when we came along, they would open their mouths and beg most piteously for their accustomed food. They even hopped out of their nests, and ran after us with mouth stretched wide. The scene was so touching and painful that I turned away. The friends assured me that nothing could be done but to wait for warmer weather and the reappearance of fish. This island has probably been the breeding- place of these birds for ages. In fact, the manure has accumulated to the depth of several feet, covering the island, and almost extinguishing vegetation of every sort. At one time it was suggested that this sea-bird manure might be of value like guano; but the trouble is here, the fertilizer is not only drenched by the incessant rains of Florida, but at stated periods the salt water is blown by winds almost over the entire island. One won- ders why thfse birds should come from miles in every direction to congregate on this one par- ticular bit of land. The island contains per- haps some four or five acres; and it is almost completely monopolized by the birds. If these birds have been in the habit of roosting and nesting here since they came on the face of the earth, why should not this deposit be still larger? I believe friend King told me that the oldest inhabitants have a sort of tradition that there tvas a time when the island was not thus occupied. If this be true, what should cause the birds to change from one place to an- other? I afterward discussed the matter with the State Chemist, of LakeCitv. He also agreed that the accumulation of fertilizer was of little or no value. The guano of commerce all comes from islands where little or no rain falls, or from caves where birds and bats congregate, protected from the rain and its consequent leaching. The second thing that interested me in re- gard to this island was the fact that here, right under my eyes, was a poultry establishment carried on entirely without the guiding hand of man. The birds themselves, and the in- stinct implanted in them by the great God above, managed the whole thing and did it successfully. Now. if pelicans can breed and multiply enormously without human agency, why can not a properly arranged island or in- closure be made to do the same with common fowls? If we have not breeds adapted to the circumstance demanded, then get somebody to 368 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. MayI furnish us the breed. I once had one little brown U-ghorn hen that I verily believe would have peopled a farm with poultry all alone by herself, and in a very short time too, if plenty of food could have been provided for her and the chicks. "Are pelicans' eggs edible?" you may ask. I think my friends told me they were eaten by some people; but as the diet of the birds is exclusively salt-water fish, the eggs are rather rank in flavor. Now, if any reader of Glean- ings can tell me of a successful effort at raising poultry where they manage to raise chickens all by themselves, I should like to hear about it. I suppose yon know the enormous wealth of the great cattle-kinjcs of California, Arizona, and Florida, is secured in something this way. The cattle run wild, and breed after nature's fashion, the hand of man never coming in at all except to put the proper brand on the calves as fast as they arrive at a proper age. The flock grows and multiplies as the years pass, without any management from the owner— the only condition being, indeed, a sufQciency of pasturage. On our way home we stopped at a pretty little point called Orchid: and it was quite an agreeable surprise to find, away out in the wilderness, a pretty little home full of books, magazines, and periodicals, presided over by a newly married couple — Mr. and Mrs. Forester. In their beautiful garden, watered by an ever- flowing artesian well, we found orange-trees containing leaves, blossoms, and fruit in limit- ed quantity, unharmed by either the first or second freeze. This little bit of Eden is pro- tected by both water and the great tall spread- ing palm-trees. It is on a stripof land between Indian River and the ocean-beach. We also saw beans under the protection of the palm- trees, that had passed the ordeal of both frosts. This would not have been sufScient, however, were it not for the water on each side of it. The place has been named "Orchid " because tropical plants like the orchid here find a safe place to grow and thrive ordinarily. The plan of irrigation here is to have the artesian-well pipe come up in the center of the garden, say four or fivp feet above the general level; then, to avoid the expense of more iron pipe for con- ductors, the sand is banked up nearly to the top of the pipe; and in the top of this ridge of sand a little ditch is made with a gradual in- cline. This takes the water off in different di- rections across the garden; and with sand ridges to hold the water it is conducted between the furrows where they want it. Of course, much water is wasted by leaching through the sandy loam; but thi» artesian well gives such an unlimited supply from a four-inch pipe that it can waste all it wants to. Of course, when the garden shall have increased so that it be- comes an object to utilize all the water, iron pipes will probably take the place of the ditches on top of the sand ridges. After having had such a visit as I did with friend King and his wife, and with Mr. and Mrs. Forester, it makes one feel like thanking God that there are such real nice people in this world of ours. The wind was still boisterous when we un- dertook to climb from the landing down into the little row-boat. I was so much of an in- valid after my recent sickness that I did not attempt to help very much. In fact, I was so unused to such treacherous things as boats that I needed help most of the time myself. Mr. King had charge of the management of the boat, and his wife was obliged to climb down and secure a foothold while the boat was sway- ing to and fro. She came near falling at one time; but instead of grasping for the secure timbers of the pier, she held tenaciously to her little purse, or satchel, forgetting she could toss it into the boat and use both hands to steady herself. Friend Forester here broke in with: " Look here, Mrs. King, I want you to tell us what is inside of that precious porte-monnaie that makes you cling to it so frantically, as if it were of more moment than life and death." Without waiting for her to answer, her hus- band replied: " Why, she has not any t?im(/ in the pocket- book except a five-cent piece. That is just the way with women-folks." I here came to Mrs. King's rescue by re- marking that I had known quite a few TJien during my time who would hang to a nickel, even though they knew it would carry them down to perdition and death, but that I was sure it was the first time in all my experience where a woman risked her life by holding fast to the root of all evil, and that I for one strong- ly resented the imputation that womankind are given to such penuriousness. Mrs. King did not vouchsafe to open that precious pocket- book and tell us what it did contain; but we laughed long and heartily, especially as she did not go over into the briny deep. Then some- body sang out that a school of porpoises was rounding the point. Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? — Mark 10:3. There are unfortunate and unhappy mar- riages in this world of ours, as we all know; and a good many times it would seem as if the two had better separate — that is, it would seem so to human judgment and wisdom, especially when we attempt to use that judgment and wisdom without asking for grace from on high to guide us. I am not sure but I have, under certain very extreme circumstances, myself ad- vised the separation of man and wife. If I did, however, I am pretty sure that my conscience troubled me about it afterward. There may be a terribly bad state of affairs where they undertake to live together; but the older I grow, the more I am convinced that it does not mend matters to seek a divoi'ce through the courts of law. In the first place, the precedent is a bad one. The example is bad for the com- munity. It is fe?"r{b?y bad for the children. It seems to wrench things asunder — things sacred and holy; and wreck and ruin often follow in a way no one could have expected. Satan's stamp and Satan's seal seem to have been left on divorces of almost every sort. Sometimes I am consulted in such matters when told that Earties can not live together. My reply has een invariably— that is. before I knew the cir- cumstances— that they would find it more trouble still to undertake to live separate. Now, the story I have commenced to tell you, perhaps, does not bear me out in this. If we knew all the circumstances connected with it, perhaps it would, after all. I presume most of you are familiar with our Savior's command in regard to this whole mat- ter. In fact, it has been read and considered again and again. This much seems to be clear: Christ Jesus gave very little encouragement, and I believe mentioned only one case in which divorce might be considered excusable; and if I am right he at least advised that man and wife who separated on that account should not marry again. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 3G9 When these two parties, John and Mary, were well along in life, a circumstance occurred that perhaps helped to hasten the separation. In the town where they lived, the editor of the village paper was getting to be very intemper- ate. He was not only squandering all of his own means, but he had commenced, also, to waste the little property that belonged to his wife before they were married. The wife, in despair, appealed to our friend John. His con- nection with the bank gave him an opportunity of knowing more or less in regard to legal mat- ters, and he was, perhaps, a very good man, under the circumstances, to advise the poor woman. Out of the best of motives he also undertook to see if something could not be done for the intemperate editor. The result was a sort of joint stock company of three — John being one, the editor one, and the editor's wife the third. In this way an i^i temperate man was prevented from using up his wife's proper- ty; and finally he was so far reformed that the paper began to grow, and the printing-office did a thriving business, proving a profitable Investment for all three. Under the circum- stances, the wife's gratitude was unbounded to John for saving not only her property, but her husband from a drunkard's grave. Before John undertook this he consulted with his wife, and had her discuss the matter fully with the editor's wife. Mary declared she was quite willing, under the circumstances, that John should enter into this praiseworthy undertaking. Let me digress a little right here to say that such arrangements are more or less risky and dangerous. Even though John had been at the time a devout Christian, which he was not, and even though this editor's wife had been one of the very noblest and best of women, which I have reason to believe she ivas, I think we should be exceedingly careful indeed how we undertake any thing that invades domestic relations to the extent of the case mentioned above. The poor woman, when she saw her property was saved, and her husband too, which was of a thousand times more moment, felt, as I have just said, unbounded gratitude to John. My friends, Satan is not slow to take advantage of such a state of affairs; and it seems a little strange sometimes for us to be obliged to con- fess that there is but a single step (often a very short step) from the noblest and best instincts of humanity down to the lowest and most de- plorable. The man who had been saved from his intemperate habits did not stay saved. He was not saved through Christ Jesus. I do not mean to discourage friendly efforts like the one above; but the man who breaks away from any terrible sin needs Tno?"e than human agency. One night John remarked he would have to go to the bank and finish some urgent business. His wife objected, but he said it had to be done. When he arrived home rather late, his wife had already retired. She asked him if he had been at the bank at work. He was a little surprised at the question, but answered, and, I believe, honestly, that he had. She charged him with falsehood, and finally admitted she followed him when he left home, and saw that he did not go to the bank. Then he remember- ed that, before going to his work, he stopped in for a little chat with a particular friend. She followed him, and saw them through the win- dow. She probably was jealous of the editor's wife at the time; and even though she did not discover that he was anywhere near the woman, she did discover, or, at least, claimed she did, that he was untruthful; and if he was untruth- ful in one thing, why shouldn't he be in an- other? This is a poor sort of reasoning, as all will admit; but when a woman once loses faith in her husband she is ready for all sorts of foolish suggestions from the green-eyed monster. John declared he had^ been at his work, and she declared again he had not. Was not this a foolish thing to dispute about? I wonder if it occurs to you, dear friends, just now, that you at times have been perhaps just as inconsistent and unreasonable a> were these two. They were both wrong and wicked. John was tired, and wanted to go to sleep. They had got a going, however: and the poor wife, like other daughters of Eve, could not rest without the last word— and, in fact, I fear there were several " last words." John told her again and again that she must stop and let him have his sleep or he could not get through with necessary duties that were to be perform- ed early in the morning; and finally when she would not stop he left the room and sought a bed in another apartment. I do not know whether he got the needed rest in the other apartment or not. I can thank God, and do thank God almost every day, that 2 can goto sleep quickly and readily under almost all sorts of circumstances; but I am quite sure 1 should never have found any rest or recuperation in that other room. The only possible rest for me would have been after I haa kneeled down by the bedside, my wife kneeling with me, and asked God to forgive two of his children for being bad and wicked, and to help them to do better. I think I may safely say thati before the little brief prayer would be finished, my wife's hand would be in mine, and then we two could go to sleep. You may say, perhaps, I need to thank God for giving me such a wife. I quite agree with you. for I have and do often; but, my dear brother, something seems to tell me that there are very few women in this world of ours who would not go at least half way toward a reconciliation and a settlement of dis- putes of this sort. But these two friends of whom I am speak- ing were not Christians. Certainly neither one of them was in a Christian frame of mind that night. John continued to occupy another room from that time on. Friends began to notice the trouble; and Henry, whom I mentioned in the outset of the story (who was also by this time married), came over and plead with John. He asked John to forget and forgive, and to try once more. John replied that he had forgotten and forgiven so many times that the thought of it sickened him. He did not want to try any more; but for Henry's sake he finally yielded. It turned out as the intemperate editor turned out. Without God's grace and God's blessing the same conditions produce the same results again and again. "Ye must be born again," the Savior said, and there does not seem to be any other way but the new birth through Christ Jesus. Dreary months passed for these two. Mary finally said she was going home to her father's. John agreed, and suggested that she bad better stay there for all time to come. Preliminaries were aiTanged as to who should have the children, etc., and then she bade adieu to her husband and the children she was to leave with him. In a very few days, however, it was whisper- ed that the editor's wife was the cause of the separation. She heard of it, and implored Johw to bring his wife back again, and offered to go with him. By this time the editor was back to his old habits worse than ever, and the poor wife was sinking into an untimely grave from abuse and neglect and privation. The shock and excitement of the scandal made it almost necessary that Mary should go back, to save a life. John sent for his wife to come back. The editor, however, had got some ink- 370 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. ling of matters through his befogged intellect, and about this time woke up enough to get down on the street just drunk enough to boast before everybody that John had sent for his wife to come back because he had pointed a loaded pistol at his head and told him to do so. John became stubborn and ugly, and declared he would never live with the woman again, even if she came back, and telegraphed her not to come, rie told me he had been so harrassed and worn out from want of peace and rest that he was about ready to commit suicide rather than to undertake to live under the same roof with that woman again. You see, Satan had got matters well in hand by this time. When he gets a man, or woman either, where they say they would rather commit suicide than to do some other thing, he is pretty nearly master. If you want lo know how many suicides come about in something this way, read the daily papers. Sometimes it is divorce, desertion, and suicide too. Years after these events John be- came a Christian. He and I went over the ground together. I suggested to him what a Christian would have done under the circum- stances, and we pretty nearly agreed on the matter. Naw, friends, if in this little story I have seemed to blame Mary, or if I have uncon- sciously told how provoking and ugly a woman can be if she has a mind to, I have made a mis- take. If, however, I have succeeded in telling you how provoking and ugly both men and women can be — even husbands and wives, and fathers and mothers, when Satan is allowed to get a foothold in the family circle, then my story has performed its mission. The inmates of any home are to be pitied when Satan gets the upper hand. They are to be pitied exactly as if the smallpox had broken out in that house and could not be stopped. If there were no remedy, and no help for Satan's work, then in- deed would this world be a sad place to live in. But, dear friends, there is a remedy and a cure for all troubles of this kind— even Christ Jesus who came from heaven to earth to cast out Sa- tan. If the dear Savior is not invited into your home— if he is not one of you— be assured Satan will come, and he comes without invitation. Yes, even now he is going about as a roaring lion, and we should be helpless indeed against his wiles were it not for the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. GARDENING UP TO MAY 1. When I got home from Florida I think I told you our crimson clover was all right. So it was; but the severe freezing and thawing, day after day, through the latter part of March and fore part of April, has, I fear, used it up. When I saw it so green and well rooted in March, I thought it was surely safe; but now there is scarcely a root of it left, and it is much the isame with our White Multiplier and American Pearl onions. This time, however, instead of putting them on the creek-bottom, where I have for years past, we put them up on the swamp in the black muck; but the muck seems to be so loose that the roots could not get hold enough. Perhaps half of our White Mul- tiplier onions are all right, and these that stood the freezing and thawing the best are on a well-underdrained clay soil. They look pret- ty sick even now as I write; but as the freezing seems to be over, I think they will fetch up. I am going to try crimson clover again, and put it in earlier. But I tell you it is a relief to take a look at the lathyrus silvestris. Why, the way that pea-looking plant sends its roots down into the ground is just wonderful. Not a single weak plant has been disturbed in the least; and yet they stood in a very exposed sit- uation without any sort of protection. They were on our rich plant- beds, however, where the ground was spaded down a foot or more. A single tap root goes straight down. Now, if this forage is relished by stock, what a wonder- ful thing it will be to have such immense quantities of feed year after year, without any care nr attention except to keep cutting your fodder when it is big enough! Our sacaline- plants are taking hold and growing tremen- dously. I do not think I ever saw a plant have more vigor — no, not even a dock; but it does not look to me as if it were going to be as valu- able for feed as the lathyrus. The latter, you know, is one of the plants that take nitrogen from the air. By the way, we have a relative of the man who introduced the lathyrus. here in our own country — Mr. Carl Wagner, of Econ- omy, Pa. He advertises the genuine lathyrus, and says there are imitations. We have pur- chased .500 to test beside our own. His di- rections for cultivating are printed in English and German. Here is the English translation that came with our plants: TO CULTIVATE THE GROWTH OF WOOD CHICKLING VETCH, LATHYRUS SILVESTRIS WAGNERI. This seed is to be sown during the month of April in a well-cultivated growing garden, in rows, and placed about 13 inches apart. The bottom ground must tje well dug up and turned over, and the up- per crust properly manured. Should this not be the case, an artificial fertilizer may be used, so that the outgrown lathyrus seed is penetrated by the mineral gases, etc., and the many roots forced through the sand, stone, or other rough bottom containing mineral strength. In such cases the seed is not alway successful in taking root, and is mostly drawn by the aid of old or mother roots dur- ing the first season. A growing garden, continu- ously well dug up to a suflBcient depth, may serve as a propagation-bed for at least ten years, without remission. From the middle of October to the end of April of the next year, provided the ground was not frozen, these one-year plants may be transplanted in all directions, about 13 to 14 inches apart. The bottom of the field must be dug up and well turned over, as the nutriment will then last 20 to 25 years; whereas by ordinary plowing or turning over it ma J' not do so well. The roots of tlie transplanted seeds are cut smooth, and supported to a height of S or 10 inches, so tliat. when the next row is dug, the ground covers tlie one just passed. These seed- lings thrive best when the head is imbeded about two inches in the ground. If not set in deep enough, and the heads with the neck of the roots are exposed, the seedlings perish. Wet grounds or soft soil containing stagnant water will kill, where dry, deep, sandy stone soil is successful. It is not meant to reject good soil, but it should be dry. See item on chickling vetch in the New York Staatszeit- nng, Feb. 11, 1893; June 10, July 16, Sept. 2, and Sept. 30' Carl Wagner. Economy, Pa. STRAWBERRIES UNDER GLASS. My Strawberries under glass did not succeed during the past winter as they did the winter before. When the terrible freezing weather came on while I was in Florida, it was neces- sary to let on so much steam to keep our dwell- ing warm, the strawberries were pretty well cooked; but if they attempted to ventilate, the plants were cooked at the roots and scorch- ed on their tops. If a little greenhouse were built right over the underground passage for exhaust steam, instead of the simple hot-bed with sash, it would equalize the heat, and make it possible to raise plants. COLD-FRAME ONION-PLANTS. This last winter we made a larger experiment 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 371 in wintering onions under glass than ever be- fore. Only two varieties were tested— the Prize- taker and American Pearl. The seed was sown quite thickly in the beds in September. By the time freezing weather came on we had onion-plants with bulbs about the size of the end of your finger. The sashes were put on and moved very little through the winter. To prevent the beds from becoming too hot when the sun shone out, every third or fourth sash was made of glass slats such as I have describ- ed. Besides, the dogs walked over the glass, here and there smashing out a light. I told the boys to let these occasional lights be for ventilation, even if it did kill the plants right under the opening. These onions are so hardy that a very little protection suffices; and when the severe freezing occurred in March and April, with warm sunshine in the middle of the day, the glass saved these from injury. We usually tilted the sashes, however, in the middle of the day. These onions are now, April 24, some of them, nearly as large as hens' eggs. They will make nice-looking bulbs away in advance of onions raised in any other way; and the ground was made so rich with manure that we can let them grow so close together that they almost push each other out of the ground. This sort of treatment will cer- tainly pay. for you can almost set your own price on beautiful nice onions away ahead of anybody else. Very likely the White Multi- pliers would work nicely under this treatment. I presume that, in a few days, we shall have trouble by many of the large onions sending up seed-stalks, because they made part of their growth last season. To obviate this we can pull on: the seed-stalk, or pull out such onions, and sell them in bunches. Of course, these cold-frame onions would be a splendid thing for onion-plants; and I think it would pay to give twice as much for themas for onion-plants raised in the greenhouse, from seed sown in February or March. To produce plants, they should be sown a great deal thicker than we have them. Another season, I think I shall use a great part of our sashes in producing cold-frame onion-plants for early market In fact, ever since the trade has started in onion- plants we have had orders for them before they were ready; but the cold-frame would afw^ays be ready. In our locality, and with our average freezing weather which we have in March and April. I should say the cheapest and best way to raise spinach is in beds just such as I have described for onion-plants. No heat at all is needed for either onions or spinach, if you plant them so that they get a good start in the fall, before the sashes are put on. The spinach is ever so much nicer than any we ever get wintered in the open ground. All your sashes can be easily utilized at a season of the year when they are hardly needed for any thing else. Late frosts are making trouble with our large twice-transplanted tomato-plants. We have put them in a bed having the sides so high that the sash is quite a distance above the soil; but every night, when it looks like frost, the glass lies on top of the tomatoes, crushing down their leaves and blossoms. This does not do any particular harm unless it is cold enough to freeze through the glass. But they are grow- ing so now that they probably would not stand it very much longer. We are still getting 1.5 cts. per lb. for lettuce, or 20 cts. where it is sold in five-cent packages. Our first pie-plant brings 5 cts. a bunch, three bunches weighing a pound. Our first aspara- gus brings 5 cts. a bunch, eight bunches to the pound. Of course, these bunches are very small; but we aim to put all our vegetables up In five-cent bunches. As the season advances we make the bunches heavier. For instance, the first onions raised in the greenhouse are put up in bunches of 4 oz. each. As the season advances we give three bunches to the pound, then two, and finally a bunch weighing a whole pound, for a nickel. But in order to induce people to purchase more we sell 3 five-cent bunches of any thing for 10 cts. Of course, it is some trouble to do the bunching up; but our boys use cheap rubber bands, and it greatly facilitates the work of the man on the wagon. He simply says to his customers, " Five cents for a bunch of any thing, or three bunches for a dime." In this way there is no weighing up, no discussion, no bantering. Of course, each customer is to take each bunch as it comes. He is not to pull them over nor sort out the best. But in putting them up, the boys en- deavor to have the bunches average of equal value. I wonder how many of the friends are enjoy- ing working with plant-beds and sashes, as described in the latter part of the tomato-book. Oh! by the way, I got hold of a new item iii this matter during my Florida trip. You will notice in my travels how much I said of the protection furnished to garden-stuff by plant- ing under trees. Now, with the plant-beds I have described you do not need to fear the roots of trees robbing your plants — that is, if you have some trees in your garden that pro- duce a valuable crop. Let thi- trees help them- selves. Bring in your manure, and bring in water; and be sure there is enough to go round. Apple-trees trained high, so the limbs would not hit your head, would be just the thing, and in the fall of the year the foliage will protect your tomatoes from frost so that you may have several gatherings after the frost has destroyed those, where there is protection from the trees overhead. The shade of the trees is really a good thing for many kinds of plants and crops during the extreme heat of the summer. And then just think how pleasant for the wife and children to " make garden " in the shade under large leafy trees. But in this business of 7it(/^- pressure gardening the shade-trees ought to be something that bears crops of great value. The mango-tree, of Florida, where the fruit from a single tree brought $1.50, that would be just the thing. Very likely grapevines could be trained high enough to give the right amount of shade, and not interfere with the work. You see. there would be no leaves at all until hot weather comes. In fact, I have seen magnificent crops of grapes grown on vines trained overhead, so one could just reach the clusters. Of course, there are crops that need all of the sun; but there are a good many that do better without all of it. We have raised beautiful cabbage, celery, and tomato plants, where they were shaded a great part of the day by evergreens. Now, when some of you have got a nice plant- garden under some tall branching shade-trees, please invite me to come and see you. Just now I am getting greatly in love with straw- berries in our rich plant-beds. With plenty of water and plenty of manure I can make them do just what I want, even through the hottest part of summer; and if you want to raise nice strawberry-plants for sale, the plant-beds are the place to do it. If you have exhaust steam that you can run under some of your plant- beds, all the better. The strawberrj'-plants I got of you last fall were so fine that several liave asked me about you, as they wish to deal with so honest a slilpi)er. S. S. Fetherolp, p. M. Palestine, Ohio, April 15. 372 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. THE BEAN CROP, ETC., IX FLORIDA, IN SPITE OF THE BI>IZZARDS. Mr. Root;— You reniPmber the 7th of Febru- ary every ihinR was killed. We thought it of little use to try again after being frozen out twice in one season; but one of my neighbors had 32 lbs. of seed beans on hand, which he concluded to eat to save thera. I induced him to sell them to me, and I planted them Feb. 13. I have shipped 78 crates to New York, picked from this 32 lbs. planting, and shall probably get 40 more. We have a good crop of Irish potatoes, which we sell here on the river for $2.00 a bushel. Our table is well supplied, and has been for two weeks, with cabbage, summer squash, Irish potatoes, string beans; and rad- ishes and lettuce for the last month; so you see we do not have to wait long here, even if we do lose all by a freeze, which does not hap- pen more than once in about ten years, and this the hardest in fifty years. H. T. Gifford. Vero, Fla., April 22. EIECTEOPOISE, OXYDONOR, ETC. A PLEA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CASE. Bro. Boot;— I see you have inserted in Gleanings several notes condemnatory of the Oxydonor (in- cluding it with the Electropoise). Now. may I not asl? if j'ou are not talking- too fast, and perhaps con- demning a thing whicli you may not understand because you do not see how it can be useful 1:)ecause it does not coincide with what lias been used in the past. Ts it so perfectly impossible that there shall be any new discoveries made in science? and is it not possible that this shall,be one ? Other discov- eries have been ridiculed in tlie past, aud no doubt will be in the future. I send herewltli a circular of the O.vydonor Vic- tory. Please look it over, and decide in your mind whether you can believe that all these certificates, over 2,'jfl, are either frauds, or liave they been re- lieved or cured all by the powers of their imagina- tion ? If you had advised your sick friends to go direct to tlie Lord Jesus Christ, tlie great physician, for healing, rather than depend on Electropoise or Oxydonor, I should not have said one word more than "Amen." A. H. Van Doren. Hamraonton, N. J., April 19. My good friend, I should be very glad indeed if it were possible that these people have made a new discovery. Yes, new discoveries are being made in science every day; but it is not possible that some new discovery may decide that 2 and 2 make .5. instead of the old orthodox way, 2 and 2 make 4. Another thing, you con- found legitimate discovery with fraud and deceit. In regard to the 2.")0 testimonials, it not only makes it sadder but more deplorable. Suppose these people all declared that nailing a horseshoe over a door performed these wonder- ful cures — would you believe it? Well. Electro- poise and Oxydonor are even worse than this, for they claim to be scientific, and that they have made a discovery; whereas, it is all hum- bug, cheat, and fraud. These men are hypo- crites. Read again what U. S. Chemist, Prof. Wiley, said on page .321 of our last issue. And now read below the testimony of Pres. Ballantine. of Oberlin College: Ohirlin CiiUege, President's Office, Apr. 10. Mr. A. I. Riiot, Medina, Ohio:— I agree with you that it is inexcusable for reliaious papers, or re- spectable papers of any kind, to adveitise such frauds as Electroiioise. To take the money of sucli ad%-ertisers is to connive at a confidence game wliicb is all the meaner liecause practiced upon the sick. If I can co-i)perate with you in any way in awaken- ing the public conscience itwillgive'me satisfac- tion. Very gratefully and truly yours. W. G. Ballantine. It is not a difference of opinion, mind you, in this case; neither is it something these fellows have discovered that Prof. Wiley and Pres. Ballantine know nothing about. In their cir- culars and their claims they have invaded the chemist's domain — have talked about taking oxygen from the air with their humbug appa- tus. They evidently know too little of chem- istry to realize what absurd quackery they are promulgating. In any case, they are guilty of hypocrisy and deceit. They know full well there is no meaning at all, and no science, to the jargon of their circulars. Now, mind you, this is not simply my assertion. All learned men and scholars of the present day are in accord with the position I have taken. They must stand with me, for there is no other place to stand. I leave it to you— is it probable that these pretenders have discovered something valuable and good? Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Since you have un- dertaken to defend these things, I wish you would turn to page 274, where I quoted from the Oxydonor circular, and answer me as to whether there is sense or science In what I quoted. I thank you for your concluding words. You are aware, friend V., that I do. in every issue of our journal, exhort all mankind to turn to the Lord Christ Jesus; but should I be called upon to stop a thief in the streets, or to arrest a mid- night assa.«sin. I should hardly think it worth while to exhort the thief or assassin, in the same breath, to turn to Christ. Should I not, rather, call upon the officers of the law to ar- rest him and put him safely in prison, and then sit down by his side and exhort him to lead a different life ? I have looked the Oxydonor circular, which you were so kind as to send, all over, and I con- ifess the testimonials are astounding; but. dear friends, have you not noticed testimonials are now floating for almost every thing ? And they are setting men with " Rev." attached to their names to indorse it. If you go among the heathen you could, no dotibt, get thousands of testimonials as to the efficacy of their gods, made of wood and stone; but it would not, in your opinion, help your faith in those gods; on the contrary, it would sink your faith in those who were so foolish. If Oxydonor and Electro- poise shall be the means of waking people up to the absurdity of this whole matter of being cured by every new thing that turns up, no matter whether it has sense or science either to back it. then I grant you some good will be done. If these men have made a discovery, why do they not come forth boldly, and pro- claim it to the scientific world? They t7are 7iot do it. I do not think I have ever met a man who had the cheek or hardihood to stand up before intelligent and educated people, and attempt to palm off such ridiculous stuff for truth or sense. I should pity a man who would even attempt it. On page 333 we gave the names of four reli- gious papers thai would not accept advertise- ments of Electropoise. There was a fifth one in this group — the Outlook; but before we went to press a late copy was received containing a large advertisement of the thing. Of course, the Outlook was taken out. As we go to press "•e find the following in Electririty for April 24: For a journal to assist in the promotion of a gross swindle, and to accept the money of a swindler as a consideration for that assistance, precludes tlie possibility of such a journal, or the clergyman con- ducting it, doing successful missionary work among those who kuow the facts, and there are thousands. We may add that we have the names and addresses of six ' members of Plymouth congregation who state that they were humbugged out of the price of an Electropoise through seeing it advertised in the Outlook some months ago. I will add here that the editor of the Outlook 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 373 is the Rev. Lyman Abbott, now pastor of Ply- mouth Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., the pulpit formerly occupied by the late Henry Ward Beecher. A. I. R. TOBACCO AND SCHOOLTEACHERS, ETC. Your little extract from the Rural New - Yorker, in the issue for Apr. 1.5, induces me to relate the following: When I read that article in the Rural I just wanted to give the editor a good old-fashioned handshake and tell him that I had once been in just that predicament. When I began taking Gleanings, in 1887, I did not like the tobacco articles, and I fancied A. I. Root was meddling with something that was not in his line. I was teaching, and was using tobacco on the sly, for you see my guilty con- science would not let me be bold about it. By and by, when the State made a law that the evil effects of alcohol and narcotics should be taught in our common schools, our examiners went one step further and would not grant a certificate to any one who used tobacco. This question was asked both lady and gentleman applicants at first: but at present males only are put through the test. You see, it was hard- ly in harmony with our progressive age far an examiner to look a fair young lady in the face and say. " Do you use tobacco?" Imagine the embarrassment for both. Well, wheh the ex- aminers made the new ruling I didn't like to give up teaching, so I quit chewing, and resolv- ed to smoke occasionally, generally in the eve- ning, just before retiring. Now, the funny thing about this is. I had imagined I couldn't live without my quid, and I am surprised now to look back and see how soon it was forgotten: but about one night every month or so I dream of having my quid in my mouth; and while the dream lasts I suffer the old anguish and torment to be loose from my old bondage, and I tell you it is a relief to awake and find "it's all a dream." The smoking was continued till a year ago, when a young lady became an equal partner. The smoking seemed to poison my system to such an extent that, during the night, so much of it was given off that she awakened every morning with a heavy headache. The smok- ing was stopped, and to-day I am free from a slavery that had me once in an iron grasp. Last winter one of my boys said, "Teacher, do you use tobacco? " I pleasantly replied, " I am free from the habit; and, God helping me, I am ever going to remain so." The supreme satis- faction of being able to say conscientiously what I did to him rewarded my effort. " For surely there is no excellence without great labor." Dr. J. Q. Mui-ford. Lebanon, O., April 19. BSST OIT SARTIX. WILLIAMS AUTOMATIC REVERSIBLE HONEY - EXTRACTOR. Perfect in principle and working's. Here is what the veteran bee-keeper, N. E. France, of Plattcville, Wis., says of it: "I consider the Williams Automat- ic Reversible Extractor liead and shoulders above any 1 have ever used, and. furthermore, consider it the BEST on the market." Mr. Prance produces extracted iioney by the carload, so he is good au- thority on extractors. For price list No. 1 of E.x- tractors, choice Italian Bees, Queens, etc., address VAN ALLEN & WILLIAMS, Barnum, Wis. I^"In respondinir to tins mivi . .i;.cii..ni iiit-iitlon GLKANINGSt 100 Breeding Queens. We have got 100 very FINE SELECT fbreed- ij^ ing) Gray Carniolan queens that we can w # ship by return mail for $3.50 each. Don't sB fail to send for our free descriptive price list of the Gray Carniolans and golden Italians. F. A. Lockhart & Co., Lake George, N. Y. ' '"In responding to this advertisement mention CIleanings. GOLDEN s:^S QUEENS each; 3 for $2 00. Tested. $1.00 each. Fine breeders, $:i.00 each extra. Select straight 6-banded breed- ing-queens, $4.00 each. To all new customers one Golden Queen forSOcts. Satisfaction and safe arrival guaranteed. .. ^ .. E. A. SEELEY, Bloomer, Ark. P. O. Money Order office, Lavaca, Ark. 7-20 tl^In responding to this advertisement mention GLBANluaa. EGGS from pure B. P. Rocks, cheap, for hatching or incubator. Cards cheerfully answered. MRS. L. C. AXTELL, Roseville, Illinois. Hives, = Fouadation =""""""""""""""""""""""""" Qorifnnc — '--frame nucleus with untested :)eLliunb, ^ queen $3 50 Bees, = 3-frame nucleus with untested (\ — queen 3 25 (Queens, ^ Ready to ship. Discount on r\f. — quantities. "' = 40,000 3-lb. 414x4^x1% sections, Any E per 1000 150 XL- = 40,000 3-lb 4J^x4J^xlii sections, •n'Og = perlOOO 135 \ = Every thing shipped from this „ , = city. Catalog free. Bee=keeper = v^^Jo = I. J. STRINGHAM, 105 Park Place, Needs. = n. y. city. tyin responding to this advertisement mention GLBANlNoa, H/-\ T^ T w-^ "¥ r t If we would be suc- • i ■•^•|-<* V I cessful in the pro- V^ 1 ^ l_w A • duction of honey it is of vital importance that our queens be first-class. After an extended experience with the different races of bees brought to this country, I am led to believe, all things con- sidered, that these direct from Italy have never been improved upon. Large yellow prolific queens from imported mothers, mated to drones of imported stock from a difierent source, securing a direct cross. Untested, ready May 25, 75c; 6, $4.35; 12 for $8.00. Select untested, $1.00. No disease. L. n. ROBEY, Wortliin^toji, W. Va. (C^ln respondinir to this adverti-sement mention Oi.itANTwna. Must be Sold. 75 Langstroth and Simplicity hives made • up and painted, mostly new; supers • and wide frames, 3000 sections. Simplicity • smokers, all new; 100 straight combs, • nice and clean. Send on your offers for part or whole. E. Y. PERKINS, Lenox, Iowa. Please mention this paper. >HOJMEY-JVIAKERS Are a strain of Italian bees that we have pro- duced by years of careful breeding. Queens will be ready May 15. Tested queens in May, $3.00; untested, $1.00; half- doz., $5.00; tested queens in June, $1.26; untested, 7.'>c; half-dozen, $4.00. Please state in your order whether im- ported or golden queens are wanted. Leininger Bros., Ft. Jennings, O. I^"In responding to this advertisement mention ulkanings. 374 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. Still in the Lead ! Hilton's White T Supers, Chaff O Polished # Foundation, Hives, Sections, Smolders, and every thing needed in the apiary. Send for 1896 catalog. GEO. E. HILTON, = = Fremont, Mich. Please mention this paper. Best on Earth. IlrHlDnn TaM BfNGHAM BeeSmoker Bingham's five sizes of bee-smokers range in price from 50c to fl.75 per mail, and are the lowest-priced of any in the market, accord- ing to size. Bingham Smo- kers and Knives are made only by the inventor, and can be depended on every time, as they liave been for 16 years as the best that could be made or used. Ny Mention Gleanings, and send for circular of prices. J p BINGHAM, Abronia, Mich. Please mention tnid paper Control Your Swarms, Requeen, Etc. Send 3.5c for samples of : West's Patent Spiral wire : Queen-Cell Protectors, and Pat. Spiral Queen Hatch- ing and Introducing Cage, also best Bcf-E^cape. with circular e.xplaining. Twelve Cell-protectors, tiOc; 100, $3. 13 cages, $1; 100, $5, by mail. Circular free. Ad- dress N. D. WEST. Mid- dieburgh, Scho. Co., N. Y. Sold also by all the leading supply-dealers. tyin responding to this advertisement nier.tiun Glkanings. Golden Queens From Texas. ^V-' fk^ My queens are bred for business, as well as lor leauty and gentleness. Safe arri- val and reasonable satisfaction guaran- teed. Untested, $1.00; tested, $1.50. Write for price list. 5-16ei J. D. GIVENS, Lisbon, Texas. Box 3. Uf'In responding to this advertisement mention (ii.RANii.os Dovetailed Hives. Sections, Extractors. Smokers, and every thing a Bee-keeper M'ants. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. 60-page cata- log free. J. IM. JENKINS, Wetumpka, Ala. Queen-Trap and Alley's Combined Description and price list now ready. _ #» i i HENRY ALLEY swariTi-Catcher. Wenham, Mass. Plfiisc mention this iiaiiei-. A Tested Queen Free ! Pure Italians. To every one buying Vi ^^gt doz. untested queens I will give a tested ^i^ one free. Untested, 60c; tested, $1.00; selected tested, $1 50; breeders, $3.00. STEWART BROS., Sparta, Tenn. ^^In respondlcer to this advertisement mention Glkanings. PATENT WIRED COMB FOUNDATION Has A'o Say: in Iiro(id-t'j-i±ine>i. Thin Flat - Bottom Foundation Has no Fishbone in the Surplus Honey. Being the cleanest, it is usually worked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, 12tfdb Sole Hanufacturers, Sprout Brook, Montgomery Co., N. Y. S'"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings, Sweetheart. A Regular Sugar Lump. LEADS < Early, Large, Handsome, Good Ship- ALL ; per. Best Quality. Send for circular WATER- S giving important facts to growers and MELONS \ shippers, with comparative sales and ON ; opinions of many commission men in THE > leading northern markets. MARKET, i' Seed, Packet, 10 cts.; lb., $1.50. AT^BERT WITTENJMYER, Originator, Orower, and Shipper, Emison, linox Co., Ind, C?rin resi>onding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. DON'T MONKEY NOW., Send for our 36-page catalog free. Root Co.'s Supplies kept in stock. In order to reduce our stock for the next two months will give large discounts. Write us what you need. Get our prices JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. Please mention this paper The New Craig Seedling Potato. For full description of this Potato, see page 959 of this journal for Dec. 15, 1894. Prices: lib by mail, postpaid, 25 cts.; V4 peck, by freight or express, $1.00; peck, $1.75; H bushel, $3.00; bushel, $5.00: barrel of 11 pecks, $13.50. The above prices will hold good as long as our stock lasts. All orders by mail will be filled as soon as received. Orders by express will be shipped at once unless ordered oth- erwise. All orders for potatoes by freight will be filled April 1, or soon after that time, unless direc- tions are given to ship at an earlier d;ile. In this latter case I do not assume responsibility for loss in freezing; but where it is desirable to ship earlier, and customers have bad luck, I expect to help them out so far as 1 can consistently. In regard to my responsibility I would refer you to A. I. Root. In fact, where it is more convenient you can order po- tatoes of the A. I. Root Co., instead of stnding your orders to me. GEO. E. CRAIG, Zimmer, Franklin Co., 0. Fi^In respond in J- to 111 .: ailv.'iii .-riii'tiu Miention Qt.kaniNum World's Fair Hedal Awarded my Foundntion. Send for free samples, Dealeis, write for wholesale prices. Root's new F'olishe ^ ^ ^ $800.00. Eight hundred dollars in cash will purchase one of the best appointed apiaries in Canada. One hun- dred colonies; good location. Every thing flrst- class. The best of reasons for selling. If you mean business write me for particulars, or come and see for yourself. F. A. CEMMELL, Asuistant Foul-Brood Inspector, Mention this paper. Stratford, Ont. MOTH'S HONEY- EXTRACTOR, SQOARE GLASS HONEY-JARS. Bee-keepers' Supplies in general, etc., etc. Send for our new catalog. "Practical Hints" will be mailed for 10c in stamps. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. I3rin responding to this advertisement mention GLKANlNaa. Given Foundation^»«»*^ Ready for Delivery. We are now making, as previously announced. Given foundation on tdIIs. We can supply llie prod- uct at thesame price as 1 lie regular wax. Customers who desire a sni;ill quantity to exi)erimcnt witli can have a little added lo tlie regular foundation if they will so specify in I heir orders. We neither indorse nor condemn it. but hoiie it will be tried sufficiently to test its merits. Tlie surplus Given has extra thin bases. The A. I. Root Co., Medina, 0. Queens, Either 3 or 5 Banded. After May 1st. Toe: 0 for 14.35. Nuclei cheap. Also poultry eggs tor liatching, 50c up. Send for cata- logue. Send yoii'- orders now. Can please you. CHAS. H. THIES, Steeleville, HI. Eggs for Hatching From Prize = 'Winning Fowls. .50c and $1.00 per 15. S''nd for circular. AUGUST GOETZE & SON, 3822 Wood St., Wheeling, W. Va. Please mention this paper. Best - Goods At lowest prices are what we are all after. The quality of Gary's goods has never been questioned. His X X white thin foundation and polished one-piece sections are the finest on the market. His bees and queens are from the best strains, and reared and shipped in the way that long years of experience have shown to be the best. He has the largest stock of BEE- KEEPERS'SUPPLIES in New England; and as to prices you have only to send for a catalog and compare them with those of other dealers. To those living in the East, there is the still further consideration of low freight rates. Address W, W. CARY, MASS. larin responding to thi.s advertisement mention QLKANlNoa W. O. Victor, of Wharton, Tex., took 45,000 Lbs. of Honey in 1894. He offers Italian Queens — good, old-style honey- queens— untested, first order, to any address, at 50c each. Also bees in any quantity ; 450 colonies to draw from. Root's goods constantly in stock. Prices to suit the times. Buy near home, and save freight. t^^In resDondincr to tliis advertisement mention Gleanings. oo Are a strain of business Italians that winter in the cold North, and are ready for business, with a bush- el of bees, when the flowers bloom. They are gentle and industrious. Queens warranted purely in June. Each. $1.(0; six, $5.00; doz.. $9.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Never had any disease. Address E. F. QUIGLEY, UmoNviLue.Mo. Please mention this paper. ITALIAN BEES Ready in May. Queens. fl.OO. A7.r «..Jt».« Bees by the pound, $1.00. One- ANO QUEENS, frame nucleus with queen. $3.00; ••••• ■ ■■• two Irames, $2. .50. Also Barred Plymouth Kock eggs for setting, $1.00 per 15. 6-17ei MRS. A. A. SIMPSON, Swarts. Pa. .;^^in respondintr to tills ndveitiseineiit mention GlkaN1i>QS. Eggs From 8 leading varieties of fowls, in- cluding Imperial Pekin Ducks. Send for descriptive list to J. S. UASOIT, Medina, 0. In writing: advertisers mention this paper. BEG/NNERS. Beginners should have a copy of the Am- ateur Bee-keeper, a 70-page book by Prof. J. W. Rouse. Price 25 cents; if sent by mail, 28c. The little book and the Progressive Bee-keeper (a live progressive 28-page month- ly journal) one year, 65c. Address any flrst- class dealer, or LEAHY MFG. CO., HiaaiNSViLLE, Mo. i9*In responding to this advertisement mention Oleanino& 376 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. MAPLE SYRUP. We have not been able to secure enough maple sugar this spring to fill our orders; but we have an oversupply of syrup which we offer at $1.00 per gal., or $9.00 for 10 gallons. It is of unusually fine qual- ity, and this price is lower than heretofore quoted. CARLOAD SHIP.MENTS. During the past month we have shipped a carload to G. G. Wickson & Co., Los Angeles; another to the same firm at San Francisco; one to Barteldes & Co., Denver, Colo.; one to W. K. Ball, Reno, Nev.; and a car of hives and cantaloupe-crates^ ,to Rocky Ford, Colo. As we go to press we are alse, prepar- ing a second car of export orders, the larger part of which is for Hebblewhite & Co., of Sydney, Aus- tralia. We are also shipping a cnrload to Buell Lamberson, the sliccessor of F. L. Posson & Son, at Portland, Ore. BEESWAX MARKET. We find that, since the first of Jan., 189.5, we have bought over twelve tons of beeswax, and we now have a prettj- good stock on hand. At the rate foundation is going out we shall need it all and more. With the opening of spring the offerings of wax in the principal markets are getting to be more plentifTil, and we do not look for any higher prices. The mortality of bees in many localities the past winter, no doubt serves to increa-se the sup- ply of wax. Until further notice we will \>ny 28c cash, 31 in trade, for average wax delivered here. We feared that it might be necessary to advance the price of foundation again. While we have made an advance in the wholesale price during the past month, we have not advanced the retail price, and trust it may not be necessary during the re- mainder of the Season to do so. REVISED LIST OF OLD-STOCK SECTIONS. Quite a number of sizes of old-stock sections of- fered a month ago have been sold. The revised list is as follows; and the price while they last is $3.20 per 1000; 3000 for tf6.00; 5000 for $9.00, or 10,000 for $16.00. 80,000 4Mx4MxlV2, open top and bottom, extra pol'd. 12,000 " " " opeu four sides. 7,000 " " xT to ft., clo.sed top. 2,(XKI " " " open four sides. 4,000 " " xlM closed top. 3,000 " " " oiten four sides. 8,000 " " xlll. open 4 sides. 35,000 " " " open top, new-stock cream. 22,0(Kt " " 2 cream, open four sides. 22,000 " " x2, cream, open top. new stock. To those who can use I'i-iuch sections, the above is a special bargain, as they are polished, and flrst- class in every respect; but we have too many of that width, and desire to reduce our stock. AGENCY AT PORTLAND, ORE. Owing to difficulties in the corporation of F. L. Posson & Son, at Portland, Oi"e.. a receiver was ap- pointed early in February. About a month ago Buell Lamberson bought the business of the former company, and came ea«t to ftomplete arrangements for the agencies formerly held by Posson & Son. He spent two dajs here at Medina, and we have closed a contract with him for the sale of our goods in Oregon and Washington, and are shipping an as sorted car to replenish the depleted stock. Mr. Lamberson is a man of good business ability, with considerable experience, having been fifteen years in Porthind, where he is quite well and favor- ably known, especially in the hardware trade. He retains five of Messrs. Posson & Sons' principal clerks, who have a knowledge of the requirements of trade in our lino, so that we can cheerfully rec- ommend the new firm to those in need of bee-keep- ers' supplies in the Northwest. price at the nurseryman's is 50 cts. each; but any I'egular subscriber of Gleanings— that is, some- body who has paid up or expects to pay up soon^ may have one plant postpaid by mail for only 25 cts. Any rich spot in the garden, or even a corner not more than a yard square somewhere in the door- yard, will give you room for one of these beautiful plants. If you want to see it do its best, I would advise you to dig down deep and make the ground rich. Have it where you can water it when needed, if the weather is very dry. No plant can furnish the enormous quantity of juicy fruit that this one does, without the wherewith in the shape of food and drink. Besides getting the fruit, you can get a dozen more plants in the fall that will, very likely, be worth 25 cts. each a year from now. DWARF ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHERRY. A year ago I purchased three of these of Storrs & Harrison, of Painesville, O., for ."iOc apiece. They seemed very hardy, and made quite a good growth last season". This morning. I was agreeably sur- jnised to find that one of the three, although less than 2'.2 feet high, is covered with blossom-buds. Ndvv, even if the fruit should not be quite equal to the advertisement,] am well satisfied with my in- vestment, to get a plant sq strong and thrifty that it will be fuUof bloom at one year from planting. The catalog tells us, "the size averages somewhat larger than the English morillo. Its flavor is similar to that of sweet cherries." THE GAULT RASPBERRY. We have still a good supjily of the Gault rasp- berry, although the demand has been enormous for them during the past ten days. Remember, the LATHYRUS, AGAIN. To-day, April 26, we are taking up our plants and moving them to the field. I was astonished to see the nitrogen-nodules strung along on the little root- lets, like beads on a cord. It is now satisfactorily settled that all leguminous plants— peas, clover, etc., that produce these nodules or little white knobs the size of a pinhead on their roots, have the faculty of taking nitrogen from the atmosphere. That is why clover is worth more than any other V)lant to plow under. At the Experiment Station in Florida they showed me these nodules on their leguminous plants. Well, I never saw any thing like the number on our lathyrus. The roots go down so deep that my stalwart friend " Ben " said It was too much work to tt~y to dig them without breaking the roots off. At its present stage, with the foliage only a few inches in height, I am sure cows and horses will take it as readily as they will any of our clovers. When it gets to be tall and strong it maj' be different. If you wish to see one of these plants, foliage and all, we will mail you one for 5 cts., or 10 of them for 25 cts. With such a root as they have, I do not know how the plant can fail to grow. The wonderful power this lathyrus possesses to penetrate a hard and impervious subsoil was shown in digging up a plant an hour ago, that had forced its root iibsolutely through a piece of partially rot- ten board that was down in the plant-bed. The root came through on the other side, and went several inches beyond the board; but it was so firmly fas- tened that the bit of board was carried along and put out with the plant. The roots invariably go straight down; and after they are 6 months old they will, without doubt, be proof against drouth to dry up the plant, or against the effects of frost to heave it out in winter. HUBBARD SQUASHES. Hubbard squash has sold, even at wholesale, for from 2 to 2'2 cts. per lb. during most of last winter. We ourselves sent to Cleveland again and again, for great big solid Hubbard squash, paying 2^ cts. per lb., or at the rate of fiftii dolhtrs per ton ; and our Medina people paid from 3>^ to 4 cts., without a bit of grumbling. Away down in Florida, northern- grown Hubbard squashes sold for 5 cts. per lb. Why, it is ridiculous— half a dollar for a fair-sized Hubbard squash; Wliat ails the farmers? Of course, it is a little bit of science to keep them from frost and decay awaj' on into January and Febru- ary. But anybody can do it if he wants to bad enough. Well. Hubbard squash .seed is now quoted in the catalogs all the way from 60 to 80 cts. per lb. We offer it in our price list at 50 cts. per lb.; and farmers and gardeners pay these prices for seed almost every year. When we bought those great Hubbard squashes in Cleveland for2i2 cts. per lb., I told the man on the wagon he might sell them a cent a pound cheaper if the purchaser would give us back all the seeds; and in this way we got quite GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 377 a lot of very clioice stock. Just recently one of our bee-keeping' friends ott'eicd nie a big- lot ot Hubbard squasli seed. I did not want so niucli, but I made him an offer for it. Now, tills seed is not cleaned so as to look exactly as nice and white as that we get from seedsmen; but I tliiuk it will grow .just exact- ly as well. He is a squasli-grower liimself. and says he is going to plant largely from tlie very same lot of seed he sent us; and if you want some of thi,s seed, you may have it at 40 cts. per lb. ; 5 lbs. at 35 cts. per lb. ; 10 lbs. or over, 30 cts. per lb. If wanted by mail, add 10 cts. per lb. for postage and packing. A8 there is no particular hurry about getting the seed into the ground, if you choose you can order a flve-cent package for sample, before you purchase largely. By the way, Hubbard squash can be put in between a great variety of crops that come off early in the season. Our neighbors in the Harris- ville swamp plant Hubbard squash between their seed-onions; and as soon as the seed is ripe enough to gather, the ground is cleared off. and the squashes have the whole Held. You can do the same by put- ting them among your early potatoes, early celery, sweet corn, and ever so many other things. Very likely they may not sell for S50.00 a ton next year; but there is money in Hubbard squashes at even $30.00 a ton, or less. SEED POTATOES. These are all gone except a few barrels of second- size Freemans in excellent condition; peck, 40 cts. ; one bushel, «1.2.5; one barrel, $3.00. Also four or five barrels of Rural New-Yorker, a few Lee's Fa- vorite an'd Early Ohio, and about 50 bushels of Monroe Seedling, all first size. We can still furnish the Craig Seedling, and probably shall have some of them left during the month of May. By the first of June, however, we expect to plant every thing not sold. We have a nice lot of Mammoth Russian sun- flower seed that we can furnish at 8 cts. per lb.; 5 lbs. or over, 6 cts. per lb. ; 10 lbs. or over, only 5 cts. If wanted by mail, add 10 cts. per lb. for postage and packing. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. FREEM.\N-POTATO REPORT. Although it was a poor season for potatoes, I rais- ed 32 lbs. of vo-y nice potatoes from the one pound 1 got of you. John D. Wise. Camden, Ind., Jan. 26. I sent you Oxydonor circular, and now ad't in the Eudeavorer, th'At you may place it with Electropoise. Tlianks for your expose of frauds. Go for tlie re- ligious papers tliat are leagued with Satan to cheat their patrons and lessen their own influence for good. Our own New York Christian Advocate refers to Electropoise as fraudulent. Oh for moral stami- na in pulpit and press to kick tlie Devil wherever lie is found'. Oh for a Christian manhood that con- fers not witli flesii and blood, but stands for the right, without regard to con.sequences. Philipsburg, Pa., Feb. 19. John D. Gill. I enjo.y very much your writings on your Florida trip. I lose about a tliird of my bees, liut my neigh- bors lose all. Oh. yes! what is the matter with Bro. Rambler, on page 166— high hat, stand-up collar, and store clotlies from fire down town ? Hah ! I often feel very sorry for him, living alone in this world. I hope you will not stop your Scripture talk. In fact, every thin a- in Gleanings is so interesting to me that, when I take it up. I can hardly lay it down until I have read it through. D. N. Ritchey. Blackllck, O., March 30. kind words from a QUAKER. A. I. Root:— A few years ago I read in Gleanings thy plan for warding oft sick headaciie. I was so much pleased with it that I determined to write at some future time, thanking thee for the manliness to pviblish such iin article— feeling sure tliat it was a pure and noble philanthropy wliich prompted it. To what extent thy readers will avail themselves of the information contained therein given, I do not know— I fear not much. People like to be liumbug- ged. Butthat is not tliy fault; and if the publica- tion of such principles as given in the article in question are not directlj' beneficial to a large num- ber of people, it will at least do much toward edu- cating the people to a reform in medicine, wliich must come through an imperative demand from the people and not through the schools of medicine of their own volition ; because, when men get both honor and emolument, with little labor, they will not " kill the goose that lays the golden egg." I will say, concerning thy treatment for preven- tion of sick-headache (and other forms of disease as well), "that ought ye to have done, and not leave the other undone." Give the patient hot water to drink (I mean as hot as can be used comfortably)— hot-water baths (or, better, vapor baths), proper food and exercise, in addition to thy prescribed course, and we can cure most forms of disease that are curable, and they are nearly all curable. I myself was educated in the physio-medical ("steam doctor ") faith. We are like the old toper. He said, "Ever since the flood, water tastes of drowned sinners. I always put a little su'thin' in mine." We always "put a little su'thin' in " our hot water; but water in its various states is one of nature's best. I have no fight with the hydro- therapeutic (or water-cure) system; but I detest the poison and humbugging system. I thank thee for being a man with the courage of his convictions. There are more of that stripe need- ed. There are many lines on which people need to be educated. Just now we have started in a wrong direction— I mean military education in school and church. The National W. C. T. U. has 46 depart- ments of education and trnining organized, and mil- it;iry is not one of them. I have a sneaking kind of idea that woman suffrage and equal rights is one of the most important if not the mo.'it important of the 46. Paul Tomlinson, M. D. Cedarville, O., Ltee. 10. Carniolans Imported, $5 each. Bred in 18i)4 at the --,-----—-.—-—— -—^» most elevated point ^▼▼▼▼"^▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼^ among the Carnic Alps where bees are kept. Untesred daughters of these, $1 each; 12 for$10. Tested daughters produc- ing gray bees. .t2 each; 12 for *ls. MRS. FRANK BENTON, "The Carniolan Apiaries." Charlton Heights, Md. Sfln responilinjr to this advertisement mention Gleanings. For Sale, Nuclei or pounds. See article on page 171, March 1st Gleanings. For prices address T. f. A.JS nREWS, Farina, Fai,^. Co., Illinois, Cheap Bees Bee=Supplies for Sale. T offer for sale the fol'owing articles. Packed for Shipment, F. O. B., except made-up hive-bodies and supers r<^ady for use, which are not convenient to box or ship: 87 Heddon's slatted honey-boards, each 08 .50 Oil-cloth covers for supers, each 03 800 No. 1 Snow-white 4^x4iix2 in. sections, open 2 sides, per 1000 $3 GO 2800 No. 1 Snow-white 4V4x4>4xl% sections, open 2 sides, per lOOO :..... ...2 00 1000 Wood separators, per 100 .'. ' 15 10 Simplicity bodies with 2^-, in. covers and bottom-boards, in the fiat, each 20 90 T supers with T and L tins, in the fiat, each 10 300 Simplicity frames, in the flat, per 100 50 Lot of L. frames with V-groove top-bars, in the flat, per If^O 50 Lot of T tins, per 100 : . 50 Lot of wood division-boards, made up and in the flat, each 03 30 Queen-excluding sheets, zinc, plain, each... 10 38 Simplicity bodies, with tops, made up, sec- ond hand, each 20 39 Bodies with 6-in. and 10-in. tops, telescopic, each 20 105 T Supers tilled with sections and founda- tion, ready for hives, each 25 All these fixtures and hives for L. 10-1'rame hives. J. M. AKERS, Smithville, Mo. »^"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleaninps. 378 GLEANIJSGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 1. A NEW TALKING FiiAGHINE is tlie latest invention, and itdiffers from the phonograph in this: instead of merely repeats ins what is said to it, this machine takesboth sides of the fence quest ion. It gives straight wire a fair show against coiled siprinss, convinces the most skeptical that expansion and contraction iiiii!!it be provided for, and nothing but abundant elasticity will do It. Send for particulars. PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. lS"lii re&poiKliiiy. to tins ailvei liseiiieiit iiieiiUua iTi.r.A.NiMiS ^..^ Second-Hand Bicycles Cheap. We have one ladies' Viclotia, last year's model, made by the Overman Wheel Company, that has been used but liitle. and cost last year $12."). 00, that we will sell tor ^75. We also have one ladies' Mon- arch, last yeai-'s mcidel, for $60. Also one gent'8 second-hand Monarch, 30-in. wheels, in flrst-class running order. Price. $.50.00. Reason for selling cheap is to get new '9.") mounts. Will take honey or wax in paxment. Wiite wliat you have, sending samples, and we will give you further description of the wheels. THE A. I. ROOT CO., Medina, Ohio. WOVEN WIRE FENCE Horse high, bull strong, pig aad chicken tight. Make it yourself for I3to20l%"o*l:. ., . . 50 styles. A man and boy can make 40 to 60 rod 3 a day. catalog free. KITSELMAN BROS.. Ridgeville, tnd. ONE MAN WITH THE ^ UNION COMBINATION SA^W Can do the work of four men us- ing hand tools, in Ripping, Cut- ting off, Mitering, Rabbeting, Grooving, Gaining, D;idoing, Edging-up, Jointing Stuff, etc Full Line of Foot and Hand Power Machinery. Sold un Trinl. Catnlo't Free. ]-34ei SENECA FALLS MFG. CO.. 44 Water St., Seneca Falls, N Y. I responding to this advertisement mention GLEANEJaJL METAL WHEELS for youp WAGONS. Any size you want, 20 to 56 in high. Tires I to 8 in wide— hubs to fit any axle. .Saves Co9l many times in A season to have set of low wheels to fit yonr wagon for hauling KTain, fodder, manure, bogs, .^:c. No resetting of •ires. Catl'g free. Address KSfPIRE MFG. CO., ^ulncy, 111. HTIn respouuiiiy lo this advertisement mention GLKANING& Promptness is What Counts. Honey-jars, Shipping-cases, and e%'ery thing that bee-keei>ers use. Root's Qoods at Root's Prices, and the Best Shipping-point in the Country. Dealers in Honey and Beeswa.x. Catalog free. WALTER S. POUDER, 162 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Please mention thi^ jiaper. Crane Smoker 1895 Pattern. This excellent smoker was in- troduced soDje two years ago, since which time it has worked itself rapidly into popular favor. Patnitrd March 12, IS!).). Its Distinctive Feature is the Crane Valve, by wliich tlie full force of the hellows is secured witliout waste, and V)y which also smoke is prevented absolutely from going into the bellows. Tile Legs are of SIteleton Malleable Iron, contracted at the feet so as to be out of ihe w ly of the fingers in handling, and are se- cured to tlie bellows by bolts instead of screws. The Shield is of Light Corrugated Tin, and bags ne.xt to the bellows, tliiis giving ample prt)tection from heat. The Cone Top easily tilts back for re= plenishing the smoker, and is secured bj' a malleablc-iion hinge, the working parts of wliicli are milled so as to insure accurate ad- justment to the stove or cup. As to Fuel, it will burn any thing, in= eluding Soft Coal, Stove wood. Planer-shavings; and it makes no difference how much the lat- ter may be crammed down in the cup, tliere will be the same strong blast as before. Price, 3^-inch barrel, $1.85, post- paid; or $1.50 by fgt. or exp. The A. I. Root Company, Medina, Ohio. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 383 THE Aspinwall Hive THE HIVE FOR BE£S. THE HIVE FOR BEE-KEEPERS. Aspinwall IVtanufacturing Co., Jackson, fVDich. rWTii rpspon Notice! We beg to announce that Ave have completed arrangements with the Porters whereby we secure for this country the control of the 'sale of that very excellent and almost indispen- sable implement, The Porter Bee=Escape. It will be manufactured by the Porters, as formerly, but write to us for prices in both large and small quantities . -~™^.-^— ™ The A. I. Root Co., Medina, 0. Your Orders for untested Ital- ian (jneens will be promptly tilled by leturu mail. These queens iire carefully reared from fine stocli, are large, liealtliy. and piolifio. 75c each; ^8.00 per dozen. Tested. «1 (iO each. J. W. K. SHAW «Sc CO., Iberia Par. rs*"!!! r..^t.onf1inL' to this anverti! Loreauville, La. mt-nt mention ItLKaMmus gee=supplies Cheap! For pi'ices write W. D. SOPBE k SOIT, Box 5H5, Jac-kson. Mich. "Gentlimeh: Regarding prospects for ths coming year, would Siy, u-e hope to Uuitble our lust year's oiitjiiit of Aer- iMtors, or, at leaxt, as u-e have clone in the past, sell twentii- foiir out of er,-yii ticentti-fice iriurhiiiUs that are s<,h!. Since commeiiciiiii Ihesniein m9, WE HAVE SOLD AUOIT 500 AERWSOTORS We do not attribute this fairly good record entirely to our ef- forts, but to tbe superiority of llie goods which you make. BuRRiLL & Davis Urbana, 111., February 18, 1695." Gentlemen : We bouebt and put up Aermotor No. 2, and out of the first fifty which you made we had thirteen. Since that time we have sold about AERIVIOTORS n our small territory is represented the history of the Aermotor and the Aermotor Company from the beginning to the p hour. That history is one Aside from the Aermotor other windmills put up enough with which to show the infinite su- Aermotor in design, finish (all g^dvanized tion), and ability to run when all others stand We should have sold more, supp'ied with wind power pea red, it being only 66 miles years been the battle giound largest, best known and amies, all beniK lof^ated rCH OF 01 It HUSINFSS PLACING WOODEN AND TORY WHEELS WITH you have during' Ihe past vioiis year's record by you expect to double your coming year. Count on u Chicago, and had tor fur ten or twelve of the strongest windmill com- within 50 mile's of us. HAS COME FROM KE. O T II E R INSATISFAC- AERHOTORS. You say year suri'assed any pre- aliout one-half, and that Inst year's output tbe for our portion of it, for .Tliove all competitors in repu- SsiiiH & Briout, Marengo, 111., thrr Arrmotor advertisement, which every one should r^ad, v;e offer for $7.50 A $15 tliree way force pump. All dealers should have it or can get it to sell at that price. All Aermolor men will have it. In still an.ithcr nd. appears our offer of galvanized steel tanks at 2J^c. pT callon. Tliey neitlier shrink, bak, rust, nor make water taste bad. AeriYIOtOr Co.j tbicago. B*"!!. responding to this ativerHsement mention Gleaninos. By tlie pound, 90 cents. Untested queens from impoi'ted mother, 90 cts. T\vo-frnme nuclei, liotli frames con- laiiiinji- brood witVi all adlierirg' bees, and untested queen from imported nidtlicr. *2.00. Tested queens, *1.50. Stiti^factiou guaranteed. I will be 1 e;id V to sliip by May 25tli. MRS. A. F. PROPER, PORTLAND, JAY CO., IND. Patents pending On new process, new ma- chines, new product, in manufacture of comb foun- dation. Result: Lowest prices, best work. Samples and price list free. Wax wanted. W. J. Finch, Jr., Springfield, III- Please mention thi.« pnper. I^EE-KEEPEI^S' supplies for 1895. Sui h as Dovetailed Hives. Sections. Comb Foundation, Exi i-;ictors, and every tliiui!- else used by a bee- keeper. All late improved }<-o(.ds. Imiinn^e stock. Goods sold at wliolesiiif and retail. U rite for our DISCOUNTS FOR EARLY ORDERS. Alsike clover and Japantse buck^\ Ik ;it furnislied at lowest market price. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDER, Des Woines, lowa. In writing advertisers please mention tlii.^ piipcr 384 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. Honey Column CITT MARKETS. Kansas City. — Honey.— The stock of comb honey is large; market well supplied. Fancy wliite 1-lb. combs, 13; amber. 11. Receipts of extracted light; white, 7 ; amber, 5J4@6 ; Southern, 4ii@,5. Beeswax, 32. Hamblin & Beakss, May 8. Kansas City, Mo. Chicago. — Honey. — We report our market well cleaned up on fancy white comb honey in 1-lb sec- tions. A neat package and a fancy article would sell quickly at 14c. No. 3 comb, or dark, would not sell at over 10@11. We report better inquiry for extracted, at 5@7, depending- on quality. Beeswax selling- at 30c. S. T. Fish & Co., May 7. 189 South Water St., Chicago, 111. St. Louis.— HoJiej/.— We have fairly good trade in honey, and on account of early receipts of new crop expect an improvement. We quote comb, 10@13; extracted, in cans, 6S@7; in barrels, 5@5'i. Prime yellow beeswax, 27@27>^. D. G. TuTT Grocer Co., May 8. . St. Louis, Mo. Kansas City.— Honey.— The demand for comb honey is light. We quote No. 1 white comb, 13® 14; No. 2, 1-lb.. 12@13; No. 1 amber, 11@12; No. 2, 10; ex- tracted, 5@7. Beeswax, 25. C. C. Clemons & Co., May 8. Kansas City, Mo. Detroit.— Honey.— Best white comb honey 13@14, with little in sight. Dark, unsightly lots nlmost un- salable. Extracted, 6@7. Beeswax, 28@30. M. H. Hunt, May 9. Bell Branch, Mich. CleveijANd.— Honej/.— Our honey market is very slow. No. 1 white, in 1-lb. sections, 12c; No. 2, 10; exiraf'ted. No. 1 white, 6@8. There is a fair demand for ' xiracted. but no call for the comb. Beeswa.\' is selling at 28@30. Williams Bros., May 7. 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland, O. Boston.— Hfiriei/.— We quote you our market at 13 @14 for best 1-lb. comb honey, and .5@6 for extracts ed, with light demand. E. E. Blake & Co., May 8. Boston, Mass. Philadelphia.— Ho?ici/.— Comb honey finds little or no sale now in large city. Extracted is selling freely. We quote comb, 9@11; extracted, .5@(i. Beeswax, .31. Wm. A. Selser, May 8. 10 Vine St. , Philadelphia, Pa. Milwaukee.— Ho7ify.— Since our last there has not been much chiinge on this market on honey. The receipts have been good, and our supply is of general good quality. The receipts of late have rather exceeded our sales, and market now is some- what ensv and sales slow. Can quote best 1-lb. sec- tions, 1.5wl6; second, 13@U; third, 10@13. Extract- ed, in bbls. or kegs, white. T®7Vo; dark, 6@6>^; in pails, white, 8@8>^. Beeswa.\, 26@28. A. V. Bishop & Co.. May 8. Milwaukee, Wis. Denver.— iTrwej/.— There is an improvempnt in our market for both comb and extracted honey. We quote No. 1 comb, in 1-lb. sections, at ll>^@12vi; No. 2, 9(§,10. Extracted, No. 1 white, in HO-lb. cans (2 in a case', 6@T. We are short on No. 1 comb, and could handle a quantity to advantage. R. K. & J. C. Frisbee, May 9. Denver, Col. Chicago.— Ho7ie}/.— The amount of comb honey that is sold during this month is very small, consist- ing of a case now and then, so that the market fluc- tuates but little. Sales are made at 14c for best grades now obtainable, all fancy lots having been disposed of. Extracted is very slow of sale, with prices flexible within a range of 5H@7c, according to quality, flavor, color, and package. Beeswax sells on arrival at 30c when of average cleanliness. R. A. Burnett & Co., May 7. 163 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Albany.— Honej/.-Small lots of comb lioney con- tinue to arrive, but the demand is very light, owing to the lateness of sea.son and warm weather. Prices range from 8@12c per lb. No beeswax on hand. Chas. McCulloch & Co., May 8. Albany, N. Y. Buffalo.— HoTjey. — No material change in the honey-market. Fancy is moving slowly at 13@14; choice, 11@12; commoner grades are hard to sell, and a few tail ends remain un.sold. Battehson & Co., May 7. Buffalo, N. Y. New York.— HoHcy.— We quote beeswax at 32c per lb. Supplies are small, demand moderate. F. G. Strohmeyek & H. Arpe, May 9. New York, N. Y. Alfalfa IN Arizona.— We will sell you alfalfa honey F. O. B. Phoenix at 4^20 in 1000 - lb. lots or more. Less than 1000 lbs. at 5c in flve-gallon cans. Car lots a specialty. J. P. Ivy, Secretary Bee-keepers' Association, Phcenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Alfalfa Honey, very white, thick, and rich. Two 60-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples, 8c. eif t Oliver Foster, Las Animas, Col. No. 1 extracted honey in 50-lb. pails at 7c per Ib.- $3.50. J. B. Murray, Ada, O. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market. BATTERSON & CO. Responsible, Reliable, Commission Merchants, istfdb and Prompt. BEST OIT EARTST WILLIAMS AUTOMATIC REVERSIBLE HONEY - EXTRACTOR. Perfect in principle and workings. Here is what the veteran bee-keeper, N. E. France, of Platteville, Wi< , says of it: " I consider the Williams Automat- ic Reversible Extractor head and shoulders above any I have ever used, and. furthermore, consider it the BEST on the market." Mr. France produces extracted honey by the carload, so he is good au- thority on extrHCtors. For |irice list No. 1 of Ex- tractors, choice Italian Bees, Queens, etc., address VAN ALLEN & WILLIAMS, Barnum. Wis. Bred for busi- A||e£fa|C ness. Untest- IJ|ltC.ll^ ed. May, 70 cts. ^•r^^i*** each ; 3 for $2 00. Tested, $1.00 each. Fine breeders, $2.00 each extra. Select straiglit 6-banded breed- ing-queens, $4.00 each. To all new customers one Golden Queen for 50 cts. Satisfaction and safe arrival guaranteed. E. A. SEELEY, Bloomer, Ark. P. O. Money Order office, Lavaca, Ark. 7-20 Hiv6s ~ r. 1 .. EllllMIIIIMIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllMIIIIIIIIII Foundation,= Ca/^^inn^ = 2-frame nucleus with untested sections, ^ queen $3 50 Bees, = 3-frame nucleus with untested (\ — queen 3 25 (Queens, = Ready to ship. Discount on n» — quantities. "■^ = 40,000 No. 2, 414x4^x7 to foot Any = sections, per lOuO 1 50 XL- = 40,000 No. 2, 4:ii-s.^Kx^i\% sec- inmg = tions, per 1000 i 1 35 ^ = Every thing shipped from this — city. Catalog free. oee-i^eeDer — M„«^„ = I. J. STRINGHAM, 105 Park Place, Needs. e n. y. city. t;^Iii writing advertisers pleasi- meutiou Gleaninus. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Contents of this Number. Parrels. Waxing 41(1 Bee, What is a Good? :!'.ll Bee keejie'-s, Slipshod U)7 Combs. NaUual, v. Fouiurn.3in Drones aiul Swai-ming: ii):i Eehoes Irom Rambler 3H7 Efi'gs. Removiiij? 40(1 E]eetro|ioise 41fl Feediue- 390 Feeder. Goklen's 402 Foul Brood in Eng-land 40S Foundation. Veneer 408 Hirer. Alle.y's 402 Hives. Large, Favored .'194 Hives. Eisi-nt.-frame Favoied"!!.") Honov,Sn-ar :'«1 Honcv. Siil|.!iiiiiii- 404 lUMTt^. I ..111- t.i.k's Book.. 409 l'i-iiii\ rn\al. W'lhl 416 KaiiilikMRt Lakrimrt 399 Ra^pl'eriy. To Train Gault. .414 SvmiioMinn on Hive.s 393 T Super. Demand lor 400 Veneer Foundation 408 Wax. Source of. Mathe.y.... 398 Wintering at Miller's 396 CONVENTION NOTICES. There wiU be a meetine: of the S I'theastern Kansas Bee- keepers' Asociation in Fort Soott on Thursday. Ji.nn 6th. ISg.j. All Ijee keepers are urged eonie. as iv.- -had liave an interest- ing time. J. C BA1.CII. Sec. Bi onson, Kan. The 30ih semi.-annual ineetinu- of theC.-ntral Mieliisan Bee- keepers'Association will be held at the eapitol TiMnsing:. May 22, At 10 A.M. A O. D Wood. 385 Apiary for Sale. Southern California. Beautiful location, 18 miles from Los An- geles, a' 2 miles from prominent watering- place, % mile from another. Camping- and picnic grounds; bathing, lisliing, sliootiiig. For full particulars apply to ' R. F. JONES & CO., 204 Bradbury Block, I Los Angeles, California. ^1 (Colonies Hyltrids, in E.xcelsi- or ch;i£F hives. $4.00 per colony, or will excliange for baled hav, grain, or C. //. T. m^y, Soutltald, JW 1'. BEES. feed. 3= irSH"^ Queens, lioni ni.\owti imported (|ueeiis, !?I.Oh each. Max Brauer, Beevilie Bee Co., Tex. The undersigned RurL-cUnc wliicli he will de- has a few UUCIV»MU» ii^,pr bv mail for $1.25 per lb., in advance. VVH. CURTIS, Tidewater, Lincoln Co., O e. For Sale. 50 new clamps, fllli>d witli sei-tions. very cheap. MARCUS ZEH, Central Bridge, N. Y. POR SALE. -10 cclonies of * in Simplicity hives, strong HYBRID BEES in l)ees, and plenl.v of hone.v, $ -i 00 each. £•. D. BARTON, EAST HAMPTON, CONN. iittUart Rapc forsalein gooddovetailed bodies, lldliau UCCa ^^^^^^ § L. frames of brood; fine condition; $4.00 a stand. B. .J. CROSS, CberoUee, Ala. 9linn Names, with ixisiofflce. voters of Frank- btlUU [in Co., Ga , for $lmhi in o;ish to de;ilers in stiaiijld goods. J. J. HARDY, Lavonia, Qa. 25000 prime plants now readv to ship. Leading varieties; 11.50 for 500, $2.50 for 1000. Chas. McClave, New London, O. CABBAGE PLANTS. For Sale- 200 colonies of Italian and liybrid bees in 8-frame Langstroth hives. Italians, $.5.00; hybrids, $4.50; delivered at the depot in Jefferson free of charge. Also a lot of bee-supplies. MRS. C. GRIMM, Jefferson, Wis. ONE MAN WITH THE UNION COMBINATION SAW Can do the work of four men us- ing hand tools, in Ki|jping, Cut- ling off, Mitering, Rablieting, Grooving, Gaining, Dadoing, Fdging-up, Jointing Stutl, etc. Full Line of Foot and Hand Power Machinery. Sold on Trial. CaUihui Free. l-34ei SENECA FALLS MFC. CO.. 44 Water St., Seneca Falls, N Y. •••••«»«e9«e«H0NEY-JVIAKERS Aie a strain of Italian bees tliat we have pro duced by years of careful breeding. Queens will te ready May 15. Tested queens in May, $2.00; untested. $1.00; lialf- doz., $.5 00; tested queens in June, $125; untested, 75e; half-dozen, $4.00. Please state in your order wliether im- ported or golden queens are wanted. Leininger Bros., Ft. Jennings, O. C^In responding to this advertisement mention GLKANDJoa. :0R SALE.— 14 9 L. combs at 10 cents each. F. OAKES, Brecksville, Ohio. HONEY! If we would be suc- cessful in tlie pro- duction of honey it is of vital importance tliat our queens be fiist class. After an extended ex))erieiice with the different races of bees brought to this country, I am led to believe, all things con- sidered, tliat these direct from Italy iiave never been improved upon. Large yellow i>roliflc queens from impnTlfd motliers. mated to drones of imported slock fi-om a dltfereiit source, securing a direct cross. Untested, readv May 2.5, 75c; 6, $4.25; 12 for $8.00 Select untested, $1 00. No disease. L. II. ROHrSY, Wo rthi II urt on. W. \'a. (STln resDoiKUntr to this advertisement mention OT.FANiNfsa Wants or Exchmge Department. Notices will be inserted nnder this head at one-half our usu- al rates. All advertisements intended for thi.s department must not exceed five lines, and you must sat you want your adv't In this department, or we will not be responsible for er- rors, ifou can have the notice as man.v lines as .you please; liut all over Ave lines will cost you according to onr regular rates. This department is Intended only for bona fldo ex- •hanges. Exchanges for cash or for price lists, or notices of- fering articles for sale, can not be inserted under this head. For such ourregular ratesof 20cts. aline will be charged, and 1 hey win be put with the regular advertisements. We can not he responsible for dissatisfaction arising from these "swaps." WANTED.— To exchange some fine English mas- tiff puppies; also some collie shepherd pups. Write me at once and tfU me what you have to ex- change, Scott BKiLLnAWT, Millwood, Knox Co., Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange 200 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. ANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample. J. A. Green, Ottawa, 111. W WANTED.-To exchange 6 and 13 inch Root foun- dation mills for wax, honey, or otfers. I. J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, New York, N. Y. WANTED.— To excha nge raspberry and blackberry plants, $6 per 1000. bees $5, Japanese buckwheat, for beeswax. A. P. Lawkence, Hickory Corners, Mch. WANTED.— To exchange supplies and other goods for honey. O. H. Hyatt, Shenandoah, Iowa. 30tf WANTED.— To exchange second hand 60-lb. cans, in good condition (boxed); delivered at your station at 25c each, for worker combs, or white comb or extracted honey, crop of '9.5. B. Walker. Evart, Mich. WANTED. — To exchange brood-combs. Dovetailed hives. Portico hives, veils, for bees by the pound, or otfers. R. F. Hetrick, Ceresco, Neb. WANTED.— To exchange golden queens for Pekin ducks, Embdeu geese, fancy poultry, buck- wheat. J. F. MlCHAEI,, Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio. WANTED.-Locust seed for an important experi- mental I'urpose, to report results in Glean- ings. I also want the name, address, etc., of every bee-keeper in U. S. and Canada for a bee-keepers' directory. El.mek E. Guy, Yardley, Pa. 386 GLEANIJNGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. Still in the Lead ! Carniolans 'TI' Hilton's White T Supers, Chaff O Polished S Foundation, Hives, Sections, Smolcers, and every thing needed in the apiary. Send for 189.5 catalog. GEO. E. HILTON, = = Fremont, Mich. Please mention this paper. Best on Earth. BINGHAM BeeSmoker Bingham's five sizes of bee-smokers range in price from 50c to $1.75 per mail, and are the lowest-priced of any in tlie market, accord- ing to size. Bingham Smo- kers and Knives are made only by the inventor, and can be depended on every time, as they have been for 16 years as the best that could be made or used. ^ Mention Gleanings, and send for circular of prices. J p BINGHAM, Abronia, Mich. Please mention tnis paper Control Your Swarms, Requeen, Etc. ^i^g Send 2.5c for sanii^les of ■®^S Wests Patent Spiral wire '^^E Queen-Cell Prote^ tors, and ^SC Pat. Spiral Queen Hatch- ^S^ ing and Introducing Cage. ^^ also best Bee-Escape, with ^g' oil cular explaining. Tweh e ^ Cell-protectors, 60c; 1(X). *3. fl 12 cages, 11; 100, $5, by mail. Circular free. Ad- dress N. D. WEST. Mid= dleburgh, Scho. Co., N. Y. Sold also by all tli<- leading supply-dealers. ty In responding to this advertisement nertiuii Rlk-axings. a Golden Queens From Texas. My queens are lived for business, as well as lor beauty and gentleness. Safe arri- val and reasonable satisfaction guaran- teed. Untested, $1.00; tested, $1.50. Write for price li.st. 5-16ei J. D. GIVENS, Lisbon, Texas. Bo.\ 3. Dovetailed Hives. Sections, Extractors. Smokers, and everv Uiing a Bee-keeper want.s. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. 6(J-p;ige cata- log frf-e. J. M. JENKINS, W etumpka, Ala. Kead what J. 1. Pakent, of 'Chahlton. N. T.. says— "We cut with one of your Combined Machines last winter 50 chafl hives with 7-inch cap. lOO honey- racks, 500 broad frames, 2,000 honey-boxes, and a great deal of other work. This winter w e have dotibled the amount of bee- lives, etc., to make, and w^e ex- pect to do it all with this saw. ^'-'■'■y \\. will do all you say it will." Catalogue and Price List free. Address W. F. & JOHN BAKNES, 545 Ruby St.. Uockford, 111. When more convenient, orders for Barnes' Foot- Power Machinery may be sent to The a. I. Root Co. I3?"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gle.\m:.'G3 $5 each. 1S94 at the jwwHW •""-^ elevated point "^▼▼▼▼▼VTTTTVVTTVf among the Carnic Alps where bees are kept. Untesced daughters of these, §1 each : 12 for $10. Tested daughters produc- ing gray bees. $2 each ; 12 for $ls. MRS. FRANK BENTON, "The Carniolan Apiaries." Charlton Hsights, lid. QTin resiKiiidin^ to tlii> iKiverti-enieiiT mention (iLi-:AXiXGa. PATENT WIRED COMB FOUNDATION Has JVo Sag- in Brood- frames. Thin Flat - Bottom Foundation Eas no Fishbone in the Snrphs Honey. Being the cleanest, it is usually worked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, 12tfdb Sole Hanufacturers, Sprout Brook, Montgomery Co., N. Y. ^?"ln responding to this advertl.-'enient mention Glkanings. I f\(\V Here, Bee=keeper! If. you are in need of tiee-supplies. write for catalog and price list. Every thing sold as cheap as the cheapest. WT V^ C.**tl4-t^ Kenton, Hardin Co., 0. W. C. omiln, WE WILL PREPAY Freight charges on orders for Root's polished sec- tions, and 16-section white basswood shipping-cases, at his prices, to be shipped from factory to points within 300 miles, in lots of 5CKX) and 200 or over re- spectively. Send for catalog. B. WALKER, Evarf, nich. Please mention this paper. Sweetheart. A Regular Sugar Lump LEADS ALL WATER- MELONS OX THE Early. Large, Hand.some, Good Ship- l per, Hest Quality. Send for circular > giving important facts to growers and \ shippers, with comparative sales and I opinions of manj- commission men in ^..^ ^ leading- northern markets. MARKET. 1 Seed. Packet, 10 cts.; lb., $1.50. ALUBRT WJTTEMMYER, Originator, Grower, and Shipper, Emison, linox Co., Ind. r^"ln responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. DG.N'T MONKEY "^'""^ w Send for our 36-page catalog free. Root Co.'s Supplies kept in stock. In order. to reduce our stock for tlie next two months will give large discounts. Write us what you need. Get our prices. JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. Please mention this paper. World's Fair Hedal Awarded my Eoimclation. Send for free samjjles. ' Dealers, write for wholesale prices. Roofs new Polished Sections and other goods at his prices. Eree Illustrated Price List of every thing needed in the apiary. liJl 1-1 f-fnti'f Bell Branch, Mich. ^'»* *'• »»"»»l" Please mention this paper. TAKE notice] BEFORE placing your orders for SUPPLIES, write for prices on One-Piece Basswood Sections, Bee- Hives, Shipping-Crates. Frames, Foundation. Smo- kers, etc. PAGE & LYON MFG. CO., Stfdb New Loudon. Wis. Please mention Gleanings. 21-8db 1895 soutSIrn Home of the Honey-Bee Is reuij' for 3our oiders for 3 or 5 banded nueens, as good' as the best, guaranteed free from paralysis. Warranted queens, T5c eacb; tested, $1.00. After June 1, warranted, 50c each: tested, 7.5c each. Good breeders. 12.00. Straiglit 5-banded, or " faultless," queens, $3..50 each. Special prices on lots, also to the queen -dealer. Safe delivery and satisfaction guaranteed. Circular free. Address HUFSTEDLER BROS., Clarksville, Tex. [ =^iii lesponding to tnis aavertisement mention GLiSanikgs. WHY NOT Send your orders to W. H. Laws for Ital- ian Queens ? THE BEST IS THE CHEAPEST. For beauty and 1 usiness you can't beat them. The leading bee-ktepers of the TJ. S. are my customers, and all praise them. I breed either the Golden or Leatliercolor- ed strains. PRICES REDUCED To suit the times. Fine breeders always on hand. $2 to ?3. Untested, 75c; 3 for $2. Tested, $1; 6 for §5. Address W. H. LAWS, LAVACA. ARK. Please mention Gleanings. GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 387 Alley's Combined Description and price list now leady. HENRY ALLEY, Wenham, Mass. Please mention this paper Queen-Trap and SwarRi-Gatcher. A Tested Queen Free ! Pure Italians. To every one buying I'J ^Igf doz. untested queens 1 will give a tested ^i^ one free. Untoted, 60c; tested, $1.00; selected tested, U 50; breeders, $3.00. STEWART BROS., Sparta, Tenn. MOTH'S HONEY- EXTRACTOR, SQUARE GLASS HONEY-JARS. Bee-keepers' Supplies in general, etc.. etc. Send for our new catalog. "Practical Hints" will be mailed for 10c in stamps. Apply to CHAS. F. WIUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. Given Foundations****^ Ready for Delivery. We are now making, as previously announced. Given foundation on rolls. We can supply the prod- uct at thesamepTiceas the regular wax. Customers who desire a small quantity tu experiment with can have a little Jidded to the regular foundation if they will so specify in their orders. We neither indorse nor condemn it, but hope it will be tried sufticiently to test its merits. The sur|ilus Given has extra- thin bases. The A. I. Root Co., Medina, 0. Queens, Either 3 or 5 Banded, After May 1st. 7.5c: (3 for *4.2.">. Nuclei cheap. Also poultry eggs tor liatching, 5t)c up. Send for cata- logue. Send vour orders now. Can please vou. CHAS. H. THIES, Steeleville, III. ' Eggs for Hatching From Prize = Winning Fowls. .50c and $1.00 per 15. Send for circular. AUGUST GOETZE & SON, 3822 Wood St., Wheeling, W. Va. Please mention this paper. Best ^ Goods At lowest prices are what we are all after. The quality nf Gary's goods has never been questioned. His X X white thin foundation and polished one-piece sections are the finest on the market. His bees and queens are from the best strains, and reared and shipped in the way that long years of experience have shown to be the best. He has the largest stock of B£E- KEEPEKS' SUPPLIES in New England; and as to prices you have only to send for a catalog and compare them with those of other dealers. To those living in the East, there is the still further consideration of low freight rates. Address W. W. CARY, COLRAIN, tS^ln respciiiling ti this advertisement mention Gleanings. W. O. Victor, of Wharton, Tex., took 45,000 Lbs. of Honey in 1894. He offers Italian Queens — good, old-style honey- queens— untested, first order, to any address, at 60c each. Also bees in any quantity ; 450 colonies to draw from. Root's goods constantly in stock. Prices to suit the times, liuy near home, and save freight. t^"In respouilinfr to tills ailvertlsemt-Tit mention GLiiANiNGa oo Are a strain of business Italians that winter in the cold North, and are reads' for business, with a bush- el of bees, when the flowers bloom. They are gentle and industrious. Queens warranted purely in June. Each,$l.iO; six. $5.00; doz.. *9.U0. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Never liad any disease. Address E. F. QUIGL.BY, Unionville.Mo. Please mention this paper. ITfll IAN RFFS Ready in May. Queens. fl.OO. imkinii BUM j3ggg ^^ ^jjg pound, $1.00. One- AND QUEENS, frame nucleus with queen. $2.00; ■■•■■iiiiiii two trames, $2. .50. Also Barred Plymouth Keck eg-ps for setting-, $1.0n per 1.5. 6-lTei MRS. A. A. SIMPSON, Swarts. Pa. ■ '^^Li\ responil!!!^ t-i t ..i.- ..-)\'*-ni>fi!H-iit ineitiiuii GLi^^N.^'j*. Eggs From 8 leadinjr varieties of fowls, in- cluding: Imperial Peliin Ducks. Send for descriptive list to J. S. MASOiJ, Uedica. 0. In writinpr aiivertisers mention this papei'. BEGINNERS. Beg-inners should have a copy of the Am- ateur Bee keeper, a TO-page book by Prof. J. W. Rouse. iPrice 2.5 cents; it' sent by mail, 28c. The little book and the Progressive Bee-keeper (a live progressive 28-page month- ly journal) one j'ear, boc. Address any flrst- class dealer, or LEAHY MFG. CO., HiaaiNSViLLE, Mo. J^*In responding to this advertisement mention GLEiSlNQ* 388 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mat 15. TESTED QUEENS Are usually sold for $3.n0. I will explain why I wish to sell a few at less than that. As most of my readers know, I requeeu my apiary each spring with young queens from tlie South. This is done to do away with swarming. If done early enough it is usually successful. It will he seen that the queens displaced by these young queens are never more than a year old; in fact, they are fine, tested, Italian queens, right in THEin prime; yet, in order tliiit they may move off quickly, and tlius make room for the untested queens, they will be sold for only ONE DOLLAR. Or I will send the Review for 1896 and one of these queens for only f 1.T5. For $2 00 I will send the Review, the queen, and the book "Advanced Bee Culture." If any prefer the young, laying queens from the South, they can have them instead of the tested queens, at the same price. A discount on large orders for untested queens. Say how many are wanted, and a price will be made. Orders can be tilled as soon as it is warm enough to handle bees and ship queens with safety. ^ _ . ^^. . _ . . W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, flich. Ten Weeks for Ten Cents! Tor ten cents (in stamps or silver) the Jimeriaaa Bee tTournal will be sent for Ten "Weefes-dO numbers) to any one who is not now a subscriber. A ten weeks' trial is a fair trial, and ten cents is a small price for the testing. Better accept this offer at once, or at least send for a free sample copy of the Weekly American Bee Journal. Address GEO. W. YORK & CO., 56 Fifth Avenue, Chicago, III. E. KRETCHHER, RED OAK, IOWA, ^ 4-8 SENDS FREE HIS CATALOG OF 72 ILLUSTRATED PAGES: DESCRIBES EVERYTHING USED IN THE APIARY; BEST GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES. CAPACITY ONE CARLOAD A DAY. WRITE AT ONCE FOR HIS CATALOG. Untested Italian Queens. I have untested queens ready to mail, yellow to the tip, bred for business and beauty, easy to handle, at 7nc each; 3 for $2.00; 6for*t.00; S7.00 per doz. Bred from best 5-banded stock, free from disease. W. A. OOMPTOJSr, L,-ynTx\^ille, Tetin. Imported Italian Queens of '95 rearing, after May 15, $3.10 each: tested, now, $1., 50 1 o f2 each. W. 0. PEASIES, Atlantic, Iowa. QUEENS. IMPORTED ITALIAN MOTHERS ONLY. NUCLEI. I, 3, or 3 S. frames, 50 cents each frame. Queens from imported stock. Hardy, beautiful and yjrolific. Un- tested, $1; tested. ^L.W. Poitico S. liives. 7.^ cents. MES. OLIVES COLE. SHEKBUEHE, CHLNANaO CO., N. Y. EGGS from pure B. P. Rocks, cheap, for hatching or incubator. Cards cheerfully answered. MRS. L. C. AXTELL, Rosevllie, Illinois. Order your supplies early before the rush gets you. Send for our price list of Bee sup- plies and Fruit packages. Ad- dress BERLIN FRUIT BOX CO., Berlin Heights, Erie Co., Ohio. Woodcliff Business To please all, am breeding both Leather-colored and Golden .5-banded Italians. Have live apiaries, 3 to 6 miles apart, running 350 nuclei. Your orders filled pidniiitly. Tlie Leather- i\ttckcx*tcy colored 3-banded Breeder, \/UCdlo* imported from Italy, Oct., ^^ 'itt. The Golden 5-banded Breeder, selected fiom lOOO queens, some produc- ing 400 lbs. of honey to colony. State what you want, and send orders now for early delivery. Guaranteed queens, 75c; special low price in quantities. Send for descriptive catalog. Wm. A. Selser, Wyncote, Pa. Untested, .55 cts. ; doz., ?6. About 11 out of every 13 will make fine tested queens, and for gentleness and industry we defy the world to beat them. Safe delivery. Money-order office, Decatur. eitf CLEVELAND BROS., Stamper, Newton Co., Miss. We have proven to our satisfaction that queens lired in the North produce bees that are /larrfierand winter better • than those bred in tlie South. We make • 9 queen-rearing a specialty. We never saw • foul brood or bee-paralys:s. Send for our free descriptive price" list of our Gray Carniolans and Golden Italians. Prices to suit the times. F. A. LOCKHART & CO., Lake George, N. Y. If Tons of Honey, Pleased Customers, and Increasing Trade is a, criterion, then my queens are satisfac- tory. Warranted purely mated queens from .5-banded strain. 75c; six for $4.00; dozen, $7.50. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Send for free circular. J. B. CASE, Port Orange, Vol. Co., Fla. ^Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILh - GOOD GOODS are always in - demand. LOW PRICES are appreciated in these times. PROiVIPT SERVICE is a ne- cessity in business. We combine all three. Write for free catalog and price list. = G. B. Lewis Co., Watertown, Wis. = ^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii lllll lllll (iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir^ In responding to these advertisements mention this paper. • DELVOTEID •To'BELE.^ •andHoNE-Y •AND home:* ' •1MTE.FIEST6 hcdWTHEA'll^OoYCo. £5 peryIar'^'N® "Medina- Ohio • Vol. XXIII. MAY 15, 1895. No. 10. A Gi-ORious SPRING fof bee- keepers. That feeder of H. K. Boardman Is hard to beat as an entrance-feeder. Crimson clover, according to J. C. Smith, in Ajnericcm Bee Journal, does best sown with buckwheat. Ten feet of snow covered four hives for more than eleven weeks, and the bees came out ail right.— B. B. J. Dr. J. P. H. Brown, of Augusta, Ga., has tak- en charge of the Southern Department in the American Bee Jouryial. Good man. I can not resist the impression, from all I've read in Gleanings, that, A. I. Root doesn't entirely approve of Electropoise and Oxydonor. The lime, as a honey-tree, is a little confus- ing. Sometimes it means the linden, or bass- wood, and sometimes it means a small tree much like the lemon. Statistical reports received by Glean- ings seem encouraging, and yet elsewhere re- ports are quite discouraging, losses even reach- ing 50 and 80 per cent. Bassavood. says Dr. Brown, American Bee Journal, is rarely found south of latitude 33°, and then only on low land. The European va- riety does better than the common. A NEW SMOKER, Zachringer's, is described in German bee-journals. It's nothing more nor less than an atomizer, or sprayer, with a big rubber ball. But it's well spoken of. The ancient Romans believed that bees originated from the decaying carcases of cattle. [There was a good bit better reason for believ- ing this centuries ago than for putting faith in Electropoise and Oxydonor.— Ed.] Gravenhorst says that young queens that do not issue with a swarm, but merely emerge from the cells and remain in the hive, are, as a rule, much later in becoming fertile than those issuing with a swarm. He prefers the latter queens. DooLiTTLE defines his position as to spread- ing brood, in American Bee Journal. He would spread only when the queen does not keep filled with brood the combs well covered by bees. That's all right, isn't it? [Yes, sir; and when that rule is followed, no bad results will follow. — Ed.] Farmer Hard wear at the telegraph office. — "How much will you charge to telegraph my son $300 at college?" OpeTYttor.-" Two dollars." Farmer Hardwear. — Gosh! that's cheap! Yer's the $;3. Send it quick as lightnin." — Chicago Record. "Melilotus is one of the very few plants which are able to draw their supply of nitrogen from the air; and hence by and through its bi- ennial decay it furnishes the most valuable and most expensive factor in commercial fer- tilizers free of cost, and in the best form." — Prof. S. M. Tracy, Director Miss. Exp. Station. Doolittle's observation, p. 361, as to colo- nies deserting in spring, leaving nice brood and plenty honey, agrees with mine, and in every case I think there has been more brood than the bees could cover. Is it because the bees have become so reiiuced in numbers that they desert rather than stay and see that brood die? Dwarf Rocky Mountain cherry promises well with you. friend Root, but it may be well to add a caution. 1 1 was boomed at the World's Fair, but I heard a company of horticulturists denounce it as a humbug, and if I remember rightly the veteran Edgar Sanders said it for- merly grew wild on the lake shore near Chicago. A AsTOR, in Ttevue, says his hives containing 6770 cubic inches inside the frames are too small. Dzierzon, in his "Rational Bee-keep- ing," says, " A space of about 3000 cubic inches will be sufficient in most districts; neverthe- 390 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. less, a space of 5000 to 6000 inches will do no harm, if there be no difficulty in partitioning off the superfluous space." Quinby thought 2000 was enough for the brood -nest. An eight- frame dovetail has 1579 inches; a ten-frame, 1964. Gravejjhokst advises thus with respect to after-swarms. Wait till the first after-swarm is- sues; cut out all queen-ceils, and return the swarm. Friend GravenhorsT. I believe some who desire no increase mi^ht carry the plan still further. Kill or remove the queen of the prime swarm, letting the swarm return, then treat the second swarm as you advise. Overeating shortens a man's days in more ways than one. It shortens the number of days, and it shortens the number of waking hours in each, for he must sleep off the effects of the surfeit. [I wish this same sensible good advice had been given me years ago. All the same, I am syid have been profiting by it for the last six months. Better? Of course, I am. I believe at least half the ailments are indirectly traceable to this one thing. — Ed. J Uniting. " A colony having a laying queen will accept without any trouble any colony which has been queenless for at least 24 hours. Consequently, if you want to unite two colonies standing side by side, deprive one of its queen; and the next day, or the day following, hang the combs with adhering bees of the one colony in the second story of the other colony, im- mediately above the bees below, and remove the empty stand."— C. F. Muth, in American Bee Journal. " Separating swarms when two or three cluster together.— If for three swarms, tier up three hives with an entrance to each on a stand; raise the bottom hive an inch from the board to give the bees room to go in; shake the bees in front of the hives, stop the entrances to the two upper ones, and let them settle for half an hour; then take the top hive and put it on a stand; put the second on another, and let the bottom one remain, and your three swarms and queens are separated."— P. D. Wallace, in the American Dee Journal. " We boomed the T-super arrangement in our 1895 catalog harder than ever, putting in a nice wood-cut."— Gleanings, p. 394. Yes, and right under that nice cut you say, " We consid- er the section-holder superior." How's that for booming the T super? No wonder your packers "hardly know what it is." And then you want to make out an old stove fits me! I'll fit you in an old stove if you don't look out. [The quotation taken alone as above doesn't boom the T super very much. But in the same paragraph we refer to others, including your- self, who think the T super the better. The paragraph as a whole gives it a good promi- nence. Perhaps "boom" was too strong a word.— Ed.] FEEDING BEES. FEEDING BACK TO HAVE UNFINISHED SECTIONS COMPLETED. By H. R. Bijardman. The last few years have brought to the sur- face considerable discussion in regard to this kind of feeding, and a diversity of opinion still prevails among very good bee-keepers in regard to it. About the only important thing left yet unsettled is, whether it pays or not. There Lave been some figures given the public, upon this question. It is said that figures will not lie. I can not deny it; but they are sometimes manipulated so as to be misleading. I will give you the benefit of my experience and opinions, without figures. The object sought is, to follow some plan by which the feed will be stored in the sections as much as possible. This the bees are not dis- posed to do so long as they have room in the combs near the brood-nest. I have tried two plans. One is, to deprive the brood-hive of combs as far as possible, and thus compel stor- ing in the sections. The other is, to deprive the colony of a brood-nest, making them queen- less, with only enough brood to raise a queen. In the first place, I put a swarm upon empty frames with starters only, by shaking them out (or drumming out) from a populous colony, leaving the old colony to raise a young queen. I feed immediately; and as soon as the queen be- gins laying in the newly started combs I put on the sections and continue feeding rapidly for 35 days. This gets most of the feed into the sections, excepting that used for brood and comb-building, and a little stored outside of the brood nest in the new combs. These combs will be nice worker-combs mostly, and will, I think, be worth all they cost. QUEENLESS COLONIES. The second plan — that of depriving the colo- ny of a brood-nest by making it queenless — throws the bees all, or nearly all, into the sec- tions, where there is comb already built, and they will continue the work there mostly, as there seems to be no inducement to build comb in the brood-chamber. The plan I have fol- lowed in my experiments is the same as already given, except that I remove the queen back to the old colony as soon as a few eggs appear in the newly started combs, sufficient to hold the bees and enable them to build queen-cells. I had great hopes for l\\\< plan, and, indeed, it has some advantages. But it must be borne in mind, that, although the bees build but little comb in the brood-chamber, being queenless, the combs will be imperfect, and filled with the feed. To remedy this I cut them out as fast as 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 391 built, and allowed the bees to carry back into the sections the honey they contained. But there is so much upon the unfavorable side of this question that I am not prepared to recom- mend this kind of feeding as very practical, and I think it would be most likely to prove unprof- itable. By way of experiment upon a small scale, it is well enough. Very much is to be learned tjy such experiments. I could give fig- ures upon this kind of feeding, that would show a profit very clearly; but in giving them, many of the unfavorable details would be left out, lost sight of. It involves a great amount of work and care, from beginning to end, and I have nearly always failed in the most important part— that of getting a choice finished product. Unless the sections are unsealed before they are put on they will be finished with a rough and patchy look, and will be, according to my expe- rience, more or less stained with propolis, which gives them an untidy appearance. WHAT TO DO WITH UNFINISHED SECTIONS. The best and most profitable way for the av- erage bee-keeper to dispose of unfinished sec- tions, I am convinced. Is to extract all that will not sell as second grade for as much as extract- ed honey will bring, and use them for bait sec- tions the nextseason. There is a value in these nice white combs for this purpose, that is not appreciated by very many. SUGAR HONEY. There have been a good many suspicious hints dropped in the past few years about su- gar honey. Cheap sugar has been the tempter. But nothing has materialized from these sug- gestions but talk, so far as I know. I am going to consider only the practical phase of this question, and leave the scientific part to the scientist. So far as feeding sugar to be stored in the sections is concerned, it is sufficient to know that there is no inducement for such a practice. Until bee-keepers have the courage to feed sugar for stores in the brood-chamber to the full extent necessary for that purpose, there is no use in wasting our valuable time discuss- ing the very remote possibilities of sugar hon- ey. It would seem like very poor economy to fill the brood -combs with the choicest honey from the flowers, and the sections with sugar, even if it were practical, when just the opposite is desirable, and much easier to accomplish. It would be somewhat like the economy in dairy- ing, of feeding the cream to the calves and pigs, and saving the skimmed milk for use. MAKING NEW COLONIES; NATURAL COMBS VS. FOUNDATION. After the honey season is over, and that mys- terious impulse to swarm is abated, new colo- nies may be made and built up from sugar feed. Natural combs built at this time will be almost entirely free from drone comb, and will com- pare favorably in perfection with combs drawn from foundation. There is a large force of workers lying idle; and the busy season being over makes it somewhat of a temptation to do such work at this season. I have thought it just as well to wear these bees out as to let them live in idleness and die of old age, provid- ed, of course, there was any profit in it. I have a good many of these natural combs in use now that I have built in this way in the last few years, and they give very good satisfaction. I reasoned that, with the prevailing low price of sugar, and the high price of wax, together with the late succession of poor seasons, bee-keepers ought to be able to become producers of wax by raising natural combs, instead of consumers by using foundation. I do not really think there is much money in it. I only hope it may help in the sharp struggle for survival, especially in poor localities. This work gives an excellent opportunity for superseding the old queen — a very profitable work. In any of these operations desci'ibed, if no increase is wanted the bees may be united back upon the most desirable combs. I have no doubt that new combs are best for building up in spring, but old ones may be better for win- tering outdoors. East Townsend, O. WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD BEE? NINE POINTS CONSIDERED IN THE ORDER OF THEIR IMPORTANCE. By S. E. Miller. What are the essential qualities in a colony of bees? Perhaps it would be hard for all bee- keepers to agree on this subject; but I have given some thought to it lately, and after think- ing the matter over I would place the points about as follows: 1. Prolificness of the queen. 2. Honey-gathering qualities of the workers. 3. Hardiness in wintering. 4. Disposition of workers — gentleness, etc. 5. Non-swarming. 6. Comb-building. 7. Longevity of queen and workers. 8. Size of workers. 9. Color. Probably no one will agree with me in the exact order I have placed the points of excel- lence, and probably no two bee-keepers would agree exactly. I am not speaking of the man- ner in which a colony would be judged at a fair; for at a fair they might be judged very unfairly; for at best it is little more than guess- work. The judge, in all likelihood, has no knowledge of the working qualities of the col- ony, so that size and color would be apt to guide him mainly in rendering his decision. But what I am speaking of is the colony of bees that will earn dollars and cents for their keeper. And now let me explain why I have placed the points of superiority as shown above. Let us consider the first point. There, I be- 392 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. lieve, nearlj' all will agree with me, that the first essential to a No. 1 colony is a prolific queen that can be relied upon to produce a host of workers at just the time when most needed; and without a prolific queen it matters not how good the workers are. If there are not enough of them we can not expect them to store a large quantity of honey. Having a queen that will place a strong force on the stage of action at the time when most needed, we want that force to get a move on them and roll in the honey while their neighbors are hanging on the shady side of the hive or coming the " washboard act" around the entrance. So we see that, hav- ing these two points combined, we come very near having a perfect colony already. But let us proceed to the third point. Having stored a large quantity of honey this season we want them to do as well next year again; and in order to attain to this end it is essential that they be able to withstand the severe winter weather without having to be put into a feather bed. To those who winter in cellars this point might be considered of minor importance; but we do not all winter our bees in cellars, and probably there are many of us who never will; therefore we want colo- nies that will pass the winter with the least possible loss in numbers, and come out strong and healthy in the spring. Fourth, gentleness. No one, I presume, will deny that this is a desirable trait in bees, and probably some would place it above some of the points named above; but should a cross colony, of strengtli equal to one of a gentle disposition, gather, say, a third more honey in a given time, I believe I would manage to get along with the cross ones for the extra amount of honey they store. Non-swarming, or the absence of a desire to swarm, is a trait that the comb-honey producer would probably place among the first qualities to be desired; but so long as swarming comes with prosperity and seasons of large crops of honey, and non-swarming is accompanied by failures, I should consider swarming the lesser of the two evils, if swarming may be considered an evil. Sixth, comb-building. In order to produce a first-class article of comb honey we want bees that will go to work at it in a business-like manner, building straight even combs, and attaching them securely to the sections all around. But as this also depends largely upon the honey-flow and the condition of the colony as well, it can hardly be con^idered as one of the first essentials of a first-class colony; for, in my experience, almost any fair to good colo- ny will do good work in this line provided there is a suilBcient flow of nectar for a number of weeks at a time. As to the whiteness of the cappings, it is merely a matter of fancy; for the honey inside of a comb having a translucent appearance is as good as and often better than that having the whitest cappings. However, so long as the market demands white combs it is-to the bee-keeper's interest to produce such. Longevity in queens is something to be desir- ed, but is not of such great importance when we consider that every practical bee-keeper can rear an abundance of queens at very little cost; yet a queen that will do good service for three years is worth more than one that wears out in one season, and we should certainly pre- fer the former to the latter kind. As to longev- ity in the workers, it seems no one has given the matter much thought or study. No doubt a worker that would live and do good work for sixty days at the season when most needed would be worth more than one that wears out from overwork at from forty to forty-five days; but probably it will be a long time before any one sets up the claim that he has a strain of bees in which the workers live to a greater age than those of the ordinary kind. Probably under the same circumstances — that is, having the same care from the egg to the adult, doing the same amount of work, having the same protection from cold, etc., one worker will live as long as another. Large size, in both queens and workers, is something we admire; but who would care to have them as large as the fellow said they grew to be in Germany (as large as sheep) if they gather no more than those of smaller size? Yet the fact remains, that the larger bee may have a proportionately longer tongue than the smaller one, so tliat size should not be lost sight of in breeding for the best. Color — there is my ninth and last point of excellence. Won't some of the yellow-banders be ready to jump on to me for placing color at the tail end? Probably I should have made ten points, while I came so near it; but I will leave that for some other fellow to put on. Had I mentioned ten points, color would cer- tainly have been the tenth — not that I am op- posed to beautiful bees, or that I should not prefer them provided they were as good as their more homely cousins; but really if we had a strain of bees that would gather one thousand pounds of A No. 1 honey per colony in a season, would it matter whether they were brown, yel- low, green, or red ? Are the fastest trotters the handsomest of the horse kind ? Are the prize- winning Jersey cows the prettiest cattle? or have the breeders who bred them up to the high standards of excellence bred for beauty, or for the profit there was in them? If any one can show that color or beauty should be placed above any one of the other eight points I have named, I am ready to give him a cooky; and yet have not many bee-keepers from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Maine to Texas, been chasing after yellow bands, instead of large crops of honey, for the last three or four years? Nearly all breeders of the so-called golden or five-banded bees claim that their strain is bred for business; but who among them 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 393 will stand up and say that, while breeding for yellow bands or solid yellow, he has all the time kept in mind, paid close attention, and given painstaking care to the other eight points of superiority to be desired in the honey-bee of the future? Who is he or she? Where do they live? I hear no answer, but the owl repeats the words — " Who who-who-are you ? " Bluffton, Mo. [This is another excellent article, and I could not help saying "Yes, yes," to every point friend Miller gave. I wish all bee-keepers, es- pecially queen-breeders, would read this over carefully. Yes, friend Miller, if you had enu- merated 100 good points I believe I should have put color at the bottom of them all. It would not do to give it even a favorable position, for then some queen-breeders and some bee-keep- ers would put it at the top. In fact. I wish color could be buried clear out of sight, and stay there — not that I despise beautifully col- ored bees, nor that I have any grudge against bee-keepers or queen -breeders who rather favor the yellow bands; but I am afraid color has al- ready had a rather detrimental influence on the real bread-and-butter side of bee-keeping. — Ed.] Our Hive Symposium. THE JUMBO SIXTEEN-FRAME HIVE. ONE LARGK SINGLE-STOBY HIVE; SUCH HIVES MANAGED BY A YOUNG GIRL OF 18; QUEEN- EXCLUDING HONEY-BOARDS DISPENSED WITH AND NO SWARMING. By N. E. Doane. Mr. Editor:— A& you seem to be interested in the item I gave you in regard to the 16-frame L. hive. I will try to tell you more about it. As I make it now I call it the "Jumbo hive." I commenced keeping bees some twenty years ago. I have used the eight-frame L. hive, also the ten, and the Simplicity hive. I commenced with the six-pound box for surplus honey, then used the prize box, in its day; then came the four-piece section and the Heddon case; the one-piece section and the wide frame. All these were used and found good until something better took their place. With me, a few years ago when the bee-keepers of our land were cutting their ten-frame hives down to eight, I cut mine the other way (some of them), and made a 16-frame hive instead. My main reason for doing so at that time was to prevent swarm- ing, and to keep the bees storing honey con- tentedly throughout the season; but I soon found that a 16-frarae hive covered with wide frames, and one extracting-comb, to call the bees up, was no preventive. A second story was tried on top of this, the extracting-comb giving passage to the second set of wide frames. This worked well for getting lots of honey; but much of it was travel-stained. So you see these faults in the hive I was using led me to devise something better, which came in the shape of the Jumbo hive. Now you may ask, " What is the Jumbo hive?" Just imagine you are here, and I will tell you the best I can. Now you are here. Let us play that an eight-frame hive is made of india-rubber. You take hold of one side and I the other, and pull; now pull hard; how much has it stretched? Only twenty inches. Pull again. Now we have it 22 inches. Now give it another awful jerk. There! now we have stretched it until it is 24 inches. That is wide enough for 16 frames and a thin division-board. There, now let us get hold of the ends and give them a jerk. Hold on! you have pulled too hard. We want to pull them only just far enough so we can use a board }{ inch thick and 9}4 inches wide for the brood-frames to rest, or 93^ in. with metal rabbets nailed on. Let us get inside of it and take hold of the top edge of the boards which the frames rest on. Now let's pull away at this until we get it at least five inches above the top of the brood-frames. It is getting to be quite a good-sized hive, isn't it? When we commenced pulling, the entrance was in the end of the hive; we have not chang- ed it, except to make it a little larger; but it is now in the side of the hive. We have also changed the L. frame to a crosswise one, with- out marring the frame in the least. Let us sit down now and see what we have done. We have the length to the width, and what was the width to the length. But we don't want it india-rubber any longer, but good wide inch lumber, with the bottom nailed right on tight. Now lay a strip of J<-inch lumber right along on the ends of the frames for your section- holders to rest on; cover up your brood-frames with cloth or board, and you are ready for the bees. When the bees are ready for the sections, place six section-holders, holding four sections each, on the strip, over the center of the hive. Make the ends of your section-holders % inch thick, and have tin sep- arators nailed on each holder. You can make your section-holders with little legs on, so they can stand on the brood-frames and dispense with the sticks. I use them both ways, but can't tell which is the better. When the bees have commenced nicely in these sections, move them to one side of the hive and finish covering the hive with sections. When the bees have accepted this room, and are pulling the foundation in the last sections, take six of them and place on the other six. You will now have two tiers of sections in all stages of progress, on half of the hive. Now fill the other half with sections. You now have 96 IX-inch sections on the hive, and have them away above the hive. Now make a rim of J4 lumber, with a lath belt around, to set on the top of the hive. Better use ten-inch lumber, because, if the season is good, we shall need more room. When you come to add the third tier of sections you need take only one or two section -holders from the second tier that the 394 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. bees have commenced in, and put them in the third tier; then fill in with empty sections the second tier, where you removed these. You see you can build this hive up as high as you like, and add as much section room as is needed. Last season I built one up to the fifth tier of sections. I use flat metal covers for these hives, and set the hives tipping a little toward the front. Now, what difficulties have I overcome? In the first place, I have done away with queen- excluding honey-boards by making the hives satisfactory to the bees. I have never had a queen enter the sections. I have no use for bee-escapes, as the bees are nearly all shaken off when the honey is removed from the hive. I can take the honey as soon as it is done — one section or a hundred as the case may be — before it becomes travel-stained. I have no warping of covers or shrinking of cases or supers to let the light in, so the honey is properly finished, and, consequently, a larger per cent of No. 1 or fancy honey is secured than by any other sys- tem I know of. Swarming is entirely over- come, if proper management is given to the brood-nest the early part of the season; but if they are let alone, packing left on top, they swarm earlier than those in eight-frame hives, as they are always stronger earlier in the spring — in fact, all the season. Breckenridge, Mich., Apr. 19. [The following is a private note sent along with the article. It contains a valuable point; viz., that a young lady is going to manage an apiary of Jumbo hives.] Please ask questions, and I will answer them the best I can; but I labor under very many difficulties. I am nearly blind; have not been able to see to read or write for seven years, and am used up by that dreadful disease rheuma- tism. My eighteen-year-old daughter is doing this writing for me. She is to take charge of an out-yard of fifty or more Jumbo hives this season. You see, when they are once located the lifting is light; but I intend to use section- holders that will hold twelve IJ^-inch sections on these, as I believe they have some advan- tage over those I have used. Tliere are many valuable points 1 have not mentioned, but I think I have said enough — perhaps too much. IN FAVOR OF LARGE HIVES. " ONE - FOURTH MORE I5EES," " FIVE TO SIX FOURTHS xMOKE HONEY." By John Slnubaugh. Mr. Root:— I am not ready yet to send a post- al, telling you that I am tired of the discussion of an eight or ten frame brood-nest; but I am ready to send my experience. I can speak for my own locality only, my kind of honey, and my way of wintering bees. When the eight- frame brood-nest question came up first, I made my hives the same as I had made them before — a ten-frame Langstroth, with a division- board to contract to eight or nine frames, as I used to. In case the eight-frame would not answer my purpose, I could take out the division-board and go back to the ten-frame brood-nest. After a four-years' trial, eight, nine, and ten frame brood-nest side by side fully convinced me that, for my locality, my way of wintering, and the kind of honey pro- duced, the ten-frame is more profitable than either eight or nine. First, the less the brood- nest, the more inclined to swarm. There is, in- disputably, more room for a big force of workers in a ten-frame than can be crowded into an eight-frame hive. It is said the two outside combs in the ten-frame hive are not filled with brood, nor is the old honey always used up by the colony. True, it is not always used up when spring comes. Those left-over stores are a safeguard in caseof scarcity; and we all know that, if they are not all used up, there will be room in the brood-nest for a fourth more bees than in an eight-frame hive. I contend we can keep the bees with the one- fourth more bees just as long in the ten-frame hive, without swarming, as we can the bees with the one- fourth less in the eight-frame hive. The one- fourth more bees will give us from five to six fourths more honey. It might be said this is theory and not fact. Well, I hived two swarms together the 23d of June, 189-t, into a ten-frame hive. They filled the ten frames, and completed me 143 lbs. of section honey, while other ordinary swarms completed only about 56 sections. We want the biggest force of bees to gather the most honey. The eight-frame will not hold as large a force of bees as the ten-frame. If some of our colonies should seem to be rather too small for a ten-frame, why, use a division-board; that will be cheaper and much less trouble than one hive- body upon another. My next point is for my locality. I use the double-walled hive, wintering my bees on their summer stands, not having to carry my ten- frame hives in and out of the cellar. My third point is, I am running my apiary principally for comb honey, having the 1)4- story and the two-story chaff hives with two supers. As I make my own hives, I will make a twelve-frame one for trial this summer. If we here can keep bees from swarming, we can expect honey. Although this is not an extra good locality for honey, yet I have handled bees for from 35 to 30 years. I have never known bees here that would not always gather suffi- cient for winter stores, with the exception of some late swarms. John Slaubaugh. Eglon, W. Va., Mar. 15. [Perhaps before you go too far in the matter of enlargement you had better consider careful- ly the following:— Ed.] 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 395 THE EIGHT-FRAME HIVE PREFERRED. LOCALITY XOT A FACTOR IN THE MATTER; EXTK A- PROLIFIC QUEENS NOT NECESSARY; WORE BEES IN LARGE HIVES, BUT LESS HON- EY. AND MORE BEES IN THE FALL AS CON- SUMERS THAT HAVE TO BE FED; HOFFMAN FRAMES PREFERRED. AND WHY. By C. Davenport. As it seems some of the readers of Gleanings wish the discussion on large vs. small hives continued, perhaps you will allow me to say a few words on the subject. I prefer the eight- frame size: but I am a specialist— that is, I make a living, such as it is, by producing honey; and from quite a large and extensive experi- ence I know I can make more money with a large number of frames in eight-frame hives than I can with the same number in ten or twelve frame hives. But in order to do so it is necessary to feed some seasons in order to keep brood-rearing up. I employ a man for each yard the entire season. These are cheap men; that is, one of them who has been with me for a number of seasons is a man who has one wooden leg; another is a man who is not able to do a hard day's work. But they can feed bees all right. I believe the majority of bee-keepers, though, keep bees as a side issue only, and many of these do not wish or have not time to do much feeding in the spring and early summer, if necessary. For this class, as a general thing, I think the ten-frame hive the best; for the honey those two extra combs will contain, will, in a poor season, enable brood- rearing to be kept up much better than it would be with only eight. If no feeding were done, and if a flow did come, the colony on ten frames would have a much larger force of workers to secure it; but when I have gone beyond ten frames, in general I have got just that much less surplus — that is, with a twelve- frame hive I do not get as much surplus within 14 or 16 lbs.; and, besides, such a hive costs more, and it is much harder work to handle them. I do not think the locality makes much difference to the specialist about the right size of hive. Of course, it might make a difference as to the time, and amount to be fed. I believe I can make more in any locality with frames in the eight-frame hive than I can with the same number of frames in larger ones; for my expe- rience has been that, as a general thing, eight frames are enough for the best queens we can get at the present time. In saying "the best queens" I do not mean those that are the most prolific. I have had queens th&t would keep ten and in a few cases even twelve frames full of brood; but these queens needed to be prolific, for their bees were so short-lived that these col- onies could not store as much surplus as others whose queens did not keep eight frames full. Again, I have had very prolific queens whose bees lived long enough; but they were worth- less so far as surplus honey was concerned, for their entire time and attention seemed to be devoted to raising bees, and swarming. Last season, a poor one in this locality, I had in the home yard a high-priced queen that I had bought the previous summer. She was in a ten-frame hive, and she needed ten frames, for she was very prolific. This colony did not swarm. They partly filled one super. There were perhaps 15 sections completed. An eight-frame hive stood right beside this one, the queen of which was a hybrid. I do not believe she laid an egg in either of the outside combs during the entire season; yet this colony filled 96 sec- tions, and had plenty of stores for winter; and it is to-day one of thestrongest colonies I have. Another colony, in an eight-frame hive, whose queen, a pure Italian, was also bought the previous summer, filled five supers of 24 sections each. There were a few in the last super that were not completed. They also had to be fed a little in the fall; but they are in good shape at this writing. This queen is hardly equal to eight frames; but I regard her as one of the most valuable ones that I ever owned. Sometimes we see reports of queens that will keep twelve or even fourteen frames full of brood, and their bees store a large surplus. I have had two or three such queens; but they are very rare, and hard to get; and if we could get them, would ihey be any better? Suppose we had queens that would lay as much as two of the best ones we now have; could we get any more surplus for the same number of work- ers, or per frame, than we now do? I do not believe we could, from my experience. I be- lieve that, after a colony gets to a certain strength— a strength with the right kind of queen— the eight-frame hive gives ample room to develop, and they will store as much or more for the same number of workers as one much larger; and I had much rather produce 200 lbs. of honey in two eight-frame hives than I would in one sixteen-frame hive. Some of the advocates of large hives tell us that bees in such hives will raise a good many more bees during the latter part of the season, and thus have more bees for winter; and that, such being the case, they will winter better and build up faster in the spring. I will admit that colonies in large hives of twelve or four- teen frames will raise more bees at a time when there is nothing for them to do. This is why colonies in big hives do not store as much sur- plus. It takes a good deal of honey to raise and keep these extra bees over winter— enough so that, in large apiaries, it would amount to 8100 or more; and with me they generally die off in the spring before they have done much if any good. P.ut I winter in cellars altogether. In outdoor wintering it may be quite different, and the same may be true of deep frames. I have better success in wintering with bees on the standard frames than I do on those that are deeper. 396 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. The past winter was, for certain reasons, very hard on bees in this locality, whether they were in cellars or outdoors; and at present some of the strongest colonies that I have are in eight-frame Dovetailed hives; and I have col- onies in hives of many shapes, styles, and sizes — many more than I shall next year, if the pres- ent season proves a good one. There has been considerable comment in the past year or two in regard to the best style of frame. I use and prefer the Hoffman. It is not perfect, by any means; but I have tried in a small way nearly every thing in the shape of a frame that has been offered in the last few years, and for the rapid handling of bees the Hoffman is ahead of any thing I have tried yet. Still, there are many who do not like them. In talking with a bee-keeper last winter he said he considered them a great nuisance, as it was so much work to dig the first one out. He was using the ten-frame hive, and there was no room in it for a follower-board. I do not use the Hoffman in ten-frame hives, but I can well understand that, without the extra space and follower-board, as there is in the eight-frame hive, they would be a nuisance. In my opinion the ten-frame hive should be made wider, and the extra space in the supers could be filled with a board. But you have made an improve- ment in narrowing the ends of the top-bars, and in having the metal rabbets project up behind the ends of them. Most of those I have, the frames are the same width at the ends, and the metal rabbets do not come up back of them, and I have more trouble with propolis being stuck on and between the ends of them and the hive than I do on the V'd edges; but the way you are making them will, I think, nearly if not quite overcome this; still, the way mine are, I can handle them much faster than I can loose hanging frames, or frames that are hung on metal rabbets and spacers combined; for with the latter we have not the lateral motion so necessary for the rapid handling of frames. The former have it, but you can not use it with two or more frames combined, as you can the Hoffman, on account of smashing bees, and occasionally a queen also. Southern, Minn., May G. [This I consider to be one of the strongest and best articles we have ever received, and I think most of our readers, after perusing this carefully, will be convinced that the eight- frame hive is and should be kept the standard. Mr. Davenport is a very large and extensive bee-keeper, and his statements can be taken as in some degree authoritative. Regarding the Hoffman frames. I might say that the article on that subject in the editorials was written before the above came to hand. But it can be seen how nearly Mr. Davenport agrees with what I have said regarding the rapidity with which Hoffman frames may be handled. It is indeed true, that, to handle such frames properly, it is necessary to have a re- movable follower-board. The ten-frame hive ought to have been a little wider; but as it was standard in width as we send it out, we could not very well change it; and we did not at the time, and do not now, think that such size of hive will ever be universally adopted. I believe we have the Hoffman frame down now where it will not have to be changed or improved. The narrowing -up of the ends, while it facilitates the handling of the frames themselves, does away with a great deal of the propolis attachment at the ends. I find that, as friend Davenport says, the Hoffnians are held more by propolis attachments at the ends than by the uprights along the V edges; but having narrowed up this end, that sticking pro- pensity is reduced to a minimum. It is true, the Hoffman frames are not per- fect, but neither is any other good thing per- fect; but I believe it comes the nearest to filling the bill for a general all-around brood-frame; and the great beauty of it is, it i-s everybody's property. All can make and use it.— Jio.] HOW THE BEES WINTERED AT DR. MILLER'S. THE NECESSITY OP A BEE-FLTGHT BEFORE PUTTING INTO THE CELLAR. By Emma Wilson. Last fall the exceedingly good weather during the month of October fooled us into leaving our bees at the out-apiaries so long that we were caught napping at last. The weather suddenly turned very cold, and the bees did not have an opportunity for a good fly before they were put into the cellar. October 31st the first two loads from the Wilson apiary were brought home. Nov. 1st all were brought home from the Has- tings apiary. Nov. 2d being a warm day, all these bees had a tolerably good fly. The last two loads of bees were brought home from the Wilson apiary Nov. 3d. Nov. 5th these last bees were flying, with the thermometer at 40°, while the other bees remained quiet in their hives. Nov. 20th the bees were put into the cellar. They had been through two very hard freezes, with the thermometer at 7 to 10° above zero, with 2i.< inches of snow on the ground. We disliked putting them into the cellar without a good fly, but did not dare to leave them out any longer. If we could have foreseen the future it would have been better to leave them out until Dec. 21st, as that was a nice warm day. And it would have paid us well if we had carried them out for a fly on that day and then carried them back again. About Jan. 10th the house cellar commenced to smell bad, and two of the strongest colonies were pretty badly daubed. March 18th was a nice day; and as many of the colonies were in such bad condition we con- cluded to take them out for a fly. even if we had to carry them all back again. There were 110 colonies put into the house cellar. Of these, 94 came out alive and 16 were dead, and 31 more colonies have died since taking out. The house cellar contained the Wilson and Hastings bees. All of the Hastings bees came out alive, and 100 per cent of them are alive at the time of writ- ing. Those that died from the Wilson apiary, 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 397 as nearly as we can make out, were all from the two loads that were hauled last. In the Wil- son apiary the colonies were much heavier and stronger than either of the others, it being the one apiary that required little feeding for win- ter. Now, what caused the mortality ? It seems a very plain case that it was the failure to have a good fly after being hauled, for that was the only difference between those two loads of bees and the rest, as they were wintered in the same cellar under exactly the same condi- tions. I guess we won't be caught napping again. No bees of ours will be likely to be hauled as late as November hereafter. April 4th we carried the bees out of the shop cellar. They belong to the home apiary. They were in fine condition when taken out, and to all appearances could have remained some time longer in the cellar, without injury. Of the 89 colonies put into the cellar, two died. Marengo, 111. [I take it that your bees wintered perfectly, with the exception noted. I should not have supposed that the lack of a good flight just after being hauled home, and before putting them into the cellar, would have made all this difference.— Ed.] CALIFORNIA ECHOES. By Rambler. Many standard appliances used in the East are in but little use here. The bee-tent is a valuable adjunct to the apiary, but we seldom find one in California. Messrs. Gemmel and Alpaugh, of Canada, made a host of friends while here. We should like to annex them to California. It would lengthen their days of usefulness, and give us two more live bee-keepers. In the last A. B. J., Mr. Dadant thinks the new forage-plant, sacaline, is a honey-produc- ing plant. If it proves true, it means much for California, for just now there is much talk about introducing it into Southern California; and if New Mexico can grow sainfoin, Califor- nia surely can. Every bee-keeper who has a spot of ground upon which to test these plants should sow the seeds this year. The Hon. J. M. Hambaugh. of Illinois, so- journed for several weeks in California; and in summing up his observations in a recent issue of the American Bee Journal he said, " The half has never been told." When you consider that several persons have attempted to throw doubt upon the statements of such writers as Prof. Cook, Dr. Gallup, and the Rambler, the above from Bro. Hambaugh is truly helpful. We have said much about California; but, re- member " the half has never been told." There is much said recently in the American Bee Journal about the practice of spreading brood in the spring, the majority taking gronud against it. It is very safe advice when applied to the bee-keeper in the cold corners of the East; but here in California the spreading of brood can be indulged in with but little danger to the colony, and it is largely practiced here in the spring. It is safe to say that all of the leading bee-keepers do thus enlarge the brood-nest, and equalize until the honey-har- vest commences. It pays in dollars. Please allow me to return thanks to the " Ladye Faire " who sent me that " confusion " of poetry. I am looking with much favor upon the fair sex just now, and am poetically dispos- ed; and. being a lonely bachelor, I have been in a deep study over the following for some time: " Fact is," said the one bee-man, " I married because I was lonely as much as for any other reason. To put it tersely, I married for sympa- thy." "Well," said the other bee-man, "you have mine." Eastern people come to California for various reasons— some for their health, some to engage in fruit culture, some to produce honey, and some to fill in the various other industries. Nearly all of these classes do well. They very sensibly consider that this is a new country, and it requires time for development, and they will endure a little hardship at first, in order to reap the advantages later; and, speaking of bee-keepers, there are hundreds of them who have made money out of the business, and thousands more will do the same. There is a class of people, however, who ar- rive here from the East, expecting that every breeze is balmy, every sunbeam evenly balanc- ed between heat and cold, and that golden nuggets are found in every sandhill. Owing to the fact that we do have disagreeable climatic features, and sometimes a failure in crops, precious little loose gold, and now and then a real bad real-estate man, this class of enlarged expectancy soon shake the dust of California from their feet, and seek the East, howling their grievances to high Heaven. We look around us and expect to see the whole of the State sink; but, no; she still waves; and the evidences of prosperity — growing towns, thriv- ing communities— lead us to look with pity and a derisive smile upon the rantings of the mistak- en emigrants. Moral.— If you are doing well where you are, are respected, healthy, and passably contented, by all means stay there. If you have poor health, and .?]00() or more to invest you will do well to come to California. If you are along in years, remember what Dr. Gallup says: "Cali- fornia is the old man's paradise." My advice at all times is, to look well before you leap. Mr. Gee and myself find the prog-eny of the queens we g-Qt first from you to Ije far better honey-grather ers than the other bees we have had. Mr. Gee has four strains (New South Wales bred), but he gives the palm to yours, both last year and this. Minto, N. S. W., Aus., Dec. 24, 1894. P. D. Page. 398 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mat 15. WAX. THE QUALITIES AND SOURCE OF WAX. By Karl Rudolph Mathey. Beeswax is a substance which is produced the world over by the various members of the Apl- dce (bee) family. Opinions vary greatly as to whether bees obtain it from the different kinds of sap which they find on certain flowers which serve them as food, or whether the pollen of such plants furnishes the requisite material. Wax itself may be considered either as a secre- tion or as a separate product; for when bees are quiet in their hives the wax may be seen in the form of minute scales, exuding from be- tween the little rings of their abdomen. The worker bees either take these scales up from the bottom of the hive or else they receive them directly from the bees and form cells therewith. Many bees are kept in European countries — Austria, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, and Turkey ; and these countries furnish the main part of European beeswax. And, too. the Orient, especially Persia and Asiatic Turkey, furnishes considerable amounts, to which may be added the yield from the East Indies, Japan, China, Africa, and America, though not all the wax from these countries is designed for Euro- pean consumption. German wax comes from North Germany, from the heathy regions of the lower Elbe, from Hanover. Holstein. East Fries- land, etc. In Middle Germany it is more par- ticularly from Thuringia (a part of Saxony) that much good wax is produced; Bavaria, especial- ly Mittle Franken; then Wurtemberg and Ba- den have, by careful bee culture, produced a superior wax. German wax forms no article of commerce, as it is used mostly in home con- sumption. Austrian wax, Bohemian, Moravi- an, Silesian, and that from Bukovina and Po- land, are ranked as among the best kinds. The wax of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Galicia, is among the softest. Recently two kinds have been noted — the West Galician, having a strong odor of fir-tree rosin, and that from East Galicia (Bukovina), varying in color from red to brown- ish-yellow. It has a fine odor and considerable firmnes.s. As buckwheat is a prominent plant for bee-pasturage in these regions, the wax produced therein is of the best, as is the case in all districts where this cereal is grown in sufli- cient quantities. Hungary and its surrounding country produce much wax; also the region around Fiinfkirchen, and especially Banat, with its rich fields. Sie- benbergen sends much wax to the Buda-Pest market, and finds there in all cases willing buy- ers. Illyria (Carniola) and the Tyrol, and the country around Klagenfurt, furnish wax at all times, against which the Russian wax offers no competition, on account of the unsightly shape in which the latter comes. The best kind of wax known is the Bosnian — even better than the Turkish. But it is the dearest, and the reddest in color. All countries which use much sweet (and that is especially the case with Turkey) make much use of honey, and pursue bee-keeping with par- ticular zeal and scrupulous care, and hence are in condition to offer to the world a wax of sur- passing excellence in quality. Almost equal to the Turkish wax is that from Greece, whether it be from the mainland or from the numerous islands of that country. The French follow bee-keeping with the greatest assiduity. Brit- tany and southern France furnish the best wax. Burgundy, Landes, Normandy, and the regions around Bordeaux, produce inferior kinds of wax; but it does not appear on the market, as it is all used at homo, and considerable quanti- ties are even imported. In Paris there are sev- eral large firms that deal in honey and wax ex- clusively ; and large wax-bleaching establish- ments, with hundreds of workmen, are engaged in this business. Spanish wax, in blocks weigh- ing two or three pounds, is but little sought after in comparison with the French. Apicul- ture in Spain is in a rather primitive condition. Italy produces, in Sardinia, Lombardy, and Venice, considerable quantities of wax, and ex- ports some, notwithstanding the great amounts used at home. Wax, as produced by the bees and worked into comb, is snow-white; but that which comes from the hive, separated from the honey, has, on the other hand, a yellowish cast, varying in intensity. It is generally furnished in level cellular honey-combs by bee-men, from white to dark yellow, or now and then even a grayish yellow. It has a granular and generally shelly appearance where broken, showing a crystalline structure. At a low temperature it is brittle ; but the warmth of the hand renders it soft and yielding, in which condition it can be kneaded. It has a slightly spicy taste, and does not stick to the teeth when chewed. In water or cold spirits it is not soluble; but in boiling alcohol it dissolves readily. On cooling, however, most of it returns to its original condition, so but lit- tle of it remains in solution. Sulphuric acid, ether, benzine, and spirits of turpentine, as well as most of the etheric oils, dissolve it complete- ly. It admits of combination with most fats and fatty oils, in all proportions, by melting. The specific gravity of pure beeswax is from .96.5 to .973. Its melting-point lies between 143 and 14,5°, and it becomes hard again at about 136°. If a higher temperature be applied, the wax is entirely decomposed, and vaporizes, but leaves no perceptible acrolin odor. The coloring-matter in wax bleaches best in full sunlight. Bleached wax is found on the market in round, thin, translucent sheets. It has a mildly rancid smell, no taste, and melts between 147 and 152°, having a specific gravity ranging from .970 to .976, but preserves in other respects the original properties of yellow wax. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 399 BAMBLE 132. BEE-KEEPING IN LAKEPORT. By Rambler. When we pulled out again from our camp the added factors to our cavalcade attracted much attention. The people who were lounging around the springs cast curious glances at us as we rolled out of sight through the dust. Susan B. formed a cordial attachment to our ponies; and whenever we would get beyond her vision her shrill neighing reverberated up the mountain sides. No, Susan B. was not wind-broken, even if she was old and some of her teeth loose. We traverse Cobb's Valley, and meet many new features on the way. This valley seems to have several fine ranches which were evidently a sufficient support, without living off the tour- ist; but we discovered that the tourist was the legitimate prey of even the ranchers. Herein the pretty shady Glen wood we had to pay 20 cents per loaf for bread. The postmistress of the nook was real pretty and sociable, and was fully as well posted in relation to roads and distances as the village blacksmith; and while she sold ns stamps and bread she gave us much valuable information. Bro. Pryal wanted to camp right there and then, at midday. Wilder and I would not listen to such a proposition, and, cracking the whip, swung around the corner out of sight. Of course, Susan B. whin- nied, pawed the earth, and whirled around; the postmistress stopped in the middle of a story, and fled to her little office. Susan B. pulled so hard on the bits that Pryal had to let 'ergo. This little inkling of our friend's ad- miration of the fair sex gave us some fears that there would be disastrous results in the future, which, alas! did prove true. Cobb's Valley was also noted for its delight- ful camping-grounds, running streams, and shady nooks. At the northern extremity a mountain 4000 feet in height, named Uncle Sam, beamed down upon us. Geologists tell us that Uncle vSam bears the proud distinction of being an extinct volcano. The evidences of volcanic action were visible in the rocks; for here was a whole mountain, not far from Uncle Sam, that appeared to be constructed wholly of black glass. Our friend the blacksmith again gave us much valuable information. This blacksmith's impressions of California were peculiar. South- ern California, he said, lived ofT the eastern tourist; said tourists are naturally stingy, and spend but little money; consequently the south end of the State is not prosperous. Northern California, on the other hand, depended upon the San Francisco and Oakland tourist, and they spent their money with reckless freedom; therefore this portion of California was the more prosperous. The people and the towns, however, belied his statements, for the song of hard times was loud and long; and now and then a town was in the fatal stages of dilapida- tion. In Kelseyville were numerous vacant houses with broken doors, paneless windows, and shutters awry. Near this town we met a tourist leaving the country, and he held a very pronounced opinion in relation to the Swiss features, characterizing them as a delusion and a snare. Hurrah! here is Lakeport, and this time the lake. Clear Lake is 28 miles in length, and 10 wide. Upon its shore we pitched our camp, tired and dusty. Several of those little gaso- line-launches were puffing to and fro across the lake, giving quite a lively appearance to its placid surface. Lakeport is quite a pretty town, with a fine climate. The lake seems to be naturally adapt- ed to the breeding of billions of buffalo-gnats. In the evening, clouds of them surrounded our lantern and persisted upon going to roost in our tent; and in the town the space between win- dows and the screens was several inches deep Bjtes with dead gnats. The nuisance was, however, only during the evening. In the morning they retired to the tules that lined the shore. And what a beautiful picture our lake presented at sunrise! The air was filled with smoke from forest fires further north; and the sun, as it arose, appeared like a great red ball of fire. The lake, as smooth as a mirror, reflected the sun in a long blood-red pathway across the lake. The moon and its silvery pathway we had witnessed many times upon our lovely eastern lakes, and it has been likened unto angel-walks from earth to heaven; but this blood-red road suggested the pathway of demons from earth to some unknown sphere. Before entering Lakeport, Mr. Pryal inform- ed us that there must be a progressive bee- keeper in or near town, for one P. J. Moreley had purchased queens from him. Mr. Pryal took a turn into town after we had camped, and found his man. Mr. Moreley was the lead- 400 GLEAN12sGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. ing (and I am not sure but he was the only) harness-maker in town, and bee-keeping he conducted as a side issue. Mr. M. came from that good but cold country, Sweden, and had been a resident of this coun- try for only five years. He occupied a very pretty residence in the edge of the town, sur- rounded by trees and luxuriant foliage, and the bees were in neat dovetailed hives placed here and there under the trees; and. though some of the hives were only a few feet frotn the street, the bees were not troublesome to the neighbors. Mr. M. seems to be a thorough mechanic, and showed us a new kink in putting together the dovetailed hive. A piece of tin Ix nt at right angles, long enough and wide enough to cover the ends of the dovetails, is securely nailed to the corners of the hive. There was no chance for sun and rain to get in their warping effects. Upon the date of our visit, Aug. 30, the bees were working quite lively, and we were shown quite a number of sections in which the bees were storing a good quality of amber honey. We were also shown combs nicely drawn from foundation, and well filled with honey, which had been inserted in the hive on the 26th, or Sunday, five days previous to our examination. When Mr. Morley first came to this country he used a hive that was in general use in Swe- den. This hive was 18 inches deep, and con- tained 24 frames. The latter were 14 inches deep and 10 inches in length. From one of these hives he secured 900 lbs. of honey. Hav- ing no extractor he cut out the combs contain- ing honey, on Sunday. By the next Sunday MORELEY'S SMOKEK. the bees had built new comb and filled it with honey; and the cutting-out process was per- formed again. The operation was continued through the entire season, with the above re- sults. The honey was gathered from wild sun- flower, and was of a bad quality. Mr. M. finds a home market for his honey, selling his comb honey for 25 cts. per lb., and the extracted for 10 cts. Mr. Pryal was pleased to be introduced to a queen uf his own breeding, and showing finely marked progeny. We were also intro- duced to some Carniolan stock from Mrs. Ben- ton, and a strain of Italians from Lockhart's apiaries. Mr. Moreley had bred the Carniolans in Sweden, and had much experience with both races; and it was his opinion that, for business, the Italians were far superior to the Carniolans. Mr. M.'s smoker was of that kind which causes some controversy and any amount of ugly comment. It has been described as follows: "A little roll of tobacco-leaves with a fire at one end and a sucker at the other," or the cigar. Mr. M. had a polite way of wafting the smoke over the bees. They understood the plan, and were handled without gloves or veil. Mr. Moreley would be a successful apiarist upon a larger scale; but the transforming of leather into horse-trappings seems to have the greater attraction, and in that business beseems to be successful. Lakeport is some distance from railroad trans- portation; and this,, with the dark grade of honey usually obtained, would probably deter the apiarist from making honey a specialty in this location. Mr. M. kept abreast of the times by being a subscriber to Gleanings and the Revieic; and we had a very enjoyable visit with him. We stopped a day ih Lakeport, in order to allow Mr. Pryal's propensity to fish to have full play. His efforts piscatorial resulted in about as many bites as Wilder's signs of deer. I was pleased that my traveling-companions mounted such opposite hobbies; for when they did both mount the same hobby later on, ruin and devas- tation marked their pathway. THE T SUPER, AND WHY THERE IS NOT A DE- MAND FOR IT. WHY SOME THINGS GO AND OTHERS NOT. [I would explain to our readers that A. B. Anthony has made some suggestions regarding the T supers; but as Dr. C. C. Miller has had more experience along that line I forwarded them to him for reply. The doctor sent his re- ply to me, and I have in return again sent them on to friend Anthony. I have not space to give the whole of the discussion, but I give the "tail end" of it. Dr. Miller's comment on a previous letter of Mr. Anthony's appears first.] If I understand Mr. Anthony correctly, he proposes to change the length of the brood- frame so as to accommodate more perfectly the super. Then he will have a super % inch long- er inside than four sections, and fill up that space with wedges at each end, or with a wedge and follower at one end. In actual practice I find no great difificulty in having a super short- er inside than the brood-chamber. He can tell 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 401 better after trying how he will like the pro- posed change, but I'm not sure there will be any real gain. If I am not mistaken, the main thing he is after is to have the sections crowded close together end to end, so there shall be no space between them. That, of course, is to avoid the crack for bee-glue. Now, there can be no advantage in that over the plan of hav- ing the little top separators crowded between the sections; for what difference can it make to a section whether it is crowded tight against another section or against another piece of wood? But it may be more satisfactory to him to put the matter to actual test. At A is shown the close fit between two sec- tions, and at B the top separator between. If they are crowded equally tight together, what chance is there for bee-glue in one case more than another? C.C.Miller. Marengo, 111. [The following is the reply by Mr. Anthony. The experience that I have had personally with T supers inclines me to agree with Dr. M. rather than with Mr. A.] Mr. _Root;— Really I think the doctor must have been sleepy when he replied to the last article of mine. I did not mean we should change the length of the L. frame to accommo- date the super. I only said, " Let us suppose our frame is 17 inches long." I did that hoping that E. R. Root would notice it as one point in favor of a shorter frame, as he had somewhat expressed himself as wanting to hear from me on the subject of hives, and because my own brood-frame is just that long. I think if any one would try to find the cause for the 4}4x4:}4 section coming so largely into use, the first and principal reason would be on account of the length of the L. frame. The doctor says there can be no advantage over having little top separators between sections, and that there would be no diflference between a section crowded against a section, or one section against anotlier piece of wood. He for- got that we were making the super suitable for open-side as well as closed sections. Sep- arator stuff closed the opening along the top of sections; but with the open-side sections there will be all that space under the separator stuff and over the T tins to be filled with propolis. Mr. Root thinks that the T super is so little used now that the subject might as well be dropped. I am sorry that he thinks so. Almost all' living kind seems to have its leader or au- thority to look to, and it is right. It is in E. R. Root's hands that most of the responsibility lies as to what shall be adopted by the bee- keepers of the United States. But very few people are capable of making the wisest choice as to what is best for them to use; and some of the few who are, prefer to use what the rest do, so as to be in good company. It only wants Mr. Root's sanction, and in three years it will be all the go. If Mr. Root would only give the matter a little close attention, and call others' attention to it, I think they would realize the value of its simplicity, its cheapness, and adaptability to the different widths of sections that people want. If formed as I have advocated, I am sure they could put in and take out sections quicker and easier than in other supers of this day. The one great necessity is to have one and the same thing fill the wants of all. I have seen the time when I was out of sections, and could have bought of a neighbor bee-keeper; but his width of sections would not fit my supers. Also the time when I could have accommodat- ed my neighbors had it not been for the same difficulty. Looking around us at other things, we see that the wheels of all vehicles run in the same rut; all locomotives on the same track; all axes fit the same handle: all kettles fit the different stoves; plows turn the same furrow, and machine after machine goes the same round in the field. Progress must have its way; and to look in the same line down to this very year we find the Columbia bicycle folks coming out with a pump-and-valve at- tachment that fits other wheels and what is coming to be the standard. And so should bee- fixtures have the same combined fitness that is found in other things in these more modern days. A. B. Anthony. Coleta, 111., April 17. [Now, friend A., you intimate that whatever I push will surely " go." I plead guilty to hav- ing started the use of some new implements; but these are implements of real merit. I have tried to push some other things that did not go that I thought had real merit. I think the Pratt automatic hiver, for instance, under cer- tain circumstances, might prove a valuable assistant in the apiary, and it did indeed do well for us. I pushed it in the catalog and in the journal; but it did not go at all. And, again, inasmuch as yourself. Dr. Miller, and some others, think the T super should not be crowded out of sight, we have put in our cata- log a better illustration, and improved it so it can be used on the Dovetailed hive, and yet take 4>4^ sections. Here is the cut. By cleating the ends, shorter frames are un- necessary; so also are handholes. Well, al- though we have given it more prominence, and improved it so that it leaves nothing to be de- 402 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. sired, it doesn't go, and I doubt if it would were we to say It was "just as good." — Ed.] oo-rJM COMBINATION QUEEN-AND-DRONE TRAP AND SWARM-CATCHER. By Henry Alley. There is a demand by a large number of bee- keepers for a simple, practical, and cheap de- vice for either hiving or catching a swarm of bees when it issues. A practical self-hiving arrangement has not as yet been devised, as experiments the past few years have demon- strated. I think the device here described, for catching a swarm of bees, will prove not only practical, but will prove satisfactory to all who try them. The arrangement is simple in con- struction, inexpensive, and, though not a self- hiver — that is, the bees are not hived in the hive they are to occupy as a permanent home — yet the swarm is caught and hived till they can be placed in a hive or otherwise disposed of as the apiarist desires. The swarm-catcher is used in connection with the Alley queen-and-drone trap, and can be used on almost any style of hive, and fasten- ed thereto with little or no trouble. wSome of the advantages of this device are, that the apiarist can go from home one or more days at a time, and rest assured that, should his bees swarm during his absence, they can not decamp, and they surely would be found in the catcher — a fact one can know by a mere glance at the catcher and without an extended examination either. In case a swarm is found in the catch- er, it will require not over one minute's time to transfer the bees to a hive. Although the catcher is used in connection with the queen-trap, the trap will not have to be altered in the least to connect it with the catcher. When the catcher is not needed for catching swarms it can be removed, while the trap can remain in position to trap drones or a queen as the case may be. This arrangement in no way interferes with the bees while they are at work, and would hardly be noticed by them, even when first put on the hive. This arrangement can be used as a self-hiver if any one so desires. All that is needed is to place a hive of combs over the catcher, as seen in the cut, or frames having starters in them, connecting the catcher and hive by an opening direct up through the top of the catcher and bottom of hive. In my opinion this arrange- ment would come nearer a practical hiver than any device yet described in the various bee- publications. And now, friend Root, one word about the improved queen-and-drone trap. Those who have not used the improved trap know but little about what a perfect queen-trap is. Un- like the old-style trap, the new one has metal in the back side as well as on the front. The bees while at work can pass in or out through any part of the trap. There is no such thing as killing bees by being caught in the trap. Unless care was taken in placing the old-style trap on the hive, a colony of bees would be smothered. Not so with the new style, as there is no way the entrance to the hive can be closed by the trap, and the bees can pass up the back side of the trap, and pass out or in. The trap as now arranged does not prevent free ventila- tion of the hive during the hottest weather. But in some cases where there were very large colonies the old-style trap did not admit of suf- ficient ventilation. Wenham, Mass. [Perhaps the readers will understand the swarm-caieher a little better when I say that the device is simply an ordinary Alley trap, the upper compartment of which has been enlarged to take a large swarm, and hold it for a day or two till the apiarist can give it his special at- tention. The hive on top. with the Alley trap, as shown in the cut, is not necessary when the device below is used simply as a swarm-catcher, but only when used as a self-hwcr. I have no doubt the arrangement will work as Mr. Alley says.— Ed.] 50LDEN'S BEE-FEEDER. By J. A. Oolden. Mr. iJoot:— Having shipped you one of my combined hive-covers and bee-feeding arrange- ments, specially named bee-feeder, permit me to give you a short description of the device and 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 403 its advantages over any other, so far as my ex- perience goes. In doing this I do not wish to be understood as having any new-fangled dish or pan to hold the syrup, more than any open-top vessel. The special features of my invention, then, are, first, a brood-frame cover provided with a bee-space over the top of the brood-frames, per- mitting the heat from each cluster to unite, as from one compact cluster, during cold weather; also, bees are not required to travel to the bot- tom or around the extreme ends of combs, to pass from one comb to another to feed; and as this cover is made of thin lumber, it admits of ample ventilation; thus sweat and moldy combs are overcome, which undoubtedly create dis- ease, which so frequently occurs when oilcloth and other substances are placed in contact upon the frames. Second, the cover is provided with a recepta- cle or box made permanently open, the cover having a wire- screen cover fastened by two small hinges. Upon the board, near one end, in- side of this box, a slot 3g' x 6 inches is cut. per- mitting the bees to step from the brood-frames right into the receptacle, in which any open-top feeding-utensil is placed, and is always ready to receive feed, either for stimulating brood-rear- ing, cell-building, winter stores, or filling out unfinished sections at the close of the honey- flow, thus doing away with gathering up feed- ers, smoking the bees, lifting lids, pulling off oilcloths, exciting bees, often subjecting the young tender brood to a blast of cold air. the latter being detrimental, as every rational bee- keeper knows, and the tired apiarist is relieved from the arduous work required in the above, besides frequently preventing unwelcome visits from robber-bets. I wish to say, before closing, that, when feed- ing extracted honey back to finish sections at the close of the honey-flow, have a bee-entrance at each end of the feed-receptacle box, and place a feed-dish between. Thus the bees will do the work in a shorter time, having ample and shorter space to travel; and I also find, by thinning the honey somewhat, the bees can perform the work in a much shorter time ; and after supers have been taken off, the covers are replaced upon the hives, and there remain. Reinersvilie, O. DIJONES AND SWARMING. Question.— I am told that bees never swarm unless there are drones in the hive. Now, will it keep my bees from swarming if drones and drone comb are kept out of the hive ? ^?isw'er.— There are a few bee-keepers who argue that, if all drones and drone comb are kept out of the hive it would be, to some extent, a preventive of swarming; but with me I have failed to see that this matter of drones has h^d any thing to do with the matter of swarming whatever; for I have several times had hybrid colonies in my apiary, from which I have taken all drone combs, and not allowed them to rear drones, because I did not want my young queens to meet such drones; yet, so far as I could see, these colonies swarmed as promptly as did those having drones. I said, "from which I have taken all drone comb," and meant just this; but will explain that, to keep all drones out of a hive, means the opening of that hive every 20 days, and decapitating a few hundred drones in their cells; for where all drone comb is removed, drone-cells will be built in all sorts of out-of-the-way places, for I have yet to see the hive containing a populous colo- ny during June and July that had not a few cells of drone comb in it; and I do not believe that these few cells can be kept out; for worker comb will be cut down and drone built in its place if a few cells can not be gotten otherwise. From my experience in the past I would say that it is not practical to try to keep all drone comb out of any hive, but, rather, have just one frame in each and every hive, having from six to twelve square inches of drone comb in it, and have such comb stand in a certain place in each hive, so that the apiarist may know just where it is; then every twenty days open the hives from which it is desired that no drones shall fly, and decapitate them, thus making a sure thing of the matter, and fully satisfying the bees. In this way you will not have a few drone-cells scattered all through the hive, nor will you have to use a drone-trap at the en- trance to catch undesirable drones. If this comb with drone-cells is placed uf^ar the out- side of the hive, and the drone comb is near the top-bar of the frame, you will not have to de- capitate the drones more than three limes dur- ing the season, for the queen will be slow in 404 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. depositing eggs in it; and when honey comes in, the bees will All it with honey, thus keeping the queen from depositing eggs in it. SUI-PHUKING HONEY. Question.— J see by Gleanings for April 15th that some have trouble in sulphuring hon<^y on account of turning the combs and wood of the sections a yellowish green. How do you pre- vent this? Answer. — This is one of the nice points, and one on which I did a good deal of experiment- ing in the past, after nearly ruining the first lot of comb honey I tried to sulphur; for at that time no one had given any caution regard- ing this matter. Honey should be stored in a small room where the temperature can be kept high, so that it can ripen out after the sections are taken from the hive. The sections should be stored on scantling, placed in such a way that the fumes from burning sulphur can pass between the sections all through the whole pile, if signs of the larvae of the wax-moth aj-e found. The right quantity to burn to kill tLe larvae I found to be. after many trials, three- fourths of a pound to every 200 cubic feet contained in the room. Put some ashes in an iron kettle, and on the ashes a few live coals; pour the sulphur on, shove under the pile of honey, and close the door. Now leave for about fifteen minutes, when the door should be opened and the smoke let out. If too much is used, or the room left closed too long, we'a.re sure to have the sections and combs discolored. Really the best plan is to have a window in this honey-room, so that, when the door is shut, you can go to this window and watch the flies, which will collect on it as soon as the fumes from the burning sulphur begin to fill the room. One by one they will begin to be stupefied, and in from eight to twelve minutes the last one will have ceased to move. I used to wait two minutes after the last fly was lifeless, then open the door and window, so as to cause a draft and let the smoke out quick, and after thus work- ing I never failed to kill the wax-moth larva, nor did I ever have any combs or sections col- ored. That you may not take in the fumes of sulphur yourself, the window should be made so it can be opened from the outside as well as the door. Some seem to think that a red-hot iron dropped in the sulphur gives better results than pouring the sulphur on the coals, as given above; but with me the coals do good work, and are always handy from the cook-stove, as we burn wood in the summer season. '"WHAT SHALL WE DO?" Question— Did you read what A. I. R. said under the above heading on page 328 of April 15th Gleanings? If so, is such doctrine sound ? Answer.— J do not know that the Gleanings friends will allow an answer to this question in this department; but as I believe that Bro. A. I. Root will sanction the "greatest good to the greatest number." I will venture a few words. The " good Book " says, "If any will not work, neither should he eat," which coincides with Bro. Root's '• God surely helps those who help themselves." Then Bro. R. is quite right in saying that " the world owes no man any thing until he has earned it;" but when he comes to advise us not to have any thing to do with bankers, manufacturers, etc., who show them- selves greedy and dishonest, I fear he did not stop to fully take in our present situation. His father succeeded in doing what he tells us of "without any help from millionaires," because there were no millionaires in this country at that time; for, prior to 1860, there was scarcely a millionaire in this country, and the legisla- tion of this country at that time gave that father the privilege of keeping fully 95 cents out of every dollar of wealth which he produc- ed from the land covered with woods which he occupied, to use for himself and his loved ones, while the wealth- producers of to-day in this country have to part with .52 cents out of every dollar's worth of wealth they produce, to add to the millions of the few who force up prices by combines, trusts, corners, etc., of the necessa- ries of life, that they may amass fortunes that no man can comprehend, out of the toil, sweat, and deprivations of the masses. Fifty-six of the actual necessities of life are controlled and cornered by trusts and monopolies; and yet Bro. Root says, "have nothing to do with them." Abstain from beef, and punish the dressed-beef combine; abstain from bread, and punish the millers' trust; from light, and pun- ish the oil combine; from coal, and punish the coal combine. Is it possible to have nothing to do with these? According to the Chicago Tribune, the Standard Oil Co. cleared fully ?75 000.000 in ten days by the recent forcing-up of prices on oil, with not a farthing greater cost of production than before. The coal barons have lately met, and decided that the output of coal should be lessened, and the price advanced 50 cents per ton. The dressed-beef trust have doubled the prices of beef to the con- sumers in our eastern cities, while the producer of said beef, and the 'retailer, have to be con- tent with nearly the same pay for the wealth produced by them as before. I can not think Bro. Root fully realized the import of what he wrote when he penned those sentences. "Turn the light a little lower, John, so we shall not burn so much oil, for oil has gone up in price, you know, and all we have to sell brings less. Use as little coal in building the morning fire as possible, John, for now it takes .50 lbs. of honey to buy a ton of coal, while in 1874 it took only 14. Let us economize all we can, for at best I almost fear we shall not be able to meet the rent this year." Such was the conversation heard at a bee-keeper's house one evening not long ago; and it only represents the condition of multitudes of hard-working people strug- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 403 gling for an existence, while the few revel in wealth at their ease, said wealth being wrung from the masses by the legislation of the past. Did God ever intend that a few men, through unjust legislation, should enjoy the good things of this world while the many should suiTer? Is it not about time we began to legislate for the masses instead of the classes? [Friend D., I most heartily agree with the text you quote — " tf any will not work, neither shall he eat." But you surely do not mean that every man must necessarily earn his bread entirely by muscular work. Quite a few of the readers of Gleanings buy potatoes in the fall, and hold them over till the spring, taking great pains to keep them in good condition in the hope of getting better prices. Now. wheth- er they buy the potatoes in the fall, or raise them on their own farms, they are to a certain extent speculatinc on the chances of a scarcity in the spring. Whoever furnishes potatoes for seed must be more or less of a speculator: hut may not his work be as honest as that of his neighbor who sells his potatoes as soon ns they are dug? If the Standard Oil Co. did clear 75 millions of dollars, as you say, in ten days, it was a gigantic gambling operation; and the gambling mania of the present time is one of the most terrible evils that threaten us. You say mv father kept 95 cts. out of every dollar, but that we to-day can keen only .52 cts. out of every dollar, etc. I believe I have read enough in regard to the matter you allude to, to under- stand it pretty well; and if I am correct there are only comparatively few people who agrpe with your statement. You suggest that the times are terribly hard for poor people. Sun- pose I should take the time and space to make out a list of the things that are cheaper for poor people than ever before. We should all consider that, when any thing gets to be very cheap, it is bad for the producer, but a blessing to tho«e who have to buy. The farmer gets but a small price for his wheat. At least one con- sequence is, that every humble home can have bread cheaper than ever before. I would not abstain from beef; but I would buy it from mv nearest neighbor who has beef to sell, and so with bread. If the miller is greedy and dishon- est. I would have a little mill of my own. I have found these little mills in many homes during my travels; and they have proved to b^ a great economy and comfort. I never found any better bread, to my notion, than that made from home-made flour. There are men who produce both coal and oil who are not in any combine, and refuse to enter one. Can we not do something, at least, by way of encouraging them? You speak of "hard-working people struggling for an existence." All mv life has been spent among hard-working people, and in many respects it seems to me they are havinsr a pretty good time. Wages run from SI. 35 to S1.50 per day. and almost every thing that a workineman has to buy is cheap and good. Of course, there are times and seasons when cer- tain things are away up: but with the great variety around the most of us. can we not select things that are reasonable ? I have no sympa- thy at all with the few who "revel in their great wealth, and live at their ease;" and mav God forbid that our crop of millionaires should continue to increase. — A. I. R.] A CORRECTION. On p. 344 of last issue, second column, third line from the bottom, it reads " lessens the first co.sf of the brood-nest." It should be first cast (first time filling the combs). H. R. Boardm.vn. ilf. C D., 0.— I should judge from what you say in your letter that your bees are afflicted with what is known as dysentery. The only cure I know is fair and warm weather. ^. S. M., Pa.— It is evident from your letter that the bees you speak of as crawling about and having swollen bodies are affected with the disease known as bee-paralysis. I know of no satisfactory cure for the disease. Some- times removing the queen seems to remove the trouble; but in many cases it does no good whatever. If you have very many other colo- nies, and these bees do not get any better, I would recommend destroying them entirely. M. L. B., III.— We are now using a very much better arrangement —T supers or combined crates, in connection with a honey- board. Wide frames— that is, double-tier— are not used very much, owing to the fact that burr-combs, used with the old-style frames, are apt to hold them down to the frames, making it somewhat difficult to remove them. But wide frames will come out all right providing the modern brood-frames are used in the lower part of the hive. J. M. E., Ala. — It would take a good many years for basswood or linden trees to yield honey — perhaps twenty. We set out a bass- wood orchard something over 20 years ago, and it is not yielding honey very satisfactorily even yet. The experiment is rather too expensive to engage in very extensively. — I can not ex- plain to you ^vhy some colonies are so much more energetic than others unless it be that the bees come from a more energetic queen. If you have a good queen, some colonies will do better than others, of course. W. R. JB., Ind. — The ants are a serious pest in certain parts of the South, but do not do much damage in the North. I would sug- gest that you find the nest, stick a crowbar in it, and make a hole about a foot deep in the center of it. Pour into this about 3< oz. of bisulphide of carbon. Tamp the hole tight, and you will have no further trouble from the ants. The bisulphide produces a gas, and kills them al- most instantly, the gas permeating all the gal- leries of the nest. B. D. C, N. H.—ln our A B C of Bee Culture, under the heading of Poisonous Honey-plants, you will find the mountain laurel described as a poisonous honey-plant. I do not know that any deaths have ever occurred from it; but it certainly is not a honey to put upon the mar- ket if the report from Dr. Grammer is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, because his state- ment has been confirmed by others. Under the 406 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. circumstances, if you intend to go into bee- keeping extensively you had better locate some- where else, for there is no doubt that the moun- tain laurel would yield well, and you might be able to sell the honey; but on the other hand you would be liable for heavy damages. W. TF., of N. Y., inquires how to feed bees in box hives. This can be done very nicely with the Gray entrance feeder shown on page 27 of the catalog we are sending you; or if you do not wish to go to that expense, use an ordinary common pan; pour in syrup made of sugar and water, about half and half, and spread over cheese-cloth. This should be put out in front of the entrance at night, because, if other bees are in the vicinity, it will cause robbing. The bees in the box hive will take the feed all in. Of course, such a plan of feeding would not answer in cold weather, but will do very well in late spring and summer. J. 0. S., Kan. — Yes, the comb in the super that was made last season will do to use this season; in fact, the bees will start in the sec- tions a little sooner if there are a few of them containing a little drawn-out comb made the previous season. When a swarm issues with two queens, if you let them alone one of the queens will probably be disposed of; but if you can catch one of them you will be that much ahead, providing you have a place where you can use her in some other colony. The drones from a tested Italian queen are generally very dark, and to a beginner might appear to be black. You will find the Gault raspberry ad- vertised extensively as formerly. I would refer you to our advertising columns and also to Spe- cial Notices. H. B. H., Pa.— You say that the solution for imbedding wire in foundation in the battery that we send out does not seem to be strong enough, and you desire information. The so- lution as given in the directions will certainly give good results providing you follow very carefully what is said. After the solution has been in use an hour or so it may be necessary to strengthen it up a little by putting in more sulphuric acid. Put in enough until the bat- tery gives the requisite power. Before you do this, make sure that all wire connections are perfectly clean. Otherwise you will fail to get satisfactory results. You say that you are ex- perimenting with other chemicals. I do not think you will find any thing that will give you the strength of current that bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid combined in the pro- portions given in our little circular of direc- tions do. S. JET. D., W. Fa.— When bees are moved over a distance of\hree miles there is not the least danger of their returning to their old location. If I understand you, you expect to move them very much further than this. If you have an apiary of twenty-five or even fifty or one hun- dred colonies I would advise you to have them sent by freight. When bees are moved much of a distance it is customary for some one to accompany them, going right along in the same car. No extra fare is charged for the person in attendance; but as your bees are going a much shorter distance than this, all that will be nec- essary will be to load them on the car and have some one receive them and unload them at des- tination. I take it that you are familiar with putting up bees so as to give them sulBcient ven- tilation. There ought to be wire cloth on top and wire cloth at the entrance, and the frames should be fastened securely, of course, if not of the self-spacing type. BEES REMOVING EGGS ; THAT MISSING LINK. Do bees remove eggs from worker- cells and place them in queen-cells, and rear queens from them? Yes, they do. How do I know ? I will tell you. Some years ago I found a colony in early spring that had become queenless — no eggs or young larvfe, and the bees vainly try- ing to raise a queen without these essentials. As the colony was small I took away all their combs but one, and then gave them two combs, making three in all, and shoved up a division- board so as to keep them warm. One of the combs given them was well filled with eggs and brood in all stages of development. The other comb contained some honey, and had been kept in an outbuilding during the winter. When sufificient time had elapsed for the bees to have sealed queen-cells from the young larva? given them I opened the hive to see how many cells they had built. Imagine my surprise when I looked over the comb of brood given them, without finding any sign of building queen-cells or rearing a queen. I thought I would look farther, and lifted out the other combs, when I discovered, on the face of the comb that had been given, that had been wintered in a cold room, a single queen-cell well filled with royal jelly, and a larva in it not yet sealed, which was conclusive evidence to my mind that bees could not only move eggs from one cell to an- other, but that they could rear queens from them. This is the only instance in nearly thir- ty years' experience, and much of the time with hundreds of colonies of bees, that I can say pos- itively I knew the bees had moved an egg, and used it for queen-rearing. From this experi- ence I also learned that bees will do very differ- ently at different times, or different colonies at the same time. Their instinct seems to vary in regard to many things, or they seem at times to be guided quite as much by impulse as instinct, which has led me to be somewhat skeptical as 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 407 to the value of non-swarming hives or non- swarming strains of queens, and devices that depend upon the bees doing every thing just as set down in the books. Indeed, there seem to be as many exceptions to their general rule of conduct or instinct as there are to the rules of English grammar. J. E. Ckane. Middlebury, Vt., Apr. 11. Extra pages and an e.xtra edition as usual. Rambler writes that Southern California has started out for a big honey-flow, and that rains have been copious and timely. Extract- ing has been already commenced, and comb honey is being capped over. A PAMPHLET, entitled "A New System of Management in Bee-keeping," by James Hed- don, Dowagiac, Mich., has been received. Those who are interested in his system of bee-keeping can get the information by addressing the au- thor as above. I HAVE wondered whether it would be a bad idea to put in every issue a label on the "best article "in the judgment of the editor, as a sort of stimulus to the other correspondents. But then, there would be differences of opinion, and some would feel hurt, 1 fear. We have just received a note from C. P. Dadant, announcing the death of his mother, the estimable wife of Charles Dadant. She died on the morning of May 3, of a tumor of the liver. She was born in France, March 23, 1823, and was married to her surviving husband May 31, 1847, and came to this country in 18(53. We feel sure that bee-keepers at large will unite with us in extending their sympathy to the bereaved husband and other members of the broken family circle. The editor of the Progressive Bee-keeper, while recognizing that good arguments are pro- duced in favor of both the eight and ten frame hive, says that he himself prefers the ten-frame hive with a follower. '"With such a hive," he says, "lean contract to six or enlarge to ten frames, to suit circumstances, by simply sliding the follower-board and putting in or taking out the frames. I use more hives with only eight frames in them than I do with more; yet if I were going to establish an apiary now, I would not buy eight-frame hives." Hutchinson. A common mistake of old writers on bees, when trying to instruct the general public, is to assume that that public knows more about bees than it really does. But friend Hutchinson has carefully covered the whole ground, and put it in such popular style that the reader is fascinated and interested at once. The photos from which the engravings are made are some of those prepared by Mr. Hutch- inson some time ago, and which I have already referred to as being so accurate and clear. Copies of the Cosmopolitan containing this article can be obtained at the Review office at 30 cts., postpaid. The article is to be continued in the June number. The claim is sometimes made that a certain kind of hive will produce twice as much honey as another. Of course, this is not true. One locality may produce twice — yes, ten times as much honey as another. One bee-keeper in the same locality may, by the right management of his bee force at the right seasons of the year, produce twice as much honey as his neighbor who lets things take care of themselves. A certain peculiar construction of a hive may perhaps enable the intelligent bee-keeper him- self to save half the labor. Construction may enable him, also, to secure a little more market- able honey, and perhaps a little more in the aggregate. The old statement, that bees will store as much honey in an old nail-keg as in the most improved hive, still stands practically uncontroverted. Improvement in the construc- tion of hives looks, then, not to more honey, but to less labor in the getting of that honey. A beautifully illustrated and well-written article on bees appears in the May Cosmopoli- tan, by our old friend and co-worker W. Z. ARE those who LOSE IN WINTERING ALWAYS SLIPSHOD AND CARELESS ? In our last issue, in summing up the statistic- al reports on wintering, after referring to the good showing, I said: "As was to be expected, inexperienced and slipshod bee keepers did not winter as well as those who read bee- journals." A subscriber, who has taken the journal for a number of years, and has read bee- books, and is supposed to be up with the times, takes this as a personal insult, because, he says, he has lost heavily. I am surprised that he should con- strue the sentence quoted as implying that every bee-keeper, himself included, who lost heavily, was therefore necessarily slipshod and behind the times. A careful reading of the sentence would hardly bear out this construc- tion. I did not say that everybody who lost was slipshod, but I did say that "inexperienced and slipshod bee-keepers did not winter as well," etc. In other words, the slipshod lost heavily because of their carelessness, unlike our correspondent, who lost in s^siicof his care. His mistake was like that of the man who con- cluded that, as all eagles are birds, therefore all birds are eagles; hence a lark, being a bird, is an eagle. I did not mean to take this much 408 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. space to reply to this; but as others may per- haps have jelt hurt in the sarrie way, it is only necessary to explain that I did not mean to in- sult anybody, but was simply striking at care- lessness, and not at our old friends and patrons. At the last meeting of the North American, it will be remembered that Dr. C. C. Miller was appointed a committee of one to wait on the Western Classification Committee to see if he could secure some needed reduction in freight rates for bee-keepei's and supply-dealers. May 8 last, this committee, assisted by Geo. VV. York and Mr. Herman F. Moore, appeared before the railroaders, and were successful in securing one important reduction on honey in barrels, kegs, and cans. An interesting report by Mr. Moore will be given in our next. MOISTURE IN CELLAR— DOES IT CAUSE DYSEN- TERY ? The last Review at hand contains the con- clusion of Experimenter Taylor's experiments in wintering. Among other things his object was to determine whether moisture in excess had any thing to do in causing dysentery. The results seem to show that it does not. Mr. T. seems inclined to believe that the disease is due rather to the food, and to the fact that the temperature is such that the bees are not able while in the cellar to pass out of the hive and void their feces. As between upward ventila- tion and sealed covers in the cellar, there is practically no difference in results. The tem- perature of the cellar where these experiments were tried was practically uniform, varying only from 43 to 45°. THIN veneer FOUNDATION. A new firm, Schmidt & Thiele, New London, Wis., send us a sample of veneer foundation, and request our opinion on the same, in Glean- ings. It is simply a thin sheet of wood, ,1;; of an inch or less, covered with cell-walls of ordi- nary foundation. The object is to give truer combs, and combs that will not sag. We learn that Schmidt & Thiele are going to get out a patent on it. I do not like to discourage a worthy invention, but it will surely be a waste of money for them to invest in a patent to cover this idea, when it is already sixteen years old and over. Sixteen years ago, after having tried paper, cloth, and the like, as a background, with indifferent success, A. I. Root tried the wood; and this is the way he threw up his hat: I have succeeded perfectly, with a board about ^s inch in thickness; and the only difficulty now con- sists in getting' these boards coated perfectly with wax, on which to make the foundation. For once in the world, we have combs perfectly even, and safe from sagging You can scrape off the honey if you like, and let the bees build on more; but the boys complain that they can not cut out queen- cells from them. That was published away back in August, 1879, on page 317 of Gleanings. Later on, a more elaborate description was given in our ABC book; but, like a great many things that promised a great revolution, it died a natural death. In the first place, such foundation can not be made to compete in price with ordinary foundation; and while it prevented the sagging of cells, and made the most beautiful combs, bees would at times gnaw the wax off, leaving the thin veneer of wood; and at other times the veneer has a disagreeable habit of warping, pulling the combs out of true. But I presume that bee-keepers could have got along with this had it not been for the increased expense. While Schmidt & Thiele offer this at less per pound than ordinary foundation, it weighs pro- portionally a good deal more per square inch; and, after all, the present methods of wiring seem to do away wiih the disagreeable sagging, and at the same time stiffen the combs fully as much as the wood. I very much dislike to throw cold water on Schmidt & Thiele's veneer foundation; but at the same time I believe I am doing them a gredter kindness in showing them what has been done, and that a patent, even if secui'ed, would be valueless in the face of printed matter like the above. FOUL BROOD IN ENGLAND. We have just received a copy of the Report of the Committee on the Bee-keeping Industry and Foul Brood in the United Kingdom. It sets forth in a very thorough manner the possi- bilities in the line of apiculture in the British Isles were it not for the shadow flung on it all by foul brood (which seems to have its own way so far as the law is concerned), before which dis- ease English bee-keepers seem to be powerless. The British Bee-keepers' Association is now trying to have apiculture recognized as an in- dustry, and to have suitable legislation enacted to drive the fell disease from their shores. Our British brethren seem to be hampered in this direction more than we are here, and are more inclined to say, "What can't be cured must be endured." The American version in that case would be, "What can't be endured must be cured," and Canada has about done so. The mother-country is much behind Canada in this respect, where foul brood at present is likely to find its match. The report was compiled under the supervi- sion of Thos. Wm. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, who gives us the following infor- mation: The annual value of bee-keeping in England and Wales would probably reach S750,(X)0. aside from sale of bees. The annual yield of honey and wax in the same place approaches 4,000,000 lbs. More honey could be gathered if more bees were kept; not enough bees are kept; demand for honey increases with the supply; area of pasture land is increasing. Prosecu- tions for the sale of adulterated wax have im- proved the demand for pure wax. The use of 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 409 native honey is encouraged as a preference over foreign. Tlie value of the bee as a fertil- izer is beginning to be understood. In this respect the value of the bee is greater than the value of the honey and wax. Twenty times more bees than other insects visit the bloom which is absolutely dependent on insects for pollenation. In England and Wales thore are 20 bee-keepers' associations, with 4104 members; number of hives, 260.000: average per hive, 17 lbs.; wax per hive. 4 ounces. Ireland produced 248,363 lbs. of honey and 3188 lbs. of wax, whicn is considered an underestimate. It is believed that Scotland exceeds this, but statistics can not be obtained. A STUDY OF INSECTS. A SCIENTIFIC treatise on this subject, and yet one adapted to the capacity of the average reader, is what the book named above purports to be. It has 700 pages, the size of this one. It is illustrated with 797 cuts, all engraved for this work by Anna B. Comstock, its assistant editor. These cuts were all made from the creature it- self, and certainly leave nothing to be desired, and they are a monument to the skill of a wo- man's hand. Twenty-two orders of ins(;cts are described fully, while the total number is al- most beyond count. All of the old bugs pecul- iar to this country (except hum ) are here seen, drawn with remarkable fidelity, especial- ly the "tree-hoppers." which are certainly fun- ny enough to suggest to the author the idea that Nature must have been in a joking mood when she created them. We can not think of an enemy of any of our garden and field crops which is not here described, with information as to their destruction. The subject of " Bee- moths " will be found to be very interesting to bee-keepers, as will also the bee itself, although the latter has had such special treatment by Cheshire, Cook, Cowan, and others as to leave this book in question entirely in the shade, as a matter of course. But it takes us into a world of wonders, and most of these " wonders " are at present the enemies if not the scourges of the agriculturist if not. indeed, of the human race. We know of no book which will better enable us to combat such foes; and to be forewarned is to be forearmed. The scientific names are so printed as to enable any one to pronounce them at sight. As to the author, his name is John Henry Comstock, Professor of Entomology in Cornell University and in the Leiand Stanford Junior University: and after that is said, noth- ing more needs to be remarked in regard to the thorough manner in which the work has been done. The price is $3.75; postage 34 cts. extra. Printed and published by the Comstock Pub- lishing Co., Ithaca, N. Y., to whom all orders should be addressed. The work has been adopted in twenty-six colleges as a text-book, and twenty of these are agricultural. v,\ p. r. HANDLING HIVES; THE METHODS OF DIAGNOS- ING WITHOUT HANDLING FRAMES, ETC. I MAKE it a part of my business, assisted by a light-weight safety bicycle, to take entire charge of our out-yard. This I have done for the last three or four seasons. While I keep track pretty closely of our home yard, I do not do much work with it except to hive an occa- sional swarm on Sundays and other days when our regular man is not about. Early this spring, as soon* as the roads were fit, I took a run down to our basswood apiary, peered under all the cushions, raised the sealed covers, and made an examination of each colony. I found that they had all wintered, whether under sealed covers or under absorbents, and that notwithstanding they were in a comparatively open field, with the exception of what protec- tion the small bass wood-trees afforded. Again I went down a few days ago, and this time I gave them a very thorough examina- tion. I took along a Crane smoker, a twenty- penny wire nail, and a silk-tulle veil. My object was to determine the amount of brood in each colony, the amount of stores, bees, etc. Now, I can not with my other work in the office afford to handle over every frame. After opening up the hive, with the wire nail I have just spoken of I removed the division-board, then ran the nail between the center pair of brood-frames, and pried them apart. This split the brood-nest perpendicularly in two equal parts, leaving a space of from }4 to ^4 inch be- tween them. In some cases I lifted out one frame, and in others I got satisfactory informa- tion by simply peering in between the frames. In the latter case, if not entirely satisfied as to the amount of stores I split the brood-nest in another part, and peered down between the frames as before. This usually gave me an idea of the amount of stores. After having sat- isfied myself as to the condition of the colony, I pried on the outside frame, crowded the whole set of frames together en masse, inserted the division-board, and closed the hive up. If there was any thing unusual, or'something re- quiring attention, I laid a brick, or block of wood, on top of the hive. If, in splitting the brood-nest perpendicular- ly in two equal parts, and looking down be- tween the frames, I thought the brood looked a little irregular, or scanty in amount, I pulled out a frame to see whether there were eggs. If these were present, and the brood well capped over, and healthy-looking, I replaced the frame, crowded over the other four with one operation, and closed up the hive. I seldom if ever stop to hunt for the queen. If I see eggs I know that she is present in the hive, or at least she has been within a very short time. Eggs are supposed to be eggs for at least three days. But, supposing the queen was killed the day before I examined, I think I should be able to recognize her absence, even if I saw eggs, by 410 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. the howl of distress on the part of the bee,^. Old bee-keepers know what this "howl" or uneasy humming means. It does not always indicate qneenlessness, it is true; but, with other conditions easily ascertained, it is not difficult to tell whether the hive is queenless, without even hardly handling a frame. How the divisible brood-chamber can be han- dled anymore rapidly than a good hive con- taining modern Hoffman frames with V edges, is past my comprehension. I harve handled the former somewhat in our own apiary. That is to say, we have had a Heddon hive in our yard for a number of seasons; and I have manipu- lated that hive perhaps more than any other one hive in our yard. We have also had a Dan- zenbaker hive in our yard for a part of one season. I have seen divisible-brood-chamber hives handled by bee-keepers who were very enthusiastic over them; but. taking it all in all, I think I can get a more satisfactory kno wl - edge with a given number of hives containing full-depth Hoffman frames in less time than from any equal number of horizontally divided brood-chamber hives I have ever seen or read of. I say I tltink. A positive assertion right here — and I refrain from making such a one — is but little short of rank egotism. Individual tastes, ways, and habits of working, will lead to a variety of opinions. Mr. Heddon and Mr. Danzenbaker, of course, will both think their ways are better, and they certainly have a right to their opinions. Now, why do I like mine (or, more correctly. Hoff- man's) better? A Hoffman-frame hive can be split perpendicularly \n two parts. A divisible- brood-chamber can be split horizontally in two parts; but it will be apparent that such a split does not show brood s (i?-/acc— only the edges of the combs, and those very imperfectly. A per- pendicular S'\)]\t does show the whole surface of two combs. Then if we remove one comb we have for examination the two surfaces of the one comb besides two surfaces of each of two other combs. Although I have studied and experimented a good deal, I have never been able to diagnose accurately a colony merely by looking at the top and bottom edges of the combs; but if, for instance, I can see just one frame from the cen- ter of the brood-nest, or can see the two sur- faces of two combs when a brood-nest is split as I have explained, I can judge — and so can every experienced bee-keeper — pretty accurate- ly the amount of brood in those combs. To test myself. I have repeatedly, after forming an opinion, examined every frame, and I do not know that I have at any time found that I was mistaken in my first impression. Now, then, if it is a fact that the Hoffman-frame hive can be diagnosed as quickly— and I think more satis- factorily than by dividing the brood-nest the other way, horizontally— do we not, by having full-sized frames, gain some advantages'? Bees, according to my experience here, breed better in full-sized frames than in half-frames; and this experience of mine has been corroborated from what observations I could make, where horizontally divided brood-chambers were in use. Last fall— or, rather, late last summer — we tried one Danzenbaker hive. I know one swal- low does not make a summer; but in spite of all we could do, we could not get the bees by any kind of feeding to breed satisfactorily in the two chambers at once. The queen seemed determined to stay in one hive-section at a time; indeed, she would fill out the frames of one section full of brood; but go below or above she just wouldn't. The bees would put in pol- len and honey, but there it stopped. But with the Heddon hive we obtained very much more satisfactory results. Why ? The Danzenbaker brood-frame uses thick and wide, top-bars and bottom-bars, l^^ wide by % thick; but I have found that, between two sections of the Heddon, burr-combs will be built, and this to a great extent completes the two sets of brood-frames. But even this slight obstruc- tion seemed to hinder somewhat the normal circles of brood, when compared with brood- frames solid without any obstructions between. I am, therefore, of the opinion that it would not do to have thick and wide top-bars for section- al brood -chambers; and that, if we are to have any thing of that sort, Mr. Heddon's decision for narrow and thin top and bottom bars is about right. But he has burr-combs, and these I won't have— even if a part of the nuisance is obviated by a slat honey-board. Mr. Danzen- baker, in the attempt to obviate these, has pos- sibly run into a snag more serious yet in the use of wide bars. About this time I imagine I hear Doolittle chuckling, and saying, "There, didn't I tell you bees don't like to go past thick and wide top- bars?" Now, I am not taking any back track yet on this question. While I fear heavy bars between parts of the brood-chamber will not be satisfactory, I know they do not form any obstruction between brood-chamber proper and surplus — certainly far less obstruction than the old-style hive with thin top- bars, burr-combs, and slatted honey-boards; or, worse yet, burr- combs and no honey-boards, said burr-combs stuck fast to the bottom of the surplus. I have endeavored to give you my honest im- pressions of what I believe to be true regarding these matters; but I was not quite willing to give expression to them just yet, because I de- sired to experiment and observe further along these lines. But now that the divisible-brood- chamber hive is being discussed, I think it is well that we look on the side that I have pre- sented. I do not claim to be infallible in my opinions; and if I should change my mind it will be because truth, and an honest purpose to get out of ruts, will force me to do so. 1S95 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 411 Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household?— Luke 13:43. In order to take the above little text in the sense I wish, let us first commence by suppos- ing ourselves all to be servants to somebody, or servants to the great wide world, as you choose. In a measure I am your servant, dear friends, for you expect certain things of me. You have a right to expect them: and if I do not render these services to you faithfully, you have a right to complain. Come to think of it, I rather like to get letters taking me to task right In this line. Once in a while somebody says, " Look here, old friend; does this sound just like A. I. Root, or what we might expect of him?" Then follows an extract from some letter I have written wlien I may not have been exactly in the right frame of mind. Well, if we all recognize, then, that we are all ser- vants, I am ready for my little talk to-day. It is the first day of May, and, as usual, there is a general activity everywhere. Nobody is looking for a job; but a great many, on the contrary, are inquiring where they can get a man or boy to plant ptitatoes or make garden. Why. everybody is so busy here in Medina that Mrs. Root was telling me of a widow lady who got her garden spaded up and planted by a woman over seventy years old. Shedid it tip- top too. Of course, you know I rejoice in see- ing everybody have something to do. Yester- day I met a man from the great oil regions of Findlay, O. He said that, since the recent ad- vances in oil, new wells were being drilled, old ones were starting up, and the manufacturers of drilling-appliances were working day and night with all the help they could scrape up. During the past week we should have been running day and night, could efficient help have been obtained. As it was. we asked those who could bear the strain to put in twelve hours a day until we could get a little ahead of orders. Well, at such a time there is more than ever a demand for not only skilled labor- ers, but for those capable of taking charge of the unskilled, to see that they do their work right, and that mischief is not done. Above all things, we want reluthle men. Of course, we can not demand that every man, woman, and child, be at their post invariably; but we do like to have notice, so that provision may be made for absences when it is necessary for hands to be away. But a great many people do not seem to have any conscience in vacating their posts. The most serious annoyance comes where somebody stays away without a word of ex- planation. Perhaps he runs machinery. Three large boilers are now furnishing steam to do the work. Our big engine is crowded to its ut- most capacity, and we have so many men in readiness to fill up any vacancy, and keep every thing moving, that, when they happen to be all well and on hand, it is sometimes a puzzle to find a place for them. Where a man is not running machinery, his absence without any notice throws things out of shape, and hinders those who are depending on him; but it is not quite like having a machine standing idle when somebody away off is urging us by letters and by telegram to hurry up the stuff which that machine is to make. Some people have a reputation for reliability. Oh how I do like that word reliability I It speaks of faith and of hope; and I do not know but it speaks of charity too. What a comfort it is to have re- liable people around you I A few days ago Mrs. Root paid me a compliment. Isn't that a strange thing to write about? What do you think it was? Why. she had been talking with somebody who had the blues, and would have it that every thing was "going to the dogs." I ciime in just afterward, and she said something like this: '• You do not know, dear husband, how thank- ful I am that you never get the blues. You are always hopeful, always full of life and energy." Of course, she did not mean to say that I nev- er get tired out. Well, I told her this morning that I wanted to pay her a compliment. The compliment was, that my wife had always been reliable. She never failed in any thing since I knew her, when it was a possible thing, not only in keeping her promises, but in coming up to what was expected of her. I do not be- lieve I ever knew her to shirk, or play truant. And now if you will excuse me, that Is enough of " my home" for the present. Some years ago a young man worked for me who was a pretty good sort of fellow, but nothing remarkable that I know of in the way of reliability. When our neighbor across the way was short of an engineer, and asked if he could have John for a few days, I let the latter go; and as we were not rushed much at the time. John kept on in his new place. Years pass- ed, and we had a revival in our town. John was one of the brightest new converts. His con- version extended clear to his fingers' ends — yes, and toes' too, I might say. Once or twice it seemed necessary, where he worked, to have some repairing done on their engine on Sunday, so as not to hinder work during the week. John objected. By and by things came around to where it seemed very desirable that we should get John back again, if his present em- ployer could spare him. I went over and talk- ed with my neighbor about it. He did not want to let John go. I was not much surpris- ed; but during the conversation he made a re- mark something like this: "The fact is. John is mighty reliable." I could not help smiling. What an expres- sion— "mighty reliable" 1 That is pretty strong language, friends, and it paid our friend John a very high compliment. My friend did not say so. but it seemed to be summed up something like this: "John has some peculiar notions, and it is sometimes quite inconvenient to have him refuse to help us when it Is very desirable that a little bit of work should be done on Sunday; but notwithstanding all this, John is mighty reliable." Mind you, my neigh- bor did not say just the above, but I have sort o' paraphrased it so as to express about what I have reason to suppose he thought. Now, my dear friend, has anybody ever said of you that yori were "mighty reliable"? Why, that very fact gave John fi'om fifty cents to a dollar a day extra, year in and year otit. He is not as good a mechanic as some other men who do not get the pay he does. He al- ways does his best, however, and he is a groio- ing young man. In fact, he could not well be otherwise. Do some of you want to know whether his becoming a Christian made him more reliable? Why, to be sure it did. It would be a funny sort of Christianity that did not make a man more reliable. If instead of becoming a Christian he had become only a hypocrite, then of course It would make him less reliable. A great deal has been said about hypocrites; but, to tell the truth, I have never found many of them in the churches. The at- mosphere is not congenial. Let me tell you another story about rellabili- 413 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. ty. A yonng man applied to us for work dur- ing our dull season. Finally one of my good friends in the teachers' meeting — a woman who has busied herself all her life in looking after the unfortunate — put in a strong plea for this young man. Siie said he had recently married. She knew that would please me, for I am always glad to hear about good young men and women getting married. Then she said she was pretty sure he either had been or was thinking of taking a start in life as a Christian. When business started up I sent for him, feeling glad I could give him a chance. He did exceedingly well: and every one with whom he worked admired his manliness and energy, and he was soon promoted. In our business councils his name was mentioned, and we had much hope that he would be able to fill some important post with good pay. Before he had been in his new place two weeks, however, a conversation something like the following came up. The foreman of the packing-room, who loads a car almost every day, besides fill- ing no end of small orders, has perhaps a dozen good reliable men immediately under his charge. Well, he said: " Mr. Root, do you know what has become of " Why, isn't he at work ? " "No, he has not shown up since last Thurs- day." This was on Monday. " Did he not tell you he wanted to be away, or has he not sent any explanation of his ab- sence ? " " Not a word, and I need him the worst kind." I immediately went to the time-clerk. She said he had said nothing to her about being away, but came around Saturday night and drew his pay, and walked off. He said nothing about being absent Monday— not a word as to whether he would or would not be back to work. I hunted up his brother, and he express- ed surprise. He said he was pretty sure his brother was not sick, and did not know why he should be off. Monday afternoon as I was rushing past I caught a glimpse of somebody, but he did not look up enough so I could be sure who It was. I turned around after I had got past quite a little way, and sure enough it was . Some time afterward I passed Jacob. By the way, Jacob is now the foreman of our packing-room. Some of our older read- ers will remember the Jacob at that mission Sunday-school, who used to be so prompt and reliable in having a text every Sunday, rain or shine, and Jacob used to repeat his text so clearly and plainly that everybody in the old school house heard every word of it. By the way, I wonder if I dare stop long enough to meddle with the affairs of one other "home " to just whisper in your ear. Now, don't tell any- body. Up at Jacob's house they have an eight- pound boy. tie came to their home last night, the last day of April. I declare! since I have told so much I must tell you that the boy's mother used to be queen-clerk in the office.* Now let us go on with the story. On the day in question, as I passed Jacob I stopped and remarked: "Oh I I see has come back to work. What reason did he give for skipping out with- out saying a word when we were so badly rush- ed?" *May be some of you would like to innge of " Bees and Honey." and sometimes the tears blind ni.veyes. I know you must be a frDorl man to meet with such wonderful siicecss— oiu'e a laboring: boy and now keeper ovt'i' sueli woiulei'ful works. As a rvile I make things prosper along- "ly path. T commenced empty-liaiidcd. but now it is (pnte diffei'ent. I am bound to make the bee-business tlourish in this val- ley. 1 have always kept bees, but on the old plan, which amounts to nothing. M. A. Bellows, GrifHn's Corners, N. Y. HONEY FROM THE FLORIDA WILD PP^NNYROYAL. Around friend Poppleton's, and at other places around Indian River, we saw a plant which they call pennyroyal. ]t is not a bit like the pennyroyal of the North, however, but it is rather a sort of vine with a pennyroyal taste. It spreads and grows of itself, with even just a little chance, and friend King is prepar- ing now to plant out ten acres. I suggested moving his bees to some place where he could have 7Hi?idrec?s of acres without the trouble of planting it. But he thought he could prepare and plant ten acres around his home cheaper than to move his bees, etc., to where the penny- royal is already. Friend King asked me the question whether bees always gather honey when the flowers yield it. Of course, I said they would; and when he went on to tell me of a time w hen the black mangrove yielded so much honey that it actually dropped out of the blossoms on the leaves below, and the bees would not touch it at all, I was going to accuse him of supersti- tion. He finally explained it by saying they had a sort of salt-water fog, or spray, that covered the blossoms, bushes, and all. until the honey tasted of the salt. After they had had a good rain they washed out the salt honey, so that some more was secreted, and then the bees went at it again with a great boom. MORE ABOUT THE SHELL MOUNI>S. Close by friend King's ranch, a spur, or side- track, branches off from the main road, and runs down to a shell mound on the banks of Indian River. This side-track is solely to take shells by the carload to the adjoining towns and cities for paving the streets. As soon as I was able to walk half a mile or more we went over to this shell mound. The shells had been shoveled away, and the track pushed off into the mound until in places a wall of solid shells rises almost perpendicularly beside the track, up fifteen or twenty feet. Was this great mound or hill made entirely of shells thrown away after some former race of people had used the contents for food? One feels a little in- credulous; but as he examines the shells and finds they were broken open much as we open them now, and the large conch shells mixed in, each one of them having an opening broken in at just the right point to scoop out the edible portion, it begins to look as if it must have been the work of human beings. Besides this, at different points along up the wall of shells we see strata of dirt, debris, ashes, charcoal, and even broken pottery, indicating that the people who lived there encamped for some time on a certain spot, and that this spot was at a later date vacated and covered up with a foot or two of shells; then another encampment, and so on. Are these shells valuable only for road-making ? Yes, they can be easily burned into lime, to be used for plastering houses, or to be spread on the soil where lime is needed; and some excel- lent results have been obtained by using these burnt shells for a fertilizer. One trouble is to get the fuel to burn them. WAXING HONEY-BARRELS. Before I finish up my visit at friend King's I want to speak about barrels for honey. In that warm southern clime, where frosts are so sel- dom known, there are great varieties of insect- enemies that we know nothing about. For in- stance, if you leave a boat in the water for any 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 417 length of time, the Teredo navalis will eat it full of holes and make it worthless; whereas, if the boat had been taken out of the water, and kept in the air, it would have been un- harmed. So you see Florida is harder on slip- shod managing than almost any other place. Every little while we see the results of sloth- fulness in beautiful boats that cost large sums of money being left in the water, to be eaten up hy the teredo until they are next to worthless. Another insect delights in making little holes through the sides of honey-barrels, or any other kind. Friend King says that, no matter whether your barrels are made of oak, cypress, or any other timber, and no matter how care- fully you put them away where they won't dry out, it is never safe to put honey in them until you have waxed the whole inside according to the directions so many years ago laid down in the ABC book. Wax the barrels just before they are filled, and they are safe and sound, and honey may be shipped clear to New York, without the outside becoming sticky in the least. He finds paraffine to answer just as well as beeswax, and it is very much cheaper. Talking about shells reminds me that, while visiting Harry Mitchell, near Hawk's Park, we were shown a strip of ground in front of the house, all covered with broken shells. It was outside of the dooryard, along the main road- way, and I was much surprised to learn from friend Hart that they secured excellent crops of onions and other garden vegetables right in among these shells, although we could hardly find a bit of soil of any account. This recalls that I omitted in the proper place to mention the very pretty little home belong- ing to friend Mitchell nnd his good wife. An artesian well of considerable volume attracted my attention in the back yard; but it was too warm, and too strongly impregnated with sul- phur, to prove very palatable. Friend M. has, besides his apiary, quite a pretty yard of fruits and flowers, and a valuable collection of curi- osities from Florida and other parts of the world. Although he himself is in quite poor health, we are reminded, by looking back at pages 860 to 863 inclusive, of Gleantngs for Nov. 15, 1894, that he secured last season the enormous honey crop of 21,.'>00 lbs. from .57 hives, or an average of about 377 lbs. per colony. If anybody has ever made a better report than this, either in Florida, California, or any other part of the world, it seems to me it can not be very much ahead, all things considered. • ■ Sanford. Fla., is a very pretty town of about 2500 inhabitants. I was much interested in the spacious waiting-room at the depot, especially as said room contained a large open fireplace with a cheerful fire burning, made of pine logs resting on old-fashioned andirons, I had been suffering a good deal from chills, and it seemed hard work, a good many times, to get thor- oughly warmed up, even down in that land of flowers and sunshine; but the big fire of pitch- pine logs filled the bill to my heart's content. ^ After getting weii warmed up I enjoyed a walk for a couple of miles to the little station of Fort Reed, where friend McMillan has his home. Here I met with such a warm welcome from all the inmates that I did not quite under- stand it. My friend and his good wife, how- ever, made haste to explain. If I am correct, they moved to Florida on account of ill health. There they found good health, but did not suc- ceed in finding any thing suitable to their case for earning a livelihood. While thinking over the matter, and. I believe, praying over it (for they are devoted Christians), a sample copy of Gleanings fell into their hands. Both hps- band and wife soon became deeply interested, got some bees, and commenced. Although they are well along in years, and in feeble health, as the bees increased their enthusiasm and strength seem to increase also, to meet the emergency; and right in the spot where no- body else ever thought of raising honey they have made excellent crops, and increased their bees to something like 100 colonies. Instead of selling honey at five and six cents a pound, as some others have done, friend M. started out to develop his home market. He carried samples to the big hotels, and took oi'ders at from eight to ten cents per pound, if I remember correctly, being exceedingly careful to furnish only a first- class product, even though almost their only source of honey is the saw- palmetto; and that is why they sent me an invitation to call, and felt so glad to welcome under their own roof the man who wrote the ABC book. I have before mentioned that a new industry has sprung up in Florida during the past winter, in the way of furnishing firewood. I was sur- prised to see the number of colored men with a bright new one-horse wagon, ditto harness, and a fair-looking mule with which to draw wood to town. They go out of Sanford a couple of miles, and get a very nice pine-ti'ee. as it stands in the woods, for 25 cts. The horse stands hitched to a tree while the owner cuts up the load of wood. Then he drives to town and gets a dollar for it. I suggested, as a matter of economy, that the man employ somebody else to cut the wood whil3 he goes with a load, thus taking ever so many more loads in a day; and I said, also, that one man could drive two horses as well as one, and thus double the out- put. Friend M. assured me, however, that I did not understand the colored race at all. or I would not make such suggestions. He said it was accepting considerable responsibility al- ready for one of these men to keep his horse going everyday, let alone hiring somebody to help, or, worse still, thinking of having the care and responsibility of two horses. And ob- servation seemed to back up his assertion. Every thing is done on the one-horse plan — especially where the colored people manage it; and the one horse, instead of doing a whole day's work, stands still in his new harness, hitched to the brand-new wagon the greater part of the time. In the vicinity of Sanford are many beautiful lakes, and some of the finest orange- groves, perhaps, in Florida. Where there was so much lamentation because the garden-stuff was killed by the frost, I suggested to quite a number of the gardeners that they try their hand at hardy vegetables that would stand a freeze: and at Sanford I found an onion-patch of nearlv an acre that was comparatively unharmed. The proprietor, however, was a little above the average gardener. He had got his ground un- der high cultivation, and made very rich, so that the onions had vigor and vitality enough to stand the blizzard and to keep on growing. I found one of friend McMillan's boys very busily occupied, together with a neighbor's boy, in building a boat. This boat was to be launch- ed on Lake Jessup, within a short distance of their home. The boys were making their boat of sufficient size so they could camp out in it for several weeks, and have room enough for their provision, bedding, etc. By taking ad- vantage of the lakes and rivers, they can get so near Indian River, that, by hiring a team to pull their boat across a mile or two, they can go clear down to Lake Worth, and from there back UD to Daytona and Ormund. Of course, the vessel is to be run by sails, so the boys may, by giving their time, make quite an exploring- excursion, and see a good deal of the world, be- ing out of pocket only what is necessary for food and clothing. A great many have made 41S GPLEANINGS IIS BEE CULTUEE. May 15. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 419 such trips as this, and have found them, where properly managed, very enjoyable. I could not but share the boys" enihiisiasni; for it brought vividly to my mind the time when I, although only 18 years of age, felt that I could not stand it any longer without seeing a little something of this great world of ours in which we live. When [ wrote up the electric gasoline-launch on pages 143 and 144, I planned to give you a picture of some of the Florida rivers with one of these pleasure-boats on it. Here it is. A young man on the cars gave me the photo. He owns the larger of the two boats, and makes it his business to carry tourists. ELECTROPOISE, ETC. MORE ABOUT THE ELECTROPOISE. Mr. R()ot:—l have been very much interested in your expose of humbusrs and swindles, particularly that of ELeefcropoise. You say, " If it does perform cures It is exactly in line witli the idea that a horse- shoe nailed over a door wards off disease." My idea about the matter is, that a great many people have been really benefited by Electropoise, but exactly on Ihe same principle that people are benefited by faith cure. Christian science, the waters of Lourdes, the relics of saints, the laying'-on of hands, etc. If people, when ihey employ these remedies, thorougii- ly believe that they will be beneficial, then, as a re- sult of that belief, they will be benefited. The imagiuatiiiu has a very powerful influence over the functions of the human body. You say that a brass button, with a wire attached, would be just as efflcai'ious as the Electropoise apparatus. That is undoubtedly true, provided the person us- ing- it thoroughly believed in it. Covelo, Cal., Apr. 25. Thos. B. Henley. [Friend H., if I am correct you do not mean to reflect on a proper, right, and reasonable faith in God. I have closely inquired into the matter of faith cure, Christian science, etc., not only around my own home, but in Florida and California, and 1 have watched the records from other places. While there are some re- markable cases of recovery that we can not ac- count for, there are also other instances of where both limb and ii/e have been sacriticed because friends refuse to call in their family physican or a competent surgeon. Yes, there have been several cases of arrest of the parties because they neglected the usual and recogniz- ed means of saving life, and I think it was right and proper that people should be arrest- ed under the circumstances. Notwithstanding, I have great faith, and with good reason, in constantly seeking God's guidance and wi-dom in directing us what to do with these bodies of ours to escape sickness and death as far as possible. This Electropoise business will be the means, no doubt, of arousing people to the fact of how much imagination may do in the way of cures. But the guilty parties should be arrested in their swindling, all the same. Jesus said, " The Son of man indeed goeth as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the vSon of man is betrayed I Good were it for that man if he had never been born." Again, '• God maketh the wrath of man to praise him," it is true; but this by no means makes it right that they be allowed to go on in their wrath. — A. I. R.] Inclosed you will find some clipping-s from Tlie BihJiial Ri <-i)ri); but I don't know whether it is the same. If thej' are swindlers. which I believe they are, I am with you to help break it up. S. D. Matthews. Hamilton. N. C, Apr. 29. [Yes, friend M., the circulars you send are from the very same Electropoise people we have been exposing. These people have all along based their claims on the simple fact that everybody who used their machine was either cured or made better. But here we are told of two customers receiving no benefit. The only wonder is, tiiat anybody should receive any benefit or even think he had. But another appalling fact stands forth. A minister of the gospel has used his sacred calling to induce people, perhaps the members of his own church, to buy his wares; and these wares, instead of being legitimate trade and honest merchandise, are a terrible fraud and swindle — .*25.00 for that which should not cost 3.5 cents, and the whole thing a piece of hypocrisy and quackery at that. Religious papers have been shirking responsi- bility, and here is a part of the result. Friend M., show this to these poor friends who have been victimized, and advise them to demand their money back. It is a very clear case of fraud; and either the minister or the Electro- poise company will hand it over very quick — probably. If they do not, tell them (the two victims) to make a plain statement in their own handwriting, and forward these statements to me.— A. I. R.J The following from the editor of that bright new little journal. The Mdrket Oardeii, it seems to me, throws a little light on this matter of '"testimonials:" Mr. Root:— Y OUT stand on the Electropoise ques- tion seems to me to be worthy of no censure. I am inclined to believe your correspondent on the ques- tion in the last number of Gleanings has failed to understand human nature or correctly interpret her eccentricities. There are many people in the world who only need to find faiih in something' to find in it a panacea for their ills, the majority of which are imaginary. I am a strong believer in faith cure to the extent that, if people would only have more faith in tliemselves, they would have more curt'S than in all the patent or quack remedies under the sun. Suggestion alone is a powerful remedy; and having- realized tliis, the cure-all people throw something- in with it and reap enor- mous profits from the credulity of human nature. People buy the remedy, and sincerely believe they are getting wed from diseases tliey never had, and hasten to make all sorts of testimonials, or sign those made up for them by the wise proprietors of the new medical fad. ' F. VV. Leavitt. Minneapolis, Minn.- To Keep Yourself Posted on all Electrical Frauds and Humbugs, ^»^ •^i^ as well as to learn all that is in- teresting to know about the wonderful advancement of Elec- trical Art and Science, read Electricity. A weekly journal treating- electric- al subjects in a practical, non- technical and popular manner, and exposing all forms of huuibuug-ery, ^t, quackery, and fraud, including- va- ^i^ rious electro-medical devices. In- tended to mislead and rob those whose knowledge of electrical mat- ters is limited. Subscription: $2.50 per year;>am- 'ple copies free. Cr_' Electricity, 6 Park Place, New YorL .ji_^a ^ iH IFlease mention this paper. . fisS b.u 420 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. BUSINESSfc^sgSr^^" SWEET-CLOVER SEED WANTED. There seems to be an unprecedented boom on this seed this year. We have handled more during- the past six months, severjtl times over, than we did in the previous six years. He are again in need of more, and sfiould be glad to liear from any of our readers who have it for sale. RUBBEK GLOVES, SECONrS. We have a stock of rubber gloves, Nos. 10, 11, and 12, which we bought as seconds, but which are so good that it is ditticult to see wherein they are infe- rior to firsts. We are able to offer them postpaid, at SOc a pair. With other goods, S6c. Special rates in dozen or half-dozen lots. CARLOAD SHIPMENTS. As we go to press we are loading a third car, made up of export orders for New York, and have just shipped a second car to Barteldes & Co., Den- ver, Col. We are :it work on the third car this year for Syracuse, N. Y., where F. A. Salisbury is pre- pared to take care of your orders for any thing in our line. SECOND-QUALITY ABC BOOFS. I find we have about 50 copies of the above, m;ide up from sheets that were a little soiled or otherwise injured. They are just as good in every respect, and can be easily read— every page and every word, Until they arQ gone we offer them, cloth bound, at only 50 cts. each, by express or freight with other goods. If you want one by mail, add 15 els. for postage. These are the last edition, and exactly the same as those we are selling for $1.25. HONEY MARKET. We are finally closed out of comb honey entirely, except two small lots in hands of commission men In Cleveland. We have a good supply of extracted honey in cans and barrels. We have one lot of clover honey, which we will sell as it is, 350 lbs. in a barrel, at 8c, or put up in 60-lb. square cans at 9c. Choice basswood and clover honey in kegs and bar- rels at 7c; in 60-lb. cans, at 8X, or two-case lots 8c. Choice Alabama honey, in barrels of about 500 lbs., at 6c. Samples mailed to those interested. BEESWAX EASIER. The highest point lias been reached in the bees- wax market, and prices are again declining slightly. We have some six or seven tons in .'itoc-k, and we decline the price we pay till [utther notice, to 27c cash, 30c trade, for average wax delivered here. When you ship wax. be sure to put your name in or on the package, and write by mail, giving the weight of the wax shipped. We have over h:ilf a dozen lots of wax on hand now for which we can not find the owners, as they have failed io take these simple precautions when they shipped it. DIVIDED-TOP BROOD FRAMES. We have nine boxes, each roniaining 250 thick-top frames, with divided top-bar. They are just like our regular thick-top frame a \ ear or two ago, with top-bar in two sections, each" V4 inch wide. Those who like to fasten foundation in the top-bar by pinching between two pieces of wood, would find these frames convenient to use. We will sell them in the boxes, as packed, at $2. CO a box, which is 80c per 100— about half the price of the regular thick- top frame. This is something we do not catalog, and we desire to close out this stock, hence this low price. We will not repack a less number for less than $1.20 per ICO. BUSINESS AT THIS DATE. AVe are being crowded to our utmost capacity these times— are running 12 hours a day; and if we had enough extra comj elcnt men at hand we would have a night force at work lor two or three weeks, so as to turn out the goods laster. There are but few orders ih.at have not been shipped within a week after they were received. On Tuesday, May 7. we broke all previous records by putting up 130 shipments by freight, besides quite a number by express. In the eight days ending Saturday, 11th, wf received six hundred orders, and we had left un- tilli'd at tliat time 250. But we had during that time shipped about as many as received, so we are really less than a week behind. CHEAP LAWN-MOWERS. Here is a bargain for those in want of a low-priced mower. This machine used to be our leader, and we have sold hundreds of them. Desiring to close out present stock we have cut the price down this sea- son to less than we paid for them a few yenrs ago. We sell the 10-inch for $2.00. and the 12-inch for .$2.50. In lots of 3 we will discount these prices 10 per cent; 6, 16 per cent; 10 or more. 20 per cent. They are a good light-running machine, and a bargain at these prices. We can not supply any more when present stock is sold. If you desire a bargain, let us hear f r< m you at once. THE MOHEKMAN BRASS SPRAY-PUMP. The adjoining cut shows a spray- pump which we secured after our list of spray-pumps was m;ide up. It was such a decided bargain that we bought some of them. It is made on the same nrinciple as the Myers bucket-pump. The hose is attached to a tube run- ning up through the air-chamber. The nozzles used on the pump are the same in construction as the Myers. We can sell this one for $'2.r,0; by mail, »3.25. An eiglit-foot pipe extension, which cm not be mailed, will be included at 35 cts. extra. There are a good many spray -pumps on the market, but I doubt if you will find or e equal to this at the price at which we otter it. Spe- cial prices to dealers, on application. PROTECTING PLANTS FROM FROST, ETC. May /.?.— Well, we got some rain last Saturday, the 11th, and, more than that, it wound up with a frost last night. We liad 125 large tomato-plants, I'lany of them in blossom: and as the frost came Swiday nigl it, it was desirable to get ihem covered with as lit tie work as possible. The touiatoes were right adjoining our pie-plant piitch. After a little study I diiectfd the boys to cut off' just the largest leaves from each pie-plant, and sort them out so as to put the biggest leaves over the biggest tomato- plnnts. The plant was carefully turned over on its side, and the great pie-plant leaf spread over, the point of the leaf coming down right by the root of the plant. Then Ben. with a scoop-shovel, put a little fine dirt all around the edge of the leaf to make it tight and to hold it secure. It took perhaps half an hour, with three of us, and this morning our tomatoes areas bright aud fresh as if there had been no frost at all. About an acre of kidney wax beans upon the liill were all laid flat, and the same with some Biirpee's bush limas. Of course, I knew when I planted them I was taking a risk. THE CURRANT AND GOOSEBERRY WOR.M. This pest started out earlier with us than ever before, and with more persistence than ever liefore. We first tried liellebore, but it did not work very well, b''cause all we could get at the drugstores was kept over from last year. Then we tritd insect- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 421 powder. This did pretty well, l)ut it is more ex- pensive than helleliure. and so we sent off for some fresh liellobore. This cost less, and did i he business pretty well. But by tliis time we discovered tliat air-slacljed lime answers just as well as eitiier of tlie above, and costs practically nothing-. You can use it in the bellows just the same as the insect- powder. Perhaps the amount of hellebore and pyrethruni that had been administered before we tried the lime may have had something- to do with the success of the latter. The great tiling- with these pests is to take a stitch in time. Go over your bushes twice a day. Loolt carefully at ttie leaves out of sight down near the ground; and whenever you see half a dozen worms at work, go to work with your powder th:it very hour. If you wait over niglit, or, say, over Sunday, you may find every leaf oflf your bushes before you suspect that such a thing is possible. SEED BEANS FOB FLORIDA AND OTHER SOUTHERN LOCALITIES. I have told you something of the great bean in- dustry of Florida, and that it commences ordinarily as early as December. From that time on, snap beans are shipped north until we can grow them here in our own locality. Well, they do not use the wax or yellow beans. They say they do not do as well as the green-podded varieties. And another thing, they can not raise good seed in the South. It all has to be brought from the North. Of course, where they get such extravagant prices for green beans in mid-winter, they want the very best seed to be had. After considerable inquiry there seems to be a pretty general agreement that a green-pod- ded bean called " Best of All " is what is wanted. I wrote to several of our northern seedsmen in regard to the best bean for Florida, and there seemed to be a gener;il agreement in regard to this variety. Now, I am going to undertake to furnish our southern friends with beans for seed for less tlian they now have to pay— four or Ave dollars a bushel. If some of you wish to turn in and help, I have no objection at all. I have secured 4 bushels to plant of this variety. Best of All, and can supply any of you, who want to try it, at the following prices: Pint, 16 cts.; quart, 35 cts. ; peck, S1.50. If wanted by mail, add at the rate of 8 cts. per pint, for postage and pack- ing. When we get some nice seed, I think we can dispose of it readily by an advertisement in Glean- ings or in some of the papers that circulate in the Southern States. So far as I can learn, it is a great yielder; and the dry beans can probably be furnish- ed nearly if not quite as cheap as our ordinary field beans. Of course, I had to pay a high price to get the seed of this variety to start witli. I wish some of the friends in Florida, who have grown the Best of All, would tell us a little more about it. grown by the market-gardener the prices will gen- erally be considerably lower. Whatever you do, do not get the blues, and let your ground grow up to weeds. Get at it and do sumethinij at once. THE RECENT FROST. Very likely the question is coming up with many of our readers as to what shall be done. Well, it wants some advi^, from somebody of wisdom and years of experience, many times, to say just what is best to be done. A year ago a patch of wax beans was, to all appearance, "gone up," as the boys say; but on examining closely I found buds between the leaves, that seemed to be unharmed. I waited three or four days, and had just about decided to harrow them up and plant again, when 1 thought I would wait a little longer. We had a warm rain, and al- most every beanstalk started. I planted some more right after the frost, to see which would do better; and the frost-bitten ones gave a pretty fair crop of wax beans ten days or two weeks ahead of the others. Of course, the frost-bite set tliem back; but when they once got out leaves, the large root that was unharmed gave them a big send-off. At other times I think I have fussed with frost-bitten stuff when it would have been better to cultivate it up and plant anew. Sometimes you can plant between the hills or put another row alongside of the frost- bitten row. The latter way makes cultivation diffi- cult. Putting a hill between the others does pretty well; but in gathering the crop it takes too long to hunt it up here and there; and unless it is worth considerable money it costs about all it comes to. If you decide to plant over, I would work the ground up thoroughly with cut-away or other harrows, fine it down, and roll it, as in the first place, then put in your crop just as nice as you know how. As the second planting comes right in the very best part of tlie season, it will oftentimes give a much better product than the first, any way; but on most things MY NEW WHEEL FOR 189l. I have had it .some little time, but I did not men- tion it, because it took me some little time to decide that I liked a wheel as light as an 18-lb. Rambler. When I undertook to ride it with my winter cloth- ing, overcoat, heavy l^oots, etc., someway the wheel and I didn't get acquainted. But the warm weather came, so I could put on my light summer clothing, light shoes, etc., and I have just begun to compre- hend what it is to fly through tlie air, with almost nothing to add to the momentum of my own weight. Well, now the wheel and I have become inseparable companions. The old one seems heavy and awk- ward. In fact, it is just as each succeeding- lighter weight has previously thrown the others into tlie shade. I get on and off now with the greatest ease, and ride as slowly, if necessary, as one would walk, and go around obstacles almost easily and safely. At the same time, when I have a g-ood stretch of road there seems to be almost no limit to the speed that may be attained. By the way, I wonder if the next great move in this world of ours is not going to be along the line of dropping uselpss weights and encumbrances; or, to put it in a spiritual sense, to "lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and run the race that is set before us." Somehow I seem to have g-otten my text at the end of my little sermon; but, my good friend, if you do not weigli any more than about 130 or 140 lbs., and if you have never tried an 18-lb. wheel of the present date, let me suggest to you that there is a treat in store for you. By the way, I have not had any long rides yet this season, principally be- cause my presence seems at this season to be so urgently needed every day here at the Home of the Honey-bees. Kind Words From Our Customers. The Crane smoker you sent me is the best I ever saw. W. B. AiKiN. Riverside, Tex. My goods were received O. K. They are the finest I have seen. You may look for ray future orders. Henry E. Liveling. East St. Louis, 111., April 27. The garden seeds I ordered of you by mail came all right in just four days from the day I ordered them. We get just about twice as many seeds for the money from you as we can at the stores here. Please accept thanks. Mad Talbert. Morristown, Ind., Mar. 11. The goods ordered Apr. 4th arrived safely and in good condition; also the queen ordered on the 8th. She has been introduced successfully. My reason for ordering- goods of you in preference to buying nearer home is, that I am always sure of their com- ing in good condition. W. W. Conner. Washington, D. C, April 29. one big colony WORTH TWO OR THREE SMALL ONES. I make just as few swarms as possible, as one large swarm gathers as much honey as three or four small ones. The bad windy days for handling bees 1 am busy making- or putting together and painting those new hives I got from you, which are the nicest you ever sent me. You have really outdone your- self on this order. H. T. Gifford. Vero, Fla., April 33. Your card of the Itith ult. is at hand, also Glean- ings for March 1st. In reply to your request for postals regarding- "hive argument," I say keep it up and we will sift tlie grain from the chaff. Gleanings is getting better each year, and all are given a lair hearing. Bloom is coming on, and bees are rearing brood very fast. Prospects are very good for a fair crop. J. W. Griffin. I Descanso, Cal., Mar. 8. 422 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 15. "The Battle is Not To Tiie Strong Alone" If it "were, we "would win it just as we do now, for we stand ready to guarantee our fence to be tlie strongest of all wire fences made. We do not ask you to take anybody's figures or tables of tensile strength, but wilt make a bona fide test of the real article Ou the other hand, if a fence must be '"vigilant," "active" and "brave," there is no use looking further than the Page. It's tlie only live fence. ''Dead" soft wire fences are exempt. PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO.,Adrian,Mich. In a recent advertisement we told of our very superior all- steel hand and power feed cutter to be offered at $i o » 'h $40 Another a'l. tells of the process of ^'alvanizin^ and its indis- pensable pie-ervative qualities. We also will give you the ex- perience of two ri'presentative business firms of Illinois, one of ■whom has sold 400 and the other 5U0 Aermotors. In ad. No. 4 we qu"te a p ice on the best pumps made (hand, windmill, and irriza ing) lower than v,-n< ever bef rt- dreamed of. and in ad. No. 5 we talk to you of steel galvanized tanks, with covers, at the unheard of [trice of 2^ cents per gallon. This is cheaper than wood. They dn not shrink, le tk. rot. rust, or give taste to water. Read all of the Aermoior ads. The Aerniotor Company treats the public generously. While state legislatures are passing laws to secure repairs for farm machinery ;.t rens'.nahle prices, IT IS A FACT THAT THE AKKMOTOR COMPANY HAS FOR THE YEAR 1H95 BEEN COMPELLED TO RAISE ITS PRICES ON REPAIRS BECAISE SOMK OK ITSCVSTOMFRS HAVE BEEN ORDKRLNG INUIVIOl AL PARTS TO MAKE I P COMPLETE MACHINES, SINCE IN THAT WAY THEY COILU (JET A MACHINK CHEAPER THAN BY ORDERING IT ASSEMBLED. JW>ph I not CO mpelled to buif pelled to buy re2)atrs. was in th is respect gen- Bold so low that cus- buy the repairs and chine at less than the chine would cost. But not certain that they assembled in good shape, own reputation, the Aer- the price of certain repairs in future. Not only has the given the best goods at the low- apoorarticleatanv [trice, but TWENTY BRANCH HOCSES THE COINTRY IN ORDER COODS EASILY ACCESSI- REPAIRS WITHIN EASY to greatly increase this a matter of the greatest are purchasing machinery. a wise man will look to it clethat repairs can quick- cost, "Our very In machinery ; they i The Aermoior Company erous to a fault. It tomers could assemble a ma- assembled ma- since it was would get tlie macliina for the protection of its motor Company has raised just enough to prevent this Aermotor Company always est price and refused to sell it has now ESTABLISHED IN VARIOl'S PARTS OF TO HAVE NOT ONLY 'TS BLE, BIT TO HAVE ITS REACH. It expects soon number of houses. This is importance to those who Accidents will happen, and when he is buying an arti- ly be had at reasonable and hi^'h standards on everything connected with water supply and power production by wind, together with the accessibility of a full line of our goods and repairs, will be appreciated. AeriTIOtor CO*« Chleago. METAL WHEEL for your WAGONS Adt size yon want, 20 to 56 in high. Tires I to 8 m wide— hubs to fit any axle. .Suvcs Cosf many times in *, season to have set of low %vheel8 to fit Jour wagon for hauling KTain. fodder, manure, bogs, .Vc. No resettins of tores Oatl'e free. Address Empire mpg. co ^ulncy, 111. tSrm respouuiiiii to tins advert! Promptness is What Counts. Honey-jars, Shipping--cases, and eveiy tliiiij that bee-keei)ers use. Root's Goods at Root's i Prices, and the Best Shipping=point in the Country. Dealers in Honey and Beeswax, Catalog free. WALTER S. POUDER, 162 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Please mention this paper. Crane Smoker 1895 Pattern. This excellent smoker was in- troduced sojiie two years ago, since which time it has worked itself rapidly into popular favor. patented MarcTi 12, lSf)5. hs Distinctive Feature is the Crane Valve, li.v which tlie full force of the bellows is seriired without waste, and liy which also smoke is prevented absoluielytfrom going- nito tlic bellows. The Legs are of Skeleton Malleable Iron, contracted at the feet so as to be out of the w ly of the fingers in handling, and aie se- cured to the bellows by bolts instead <)f screws. The Shield is of Light Corrugated Tin, and lia^s next to tlie bellows, thus giving ample protection from heat. The Cone Top easily tilts back for re= plenishing the smokei'. and is secured by a. tnalleable-iion hinge, the working parts of wlijch ;ire milled so as to insure accurate ad- .jnstment to the stove or cup. As to Fuel, it will burn any thing, in= eluding S(dt Coal, Stovewood. Planer-shavings; and it makes no difference how much the lat- ter may be crammed down in the cup, there will be the same strong blast as before. Price, 3.^-inch barrel, it^l.85, post- paid; or >t^l.50 by fgt. or exp. The A. I. Root Company, Medina, Ohio. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 427 Notice! We beg to announce that we have completed arrangements with the Porters whereby we secure for this country the control of the sale of that very excellent and almost indispen- sable implement, The Porter Bee=Escape. It will be manufactured by the Porters, as formerly, but write to us for prices in both large and small j The A. I. Root Co., Medina, 0. ! Your Orders j(_)r umesifu iiai- ian queens will be promptlj- filled by return mail. These (jueens are carefully reared from fine stock, are larg-e. healtliv, and prolific. 75c each; sFH.OO per dozen. Tested, $1 00 each. J. W. K. SHAW & CO., Iberia Par. Loreauville, La. C?"!!! rpsnondiner to this advertisement mention ulkaninos for untested Ital- •HONEY-MAKERS Are a strain of Italian bees that we have pro- duced by years of careful breeding-. Queens will be ready May 15. Tested queens in May, $2.00; untesfed. SI. 00; half- doz., J5 00; tested queens in June, $125: untested, 75c; half-dozen, $4.00. Please state in your order whether im- ported or golden queens are wanted. Leininger Bros., Ft. Jennings. O. tyin responding to this advertisement mention GLEAKdoa. Patents Pending On new process, new ma- chines, new product, in manufacture of comb foun- dation. Result: Lowest prices, best work. Samples and price list free. Wax wanted. W. J. Finch, Jr., Springfield, 111. Hlease mention this paper. WEAK POINTS IN mW FENCES. 1st, too low: If less than 5 ft. animals reach, .lump or tumble over. 3nd, cross bar.s too wide a!>art. The.se add nothing to the streu»'tli, simply spread the strain, like the planks on a bridge, and should he close, ad, cheap liorjzoiital wires No matter how larg**, a moderate strain stretches them un- til useless. 4th, tlie laclt ola reliable, auto- matic tension device. End springs, ratchets, etc., can only affect near by panels. You can learn the remedy by addressing PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich, C^ln reMioiKlinir to tills advertisement mention fST.KANTNfia Imported Italian Queens of '95 rearing-, after Mny lij, .*3.C0 each; te-ted, now, $1..50 1 o fe each. W. C. FEASIEE, Atlantic, Iowa. HONEY! If we would be suc- cessful in the pro- duction of honey it is of vital importance that our queens be tirst class. After an extended experience with the different i-aces of bees brought to this count! y, I am led lo believe, all things con- sidered, that these direct from Italy have never been improved upon. Large yellow prolific queens from imported motheis. mated to di-ones of imported stock from a different source, securing a direct cross. Untested. re;idv May 2.5, T5c; 6, $4.25; 12 for $8.00 Select untested, $1 (HI. No disease. L. TJ. ROB/i^'. Worthinarton, W. T"a. ONE MAN WITH THE UNION COMBINATION SAW Can do the work of four men us- ing liand tools, in Kipping, Cut- ting off, Mitering, Rabbeting, Grooving, Gaining, Dadoing, Kdging-np, Jointing Stuff, etc. Full Line of Foot and Hand Power Machinery. Sold on Trial. ('(tiiilo'i Fire. l-34ei SENECA FALLS MFC. CO., 44 Water St., Seneca Falls, N Y. METAL WHEEL for your WAGONS. Any size yon want, 20 to 66 in high. Tires 1 to 8 in wide— hubs to fit any axle. Maves Cost many times in a season to have set of low wheels to fit yoor wagon for hanling ffram, fodder, mannre, bogs, kc. No resetting of lires. Catl'g free. Address Bmpire: mfo. CO., 4uljicy» 111. I^"lli respond I M.^ In this aclverti.-ienient mention QLEAlONas. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES FOR 1895. Such as Dovetailed Hives, Sections, Comb Foundation, Extractors, and every thing else used by a bee- keeper. All late improved goods. Immense stock. Goods sold at wholesale and retail. Write for our D/SCOUI\/TS FOR EARLY ORDERS. Alsike clover and Japanese buckwheatf urnished at lowest market price. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDER, Des Moines, Iowa. IH writing advertisers please mention this paper. 428 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 1. Honey Column. CITY MARKETS. Kansas City.— Ho?ie)y.— The stock of comb honey is large; market well supv)lied. Fancy white 1-lb. combs, 13; amber, 11. Receipts of extracted lig-ht; white, 7; amber, 5J4@6; Southern, iijg.S. Beeswax, 32. Hamblin & Bearss, May 20. Kansas City, Mo. Chicago.— Ho?!e}/.— There is not much honey be- ing- sold, and prices remain as formerly reported. Such white comb as we have of good qualitj' sells at 14c; but tliereis a prospect that the market is going- to be cleaned out before new crop. Extracted bring-s 5'4@7. Beeswax, fair grade, 3()c. R. A. Burnett & Co., May 18. 163 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Detroit. — Honey. — Honey is somewhat neglected. Prices lower, with little g'ood in sight. Best white comb honey 13®14; dark lots at buyers' prices. Ex- tracted, 6@7. Beeswax, :i9@30. M. H. Hunt, May 18. Bell Branch, Mich. Cleveimnd. — Honev.—Our honey market is very slow. No. 1 white, in 1-lb. sections, i2@13c; No. 2, 11; extracted. No. 1 white, "@8. Beeswax. 28c. WiliT.iams Bros., May 18. 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland, O. New York.— Ho?iej/.— All grades of white comb honey are well cleaned up. Considerable buck- wheat is yet on the market, and, as the demand is about over, some of it will probably be carried over. We ^. White comb, 1-lb. frame, 10. Beeswax, 26@27. Henry Schacht, Successor to Schacht, Lemckc d- Steincr, May 23. San Francisco, Cal. W ANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample. J. A. Green, Ottawa, III. WANTED.— To exchange 6 and 12 inch Root foun- dation mills for wax, honey, or offers. I. J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, New York, N. Y. w ANTED.- To exchange supplies and other goods for honey. O. H. Hyatt, Shenandoah, Iowa. 20tf WANTED.— To exchange a quantity of carpenters' tools, also Barred Plymouth Rock eggs for nuclei. F. L. Wotton, Darien, N. Y. WANTED. — To exchange golden queens for Pekin ducks, Embden geese, fancy poultry, buck- wheat. J. F. Michael, Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange 26-in. planer, power scroll saw, all iron ; tenoner, and mortiser, for porta- ble sawmill, or other wood-working machinery. Will give a bargain for cash, eitf Geo. Rall, Frenchville, Tremp. Co., Wis. WANTED.— To exchange my fine English mastiff pups and collie shepherds, for something useful. They are tlie liest stock. Scott Brillhart, Millwood, Knox Co., Ohio. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 429 Contents of this Number. Aliis I)(ii>ata 45(1 Bees, StifiiKtli (if 45] Bri.od-cliaiiiljer. Heddon.,.. 44? Classiticat ii m Cuniniittee 44(1 Clovor. Si-ai 1ft 4(il Cover, Tavlcii's 447 Cover. HijiKiiisville 44ii Covers Warpin!? 44!i Dictionary. The Standard. . .4.5{i Di.xie. Again 451 Electropoi^e 4.59 Feeder. Miller Preferred 442 Feeder. Tlie Hill 4.34 Feeding;- at Axtell's iX'.' Florida Notes 4.55 Foul Brood in Wisconsin. .. .4:«i Frames. Close- tittinfr 4.5ii Grape Juice as Medicine. . . .4iil Heddon Hive, To MaiiaKC- . 4.511 cddon's Patent 447 ivc. Taylor's Latest 437 cpiicy lor Horses 454 :a lia'n izintr 446 .ii;.t\iic ill Cellars 435 iid-niiiMiiit-' 4.50 i)isnii i.f Stinfis in the Air .4.51 aiiililei ill Mendocino Co .443 diet W(,ik. Detroit 462 t-positories. Winter 459 r-eds. Gi ■veni ment 4.59 liciitiiij.;'. GiNcn's 442 liiiitiKili t Medium Expos'd4.58 Bl. .4.34 tiawhei lies and Frost 460 waiiiis, T.. Hive 445 warijiiiin-cells 4.51 ..;id ^t.iiv 4.56 ..l.ac.-,, ill Colleges 462 Boardman's Bee=Feeder. You can not afford to let your bee.s run down before the honey-tiow begins. By stimulutive feed- ing you can hav^e a strong working force of bees ready for business in honey harvest. For feeding under all cnuditious, and esiecially for stimulative feeding, there is no feeder quite as safe and con- venient as the ^*-^^ Boardman Feeder. -%.-%^ I am prepared to furnish them in large and small •luantities. Particulars and prices on application to H. R. BOARDMAN, East Townsend, £^"In respond ill ■ ..ii = Huron Co., = Ohio. KAN1M..-V COR SALE.-JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT, 75 CTS. r PER BUSHEL. A. P. LAWRENCE, HICKORY CORNERS, MICH. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. 100 black, hybrid, and mismated queens for sale; 30c each; $3.00 per doz. H. L. Weenes, Hanford, Cal. "The Southland Send $1.00 for the South- land Queen. Edited by the Aichley family. Plain, prac- tical, and all fresh bee matter. Jennie Atchley will begin a Bee-keeping school in June Q " l'"'*'! No. All that wish les- Ut^t^Ila sons, come in. A steam bee- hive factory. Root's goods, Dadant s foundation. Send for free catalog and sample journal. THE JENNIE ATChLEY CO., Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. Will pay 25c per lb. cash, or 38c in trade, for any quantity of good, fair, average beeswax, delivered at our R. R. station. The same will be sold to those who wish to purchase, at 33c for hest selected wax. Old comhs will not he accepted under any consid- er it ion. Unless you put your name on the box, and notify us by mail of amount sent, we can not hold our- selves responsible for mistakes. It will not pay as a general thing to send wax by express. TWE A. I. ROOT CO., Medina, O. Second-Hand Bicycles Cheap. We have the following second-hand bicycles for sale at the prices stated: One ladies' Victoria, last year's model, made by the Overman Wheel Company; has been used but little, and cost last year $135.00. Will sell for $65, One ladies' Monarch, last year's model, for $55. One ladies' Columbia, '93 pattern, in perfect run- ning order, tires in fjood condition; price $37. .50. One gents' Columbia, 93 pattern, also in perfect order-, with new tires, and newly enameled, $47. .50, One gents' Monarch. '93 pattern. This wheel has had considerable use. but is in good condition. Has had new tires recently; weighs about 30 lbs. *45. One gents' Lovell Diamond, '9' pattern. Fitted with new tires and pedals last fall. Weighs about 31 lbs. In excellent condition, and a bargain at the price. $40. We have also one $16.00 shot-gun, nearly new, 13 bore, breech-loading, top action; barrels' perfect, and without a spot inside or out; modified choke; for only $11. Will take white hone.v or wax in trade, f. o. b. at Medhia, for any of above goods. THE A. I. ROOT CO.. JVledina, Ohio. A KIND WOHD FOR THb; BOOK "THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET OF A HAPPY LIEE." The following is from a private letter to one of the teachers in the Medina schools, and was not written for publication. Dear Sa)o7);— I much wish to give a number of Japanese of my acquaintance, who read English, the book Christian's Secret of a Happy Life. I know of nothirg that is more needed in Japan than such teaching as that. Our best (or, rather, leading) men are doubting or disbelieving in the divinity of Christ, the lesurrectiorr, the personality of God, etc., so that it seems as if tliey had no greatly dif- ferent foundation fi-om Bnddhist.s. Alack of spirit- uality and ^■i1al faith in a liviny" Savior is, I believe, the root of the difiicnlty. 1 am having the book translated into Japanese, but it will take a good while to get it done, and I want to give one or two discouraged friends (pastoi-s) the book right away. H. Frances Parmelee. Maebashi Joshu, Japan, April 33. [Our missionary friend has, without knowing it, given us one of the grandest testimonials for this good book I have ever seen, for it does indeed strike directly at the root of the matter. I am afraid that right here in America as well as in Japan we have "discouraged pastors;" and this book, "The Chris- tian's Secret of a Happy Life," has a most kind and genial rebuke to all such. "O thou of little faith ! wherefore didst thou doubt ?"] A. I. R. 430 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 1 Books for Bee-Keepers and others. Any of tiese books on which postage is not given will be forwarded by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price. In buying books, as evei'y thing else, we are liable to disap- pointment if we make a purchase without seeing the article. Admitting that the bookseller could read all tne books he offers, as ne has them for sale, it were hardly to be expected he would be the one to mention all the faults, as well as good things about a book. I very much desire that those who favor me with their patronage shall not be disappointed, and there- fore I am going to try to prevent it by mentioning all the faults, so far as I can. that the purchaser may know what he Is getting. In the following list, books that I approve I have marked with a * ; those I especially approve, •* ; those that are not up to times, t ; books that contain but little matter for the price, large type, and much space between the lines,!; foreign, §. The bee-books are all good. BIBLES, HYMN-BOOKS, AND OTHER GOOD BOOKS. As many of the bee-books are sent with other goods by freight or express, incurring no postage, we give prices sepa- rately. You will notice, that you can judge of the size of the books very well by the amount required for postage on each. 8 I Bible, good print, neatly bound 20 10 I Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress** 30 30 I Illustrated Pilgrim's Progress** 76 This is a large book of 425 pages and 175 illustrations, and would usually be called a 82.00 book. A splendid book to pre- sent to children. Sold in gilt edge for 25c more. 6 I First Steps for Little Feet. By the author of the Story of the Bible. Abetter book for young children can not be found in the whole round of literature, and at the same time there can hardly be found a more attractive book. Beau- tifully bound, and fully Illustrated. Price 50 c. Two copies will be sold for 75 cents. Postage six cents each. 6 I Harmony of the Gospels 36 3 I John Ploughman's 'Talks and Pictures, by Rev. C. H. Spurgeon* 10 1 I Gospel Hymns, consolidated Nos.1,2, 3. and 4, words only, cloth, 10 c ; paper 05 2 I Same, board covers 20 5 I Same, words and music, small type, board covers 46 10 Same, words and music, board covers . . 76 3 New Testament in pretty flexible covers. . . 05 5 New Testament, new version, paper covers. 10 5 Robinson Crusoe, paper cover 10 4 Stepping Heavenward** 18 15 Story of the Bible** 100 A large book of 700 pages, and 274 illustrations. Will be read by almost every child. Tlie Cliristian's Secret of a Happy Life**.. . . 25 Same in cloth binding 50 " The Life of Trust," by Geo. MuUer** 1 25 1 Ten Nights In a Bar-Room, T. S. Arthur*.. 05 5 Tobacco Manual** 45 This is a nice book that will be sure to be read, if left around where the boys get hold of it. and any boy that reads it will be pretty safe from the tobacco habit. BOOKS ESPECIALLY FOR BEE-KEEPERS. Postage [Price without postage. 16 A B Cof Bee Culture. Cloth ..110 A Year Among the Bees, by C. C. Miller. . . 46 Advanced Bee Culture, by W. Z. Hutchinson 50 3 i Amateur Bee-keeper, by J. W. Rouse 22 14 I Bees and Bee-keeping, by Frank Cheshire, England. Vol. Li 2 36 31 I Same, Vol. II. § r 2 79 or, $6.25 for the two, postpaid. 10 I Bees and Honey, by T. G. Newman 91) Cook's New Manua'l. Cloth 115 95 10 Doolittle on Queen- Rearing. Dzieizon Theory Foul Brood; Its Natural History and Ra- tional Treatment . 'SZ 1 I Honey as Food and Medicine On 15 1 Langstroth Revised by Ch. Dadant & Son. . 1 25 10 I Quinby's New Bee-Keeping 140 I Thirty Years Among the Bees, bj' H. Alley 5(i 4 I Success in Bee Culture, by James Heddon 46 I Handling Bees, by Langstroth. Revised by Dadant 08 1 Bee-keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker 26 5 I The Honey Bee, by Thos. William Cowan. . 96 I British Bee-Keeper's Guide Book, by Thos. William Cowan, England! 40 3 I Merrybanks and His Neighbor, by A.I. Root 16 4 I Winter Problem in Bee-keeping, by Pierce 46 MISCELLANEOUS HAND-BOOKS. 5 I An Egg-Farm, Stoddard** 45 I Amateur PhotOBrapher's Hand-hnok** 70 3 I A B C of Potato Culture, Terry** 36 This is T. B. Terry's first and most masterly work. The book has hai an enoriiious sale, and has been leprinted in foreign languages. When we are thoroughly conversant with friend Terry's system of raising potatoes, we shall be ready to han- dle almost any farm crop successfully. It has 48 pages and 22 illustrations. 5 I A B C of Carp Culture, by Geo. Finley 36 5 I A B C of Strawberry Culture**ByT. B.Terry 35 Probably the leading book of the world on strawberries. I Barn Plans and Out-Bulldings* 1 50 I Canary Birds. Paper, 50 2 I Celery for Profit, by T. Greiner** 35 The first really full and complete book on celery culture, at a moderate price, that we have had. It is full of pictures, and the whole thing is made so plain that a schoolboy ought to be able to grow paying crops at once, without any assis- tance except from the book. 8 I Domestic Economy, by I. H. Mayer, M. D.** 60 This book ought to save at least the money it costs, each year, in every household. It was written by a doctor, and one who has made the matter of domestic economy a life-study. The regular price of the book is *1. 00; but by taking a large lot of them we are enabled to make the price only 60 cts. Draining for Profit and Health, Warring.. 1 50 10 Fuller's Grape Culturist** 140 Farming For Boys* 76 This is one of Joseph Harris' happiest productions, and it seems to me that it ought to make tarm-life fascinating to any boy who has any sort of taste for gardening. 7 I Farm, Gardening, and Seed-Growing** 90 This is by Francis Brill, the veteran seed-grower, and is the only book on gardening that I am aware of that tells how market^gardeners and seed-growers raise and harvest their own seeds. It has 166 pages. 12 I Gardening for Pleasure, Henderson* 1 85 While " Gardening for Profit "Is written with a view of mak- ing gardening PAT, It touches a good deal on the pleasure part; and "Gardening for Pleasure " takes up this matter of beauti- fying your homes and improving your grounds without the special point in view of making money out of it. I thiiik most of you will need this if you get " Gardening for Profit." This work has 404 pages and 203 illustrations. 12 I Gardening for Profit 1 86 The latest revision of Peter Henderson's celebrated work. Nothing that has ever before been put in print has done so much toward making market-gardening a science and a fasci- nating industry. Peter Hendersonstandsat the head, without question, although we have many other books on these rural employments. If you can get but one book, let it be the above. It has 376 pages and 138 cuts. I Gardening for Young and Old, Harris** 1 25 This is Joseph Harris' best and happiest effort. Although it goes over the same ground occupied by Peter Henderson, it particularly emphasizes thorough cultivation of the soil in preparing your ground; and this matter of adapting it to young people as well as old is brought out in a most bapp^ vein. If your children have any sort of fancy foi gardeningit will pay you to make them a present of this book. It has 187 pages and 46 engravings. 10 75 1 80 35 36 25 Garden and Farm Topics, Henderson**... Gray's School and Field Book of Botany. . Gregory on Cabbages; paper* Gregory on Squashes; paper* Gregory on Onions; paper* The above three books, by our friend Gregory, are all val uable. The book on squashes especially is good reading for almost anybody, whether they raise squashes or not. It strikes at the very foundation of success in almost any kind of business. 10 I Greenhouse Construction** I 40 This book, by Prof. Taft. is ju.-t out, and is as full and com- plete in regard to the building of all glass structures as is the next book in regard to their management. Any one who builds even a small structure for plant-growing under glass will save the value of the book by reading it "arefully. 15 I How to Make the Garden Pay.** 1 35 By T. Greiner. This is a new book, just out, and it gives the most explicit and full directions for gardening under glass of any book in the world Those who are interested in hot-beds, cold-frames, cold-greenhouses, hot^houses or glass structures of any kind for the growth of plants, can not afford to be with- out the book. I Handbook for Lumbermen 10 10 Household Conveniences 140 2 How to Propagate and Grow Fruit, Green* 15 3 I Injurious Insects, Cook 25 10 I Irrigation for the Farm, Garden, and Or- chard, Stewart* 140 This book, so far as I am informed, is almost the only work on this matter that is attracting so much interest, especially recently. Using water from springs, brooks, or windmills, to take the place of rain, during our great droughts, is the great problem before us at the present day. The book has 274 pages and 142 cuts. 5 1 Manures; How to Make and How to Use them ; in paper covers 46 6 I The same in cloth covers 65 Covering the whole matter, and discussing every thing to be found on the farm, refuse from factories, mineral fertilizers from mines, etc. It is a complete summing-up of the whole matter. It is written by F. VV. Sempers. 7 I Market-giirdenii'ig and Farm Notes, by Burnett Landreth 90 The Landreths are the pioneer seedsmen of America; and the book is worth fully as much as we might expect it to be. I think I received hints from it worth the price, before |it had been in my hands fifteen minutes. It is exceedingly practical, and tells what has been done and what is being done, more than it discourses on theory. 3 I Maple Sugar and the Sugar-bush** 35 By Prof. A. J. Cook. This was written in the spring of 1887 at my request. As the author has, perhaps, one of the finest sugar-camps in the United States, as well as being an enthusi- astic lover of all farm industries, he is better fitted, perhaps, to handle the subject tha an jther man. The book is written 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 431 in Prof. Cook's happy styl combining wholesome moral les sons with the latest and best method of managing to get tht finest syrup and maple sugar, with the least possible expendi- ture of cash and labor. Everybody who makes sugar or mo- lasses wants the sugar-book. It has 42 pages and 35 cuts. I Our Farmins, by T. B.Terry** $2.00 In which he tells " how we have made a i-un-down farm bring both profit and pleasure." This is a large book, 6x9 inches, 367 pages, quite fully illus- trated. It is Teri-y's first large book; and while it touches on the topics treated in his smaller handbooks, it is sufficiently different so that no one will complain of repetition, even if he has read all of Terry's little books. I should call it the bright- est and most practical book on farming before the world at the present day. The price is 82.00 postpaid; or clubbed with Gleanings for 2.50. Those who are already subscribers to Gleanings may have it postpaid by sending us 1.50 more. We are so sure it will be worth many times its cost that we are not afraid to offer to take it back if any one feels he has not got his money's worth after he has read it. If ordered by ex- press or freight with other goods, 10c less. 3 I Onions for Profit** 45 Fully up to the times, and includes both the old onion cul- ture and the new method. The book is fully illustrated, and written with all the enthusiasm and interest that character- ize its author, T. Greiner. Even if one is not particularly in- terested in the business, almost any person who picks up Greiner's books will like to read them through. 1 Poultry for Pleasure and Profit** 10 11 Practical Floriculture, Henderson* 135 10 Profits in Poultry* 90 3 I Practical Turkey-raising 10 By Fanny Field. This is a 85-cent book which we oflfer for 10 cts. ; postage, 2 cts. 4 I Peabody's Webster's Dictionary 10 Over 30,000 words and 2.t0 illuEtrations. 2 I Rats: How to Rid Farms and Buildings of them, as well as other Pests of like Char- acter . 15 This little book ought to be worth dollars instead of the few cents it costs to any one who has ever been troubled with these pests, and who has not! It is written in such a happy vein that every member of the family will read it clear through, just about as soon as they get hold of it. It contains a com- Flete summing up of the best information the world can urnish. 1 I Silk and the Silkworm 10 10 I Small-Fruit Culturist, Fuller 140 10 I Success in Market-Gardening* 90 This is a new book by a real, live, enterprising, successful market-gardener who lives in Arlington, a suburb of Boston Mass. Friend Rawson has been one of the foremost to make irrigation a practical success, and he now irrigates his ground? by means of a windmill and steam-engine whenever a drought threatens to injure the crops. The book has 208 pages, and if nicely illustrated with 110 engravings. ! Ten Acres Enough .. 1 fl(i j Talks on Manures* 175 This book, by Joseph Harris is, perhaps, the most compre- hensive one we have on the subject, and the whole matter ie considered by an able writer. It contains 366 pages. 2 I The Carpenter's Steel Square and its Uses. 15 10 I The New Agriculture; or, the Waters Led Captive 75 2 I Treatise on the Horse and his Diseases 10 5 I Tile Drainage, by W. I. Chamberlain 35 Fully illustrated, containing evei-y thing of importance clear up to the present date. The single chapter on digging ditches, with the illustrations given by Prof. Chamberlain, should alone make the book worth what it costs, to every one who has oicasion to lay ten rods or more of tile. There is as much science in digging as in doing almost anything else; and by following the plan directed in this book, one man will often do as much as two men without this knowledge. The book embraces every thing connected with the subject, and was written by the author while he was enga-ed in the work of digging the ditches and laying the tiles HIMSELF, for he has laid literally miles of tile on his own farm in Hudson. O. o 1 Tomato Culture 35 In three parts. Part first — by J. W. Day. of Crystal Springs, Miss., treats of tomato culture in the South, with some re- marks by A. I. Root, adapting it to the North. Part second- By D Cummins, of Conneaut, O.. treats of tomato culture especially for canning-factories. Part third— By A. I. Root, treats of plant-growing for market, and high-pressure garden- ing in general. This little book is interestingbecause it is one of the first rural books to come from our friends in the South. It tells of a great industry that has been steadily growing for some years past; namely, tomato-growing in the South to supply the Northern markets. The little book, which is fully illustrated, gives us some pleasant glimpses of the possibili- ties and probabilities of the future of Southern agriculture. Even though you do not grow tomatoes to any considerable extent, you will find the book brimful of suggestions of short cuts in agriculture and horticulture, and especially in the line of market-gardening. 3 I Winter Care of Horses and Cattle 35 This is friend Terry's second book in regard to farm matters ; but it is so intimately connected with hip potato-book that it reads almost like a sequel to it. If you have only a horse or a cow, I think it will pay you to invest in the book. It has U pages and i cuts. 3 1 Wood's Common Objects of the Micro- scope** 47 8 1 What to Do and How to be Happy While Doing It, by A. 1. Root 50 THE A. I. ROOT CO., MEDINA. O. B EES, 60 Cents a Pound, this month. T. f. A.ncJrews, Purina, Fay^. Co., 111. WHY NOT Send your orders to W. H. Laws for Ital- ian Queens ? THE BEST IS THE CHEAPEST. For beauty and business you can't beat them. The leading bee-keepers of the U. S. are my customers, and all praise them. I breed either the Golden or Leather-color- ed strains. PRICES REDUCED To suit the times. Fine breeders always on hand, $2 to $3. Untested, 75c; 3 for $2. Tested, $1; 6 for $5. Address W, H. LAWS, LAVACA. ARK. Please mention Gleanings. I qqI^ Here, Bee=keeper! If you are in need of bee-supplies, write for catalog and price list. Every thing sold as cheap as the cheapest, -i-tr rj ^tt-iJ-fli Kenton, Hardin Co., 0. W . C OlTllin. A Tested Queen Free ! Pure Italians. To every one buying IV2 ^f^ doz. untested queens I will give a tested ^^ one free. Untested, 60c; tested, $1.00; selected tested, $1.50; breeders, $3.00. STEWART BROS., Sparta, Tenn. .^"in responding to lliis advertisement mention GLEANIk'GS. MUTH'S HONEY- EXTRACTOR, SQUARE GLASS HONEY-JARS. Bee-keepers' Supplies in general, etc., etc. Send for our new catalog. "Practical Hints" will be mailed for 10c in stamps. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. Given Foundation^*--*^^ Ready for Delivery. We are now making, as previously announced. Given foundation on rolls. We can supply the prod- uct at the same price as the regular wax. Customers who desire a .small (luantity to experiment with can have a little added to the regular foundation if they will so specify in their orders. We neitlter indorse nor condemn it, but hope it will be tried sufBciently to test its merits. The surplus Given has extra thin bases, jhe A. I. Root Co., Medina, 0. W. O. Victor, of Wharton, Tex., took 45,000 Lbs. of Honey in 1894. He offers Italian Queens — good, old-style honey- queens— untested, first order, to any address, at 50c each. Also bees in any quantity; 450 colonies to draw from. Root's goods constantly in stock. Prices to suit the times. Buy near home, and save freight. ITfll IAN RFFS Ready in May. Queens. fl.OO. IIHLinn Dtto gggg ^,y ^jjg pound, $1.00. One- AND QUEENS, frame nucleus with queen, $2.00; ••■• ••■■ two frames, $:3..')0. Also Barred Plymouth Rock eggs for setting, Jl.tio per 15. 6-17ei MRS. A. A. SIMPSON. Swarts. Pa. Eggs From 8 leading varieties of fowls, in- cluding Imperial Pekin Ducks. Send for descriptive list to J. 3. MASON, Medina. 0. In writing advertisers mention this paper. 432 GLEANINGS IN BEE CQLTURE. Jl'NE 1. TESTED QUEENS Are usually sold for $2.00. I will explain wiiy I wish to sell a few at less than that. As most of my readers know, T rcqucen my apiary each spring with young queens from the South. This is done to do away with swarmingr. If done early enough it is usually sureessf ul. It will be set n that the queens displaced by these young queens are never more than a year old; in fact, they are flue, tested, Italian queens, right in their prime; yet, in order that they may move otT quickly, and thus make room for the untested queens, they will be sold for only ONE DOLLAR. Or I will send the Review for 1895 and one of tliese queens for only $1.75. For $2.00 I will send tlie Review, the queen, and the book "Advanced Bee Culture." If any prefer the young, laying queens from the South, they can have them instead of the tested queens, at the same price. A discount on large orders for untested queens. Say how many are wanted, and a price will be made. Orders can be filled as soon as it is warm enough to handle bees' and ship queens with safety. W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, flich. 12 Please cut out this whole ad. ^ and sign and mail it to — £S 56 Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111. Ci&a «a1 «3 IC^^ Please send to me the American Bee Joornal for 3 months (13 numbers). At the end of that time I will send $1.00 for a year's sub- scription, or 25 cts. in case I decide to discontinue. Yon will please address me thus; Name . Fost-Office. State. E. KRETCHHER, RED OAK, IOWA, * ^ ^ 4-8 SENDS FREE HIS CATALOG OF 72 ILLUSTRATED PAGES: DESCRIBES EVERYTHING USED IN THE APIARY; BEST GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES. CAPACITY ONE CARLOAD A DAY. WRITE AT ONCE FOR HIS CATALOG. Hives ~ Foundation, = "" 3-frame nucleus with untested queen $3 50 3-frame nucleus with untested queen 3 25 Ready to ship. Discount on quantities. 40,000 No. 2, 4Mx4^x7 to foot sections, per 1000 1 50 40,000 No. 3, 43^x4 J^-xlii sec- tions, per 1000 1 35 Every thing shipped from this city. Catalog free. Sections, = Bees, = Queens, E Or = Any E Thing E A I Bee=keeper = Needs. = Smokers, Knives.^ Send for circulars and prices to T. F. Bingham, Abronia, Mich. I. J. STRINGHAM, 105 Park Place, N. Y. City, QUEENS. WM. A. SELSER. BREEDER GOLDEN ITALIAN QUEENS FOR BUSINESS. WYNCOTE, PA. NEAR PHILADELPHIA. Favor is Deceitful, Beauty is Vain. New York Queens. ^9 The beautiful yellow bee is go- ing. I have a strain of bees, here- after I shall keep. It is the coming bee for our Northern climate for longevity, and perfectwhit '-capped honey; hardy and proUflc. Queens, $1.00 each. Having two apiaries, can sell yellow Italians. Queens, $1.00 each. JMRS. OLIVER COI^E, Slierburne, Clienana-o Co., JV. V. World's Fair Hedal Awarded my JFaundation. Send for free samples. Dealers, write for wholesale prices. Root's new Polished Sections and other goods at his prices. Free Illustrated Price List of every thing needed in the apiary, lyi |-I f-fuf|-f Bell Branch, Mich. IMPORTED ITALIAN MOTHERS ONLY. Untested, 55 cf s. : doz., $6. About 11 out of every 12 will make fine tested queens, and for gentleness and industry we defy the world to beat them. Safe delivery. Money-oider office, Decatur. eitf CLEVELAND BROS., Stamper, Newton Co., Miss. NON-SWARMING and NON-STINGING. June 1 shall commence to ship queens and bees from my farat)us >cIlow banded strains. Queens, !fl.(Ni each. I never had a swarm of bees from one strain that has been in myHpiarysix years. No cbarge unless queens are satisfactory. H. ALLEY. Wenham, Essex Co., Mass. One=piece Sections, Cheap ! •••••••mmmmil* In order to reduce stock, we offer No. 1 Cream Sections, 4ix4ix7 to foot, If, U, 1\^, and 2 inch: 1000 for $1.50, •5000 at 1.40 per M., 10000 - i.;^o '' " We also offer No. 1 White Sections, 5ix 6ix2, open on two oi sides: 1000 for $2.50, 5000 at 2.85 per M., 10000 " 2.25 '' " G. B. Lewis Co., Watertown, Wis. In responding to these advertisements mention tliis paper. ^JOURHAL:, • DELVoTEDi" •To -Bel •AND Honey Pubitshejy THE~A I'Rool' Co. $ii5p[RYtAR'^'\e) Medina- Ohio- Vol. XXIII. JUNE I, 1895. No. II. FEEDING. HOW THE AXTELLS DO IT. By Mrs. L. C. Axtell. Spring and summer feeding of bees is so much easier done by feeding out of doors tiiat we feed that way almost exclusively unless we know of a liive or more that is clear out, and then we give a comb of honey or one good feed in the hive at night. We louth is hard to beat. If you look it up you will see where you shipped goods to me in the State of Washington. I lived five years in Florida, fourteen in Texas; was raised in Kentucky. I lived in Washing- ton ten years, and this is my second year in California. I spent five months in San Diego Co., and have a tolerably fair idea of most places, and my choice is Southern Alabama. Upper Lake, Cal. G. P. Shires. [If our readers will turn to page 3.55 they will see that Rambler mentions meeting friend Shires in California.— Ed.] BEE -STING POISON, ETC. Bees are doing finely. I had 26, spring count, now .56. Last evening I transferred the Iialian colony from the box hive to one you sent. Twice in my lifetime bees have thrown some- thing into one of my eyes. It smarts and turns red immediately. I have never heard of any one else who is troubled in that way. Box Elder, Va., May 18. J.H.Allen. [Friend A., I have many times, while near angry bees, felt the sensation ynu describe; but, as you mention, I do not know that I have ever before seen it in print. Sometimes when you open a hive during cool weather, cross hybrids will elevate their stings, and you may see a little drop of poison hanging to the sting If you take the trouble to taste this you will find it a very pungent, acrid poison. Now, I have sometimes thought that an angrv bee might, while on the wing, flirt or throw this poison so it might go into a person's eye. Under similar circumstances we often smell what we call bee-poison. In preparing stings for medicine this is quite perceptible, and some people seem to be disagreeably affected by being around when this poison seems to be very much in the atmosphere. Very likely it is more or less volatile, and the odor of it in the air may affect the eyes, and perhaps other organs. Can somebody tell us more about it? — A. I. R.] DESTROYING SWARMING - CELLS; LANGSTKOTH VS. SECTIONAL BROOD-CHAMBER FOR THE rURPOSE. In that valuable article by E. France, in Gleanings, Dec. 15, on out-apiary manage- ment, he puts the key to his plan of swarming- time management by periodic visits in a line or two of print, and it is a pity, seeing the amount of work and care involved in following his in- structions, page 934, viz., " Be sitre no queen- cells are left in any colony," and, further down, " Leave no queen-cell in the old colonies," to let it pass without comment. It is truly good sound advice; but with the L. frame and hive, how laborious ! how risky I all hinges on not one cell being missed in the work of destruc- tion. A mere cup with an egg in it, accident- ally overlooked, means a swarm issuing before the 10th day comes round, and with it the api- arist. This plan of getting the swarming-date of a number of colonies on the same day, so dis- pensing with a watcher, is one I have carefully studied and followed in my out-apiaries for three seasons past. But I give them now but nine days between visits; and when there, in- stead of destroying cells one by one, I turn each of the brood-cases upside down, which ef- fectually and positively destroys all embryo queens, and none can escape, and the colony is safe for nine days. This colony is swarmed on next visii; also all others like it previously in- verted. The other colonies are inverted if strong, or likely to swarm; and if they have cells sealed next visit, they are swarmed in their turn; but if they have young cells, or none at all, they are inverted again and are safe till next visit, and so on with all hives as they advance to swarming strength every nine days for the two or three months of our swarm- ing season. This inverting has other advantages that have been set forth by other writers, including Mr. Heddon, whose hive, or a modification of it with hanging frames, I use in my out-apia- ries; but I have not seen its superiority in this respect, and the rapidity and certainty which with it the cell destruction essential to such a system of periodic visits can be accomplished, set forth anywhere. Any easily inverted hive would have the same advantage over non-in- vertible as the Heddon type has. Inversion is not a mere fanciful and pretty idea; it is to me the key of out-apiary success, and does away with all need of swarm-catchers, and hivers and traps and appliances outside the hive it- self. T. Bolton. Dunkeld, Victoria, Aus. I have had the same trouble John K. Good- rich had. Some thieves carried away three hives of bees at different times, and the ar- rangement spoken of in Gleanings seems to be just the thing. Would you please tell where such a battery could be bought? Others might be glad to know. Gustave Gross. Milford, Wis. [A battery and an electric call-bell outfit can be purchased at any of the electrical-supply houses for about f^.50. Write to Stanley & Pat- terson. New York City. — Ed.] THE strength OF BEES. A French naturalist, Mr. Plateau, has tested various insects to ascertain their strength, and finds that the smallest ones are very often the strongest. According to his experiments, a bee can drag off .30 times as much as a horse can, according to its size. One bee dragged easily 20 others, and showed a power proportionate to a locomotive. What astounding muscular power the bees must have, we think, when we 4,-/} GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 1. remember that the weight of a whole swarm The late frosts that have prevailed through- hangs from a limb, when but comparatively out the country have done a good deal of dam- few bees touch the limb itself. age; but we hope they have not affected the Medina, O., May 33. K. R. Mathey. nectar-bearing flora that will come on later. SOME UNSCIENTIFIC AND INACCURATE TEACH- ING CONCERNING BEES, IN A COLLEGE TEXT-BOOK. Mr. Root:— In a book at present used in the State Normal College, in Albany, entitled " Comparative Zoology, Structural and System- atic, for use In Schools and Colleges, by James Orton, A. M., Ph. D.." new edition, revised by Charles Wright Dodge, 1894, Harper Bros, pub- lishers, I find the following statement in rela- tion to the bee: "They exhibit three castes — females, or queens: males, or drones, and neuters, or sex- less workers. There is but one queen in a hive, and she is treated with the greatest distinction, even when dead. She dwells in a large pear- shaped cell, opening downward. She lays three kinds of eggs; from the first come forth workers; the second produce males, and the last females." I send tbis as a bit of curiosity, showing how the colleges are advancingc?) in bee-knowledge. Menards, N. Y. Jacob Kautz. [Such scientific (?) teaching is disgusting. If it is a fair sample of the accuracy of the oth- er matter in the book I should be sorry to have my boy use it as a text-book. The authors ev- idently got their knowledge on bees, such as they do have, from a very careless reading. It is very unsafe for any one to write on the subject without a little practical experience to throw light on what he is reading. Prof. Com- stock's book, notice of which appeared on page 409, last issue, is in marked contrast. Prof. C. went to the bees himself. — Ed.] Eight extra pages as usual. After a trial of 30 years. Dr. J. P. H. Brown, in the Southern Department of the A. B. J., says, " I am satisfied it does not pay to culti- vate plants exclusively for the amount of the nectar-secretion." The ApicuUurist for March, April, and May Is here, bound in one cover, but not any fatter for the consolidation. Is it a quarterly '? " Rev." Is the title in front of Emerson T. Abbott's name, as printed in the A. B. J. That may be a Rev. -elation to some; but it belongs there, and deservedly. The new bee-paper, the Southland Queen, is out, issued by the Jennie Atchley Co. It con- tains 22 pages and a cover, and is edited by the Atchley family. Monthly, $1.00 per year. The accurate and scholarly typography of the British Bee Journal is a pleasure to those who are pleased in that way. In this respect it presents a marked contrast to — some of us. E. B. Weed, in the Canadian Bee Journal, claims that the bleaching of wax in sunlight gives a better result than by the use of acids. We believe that is the position taken by Mr. Mathey, whose articles on wax we are now printing. Wm. McEvoy, the foul-brood inspector of Ontario, reports bringing 109 colonies through the winter in good condition, not losing one. That's something on the Boardman style; and several others in Canada report wintering with little or no loss. For the first time .since Stray Straws were published, we have failed to receive our in- stallment for the current issue. We have not learned the cause up to the time of going to press. Kind o' suspect the doctor prepared them, put them into an envelope, then into his pocket, and forgot to mail 'em. During the preparation of a part of this number I have been somewhat under the weather, but I am now coming around all right. The consequence is, most of the editorials were written by W. P. He prefers to use the edito- rial we, because, he says, it rhymes with P. So you can designate his by the use of "we." What shall the harvest be? is a conundrum with bee-keepers all over the land. Indeed, it is a conundrum every year; but it seems to be more so this year than ever. Mr. Harry La- throp, of Wisconsin, writes that the prospect is poor. Last year Wisconsin suffered terribly from the drouth, and many of the bee-keepers obtained little or no honey: but Mr. Lathrop did well. We copy the following from the Newaygo Repuhlican of May 9. It fully accounts for the fact that Bro. Hilton has been missing for some time. Hon. Geo. E. Hilton returned from a week's stay at his home yesterday. He is receiving many con- gratulations from his colleagues upon tlie fact that he is the proud father of a nice little girl. Time bears out the prediction made in the first of this series of letfcers that Mr. Hilton would prove to be one of the most popular as well as active and xiseful members of the House. No man is more highly re- spected than he, and no man in either House has more friends. He has much influence; and it is 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 453 needless to say to Newaygo County readers that it is never exerted in a bad cause. In the Aplculturnl Review (Spanish), pub- lished by Mr. Andreu, at Mahon. Balearic Is- lands, near Spain, we learn that indications for a good crop of honey are very favorable— plenty of rain, and an abundance of flowers. The editor says the price of wax is steadily going up, while that of honey is continually going down. He recommends the policy of keeping bees for wax only; and his article on the " Pro- duction of Virgin Wax" is so timely that we will translate it for a future number. AVOOD-BASE FOUNDATION. AGAIN. Since our mention, in the last number, on p. 408, of Schmidt & Thiele's foundation, we have received another sample having a very much thinner wood base. S. & T. write concerning it: We herewitli send you anotlier sample of our veneer foundation. The veueer we use now is only ^g of an inch thick. This will not warp, or trouble in cutting queen-cells, and is still strong enough to keep the combs from melting, sagging, breaking, falling out of frames when handling or extracting. This is a big improvement over the first sam- ple received. Of course, it can not possibly sag, and would, I have no doubt, make good brood - combs; but I am still inclined to think it is more expensive than ordinary brood founda- tion such as is genenerally sold. A great many times old things that have been discarded and declared valueless in the past, have come up again and demonstrated that there is some- thing of value in them after all. Possibly the wood-base foundation of Schmidt I'C: Thiele may be one of the things of this kind. I have no doubt they would be glad to send samples to any one desiring to see it. Their address is New London, Wis. THE STANDARD DICTIONARY— A GREAT WORK. After five years of labor on the part of 247 editors and a host of helpers, and the expendi- ture of a million of dollars, this superb diction- ary is finished, and it is far ahead of what the publishers promised at the outset. It defines every English word and its derivatives, with every shade of meaning, in every branch of science and art, making a total of 301,8(i5 words, or 55,000 more than Webster's International. The time has past when any one man might write a dictionary of our language; hence on the Standard a specialist was engaged on every line of human thought and work, such as as- tronomy, botany, chemistry, electricity, physi- ology, etc. In defining apicultural terms, for instance. Dr. C. C. Miller was engaged. When Webster's latest edition was published we were surprised at some of the apicultural definitions, especially under the word " Propolis," which is spoken of as forming the capping of honey-cells. Finding it was too late to have any corrections made in Webster's, we immediately wrote to the publishers of the Standard, which was then completed only to the letter B, and urged them to secure the services of Dr. Miller on behalf of bee-keepers. They did so just in time, for the old errors were beginning to show again as the word " Bee " was reached. The publishers im- mediately corrected the type so as to correspond with the suggestions. So far as apicultural terms are concerned, we find no room for im- provement nor ground for complaint in the Standard. This is not intended as an invidious comparison against the International, which, at the time of its publication, was the best dic- tionary ever printed, but to show the great ad- vantage the last one has in profiting by the mistakes of others. The publishers of the Standard have had some of the most prominent editors of Webster's, The Century, Britannica, and other lexical works, on their own staff, and have left no means untried for securing infor- mation wherever it could be found. The Eng- lish press as well as American pronounces the highest eulogies on the Standard. The defining part of the book contains just 2100 pages, printed in very fine type, copiously illustrated with new cuts (about .5000). Birds, badges, colors, coins, flowers, precious stones, etc., are shown in their natural colors, and not all in dull black. The different parts of modern machinery, such as engines, type-writers, knit- ting-machines, looms, etc., are fully shown and numbered; also the bones, veins, muscles, etc., of man and animals. The locomotion of dogs and horses is shown by numerous pictures tak- en from snap-shot photographs that were taken at different stages of the step, run, amble, or leap. This feature is very unique. The book not only describes the word " apple," but de- scribes fully every known kind — about 368; and when it comes to the weights and measures of the world, one feels lost as in a labyrinth. The principal words used in all the arts, such as ar- chitecture, carpentry, printing, etc., are group- ed by themselves, besides being defined in their proper place. Some 218 pages are devoted to grammatical corrections, pronunciation, foreign phrases in several languages, disputed spell- ings, etc. The quotations used are on the side of morality, Christianity, and temperance. The printing of the book is as good as human skill can make it — every page being like those found in our standard magazines, and the bind- ing corresponds. But the best idea the reader can obtain of the book, without buying it, is to send 10 cts. for sample leaves of it, which will show more at a glance than we can say for it in a day. Address The Funk & Wagnalls Co., 30 Lafayette Place, New York. This is not a paid " puff " or editorial in any sense of the word. It is written without any knowledge on the part of the publishers of the Standard, and simply because bee-keepers will find the book to be so reliable in defining api- cultural terms. 454 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 1. HONEY FOR HORSES. You may suggest it would be a rather expen- sive feed. Well, circumstances alter cases. It may not be so expensive after all. Listen. Friend McMillan wanted a pony to go to town with, and to run around the neighborhood. A neighbor offered him a mustang at a very low price, because the animal was vicious and un- manageable. Friend M. and his good wife, however, decided they could educate the pony to be useful, and the neighbor brought him over. It took two men to deliver the new pur- chase— one to drive and the other to lead the horse by the bits: and as it was, they came in sweating and puffing, and seemed very glad indeed of the privilege of Uirning over the property to its new owner. How did they make out? Well, it was my pleasure to have very many pleasant rides around the country with that same pony. Now for the secret. I have heard of §.")0 secrets, and I do not know but this one would add SnO to the value of very many a balky or vicious horse. I think the credit of the discovery belongs to the good kind-hearted Mrs. McMillan. I suppose you have heard it said that the shortest cut to a man's heart is down his throat. Everybody knows it is not true, but there may be a grdin of truth in it. Well, Mrs. M. set out that very tirst day to win not only the affections but the good will of the mustang pony. She gave him bread and butter and honey to start with. Come to think of it, I do not know but the butter was left out, and so it was only bread and honey. The tempting morsel hit the spot exactly; and after the pony had had a good slice of bread, with a liberal allowance of honey, he would nod his head with satisfaction, and do almost any thing they wanted him to, for a whole hour. We were late in starting out; but when we got hitched up. and I was in the buggy, the pony made a bee-line for the back door of the kitchen. His benefactress came out to give him an approving word; but friend McMillan said we were so late we shouldn't have time to wait for him to have his accustomed sweets. The pony looked terribly disappointed, and evidently had almost a mind to go back to his old life, and act badly. I plead for him; but friend M. said he was old enough to behave himself without being coaxed like a baby every morning, and made him go on. He went very well till we came to the store and postoffice; and I presume, as this was a frequent program, he expected us to turn back and go home, refreshing himself by the way, no doubt, in thinking how nice that bread and honey would taste when he got back. His master, however, had planned a long trip for him, before getting home; and when his head was turned in an- other direction we came so near having a cir- cus performance right in the public street that I wanted to get out. My companion, however, assured me he would bring his horse around all right in a few minutes. When I questioned him as to how he knetv he would, he said they two had had a good many rough-and-tumbles in the sand, and the pony knew that he knew who came out on top every time at the ending. So the pony, philosophizing, evidently, that "what could not be cured must be endured," took us all over the surrounding country before we got home. I want to stop right here long enough to tell Mrs. M. to go and give that pony an extra piece of bread, well sopped in good honey, just the minute her eyes meet this in Gleanings.* In the neighborhood of Fort Reed is a most beautiful country residence belonging to Rev. Lyman Phelps, whose writings perhaps many of you have seen in the religious papers. He has not only a magnificent orange-orchard, but peaches, pears, strawberries, and ever so many other fruits right along the margin of one of the prettiest little sheets of water (Silver Lake) to be found in Florida. Sanford has something unique in the way of sanitary arrangements. The sewage is in a series of open ditches, covered only at street- crossings. Well, at the head of each street, away off' at the back side of the town furthest from the lake, an artesian well has been put down. I think they have to go something less than 100 feet in order to meet an immense flow of water. These artesian wells send a sufficient current over and into the lake to wash all the filth and every thing else out of the open ditches as soon as it falls in. One feels like protesting against such a waste of water; but everybody says the supply is inexhaustible. No matter how many wells you put down, or how large, they just flow and keep flowing, year in and year out; and yet with all this abundance of water, that runs of itself up to almost any height desired, it is only here and there that it is as yet made any use of for irri- gation. I had arranged to meet Constance, who was stopping with relatives in Jacksonville, at San- ford; but there had been no very definite ap- pointment; and hunting for strangers away down in the interiorof Florida, when you didn't even know when they would be along, seemed a good deal like huntins for needles in a hay- stack. I inquired for Mr. Ming, a cousin of mine, connected with the Orange-belt Railroad; but although all the railroad men assured me he was a "mighty good fellow " nobody could just then put his finger on the man. I began to get somewhat homesick. I always do when I have time, therefore I usually manage when away from home to avoid having time for any such recreation. I was up very early in the morning, before any one else was stirring. I finally met a porter who was hustling up a drummer that he might not miss his train. I felt restless, and wanted to go somewhere, so I concluded to go on the same train with the drummer. It was on the Orange-belt; and just as soon as I stepped aboard I almost ran against my cousin, Mr. Ming. He said the women- folks, Constance included, would be in on the afternoon train from Jacksonville. It did not stOD raining just that minute; but if you had looked into my face you might have thought there was very bright sunshine everywhere. Now, perhaps some of our readers do not enjoy having me tell about how an unseen presence often seems to guide my step*. When I arose that morning I prayed earnestly, and yet I am afraid with very little faith, that God would direct me on that rainy morning, so that I might find Constance and my relatives. As soon as I heard the porter say this man would be late for the train, without knowing u'hat train, or on *Ev-ery bee-keeper knows how passionately fond of lioney bears are. Well, several circumstances seem to suggest to me that this stronsr love for this peculiar form of sweets is not confined to Bruin alone. Bruin, by the life he leads, has an opportu- nity for discovering honey, and to satisfy his crav- ing for it, while other animals have not; and may we not take advantage of this strong liking and use it to put a liorse on liis good behavior ? Will some- body test it on a balky horse, and report ? After he has acquired the appetite, tlie honey would surely serve to divert his attention from his "sulks," if nothing more. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 455 what road, I felt a strange longing to take that very train too. I had just been feeling that I must do something, or go someivhcre, that dreary, rainy morning, and the way seemed to open almost of itself. Do you remember that old hyms. He leadeth me ? Mr. Ming said he was going down to Oakland, and would be back in the afternoon; and as I had nothing else to do he said I should come along and look at his road, and see the country. As we passed through Palm Springs I got just enough of a glimpse to feel sure I wanted to stop there. A little further on we passed, quite near Oakland, a solid hundred acres of oranges. Over the arched entrance to the grounds I read, "Forest City Orange-orchard." I was told by my companion that it belonged to some promi- nent merchants in Cleveland, O. Constance was evidently as much delighted in the afternoon to find her father where she least expected him as I was to see her. Before leaving Oakland, however, I got a chance to run up to Palm Springs, and investigate. In a little shady nook were great palm trees that threw their protecting branches all over and around, and a beautiful crystal spring boils up. sending out a volume sufficient to make a good- sized creek. The waters are just warm enough for nice bathing, and there are seats arranged on the mossy banks, making it a most inviting place for picnickers or pleasure-seekers. Learn- ing of a bee-man only a mile and a half away, I walked out to see him. and met a generous welcome. He had suffered by the frost, but was very busy putting his ground in good shape again to put in another crop. The bee-hives, the fruit-trees, the different buildings for poultry, grain, domestic animals, etc., scattered through a large dooryard, made one think of the old-fashioned farmhouses. While others were complaining, and saying that farming does not pay. and that there was no use of planting any more orange-trees, nor in fussing with them any more, he and his good wife were bright, hopeful, and enthusiastic. "Why."' said he, "Mr. Root. I sold over ^(JOO worth of oranges right out of this dooryard, in 1894. Why should I give up and get discouraged ? " The Orange-belt Railroad has packing ware- houses along its whole length. Sometimes it seems as if there were an orange-house and station every mile: and, in fact, some of them are less than a mile apart. In consequence of the freeze, however, business was. as might be expected, dead, and things looked dull. Our party left Oakland in the afternoon, catching me on the train, and went through to Tarpon Springs that Saturday night. On the way to Tarpon Springs we passed through the great tomato regions round about Claremont and the strawberrv-farms near by. We passed the Sabbath at Tarpon Spring's. Here, as in almost every town in Florida, were very pretty churches, filled with good audiences who listen- ed to able and intelligent pastors. Tarpon Springs gets its name from another of these wonderful springs, connected, evidently, with the artesian water. This spring is so great that pleasure-boats of all kinds run out into the lake and gulf adjoining. This water, however, has a dark color', similar to that I have spoken of tliat gets its hue from the roots of the saw- palmetto. Iron pipes have been screwed to- gether, and pushed down into the crater of this spring some ^0 or 300 feet. They did not touch bottom even then; but the sides of the cavern presented so many shelves that the rod would strike on a projecting shelf and prevent going down any further. Well, this spring is inter- mittent, and it is supposed to have a subter- ranean connection with a lake several miles away. The water in the lake is dark, like the waters of this spring; and during a severe drouth, when the lake is nearly dry the water stops running. Is it possible that the artesian wells of Florida are fed by the multitude of lakes standing on higher ground? Almost the entire soil of Florida is so sandy the water would readily get down through into the rocky strata composed of coral, and the phosphatic rocks that are opening up such a great industry just now. We stopped at a hotel called the Ferns, and I for one came pretty near falling in love with the Ferns, the town, the spring, the people, and especially with the old white-haired pastor of the Congregational church. I called on him before services, and then had the pleasure of listening to his talk to the Bible-class before preaching. At an early hour Monday morning we stepped off the train at St. Petersburg, at the southern termination of the Orange-belt Railroad. The first thing that enlisted my attention was see- ing horses and wagons, away out in Tampa Gulf, not only half a mile, but a whole mile from shore. These wagons went out to get freight from the boats, and there was a regular traffic back and forth all day long, taking ad- vantage of the rise and fall of the tide, as a matter of course. The bottom of the bay is hard firm sand, and level enough to be good wheeling. They say the horses have learned the trade so well that they go out in the water anywhere, providing they can keep their noses above the surface. But I tell you it looks funny to see a regular traffic going on all day long, sometimes with the horse, and wagon too, almost submerged with the exception of the box holding the merchandise. I suppose they have regular pathways, and know where they can go and where they can not. When the tide is out, people walk along the sandbars out into Tampa Bay for fully half a mile. The sand is clean, and furnishes nice firm walking. The Orange- belt Railway has a new pier which runs out from shore a full mile. They evident- ly expect to be ready for business when it comes again. St. Petersburg is a great fishing-point. There are crowds of tourists fishing all day long, al- most the whole length of the pier; and I am told there are parties who furnish tackle and bait; and not only that, they put the bait on and take off the fish. All the stranger has to do is to take the pole, throw out the line, and pull them in. All this is provided free of charge. You can fish to your heart's content without soiling your fingers, or investing a nickel in anv thing. Whv, this ought to be the fisherman's '^ paradise. Even fine ladies can fish, and vvear their kid gloves. Oh! by the way. perhaps it were well to mention that all the fish caught belong to the oivner of the fish- poles, etc. Our partv took dinner at the big hotel— price 7.5 cts.; and the house was so full of guests that one sometimes had to wait tivo hours to get a, place at the table. Now, you do not know A. I. Root very well if you think he is going to wait two hours for dinner. Just ask Mrs. Root how she thinks such a program would work. Well. I found a little humble restaurant called the Woman's Exchange. There was not very much style about it. but I found every thing neat and clean, and they gave me a great abun- dance of nicely cooked fish (such as they were catching all the while out on the pier), and the bill was only about 25 or 35 cts. This included coffee, potatoes, bread, and sauce. The Ex- change is a branch of the W. C. T. U. work. They were nice friendly women, and they told me their principal reason for starting a res- 456 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 1. taurant was. there was no place where one could get a comfortable meal at a moderate price wiihont going to the whisky and beer saloons. Of course. I do not give thanks out loud when I sit down in a public restaurant, but I several times gave loud thanks all to my- self for the privilege of finding a place where I could get my dinner, supper, or breakfast, right away — well, say as quick as Mrs. Root would get it herself — and be waited on by good, pui'e. clean Christian women. When I contrast such a place with those I am sometimes obliged to put up with— et about to e.\pose the fraud, and did :^o the llist meeting we atlemleil. Concannon would put his feet into a pan of flour, take rice in his hand, and then have hi^ coat-sleeves sewed to his pant- legs at the knees, and coat-collar sewed up. Once in this con- dition, the curtains Concealing him Irom the audience would close, and singing and other music commenced to allay or en- tice the spirits. Myself with one other attendant took matches along, and arranged that one should seize the ' ghost " and the other strike a match and examine the ■ oritier." Fortunately the medium wanted to converse with me about some matters, and 1 was called to the curtain. The hul.v with him took me by the hands and tne spirit i?) aiiiiearcil. Wlun the position was favorable I seized hold of the ' ghost." and, lo and be- hold! it was Concannon— nude— mosquito-netting around him for ' angel wings." The exposure was complete. We had him, examined the pan ot Hour his clothing, the rice carefully laid away, and the clothes used to wipe the hour from his feet. Also some of the committee witnessed him as he donned his clothes all sewed up. He can slip into and out of his clothes in half a minute. The trick is easil.y exposed- is raw — and one of the greatest frauds ever perpetrated on a public When Concan- non was caught, the women fought like she-tigers. If they are still in youi State, attend the meetings again; and when Coiuanncm apiiears at the parting of the curtains,. iump for- ward ami srizc the fellow. A little )i:iint would not hurt, for there is no more villainous occupatinn tli.in trifling wiih the subject as he is. D. C. Lewis. Along with the above, friend D. makes some comments of liis own, and bias me make any extract i think proper. Want of space compels me to quote; only half a dozen lines that make a most excellent summing-up of the whole mat- ter. The question arises, whicii horn of tbe dilemma tlie camp-meeting- management will accept— that of being- deceived for five weeks, or that of being a party to the deception— both very humiliating and annoying, no doubt. J. V. Detwiler. New Smyrna, Fla., Apr. 11. The great wonder to me is, that any intelli- gent audience should consent to sit still and see a man go through such absurdly ridiculous things as putting his feet into a pan of flour and filling his hands with rice, sewing up his pant- legs, etc. I know they did that at Lake Helen, because it was mentioned to me several times as proof that the medium could have had nothing to do with the manifestations. Are we to sup- pose that the spirits of the departed would in- dorse such proceedings in order that they might communicate with the present age? Why, it is a miserably wicked slur on our an- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 459 cestors. What does possess people to shut thftir eyes and ears to sense and reason ? Well, friends, there seems to be a better day dawning. On every hand we see trnih rising up our of the dust and ashes, and asserting it- self. It is not only in our great cities that the confiding people have refused to be humbugged any longer by sneaks and traitors, but a gener- al movement seems to be inaugurated to look into things and after people. Just now I find something in the Praclicdl Fan/icr. right in line. Hereitis: g^«*w ^^31 ^ »« :Zj ■ ■ ^mmmmmts^ Enos Harnden. seed-buyer for the Department of Agriculture, will soon make a report rejiarding- sales of seeds by members of Congress. It will involve well-known men in a mess of petty crookedness. He has discovered that tlie seeds annually g'iven members for free distrilnition among- their constit- uents have been sold by many members. Harnden even bought some himself. For $7.5 he boug-ht of a member 14,9.50 packages of veg-etable seeds 1-365 packag-es of flower seeds, und 82 packages of field seeds. These seeds actually cost the government $328. so that tlie member displayed a remarkable ignorance of tlieir value. Mr. Harnden, wbile he was In the detective business for the Department, refused to buy more than 100.000 packages of .seeds which had been pakl for by the government, and g-iven to members free, and were offered by them for sale. It is quite viossible that, when this report is presented, it will nut a stop to the free seed busi- ness altog-ether. The thing was started to enable farmers to secure new varieties of vegetnliles and grains, and thus enrich the aerricultnral products of the country. Last year lltiO.OOO was appropriated for the purchase of these seeds to be given to mem- bers of Congress, in quotas of 15.000 packages each, and in turn to he distributed by them among their constituents. But the custom has been so abused that it will probably be stopped altogether. No good has ever come of it that any one has seen.— C/u'cagro Tiinoi-Herald, April 23. It seems to me the thing to do is to come right out in print with the names of these members of Congress. If our American people, in their blind zfal for party, have put men into office who vi'ill steal packages of flower and vegetable seeds given them to distribute among the rural people, let them bp shown up. Let them ex- plain, of course, if there is any thing to explain. But has not this thing been going on about long enough ? It kept coming to my mind, however, that our good friend Harnden might also have been swindled when he paid §75 for over 1(3.000 packages of government seed, even if the gov- ernment did actually pay $228 for them. We are greatlv pleased to find in the Rurai New-Yorker of May 4 an editorial which backs up with their characteristic energv all I have said about Electropoise. It is refreshing in- deed to see a journal of such age, standing, and influence, lend a helping hand. Now please bear with me. friends, while I make just one more application. The propri- etors of Electropoise and Oxydonor are still running things with a high hand, with the aid of ministers of the gospel and our religious periodicals. They do not want truth. They have laid their plans on the assumption that investigation will not be made. It brings viv- idly to mind a part of a verse in the 28ih chap- ter of Isaiah. " We have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves." They have humbugged a certain class of minis- ters and a few so-called professors, and they are becoming boastful, even while they laugh in their sleeves at the success of their treach- ery. Publishers of our religious newspapers do not want the truth, bpcause the truth would stop their money-getting. This is hard and severe, friends, I know; but it is a terrible thing to be permitted to go on. One of our prominent religious newspapers — one that es- pecially exhorts to holiness and sanctificdtion, wrote me that it was not their business to in- quire into the scientific claims of Electropoise. They do not want to inquire. The truth would cost them money. I asked permission to pub- lish the letter they wrote to me defending their course. Permission has not yet been granted. They dare not grant it. They are obliged to shut their eyes to the scientific part of it, or else they could not consistently keep accepting the advertisement. Let the truth come out, just as it did under friend Detwiler's keen scrutiny at that spiritual seance. Let the truth come out, and be held np to the light of day as it is being brought out in the govern- ment seed business. Let the truth and the full facts in the case be held up to the public gaze as Parkhurst has been holding it up. And now let the truth come out and be held up with Electropoise and Oxydonor in the same way. If I am mistaken, and they have some truth somewhere on their side, it will do them good and not harm. " Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." LATEST FROM ELECTROPOISE. It seems these people exhibit a tendency to abandon their fraudulent science, and cornea little nearer telling the truth. We judge so from the following, which we take from one of their advertisements in the Christian Herald of May 8. CZ2 r u'lt puis tne body Into such a condition as to be able to absorb oxygen more freelj' through the lungs and also through the pores as well. It is thermal electricity. These are our theories about it."i: CZ3 1^1 would call attention to the closing— ''These are our theories." This would seem to indi- cate that th^y do not exactly know why it cures folks. If a chemist or electrician should prove to them that there is no electricity about it whatever, I suppose they would be obliged to say they did not know what it was that per- formed the cures. I should like to ask them a few more questions. For instance: If you do not know what it is, why have you any reason to think it has anything to do with oxygen ? Secondly, what reason have you for putting sulphur and plumbago into that little metal case? What good does it do? To be honest, they* would have to say again, "We don't know." Third, why do you demand S25.00 for what costs you but little more than 25 cents? I do not think they will say they " don't know " this time, for they do know only too well. And now I submit the facts in the case to the people who claim to be cured. Do you believe that putting sulphur and plumbago into that little metal case, and dropping the case into a bowl of water, cured your ailments when even the men who make it must admit they have no reason for so doing? We once heard of a color- ed doctor who gave a patient, in case of an ac- cident, some lead shot and some rosin. When the regular physican came, and demanded of the darkey why he had adminstered such a dose as that, the explanation was that he was pretty sure something "was broke inside." The lead was to solder up the break, and the rosin was to make the solder stick. Now, this poor unlettered friend had some reason and sense to back his proceedings. Can the Elec- tropoise people give as much of a reason ? And yet they talk about the human body being " polarized." " taking oxygen from the air." etc. There are some testimonials that it seems do not get into print in the Electropoise advertise- ments. Here is one of them : Mr. Root:—1 have had the pleasure of receiving and reading a copy (April) of Gleanings. It is in regard to your article, " Our Religious Literature 4G0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 1. and Electropoiso," that I now address you. This subject is important to me, for two members of my family liave been intense sufferers from chronic rheumatism; and when one sees his friends suffer- ing- he will make great sacrifices for them. My uncle has rheumatism— can not walk a step. All winter he used the Electropoise, and received no benefit from it. It is true, we rented it; but if we bad been more flush in money matters we would have bought it. Our pliysiciau brought it to us say- ing he had no faith in it, because it professed to cure too raucli. But another physician. Dr. Buck, of Leetown, W. Va., had been using it with varying success. One of the worst features about the whole thing is, they recommend it for the most dangerous and rapid diseases, and ask you to not take any sort of medicine wliile using it. I take the New York Chiirchmait. M. H. Mallory & Co., 47 Lafayette Place, New York, and it has whole pages of advertise- ments, praising- and recommending the Electro- poise. I also take Minisin/'g yiagnzutc, and the May number has two wliole pages devoted to Electro- poise. The address is Frank A. Munsey, 151 Fifth Ave., New York If you please, I should like three copies of Glean- ings and a few slips to send to those two publica- tions. Mrs. W. H. Seibert. Kerneysville, W. Va., May 20. If It Is indeed true that our regular physicians are recommending, or even suggesting, to their patients that charms and baubles may, cure disease, things are getting to a rather bad pass, especially when they recommend such a trap for chronic rheumatism. I would inform our good friend that both the Churchman and Munsey have been warned again and again of the fraud they are helping to push, and yet they keep on. By the way, our readers may not know that the instrument (?) is rented out at $1.5 for three months. Just think of it— .^'5 per month for a senseless trap that does not cost half a dollar in the first place! What are we coming to? I stated this plainly to the editor of a prominent religious paper; and his defense was, that people nowadays are getting great profits for almost every thing. Great profits indeed! How about the farmers, mar- ket-gardeners, fruit-growers, and other people? Besides, what would be the effect on the rising generation to let them see instances, right be- fore their eyes, where people who stand high are getting $:J.t for what costs them but little more than 25 cts.? Yes, I know I have been going over this thing a good deal; but it will surely be the ruin of our nation if thi^ and other work of a similar kind is not put down and stopped. THE RECENT FROST. In our last issue we spoke of covering our tomatoes with pie-plant leaves. Well, we have been doing this for almost two weeks. The tomatoes were all saved, but they look pretty sick on account of being covered up so much; and, even though they did not get frosted, they are a good deal stunted from the continued cold weather. We saved all the plants under glass, except that the frost was so severe tomato- plants were frozen where they came up against the glass. On Monday night. May 20, the frost was so severe that cabbages and cabbage-plants were more or less injured. It made me think of the gardens in Florida after the frost of Feb. 7; and when I saw the mulberry-tree in front of our back door, with the leaves and half- grown berries all cooked, it made me think still more of Florida. We all have to take our turn with disasters and disappointments, sooner or later; but if we are working right along in harmony with the plans of the great God above, we may feel sure that adversity as well as pros- perity comes from a kind and loving Father. It is interesting to note what varieties of veg- etables and fruits stand the frost best. While all of our common raspberries have been more or less injured, even before the fruit-buds were open, the buds of the Gault raspberry, even those down on the creek-bottom ground, seem to be uninjured. They are a little later than some of the others, which may account for a part of it: but the plant is certainly exceedingly hardy. We shall have no more plants for sale until next season. Among the strawberries I was much surprised to see our old friend the Haverland loaded with green berries as usual, while nearly all the rest, both green berries and open blossoms, are dead and black. The Warfield comes next to the Haverland in this ability to withstand frost — at least, so it has seemed during this last frost. Our wax beans are all ruined except some that were not yet up. And here is a good reason for putting your early plantings in to a pretty good depth, and for putting in. also, a great plenty of seed. If the frost injures the first to get up, you still have the last. In Florida I noticed that those who had beans almost up were the gainers. You see they would be several days ahead of those who had to plant after the frost was over. Our early corn had also to be re- planted— at least, we thought best to replant it. As usual, a good many people borrowed trou- ble more than they needed to do. For instance, our apples are almost uninjured: a great part of the cherries still hang on the trees, and are growing larger every day. even though they do look brown and blistered: the same with plums to a certain extent; and this morning I found a peach-tree that had, by some hook or crook, got through, and the peaches looked as fresh as if there had been no frost at all. The tree was close to a building. Our grapes are all destroyed except some vines tacked on to the brick walls of our house. The wall is a pro- tection: and, besides, it holds the heat during the night. We are gathering beautiful strawberries, that were in our plant-beds, protected by glass. With a very little protection you can have them two weeks earlier, and absolutely safe from frost. In fact, the cloth covering for beds will protect strawberries perfectly. I feel pret- ty sure it will pay to grow strawberries pro- tected by glass, say in February and March; by cloth in April, and in May if it should be needed. Thev will bring a much bigger price than the berries shipped from the South; and after you get your beds, sashes, and cloth covers, it is not so very much expense to keep them perfectly safe: and if you sell plants you can in this way have runners and new plants for sale during June and July, when nobody else is prepared to fill orders; and early plants put out in the above months will do wonders in the way of getting a stand for the next sea- son. Of course, water should be handy where one plans to put out plants during these hot summer months. ,_ ■_ . ^MICHEL'S EARLY STRAAVBERRY. This has again given us our first picking to-day. May 28. and they have stood th3 frost almost if not quite as well as the Haverland. The berries are of a good size for an extra early, splendid color and shape, and exquisite in taste, only perhaps a little tart. If they bore as many berries as the Haverland they would be an acquisition indeed. The Haverland, with its great handfuls of berries on a single stem, will 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 461 be perhaps a week later. We have a few plants of the Rio. This is, perhaps, almost or quite as early as the Michel's Early, and it seems to be larger, and rather better in shape. We have not plants enough to decide whether it is as prolific as the Michel's i-.arly or not. Every strawberry-patch should have at least a few of these extra earlies. Both are perfect blossoms. ONION-PLANTS. We are ju*t now getting ready to fill an order for 200,000. The purchaser is satisfied to plant them out almost as late as June 1, because he did the same thing last year, and had excellent success. He lost his first planting by frost; but rather than lose the use of his ground, which was nicely prepared and heavily manur- ed, he is going to purchase this large number of plants. In consideration of the quantity ordered, and the lateness of the season, we let him have them for .50 cts. per 1000. There is a moral right here. After you have been to great pains to get your ground fitted and heavily manured or fertilized, do not let it go to waste. Try to make it grow something of market value. SCARLET CLOVER ABOUT .JUNE 1. 'jWhat do you think? Our first sowing of scarlet clover was in among raspberries. It was put in some time during the latter part of September. It did not come uu very well, however, and this spring there were so many weeds and so little clover that we cultivated it all up. Yes, it was pretty well cultivated twice, and then the whole raspberry-patch was thoroughly hoed out. Yesterday. however,while I was going through the premises with our friend Hugh Vankirk. of Washington, Pa., one of the visitors suddenly stopped and remarked: "Why, what new sort of clover is that in there among those raspberries? " I was a little way off, and told him I did not know of any new clover: but come to get a lit- tle nearer there were great stalks here and there among the canes, from one to two feet high, bursting out in great blooms of these wonderful crimson strawberry - like heads. Why, notwithstanding all our cultivating and hoeing, there was in some places almost a fair stand of crimson clover. Now, you see I am going to try this thing again; and I do not know but there would have been quite a stand on the creek bottom, if I had not been in so much haste to decide it was all killed, and plow it under. This raspberry-patch was the only place where the clover could have made a/Show, for all the rest was plowed under fully ten inches deep. WINTER OR EGYPTIAN ONIONS; SOME QUES- TIONS. How early in the spring can you gather them for market? How long do they remain tender and in good condition for the table? Suppose you plant the sets August 1st, in what condi- tion are they the first of the following April? To what extent (in numbers) do they multiply? How many of those " long succulent stalks " you mention does it require to make 1 lb.? What do you mean by saying in your seed cat- alog, that you '• plant them three to five inches apart, in a drill, about as you would peas " ? Is not that a long distance apart for planting peas? How large is the average set that you plant in the fall ? Timothy Hallett. Galena, 111., Apr. 2.5. We gather the onions for market as soon as the frost is out in the spring; but they are pretty small at first, and it takes a good many of them to make abunch weighing fourounces; but they commence rapid growth almost the first thing that starts. In order to have them early, the rows should be well mulched with coarse stable manure. This will keep the tops from freezing, and it also serves to bleach the long stalk, and keep it white and tender. We use them right along every day until, say, strawberry time. When strawberries are ripe the Egyptian onions begin to send up seed- stalks, and become rather tough and strong. So we commence on the American Pearl onions, which are now getting to be of the size of hens' eggs or larger. The best onions (Egyptian) for spring use are from the sets put out in July, August, or September. They do not multiply until they have produced sets. After that, when the sets are gathered, and the big seed- stalk is cut off, the original onion splits up into a dozen or twenty little onions. In order to get the best quality and best size, the ground needs to be exceedingly rich. The number of stalks required to make a pound depends upon the season. If you plant large-sized sets as soon as they can be gathered, say in July, in very rich ground, along in May they may be so large that four or five would make a bunch weighing a pound. In saying that we simply sprinkle the sets in a drill, and cover them up as we do peas, I meant to show you how little trouble it is to plant them, and not that we put the peas as far apart as we do the onions. The sets from these onions vary from the size of a grain of corn to pretty nearly the size of a small hen's- egg. The large sets make the biggest onions in the spring: but it would be rather expensive for seed, to plant only large ones. The best onions for market are those from sets the sea- son before; but if you do not use them all for bunching, and let them stand to produce seed, they will grow a crop of seed right straight along, year after year; and you need not touch a hoe or cultivator to them unless you choose. You can keep all weeds down by heavy mulch- ing with coarse stable manure, on the plan Terry manages his currants, gooseberries, blackberries, and raspberries. The old stalks, one or more years old. may be used for bunch- ing, but they are not nearly as tender, neither do they have as much of an onion at the bot- tom as those from sets planted only the sum- mer before. They continue to split up each season, however, as soon as the seed-stalks are mature and pulled away, so that a single row ultimately becomes a great mass of onions, sometimes two feet across, the stalks being as close together as they can stand. In such a row you can get an enormous crop of sets, but it needs constant and heavy manuring to main- tain the size of these sets each year. In fact, so easily are the sets raised that there is money in them at a dollar a bushel. Permit me to say again, that, to keep up the reputation of these onions, you should use only those for market which were planted the season before, and grow them on strong rich soil. GRAPE JUICE AS A MEDICINE. On page 475 of last year's volume, after speaking about the remedial qualities of pine- apples, I said, "I am told that grape juice, when properly canned up, just as expressed from the ripe fruit, makes a most faf^althful and nourishing beverage." The above was called to mind by a present— I think it came in a box of wax — two quart bottles of Niagara- grape juice. It came from C. J. Baldridse. of Kendaia, N. Y., and I want to tell you that the juice is exactly the same as that from the Ni- agara grapes themselves. Irs appearance in the bottle is a beautiful transparent amber or straw color: and it is about the most delicious thing in the way of a beverage I ever got hold 462 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 1. of. I afterward learned from one of the book- keepers in our office thai they had some grape juice from Concords last year, when the fruit was so cheap, and she kindly brought me some samples. With such a lesi as 1 was able to make, I am quite certain these pure fruit juices will many times cure sick-headache caused by indigestion, in the same way that pineapple does. The juice is put up without any sugar, and the cans or bottles are sealed up while hot, just as we put up canned fruit. With the frosts we have just been having, I do not suppose grapes will be offered this year at the very low prices they were last; but when any kind of fruit becomes a drug in the market, I think this is one of the ways in which it may be util- ized by canning up the fresh juices. Friend B. sells it at $4.00 per dozen quart bottles, and the bottles are worth .50 cts. a dozen when emp- ty. You may say this is rather expensive as a beverage; but It is not at all expensive if used as medicine; and if our various churches have not already inaugurated the custom of using unfermented grape juice, they had, in my opinion, better do so, using the pure juice of the grape as I have described. Friend B. does quite a business, 1 am informed, in furnish- ing this product for communion purposes. dertaking. The city furnishes the land, you see. and the deserving poor people furnish the labor, and have the crop. TOBACCO IN COLLEGES. The effects of tobacco are beginning to be recognized by our schools and colleges. See the following: Quite a scnsjition ha.s been stirred in college cir- cles ;it Deluware by the announcement of Dr. James W. IJa^htord, president of the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, that the question of the use of tobacco by the students had been carefully considered by the officers of the college, and concerning it he said: "Our faculty, after making a careful study of the matter, have decided to ask all our students to dis- continue the use of tobacco, beginning next fall; and if any tobacco users come we shall have to dis- solve partnership." This is a very radical step, as it is said that nearly 30 per cent of the students use tobacco. This new rule may atCect the attendance next year.— Asfilaud Times. It is five years today since I read your article in Gleanings on the tobacco habit, and resolv- ed to try to give up the weed. I am glad to say five years is gone, and 7io tobacco used by me since. H. C. Hedges. Lumberport. W. Va., Mar. 6. A NEW PLAN OF RELIEF BY WORK. The above is the title of a little pamphlet by the Sterling Pub. Co., 106 Fulton St., New York. It gives in detail the result of the experiment made last season in Detroit in letting the poor have the use, free of charge, of the unoccupied land in the city. The ground was plowed, har- rowed, and marked, ready for planting, then divided up into little garden-patches, and the poor of the city who had no gardens of their own were given the privilege, and shown how, to raise potatoes and other similar crops. The result, which has been widely published, was astonishing. About 430 acres were thus fitted and divided off into quarter-acre lots. About 3000 applications were made for land; but they were able to provide for only about 945 familes. Let me quote: The result is, that about a thousand families were enabled to pass through the winter without having recourse to the poor-commission, and a large sum was thus saved to the tax-payers. The estimated value of the crops produced was from $13,U00 to SU.Out); although many famiUes, from dire want, were compelled to dig up for con- sumption certain portions of the potatoes Lefore they had attained any size. Poor people almost fought for a chance to get a piece of ground to till; and those who were success- ful used their best efforts to obtain a full crop. Applications for laud for 1895 were made by a great many of them. The loss by theft was practically nothing— certainly not more than that of the aver- age market-gardener. Well, friends, I confess this is good news— to me at least. That little book ol mine. " What to Do," you may recollect, is right along in this line; and as the area of ground is small for each family, the ultimate result— that is, where people have grace and persistence to follow it up— will be "high -pressure gardening." Other cities are rapidly taking up the project; and just think of the general effect on the appear- ance of things. Why, I have again and again, in passing different cities in our land, felt pain- ed to See these vacant lots— may be almost right in the heart of the city, some of them— growing great useless weeds; and where land is so high- priced and valuable, the contrast is really pain- ful between such a lot and one nicely improved, no matter whether it is occupied by a store, dwelling, or some sort of factory, or a green- house. May God be praised for this new un- I agree to quit the use of tobacco, and hope to get my pay in the shape of a smoker; and I will pay for it if I allow myself to be dominated by this vice again. P. E. Avilo. Penoles, Mexico. Kind Words From Our Customers, Youi' paper is a grand help on spiritual life to me, and is worth far more, as bee culture here is an un- certain calling. S. S. Fetherolf, Palestine, O. Thanks for the exposition of Oxydonor, as we have an agent here getting in his work on the des- pairing sick and aged invalids. Lampasas, Tex. R. A. Hardy. MIXED JOURNALISM. I wish to thank you for your articles on high- pressure gardening in Gleanings. They have proved a great help to me. To the teachings of yourself and Mr. Terry I owe much of my success in combining apiculture and potato-farming. River Sioux, la.. Mar. 11. F. M. Crane. My wife says if Gleanings cost twice as much, and contained only A. I. Root's talks, she would take it. She, as well as myself, is somewhat partial to Rambler, as we have relatives and friends in and around Colton and San Bernardino. Somehow we both have "leanings" toward the Medina people, and can not get along and keep house and bees without Gleanings. The more men of A. I. Root's stamp there are in the world, the better. I wish every one could read his Talks. I can extract more solid comfort from one of his Talks than from any spread-eagle sermon I ever heard. St. Joseph, Mich., Feb. li. E. A. Mallory. The raspberry-plant came to hand promptly, and such a nice plant— twicb as large as I expected ! It is a pleasure to send to you for any thing. I am sure to get as much as or more than I expect. Thanks for past favors. N. A. E. Ellis. Rail, Mo., May 7. [Now, friend E., don't be too sanguine. We hap- pened to hit you just right on the ra'-pberry-plant, and, in fact, that is the way we like to do business. But a great many times it is impossible to find the plants and other things to give our customers these happy surprises. Rich ground and plenty of care, however, go a great way toward doing it. Many thanks.— A. I. R.] 1895 liLEANlNUS IN BEE CULTURE. 463 Still in the Lead! Hilton's White T Supers, Chaff 'B Polished CJ Foundation, Hives, Sections, Smolders, and every thing needed in the apiary. Send for 1895 catalog-. GEO. E. HILTON, Fremont, Mich. Please mention this paper. HEADQlJARTERS For those large heautilul Golden Italians. One un- tested queen, 80c; 3 for ^~.(K). One warranted queen, $1.00; 3 for *2..50. One tested, n -W; One select tested, 12.00. Satisfaction suai-;inteed. C. M. HICKS. Hicksville. Wash. Co., Md. Dovetailed Hives. Sections, Extractors, Smokers, and every thing a Bee-keeper wants. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. 60-page cata- log free. J. M. JENKINS, Wetumpka, Ala. Queens, Either 3 or 5 Banded. After May 1st. 75c: 6 for W.~'.5. Nuclei cheap. Also poultry egg-s for hatching, 50c up. Send for cata- logue. Send your orders now. Can please you. CHAS. H. THIES, Steeleville, III. PATENT WIRED COMB FOUNDATION Has 2Vo Sag- in Brood-frames. Thin Flat -Bottom Foundation Has no Fishlione ia the Surplus Honey. Being the cleanest, it is usually worked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, IStfdb Sole Hanufacturers, Sprout Brook. Montgomery Co., N. Y. t^"ln responding to this adveitl.'.^eineiit mentlun Gleanings. Control Your Swarms, Requeen, Etc. Send 25c for samples of West's Patent Spiral wire Queen-Cell Protectors, and Pat. Spiral Queen Hatch- ing and Introducing Cage, also best Bee-Escape, with circular explaining.T welve Cell-protectors, 60c; 100, m. 12 cages, $1; 100, f5, by mail. Circular free. Ad- dress N. D. WEST. Mid- dleburgh, Scho. Co., N. Y. Sold also by all tlie leading supply-dealers. fc#"In responding to this advertisement niertiuu Glkaning.s. OTTUMWA BEE-HIVE FACTORY. Bee-keepers, look to your interests. Every thing in the line of bee-supplies constantly on hand. Price list free. GREGORY BROS. & SON, l-23a eiotf Ottumwa, la. Please mention tills paper South side. Every Farmer Ought to read the Rural New= Yorker. (Published weekly.) It is the business farmer's paper, and a most re- liable authority on agricultural and horticultural subjects. Frauds and humbugs fear it. ONLY $1 A YEAR. Send for sample copy to the: rural NEW-YORKKR, New York. We have made arrangements so that we can send it and Gleanings for $1.75 a year. ^>- WM. A. SELSER,^^ BREEDER Golden Italian Queens ^^>-For Business. ^•^^^ Wyncote, Pa. = = Near Philadelphia. We can fill Your Orders for Dovetailed Hives, Sections, Foun= dation, etc.. by Return Mail. Have A. I. Root Co.'s goods at Their Prices. Will save you freight, and get goods to you in a few days. Catalog free. JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. "The Market Garden." A Monthly Journal For narket=Qardeners and Truckers. So Cents a Year. Sample Copy FREE. THE MARKET GARDEN CO., Minneapolis, Minn. ca?"In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. That Tired Feeling Caused by washing has been eon- (lut'ied by the Champion Washing- Macliine Can sit down to run it. Runs Lighter and washes Cleaner and Faster than any machine on the market. Will sell at wholesale rates where we have no agent. Write for prices. CHAMPION MFG. CO., Middletown, Pa. C^In responding to this advertisement mention Olkandjgs. IF YOU WANT BEES That will just "roll" in the honey, try Moore's Strain of Italiaus, the result of 16 years' careful breeding. Dr. H. B. Lung. Harrodsburg, Ky., .sayS: " I have had the pleasure of seeing; many line strains of bees, yet 1 have never seen such industrious, energetic bees. I must express my ad- miration for your success as a bee propagator." Warranted queens, $1.00 each ; 3 for $2.50. Select warranted queens, $1.20 each. Safe arrival and sat- isfaction guaratiteed. Those who have never dealt with me, I refer to A. I. Root, who has purchased of me 808 queens. Circular free. J. P. MOORE, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky. GOLDEN each Bred for busi- ness. Untest- ed, June. 65 cts 6 for m 50. Tested. $1.0ii eiicli. QUEENS 1. Fine breeders, $2.00 each e.xira. Select siiaight 5-banded breed- ing-queens, $4.(10 eiich. To all new customers one Golden Queen for.50cts. Satisfaction and safe arrival guaranteed. E. A SEELEY. Bloomer, Ark. P. O. Money Order office, Lavaca, Ark. 7-20 BEGINNERS. Beginners should have a copy of the Am- ateur Bee-keeper, a 70-page book by Prof. J. W. Rouse. Price 25 cents; if sent by mail, 28c. The little book and the Progressive Bee-keeper (a live progressive 28-page month- ly journal) one year, 6.5c. Address any first- class dealer, or LEAHY MFG. CO., HiaaiNSViLLE, Mo. t^In responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings, 464 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 1. BUSINESS^ 'fgS CARLOAD SHIPMENTS. Since our last report we h'ave shipped a curload to Eocky Ford, Colo. ; aiiotlier to Joseph Nysewander, De.s Moines, la. ; a third ear to F. A. Salisbury, Syr- acuse, N. Y.; and as we go to pre.ss we are loading the third car for Barteldes & Co., Denver, Colo. ' LAWN-MOWERS. It is not too late yet to invest in a lawn-mower to use in slicking up your front yard, and making the home grounds look neat and tidy. We call your attention to our line, and the unusually law prices, in our ad. on the third cover page of this number. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. We have a good stock of choice seed of Japanese buckwheat, and know wliere we can obtain more. Price, free on board cars liere, bags included, 40 cts. per peck; TOcper '^ busli.; H.'M per bush.; 2 bush., *2.30; 10 bush., $10.00; 40 bushels, f. o. b. Farragut, Pa., at 75 cts. per bush., bags included. TYPE-WRITERS AT A BARGAIN. Desiring to replace several of our Smith Premier type-writers by new ones of the same make, we offer for sale those now in use. They are all of the same age, and liave been used here for only a little over two years, and work practically as well as when new. We will fit them all with new tympans before sending them out, after which they will give the same impression as when new. The letters ai-e not worn a particle. We will sell them for $65.00 each, which is two-thirds of the first cost. Even with the constant use to which we subject them, we should expect them to work well for at least five years more; and for ordinary correspondence, nearly twice that. A new libbon will be furnished with each. Sample work furnished on application, to intending buyers. SPECIAL SECTIONS AT SPECIAL PRICES. Our supply of old-stock sections is very nearly closed out. As there seemed to be no call for closed- top 7 to foot and IJ, we have passed these under the cutter-head and made them open top and bottom, and we still have: 77,(1(10 414x4 '4xP4, open top and bottom, polished. ".000 '• ■• x7 to ft., open top and bottom. 3.000 " " xlM opeu top and bottom. 8,000 " " x]|§. open four sides. 13,000 " " xl'/4 open four sides. 40,000 " " 1 ii, open top and bot'm, new cream. 20,000 " " 3, open top and bottom, new cream. 30,000 " " 2, open four sides, new cream. Price, to close out, $3.30 per 1000; 3000 for $6.00; .5000 for *9.00. or 10,000 for i^ie.OO. Special reduction in larger quantities, or to those who buy to sell again. We shall be glad to hear from any one who can use any of this stock. We desire to close it out before the season closes. THE NEW BUSH LIMA BEANS. We have made our bean-poles into kindling-wood, and never expect to want or use any more. The bush lima beans last season filled the bill so com- pletely that the poles are ruled oui, on our ranch at least. I believe the Burpee bush lima has given the best yield, as a rule; but the Kumerle is certainly the richest and most toothsome bean— in fact, I should place it at the head of all the bean family in delicacy and richness of fiavor. We find we are likely to have quite a stock of these left over, and therefore we reduce the price as follows: U pint, 10 cts.; pint, 18 cts.; quart, 30 cts.; 14 peck. fl.OO. If wanted by mail, add 8 cts. per pint or 15 cts. per quart for postage. Remember, this is the bean for which 1 paid its weight in gold for a handful to plant, only a few years ago— $75, in fact, for a xmall handful of beans. Now you can have half a peck for a dollar. STOWELL'S EVERGREEN SWEET CORN. Although this is not in our catalog, we are having so much demand for it we have placed it in stock, and can furnish it till further notice at 10 cts. per quart, 75 cts. per peck, or $2.75 per bushel. If want- ed by mail, add 12 cts. per quart for postage. Our corn and beans have all been tested on our own grounds, and are now up and growing. FIELD-PUMPFIN SEEDS, ETC. There seems to be a general complaint that pump- kin seeds raised last year do not grow well. We can furnish you a good article for 25 cts. per lb. ; small sugar pumpkins, especially for pies, 40 cts. If wanted by mail, add 9 cts. extra for postage and packing. Either kind can be pushed in among other crops that come oft' early, giving the vines the entire ground as soon as the early crop is out of the way. Give them good rich ground and plenty of sunshine, and you will have pumpkins in such plenty that the children can run all over the field, skipping from one great yellow fruit to the other, without touch- ing the ground at all. Now is the time to put in the seed; and if you are too busy to attend to it, have the children push in the seed with their fingers, say every ten or twelve feet. Tell them to read this, and may be they will have more enthusiasm in doing the work yood. The month of June is the very best time to plant all kinds of beans. We have planted two acres of the Best of All green snap bean, and still have some seed left for any one who may want to help us pro- vide seed beans for the friends down in Florida. For prices, see our last issue. The first of June is also the best time to sow the seed for late cabbage. We can furnish Excelsior Flat Dutch, 15 cts. per oz.; $1.50 per lb. Our best cauliflowers are the very early or the very late. We seldom get nice heads in hot weather. Now is the time to sow the seed for the late crop, and we have nothing better than the Snowball. Finally, the first of June is time enough to plant almost any thing in the whole seed-catalog, and still get a good crop if the weather is favorable. At the high prices that seed peas have been quoted for the last two or three j'ears, there is money in raising them. If your seed has been treated with bisulphide of earboii,'so that it contains no live bugs, you can grow a crop free of bugs, as a lule, in almost any locality. After saving the seed, however, you want to keep watch of your peas; and just as soon as a single buggy pea is to be seen, treat your whole lot of seed until every bug, inside and outside, is as dead as a doornail. Just look at what seed peas are quoted in the seed-catalogs, our own among the rest— four or five dollars a bushel; and by taking pains you can raise just as good peas as anybody. Why in the world should we pay such prices for either Americiin Wonder, Alaska, Premium Gem, or Stratagem ? FOUNTAIN SPRAYER* The time for applying poison to potato-vines and other small plants and slirubs is at hand, and you can use nothing more convenient for the purpose than a fountain knapsack sprayer. We can furnish the Myers, shown above, at $3.35; 5 for $13.00. We have also the Lenox, which works on the same prin- ciple, at $3.00 each: 5 for $13.00. We still have a good supply of barrel and bucket spray-pumps, ready to ship on short notice. See previous num- bers for description and prices, or send for circular. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 4fi3 BEESWAX DECLINING. The slips sent out in our ctitalogs tliis spring-, headed " Beeswax Wanted," seem to have started the flood-tide our way, for it is simply a caution the way the wax lias been coming' to us the past two months. Although we use from 3 to 5 tons a month, it has been coming- about as fast as we have used it, and we still have mo-t of the stock bong-ht in Marcli, which we expe<*ted to have used up the past month. We don't mind having- a g-ood st(5ck of wax, but dislike to lay in so much on a falling: market. We decline the price we will pay. to 35o cash, 28c trade, with prospect of further decline in the near future. SEND ON YOUR ORDERS. As we go to press we have all orders tilled, and are able to take a vacation Memorial Day with a clear conscience. Tiiere are, of course, a few received too late to get off on the last trains leaving, and no freig-ht trains run on leg-al holidays. If you want any thing- in a hurry which we can supply, let us hear from you and we will show you how promptly we can get the goods started. The crowd, when or- ders were delayed a, few days, lasted only a short time; and it is doubtless due t(j the recent cold weather and frosts, and the consequent dropping- otl of orders, as well as to our extra ettorffe, that we were able to catch up again. WIRE NETTING; SHORT ROLLS AT FULL-ROLL PRICES OR LESS. We have the following lot of wire netting of vari- ous sizes and widths in short or odd-length rolls. Very often a person wants a piece and can not buy it cut from a full roll -in ithout pa.ving double price. You may be able to find in this list just what you need, or very near it. Even if you want more than a full roll you will find the prices at which we oflfer these to be in most cases less than full-roll price. Of 3-inch mesh No. 19 wire, we have the following remnants and short rolls at A c per square foot. The figures at the left give the width in inches, and the other figures give length of each piece in feet. Multiply this by the width in feet, then take one- half of the result to find the price of ench piece. 18 I 138. 30 I 140. 144. 146. 148. 36 49 83, 83, 86, 90, 90, 92, 96, 96, 99, 100, 102. 116, 116, 118, 122. 134, 12j. 1-29. 142. 48 I 83, 119. 122, 124, 125, 131, 134. 138. 138. 138, 140, 140, 143, 144, 114, 145, I 145. 146. 54 I 52. 72. 88. 143. 60 I 120, 123. 127. 72 I 85, 85, 87, 100, 119, 123, 130, 138 142, 144, 144. Of 2-ineh No. 20 we have the following pieces at one-half of a cent per square foot, less 10 per cent. Arrive at the price in precisely the same way as above, and take 10 per cent off. 30 I 129. 36 I 81. 88, 91.102, 102, 103, 103, 109, 122. 126, 126, 128, 128 136, 140, 141. 48 I 128. 144. 54 I 145. 60 139, 144. 72 I 139. In the following list we give first the size of mesh; next, the number of wire; next, the width in inches; then the length in feet, and, flnalb,tlie price of the wliole piece, so you will have no figuring to do. 2 in.. No. 15, 18 in. x 75 ft., at 1.60; 18 in. x 74 ft. at .!;1..55, 2 in., No. 15. 18 in. X 55 ft., at 1.20; .54 in. x 1'22 ft. at S8.00. 2 in.. No. 15. 60 in. X 20 ft., at L.^O; 72 in. x 36 ft., at 83.00. 2 in.,No. 15. 72in. X 33 ft., at 3.00. 2 in.. No. 16, 72 in. x 36 ft., at 2.3= ; 72. in x 55 ft., at $3.60. 2 in.. No. 16, 72 in. X .55 ft., at 3.60. 3 in.. No. 14, 72 in. X 70ft., at 5 25; 72 in. x 100 ft., at $7.50. IK in.. No. 19. 3 ft. x 1-29 ft., at 3.85. ■ IX in.. No. 18, 4Mft. X 118 ft., at 6 35. IV, in.. No. 19. 3'X, ft.x 85 ft., at 2.00; i x 55 ft. a 81.50. iV, x 20 ft at .60; 5 X 19 ft. iit 65; 6 x 46 ft. at $1.90. I'X-inch No. 18, 3 x 64 ft. at $1.75. ' IJl-inch No. 16 3 x 51^ ft. at .25; zy. x 70 ft. at $3.00. 4 X 24 ft. at .M.65; 6 x 102 ft. at $6.10. In lots of 6 pieces, any one or assorted kinds, de- duct 5% ; 10 pieces, 10% ; 3.5 pieces or more, 15% . Bet- ter name a second or third clioice, in case your first begone. The A. I. Root Co., Medina, O. «o Are a strain of l>usinoss Italians that winter in the cold North, and are ready for ijusiness, witli a bush- el of bees, when the flowers bloom. They are gentle and industrious. Queens warranted purely in June. Each.Sl.tO; six, $5.t)0; doz., «9.00. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Never had any disease. Address E. F". QUIGLEY, Unionviule.Mo. Best ^ Goods At lowest prices are what we are all after. The quality of Gary's Koods has never been questioned. His X X white thin foundation and polished one-piece sections are the finest on the market His bees and queens are from the best strains, and reared and shipped in the way that Ions years of experience have shown to be the best. He has the largest stock of BEE- KEEPERS'SUPPLIES in New England; and as to prices you have only to send for a catalog and compare them with those of other dealers. To those living in the East, there is the still further consideration of low freight rates. Address CARY, MASS. rtLEANINGS*. If Tons of Honey, Pleased Cu.stoniers, and Jncreasing- Trade is a criterion, then my queens are satisfac- tory. Warranted purely mated queens from 5-banded strain, 75c; sixfor^l.OU; dozen, $7..50. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Send for free circular. J. B. CASE, Port Orange, Vol. Co., Fla. Order your supplies early before the rush gets you. Send for our price list of Bee sup- plies and Fruit packages. Ad- dress BERLIN FRUIT BOX CO., Berlin Heights, Erie Co., Ohio. NOTICE. We have proven to our satisfaction that queens bred in the North produce bees that are hardienind winter better 9 tli;in those bred in tlie South. We make • • qneen-renring a specialty. We never saw • foul brood or bee-paralysis. Send for our free descriptive price list of our Gray Carniolans and Golden Italians. Prices to suit the times. F. A. LOCKHART & CO., Lake George, N. Y. t3rin resiioiulini.'- to-tliis julvt-rt it int-ntlon Glkanings, TAKE NOTICE! BEFORE placing your orders for SUPPLIES, write for prices on One-Plece Basswood Sections, Bee- Hives, Shipping-Crates, Frames. Foundation. Smo kers, etc. PAGE & LYON MFG. CO., 8tfdb New London, Wis. Please mention Glkanings. 21-8db 466 GLEANIJSGS IN BEE CULTURE. Junk 1. Golden Queens From Texas. •^1^ My queens are bi'ed fof busine<5s, as well iis tor beauty and geDtleness. Safe arri- val and reasonable satisfaelioM g'uaran- teed. Untested, $1.00; tested, $1.50. Write for price list. 5-16ei J. D. GIVENS, Lisbon, Ttxas. Box 3. 3=Banded Jf^i^^ Queens, from my own imported queens, $1.0U each. Max Brauer, Beeville Bee Co., Tex. Ifnlinn RpAC for sale in g-ood dovetailed bodies, liaiiail L»CC» ^viti^ g L frames of brood; fine condition; f-t.OO a stand. B. ,T. CKOSS, C/ierofcee, Ala. Promptness is What Counts. Honey-jars, -^liippinfj-eases. and e\ery thinfr tbrit '<^■(•-l<^M pers use. Root's Goods at Root's I Prices, and the Best Shipping=point in the Country. Dealers in Honey and Heeswax. CataloR ft ee. WALTER S. POUDER, 162 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Pleai-e niiniion thi.- jiapf r 3 = O a. £ > Crane Smoker 1895 Pattern. This excellent smoker was in- troduced some two years ago, since which time it has worked itself ra]ndly into popular favor. r^. ( Pdtented March 12. is;)5. Its Distinctive Feature is the Crane Valve, by wliieh the lull idree of the Ijellows is secured wit hout waste, and by whieh also smoke is pievented absolutely from going into the bellows. The Legs are of Skeleton Malleable Iron, eontiacted at tlie feet so as to be out of ihe w ly ol the fingers in handling, and are se- cured to the bi'llows by bolts instead of screws. The Shield Is of Light Corrugated Tin, and bags next to the bellows, thus giving ample protection from heat. The Cone Top easily tilts back for re= plenishing the smoker, and is secured by a malleable-iron hinge, the working parts of which are milled so as to insure accurate ad- justment to the .stove or cup. As to Fuel, it will burn any thing, in= eluding Soft Coal. Stovewood, Planer-shavings; and it makes no diflference how much the lat- ter may be cranuiied down in the cup, there will be the same strong blast as before. Price, 3i-inch barrel, ^1.85, post- paid; or ^1.50 by fgt. or exp. The A. I. Root Company, Medina, Ohio. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 471 HONEY! If wo would be suc- cessful iti tlie pro- duction of honey it is of vital import aiicc that our queens be first eluss. After an extended experience with tlie different races of bees broug-lit to this country, I am led to believe, all tliiiifis con- sidered, tliat these direct from ItJily liave never been improved upon. Large yellow prolific queens frorh imported mothers, mated to drones of imported stock fT'ora a different source, securing' a direct cross. Untested, ready May 2.5, T.5c; 6, $4.25; 12 for $8.00 Select untested, $1 (10. No disease. L. H. HOBBY, WortliinQton, \V\ Va. (r^^"Tii rosnondinsr to this advertisement mention olkanings> FIRST on the FARM, FIRST on the RAILROAO, FIRST around PARKS and CEMETERIES. Not our word for it, but that of our reg-nlar customers, first-class fariuers, who pride themselves on having the best and wlio.se motto is "what is worth doing at all is worth doing well," and firsS-class railroads that seek protection for ri^lit of w^ay, rathet tlian "anything to comply with tlie law." The Park Commissioners. Cemetery Directors and owners of Game Parks who have tested it will vote for it first, last and all tlie time. PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO.,Adrian,Mich. Srin responding to tills advertisement mention Gikwinrs ONE MAN WITH THE UNION COMBINATION SAW Can do the work of four men us- ing hand tools, in Ripping. Cut- ting off, Mitering, Ralibeting, Grooving, Gaining, D:idoing. Kdging-up, Jointing Stuff, etc Full Line of Foot and Hand Power Machinery. Sold on Trial, ("ataloii Free. ]-24ei SENECA FALLS MFC. CO.. 44 Water St., Seneca Fa I Is, NY. t^"In responaing to this ariveitisement mention GLEANlNaa. METAL WHEEL for your WAGONS, 4ny size you want, 20 to 56 m high. Tires I (o 8 in wide— hubs to fit any axle. .Suves ('0!<' many time!! in I season to have set )f low wheels to fit four waeon for haaling (frain. fodder, manure, bogs. kc. No resetting of ^T"" Citl'gfree. Address ICMPTRE MFG. CO.t f^ulncy. 111. MUTH'S HONEY- EXTRACTOR, SQUARE GLASS HONEY-JARS. Bee-keepers' Supplies in general, etc.. etc. Send for our new catalog. "Practical Hints" will be mailed for 10c in stamps. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, 0. ''^^^ish steel tanks" with covers, all gal-' '^vanized after completion,'^ 'in nests of ten, 8 to I 2 feet' Thigh and 30 to 36 inches \n^ ^diameter, at 2^c. per gallon.^ They do not rust, shrink, leak, give] ' taste to water, nor allow foreign sub- stances to get In. They can be put! In garret or barn and thus are protectedi Ifrom freezing. They take no setting/ \up, are cheaper than wood. Tank/ , substructures of all sizes made to , order. Send for price list and designs forsubstructure and ^ j ornamental water supply, ^r 4 I AERMOTOR CO.^^/lJII CHICACO.^Udl^l, Did you ever stop to think liow conijiletely the Aermotor Co. made the modern windini 11 business ? How it has monop- olized this entire line of manufacture because of its ideas, mventious, designs, qualities and prices, or forced others to be literal and servile imitators i Witness the steel wheel, the back geared pumper, the higli geareil power mill, the steel towers, fi.vLed and tilting, the galvanizing of work after completion, the grinder centrifugal feed, the improved irrigating and other pumps, the all steel pole saw — one of the most popular things we ever put out — the steel storage and stock tanks. Everything we have touched we have bettered and cheapened. It is the tiling we have deligtited in and ith.ts p.iid. We have established a score of branch hou'^es, so as to have all these goods near those who want them. The Aermotor Co. has but one more ambition. It wants to build and fill one more new building. It has 2 acres of land at its present location unoccupied by liuildings. It ex- pects to commence in June to cover that 2 acres with a single iiuilding, 7 stories high. This will give it H more acres of floor space. Then when the public demand requires more goods than can be produced with this added space, it will refuse to extend further, or iii.ike any effort. It will have done its share tosupplv th it demand. It will then turn away all new comers. VNTIL THAT TPIE IT EXPECTS TO CONTIXrE TO SIPPLY THE WORLD WITH THE GRE.ITEU P.4KT OK ITS WIND WHEELS TOWFUS, GRI.VKERS, feed CITTFRS, PFJIPS, STEEL FRAME lUZZ SAWS, .STEEL STOUAOK AND STOCK TA.N'KS, STEEL STB.STRlTTrRES, ETC., ETC.. GAL- VANIZED AFTER fOIIPLETION'. IT WILL CONTLVTE TO DEAL .HOST LIHERALLY WITH THE PlllLIC, Fl RMSH RE- FAIRS AT A LOW PRICE, AND BE THE GREAT MODEL SqiAKE-DEALING WIND POWER AND WATER SrPPLT HOUSE OF THE WORLD. AERMOTOR CO., CHICAGO. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES FOR 1895. Such as Dovetailed Hives, Sections. Comb Foundation. E.\i i;ii-ioi s. :ind e\ ei \ tiling el.se n.scd hy a be keeper. All late improved goods. Immen-^e stock. Goods si ild at vvlmles;! |c iin.l ntail. Write forour DlSCOU/\/TS FOR EARLY ORDERS. -Msike clover and Japan* se bucKv Ik atf urnished at lowest mai-Uit piicr. Addnss JOSEPH N YS EW A N DE ~? , Des Wloines, Iowa. In writing advertisers please mentii'n tins p uier 472 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. Honey Column. CITY MARKETS. Clevet^and.— Ho?if}/.— The honey market is not very biisk. No. 1 white \-\h. sections are selling- at 12; No. 3, 10. Extracted, amber, 5(g)6; white, 7® 8. Beeswax, 26. Present stock cleaning- up; no re- ceipts to speak of. Williams Bros., June 8. 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland. O. Cincinnati. — Honey. —Demand is slow for comb honey at 12@16 for best white. There is a fair de- mand for extracted honey at 4@7. Beeswax is in good demand at 25@.31 for g-ood to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, June 8. Cincinnati, O. Kansas City.— Honejy.— Demand ligrht, supply light. We quote No. 1 white comb. 13@14; No. 2, 12 ®13; No. 1 amber. 11@12; No. 2, s@io. E.xtracted, white, T; amber, 5@6. Beeswax, 22. C. C. Clemons & Co., June 10. Kansas City, Mo. Buffalo.— Honey.— The honey market is exceed- ingly quiet. Fancy moves slowly at 12(^13; choice, 10@11; buckwheat and commoner grades are mov- ing at ^©8. Beeswax in light supply, and firm at 28 @30. Extracted dull, and very little doing in honey at present. Batterson & Co., June 8. Buffalo, N. Y. Detroit.— Honc-M.—Best white honey lield at 13® 14; few sales and little in stock. Dark grades dull at 10@11; Extracted, 6@7. Beeswax, 27@28; supply good. M. H. Hunt. June 9. Rell Branch, Mich. Chicago.— flo)ie.i/.—Tliere is very little honey sell- ing now, and prices are nominal. Best grades of white comb, 14; dark, 8®I0: extracted. 5®7, accord- ing to quality, flnvor, and package. Beeswax finds ready sale at 28@30. K. A Bitrnktt & Co.. June 8. 183 So. Water St.. Chicago. III. Kansas QiiY.— Hinieii. Tlie stock of comb honey is about all sold: very little on the market One-lb. comb, white, ]2®13; amber, 10@ll; extracted, 6@6i.i; dark. 4H@5. Beeswax, 2.5. Hamblin & Bearss, June 10. Kansas City, Mo. Milwaukee.— JJooc!/.— This ni;irket at present is very dull on honey of all kinds and qualities, and values are almost nominnl. The stock of section honey is fair for the setisoti. ar>d generally of good quality. Extracted stock small. We can quote choice 1-lb. sections. 14@1^; good. ]2@13; dark. 10® 12. Extracted, white, in kegs and barrels, 7@7'"; in pails, 7S@8'2; dark, in kegs and b.-irrels. 4@.5 Beeswax, 26®28. A..V. Bishop & Co., June 4. Milwaukee, Wis. Minneapolts.—H()»c?/.— Honey is r.tngina- aboui as follows: Fancy while, 18; No. 1 white. 16; fancv !iinl)er, 1.5; No. l amber. 13; fnncy dark, 12: No. 1 dnrk, 11 Extracted, while. 7@8; amber, 6@6!^: dark. .5. Can yoii advise us where we can buy siiii iiiniii mention Gleanings Imported Italian Queens, $3.50 each. Tested, I to $1.,50. Untested. 75 cts. eacli. W. C. FRAZIER, Atlantic, Iowa. Wants or Exchange Department. 'ANTED.— To exchange Autoharp or Italian queens for trio of B. P. Rock or offers. Address W. J. FORCHAND, Fort Deposit, Ala. W WANTED.— To exchange old breeding-queens which I can recommend, for old breeding- cjueens which you can recommend. Object, to se- cure new and desirable strains, and avoid the evils of in-breeding. J. F. McIntyre, Fillmore, Cal. WANTED.— To exchange thrashing-machine, with bagger, run one season, for bee-hive machinery or offers. J. C. Redpath, Kalamazoo, Mich. WANTED. — To exchange 15 White Minorca eggs for an Italian queen or section boxes. Sarah Shaw, Winthrop, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange fine pug dog (blooded), 2 years old, perfectly kind to cliildren, for 'o doz. untested Italian queens. E. D. Barton, East Hampton, Ct. II' ANTED.— 500 bushels of cherries and raspber- VV ries. Will pay highest market price, spot cash. Friends, let us hi ar from you. J. B. Murray, Ada, Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange 200 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. ANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample. J. A. Green, Ottawa, 111. WANTED.- To exchange 6 and 12 inch Root foun- dation mills for wax, honey, or offers. I. J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, New York, N. Y. w Vl/ ANTED.— To exchange golden queens for Pekln V» ducks, Embden geese, fancy poultry, buck- wheat. J. F. Michael. Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange 2t)-in. planer, power scroll saw, all iron; tenoner, and mortiser, for porta- ble sawmill, or other wood-working machinery. Will give a bargain for cash, eitf Geo. Rall, Frenchville, Tremp. Co., Wis. 3=Banded Jt'^^I!'^^ Queens, fiom my own imported queens, $1.0n each. Nlax Brauer, Beeville Bee Co., Tex. MONEY IfM ^ ^^^"^ GERJVIAN HARE, write for prices CAA BUSHELS TRIUMPH OxjV Seed Potatoes For Sale. New crop ready to ship July 1st to 10th; $1.50 per bushel; 2 bushels or over, 10 per cent off. Address J. T. PENICK, Williston, Tenn. FROM IMPORTED MOTHERS. l^^:i& select breeding Italian queens, .f 1.25 each; also test.- ed and untested by return mail. Send for free price list. L. JB. ETAA^S. Ousted, Mich. In writing advertisers, mention this paper. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. I have 35 mismated Italian queens for sale at 30 cts. each, or i for $1.00. A good share of their bees are yellow. Albert Hines, Box .532, Independence, la. 474 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Junp: 15. Tested Queens by Return Mail at $1.00. I am devoting- my apiary larsely to the rearing- of queens, making a sp ;cialty of tested Italian queens at $1.00 each or six for $.5.00. Tht'se (lueens are of this year's rearing-, and liave been kept jusi long- enough to know that they are good layers and purely mated. For several weeks I liave been tilling orders hy )-c- turn mdil, and I am keeping a large number of queens in nuclei for the e.xpress purpose f f enabling me to fill orders promptly. More than six iiu^ens (tesiid) will l)e sold at 75 cts. each, l)ut such O'ders must be sent with the understanding that, while they will be fllkd as promptly as possible, it may not be by return mail, which will be the case with six or a less number of queens. The Re\'iew and one queen for $1 50. W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Hich. fiO apiary. Jl/I Hf hlttrfi- Bell Branch, Mich. i»l. 1 1 . I lUO L. One=piece Sections, In order to reduce s4^^ock, we offer No. 1 Cream Sections, 4ix4ix7 to foot. If, U, IJg, and 2 inch: lOOOfor Sl.oO, ■5000 at l.-lOper M., KlOnO '■ 1.3.5 '• ■' We also offer No. 1 White Sections, oix 6ix2, open on two oi sides: 10(10 for $2.50, 5000 at 2.85 per M., 10000 " 2.25 " " G. B. Lewis Co., Watertown, Wis. Smokers, Knives.^ # Send for circulars and prices to T. F. Bingham, Abronia, Mich. QUEENS. IMPORTED ITALIAN MOTHERS ONLY. Untested, 5.5 cts.; doz., $6. About 11 out of every 1~ will make fine tested queens, and for gentleness and industry we defy the world to beat them. Safe delivery. Money-order office, Decatur. eitf CLEVELAND BROS., Stamper, Newton Co., Miss. NON-SWARMENG and NOihS-STII\BCING. June 1 shall commence to ship queens and bees from mj' famous j ellow-banded strains. Queens, 5fl.00 each. I never had a swarm of bees from one strain that has been in my apiarj' six years. No charge unless queens are satisfactory. H. ALLEY. Wenham, Essex Co., Mass. A Full Line of Popular SUPPLIES Always on hand. 1 lb. sq. flint jars, $5.00 a gross, sent from this city. Untested queens, now ready, 75 cts. After July 10th, Sframe nuclei and Italian queen, ^2 .nO Discount on quantities. Catalog free. 1. J. STRIWGHAIVI, 105 Park Place, New York. Dovetailed Hives. Sections, Extractors. Smokers, and every thing a Eee-keeper wants. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. 60-page cata- J. M. JENKINS, Wetumpka, Ala. In responding to tliese advertisements mention this paper. • DELVoTE. •AND Honey 'flRD home:- •1NTEFIEST6 ?ubiishedy THE^ ll^ooY Co. l£°PtRVEAR.^'\©"nEDINA-OHIO- Vol. XXIII. JUNE 15, 1895. No. 12. Is FAILURE to be our doom another year? June 4 white clover is In full bloom, but bees are doing nothing. Please keep watch, and tell us whether a queen prefers to lay in new or old comb; also, which the bees prefer to store in. "Gleaner" gathers items "Among the Bee- papers " for A. B. /., and, as might be expected, he gleans a good many gleanings from Glean- ings. " Do DUCKS eat bees'?" is a question asked in British B.J. I don't know; but at one time in this country the bees were charged with eating ducks. Adulteration of foundation is so bad that Prof. Foucart complains in Le Progres Apicole that nowadays he finds foundation that sags at 77° to 88° F. Ex Pres. Abbott " roasts" ex- Secretary F. Benton, in A. B. J., for not publishing report of St. Joe convention, after accepting $25 in pay- ment for his services. The tuermometer did not vary from 58° all winter in the cellar of O. E. Douglass, and his bees came out in splendid condition. But the cellar was well ventilated. In Cuba, according to H. G. Osborn, in American Bee-keeper, there are places where the honey is squeezed out and thrown away, the wax only being worth saving. A NUMBER of cases, carefully observed by F. Goecken. showed young queens to be fecundat- ed at from 8 to 10 days old, the first egg being laid 3 days later.— Centralblatt. In East Africa, says R. Ludwig, in Graven- horst's Illustrierte Bieiienzeitung, bees are kept chiefly for the sake of making out of the honey an intoxicating drink of disgusting taste. I don't feel left out in the cold with my cel- lar stove so much as I did, since I know so good a man as H. R. Boardman is with me. Artifi- cial heat may be a bad thing, but natural cold is worse. To MARK A hive temporarily, green grass or weeds will do nicely. It practically takes itself away, for next day it is withered, but a stone or block might be taken for a fresh mark the next day. Queenless colonies are often the result of a bee-keeper's handling. A queen is some- times taken off with the cover, and once I found a queen on the hat of my assistant— a clipped queen too. Rev. E. T. Abbott, in A. B. J., quotes Her- bert Smith as saying that " particular parts of the body may become temporarily inoculated against insect stings." I wonder whether the inoculation is only local. Wood-base foundation reminds me of the foundation with tin-foil base that came out with a flourish years ago. It was a nice thing, only the bees would none of it. What have they said about the wood base? " Buckwheat, north of the latitude of North Carolina, may be a good forage-plant; but south it is perfectly unreiiabfe. It will secrete an abundance of nectar only when the atmos- phere is cool and moist. This is a condition we can not well have in the South." — Dr. J. P. H. Brown, in A. B. J. Dr. Brown relates in A. B. J. that he gave goldenrod credit for being a good honey- plant, as bees worked on it more or less all day long, but afterward found that the honey stored came from aster that commenced yielding each day toward noon, and he concludes that golden- rod is a poor yielder with him. I WAS scared a little when I got before such a big lot of railroad men in Chicago, but I found them a pretty nice lot. They seem to have hearts as well as other people. If a bee-keeper can be allowed to judge, I should put down J. T. Ripley, Chairman of Western Classification Committee, as a real gentleman. Lysol may prove to be the drug for foul brood, in Gravenhorst's opinion. It is cheap, and is more like crude than refined carbolic acid, and in his experience crude carbolic acid 476 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. has proved good as preventive and cure, while the refined article has been unsatisfactory. He thinks perhaps the coal tar that is in the crude, and also in lysol, may be important. Apifuge. In Le Progrcs Apicole, E. J. Ro- land recommends cantharides, or Spanish flies, and carbolic acid. Dissolve the powder in the acid, apply it to the skin, greatly diluted, and the bees won't sting there. Put the mixture full strength on a sponge and use it in a smoker if you want to drive bees out of a hive. The greatest good to the greatest number would make a law that owners of cider-mills and such things should screen them against the intrusion of bees. If I am prevented by law from putting poisoned honey on my own ground to kill my neighbor's bees, equally I should be prevented from killing them with a cider-mill. If I HAD KNOWN Ernest was going to be un- der the weather I'd have liMed hard to knock him out on the T-super question before he re- covered his usual vigor. Guess I must try to fire off the few shots I have left, anyhow. [I am getting a little out from " under the weath- er," so you had better looka"leedle oud." — Ed.] Who CAN TELL what makes combs turn black as they grow old ? It doesn't seem reasonable to believe the bees' feet do the coloring. [We know that bees go into the hive with dirty feet; and we know, too, that the cocoons and the deposits left from brood rearing seem to have a darkening eff'ectupon newly built combs along the line where the brood was. Is it not probable that both causes contribute toward the darkening you speak of ?— Ed.] "The North American convention this year has received a special grant of WOO from the Ontario Legislature, to defray the expenses at Toronto," says the A. B. J. Say; do you Canucks mean to own the convention ? and will you reincorporate it? Joking aside, that's a grand stroke. [Yes, indeed ihat was a grand stroke; but our country is so large I am afraid we could not get similar favors at its hands— at least, not at present. I anticipate that the next North American will be the best in the history of the association. Those Canucks— beg pardon, Canadians — are hustlers in convention matters.— Ed.] You're 'way off in thinking Stray Straws for June 1 are reposing in ray coat-tails. My wife has searched my pockets thoroughly; and when a woman can't find any thing in a man's pockets you may be sure there isn't any thing there. " Where are they, then?" I don't know. [I knew that you once carried Stray Straws in your pocket, and it was only when we punched you up just in time that we discovered their whereabouts. But you were then able to get them to us in time for the journal, so as not to break the chain. Yes, you are right. When a woman can't find a thing in a man's pocket, no one can — not even the user of said pockets him- self.—Ed.] Will as much brood be produced in a two- story hive as if the combs are all in one story? is one of the conundrums in A. B. J. Opinions are pretty well divided, with some preponder- ance in favor of the single story; but most of the repliersseem not to answer from experience. [I have noticed sometimes that the repliers, when we had a similar department in our own journal, frequently gave an off-hand opinion, and not one based on experience. At the risk of doing something nearly as bad myself, I will say that, from what little experience I have had, bees breed better all in one story than in two separate ones.— Ed]. FEEDERS. I'ROPERLY AND IMPROPERLY CONSTRUCTED; THE LOSS INCURRED FROM POOR FEEDERS. By H. R. Boardman. Would bee-keepers be benefited by my experi- ence with feeders if I should give it, or would they go all over the ground for themselves? is a question I have asked myself more than once. Although I am satisfied that not all will be dis- posed to accept my notions, some seed may fall on good ground. Success in feeding depends almost wholly up- on the feeders used. A large amount of the feeding done, even by quite practical bee-men, results only in injury to the bees, instead of benefit, leaving out of the account the cost. This is not a very encouraging compliment, I will admit: but it is too true. Feeders must be so constructed that the bees can not possibly get daubed with the feed. You may say this is easy enough. I once thought so too; but it is not so easy a thing to accomplish. The most common kinds of feeders are those with floats or slots. Take any of this class of feeders, or even combs filled with feed, which would seem, certainly in the latter case at least, to meet the '-equirementsof the bees, and watch them in their mad scramble to get each a share. At first, when only a few are feeding, they poise themselves daintily and sip leisurely and care- fully as though their own fine plumes and fea- thers were their sole care. Soon they gather faster; and as their numbers increase they be- gin to huiTy and jostle against and run over each other. Still they gather until they are piled up on each other in a wild, struggling, ex- cited mass, which is not truly represented by any thing except the board of trade of some great city. Now, those at the bottom, which were at first 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 477 SO careful and dainty of themselves, are pressed and crushed duwu into the feed: and as each bee makes its escape up through the struggling mass with Its well-earned load of sweets, it wipes its feet and wings and body off upon its neighbor's fine clothes, and ihey in turn rub it off upon others, and this process is kept up un- til the whole mass becomes smeared and dauby. What then? As if ashannd to be seen by their friends at home in this deplorable plight, they go out and alight on a twig or leaf, or on the grass or fence, and commence scraping off the precious sweet they were so eager to get into a few moments before, and wipe it upon any thing and every thing at hand. The loss of the feed thus wasted by being scattered around in almost imperceptible particles is a very serious loss to the bee-keeper when consid- ered in the aggregate. Nor is this the only serious part of the busi- ness. The whole apiary is thrown into a bed- lam of commotion by the feed that has been so recklessly and profusely exposed by the daubed bees, and this is the explanation of how bees are so commonly excited to robbing and pilfering by feeding. In my search after a feeder I have tried many — very many— of this class, and I could furnish now a rare collection of samples that have been consigned to the rubbish-gallery and to oblivi- on, that once were objects of great expectation. I had high hopes at one time in regard to open- air feeding, and I constructed an atmospheric feeder by inverting a can of feed on a slotted board. This worked admirably; but after feed- ing a few barrels of sugar in this way I aban- doned the idea of open-air feeding, and used the feeders only for water in the dry part of the season. The objection to open-air feeding, ac- cording to my experience, was, the excitement caused too much waste of energy to make it profitable. Tlie strong colonies, that had the least need of feed, got the lion's share. But the principle of this feeder I did not abandon. It became the stepping-stone and led to the atmos- pheric entrance-feeder, which has been already described and illustrated in this journal by the editor, and which is the only one I have ever been entirely satisfied with. In regard to it I will add to the brief description already given a few more words in detail. I use a special wide-mouthed can holding two quarts, and not a common fruit-can, as de- scribed. I would not recommend any thing smaller. It woiild involve more labor in feed- ing. I have found these small enough. In us- ing these feeders no feed need be exposed, either by the bees or the bee-keeper, to attract robbers. The feed is in sight, and the bee-keeper can see at a glance just what each colony is doing, and know just when the feed is out, without any examination. The feed is perfectly protected, and no harm can come to it from storms, even if it remainsunused indefinitely. They are as near being robber-proof as any feeder can be made. They are always in working order, but will not work without the assistance of the bees, even if left on all summer. Last summer I was feeding atone time 145 colonies in my home yard, and 60 more at my out-apiary. HOW IT WAS DONE. The cans were filled in the bee-house, from a tank, by a faucet, the caps adjusted, and placed in crates holding 12 to 14 cans. These were placed on a wheelbarrow, when ready to feed, two crates at a load, and wheeled out into the yard, and distributed by placing one on top of each hive. When all are thus distributed I pass rapidly along and invert each can in the feed- chamber, which has been previously adjusted to the hive. The bees are protected from injury in this chamber by an ample bee-space below the can when adjusted. I have filled these cans at all times, whenever they became empty, but prefer feeding at evening. In feeding my out-apiary I took a sufficient number of these cases of filled feeders into my spring bee wagon and diove 'o the apiary, with no slopping or spilling; thus the work of filling was all done at the bee-house at home, where the feed was prepared. I prepare the feed by dissolving granulated sugar in water, nearly equal parts of each. I use hot water, but cold water will do, I am suie. Sugar syrup needs no doctoring for feed, excepting what the bees do themselves. East Townsend, O. [There are many things in favor of an en- trance feeder, and such tVeders would have been used more largely in tlie past but for the fact that none have been constructed hitherto but that would more or less invite the atten- tion of robbers. But from what I saw in Mr. Boardman's yard during the robbing season last year, I am firmly of the opinion that he has solved the problem. Furthermore, his feeder may be used as a percolator, if desired, I think. Indeed, he almost admits as much when he says the sugar and water may be mixed half and half, the water cold; and even if the sugar did not all dissolve, more water could be put in at the next feed, and the bees would thus take care of the whole.— Ed.] WAX. ADULTERATION, AND IIOW TO DETECT IT. By Karl Rudolph 3Iathetj. The adulteration of wax is due mostly to its high price ; and this is done as well with the natural yellow wax as with the bleached prod- uct. This adulteration is effected either by means of other fats such as tallow and stearine, and sebacic acid, or with vegetable fats and va- rious kinds of vegetable wax; and lately with refined ozokerite (mineral wax, earth wax, or ceresin), and then rendered hard with certain solid substances. One may therefore safely conclude that adulteration of less than 30 or 40 per cent is seldom or never met, and some with 478 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. 40 or .50 per cent, and some even very much more. In buying wax, therefore, it is neces.sary to be on one's guard; and it is always to be rec- ommended that the specific gravity and the melting-point of wax be carefully determined when testing the quality of it. The following is a test to determine whether foundation is made of pure wax. When, in making foundation, a mixture of beeswax and ceresin is encountered, the detection of the adulteration is a very simple matter — namely, by bleaching. As ceresin can not be bleached by the sun's rays, but must be bleached by the use of chemicals, foundation to wliich ceresin has been added will remain more or less of a yellow color when exposed to the light of the sun ; while cells made of pure beeswax, if hung in the full light of the sun for a few days, and occasionally sprinkled with water, will be- come perfectly white. ANOTHER TEST. Melt a small piece of foundation in a vessel, being very careful not to burn it. At the same time, take a few tablespoonfuls of water and add thereto a little soda. Pour the melted wax into the soda water. After the mixture has been stirred for a while the wax will become perfect- ly soapy; if, however, ceresin was in the wax, the mixture does not become soapy, but swims on the surface like an oily mass. It has been proven that many makers of foundation do not use the required amount of pure wax, but adulterate it with one-half or even two-thirds of ceresin*. Material and shape must have especial atten- tion in making foundation. In making it, only absolutely pure wax should be used. Any ad- mixture of foreign substances debases the prod- uct. For the bee-keeper it is also of the great- est moment to be able to test the purity of his foundation before putting it into the hives. The most satisfactory conclusions in this mat- ter give the specific gravity of pure beeswax as .966, and the melting-point at 143 to 146°. All adulterants, such as stearine, suet, ceresin, par- affine, mineral wax, spermaceti, etc.. differ from each other in these two respects. Make a mix- ture of water and alcohol, of such density as will permit pure beeswax to float — that is. so it will not touch the bottom of the vessel nor yet come to the surface. Into this drop a piece of the foundation to be tested. This must main- tain itself in the mixture at the same height the wax does. Wax is found varying in color from wlwte to black; and to the satne degree the odor varies also, according to the plant from which the honey was mostly derived; hence when a bee- keeper compares the color and odor of Turkish. Indian. African, and other kinds of wax, with his own. he will nearly always make a mistake. That foundation made of pure wax can be * Tills certainly does not apply to this country.— Ed, stretched but slightly (if any) is entirely false. Pure wax expands in a warm temperature very noticeably. The resistance which wax offers to a direct pull, at the same temperature, varies within very narrow limits ; hence it does not depend altogether on the country the wax came from, but on the season of the year, and even on the source from which it comes. It would take too long for one to examine all of its peculiari- ties. There are different kinds of entirely pure wax which would be quite unfit for foundation, as they lack the necessary toughness. Certain it is, that foundation of pure wax, whatever the color and smell may be, is always worked out by the bees willingly and rapidly. WHAT IS CEKESIN ? I take my answer from a pamphlet written by Fried. Thalmann, entitled " Fats and Oils." " Under the name of earth wax, or ceresin, there has been put on the market within a short time, in large quantities, a product which has received the name of wax on account of cer- tain physical peculiarities which it has in com- mon with other kinds of wax. Earth wax is, however, a mineral substance, and is related to petroleum. Good clean mineral wax is easily mistaken for beeswax, and actually forms a large part of the "wax' of which candles are made, and sometimes the entire part. , When the price of beeswax is much higher than that of mineral wax. it is a gross deception to call a mixture of the two by the name of ' wax; ' and this fraud can be detected only by careful ex- periment, determination of the melting-point, the specific gravity, and other peculiarities." CERESIN FOUNDATION. I reproduce the following. simply to show that foundation made from ceresin is publicly sold in Germany: The undersigned firm offer ceresin foundation in their price list, together with thai made from pure wax. on the following grounds: 1. The amount of beeswax produced, when compared with that of honey, is very insignifi- cant, being scarcely .5 per cent of the latter. 2. The cheaper foundation made of ceresin. whetiier the extractor he used or not. and be the honey harvest never so giod. is decidedly con- ducive to an increase in the n^t amount of hon- ey produced as compared with the use of foun- dation made of pure beeswax. 3. The price of beeswax must fall more and more — that is. come nearer to that of ceresin, and that is only a question of time — or dsp the use of cerisin and other kinds of wax will be- come more and more common. But if it does I'pcome cheaper, tiien the use of ceresin for foundation will be discontinued. 4. No man. either officer of the law or a pri- vate citizen, can control or hinder anyone of the thousands of bee-keepers of Anstro Hunga- ry in the uS" of ceresin foundation, whenever and wherever he pleases, whether it he made by means of a plaster-Paris or wax mold. Babon Rothschuetz. Weixelburg. Austria. [This article is interesting and valuable ; but I feel sure no American manufacturer would think of making adulterated foundation.— Ed.] 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 479 RAMBLE NO. 134. BLOCKSBUKGH. By Rambler. We divided our deer meat with our friend the blacksmith who had so kindly allowed us the use of his corral. He did not enthuse much, however, over deer meat. He said his boy could shoot one almost any day. Our black- smith wielded his hammer, chewed plug tobac- co, and discussed the tariff on wool, in his shop in Harris. When we passed through Harris we found the blacksmith's shop the only place of business there, and. of course, our smith was an important personage. We lifted our hats to him as we passed, and he returned our saluta- tion by coming to the door and expectorating a quantity of tobacco-juice. He wiped his mus- tache with the back of his hand, and returned to the duty of pounding his anvil. We rushed down some long steep grades, and made good time. Eel River, a fine mountain stream, we crossed here. Bro. Pryal wanted to stop and fish again. It was truly wonderful how the sight of a stream of water would stir up all of the piscatorial elements of his compo- sition. We hastened across the long bridge; and Susan B., losing sight of us, set the whole valley vibrating with her neighing; and the series of bites Bro. Pryal wished so fondly to indulge in were lost. Our dog Jack was an object of sympathy these days. The hot sands of the road made him footsore; and on the long stretches of mountain travel, where we could find no water, he learned to look up to us for a drink from our canteen, and he became quite expert in the exercise of drinking from it. We made another forced drive after crossing Eel River, and after dark entered the little town of Blocksburgh. This time the shoe- maker came to our rescue and provided a camp in the suburbs of the town, near a pure, sweet, cold-water spring, which fountain of water was the making of the town. Blocksburgh is a town of about 300 population. The residences are somewhat scattering, and located upon the spurs of several hills which converge here; and to get a view of the whole town one must needs get directly overhead. It was founded in this unique place by Mr. Blocksburgher, and all on account of being near that excellent spring. Mr. Block, as they all called him, for short, was a hale and hearty old man of about 7.5 summers, and occupied one of the leading stores of the place. For five years after the first establish- ment of the settlement, the only communication with the outside world was over a trail where every thing was packed in on the backs of mules. Another prime factor in the building of Blocksburgh, besides the spring, was its being the center of the wool industry. Over these mountains, and in the valleys, thousands of sheep found succulent pasturage; and when wool was 40 cts. per lb., dollars were brought to the pockets of the sheep-herder; and the owner of a few thousand sheep in a few years realized a fortune. But of late, dull times had invaded these wilds, and the price of wool bad subsided to less than 10 cts. per lb., and the in- dustry was rapidly waning. Our visit to this wool country was just before the State election, and the politicians were much heated over the tariff problem; and tariff or no tariff on wool was their song, and the question is not settled even unto this day. " There was a time," said Mr. Block, " when this store of mine was completely surrounded and nearly hidden from view with piles of sacked wool. It was brought in from the sur- rounding mountains, on mules, and the annual handling of wool amounted to the hundreds of thousands of dollars; and even now, when the price of wool is so depressed, the street presents a lively scene when a cavalcade of mules ar- rives with their immense burdens of wool," as will be seen by the photo. A large number of sheep-men came here in the earlier California days, and isolated themselves from civilization to a far greater extent than did ever a bee- keeper. These sheep-ranchers had much trou- ble with Indians, and Mr. B. said that, at one time, he could count up a hundred men who had been killed by the red man. Then there were saloon-rows that killed off a few more; " but," said he, "I believe there has not been a man killed here in a year." The sheep-men finally sort o' compromised matters with the Indians by marrying their squaws, or, rather, taking them. Such were called squaw-men. Not a few were called men of the squaws, for they had taken a plurality; and the worst feature of this amalgamation of the races was that the squaw-men, many times without the least appearance of a troubled con- science, would leave their squaws and offspring to shift for themselves. The dusky wife had perhaps been a potent factor in making his fortune; but in his bettered worldly possessions he would move to town, build a new house, and marry a white woman. We spent ten days in this town, and nearly every day some quaint character from the surrounding country would turn up. Here is an old man in from some branch of the Eel River, with a few boxes of fruit for sale. His apparel was ragged blue jeans; his toes pro- truded from an old pair of shoes; his hat was minus one half of its brim; his gray unkempt locks dangled over his shoulders; still this man could quote you scripture, Shakespeare, and Milton. He had been a man of books, and at one time had thoughts of the ministry. Even now it was said that he would make religious harangues to a crowd when opportunity offer- ed. His hair he allowed to grow long, because in that he could imitate the lonely Nazarene; 480 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. JuxE 15. tt?»' 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 481 but I noticed he did not imitate that personage in his clothing; for through several rents in his blouse I could see the bare hide of the man, showing the total absence of a shirt. In him was fulfilled the idea of the poet when he exclaimed: , Sad is a man without a wife; Sad is a ship without a sail; But the saddest thing to me in life Is a shirt without— its proper length. What could be more sad in this case than the absence of the entire shirt, the sail, and the wife? The shoemaker's boy said his housekeeping was oflf the same piece with his general make- the hot sun in their then exposed position melt- ed a few of them to destruction, and the rest were moved into the dense shade of the red- woods, and here in various places the hives were mounted upon platforms attached to the trees, six feet from the ground. Hogs and cat- tle roamed the forest; and to keep them from their depredations, the hives were this elevat- ed. The bees were not prospering in the shade, and they were to be moved out again. Of all trees to make a dense and cool shade, the red- wood is the chief. Mr. Hope said that many bee-trees were found in these forest-*, and they were always well supplied with honey. His bees produced a good but dark honey. I pre- Cl.IMAX Eno. Cl.KV'D, O. MK. HOPE S APIARY. up; that his cat would lick out the frying pan, and then curl up in it for a nap; and his bed — here the boy's mother cuffed his ears, and he went away disconsolate. Now, a bee-keeper would never degenerate into such a state of bachelorhood as that. As a relief to the above picture, and in sharp contrast, I will show you the home of the only bee-keeper of Blocksburgh. Mr. Hope. Mrs. Hope is a hale and stout English woman, and Mr. Hope and Mrs. Hope's son are the black- smiths of Blocksburgh. The smith, a miglity man is he. With strong and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands. With these brawny arms Mr. Hope had clear- ed away the crown of the hill, and upon it planted a pleasant home. The vine and the fruit-tree were growing with a vigor such as can be induced only by a virgin soil. In the rear, and toward the east, the noble redwoods formed a fitting background, while the moun- tains shade off into the distance. Mr. Hope had at one time about 30 colonies of bees; but diet that it will be a long time before bee- keeping as a paying industry will be practiced in these backwoods. THE BEST FORM OF HIVE. footnotes: why the langstroth form of HIVE IS better than THE CUBICAL; A RE- PLY TO FRIEND BOARDMAN'S ARTICLE ON PAGE 251. By J. H. Mnr-kley. Mr. Editor:— I see, on pp. 251, 2.52, you allow friend Boardman to go on in his comparison of the square and long form of hives, showing the advantages of the former over the latter, with- out so much as using your footnote on him. He admits, in the very beginning of his com- parison, that " bees adjust themselves to a wide range of circumstances, and even to serious inconveniences, in the hive they sometimes occupy, without seeming to materially affect the result." Now, " I am .suj'e that this fur- nishes proof " that we should subject them to these little "inconveniences" by an "econom- ical form of hive" that will give the best re- sults in the production of either of the forms 482 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. of our finished product. I am well satisfied (by actual observation) that many bee-keepers stumble on to some form of hive " by accident rather than the careful condsideration " of practical results, and whimsically conform to its inconveniences so long that the greatest amount of success with another and more "economical" form will not induce them to shake off the spell. Of course, the square hive "furnishes more nearly the natural requirements " than the long shallow form; but doesn't the straw hive, as he says, or, for that matter, the hollow tree, furnish that quality to a still greater extent over the cubical? It isn't the "natural re- quirements " we're after, as much as subject- ing the bees to these little inconveniences on their part, for the sake of the greatest financial results? ADVANTAGES OF THE SQIIAEE HIVE. In regard to the holding capacity of the eight-frame hive not being large enough, why not use a ten-frame L. hive, which affords the same "economical form in construction," and which affords no more "surface exposure," that I can see, if we consider both the ends as well as the sides of combs; and it seems to me that end exposure is more objectionable than side. If a square hive is desired in order to obtain a more desirable height for manipulation, why not elevate the long shallow hive to suit the fancies of the operator— a position, by the way, that many desire on account of the ravages of 'vermin. SQUAKE vs. LONG HIVES FOR WINTERING. In the square hive, " at the beginning of cold weather the brood will all be hatched." Just so in the long hive. " This will leave the lower part of the combs empty, upon which the bees will be clustered." That's the way they do it in the long hive. "The stores," he says, "will be above the bees, in the most favorable posi- tion to be protected and preserved by the heat ascending from the cluster." I don't know about that. I will see you later. Again, "As winter advances, the consumption of stores enlarges the brood -nest of empty combs, and the cluster advances slowly upon the stores above them." Say! hold on! Isn't it a fact that, but for the short warm spells during win- ter, that permit the bees to carry stores from any direction in the brood-nest to the center of the cluster, they would starve, the shape of the hive notwithstanding? Again, isn't it a fact that brood-rearing invariably commences in the center of the cluster where the out- side honey is being carried? Speaking about dormant clusters moving on to the stores — why! dormant clusters are dormant — they don't move. If cold weather compels them to stay dormant long enough, the bees will "go up" while the temperature goes down. He says, "Stores of honey exposed for any considerable length of time to the cold become candied," etc. Now, the past winter I had honey granu- late all around some clusters, I believe, by the heat generated by the bees evaporating the watery portion of the stores. As space forbids a more minute criticism of friend B.'s article, I shall be content if allowed to enumerate a few of the many advantages of the long shallow hive, from my point of view. ADVANTAGES OF THE LONG HIVE. It is more shallow, hence less liable to blow over. It takes narrower boards in construction, and consequently is less apt to season-crack. Combs are less liable to break down by high temperature. I have seen dozens of hives with American frames, where every comb in some cases would collapse at a high temperature, but never one with shallow combs. Combs being shallow, they are easier removed from the hive — you don't need one side of the hive knocked out. Combs being shallower than in square hives, the bees enter the supers more readily. We all know that bees will work above quicker if a one-tier super is used instead of a double-tier, and still a shallow hive with two tiers of sections is but very little taller than friend B.'s; consequently it stands to reason that better results may be expected from a long shallow hive than a square one which, in con- sequence, is taller. Carbondale. Kan. [It is true, I made no answer to the article on page 251. Inasmuch as I knew our friend Board man had more to say on the same sub- ject, I decided to reserve my footnote until that time. Well, if you will turn to page 296, April 15, you will find my answer. But I do not like, as a rule, to "footnote" an article so hard as to spoil its force; indeed, I would never do it unless I thought the teachings were liable to do harm, or were founded on error. Mr. Boardman produces good arguments for his side, and to a great extent I sliould prefer to let them stand, so far as I am concernnd. But suppose I had "footnoted" it so hard as to knock his arguments into smithereens, then there would have been no occasion for your writing the above valuable communication. If the editor tried to make every article lean his way. and break down the force of every article leaning the other way. his journal would be narrow, biased, and teach nothing but one- sided truth.— Ed.] LARGE HIVES. THE LONG -IDEA HIVES. By W. S. Hart. Mr. Root:— I have just read Mr. J. A. Nash's article, on page 348, on "The Large or the Small Hive;" also the two that follow it, favor- ing the large hive, and I fully indorse the three in nearly every point on which they treat. As I have not followed this discussion of " Large vs. Small Hives " from the beginning, I will not attempt to enter it farther than to give my choice and a few facts and conclusions bearing on the matter, for fear of merely giv- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 483 ing a repetition of what has already been pub- lished. After many years of successful honey produc- tion I am fully convinced that, for the most profitable rtsults, a large hive must be used, and this is especially true in the case of the production of extracted honey. Nor do I be- lieve that this necessity is a local one to the extreme South, though possibly more marked here than further North. In 1877 the wr'ter was using a small hive of one cubic foot capacity, with (during the honey-flow) a half story top section over it. The outcome was a moderate yield of honey and a very large yield of swarms. As I then desired increase more than honey, the hive served my purpose exactly. Later, as my wish for a goodly number of colonies was being sat- isfied, my desire for a larger number of bees to the colony increased. I plainly saw that, in this direction, lay the accomplishment of my ultimate object, that of getting the greatest amount of honey with the least expense of money, time, and labor. I made a lot of eight-frame L. hives, but found they did not give room enough for brood- rearing in the spring, so I left the top sections (the same size as the bottom sections, but sup- plied with but seven frames) on the year round, and put on extra ones during the honey- flow. This arrangement curtailed the swarm- ing impulse to some extent, but there was a good deal of unnecessary work to be done, and the second-story combs had about as much brood and pollen in them as those of the body of the hive. I would occasionally find brood in every frame, except the outside ones. and. sometimes, some even in them in both sto- ries. This left me no clean bright combs in the two-story hive for surplus honey, and no room for storing without a third story— a hand- to-mouth condition that I do not want in my apiary at any time. I concluded that there was little danger of getting hives too large, so I made ten frame hives for L. frame, and with top sections on the year round, and used them side by side with the eight-frame hives for some years. Through what seemed to me in- disputable proofs of their superiority, I was led to incri-ase the number of the ten franii' hives while the eight- frame hive's have gradually found their way to the attic of my honey- house, where now all but one are nicely tiered up awaiting a purchaser in some one who pre- fers a small hive. The reason I did not adopt a twelve-frame hive is. that they are too heavy for one man to handle. When Mr. Olaf Olson came to this country hf asked my opinion as to the best size of hive, and I told him that, except for the awkwardness in handling. I preferred the twelve-frame. He made a few of that size, to test my conclusions, and from them secured some astonishing yields. I saw one of these hives, three stories high, at his apiary, full from top to bottom of brood and honey. He told me that it had been extracted from but a few days before, and that it had been refilled as quickly as the smaller hives beside it. By actual weight this colony brought in 24 lbs. of mangrove honey in one day. There was no she- nanigan about this colony. It was the progeny of one queen only, and had no special care over and above the others about it. One only, I be- lieve, of our most successful apiarists of this section uses the eight-frame hive, and he tiers them up high to get the necessary room. If bee-keeping were my specialty, and my ambi- tion required that I make an astounding rec- ord of a great honey-yield with least labor, a '"Long Idea" hive, taking 16 frames, and a division-board, with a regular ten-frame top section, supplied with 9 L. frames to put over it during the summer honey-flow, would fit my wants nearer than anything else that I now think of. Other matters claiming my attention, however, and the proposed change being an ex- pensive one, I manage to be reasonably content with last season's record of 5.541^ lbs. from one colony, and an average, on 116 colonies, of 354 lbs. per colony from two story ten-frame Lang- stroth hives with nine frames in the top section. The freezes of last winter have so changed the conditions here that it will be two or three years before we can reasonably hope for anoth- er large yield of mangrove honey. Hawks Park, Fla., May 25. EIGHT FRAMES NOT ENOUGH FOR SOME ftUEENS. HOW EXTRA ROOM IS SUPPI.IED AT DR. MIL- LER S. Bfi Emma Wilson. We have decided most emphatically that eight frames are not enough for some of our queens, as some of our strongest colonies have ten and eleven frames of brood. In the spring, as soon as a colony gets pretty strong, say with about five frames of brood, we put an extra story of brood combs under the colony. We have two objects in view in doing this. First, if the queen feels crowded and wants more room, she can enlarge the brood-nest at her pleasure. Second, the combs are nicely taken care of by the bees, and, if not needed, no harm is done. Last year the weather was delightfully warm; and in some cases, where the colonies needed more rooiu, we placed the extra story on top, as that was less work than putting it under, and in a few cases put a frame of brood in the upper story to induce the queen togo up sooner. Shortly afterward we had a cold snap; and the consequence was, the bees had a bigger con- tract on hand than they could care for. It makes a big difference whether the empty space 484 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. is above or below the brood-chamber. In every case where the empty story had been put un- der, the cold snap had not seemed to affect them much, while those that had the empty story put on top had not increased in brood, and in some cases had less brood than when the extra story was given. This year we profited by our former experi- ence, and all extra stories were placed under the brood-nest, although up to May 13 it was the warmest spring on record. After that we had some extremely hard freezes, with about two weeks of cold weather. I spoke of giving extra stories, but it is not the intention to leave them on during the hon- ey-harvest. They will be taken away when we put on supers, with the exception of a few which may be left on for experiment. We have also put a few colonies in 11-frame hives for experiment. We hoped that, by giving our strong colonies that extra story of combs under, it would do away with the swarming fever; but I am sorry to say I can not see that it makes much differ- ence. Nearly always we find queen cells in these colonies first, not because of the extra stories, but because they are the strongest colonies. Now, we know that the Dadants have little or no swarming because they use large hives and give the queen plenty of room. What's the trouble with our colonies ? Are not 16 frames enough for the queen? That's more room than the Dadants give. Is it because they are in two stories? The queen seems to go readily from one story to another, and we find five and six frames of brood in each story, and queen-cells started. What's the trouble? Why do our queens behave so differently from Mr. Hatch's? He finds difficulty in getting his queens to return to the lower story after going up, although the lower story is filled with bees and brood, while our queens go down of their own accord into a story of dry empty brood- combs. As I said in last number, our feeding this spring has not been a very great success so far, as the bees have been so slow about taking it. In two or three cases the feed turned to vinegar on the hives. If that feed had been placed a distance from the hive, and those same bees had had a chance to get at it, I think they would have taken it eagerly, as they were promptly on hand in any case of outside leak- age. I wonder what makes the difference. Do they think it's all right as long as it's in the feeder over the brood-nest, and theirs to be taken at their leisure, and they must hustle if they get their share when it's away from the hive? It looks like it, if we may judge from their actions. They are doing better about taking it, now that fruit-bloom is gone, and dandelions nearly so. Marengo, 111. BY G.M.DOOLITTLE.BOROOINO.N.Y. TWO QUEENS WITH A SWAKM. Question. — Does a colony of bees ever have two queens? I hived a swarm of bees the other day that had two queens, I am pretty sure. My neighbor tells me it was two swarms, as he says there is never more than one queen in a colony. ^?isw"er.— Probably both you and your neigh- bor may be right in this case, but you have got things a little mixed. I think such a thing was never known as a prime swarm of bees coming from a colony in a normal condition, having two queens with it. To be sure, we do some- times have two laying quuens in a hive at the same time, although such is a rare exception; but no colony was ever known to swarm at such a time, and both of these laying queens go with the swarm. With a prime swarm, or what is often erroneously called a first swarm, there al- ways accompanies it a laying queen. All swarms having a young or virgin queen should be class- ed as after-swarms. When a prime swarm is- sues it generally leaves maturing queen-cells in the old hive, from which, when hatched, the young queens lead out all after-swarms. The only exception to this is that hinted at above, where, from some cause, the old queen dies near the swarming season, when several queen-cells will be formed on the brood left, so that young queens may lead out what appears to be a prime swarm, the same as they do after-swarms. For convenience, all swarms except the one having the old or laying queen are called after-swarms by bee-keepers, so the readers may know what the term "after-swarms" means. Some days after the prime swarm has issued, the first young queen emerges from the cell; and if aft- er-swarming is considered to be best, in the economy of the hive, the other young queens are kept in their cells by a little knot of bees clustering on them at all times, so the lid of the cell can not be removed to let the queen out, her majesty being fed all the time through an aperture in the royal cell. If further 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 hatch- ed is the only queen in the hive. If the cells are protected as above, the first-hatched queen seems to get into a rage, and utters shrill notes at intervals, called the "piping of the queen," which is kept up for about two days, when the second swarm, or first of the after-swarms, is- sues. This piping of the queen is always heard, if listened for, before all after-swarms, or in any case of a plurality of queens in a hive intending to send out a swarm. The queens kept back in their cells by the bees are growing in age and strength, the same as is the one which is out, they telling of this by their trying to pipe the 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 485 same as the one does that has her liberty, which noise is termed " quahking;" and so it happens that, during the harry and bustle of the second swarming, one or two of these queens hastily finishes biting the cover off the cell and gets out with the swarm, in which case two or more are found with the swarm, as in the case of our querist, although it is a rare thing to see more than two or three queens with a second swarm. If a third swarm is to issue, the bees now clus- ter about the remaining unhatched queen -cells as before, keeping all queens prisoners except one, which queen scolds or pipes away, as did the one before, the others in the cells showing their anger back again by a chorus of quahk- ings immediately after the first ceases piping, when, after the lapse of two days or such a mat- ter, the third swarm issues. As there are fewer bees at this issue than there were before, and more mature queens held as prisoners, the queen- cells are quite generally vacated by the guard- bees; and queens, bees, and all rush out, and in such cases I have counted as many as from 12 to 20 queens with one such swarm, though from one to five is the usual number. In the above I have tried to give a short insight into the mys- teries of the swarming of bees, many points of which do not seem to be fully understood, even by those who have kept bees for ten years. WHICH WAY SHOULD HIVES FACE? Question. — Should a hive face north or south? Would east or west be preferable to either? Answer. — Nearly all bee-keepers agree that a hive should never face north of an east-and- west line, the majority favoring a southerly di- rection. The reason given for this is, that the morning sun entices the bees out to work earli- er in the day, while a northern exposure keeps them in later, and in winter is almost sure to result in the loss of the colony in northern lati- tudes, from our rigorous north winds blowing in at the entrance, and the confinement of the bees, caused by the entrance being in the shade on mild, sunshiny days, when the bees in hives facing south fly freely. In southern latitudes it might not make much difference which way hives face : still. I have the impression that even in Florida and Texas the most of the hives are faced as above. SHADE FOR HIVES. Question. — Is it best to have a roof over the hives proper, or have them under trees for the puipose of shade? Answer. — Some of our best bee- keepers use a shade- board made of lath or light lumber to shade the hive during the hot summer months: but if the locality is at all windy, a weight of some kind must be used to keep the wind from blowing tliem away. This weight is generally a 15' GO 25 lb. stone, which adds very much to the labors of the bee-keeper, as it must be lifted off and on every time the hive is manipulated. Shade-trees (not very dense) are always good, not only for the bees, but they add much to the comfort of the bee-keeper; but it often so hap- pens that not every desirable spot for locating an apiary has such trees upon it. After having tried all kinds of shade I now prefer to paint the hives white and let them stand in the sun, where there is no danger of the cover leaking. White has a tendency to reflect the heat rather than absorb it; hence any thing painted white does not become nearly as hot as do the dark colors, so the bees in white hives remain com- fortable at times when those in dark hives are driven out by the heat. DEATH OF MRS. 0. 0. POPPLETON. The following letter tells us the particulars of inis sad event: Friend Root:— I Imve just received very sad news fr«)m fiiend Poppleton. His dear wife Mattle died, after a sliort illness of less than a week. He writes me thut tliey old not have any idea the sickness would be fatal until three hours before she passed away. She was taken clown with a coruplication of diseases, but the final cause of death was heart failure. Mrs. Poppleton was a native of Indiana, having been born in Maysville about 41 years ago. She will no doubt be remembered by a number of bee- keepers, having attended the bational convention at Cincinnati in 1882, and Toronto in 188)^, besides other State conventions. She was a well-posted and enthusiastic bee keeper; and ever since her mar- riage to friend Poppleton she has been his tirst as- sistant in the practical care of the apiary. Mrs. Poppleton has been a consistent and promi- nent cliurcli-member for thirty-one years, having- joined the Methodist Church when ten years old. Cheerful, kind-htarted, and a lady in every sense of the word, to know her was to value her highly; and in her death, the community in which she lived sustains a heavy loss. While the few who were privileged to class themselves among her intimate friends will feel their loss deeply, I know how much friend Poppleton needs their sympathy in his great bereavement. H. W. Mitchell. Hawks Park, Fla., June 4. [Our readers will recollect that Constance and myself spent several days at the home of friend Poppleton. Very soon after my arrival I was deeply impressed with the bright Christian faith and hope that continually shone forth from every look, word, and action of our de- parted sister. The Bible was her constant com- panion and friend; and when writing some of my notes for Gleanings, if 1 wanted a scrip- ture text she gave it with remarkable readi- ness, showing herself almost a living commen- tary on the sacred pages. It was especially at that Sunday-school 1 have told you about that I was impressed with the thought that Mrs. P. was a spiritual guide and sheet-anchor in that little community. Our friend Harry Mitchell has got it right, where he says the little flock there has sustained a heavy loss. I often think of that little new Congregational church, and of the little flock that gathers there each Sab- bath. 1 believe they have preaching service only every other week, and this throws an ad- ditional responsibility on the little Sunday- school that is kept up on the Sundays when there is no preaching. May the great Father above sustain and cheer up our afflicted broth- er in his great bereavement. The dear wife was to a most remarkable extent his compan- ion and helpmeet — not only in joy and sorrow, but through all his daily tasks. She went with him on his pleasure-trips, helped to manage the boat, and seemed to be in reality a part of his very self. May God give him grace to feel that she is his friend and companion still, even though she has stepped on, for the time being, a little before him.— A. I. R.J 486 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. TRADE NOTES. THE ASPINWALL HIVE. By F. L. Thompson. One logical inference from the large and small hive discussion is, that any hive which can not be contracted or expanded frame by frame up to the maximum, without fussing with division-boards or dummies, is imperfect. Two sizes of the Aspinwail hive are made — one holding 1 to 11 standard frames, the other 1 to 11 deeper (17;?>{ box or shell in which to put the frames. However, two of the largest bee-keepers in the world (El- wood and Hetherington) use closed-end frames without the protecting case during the summer, each side being closed up by a panel, something as shown in the Aspinwall hive above. The Aspinwall system employs the plan used by Quinby and Hetherington; but in.-tead of using standing closed-end frames it used closed -end hanging.— 'Et).] then, of course, it is not advisable to have your hives point that way. J. P., Mass. — You can put bees into a newly painted hive as soon as the paint is dry. Paint is uot offensive to bees; in fact, about every two years we paint all our hiVes while the bees are in them. H. F. S., Pa.— The Dovetailed hive— in fact, all hives of modern construction — have plain, square edgfs. There is no danger of supers and covers blowing oft', because the bees will fasten them on with propolis. Neither will the rain beat in and rot the edges that come in contact, as would at first appear. Beveled edges be- tweeen parts of hives and telescopic joints have been largely abandoned. F. C, Afic/i.— Noticing our advice in the A B C, to have hivts face toward the east, says the hives he has facing that way have not done nearly as well as those facing in other direc- tions. The directions we gave in the ABC book are general, and apply to most localities. If your prevailing winds are from the east. With the exception of the small trees, bass- wood stems to be profusely loaded with buds that will soon burst into blossoms. If these blossoms shall, later on, burst forth with dead loads of honey, the hearts of bee-keepers will be glad, in view of the fact that clover promises but little. Although there has been very little honey coming in, our bees have swarmed earlier than usual. They swarmed out, notwithstanding there is plenty of room for the queens, and for the bees to store honey. The only reason the apiarist and I can assign for this is the ex- tremely hot weather that made the bees think other quarters might be more desirable. In the Am. Bee Journal Mr. G. W. McGuire, of Dark Ridge, N. C, comes out vigorously in favor of large brood-chambers, he having used them from (500 square inches up to 2172. The colony in that hive tilled it in 16 days, and gave a surplus of 63 one-pound sections. The next spring he bought four colonies in small hives, and they did nothing but swarm, while this big colony gave 110 lbs. of surplus. He claims that so much honey in the brood-chamber is of price- less value to the bees. June 2, 1893, one of these colonies gathered 22 lbs., from poplar. Mr. M. claims to have one of the best honey localities in the world— poplar and basswood. It seems likely that Western North Carolina will not much longer remain the terra incognita it has always been, as it is doubtless one of the richest and most healthful parts of the United States. Bko. Hutchinson has reason to be proud of the two articles in the Cosmopolitan, especial- ly over the very tine phoios from which the engravings were made. The two articles are written for the general public, and I hope that some time they may be incorporated in book form for general distributioti. One very pleas- ant thing about it is, that the treatment of the subject is fair and impartial. It does not boom any particular hive, but simply talks standard fixtures and acceptid opinions, leaving all the latest ideas and thtories out. Mr. Hutchinson deserves a vote of thanks from the bee-keeping world for the masterly way he has given the geneial public correct infoimation. 1 think there will be less talk about manufactured honey because it has been shown that hundreds of tons of pure honey can be produced right from the hive— all of it gathered by the bee. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CUL't-QRE. 489 BEES ON STRAWBERRIES. In the^/*ier. Bee Journal is an article from Hon. Eugene Secor. relative to the value of the strawberry as a honey-plant. It seems that, in a previous number of that journal, Mr. E. T. Abbott had claimed that bees visit strawberry- plants in considerable numbers; but in the present number Mr. Secor quotes from a letter written by Wm. Kimble, of DeWitt. la., a man who raises berries by the acre and honey by the ton. He says, " It is a fact that bees never work on strawberries. I wish they did." Among others who write in the same way as to the utter uselessness of strawberry-blossoms for honey are W. S. Fultz, Muscatine, la. ; G. M. Doolittle, and Dr. C. C. Miller. But when we consider what they do produce, we can easily excuse them for not giving honey too. DO WE WANT THE APIS DORSATA ? In our previous issue appears a petition hav- ing in view the importation of the Apis dorsata, from India. The editor of the American Bee Journal does not seem to " tumble " to the idea, believing that, if the government has any mon- ey to expend in that way, it would be better if applied in developing the known good races we have. Another writer thinks such bees could not be domesticated in a cold climate, and that they would not take kindly to hives, and they would not breed with our common kinds. He fears, furthermore, that, even if successfully introduced, they might increase so as to utterly run out the smaller bees, just as the miserable English sparrow has encroached so much on our useful birds — giving us in his own person nothing pretty, good to eat, nor pleasant to listen to. If ray own enthusiasm for the Apis dorsata is not up to the boiling-point it is be- cause I do not think it would pay for the trou- ble, even though they might not prove to be a nuisance. SHALL WE MERGE THE BEE-KEEPERS' UNION AND THE NORTH AMERICAN INTO ONE SOCIETY ? In the last number of the Revieiv, Bro. Hutch- inson hits a big nail square on the head in re- gard to the necessity and desirability of bring- ing about better organization among bee-keep- ers in this country and Canada. The plan is, at least in the rough, to have all the smaller local organizations auxiliary to the State society, and then in turn have all the State societies auxil- iary to the (or a) national organization — or bet- ter, perhaps, a continental union. In an able editorial on this subject the editor says: For these reasons I think it would be better if the North American and the Bee-keepers' Union vtrere merged into one society. As it now is, the members and officers of the Union never hold any meetings. All discussions are made either in the journals or by mail, and all voting- is done by mail. To tlie plan of voting by mail, I see no objections; but I do think it would be an advantage if tlie officers and leading members, or as many as wish to attend, could meet in convention once a year and discuss ways and means face to face. When there was a change made in its constitution three years ago, tlie subject was first discussed in the journals, then continued in a meeting of the Nortli American where certain changes were recommended and finally adopted by the Union, a decision being arrived at by means of a vote made by mail. And again: There are many things, aside from those already done by the Union and North American, that might be done by such an organization with an efficient executive officer at its head and money in its treas- urj'. The feature mentioned by Mr. Case is a case in point; viz., that of looking after and reporting swindlers. I don't know that the constitution of the present Union would need any change to allow of such work being done. Two or three times the Re- view has exposed some swindler; but this was not done until numerous complaints had been received, and considerable time had elapsed. To call a man a swindeler because one man said so would often lead to unjust accusations. When an apparently just complaint is made, the Union could make a thorough investigation— more thorough than one man could afford to make. I have long thought it would be a good idea to merge the Union and the North American into one society; and I am glad that Brother Hutchinson has set the ball a rolling. Then the North American could olTer substantial advan- tages for becoming members of the same. While it would have its annual meetings as before, the fraternal handshakes, etc., the members would be entitled to protection from unjust legislation, and perhaps from swindles of all kinds. I do not know that I am prepared to say just yet that such a merging of the two societies would be wise; but I think the matter should have the earnest and careful consideration of bee-keep- e. It is a good time now to discuss it, prepara- tory to the meeting that is to be held in Toronto. THE CLOVER- midge; ITS WORK UPON THE RED CLOVERS. The clover-midge seems to be making serious havoc in this locality, at least on red clover. As I go out on my trips in the fields for pleas- u?e and health, I find that fields of red clover look as if they had been literally riddled with shot. The leaves are perforated with holes anywhere from a sixteenth to a quarter of an inch in size. In every field thig clover seems to be similarly affected. On top of this is the drouth; and the consequence is, the usual rank- growing pea-vine clovers look poor and feeble compared to what they ought to appear at this time of year. But I have not yet so far noticed that the midge has attacked the white or al- sike clovers. Why they appear to be proof against this pest I do not know. This surely is fortunate for bee-keepers, because the large bulk of clover honey comes from these white varieties. I believe it is generally admited by writers on agricultural subjects that the white clover seems to be proof against the midge. I 490 GLEANIi^GS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. should like to hear from our readers, especially Prof. Cook, who may be able to give us more definite information on the subject. THE HIVE DISCUSSION. Although the hive discussion that has been going on in our columns may be a little confus- ing, from the fact that one side v.ry able de- fends the eight-frame side, and the other just as ably shows advantages in favor of 10, 13, or even 16 frames, I think light is surely coming if not already here. Perhaps this discussion may be tiresome to some; but it seems to me it ought not to be slopped yet, although we have prolonged it longer than at first anticipated. The proper solution of the question for each individual means dollars and dollars. I see no way but that each one must weigh the argu- ments advanced by both sides, and then consid- er his own locality. I will say this much, that the defenders of large hives have shown a stronger following than any of us had any idea of; and it is evident, too, that there is a tend- ency toward the large sizes in some places. As for ourselves — that is. we here at the Home of the Honey-bees— we shall have to see stronger proof yet to induce us to change to a larger hive, although we shall be experimenting, and shall hold ourselves open to intelligent convic- tion. I think that, in the majority of the lo- calities, the eight-frame hive is still the best. We shall have something pertinent on the sub- ject in our next issue by J. E. Hand. rive-banders; the tide turned against them: prominent queen-breeders are GIVING UP the breeding OF THEM. We have several letters from prominent queen- breeders all over the country, condemning the five-banded bees on the grounds that they are short-lived, not good at wintering, are bad stingers, excessive breeders, etc. I am sorry I am not at liberty to give you their names; but one or two of them will probably have some- thing to say about what they think of them, over their own signatures, in an early issue of Gleanings. I noticed in the last Progressive Bee keeper an article by E. T. Flanagan, with the headline reading, "The Five- banders are no good as Honey-gatherers." Mr. F. says: If the advocates of the socalled five-banded bees could have been with me wlien I overhauled my bees this spring and noted ihe condition they were in a.s compared with tlie leather-colored Italians and first cross hybrids, they would never advocate their dis- semination or propa.u-ation ngairi. With exactly the same conditions as to liives, locality, treatment, amount of stores, and condition thioughout tlie season, all were as like as possible; but in eveiy case this spring tlie dark Italians and liybrids were found in good, fair condition, with no loss, scarcely, what- ever, wliile tlie five-banders were reduced to mere nuclei, or were entii'ely dead, leaving plenty of honey (sometimes as much hs twenty-five pounds) in the hives. Friend Alley, in his denunciation of them, has been fully vindicated if others' experi- ence tallies with mine, and I judge it does from the reports in the bee-journals that have come to hand. At the end of the last season we introduced a good many five-banders into our yard. Of the four or five colonies that we lost in wintering, three of them were of the yellow sort. They were such bad stingers all through the summer that I made a firm resolve that, unless they im- proved very greatly, we would go back to the leather-colored Italians, and now we have hard- ly any thing else in the yard. Last season it was hardly safe to work among the bees, with- out a veil. This year the situation is ma- terially modified. I am well aware that Gleanings has, in the past, said some unpleasant things of the five- banders. It was one of the first to raise its voice against th«m; and now I am not surpris- ed that the whole bee-keeping world is going back on them. The whole trouble is, that queen -breeders, rushed with orders, did not take sufficient pains to breed for their bread-and-but- ter qualities as well a.s for color; and the conse- quence was, they sent out any thing that had more yellow than the average stock, irrespect- ive of other qualities. Now, mind you, I do not say this is true of every queen-breeder who raised these bees; but the tendency on the part of most of them, I fear, was largely so. There are other queen-breeders I might mention, but I believe Mr. Doolittle is among those who are careful and conscientious in breeding these bees. In the Progressive Bee-keeper of June 1 he says: I can not he accused of pushing this yellow craze to the front; but seeing- it was coming, I went about breeding the yellow bee up to the standard of per- fection as lioney-gatherers, to the bestof my ability, the same as I had been and am still breeding the three-banders. I have both three and five banded bees in my home apiary, and these and hybrids in my out-apiary, five miles away, but mostly hybrids at the out-apiary. Tlius it will be seen that I was in a position to tell which did the best at honey-gatlier- ing. With a buckwheat yield, the hybrids would come in ahead; while with a basswood yield, the average would not be greatly in favor of either kind ' till last year, when, from some reason that is not sufficiently clear to me to decide upon, the five-band- ers were ahead by some fifteen pounds per colony on an average. As I have intimated abo%-e, I have never claimed any superiority for the five-banded bees; and while I believe there is n great ditTerence in bees, yet I believe that the result in honey is more largely due to management than it is to the race of bees used: and those bees which are the most pliable under the hand of the apiaiist.'s manipulation arethe'«>( bees, no matter what their color or where they came from. If aiiy queen can not be manipulated or coaxed to give the great bulk of her bees so they will be on the stMge of action in the right time to take advantage of the honey-harvest, she sliould be replaced by something that can. That the five-band- ed bees, the three-banded-bees of Italiaii origin, and a good grade of hybrids, can be so manipulated, is why 1 hold qn to them. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 491 FLORIDA TRAVELS. I told you I was somewhat disappointed to find Manatee only a little village. Well, in going out into the country, unless you happen to go into the neighhorhood of some of the nice improved places like friend Bannehr's and others, you would be likely to decide the co^intry was not very much of a place either. I can readily understand how people going to Florida for the first time, especially if they get a little homesick, might declare it was for the most part a barren wilderness of sand and stunted pines; and some of these folks who are not careful about what they say might declare it was a swindle all round. Some years ago a railroad was built from Manatee to Sarasota; but the rusted rails now lie unused, unless it is when they have a picnic or excursion, or some- thing of that sort. There is not travel or busi- ness enough to run one train a day, and, if I am correct, not even one a week. We accordingly started out with horse and buggy, to visit friend Corwin, of Sarasota. After we had got out a few miles, however, it began to rain, and we changed our course a little so as to strike Oneco, where the Reasoner Brothers have locat- ed their nursery. I could not help thinking on the way that it was a wrong place for a nur- sery away out in those desert wilds. There were hardly any people, no railroads, not even a well-traveled highway. Imagine my surprise under the circumstances, to find myself abrupt- ly ushered in to beautiful grounds with tropical plants and foliage everywhere. Of course, the recent frost had left its mark; but the Reasoner Brothers have learned by experience that it pays to have some protection, even in Florida. They have several greenhouses covered with cloth, and steam -pipes going about in almost every direction in case the cloth is not quite sufficient. They issue a catalog of over 60 pages; and some of their rare and valuable plants are worth large sums of money. It does not pay. they have found, to take risks with such things. Just before the December freeze they had been putting in a boiler, and had got up a good many of the pipes. When admonish- ed of the danger, all hands were set at work; and by doing their best, toward midnight they got the apparatus in shape so they could get a fire under the boiler. Not an hour too soon was the steam sent coursing through the lengths of iron pipe. Only those who have been in similar trying circumstances can im- agine what a breath of relief they drew when their apartments began to warm up in spite of the fro«1y wind outside. Several hours were passed very pleasantly and profitably to myself in lookinff over the wonderful plants and fruit- bearing trees and shrubs. For the first time I here got a taste of that queer little orange, kumquat (Citrus Japonica). They are oval In shape, and a little larger than a gooseberry. You can eat them peel and all. just as you would a gooseberrv or cherry, and yet it is real- Iv a mo«:t beautiful and delicious little orange. Trees five feet high have given a yield of over 2000 fruits. Last season in Jacksonville they were so very much called for that commission men advertised to pav a large price for all that could be furnished. The lime-tree produces a little lemon, but it makes more delicious lemon- ade than any lemon ever produced, in my opin- ion. The giant bamboo was also seen here, but it had been killed by the frost. I shall have more of this later on. The display of pines, palms, palmettoes. and sago-palms, etc., was just wonderful. We nowhere found such an assortment of cacti in Florida as we saw in Arizona and California, but some of them were very beautiful at the Reasoner brothers' nur- sery. Of course, we had much to talk about in the way of plants and machinery for irrigation as well as for preserving the requisite temper- ature for tropical shrubbery. Finally we took a look at the private residence of Reasoner Brothers, nestled down and almost concealed beneath the beautiful forms of trees and shrub- bery. Notwithstanding the thousands of dol- lars' worth that was saved by their steam-pipes and cloth-covered greenhouses, their losses were quite heavy in valuable plants that could not well be protected. Florida, left to itself, presents many features that are rather discour- aging; but under the influence of care and cul- tivation, no one seems to know as yet what Florida may not do. More of this anon. Before leaving the establishment we looked into a room kept warm and damp, made espe- cially for propagating from slips. For this purpose a certain amount of heat and moisture must be maintained with very little variation. But the skillful florist, with the right sort of bed, will take not only slips from a growing plant, but even a leaf, or piece of a leaf, and make it put out roots, and grow. Now, the Reasoners make use of this propagating-bed to bring to life plants that seem determined to die. Sometimes valuable plants are shipped in from long distances, that would be entirely useless without the reviving influences of this propa- gating-bed and a skilled man to manipulate it. On the trip from St. Petersburg to Manatee, I noticed, when rounding the point near Palma Sola, a child dextrously managing a little canoe. The winds and waves were boisterous, and I, with the rest of the passengers, was look- ing anxiously toward the child in the skiff, as it seemed to be. We were a little surprised to see the skiff make straight for the steamer; and as it came nearer we saw it was a little girl in the boat; and, without deigning to notice the rough waves or the wind, she pulled her little craft right up beside the steamer, which slacked up and caught hold of her little boat long enough to give her the mail and take hers In return, for she proved to be, in fact, ANOTHER GIRL POSTMISTRESS. Before starting out again, however, we notic- ed she picked up a lot of fish, evidently just caught, and piled up a heaping pailful, which the mate of the steamer drew up, throwing her some silver coins in return. I was almost ready to protest against letting a child take such risks. But when she picked up her oars and showed herself more at home in a boat than I am on my wheel, I ceased being anxious. One of the passengers explained that she received quite a little salary for acting as postmistress, and fetching the mail from the daily steamer; and besides this she caught fish enough to sup- ply the dining-room on our boat, both sources of income being sufficient to supply the needs of a widowed mother, and perhaps lay up something for a rainy day, or for her own edu- cation. I believe I was snubbed only once during all my trip in Florida, and this once it was my own fault, or, perhaps, the result of my own carelessness. In fact, when I look back and think of it I feel a little surprised that I receiv- ed such unvarying courtesy from man, woman, and child, even including railroad officials, everywhere and at every turn. But now for this one exception. On my return trip from Manatee I was glad to get another glimpse of the little girl who managed the boat with such 492 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. wonderful grace and skill. This time the waves were still higher, and it seemed as if she were really in danger as she threw up her bag of mail, caught th?. other in return, and pitched her tish into the pail that was let down to re- ceive them. She evidently seemed to think she had better finish business as speedily as possi- ble and get hold of her oars. When a bicyclist gets even one foot on his pedal he is master of the situation; and it is so with a boatman, only he wants to get his hands on the oars, to be able to defy the winds and waves that seem ready to work his destruction. Our little post- mistress made things fly right lively. She tossed the money into the bottotn of the boat, catching with the other hand her hat, which the wind seemed determined to take away, then grasped an oar. settled herself back, and, when the wild winds made sport with her brown curly hair, she by sheer strength and skill made her boat spring almost as if it were a thing of life, and had wings. I was thinking about making mention of her wonderful ability, here in these pages, and inquired of the passengers how old she was. No one could tell. I did not dare disturb her with questions until she had her boat well under control, and then I ven- tured: " Please, sis, how old are you ? " As the boat prepared to shoot off across the foamy crest of the waves, she threw her head back, looked in the direction whence the in- quiry came, and for one brief moment I caught a full glance of her dark lustrous eyes. She wore a jaunty sailors" cap: and for convenience (probably more than any other reason) the sleeves of her dress were such as to show her beautifully rounded arms that handled the oars with such strength and skill. Her complexion was, of course, brown, from the sun and wind, and there was not a bit of paint used to make her whiter than God had seen fit. Oh, yes I I have quite an eye for feminine beauty, even if I am toward sixty; but, dear friends, there never was a painted woman, old or young, who could, in my estimation, approach this girl, grown up, as it were, with the winds and waves. Before she opened her mouth to make a reply I saw that for once in the world I had blundered. I called her "sis." thinking she was perhaps twelve or may be a little more. Instead of a "sis" she was a miss of sixteen or perhaps eighteen. She looked me full in the face, with a saucy twinkle in her dark eyes, and with a little bit, perhaps, of natural pride (and. by the way, she has about as much to be proud of as any woman I know of), she replied — well, what do you think she did say. anv way? Only this: " It isn't any of your busmess, sir, how old I am." It was now ray turn to feel hurt, and I colored up a little. But as she disappeared— or, per- haps I should say, as the distance between us widened — she vouchsafed to me a bewitching smile that allayed any slight wound I may have felt in the words she used. The smile said to me, '"Oh! you need not feel hurt, my good friend; I feel pleasant and neighborly toward you all the same, even if I do not choose just now to tell you that I am not quite so much of a little girl, after all. as some people think." The passengers banterea mn some, good- naturedly, and one of them told me that he felt sure she had no thought of being uncourteous. She naturally attracted considerable attention, and was used to banter with the passengers, and had gradually fallen into a way of being perhaps a trifle saucy, or into a way of speak- ing that might appear so. May God be praised that women are at this stage and age of the world making themselves useful and indepen- dent in honest and praiseworthy callings, even if their calling does sometimes bring them not only out into the open air, before the curious gaze of mankind; and may God help 7/Ja7ikind at large to regard all such women as they would their own sisters and their own daughters; and may we rejoice that it is our privilege to stand before them to protect them, and to defend them, if need be, from every thing that is evil or unholy. My next visit was at Thonototassa. Unless you have had a little practice in pronouncing this name you will have a good deal of dil^cul- ty in speaking it as the Florida people do. But our good friend Mrs. W. H. Stacey helped me to learn it by suggesting that I pronounce the first two syllables — thono — as one syllable; then pronounce the rest of the word as it is spelled, and then you have it— Th'7io-to-tas-sa. To introduce friend Stacey and his wife I shall have to tell you that, when O. O. Popple- ton first spent a winter in Florida, he made his stopping place with these good people. Now, friend P. could not be anywhere very long with- out talking bees; and he not only taJ/ced bees, but he made a bee-hive, then a honey-extractor, and finally a foot-power buzz saw, without even a carpenter shop or tinshop to aid him; and the very extractor and buzz-saw were shown to me. The Staceys are great poultry-keepers. Be- fore I had hardly set foot in the dooryard I was charmed by beautiful flocks of White Leg- horns. Each flock has its appropriate yard. Before I left I was permitted to assist in gath- ing the eggs. I have had all my life visions of a model poultry - establishment, with every thing so neat and tidy that it would be an un- mixed pleasure to tend the " biddies " and gath- er the eggs. And here I found my dream al- most realized. Mrs. Stacey suggested that, before I said too much about their poultry- establishment. I should pay a visit to their neighbor, Rev. J. H. Waddell. When we ar- rived, the pastor himself was absent; but his good wife very soon enlisted not only my whole attention but my enthusiasm by their beautiful home and their poultry-appliances. Why, the whole estahlishnicnt looked as if it had been swept and dusted that very morning. The nests and the roosts, and every thing pertaining to Mrs. W.'s White Leghorns, was so unique and tidy that I turned to her and inquired whether she had really taught her fowls to wipe their feet on the doormat before they got into the nests. Now. there is 7iot a very large amount of money laid out around the Waddell establish- ment. When I made some inquiries as to how many men they employed, our hostess replied she believed the pastor himself was the only hired man they had about the premises at that time. Pretty soon we found him coming along with a cartload of old brush and rubbish that he had been gathering up. Do you know, dear readers, that some people have a knack of keep- ing things neat and tidy, without paying out any money of any account? Others will keep a lot of help, and even then seem often worried with many cares and anxieties. I am afraid I belong to the latter class. Now, ever since that pleasant visit I have been afraid that, in writing up this pastor's home away back in the Florida wilderness, I should make too long a story of it; so I am going to stop right here by simply saying that it was the pleasantest home I ever saw, either in California. Arizona, down south, up north, and I will not except even any thing I saw away down east in Boston. I have never seen any thing anywhere that so satisfied and re- freshed my longings for a model home as this one of which I have been telling. Perhaps one secret of it is, the clean white sand that nature 494 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. has spread so lavishly around this little home. But beautiful shrubs, plants, and grassy lawns were to be seen almost everywhere. And then a little gem of a drive went down through the wild tangled woods, and led along by a tiny lake, where the wavelets of pure crystal water rippled up against the soft clean sandy beach. Two or three times I have been inclined to say that, so far as producing great crops is con- cerned, Florida is away behind the North; and 1 have heard others say that, without vast quantities of manure or expensive fertilizer, you can not raise a thing. Nosv, wait a bit. Friend Stacey pointed to a large grape-fruit tree standing at one corner of the porch, and IncidenLally remarked that he received S'DO for one single crop from that tree. I sprang to my feet ih surprise. 8aid 1: "Now, friend Stacey, I have been greatly puzzled about this matter of fertilizing orange- trees, grapefruit, limes, etc. What fertilizer, and how much, did you put ai'ound this tree?" •• Didn't put a bii of fertilizer of any kind around it. neither that year nor any other year." •' But, my dear friend, you certainly did give it some extra cultivation of some kind." "Didn't give it any sort of culiivation, nei- ther that year nor any other year. It just stood there and ' grew itself.' " I walked around the tree, looked it over, ask- ed how old it was, etc. Now, friends, when you hear people talk about Florida soil, and that there won't any thing grow down there, and that you can't get any money for your crop, just remember what 1 have told you, and take a look at the preceding picture. Please remember, also, there were not any freights nor commissions to be taken out of the $90. Our friend got the ^90 in cash for the fruit, right in his own dooryard. There is a part of this conversation that 1 once decided I would not tell anybody; but since several have complained about my extravagant stories in regard to Florida, I think 1 will tell it after all. Friend Stacey said that a neighbor of his got $150 for the crop of ii nil frou} one single tree. You get a few glimpses of the house where our good friends live. Now, right near by friend Stacey's is a cypress swamp, and the most beautiful cypress-trees are now being cut and taken to a sawmill near by. This straight tine cypress lumber is the kind used for greenhouse timbers, you know — rafters, etc. Well, friend S. actually "whittled out" his dwellinghouse from this cypress timber. He split out the boards and the shingles, and built a pretty home before sawmills were ever brought into that region. He is also quite a gardener. He is testing laihyrus and many of the other new plants. Almost everywhere in Florida they say they can not raise peas; but friend Stacey tells me he had a tine crop of Alaska peas, and they were picked before Christmas. The prin- cipal fertilizers used in his vicinity are cotton- seed meal and sulphate of potash. This was all that was needed to get crops of almost every thing in that locality. Of course, they are bee- keepers, but the locality has not ever given any very great crops of honey. A Northerner is often greatly puzzled, and sometimes smiles right out loud, at the queer names and expressions used in Florida. For instance, a piece of light-wood means a black- ened knot of pitch pine, almost as heavy as cast iron. A beautiful plump-looking bird is called a "poor Joe;" and the live-oaks that flourish in Florida are about the same as those I have several times described in California. Now you can understand the following which Florida folks sometimes repeat, to the perplexi- ty of their northern visitors: "You take a chunk of heavy light-wood and throw it at a fat poor Joe sitting on the limb of a dead live- oak." This is almost as bad as the expression, " Blackberries are always green when they are red." Friend Stacey and his wife have some won- derful collections of minerals. In the vicinity of Tampa, along the shores of Tampa Bay, they find queer minerals called geodes. and chalcedony. The geode is a peculiar flinty quariz-like stone that is hollow inside, and tilled wiih water. The crystallization, both on the outside and inside, reminds one of beautiful frostwork. How did the hollow come inside of the flinty stone? and, finally, how did this hol- low come to be partially filled with water? The quartz is so transparent that, by holding it up to the light, you can see the water and the bubble of air that partly tills the cavity. Thou shalt not covet.— Ex. 20 : IT. On page 416, May 15, 1 spoke of a shell mound near iriend King's. As we approached the ex- cavation made by the railroad company in dig- ging out the shells, friend K. was explaining 10 me that the excavating and throwing the shells on to the cars was generally all done by colored men. As we neared the scene of oper- ations we noticed the men were not at work. Friend King asked a colored man the reason, and he replied that "yesterday was payday." After he was out of hearing I inquired why they could not work, even if yesterday was pay-day. The answer was: " Why, after these people get their pay they will not work any more until they get rid of their money. In a few minutes we shall prob- ably see the sad way in which they manage to get relieved of their funds before they can go to work again." Kighi there was being enacted the sad scene right before our eyes. A sort of table or work- bench was placed in the shade of a tree. The men were all gathered around it; and so intent were they on their gambling that they hardly noticed that strangers were looking on at all. There was one rude hut or building in the camp, and a forlorn-looking woman was there to cook and prepare their meals. •' But how long does this gambling last, friend King ? 1 suppose the dull ones, of course, in the game, or perhaps the most conscientious of the lot, will lose their money first, and drop out. In this way the circle draws down nar- rower and narrower until there are finally only two contestants, and in the end one man, the worst villain in the lot, probably, pockets all the money the rest have earned during the days and weeks that are past." My companion turned around and looked at me, perhaps in a little surprise that I should know how these people managed when I was so little acquainted with them. I went on: " But doesn't the final ending-up of the game result in quarrels and tights?" " That is just the way it does end, Mr. Root; and the one who gets the money from all the rest has to run off, a good many times, to escape their anger. Of course, there is more or less cheating and sharp practicing, as there always is in this work, and bloodshed is not unusual at the winding-up." Now, dear reader, this kind of work goes on and on in this land of ours so full of Sunday- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 495 schools and churches. I could not discover that any minister, missionary. or pastor, either black or white, was making any protest against it. The railroad company probably did not inter- fere so long as the darlm ? Whv, how can any man, woman, or child deliberately plan to appropriate that for which a neighbor or companion has worked hard? Whv should wo not have as much interest in seeing that our neighbor has his just rights as that we have our own rights and just dues? Well, it is be- cause we are imperfect and sinful. It is be- cause of the inborn depravity of humanitv. I say »'C. because 1 am every dav and almost every hour conscious that this sin of covetous- ness lurks in my own heart as well as in the hearts of others. I have worked and prayed industriously for years and years, and yet I am splfish still. God have mercy on rnc a sinner! In one sense, however, I am not covotnus. I despise and abhor the man who would take from his neighbor without just and fair equiva- lent. I loathe and abhor the sight of a pack of cards, just because they have been the recog- nized tools of this kind of genteel highway rob- bery for ages and ages past. A certain class of people seem to be continually striving to make card- playing respectable. They bring it into their homes, and they engage in games of cards with their own children. Sometimes they suc- ceed, appare?it?j/. in proving that this terrible work is harmless and innocont. A man well to do once put a billiard table in his barn, and told his boys that, when they wished to play billiards, to play at home. "Don't go off to doggeries: don't go in company with the evil and vicious. Play at home." Somebody, in telling of the above, claimed that the father had succeeded. His boys played billiards in the barn, and grew up to be straight, square men. " Hold on, my friend," remarked a bystander. "May be what you have just said is all true — at least, we will let it pass for truth just now. But I happen to know a neighbor's boy — a child of Christian parents— one who started in church and Sunday-school, and who, I verily believe, might have been a good iL.an this day had it not been for that billiard-table in the neighbor's barn. The boy started there. He started there because it was made respectable. He got his taste for gambling then and there; but now he is nearing a gambler's and a drunk- ard's grave. That billiard-table in the neigh- bor's barn spoiled him for every thing good and useful." We pity, censure, and despise the poor color- ed laborers who have lost their money in gambling year after year as fast as they can earn it. tint, dear friends, is it not true that they are only a little more bold and, reckless in their manner of transgressing and breaking this tenth commandment? The daily papers of this whole land of ours are just now teeming with accounts of hun- dreds and thousands that have been stolen on the sly. A good deal of the time the money Is taken from the government by some sharp management. Men get into office by bribery, and then they seem to think it is expected as a matter of course they will get their money back that they have expended, by some hook or crook. Officers of the law agree to let offenders go on in their transgression providing they pay them enough, etc. Are there no people left who do not want and can not be hired to touch that which justly belongs to some fellow-man? or that which justly belongs to the United States and our public institutions? Oh, yes! there are a good many people; but there are so many things to be seen to and looked after, with all the machinery and multiplication of modern industries, that good people have not time to look after every thing: and a good many of them have such a dislike for going down into the filth and wickedness to straighten things up that they leave it for somebody else to do. Here and there a wicked man is converted to Christ Jesus, and loves his Savior more than he loves any thing Satan has to offer. Even should the prince of darkness say. " Here. I will give you the wliole world if you will fall down and worship me." we have instances of men who stand firm and steadfast all their lives, who never yield to Satan one inch:* but as * Yes. I have met quite a good many men who val- ue a clear conscience, as they go to bed at night, more thim they value the money they may have re- ceived during the day. Why, a good many times people liave come to me, saying, "Mr. Root, you paid me a little more than you ought, in that deal yesterday." When T \oo\i up and laugli at them (T always feel like laughing in real good nature and joy when that un«elfish feature of humanity comes out>, and tell them I guess it is all right as it is, sometimes they will say, " Well, did you get rid of the stuff so as to come out wliole V" If I hesitate a little, down goes the hand of my neighbor into his pocket, and out comes a handful of silver. 496 GLEANIJNGS in BEEiCULTURE. .rUKE 15. time goes on it seems almost as if the dens of wickedness furnish bad men faster than all the churches and missionaries can furnish (jood men: and the saints are, to use a slang phrase, "snowed under." But they need not be. God's promises are to the effect that one who is con- sistent and faithful shall be more than a match for a hundred of the vicious and covetous. But you will notice that this text of ours does not end up by saying, " Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's mo?icjy." It does not say any thing about money. It commences by saying you shall not want his house. It is a sin lo be envious because your neighbor has a better house than you have. And then after men- tioning the house it speaks next of the neigh- bor's wife. I can remember that it used to seem singular and strange that this enumera- tion should come in just this order. But Satan knows his business. He knows that many a man might stand firm and Immovable so long as money or property only was concerned. The man who wrongs his neighbor out of mon- ey, or even out of his house and home, can, if he repents, give back the monpy with interest. He can give back his house and home, or a bet- ter one: but one who steals from his neighbor the wife and mother, can never restore that home as it was before. He has not only taken the path that leads down to hell, as the scrip- tures tell us. but he has led another human be- ing down to hell along with him. And who shall tell (j^f the wreck and ruin that follow on for generation after generation ? It is a terrible thing to want anything that belongs to your neighbor— of course. I mean in the sense of wanting it without giving for it any proper equivalent; and it is the sin and shame of our nation to-day that our children are permitted to grow up without more careful training in regard to this one matter of respect- ing the rights of others. If everybody loved and enjoyed the privilege of sacredly and solemnly living up to this tenth commandment this world of ours would be a heaven here be- low. But, on the other hand, if mankind con- tinue to grow up. not only wanting but greedily appropriating all they can get hold of, it will make this world of ours — nay. to come nearer home, this United States of America— a veri- table hell on earth. If we continue to look up to men, to respect them, and to treat them with courtesy — men who would, without doubt, do just as the poor darkies are doing down in that shell mound, pocketing the earnings of the whole crowd if they can get it — then our nation is surely doomed. A few days ago, when it was first announced that one of the great political parties of Ohio had nominated a man as candidate for govern - " Look here, Mr. Root, we know you are g-ener- ous and liberal; but we don't want to take advan- tage of your good nature. Let me pay you back enoug-h so you will come out whole in the transac- tion, any way." How much good it does me to meet a man like that! We say to ourselves, " Well, there is one man at least that we can remember never needs watch- ing." Pretty soon we find another, then another; and by and by we disfover there is quite :i little band of honest, unselfish neiglibnrs around us-- people who will not overreach and take more than their share, no matter how good a chance may fall In their way. We can leave our tools and produce out in the fields in such a neishhorliood We need not waste our time in fussing with i);idlc)oks on the tool-house, poultry-house, and yrimary, for such a spirit in the hearts of mankind is more secure and lasting than all the padlocks and iron safes that were ever devised by the art of man. While I write, it seems to me that someljody, years ago, said what I am trying to say, better tlian I can ever say it my- self. " Behold, how good and liow pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!— Psalm 133:1. or. the first comments°I heard were disapprov- al; and the principal reasons for the disapprov- al were, that the politicians had nominated a millionaire .for the office. It seemed as if the people of Ohio — at least a considerable part of them— took it for granted we did not want a millionaire. I do not know but they thought a man ought to be ((s?u(metZ of being a million- aire. Why? Well, many good people have got into a way of thinking that a man has no business in being a millionaire — at least, a cer- tain class are taking it for granted that he be- came a millionaire a good deal in the same way the boss gambler in that crowd of darkies suc- ceeds in taking the entire earnings of all the rest of the crowd; and I do not know but they think (like this same boss darkey) after he has got it all, to be consistent he should run away and hide himself, or get among a new crowd that does not know any thing about his past record. I hope you know, dear friends, I do not wish to find fault with honest industry; neither do I wish to complain of those who seem to have ability to manage great numbers of men and hundreds and thousands of dollars, and also to manage large capital. But I am /H(7i(/criJi(/ and t/iirsti7if/ and prayi/u/ that our nation of people, before they go a step further, may stop and consider this last commandment; that they may. on bended knee, ask God to take away all disposition or longincr for their neighbor's house, or his wife, his maid-servant, his ox, his ass, or any thing that belongs to the neighbor. A VISIT TO MATTHEW CRAWFORD S. During one of thoso exceedingly hot days that ushered in this month (in fact, it was on the very first day of the month) I took a notion to pay a visit to Matthew Crawford, the straw- berry-grower. I knew it was a very hot day for a wheel-ride. Hot days have never very seriously interfered with my enjoyment on the wheel so far, and I thought I would take the chances. During the fore part of the route I enjoyed it as usual; but I stopped and sat down and rested by the numerous soft-water springs along the way, and sometimes stretch- ed myself out full length on the green grass in the shade of the beautiful trees. But before the 20 miles were up I had become pretty tired. On the very summit of one of the great hills near Northampton, Summit Co., I sat down in a pretty dooryard to rest. Looking up I was surprised to see red (the red kind, you know) cherries, black cherries, plums, peaches, and almost all kinds of fruit, apparently unharmed by frost. This was clearly the result of the elevation. The cold air could run down on all sides into the valleys, away down below, and this gave that fruit-orchard on the hill almost perfect protection from the ravages of the frost. Here is a hint to owners of hilltops. And what is more beautiful than to see the summit of these great mounds made by nature covered with fruit-trees, and loaded with fruit, when the valleys and plains are destitute on account of the frost ? The day before I took my trip, Ernest took hold of the chain of my wheel and said, " Father, look here; you had better take that wheel right in to Henry now, and have him take up the slack in that chain. If you neglect it, th"^ chain will be thrown off in going down 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 497 a hill, and you may find yourself in a worse predicament than you have ever yet been in all your wheeling adventures." Now, I intended to do exactly as Ernest sug- gested, but it was overlooked. In going down a hill near Ghent— sure enough, off went the chain. At first I felt a good deal distressed to find the cranks of my wheel turn loose, and give me no control whatever over its motions or speed. The chain, however, seemed to keep out of the machinery until I almost touched the bottom, then it caught; but as it was soft sand, the rear wheel slid like a sled-runner un- til the machine slacked up so I could get off. I felt like calling myself a good many names for my stupidity and neglect. I hunted a shady place, then began feeling in my pockets for my wrench. The pump and oil -can were all right, but "' nary a wrench." I rarely carry my tool-bag, because I try to dispense with every ounce in weight, especially during a very hot day. Then I remembered laying the wrench down on the window-sill at the factory, 15 miles away. I pat the chain back in its place, however, and concluded it would prob- ably go all right if I walked down steep hills. I went down several hills of moderate decline, and every thing seemed to be safe and sound until I ventured on one that I felt on the start was a little bit risky. When half way down, off went the chain again. With no back pedaling, of course the wheel began to go faster and fast- er. I dodged innumerable rocks, set my teeth, and held the handle-bars with a grip of iron. All this time the chain was clattering; but final- ly it caught in the sprocket-wheel, and there was a zip, and a rattling of steel, then I heard the chain fall to the ground. It was broken. It made me think of a fractious colt that had succeeded in kicking loo*e from sulky, whiffle- tree, and even the traces. I felt like yelling to somebody to " stop us." But there was no one in sight. My IS-lb. Rambler seemed to be a "rambler" indeed; and even when it got on level ground it would not stop. It went up an- other hill and down on the other side. I began to think of Darius Green and his flying-mo- chine. Finally the vvhsel gradually slacked up, and I got off. I had been thinking thatmorning that I needed a good sweat; and I got it that time. It was not the sweat of physical exer- tion, however, as much as it was mental anxi- ety; and then I found I should have to walk the rest of the way during that terribly hot sultry noontime. I could not ride up hill with- out a chain; and I could not ride down hill— at least if it was very much down — because I was afraid. But I did sail along nicely down all gentle inclines, and even on a rather level road; , and with a brisk wind behind me I made pret- ty fair speed. At one point I came down a long gradual hill. At the bottom was a bridge, but the way was blocked by a peddler's wagon and a farmer. As I could not slow up I yelled at them all the way down hill to "clear the track." They evidently, however, could not see any reason why I should not slack up. But when I got near to them I explained to them that my wheel was broken, and that I had no control over it. Doubtless it seemed to them a little strange that I should be coming up hill at such speed as that without doing any pedaling. They moved, however, just in time to let me squeeze between the two vehicles by the pretty sharp guiding of my steed. Beyond the hill I found a blacksmith shop, and we two — the blacksmith and I — managed to mend the Rambler chain by taking out one link. He was a little slow on deciding just what price he ought to charge. Finally he said he guessed the use of his tools and his time might be worth a dime. I gave him a quarter. and thanked him besides, and went away with the pleasant refiection that there were at least &few people in this vorld who do not want all they can get in every little deal. Yes, I was cheered by another pleasant reflection too: An 18-lb. Rambler wheel, without any chain or crank, swould help me quite a little on my jour- ney. But after you have ridden a mile or two without them, then you can realize as never be- fore what a .s?//>crb luxury it is to make the little light machine fly up hill and down, either slow or fast as you choose. Friend Crawford was fixing a posy-bed in the shade of a tree, for Mrs. C. He is just about my age, and he said he had lately been decid- ing that he wanted to take life a little easier than he had been doing during the years past. I told him that was my sentiment exactly. Then we went out where three bright muscular young men were taking care of the strawber- ries. Two of them were his sons. My eyes soon caught a glimpse of the new Zephaniah Breed weeder. With this machine one of the boys had actually gone over two acres of strawber- ries newly set, fined up the earth in the most beautiful manner, and had not. so far as I could see, torn up a single plant. Why, if a couple of men with cultivators and hoes — yes, and rakes too— had worked two or three days on that two acres of strawberries they could not have fixed them any better than young Crawford did in perhaps two hours. And then the boys had got hold of some new-fashioned hoes which I greatly admired. You can make one by taking a common hoe and cutting off a portion of the steel in a line from one of the corners back toward the shank. It leaves an acute angle of steel at the corner that will go in between the plants, and mellow up the soil, or yank out a little weed. The hoe is just as good for all ordinary purposes as ever, has a sharp corner like a trowel, to get in where a common hoe could not. The frost had spoiled the greater part of their crop of berries; but they are going ahead with new plantations all the same. I'a Irunnerless strawberry attracted my attention. The plant just keeps growing in great clumps or crowns; and if you make the ground rich enough, and have the plants far enough apart, you can, no doubt, get a quart or two from each plant. To get new settings you dig up the old plant and divide it up. I saw a row of nine young ones just made by splitting up one old plant. Another thing, you can put your strawberries of this variety in rows so as to cultivate both ways. I think this variety has never yet been offered for sale. Friend Crawford finds it quite convenient to combine onions and strawberries. I don't mean that he mixes them up on the table, but just in growing them out in the fields; and. stranee to tell, he has sort o' settled down on White Mul- tipliers and White Top onions, just exactly as I have, and here he is only about 30 miles away, and we were sold out and seeking every- where, while he was selling his crop for less than half what it was worth because he did not know where to dispose of it. Don't you see, friends, that it pays to be neighborly? Go around and see what others are doing in your line of business, and talk matters over. THE ONION-MIDGE OF NORTHERN OHIO, OB rrJI^ NORTHERN THRIP OF THE WEST. ^" J CMr. A. I. Root:— I wish to say that'your'talks on gardening, etc.. are very interesting to me. It was through your note on the onion-midge that I learned what ailed my crop last year. My onions began to die during the drouth early in the season, that I thought were all right. I 498 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15 could not tell what was the matter with my late planting, for the weather seemed favorable. I looked, and found the onions covered with the midge. I did not make over a third of a crop. In August we planted two patches of winter onions— No. 1 where the spring crop was grown; No. 2. 300 yards from where onions had been grown for several years. Patch No. 1 died nearly to the ground before winter, after they were knee high. Patch No. 2 was injured about half as much as No. 1. I sowed 8 oz. of Pearl seed the last of August; another 8 oz. Sept. 1,5th, in adjoining beds, 17,5 yards away from where onions had ever grown. The first lot of plants were killed nearly to the ground before winter, and the others were practically uninjured. A part of each lot were transplant- ed in December. Three-fourths of the first lot. both transplanted and in the bed. were killed by the winter. The second lot was un- injured. This spring the first lot was the first to be injured by the midge, except some of lot two that were planted beside the winter onions above mentioned, and began to show the effects of their work as early as any. These pests are in the ground in old onion-patches, also in the onions, sets, and buttons. But in the case of the seed-beds, where did they come from ? I sprayed a few onions with kerosene emul- sion. That seemed to do some good ; but thou- sands of insects came from the adjoining rows and covered them again. I will try acid on some of my later onions. Our druggist charges 4.5 cts. per lb. for carbolic acid. I fear that is too expensive to be used extensively. Then I fear the applications will have to be repeated frequently to kill those that come from the ground; or are they all on the plants while they are growing? I wish our experimenters would learn of some cheap effective way to get rid of this pest. It is my opinion that treatment, to be successful, must be preventive. I would suggest working the ground during freezing weather, or planting winter onions about the patch in August, then pulling and burning late in the fall, when they are covered with the in- sects. Tf water will destroy the midge, whv would it not be a good plan to flood both patch and seed-bed. where possible, just before trans- planting? The onion is my best-paving crop, but the midge will destroy three-foiirths of it this year. I shall have to abandon the crop entirely if I can not destroy the little fellows. Malvern, Ark., May 16. P. C. Shockky. The above was at once forwarded to our Ohio Experiment Station, and below is their reply: Friend Root.-— Our Prof. Webster, who has done considerable work with the insect referred to. refers me to a bulletin recently published by the Iowa Experiment Station, in which Prof. Osborne gives a description of the insect, under the name of the " Western Onion Thrip." It is one of those insects which do not have a par- ticular liking for any special plant, but has been found on squash, turnin, catnip, sweet clover, cucumber, and many other plants. The eggs are laid beneath the surface of the leaf; and as soon as they batch they begin to feed on the plant-tissue. They evidently crow quite rapidly, and there are, in all probabilitv, a num- ber of generations each year. They live through the winter ia both the larval and adult form, and begin to multiply as soon as vesetation is ready for them. The insect has never yet. except in exception- al cases, been so troublesome but that success- ful remedies have been found to meet it: but Prof. Osborne thinks that kerosene emulsion should be one of the first things to be tried. This will kill the thrips whenever it hits them; but there will be many that are in between the leaves that will escape, and, with those hatch- ing out, it would probably take several appli- cations; and as the insect flies quite readily it would probably come from othei' places. To pull and burn the plants when badly infested would check them; and especially would this be advisable early in the season, when they commence, as they did in the onion-fields of Lodi and Creston, in spots, and gradually spread over the field. As the onion crop is such a valuable one it will pay to do more than ordinary work in fighting the pest; and the grower who watches closely and carefully for the first appearance of it, and then fights it from the start, will have the best success; but as it is an insect that has so many food-plants, it may be only a condition that forces it to feed upon the onion. It is evi- dent that these insects seek succulent plants, and it may be that only in a dry season will it prove serious to the onion. Bulletin No. 27, of Iowa Experiment Station, contains quite an account of the insect, and can be obtained by sending for it. The address is. Experiment Station. Ames. Towa. E. C. Gkeen. VVooster, O., May 3. A visitor at our onion-beds here has just now, June 1, shown me that the midge or thrip has started in on our American Pearl onions. As we are now marketing them, however, they will not be likely to do us serious harm. Should the present drouth continue, however. I greatly fear a repetition of the troubles of last year. We are glad to get the facts given in both the above letters, but regret to know the insect has been doing mischief over localities so widely separated. In the onion-gardens at Creston, Wayne Co., O.. they nearly ruined the crop. One of the owners, a Mr. Jordan, told me it was his belief they all wintered over in some old onions left in the ground overwinter to produce sets. This t>grees. you will notice, with the statement of friend Shockey. We have never found them on our Egyptian or winter onions; but thev fini'sh maturing their sets, usually, before the midge gets to be very bad. At the Lodi onion-gardens, a few miles from Creston, it has been for some years their custom to clear off every thing in the shape of vegetable growth from their grounds in the fall, and burn all rubbish. This, the men told me, was to pre- vent insects, fungoid diseases, etc.. from being carried over from one season to another. Friend Shockey. you will notice, also suggests pulline and burning late in the fall. Can some one tell us whether flooding has ever been tried? The most successful celery and onion farms at the present time have arrangements for irrigation that could be modified so as to flood the land in the winter, without vety much trouble. OXYDONOR AND ELECTROPOISE. BLUXDERERS AND TLUNDERERS. The following is from the Rev. C. N. Pond, of Oberlin, O.. who has been for many years con- nected with the Ohio Sunday-school Associa- tion, and is also recognized as a contributor to several of our religious periodicals. He is also well versed in chemistry and electricity. I have asked him to examine the advertisements and circulars, and give us his opinion. Here is what he says: Deny Brother Roo/;— The documents you sent I liave carefully looked over; also some directly from the Oxydonor office. The claims made are simply astounding-. "Maljesyou absolute master of dis- ease." "It will make you as absolutely independent of disease as if it did not exist." "It is per sc more 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 499 than i)aramount to all else man's knowledg-e af- fords," etc. From one of the Oxydonor tracts I conclude that the Electropoise Is the same thiiiM, but has passed into other hands, and Oxydonor Victory now tights its former self, " now in the liands and control of the Pliilistines who propose to make war upon hu- manity with that name." [mean that the entire matter of all the circulars of botli indicates identity, hut with a transfer and flglit later. One of tlie pub- lications particularly indicates the change. The announcements of Electropoise and Oxydo- nor Victory are not founded upon any known princi f)le of science or health. Tliey lay claim to " natural aws heretofore unknown." and promise to cure al- most every disease ot atflicted liumaniiy. The cir- culars and phamphlets bear the stamp of unmiti- gated charlatanry, as devices to get money from needy sufferers, without rendering- the slightest good in return. They do liarm, because, though in some instances there is seeming' relief, yet the inev- itable effect in general must be to burden the afflict- ed by expense without proflt, by raising hopes which can end only in disappointment, and by turning at- tention from actual methods of cure. Many lionest testimonials can be obtained for any device whatso- ever, because, from a given number of sufferers there are always some ab(jutto recover, and some who need .simply to have their minds turned into a new channel of hope. Such was the ca.se with so- called '■ Christi.an science," which was neithei Chris- tian nor scientific, and is the case with every patent nostrum palmed oft upon the public. But as for any actual curative agency in Electropoise or Oxy- donor, I shoul t as conHdeutly expect it in a tin whistle or a lucifer match. C. N. Pond. Oberlin, O., May 29. We copy the following from the Rural New- Yorker: HEALTH CURRENTS. Four weeks ago, on page 316, we gave our opinion of the "electropoise" which is being advertised as a great " cure-all." By turning back to that page you will see that this device is a cheap little cylinder of nickel, filled With a mixture of sulphur and graph- ite, with a long cord connected with a garter. The estimated cost uf the thing is under 50 cents, and the price is $~r>. The points wetried to make were these: 1. The difference between price and cost is altogeth- er too great. 2. We don't believe the sulphur and the graphite will set up anj' " action" that is going to do a sick person any permanent good. Our opin- ion, then, was that a ne.-t-egg or a liorse-chestnut carried in the pocket would prove just as scientific a cure. Early this week we received this note from the Medical Director of the company handling this device: A hidy bi'ouirht us in an abstract from the The R. N.-Y. of Ma.y 11. containing an ignorant and annoying attack upon "the fleetropoise." "The elet-tropoise" is not a fraud, no matter how apparently f^iiiiple the contents and construction of the polarizer. When the polarizer is placed in cold water, etc., and the plate is applied lo the warm surface of the bodies of men or animals, a tliermo electrical current is started, and enters the body. This current has a most remarkable effect upon the circulation, nervous system, ami niilrition, thereby effecting unusual and also easy cures In numy diseases which can not be reachtd by the usual methods. 1 will call upon you. Agreeably to his promise, this gentleman called, accompanied by the manager of the company — bringing an "electropoise" along with him. They admitted that our statemant as to the make-up and cost of the device is corrects — it is a 50-cent article sold for $3.5. Now, this is about the way we talked to these men: "Our present opiiaion is, gentlemen, that this 'electropoise' is a first-class ' fad.' You charge for it 50 times what it costs, and you make for it most extravagant claims which the ablest scientiflc men we know declare to be ridiculous nonsense. At the same time, we are alwaj'sopen to conviction. The K. N.-V. is too big a paper to permit any bigotry or false prejudice to sway lis opinion. While yoii cant hiiii our opinion tor $1,000,0' 0. if you will give us prmif that your claims are correct, we will help you place an • electropoise' in the hands of every sick man in tlie country." "That's ju-t what « e came to do," said the mana- ger, ".and here is your proof in tiiese hundreds of printed testimonials from those who have used the 'poise.' " " We don't care any thing about your printed tes- timonials. Admitting that these "people think this 'poise' helped them, how do they know that it was not some change of diet, or way of living, that did the business "i* Wiiat we call proof is a scientific demonstration that this ' force' you talk about, ac- tually does cure, and an explanation of the way it ctiresand how it affects the system. " '■ We can't explain it. We only know that it docs cure. We have a theory about "it, however. Will you let us put one on you to illustrate it ? " " Certainly!" A piece of ice was taken out of tlie water-tank. The nickel case of the "electropoise" was put on this ice, and the whole wrapped in paper. The gar- ter at the end of the cord was fastened to the writer's wrist toti e satisfaction of the medical director, and we all waited for the appearance of the thermo-elec- tiical current. While it was preparing to start, the manager exi>laincd the philosopliy of this new system of curing. Put in the simplest way possible, this is what we understood him to say: When put in cold water, the sulphtjr and graphite in tlie cylinder start up some sort of cnemiral ac- tion, which is communicated by means of the cord and garter into the system of the person connected with the 'poise. Whether this "charge" is ordinary electricity or not, nobody seems to know. After entering the system, it very conveniently goes to the spinal cord, and thence tlirough the nerves all over the body, quickening all the processes of di- gestion and assimilation, and thus (of course) curing disease by mending all the broken-down parts of the body and causing all tl e organs to do perfect work in nourishing and taking oft' wastes. Somehow or other, all the wise men of the ages have skipped this great principle heretofore, and most of the scientists now on earth are so envious and afraid thatthis 'thermo-eh ctrical current" wi'l absolutely ruin the l:)usiness of doctors, drugeists, and under- takers, that they will persist in calling tlie " f lectro- poise" a, humbug, just as they did the electric brushes and other fads which flourished so 15 years ago, and have long since died out ! All this time I was waiting for that current to start. To cheer me along, the manager said that the cur- rent could cure catarrh, deafness, old sores of many years' standing, bon3' growtn at the joints, that it would prevent consumption in its early stages, re- lieve dyspepsia or nervous prostration, and that it will make seeds and plants grow faster ! Now, I am deaf, and have had catarrh; mj' fingers have been frozen, I have five bad scars on my hands; there is more or less malaria near where I live; 1 am always afraid that the baby will get hold of some tuber- culous milk and drink it; I am sure to have a head- ache when 1 eat too much dinner; lam threatened with nervous prostration when I see how " Preserva- line" and the "Creamery Shark" are permitted to advertise, and my lima beans simnly won't start this year. Therefore, you can imagine that I was mighty anxious for that "current" to start and put an end to these vat ious troubles. But it didn't! T felt no effect whatever, and at last they took it off- putting me down, I fear, as a very tough subject. To tell the truth, I did expect to feel something like a mild shock of electricity, as I have no doubt some- thing of that sort eoidd be generated in this way. I simply did not feel it. We have now put the " elec- tropoise" in the hands of one who has been an inva- lid for many years. He will give 't a fair trial, and we shall all know the results. Needless to say, we have no faith in it whatever. Possibly we were wrong in saying that it is no better than a dried horse-chestnut, for undoubtedly there may be gene- rated someslight chemical action. That this "cur- rent" will act all through the body, as these people claim, we do not believe, any more than we believe that skunk's oil will cure deafness because the skunk has a very acute sense of hearing. We have tried that remedy too. But stop! Hold on now! We don't want you to go away thinking that we are down on all new things and influences that we can't fully explain ! Not at all. We h.ave had quite a little experience with a " thermo-mental current," and we have no objection to having every reader test it. To test it thoroughly, you must send The H. N.-Y. for at least one year into some family that does not now read a flrst-chiss agricultural paper. At this end of the line, we guarantee to mak(! things sulphurous for all the rogues. In place of using graphite, we will make a grcaf-fight for the farmers' rights and try to put cool water on the hot-heads. The result of this combination will be a " thermo-mental current" of improvement which follows the mail riglit into that famil.v, and works all through it, starting all the members up to better ideas of farming and li%-ing. 500 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15. I may remark that the "Medical Director" alluded to in the above has seen fit to send me a very kind (?) letter; and he tries again to ex- plain how it is that Electropoise acts. He ad- mits they get $25.00 for a 50-cent article, and says the scientitic explanation of Electropoise is, that it acts in the same way as putting cold applications to the spine; but instead of apply- ing the ice to the spinal column the polarizer is placed on a block of ice, and the "'cold" runs along the wire to the wrist or ankle, and then to the spinal column. Thisexplanatinu is quite ingenious indeed. But, unfortunately, science has never yet discovered a sort of cold or heat either that could run along a wire; then he modifies it by suggesting that it is "thermo- electric vital force" that goes along the wire. No scientist of the present day recognizes any such force, I hardly need remark: and yet these fellows keep right on robbing sick people. CARLOAD SHIPMENTS. Since last report we liave loaded and shipped a fourth car to Barteldes & Co., Denver, Colo. We are loading' a second car for G. G. Wickson & Co., San Francisco, and have export orders sufficient to make a fourth car for Ne>v York city. A MILLION FEET OF PJNE LUMBER. During the last month we havp bought, or con- tracted for, a round million feet of dry pine lumber for use in making hives, frames, boxes, etc. We have also contracted to furnish 10 or 13 cars of lum- ber cut for boxes for shipping celery, most of it grown in this county. We have for some time been cutting up pine lumber at the rate of over two curs a week. MASON FRUIT-.IARS. We have a pretty good stock of Mason fruit-jars, bought befnre price advanced, which we will sell, while they last, as follows: 1 viint, 1 doz. in box, 65c: fi doz. in box, $3.50 1 quart, " " 7iie; 8 " " 5.U0 ', gallon, •' " 85c: 6 " " 4.75 These are best jars, made witli natural gas. NORTHWEST TRADE INCREASING. From thp settlement for 1 he month of May with H. G. A(klin, St. Paul, Minn., our Northwestern representative, we note witli much satisfaction a decided int-rcase in the trade in our goods for that ttrritorj'. I'he amount sold during tjie one month was more than for the entire year of 1893, and near- ly as much as last year's entire trade. This indi- cates either that the prospects for bee-keepers in that section are much better, or that they appreci- ate Root's goods and the convenience of being able to g:et them near home at catalog prices on short notice, as well as the service of our agent there. DoubtlesF both considerations help to swell the trade. HONEY-PACKAGES OF ALL KINDS. We have already furnished this season a great many thousand shipping-cases of various sizes, and several hundred boxfs of glass to use with them. We are ready to su))i)ly thousands more in large or .small quantities, as needed. Our cases are light, strong, neat, and well made. They include nails, and, if ordered complete, will include glass and paper to go under and over the sections in each case. For shipping extracted honey the 60-lb. square cans can not be surpassed. After July 1st. in all the territory covered by the Western Classification, i. e., west of Chicago and Mississippi River, extract- ed honey in barrels, kegs, or cans boxed, will go at 4th class rate of freight. We are prepared to fur- nish 60-lb. cans, with l?4inch screw caps, from New Orleans, La., St. Louis, Mo., Conneaut, O., or from here. Price of a single box of 3 cans, 75c ; 10 boxes. J6 .50: 25 boxe=, $15.00. Special prices quoted on large lots and e:irloads. One galhin or 13-lb. square cans, with screw caps, f 10.00 per 100: or put up, 10 in n box. at $1 40 for one box; $13.00 for 10 boxes: 25 boxes, $30. We have a good assortment of glass packages for retailing honey in. See our catalog. WHITE BEANS. I believe these alwavs bring cash as surely as wheat and corn : and the prices have never been away down, like wheat and corn— that is. to my knowledge. The beauty of them is, they do better when planted, say the last of June, than at any oth- er time (less liable to be buggy): and we usiuiUy have ground that can be cleared off about this time. The hurry of planting is mostly over, so we can put them in in good shape. We have never found any thing better than the York State Marrow and the White Kidney. We can furnish either at 15 cts. per quart; peck', $1.00; bu.shel, $3..50. If wanted by mail, add 15 cts. per quart for postage. CRIMSON CLOVER. We copy the following from a circular ju.st receiv- ed from Baltimore: "Ttcan be sown from June to October 20th: the earlier, the more pasture it will make. It germi- nates quickly, grows very rapidly through the fall and winter, blossoms in this latitude about May 1st, and is ready for hay about the second week in May, and matures seed from the first growth about first week in June. It can be sown after other crops are removed from the ground, such as wheat (when clover has failed to catch i, oats, millet, or on any vacant ground. It is a very rank grower, some stools containing as many as 120 to 140 blossoms from one seed. "It will grow and make a heavy crop of hay or seed on land so poor that the common clover would not make a stand; and if cut when in full bloom it will mike the most nutritious hay known: or if turned under it will prove a most productive phos- r>bate. increasing larsrely any crop that follows. We believe great profit would result to the farmer by sowinsr buckwheat and crimson clover at the same time. He could thus get two more crops a year than are usually grown. The buckwheat nur- tures the tender clover-plant, and shields it from the summer suns: and when it is taken off in the fall it leaves the clover healthy and strong to make its ffrowth." The principal point in the aliove is for bee-keep- ers. On the same ground you can get a crop of buckwh'^at and a crop of crimson clover, both honev-plants. From what expeiience I have had with both, I have not a particle of doubt but that it will succeed. T intend to make a sowing of several acres myself. From 8 to 15 lbs. of the crimson-clover seed are needed per acre, and we are prepared to furnish it at the following very low figures: Two- bushel sack. $7.00; per bushel," $3 60: half-bushel, $1 90: peck, $1,00: pound, 10 cts. If wanted by mail, add 10 cts. per lb. extra for postage and packing. We will send 3 ll)s. by mail, postpaid, for ."iO cts. Every bee-keeper should try a little patch of it in his garden, even if he does not do any thing more. The spring and winter just past have, perhaps, been as unfavorable for this plant as any one for years past; and yet the reports, even as far north as we are, are sufficiently favorable to warrant at least a further test. Of course, it is not to be expected that all who sow it will get as great results as are claimed for it in many of the circulars sent out. The Practical Faitncr, of Philadelphia, for June 1.5, is devoted almost entirely to reports of crimson clover, and instructions in regard to its manage- ment. We think it wnll pay any one who is interest- ed in the matter, and has had little or no experience, to send for this as a sample number. Address Practical Farmer, Philadelphia, Pa. Did you ever! My Hubbard squashes now. June 13, have leaves as large as my two hands, and yet not a bug, worm, or insect of any sort has even so much as looked in the direction of that squash- patch, evidently. I have been watching them every night and morning, ready for the fight: but it looks now as if I should not have any fight at all. I EATHER'COLORED QUEENS, 40 CTS. EACH, •-' or $4.00 per dozen, June or after. Monov-order olfice, Royalton. A. T. M( KIBHEN. Morrill, Morrison Co., Minn. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 501 Golden Italian Queens. Queens warranted purely mated, • at -5c each; 3 for *2.00: 6 torn 00; • • per doz., $7.00. Untested queens • • after the Ist of July,. 'jOceacli. See • former advertisements. W. A. Compton, - Lynnville, Tenn. That Tired Feeling Caused by washinf? has been con- quered by the Champion Wiistiins- .Mucliiiie Can sit down to run it. UuiKs Lighter and waslies Cleaner and Faster tlian any machine on the market. Will sell at wholesnle rates where we liave no agent. Write for nriees. CHAMPION MFG. CO., Middletown, Pa. Cjrin responding to this advertisement mention OLKANlNGa IF YOU WANT BEES^ That will just "roll" in the honey, try Wloore's Strain of Italians, the result of Iti years' careful breeding-. Dr. H. B. Lung, Harrodsburg, Kv., says: " I have had the pleasure of seeing many tine strains of bees, yet I have never seen such industrious, energetic bees. I must express my ad- miration fill- your success as a bee propagator." Warranted queens, 80c each; 3 for $2 03. Select warranted queens, $1.00 each. Safe arrival and sat- isfaction guaranteed. Tliose who have never dealt with me, I refer to A. I. Root, who has purchased of me 808 queens. Circular free. J. P. MOORE, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky, Red-Clover Queens. Friends, T am ready with those large Leaiher-<-olored and Golden Queens. Promiit deliverj'; 1 untested queen, 7.ic; tested, $1.00; 1 doz., $8.00. Sam- pie queen, .50c. Money-order office, Guernsey. G. R. ROUTZAHN, Menallen, Adams Co., Pa. QUEENS Bred for busi- ness. Untest- ed, June, 65 cts Tested. $1.00 eacli. Fine breede Select straight B-banded breed- e;ich. To all new customers one Satisfaction and safe each; 6 for $8 50. $2.00 eacli e.xlra, ing-riiieen^. $4.1 '0 COLDEN Queen for 50 cts arrival guaranteed. E. A SEELEY, Bloomer, Ark P. O. Money Oi'der office, Lavaca, Ark. 7-20 BEGINNERS. ^ Beginners should have a copy of the Am- ateur Bee keeper, a 70-page book by Prof. J. W. Kouse. Price 25 cents; if sent by mail, 38c. Tlie little Ijook and the Progiessive Beekeeper (alive progressive 28-page month- ly journal) one year, 65c. Address any tlrst- class dealer, or LEAHY MFG. CO., Higginsvillb. Mo. Send $1.00 for the South- land Queen. Edited by the Atcliley family. Plain, prac- al. and all fiesh bee matter. Ji-nnie Atcliley will begin a Bee-keeping school in June lJ^^rl_ sons, come in. .\ si earn bee- **^^"* hive factory. Roofs goods, Dadant s foundation. Send for free catalog and sample iouruMl. THE JENNIE ATCHLEY CO., Beeville, Bee Co., Texas. t^"In responding to this advertisement mention (iLKA.siKos J. W.'-K. SHAW & CO. Will fill your n orders for Italian Queens promptly by return mail Queens are carefully reared from fine imported and home=brecl mothers ; are large, healthy, and prolific. Tested, >iiis season's rearing,''$1.00 each. Untested, 70 cts. each ; $7.00 per doz. Safe arrival and satisfac- tion guaranteed Make money or- der" payable Ht Loreauviile. J. W. K. Shaw & Co., Loreauviile, La. ^^^ We can fill Your Orders for Dovetailed Hives, Sections, Foun= dation, etc.. by Return Mail. Have A. I. Root Co.'s goods at Their Prices. Will save you freight, and get goods to you in a few days. Catalog free. JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. "The Southland "The Market Garden." A Monthly Journal For narket=Qardeners and Truckers. So Cents a Year. Sample Copy FREE. THE MARKET GARDEN CO., Minneapolis, Minn. O^In responding to this adveitisement meiitioii Gi.kaxingh, PATENT WIRED COMB FOUND/\TION Hiit^ jVo Snis ill H rood- frames. Thin Flat - Bottom Foundation Has no Fishbone in the Surplus Honey. Being the cleanest, it is usually worked the quickest of any foundation made. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, IStfdb Sole rianufacturers. Sprout Brook. Montgomery Co., N. Y. t^"ln re.spontiing to this ai) vertL-eniiJUt metition riLEANiNGS. Control Your Swarms, Requeen, Etc. ^, -____ Send 2.5c for samples of 2^g^Si West's Patent Spiral wire _^ _ Queen-Cell Protectors, and ^glis I'at. Spiral Queen Hatch- ^J^ringand Introducing Cage, Sl^ also best Bee-Escape, with ^*^ circular e.xplaining. Twelve Cell-protectors, (50c ; 100, $3. 12 cages, %-[; 100. if5, by mail, rircvilar fiee. Ad- diess N. D. WEST. Mid= dieburgh, Scho. Co., N. Y. Sold also bj' all the leading supply-dealers. t^ln respondirig to this advertisement nier tioii Gleanings. Read what J. 1. Pahent, of Chaki.ton, N. Y., says— "We cut with one of your Cfimbined Machines lafst winter 60 chafif hives with 7-inch cap, 100 honey- raeks, 500 broad framts, 2,000 honey-boxes, and a great deal of other work. This winter we have doubled the amount of bee- , hives, etc., to make, and we ex- pect to do it all with this saw. "^Xt will do all you say it will." Catalogue ttiid Price List free. Address W. F. & JDHN BARNES, 54.5 Ruby St., Kockford, 111. When more convenient, orders for Barnes' Foot- Power Machinery may be sent to The a. I. Root Co. 502 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June 15 Promptness Is What Counts. Best -Goods At lowest prices are what we are all after. The quality of Gary's goods lias never been questioned. 11 is X X white thin foundation and polished (iiit-pi>ce sections are the finest on the tuarlo Are a strain ol' business Italians tbat winter in the cold North, and are ready for business, with a bush- el of bees, when the flowers bloom. They are gentle and Industrious. Queens warranted purely in June. Each, $1.(0; six, $5.00; doz.. $9.(.0. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Never had any disease. Address E. f=. QUIGUBY, UnionvH-ue, Mo. The Aermotor all Steel Feed Cutter Worth FOR We will furnish this feed cut^r, one onlv to one per- son not later than July 1, 1895, for $1(1.01) dreftties of ten neifjhho known 2>ersoiudltf by hi in their Iwi, lilies win thi. tr III thi. thii ■ill be , he paid to literally tic Chic;igo. If shipped from back freight will fnll and acquuintnnees of the sender I to he re.fponsible and influential men need and are likely to huij aonie- year. After July 1, money sent in irned to sender and no atti nfion uill ' letters concerniny this ofi't:f. It is The feed cutlei is delivered f. o. b. blanch houses penor This. ill steel fra saw which we put out nt tl^lk^ il.'i.UUla sell only lit J25.01I, is justly "Tiinii one uf the ni"st popular articles "6 everninde. AERMOTOR CO. Chicago. Please mention thi.>- paper. 5189 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTQRE. 507 If Tons of Honey, PIeetsety queens are tired for business, as well as tor beauty and gentleness. Safe arri- val and reasonable satisfaction guaran- teed. [Tntesti d, 75c: tested, $1.00. ^^'rite for price list 5 16ei J. D. GIVENS, Lisbon, Ttxas. Box 3. tF"ln responuing to this advertisement mention Ulkanin'o'. Why Not ^^ Try one of Leininger Bros. HONEY MAKEHS. either Imported or Gold- en Queens? July prices are as fol- lows: Untested. 70c; '» doz., $3 75: tested, ^1 00. We guarantee satis- faction LEININGER BROS., Fort Jennings, 0. Please mention this paper. BUSHELS TRIUMPH Seed Potatoes For Sale. New crop ready to ship July 1st to 10th; $1.50 per bushel; '^ Dushels or over, 10 per cent off'. Address 500 J. T. PENICK, Williston, Tenn. 3=Banded Max JrJlE^r. Queens, from my own imported queens, $1.00 each. Brauer, Beeville Bee Co., Tex. Imported '■■ alian Queens $3 50 each. Tested, $1 $1.50. Untested. 75 CIS each. W. C. FRAZIER, Atlantic, Iowa. *o Are a strain of linsinoss Italians that winter in the cold North, and are ready for business, with a bush- el of bees, when the flowers bloom. They are gentle and industrious. Queens warranted purely in June. Each.$l.i0; six. $5.00; doz.. $9 i 0. Safe arrival and satisfaction guarest quality 1-lb. sections, 14@15; second quality, 10@12; dark, 8@10; extracted, in barrels and kegs, white, 6@7; in pails and cans, 7@8; dark, in barrels, 4@5. Beeswax, 26@38. A. V. Bishop & Co , June 18. Milwaukee, Wis. Cincinnati. — Honey. — There is no change in the market. Extracted honey is in fair demand at 4@7. Comb honey brings 12@14 for best white. There is a good demand for beeswax at 2,5@31 for good to choice yellow, with a scant supply. Chas. F. Muth & Son, June 18. Cincinnati, O. Cleveland. — Honej/-— Thei-e is scarcely any de- mand for honey at present. No. 1 white in 1 lb. sections, is selling at 13: No. 2, 11. Extracted, No. 1 white, 6@8. Beeswax, 28. Williams Bros., June 18. 80 & 82 Broadway, Cleveland, O. Kansas CiTy.— Ho»iej/.— Supply light, demand light. We quote No. 1 white 1-lb. comb. 13@14; No. 2. 13@13; No. 1 amber. 11@.13; No. 2, 8@10; extracted, white, 7; amber, 6; dark, 4@.5. Beeswax, 22. C. C. Clemons & Co.. June 19. Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City.— Hojie;/.— Old crop of honey clean- ed up: no new on tlie market. One-lb. white comb, old, 13; extracted, light, 6i4@7; dark, 4^®;'). Bees- wax, 2.5. Hamblin & Bearss, June 19. Kansas City, Mo. Dethoit — Horiejy.— Best white comb held at 14; no sales of late. Strawberries always knock out honey. No new honey in sight yet. and but little old left. Extracted, 6@7. Beeswax. 24@25. M. H Hunt, June 9. Bell Branch, Mich. Chicago —Hojiej/.— We are clenred up on comb honey, Mnd there is some demand. The new crop will find a bare market. Whit« comb brings 14@.l."); dark, 8@10. Sales of extracted are chiefiy at 6@(i'/^ ; Southern. 5@5V4. Beeswax wanted at 28®30— very little sell ng below 30. We would advise shipments to meet present needs. R. A. Burnett & Co., June 18. 163 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Philadelphia.— iJoxei/.— The honey market has begun to pick up some, with some call for new-crop coml). E.xtracted honey in fair demand. The mar- ket is all cleaned up of old comb honey. . We quote new-crop extracted atS'aQo'o, in bulk. Comb, 11® 14, according to quality. Beeswax, 2.5@27. Wm. a. Selser, June 20. No. 10 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. Chicago.— Honey.— We report no inquiry for honej" at present writins", but hjok for a good trade in August, as revival of business means prosperitv for honey. S. T. Fish & Co., June 19. 189 South Water St., Chicago, 111. San Francisco.— l/2C in 1000 - lb. lots or more. Less than 1000 lbs. at 5c in five-gallon cans. Car lots a specialty. J. P. Ivy, Secretary Bee-keepers' Association. Phcenix. Maricopa Co., Arizona. Alfalfa Honey, very white, thick, and rich. Two 6U-lb. cans at 7c. Same, partly from cleome (tinted), 6c. Samples, 8c. eift Oliver Foster, Las Animas, Col. BUFFALO, N. Y. Unsurpassed Honey Market. BATTERSON & CO. Responsible. Reliable, Commission Merchants, igtfdb and Prompt. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS., 486, 488 & 490 Canal St., Corner Watts St. WHOLESALE SEALESS & COMMISSIOIT MEECHAITTS. Established 1875. HONEY —AND— BEESWAX. LIBEBAL ADVANCES MADE OH CONSISN- MENTS. WHAT'S THE USE OF KEEPING BEES If you do not sell the honey? That's what we are here for. Get our high prices before selling. C. R. HORRIE & CO., commission merchants, 224 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Reference, First National Bank, Chicago. |C^"lii resooncliner to this advertisement mention RT.KAKTNrrsa- J. W. K. SHAW & CO. Will fill your orders for Italian Queens promptly by return mail Queens are carefully reared from fine imported and home=bred mothers ; are large, healthy, and prolific. Tested, this season's rearing, $1.00 each. Untested, 70 cts. each ; $7.00 per doz. Safe arrival and satisfac- tion guaranteed. Make money or- ders payable at Loreauville. J. W. K. Shaw & Co., Loreauville, La. ^^_ CSf"!!! respond intf to tliis advertisement mention Ui.kakin(;s. Tested ^ By mail, in July and Au- Italian ^ gust, 50 cents each. Queens ^ J. C. Wheeler, Piano, 111. Italian Queens ^)r/>> By Return Mail. ^--^ From best imported mothers, mated to drones of finest imported stock, from a ditferent source, hence a direct cross. All queens wai ranted purely mated and to give satisfaction, at T,5c each; 6 for $4.00; select warranted, $1.00. No disease. Safe delivery. J^. H. ROBBY, W^ortliiiig-ton, \V. Ta. O^-fn responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. 1895 GLEANIN(iS IN BEE CULTURE. 509 Contents of this Number. Bees, Color of Bees. Xoii-swanuiii^' — Bees ami Fiuit Bee-keeiiiiiK Brood-onanihers Cells, To Raise Color of Bees Colorado, by Gill Currant-borer Echoes Editor in Brunswick Elei'tropoise Experiments, Taylor'is.. Foul Brood Frame-spacers ...fliri ....^,^5 ...518, ...533 ....536 '-'1 ' Hive. Inventor of the L .')22 ■J.'.llliver. Taylor's .524 ;7 1 Hives, Two-story Langstr'h..523 ulHi\es, Size of 512 2:. Hives, Box v. Modern 513 2C.' Honey . Eucalyptus .517 Lalliyrus in Blossom 5.35 Locality, and Size of Hive... 512 Rambler at Eureka .519 Sug-ar Hone V .526 Top bars Discussed .526 T Supers v. Section-holders 516 Queens, Changing 521 523 Queens. Clipping. Wander Spacers .523 BUSHEL B0XE5. The above cut siiows our popular ait-slatted bushel hox. We have two other styles; one has slatted bottom and side.s \vith stolid ends in three pieces called tlie .s';a(ackage instead of 15. Each' package weighs about 85 to 90 lbs. PRICE LIST. All-slatted bushel box, per crate of 15 $1 .50 Slatted bushel box, per crate of 12 1 50 Galvanized bound bushel box, per crate of 12 2 10 In lots of ten crates, 5 per cent discount will be deducted. Price each, nailed. 15. 18, and 22 cents, respectively. A 20-|iage pamphlet called Handling Farm Produce, telling all about these boxes, mailed free on ;ipnlicati(in. THE A. I. ROOT CO., Medina, Ohio. ^ROR SALE. ITALIAN BEES AND QUEENS. QUEENS, 75 CTS. MRS. A. A. SIMPSON, SWARTS, PA. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our usu- al rates. All advertisements intended for this department must not exceed five lines, and you must say you want your adv't in this department, or we will not be responsible for er- rors. 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 ex- changes. Exchanges for cash or for price lists, or notices of- fering articles for sale, can not be inserted under this head. For such ourregular ratesof 20cts. aline will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. We can not be responsible for dissatisfaction arising from these "swaps .' WANTED.— To exchang-e old breeding-queens which I can recommend, for old breeding- queens which you can recommend. Object, to se- cure new and desirable strains, and avoid the evils i)f in-breeding. J. F. McIntyre, Fillmore, Cal. WANTED.— To exchange thrashing-machine, with bagger, run one season, for beehive machinery or offers. J. C. Rkdpath. Kalamazoo. Mich. WANTED.— To excliange 200 colonies of bees for any thing useful on plantation. Anthony Opp, Helena, Ark. WANTED.— To exchange several good safety bi- cycles. Honey wanted. Send sample. J. A. Grern, Ottawa, 111. WANTED.— To exchange 36-in. planer, power scroll saw, all iron; tenoner, and m(n-tiser, for porta- ble sawmill, or other wood-working machinery. Will give a bargain for cash, eitf Geo. Ral,l, Frenchville, Tremp. Co., Wis. W ANTED.— To exchange foundation-mills and honey-extractors for honey or wax. I. J. Stringham, 105 Park Place, New York. w 7 ANTED. —A foundation-mill, in exchange for other goods. L. L. Esenhower, Reading, Pa. WANTED.— To exchange 40 colonies of bees In Simplicity hives, for Virginia land, or sell cheap. Also small farm to reni . Gko. G. Green. Lyons, Ohio. \V' ANTED.— Information regarding any locality in VV Soutliern Georgia, Alabama, or Florida, pos- sessing good fall and early spring honey resources. Please address South Florida Apiary Co., New Smyrna, Fla. 11/' ANTED.— To exchange Shot-gun, Remington V\ rifle, 4.\5 kodak, safety bicycle, for foot-power saw, portable forge, etc. Robert B. Gedye, LaSalle, 111. WANTED.— To exchange invalid and fracture beds in hard wood, " Perfection " brooders and " Ferlection " bee hives. 8 to 12 frame capacity, con- traction-device arrangement for comb honey— best in use; sections, foundation, frames, etc., for comb and extracted honey, pnueraatic-tlre Safety bicycles, good cross of poultry, chicks or year-old stock, and pure breed, all kinds; also chicken and duck eggs wanted, to hatch. Chas. L. Hill. Box 495, Dennison, Ohio. Qerman Hares! Full-blooded, $1.50 a pair: breeders. Write to me. E. W. SMITH, West Canaan, Ohio. f^^In wiitinua Ivertisers please mention Gleanings. Gray Carniolans and Golden Italians. Our bees are har(l\-, o-e/i«/e. itroliiit.; and the best of honcy-gatlieiers. One untested queen, 7.5c. six for $4.(KJ. All new" customers can have one untested queen of either race for 50c. We do this to intro- duce our bees. We never saw foul brood or bee paralysis. Don't fail to try the Carniolans; they will surprise you. Descriptive price list free. F. A. LOCKHART & CO., Lake George, N. Y. 510 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July 1. Tested Queens by Return Mail at $1.00. I am devoting my apiary largrely to tlie reariag- of queens, making a specialty of tested Italian queens at f 1.00 eacti or six for ^.5.00. These queens are of tliis year's rearing, and have been kept just long enough to know that they are good layers and purely mated. For several weeks I have been filling orders hy re- turn mail, and I am keeping a large number of queens in nuclei for the express purpose of enabling me to fill orders promptly. More than six queens (tested) will be sold at 7.5 cts. eacli, but such orders must be sent with the understanding that, while they will be filled as promptly as possible, it may not be by return mail, which will be the case with six or a less number of queens. The Re\^ie\\' and one queen for $1 50. W. Z. HUTCHINSON, Flint, Hich. Eisa Please cut out this whole ad. and sign and mail It to — 56 Fifth Ave-, Chicago, 111. E^^ Please send to me the Amekican Bee Journal for 3 months (18 numbers). At the end of that time I will send SI. 00 for a year's sub- scription, or 25 cts. in case I der-ide to discontinue. Yon will plea«e address me thus: PS JS Post-Office State. Woodcliff Business To please all, am bi-eeding both Leather - colored and Golden 5-banded Italians. Have five apiaries, 3 to 5 miles apart, running 350 nuclei. Your orders filled Q**^r\*%c- promptly. The Leather- UcCnS* colored 3-banded Breeder, imported from Italy, Oct.. •9f. The Golden .5-banded Breeder, selected from lUUO queens, some producing 400 lbs. of honey to colony. State what you want, and send orders now for early delivery. Guarnnteed queens, T.ic; special low price in quantities. Send for descriptive catalog. Wm. A. Selser, Wyncote, Pa. A Full Line of Popular SUPPLIES Always on hand. 1 lb. sq. flint jars, J5.00 a gross, sent from this city. Untested gneens. now ready. 75 cts. After July 10th, 3 frame nuclei and Italian queen, J2 .'0. Discount on quantities. Catalog free. I. J. STRINGHAJVI, 106 Park Place, New York. One=piece Sections, Smokers, Knives.^ %) Send for circulars and prices to T. F. Bingham, Abronia, Mich. QUEENS. IMPORTED ITALIAN MOTHERS ONLY. Untested, 55 cts.; doz., $6. About 11 out of every 12 will make fine tested queens, and for gentleness and industry we defy the world to beat them. Safe delivery. Money-order office, Decatur. eitf CLEVELAND BROS., Stamper, Newton Co., Miss. NON-SWARMING and NON-STINGING. June 1 shall commence to ship queens and bees from my famous .yellow banded strains. Queens, 8-1.00 each. I never had a swarm of bees from one strain that has been in my apiary six years. No charge unless queens are satisfactory. H. ALLEY. Wenham, Essex Co., Mass. Golden Italian Cheap !••• In order to reduce s-tock, we offer Xo. 1 Cream Sections, 4ix4ix7 to foot, If, U, 1[|, and 2 inch: 1000 for igl.oO, •5000 at 1.40 per M., 10000 '■ 1.:^.5 '' •' We also offer No. l White sections, 5ix 6ix2, open on two 5i sides: 1000 for $2.50, 5000 at 2.85 per M., 10000 " 2.25 " " G. B. Lewis Co., Watertown, Wis. Queens by return mail, from a breed- er obtained of Doo- little, which he selected and tested out of 1000, for his own special use; he said this queen is a better one than the World's Fair Queen, wliicli was valued at $.50.00. Also l'fflli;in C\ii(^(^ne. from one of A. I. Root's iLdiiciii v^uccild very best imported breed- ers; price of queens, untested, 55c; six for $3.00; 12 for $5 .50; tested, $1.00 each; 6 for $5.00. No disease. Shall run 400 nuclei. AsK for free circular, which may be worth dollars to you if you buy queens. Safe delivery and satisfaction will be guaianteed in each and every case. 13-18ei H. B. OUIRIN, Bellevue, Ohio. Dovetailed Hives. Sections, Extractors. Smokers, and every thing a Bee-keeper wants. Honest Goods at Close Honest Prices. 60-page cata- J. M. JENKINS, Wetumpka, Ala. In responding to these advertisements mention this paper. JOURHAlO' • DELVOTE. •andHoNEY 'AND HOME, •inte.f^e:st6 bhshedy theA l^ooY Co. $ii^ PER YtAR^'X® "Medina- Ohio- Vol. XXIII. JULY I, 1895. No. 13. About 52,000 bee-keepers, Mr. Cowan esti- mates, are in England and Wales. Aix IN ALL I like the new Cornell smoker better than any other smoker I ever tried. More good people are in the world than we sometimes suppose. Every little while I find some new ones. A PRIME SWARM, says Doolittle, p. 484, "is often erroneously called a first swarm." Why "erroneously " ? Hay fever is what Somnambulist, in Pro- gressive, thinks is the matter with me. Caught from sweet-clover hay. Alfalfa is a thing that I supposed belonged outside of Illinois ; but farmers in Northern Illinois are beginning to experiment with it. Prettylate to experiment with sweetclover this year; but you might still try cutting the big stalks to see whether stock will eat them when dried. I CAN REMEMBER when clover yielded honey, but it wasn't last year nor this year. [Why don't you mov^ over into the basswoods of Wis- consin, not far from you ? —Ed.] The HIVE DISCUSSION should stop— if it con- tinues to bring out good points — in about five years from now. [Do you mean it should or shouldn't stop? Don't catch on.— Ed.] S. E. Miller, in Progressive, thinks the form of hive, shallow or deep, doesn't matter much, because in a state of nature bees don't care whether a hollow log is perpendicular or hori- zontal. J. B. Hall's picture graces the pages of the Canadian Bee Journal. Friend Hall is very economical of ink, but he knows a lot about bees. [That's so. Too bad he doesn't write more.— Ed.] The union of the Bee-keepers' Union and the North American, shall it be or not? Better discuss it thoroughly in print than to take time to discuss it at Toronto. [Yes, yes; the sooner the better.— Ed.] Golden queens are offered by 11 advertisers in last Gleanings, and 11 others offer plain Italians. In the market for queens, as well as for comb honey, looks go a great way. B. Taylor, after inventing and using for many years the sectional brood -chamber, takes away one's breath by saying in Review that he prefers the single brood- chamber. [Will he tell us in full why ?— Ed.] After -SWARMS often have a number of queens accompanying. If instinct impels so many to leave, what holds any in the hive? or will all leave if all are out of cells? [Yes and no. No, I don't know.— Ed.] The American Bee Journal, in the person of Geo. W. York and wife, honored the Miller family with a visit June 12. Brother York brought along his usual stock of good nature, and we had just the best kind of a time. Hasty tells in Review how to prevent swarm- ing, and ends up by saying: " There, my bees bother me so with their swarming that I can't find time to tell you any more about how per- fectly easy it is to prevent all swarming.'" F. C. Morrow, taking pity on my honeyless condition, has sent me some Arkansas honey. In appearance the honey compares with the best, and only needs improvement in flavor to bring price of gilt-edged section honey. In taking off honey-boards or any thing else with dauby burr- combs under, just raise up enough to break the burr-combs and then let down again. In an hour or so you can re- move and find the burr- combs licked dry. You Mediniters— no, I didn't say dynamit- ers— have never told us yet whether fastening wires by electricity was the right thing for us common every-day bee-keepers. [Yes, sir, if you can make it work. We have no trouble. — Ed.] Tin pans, horns, etc., are generally con- demned as no good in making swarms settle. S. T. Pettit, one of the Canadian veterans, says 51S GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July 1. in C. B. J. thai for 15 years he has not failed to make an absconding swarm settle by vigorous- ly ringing two good cow-bells, keeping always in front of the leaders of the swarm. Geodes are not a peculiarity of Tampa Bay, friend Root. I found many of them near Johnstown, Pa., in a deep cut made for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The water doesn't get inside the stone; the stone grows around the water. DooLiTTLE has been misunderstood to claim that all five-banders have the same origin. He explains in Progressive that others have pro- duced them from Syrian, Cyprian, and other bees, but he thinks all the five-banders of Italian origin have come from Mr. Hearn or himself. Canadians have in general held out against wiring frames. The last Canadian Bee Jour- nal touches the subject in a gingerly manner — doesn't approve, doesn't condemn — just says that the method of fastening wires by electrici- ty works beautifully. On this side the line the wiring works beautifully too, whether fastened by lightning or not. Says Doolittle, in Progressive, " I have been in the bee-business as a specialist for the past twenty years, yet I feel that what I don't know of the business stretches out wide and vast, away out into the unknown; and I sit as a child at the feet of some vast problem, much of which is beyond my comprehension." Shake, brother Doolittle, shake. This troubles me: Some report— particular- ly in Europe— that very strong colonies with unlimited brood room do nothing but rear bees to be fed, while other colonies with limited room for breeding lay up a surplus; and on the other hand we have reports where it's the un- limited room for the queen that goes with the surplus, and little brood room means little sur- plus. FoK SHADE over hives standing in the sun, try this: Cut some grass— long slough grass if you have it: pile it on the hive six inches or more deep, and anchor it with two or three sticks of stovewood. Lift cover and all, and it will last through the season. But I want shade over myself as well as the bees. [So do I; but somehow it is not always convenient to have it so.— Ed.] A SMALL NUMBER have for years paid an an- nual tax for the benefit of bee-keepers in gener- al. Is it fair to continue the Bee-keepers' Union in that way ? Is there no way by which a large number can become interested in the Union and the North American ? Large mem- bership is the thing to strive for, rather than large attendance at meetings. In union there is strength. [How would it do to have smaller membership fees and a larger membership? I think it would be well to consider this.— Ed. 1 LARGE VS. SMALL HIVES. WHY IT IS A QUESTION OF LOCALITY ; A GOOD ARTICLE. By J. E. Hand. Editor Gleanings: — I have read with much interest the discussion on the subject of large v. small brood-chamber hives. This is a subject of vital importance to the bee-keeper, and one on which depends his success or failure in the production of surplus honey, perhaps, as much as on any other one thing except, possibly, loca- tion. I am persuaded it is all a matter of loca- tion, and length and time of honey-flow, that must ever decide this question of whether a large or small brood-chamber hive will give the best results in surplus honey. There can be no iron-clad rules laid down in regard to this matter, but it should be carefully considered and decided upon by each bee-keeper for him- self, and according to his location, and time and duration of honey-flow, etc. Because a bee- keeper in Colorado has splendid success in the production of comb honey with a twelve or even fourteen frame hive, it does not signify that I should not have as good or even better success in my location with an eight-frame hive than with his large hive. I will try to explain why it is altogether a matter of location. In the first place, every bee-keeper in the North (especially in Central Iowa, where I have kept bees for the past 12 years) knows that the hardest thing for us to do is to get our hives full of bees and brood in time for the white-clover harvest, which usual- ly begins about June 1st, after which basswood opens about July 1st, and lasts from 5 to 30 days, according to the season, conditions of the weather, etc., 21 days being the longest flow I have ever known from basswood in Iowa; and as we do not have any surplus from fall flow- ers, our harvest closes with basswood, about July 10 to 15. Now, then, it is conceded by our most scientific apiarists that a bee does not be- come a field-worker until about 16 days old; and as it takes 31 days from the egg to the bee, then 37 days must elapse from the time the egg is deposited by the queen until it becomes a field-worker; hence all eggs laid after 37 days prior to the honey-flow which yields your sur- plus become worse than useless, because they become consumers instead of producers; and it has cost much honey and time of the workers to raise them, which might otherwise have been employed in gathering honey from the fields. Now, then, 37 days prior to July 1st brings us back to May 33d; hence it will be seen that all eggs, in order to produce workers for the bass- 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 513 wood crop, which ends the surplus for the year, must be deposited by the 23d of May. Now, then, brother bee-keepers of Central Iowa, how many swarms would you have in 100 that would have eight frames, or even six, full of brood by May 33? After an experience of 13 years in Iowa I will venture to say that, one year with another, you would not have 25 hives out of IOC that would have even six frames full of brooc by the 1st of June. Some seasons it is so cold during the fore part of May that it is impossi- ble for the bees to care for so much brood at that season. Now, in view of these facts how absurd it would be to advocate a ten, twelve, or fifteen frame hive for such a location ! Why, any practical honey-producer can see at once that his surplus would go to fill up those empty combs in that brood-chamber, instead of going into the sections. As for me, I want a brood- chamber for brood, and it must be of a size that an average queen and colony of bees can fill with bees and brood in time to gather the white honey whenever it comes. After years of careful study and experiment- ing along this line, with the above-named con- ditions to face, with eight and ten frame hives side by side, I have decided in favor of the eight-frame every time, for comb honey. This is for Central Iowa. On tlae other hand, in a lo- cation where the honey-flow does not come so early in the season, and continues all summer, an entirely different system would have to be practiced. For instance, in the San Joaquin Valley, in California, the surplus is gathered principally from alfalfa and fall weeds, and other flowers ; in fact, nearly every thing that blooms yields honey to some extent; but their swarming is all over long before the harvest be- gins; and the more swarms they can get, the more honey they expect; and the parent colony has plenty of time to build up and get ready for the harvest from alfalfa, which continues to yield during the entire summer, and sometimes even to the first of Novemlser. Now, in such a location as this it would be foolishness to advocate an eight-frame hive, for it is very important that the queen be coaxed to lay to her fullest capacity to produce woricers for such a continuous honey- flow. No. brother bee-keepers, this subject of large or small brood-chamber hives can never be gov- erned by any fixed rules, but must ever be a matter of location, and time and duration of the honey-flow from whichwe obtain our surplus. I will close by saying that I have no pet theo- ry to bolster up, and will use the hive that gives me the best results in the production of honey, every time, if I can find it, and I think I have found it at last; and if this escapes the waste- basket I will at some future time tell the read- ers of this journal the hive I like bestof all, and why. J. E. Hand. Wakeman, O., May 15, 1895. [This article, it seems to me, states the situa- tion exactly ; and. no mattrr what has been said to the cofitrary. I think locality accounts very largely for the difference in opinion and experience. Indeed, it could hardly be other- wise. Competent and intelligent witnesses have testified in favor of the large or small hive, and from their standpoint and locality we can hard- ly question the soundness of their argument. Why, then, should these good witnesses differ? That little word " locality " explains it all. As I said in an editorial in our last issue, light is surely breaking. While some localities most assuredly require large hives, other localities want nothing larger than the eight-frame size, Langstroth ; and our experience and orders show that a majority of bee-keepers are and have been situated like our friend J. E. Hand, as above. — Ed.] BOX OR MODERN MOVABLE -FRAME HIVES. WILL BEES STORE MORE HONEY IN THE AGGRE- GATE IN THE ONE THAN IN THE OTHER? By C. Davenport. In Gleanings for March 15, in one of the editorials we read: "The old statement that bees will store as much honey in an old nail- keg as in the most improved hive still stands practically uncontroverted." Now, I do not know that I can say any thing to controvert that statement; nevertheless, I do not believe that bees will store as much in a nail-keg, or, what is practically the same thing, a box hive, as they will in a modern hive, for I have kept some bees in box hives for a long time, and still have about 30 colonies in such. The largest yield I ever got from a colony in a box hive was about 80 lbs. This was secured by having holes in each side of the hive, over which boxes that would hold 20 lbs. each were fastened. There was also one on top, which they filled twice. I I got them to work in these boxes by fastening pieces of comb in each one. This colony did not swarm that same season, which, by the way, was a good one; in fact, it was the best season for honey that I ever saw. A colony in a 10-frame hive stored 3.37 lbs. in 3-lb. sections — not by guess, but by actual weight. This is the largest yield I ever got from a single colo- ny. I also made four new colonies from this one, and had them in first-class shape for win- ter. It was done in this way: This colony, which was a very strong one, got the swarm- ing-fever just at the beginning of the white- clover flow. I did not wait for them to swarm, but removed all their brood, and gave them frames with only narrow starters of foundation in them. Now, I believe that, according to theory, a colony thus treated should not store any or work in sections until the brood-nest is full. But in actual practice a colony thus treated will, if the super is put on with one or two bait-sections, and the rest filled with full sheets of foundation, go to work in them at once — that is, in a good flow. I took those frames of brood with but very few bees on them, and divided them up into four hives; 514 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July 1. and as soon as a few bees in each hive had hatched I gave them a laying queen, and then built them up by feeding and giving them frames with full sheets of foundation as fast as they could use them. At this time of the year it is warm, and no danger of robbing, and they will build up faster than one would suppose. That same season from 40 colonies, spring count, I secured nearly 150 lbs. of surplus from each, and made a very large increase by the method I have just described. But per- haps I should say that all these colonies were very strong ones. They were the best ones that could be picked out of over 150. They also had a very good range, and at that time they were practically all the ones there were to work on it. But now if these colonies had been in box hives, would they have stored that much honey? I do not believe that they would — at least, it is certain that I could not have got them to do so. Another old statement is, that one who keeps bees in box hives, and uses a starch or cracker box on top for a super, will get as much surplus. True, but not in as marketable shape as the one who uses improved hives. In this locality the former will not get as much, nor half as much ; for, from some cause or other, bees in a box hive will not go up through a hole or holes in the top, and store as much honey in a box inverted over the same as they will in a super over a frame hive; for, with a very few exceptions, a small boxful on top makes them think it is time to swarm, and there is no way to prevent them that I know of — at least, no way either to prevent or to allow them to swarm, and still get a surplus by using box hives; for a swarm that is hived in a box hive will not fill a box on top at once, as they will a super where a frame hive is used. And now suppose that, from the same yard, the same day, we have two swarms issue that are the same size, and just alike in every way; say that we hive one in a small frame hive, the other in a box hive that is large enough to hold all they can possibly store, without having to go up into a box on top to work; which one will store more ? I believe I can get the one in the frame hive to store at least a third more by using sections, with full sheets of foundation in them; for while, in some seasons, I think as some others do, that there is not much advan- tage in full sheets, as a rule I believe we can get a good deal more honey by using them. But I do not think foundation is the only thing that will cause the colony in the frame hive to store the most. I think that shallow supers and the tiering-up system enables or causes bees to store more than they will when they are given as much room all at once as would be necessary in the case just mentioned. But by keeping bees in box hives, and hiving the swarms from them in small frame hives, and using supers, etc., in the usual way, we can get good returns from them provided they winter well, and then swarm at the right time. But, no matter what kind of hive we use, or what kind of bees we have, we shall sometimes lose one or more queens during the winter, and quite often a young queen will be lost when she goes out to mate. The reader will now readily understand that a colony, in either case just mentioned, has at that time no brood from which they can rear a queen; and when a colony in a box hive loses its queen at such a time, it is a good deal more work, and much more difficult to remedy the matter, than it is when the same thing occurs in a frame hive. Another old statement is to the effect that it is easier, and less work, to keep bees in box hives. I can not agree with this either. In fact, I think it is right the other way, even if we are keeping bees merely for pleasure, unless those who winter them outdoors can do so with less loss by using box hives. But even if this is the case, the difficulty I have just mentioned will, I believe, balance this. If it will not, there are many other serious disadvantages in trying to use box hives that surely will. Now, on the other hand, if we are keeping bees for pleasure, and also all the profit we can get out of them, I believe we can not only produce hon- ey with less work, but that we can get more of it by using improved hives. Southern Minnesota, June 5. [Friend D., I do not think there is any conflict in our views, if I understand you correctly. Referring to the editorial in question, speaking of hives, I said, "Construction may enable him also to secure a little more marketable honey, and perhaps a little more in the aggregate. The old statement, that bees will store as much honey in an old nail- keg as in the most improv- ed hive, still stands practically uncontroverted." You will see from the above that I do not say that modern hives would not give any more honey, nor that they would not produce more marketable honey; but I still think that a box hive, under normal conditions, having the same cubic capacity as a modern movable-frame hive containing section honey-boxes, will pro- duce practically as much honey in the aggre- gate (not marketable) as any other.— Ed.] BEE-KEEPING IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. DOES IT BECOME LESS PROFITABLE AS CIVILI- ZATION ADVANCES ? At the recent convention of Ontario bee- keepers, W. Z. Hutchinson rather argues that, as a country becomes settled and civilization advances, bee-keeping is likely to become less profitable. Under such circumstances we should probably feel justified in expecting that, in the long-settled countries, the number of hives kept would be very small. Such is, however, not the case. Germany has 1,900,000 hives; Spain, 1,690,000; Austria, 1,550,000 ; France, 950,000; Holland, 240,000 ; Russia, 110,000; Denmark, 90,000; Belgium, 200,000; Greece, 30,000. The 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 515 value of the annual production of honey and wax is estimated at 114,750,000. There is, un- doubtedly, reasonable ground to believe that some districts have greater advantages for the production of honey when first entered by the settler; but as a rule the flowers in a state of nature are in time replaced by another growth, artificial and natural. The increased skill of the bee-keeper, of course, overcomes some dis- advantages. In Switzerland there are 2367 bee- keepers, possessing between them 10,50'J stocks; this makes an average of less than five colonies to each. Very few possess as many as thirty; and in looking over a long list we find one hav- ing as many as 80 colonies. The bees will then be pretty well distributed; but imagine the number of colonies kept to the size of country. We find the number of square miles in each country as follows: Colonies per Country. Square Miles. Sq. Mile. Germany 208,027 9.00 Spain 200,000 8.45 Austria 115,903 13.37 France 204,000 4.65 Holland 12,648 18.09 Russia 2,950,000 1.00 Denmark 14,134 6.37 Belgium 11,373 17.49 Greece 25,000 1.20 Ontario 219,640 .74 Canada .06 These countries practically consume their own production of honey. Owing to their age they are a more scientific people, and, owing to the small amount of earning, they have to be an economic people. Science and economy will teach people to consume honey. Very few of our Canadian people are aware of the value of honey as a food. Bee-keepers must exert themselves in this direction until it becomes the habit of the nation, when the custom will per- petuate itself. If we look at the value of bee- keeping in a country, it is inestimable. Europe produces nearly eighteen million dol- lars' worth from what would otherwise go to waste; and noi only that, but in the fertiliza- tion of flowers it in all probability adds a simi- lar sum to the wealth-producing powers of the country. Bee-keepers are surely fully justified in feeling that their industry represents nothing insignificant, and that it will stand on just as high a plane as they may place it. If they call it a trifle, a bagatelle, and the like, they must not blame the public for placing it at no higher standard.— Ca7iadian Bee Journal for May. A COLORADO LETTEB. FROM OUR OLD FRIEND M. A. GILL. Editor Gleanings: — I have been much inter- ested in your notes from Florida upon its prod- ucts, its climate, and its people, and take this opportunity to say that I too have been ram- bling since you last heard from me. A person coming from a humid region to an arid one is lost for something "green," and he generally turns his eye inward and thinks he sees the greenest thing yet— the people who leave a country whose crowning beauty is in its grassy slopes and leafy bowers, for the desert-like plains of the irrigable lands of the great West. But if he will stay until the water is turned on, and see the worthless-looking soil give up its burden of three or four crops of alfalfa in one season — see peach, pear, prune, or apricot give growth from six to ten feet in one season, he is generally spellbound and thinks, perhaps, that these facts should be added to the seven won- ders. Truly this is a wonderful land of ours, and has a great variety of products and climatic conditions. This is a good country for bees, both in this valley and up the Gunnison River, wherever alfalfa is raised in large tracts. Cleorae also is found in large quantities, which yields large amounts of honey some seasons. The one great drawback to bee-keeping in this valley will be foul brood, as it has got a start about ten miles from this city, and the slipshod bee-keeper, who abounds and seems to thrive in this country, will no doubt spread the disease faster than the vigilant eye of the in- spector can detect and destroy it. Bees at this time are breeding fast, gathering pollen from natural sources, and some honey from apricot-bloom. Peaches will be in bloom in two or three days, which will be followed by apple and pear. There are about 4000 acres of bearing orchard around this city, and it is esti- mated that as much more will be set this spring. Western Colorado is earning a reputation for its large crops of fine-flavored fruit. I am having a mild attack of fruit-fever, and have taken as a remedy 5 acres of new land at $100 per acre, and am setting it out to apples, pears, peaches, prunes, plums, nectarines, apricots, cherries, almonds, with strawberries and rasp- berries between the rows. I have purchased 25 colonies of bees, and will try to grow into my old-time number of 150 in Wisconsin. While reading your experience with the two Indians in Florida I was thinking of mine here. Last Sunday my son Ernest and I mounted our wheels and went out to visit the Teller Insti- tute. It is situated two miles east of the city. It was built by the government, and named in honor of Senator Teller, of Colorado, who took a great interest in promoting the enterprise. As we neared the school we found the large gate open; and as we wheeled into the campus we were soon surrounded by 126 Indian boys and girls who had just come out from their Sunday-school. Dinner was soon announced, when one of their number, acting as drillmaster, formed them in line and marched them in strict military order to the dining-room. Through the kind invitation of the superintendent, we followed. On reaching the dining-room each 516 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July 1. took his or her place behind a chair at the dining-table; and at the tap of the bell each one stood with bowed head and reverently returned thanks for all the blessings that were around and about them. At another tap of the bell each took a seat and enjoyed a splendid dinner, gotten up by their own members who have charge of the culinary department. I said to myself I was thankful I lived in a land where the light of learning is being carried to those uncultured minds. I could see that each one, as he returned to his respective tribe, would be a nucleus for much future good. But the system to me seems yet incomplete; for, so long as their tribal relations exist, many will drift back to their former modes and manners, and can not accomplish the good they could if they were made full citizens, and given land in severalty. In changing from Indians back to bees I will say I should think it would pay you or some one else to establish a branch house for the distri- bution of supplies here or somewhere on the western slope of the Rockies, as the freight is nearly as high from here to Denver as from here to Medina. Bees have wintered well here, and are rich in old stores — a condition which is very desirable where bees fly nearly every day in the spring, but gather nothing. I will say, in closing, that we are all in good health, and are nearly in love with this coun- try, as we have good schools, good churches, and good society; and we hope to live so as to add to instead of taking from the good things to be found in this land. Grand Junction, Col., April 8, 1895. T SUPER VS, SECTION-HOLDER. THE MATTEK DISCUSSED FURTHER By Dr. C. C. Miller. I had hoped before this time to notice the editorial remarks on page 354. Perhaps you have fondly hoped, Mr. Editor, that I wouldn't. You say, "We boomed the T-super arrange- ment in our 1895 catalog harder than ever, put- ting in a nice wood cut. But our packers hard- ly know what it is." Yes, you made a nice picture of it, and all that; but then you said the section-holder is better. Now suppose you leave out the booming picture; don't say a word in praise of the T super; give high praise to the section-holder, and then make the re- mark that the T super is better than the sec- tion-holder. Then see if your packers won't know what the T super is. The point I'd like to have you see is, that all your booming isn't booming at all. You might just exactly as well not put the T super in your list at all, so far as beginners are concerned, as to put it there with picture and high praise, and then say, " We consider the |section-holder superior ^to any other." I asked you to name a single feature of the section-holder better than the T super. To this you make no attempt at reply, except to say, "T supers were not very well adapted to the Dovetail hive without making supers of different lengths from the regular hive-body." That is, the reason that the section-holder is superior is because it looks better to have a super the same length as a hive-body. And for that matter of looks you advise beginners to use an inferior articlel I believe in looks, but I don't want inferior bees just because they are handsome, and I don't want a super for looks. In the picture of the T super you have four pieces nailed on to make out the length. One of those pieces would work just as well as the four. You say the single-tier wide frame '' seemed to have all the advantages of the T super." Without mentioning any thing else, let me ask whether the wide frame has the advantage that a section of any width can be used in it. You disavow the idea of calling me an old fogy; but then you make me tear my hair with rage by saying that I prefer the T super be- cause I have become accustomed to it, and my habits of workingifit it better than any thing else. Now look here; don't you know I was accustomed to the wide frames, and that my habits of working fitted them? I had raised tons of honey with wide frames, and had an invention of my own for emptying them that you thought worth describing and illustrating. I threw aside the hundreds of wide frames I had, both single and double tier, and adopted the T super. Why shouldn't I be just as will- ing to throw aside the T super for something better ? And while we're on that point, will you please tell us what advantage the section-holder has over the old wide frame? Certainly not ease of manipulation. The only advantage I can think of is that the tops of thesections are un- covered the same as in T supers. You have said that T supers are far better than wide frames, and now how can you say wide frames are better than T supers simply because the top-bars are left off? And now you talk about old stoves just because I won't go back to wide frames without top-bars when the length of the hive fits them. Let me give a bit of testimony that has some bearing. One of the veterans, whose opinion I'm sure you would respect, writes, "Section- holders are far inferior to properly constructed T supers, and I congratulate you for voicing the fact." Another man writes, "I got the section-holders because Root said they were the best. I had used T supers in old Simplicity; but when they said section-holders — why, sec- tion-holders it was. But I must say I was never satisfied with them.. .... and I bought T 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 517 supers this spring to take the place of the sec- tion-holders." In the American Bee Journal for June G occurs the question, " Which are better — T supers or wide frames without top-bars, called 'section-holders'?" Of the 24 who reply in the Question-box, some don't know; some think both are good; some think neither; one thinks section-holders better, and ten think T supers better. Pringle, Dibbern, and Doolittle prefer wide frames with top-bars. If I were obliged to give up T supers and go back to wide frames I should want top-bars on them; but I think I should want the frames deep enough so the top-bars would be a quarter of an inch above the tops of the sections. EUCALYPTUS HONEY. Considerable discussion has taken place with regard to the standing of honey from eucalyp- tus, in English and Australian journals. Much honey is obtained from eucalyptus in Australia, and the people of that country do not take it in the most kindly manner because the papers of England think the honey in question not suit- able for the table. A letter from J. D. Ward, of Sydney, gives some light on the matter. He names eleven varieties, and says there are nu- merous others. Among them are a number of gum and box. '• Honey from box is generally considered the best, though that from iron-bark, shiny-bark, and some of the gums is excellent." ''Not a single variety of eucalyptus yields a honey that has what is known as the eucalyp- tus flavor. A few years back some bright genius mixed a small quantity of eucalyptus extract into a quantity of honey, and tried to sell it in England as Australian honey for its medicinal properties. Of course, it was unfit for the table, and of course it gave Australian honey a bad name. It would have been all right if sold as a medicine, and labeled ' Euca- lyptus and Honey.' " " I am sending you a sample of honey I ex- tracted last month (February). It is mostly iron-bark, but honey gathered entirely from iron-bark is better." " Eucalyptus extract is a volatile oil, double- distilled from, I believe, the blue-gum only, though I have no doubt it could be obtained from other eucalypti. It is used here very largely in the treatment of colds, sore throats, etc. I send you a sample; and when you get it, if you put a few drops into half a teacupful of your clover or basswood honey, and stir it well, you will have eucalyptus honey that is ' not fit for the table.' " The bottle of honey Mr. Ward was kind enough to send was, unfortunately, broken on the way, so that I had not a fair chance to test it. From the little I could scrape up to taste, I should say it was somewhat in flavor like a sample of our fall honey, not equal to the best, but by no means unfit for the table. But, as I said, I could not judge fairly; and it is possible it may have gained a flavor from the wood of the box into which it ran. The eucalyptus ex- tract, while it might rank high as a medicine, has a very vile flavor for use on the table. Marengo, 111. [There. Dr. M., I am glad you have handled me without gloves, because it gives me a chance to " talk back." Well, in the first place I would call you " old fogy," but you are in pretty good company, and I fear I might have a buzzing of bees or something of that sort around my ears. Now, then, as you have asked point-blank questions I will try to answer them point- blank. In the first place, in the previous issue I took back the word " booming," so I will ac- knowledge I am knocked out there to start on; but when you raise the question about leaving out the picture, and not saying a word in praise of the T super, praise the section-holder, and then say the T super is better, and that our packers would not know what it was — well, I just won't give in. I will tell you why. You go on the bicycle as I do among bee-keepers, and see how section-holders, modifications of them, are used — that is, topless wide frames, and you would conclude there is a very large following who would have them, no matter what we said of T supers. We are now push- ing self-spacing frames, and recommending them in preference to loose-hanging; but there are thousands of bee-keepers who will not have a self-spacer, no matter what we say in favor of them. According to your reasoning every bee-keeper, nearly, ought to be a user of self-spacers because we say they are better. Now, you ask me to name a single feature of the section-holder better than a T super. I will name several of them. 1. In some localities it is desirable to shift the outside row of sec- tions to the center, and vice versa. You can not do that practically with the T super with- out a good deal of picking and fussing. Sec- tion-holders permit of handling the sections in lots of four at a time, with perfect safety. True, you say you can pick up four sections from the T super; but you must pick them up by the adjacent corners — not an easy thing, by the way, when a T super is full or partly full of sections. 2. Again, loose T tins are more or less of a nuisance, and once in a while get bent; and to have them fixed stationary is not very satisfac- tory. 3. The T tins take up a little space between each section; and if sections are inclined to be diamond-shape, one set of sections will point toward each other, and another set away from each other, making a difference of from }^ to X inch, depending upon the amount of play in the super. Oh, yes! you say you can and do obviate that by putting in little strips of seoa- rator stuff to fill up the cracks; and here, again, you have three little strips of separator stuff and three loose T tins to handle over every time you handle sections. But the facts prove that the very great majority of T-super users do not use those little strips of separator stuff, or any substitute; hence nearly all sec- tions filled in T supers are more or less dia- mond-shape. As the section-holder does hold the section square, the average run of bee- keepers using such will have square sections that will crate. 4. But a very important advantage of the section-holder arrangement (not possible prac- tically in th*^ T super) lies in the fact that separators full width may be used, covering section-holder edges and the upright edges, and 518 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July 1. horizontal edges of the section, not scoi-ed out for bee-ways. This, taken in connection with compression by means of a follower-board and wedge, closes up all little spaces; and the con- sequence is, the edges of the sections are prac- tically free from propolis-stains, and do not therefore require scraping to the same extent that .sections do from T supers. Indeed, there is no comparison, This is no theory. The honey we buy, produced in section-holders, looks better, so far as the propolized edges are concerned, than that produced in T supers. I can (or think I can) spot a T-super section every time. This compression idea I got from Mr. Manum, in Vermont, and from some other practical bee-keepers in York State, while on my first bicycle-tour. When I arrived home I incorporated it in the section-holder device as as soon as possible. .5. The great mass of bee-keepers (and that means, I think, the great majority) do not scrape the sections before putting on the mar- ket. Now. I do not guess or think, hutknow, that filled sections from section-holders with wide wood separators, and compression, present a far cleaner appearance, so far as propolis is concerned, than do those from T supers. Our position as buyers of comb honey, from all over the country, from large and small pro- ducers, places me in a position where I know whereof I speak. 6. Again, T supers require some rather nice or complicated methods of emptying them out — see our ABC. and Year Among the Bees. The section-holder arrangement maybe emp- tied by simply removing a wedge or tightening- strip. and then all are practically loose. By turning the section -holder upside down, and pressing the two thumbs near the center, all propolis connections are broken, and the sec- tions are loose. The manner of emptying sec- tions out of section-holders is self-evident: but out of T supers is not so evidi^nt— at least, it has been necessary to have nice engravings made, showing each step: and as good and clear a writer as the author of " A Year Among the Bees " did not make his plan of accomplish- ing the result plain to me without photos. No. sir. Dr. Miller, there are hundreds of bee- keepers who would prefer the section-holder arrangement for the reasons I have given above. It is able to stand on its own bottom; and if what I have said by way of comparison is true — and I am sure there are lots of bee- keepers who will back me in this — we are per- fectly justified in saving what we firmly be- lieve, that the section-holder arrangement is better. You evidently feel that T do not think the section -holder is quite as good as the the T super, and that, because of the mechanical con- venience we boom it in preference to the other, and for no other reason. As to the matter of looks in the T super, there is not one customer in a hundred who would accept it if the cleats were all on one end as you suggest. The outside cleats on both ends are intended in lieu of hand-holes, and for the purpose of giving a symmetrical and finished appearance to the super when placed up on a hive of greater length. You ask if I don't know that you are accus- tomed to the wide frames, and that your habits of working fitted them. Let me ask another question. Are you accustomed to the section- holder, and do your habits of working fit them? Y^ou are accustomed to handling hundreds and hundreds of T supers against five or six of the section-holder arrangements. How can you fairly appreciate the section-holder. This is a question that could be argued a good deal; but the individual preference, and that old bone, "habits of working," will keep those that have been using the one and the other largely in the line that they have been accustomed to. Now, doctor, don't you inti- mate again, that we recommend the section- holder because, perhaps, from a mechanical point of view, it may be more conveninnt, or — or — I'll jump on that '"bike" for Marengo, and, arriving there, " talk it out " or chuck you in that stove that you are saving for me. — Ed. J ^»^*«*^^ CALIFORNIA ECHOES. By Rambler. " Overeating shortens a man's life." So says truthful Dr. Stray Straws. And why does a man overeat? The dear well-meaning cherub who engineers the cook-stove thinks her " hub- by " must have all the fancy dishes going- spiced, larded, sweetened, frosted; and the poor stomach, unless of cast-iron qualities, soon breaks down. Now, I will go you one better. Dr. M. Half of the modern cooking is a waste of time and material, and a delusion and a snare. Remedy — come out to California, and bach on a bee- ranch, where you can cook your own Aunt Sally pancakes, lunch on crackers and cheese, and dyspepsia will fly away. We are glad to note two arrivals of bee-men who propose to make California their future home — the Hon. J. M. Hambaugh of Illinois, and Mr. H. Y. Douglass, of Texas. The latter thinks California has charms even greater than the much-lauded Lone Star State. Well, he is not the only one to entertain such ideas. Mr. G. K. Hubbard, of Riverside, Cal., has produced over one ton of orange-blossom hon- ey. It is a strictly fancy article, neatly labeled with labels from the " Home of the Honey- bees. There is no slipshod management about Mr. Hubbard's apiary, and a few more such ex- pert bee-keepers would have a marked in- fluence upon the value of our products in the markets. The California honey-yield will not be so large as the opening of the season warranted us to expect. The greater portion of the month of May was cool and foggy. The flowers were abundant, but the elements were against the secretion of nectar, and also against the free working of the bees to secure the nectar secret- ed. The honey already secured is of fine quali- ty, water-white, and well ripened. There will be many carloads to ship, but we predict that the yield as a whole will not be as large as it was in 1893. Many considered the yield then as only a half crop. After studying every phase of the Heddon- Danzenbaker controversy I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Heddon ought to pay Danzenbaker a fair sum for inventing a hive. The D. hive will probably not cut much of a figure against the H. patent. Its chief utility so far consists in being a good advertisement for the latter, and good advertising should be paid for. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 519 RAMBLE 135. OFF FOR KUREKA. By Rambler: spentSiinday in Blocksb urg h : and though it is a town of about :iOO population, and has a thriv- ing school of about 100 schol- ars, there are no gospel ser- vices, no Sun- day-school, no ; church. The sto.res were open, and seem- ed to do a thriving business during the day, and from early morn until late at night the two saloons were well patronized. During our so- journ in town we noticed one citizen in particu- lar who was a daily patron of the saloon. He was at one time a large owner of land, sheep, and a squaw; he had reformed from his squaw condition, married a white woman, and now had a family of four blight children. Hard times came knocking at his door, and a mort- gage upon his properly had caused a relapse of his .moral condition, and the cup was his daily solace. R<'sult. a careworn wife and shame- faced children. The many elegancies in the home gave evidence of a woman of taste and culture; the piano stood unopened; there was dust upon the music-rack; no merry songs as- cended from that home now. It was tears and moans and prayers. The house could not have been more sad with crape on the door. Every day at about noon the father returned from the saloon, blear-eyed, unsteady of step, and maud- lin of speech; and he spent the afternoon in drunken lethargic sleep. Thus again a bitter picture of the rum-traffic thrusts itself upon our attention. Perhaps a little church here, a little Sunday-school, a little exhortation, a lit- tle prayer, even If it save not the father, would save the sons from the ruin-strewn path of the drunkard. Another character appeared upon the streets one morning. He was a tall spare man— a long old-fashioned muzzle-loading shotgun in his hand. He said he was a bummer by trade, but just now he was acting as a guide to a party of hunters bound for Mad River. He was known as " Dad," and it was " Dad, shall I do this ? " or "Dad. shall I do that?" He was the most thoroughly daddied man I ever met. He had no end to deer and bear stories. His gun, his pack mule, and his little dog, were all special favorites. The last glimpse of his outfit was ■when the whole party marched jauntily into the forest, confidently expecting to return with a ton of jerked venison. The climate and capabilities of this portion of California found a staunch advocate in the doctor and druggist. The very best of apples and pears can be grown here. Apple-trees, five years after planting, would yield five barrels of fruit, so the doctor stated; and the pears grown here are immense and luscious. The doctor believed the apple would eventually prove more profitable here than the orange in the south. He desired to make an impression upon us, for he evidently thought we three would make thrifty settlers. The old-timers there were too lazy to work; and when they wanted meat all they had to do was to go out into the brush and shoot a deer or a wild hog. Game of all kinds abounds— quail almost in town; rabbits plenti- ful. Any bee-keeper wishing to keep bees in a small way, and live a retired life, can here find just what he wants, and land at S3.00 per acre. We three finally bade the doctor, the shoe- maker, the blacksmith, and Mayor Block, good- by, and next camped upon Van Deusen River. When we arose in the morning, Bro. Pryal was missing. We knew where to find him, however; for out in the middle of the river, mounted on a rock, with pole in hand, in that favorite po- sition of his; and how patient, and how satis- fied— with bites' We three are now passing rapidly toward Eureka, on Humboldt Bay; and what a grand drive among the mountains and the redwoods! We might say fifty miles of forests. Of course, there was now and then a space of brush, or a stage station, or a lone ranch; but now we came to the dense redwood forest, and for twelve miles we were overshadowed by the im- mense trees— trees fifteen feet in diameter; tall trees 1.50 and 200 feet or more. We three trav- eled leisurely, and stopped often to admire the forest. Now and then there would be a little break in the forest, and a wood-chopper's cabin or a place to make s|)lit shakes would appear. " DAD." We were told by the shoemaker, that, no matter how hot the weather ouiside the forest, we would put on our overcoats when we had got- ten into it. The tops of the trees were so far 520 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July 1. up, and the foliage so dense, that but a small amount of sun heat penetrated to the ground; and though we did not put on our overcoats, we felt a decided depression in the temperature. And how we three did appreciate the dim aisles of the woods! There was but liule animal life E. A. BRUSH AND APIARY. in these dense shades, and the silent forest gave back only the echoes from our passing wagons. We three bee-men would now and then see the busy bee, when we came to openings in the forest, indicating that some of those tall hollow trees were occupied. Our redwood experiences, however, came to an end, and new experiences in a civilized com- munity occupied our attention. In Hydesville we three very fortunately found a vacant pho- tograph studio, several rooms adjoining, pleas- ant people downstairs. We three took posses- sion, and for six weeks we sojourned in this pleasant town. The observations of us three soon discovered the bee-keepers in town. The old box hive and let-'em-alone policy prevailed, and the number of colonies was not excessive. There were no complaints from the fruit-men, and we heard not a word about overstocking the field. The leading bee-keeper of Hydesville was Mr. E. A. Brush. Our acquaintance with him commenc- ed in a peculiar way. While Mr. Wilder and I were trying to get a photo of the public school, and just as we pressed the button on the school, Mr. Brush; who lived across the street, and possessed a camera, pressed the button on us. We were oblivious of the fact until a couple of days afterward, when we were surprised and pleased to see the photo. Mr. Brush is the ingenious man of all that portion of the country. Watches, jewelry, and guns are neatly and expeditiously repaired, and photographs taken. The latter is pursued more as a side issue and as a means of recreation, though Mr. B. is an expert photographer, hav- ing followed the business for several years. A swarm of bees came to Mr. Brush, and, like all ingenious men, he set to work to devise a hive; and though Mr. B. had never been in- terested in bees, had never read a journal or a book upon bee culture, yet our photo shows a veritable up-to-date dovetailed hive. The frames are not Hofif- man, and the surplus sections not 1-lb.; but the nearness to modern ideas is quite surprising. The dovetailed idea was stum- bled upon by using Winchester cartridge-cases, and the frames were made to fit them. The busy bees had filled their hives, and Mr. Brush is looking for- ward to the coming year with expectations of a bountiful har- vest. As to the sources of honey, we did not see much that would encourage a specialist. Our ob- servations were made in October, and, not seeing the sages, the honey - flora must consist of spring flowers. Mr. Brush is not a bachelor, but has a well-ordered house- hold, is a leading factor in the community of Hydesville, and a staunch advocate of Hum- boldt Co. as a healthful and profitable portion of California; is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, and a handy man to have in the community. CLIPPING queens' i\'INGS. Qiiestioti. — Is it advisable to clip the queen's wings'? What has been the experience with such queens'? Are they more likely to be superseded by the bees than those having per- fect wings '? Answer. — In nearly every apiary, where the manager can or is expected to be present dur- ing the swarming season, I should advise the clipping of all laying queens in the apiary; in fact, I should as soon think of going back to box hives as to the managing of an apiary where the queens have their wings so they could fly out with the swarm, where I was working the same for comb honey. I said, " in nearly every apiary." Why I said this was, there are a very few localities in the United States where ants are so thick .on the ground, and about the hives, that it would not be safe to allow the queens to be out on the ground for any length of time, else they would be killed by 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 521 these same ants. But as such a place or places are rare exceptions, it would be safe to say that I would always clip the wings of all queens in the apiary as soon as laying. Some seemed to think that queens with clipped wings give far more trouble at swarming-time than do those having their wings; but I can not think that such have had much experience with clipped queens; for with myself I would rattier manage three swarms where the queens are clipped than one whose queen can go with the swarm. Especially is this the case where there ►are trees in or about the apiary, whose height exceeds 15 feet; for where there are tall trees near the apiary the swarms alight so high that it is often more than they are worth to climb for them, while the clipping of the queens' wings does away. with this climbing part entirely, if no after-swarms are allowed to issue. Without going over the whole ground regarding the advantages arising from clip- ping, it can be expressed thus: Clipping the queen's wings prevent swarms decamping, as a rule; saves the climbing of trees after swarms, or the marring of those trees by the cutting of limbs or the bruising of the same; makes it easy to separate the bees where two or more swarms come out in the air together; facilitates the hiving and managing of swarms, and gives the apiarist perfect control of the apiary during the swarming season. As to their being more liable to supersedure, an experience of 25 years says there is nothing in the claim put forth by some that such is the case; for during that time I have had very many such queens remain the profitable heads of colonies for three, four, and even five years. My impression is that superseding, as a rule, is caused by failure on the part of the queen as an egg-layer, and not on account of any clipping. I, unfortunately, in clipping a queen purchased of A. I. Root, away back in the latter seventies, clipped off a whole leg and a foot off another, besides the wings; but this seemed to make no difference, as she did her duty well for over four years, and then lost her life by carelessness on my part. CHANGING QUEENS AT TIME OF SWARMING. Question.— Wishing to Italianize my bees I have thought that it might be done by chang- ing queens ai time of swarming; therefore I would ask if, in hiving either one or two swarms upon the old stand, or in a new location, would it be safe (by removing the queen or queens) to let a strange queen go in with the swarm ? Ansiver. — The changing of queens, upon the hiving of any swarm of bees, in any place, is liable to "raise a rumpus;" and especially is this the case where the swarm is hived upon a new stand; for in this case the least disturbance or dissatisfaction will sfnd the swarm whirling back home. The chances of failure are too great for all practical purposes, with a single warm hived in a new location. Where two or more swarms cluster together, if the new queen is placed in a large cage made wholly of wire cloth, so that the bees can get near the queen in large numbers, and the cage hung with the clustered swarm for half an hour or so till they call her " mother," then this large swarm can be hived where we please, and the queen allowed to run in with the swarm; and, as a rule, all will go well; but as very few wish to hive two or more swarms together, and as their coming so it is possible to do this is not very frequent, did we so wish, this also is hardly practical. The chances are better where the swarm is hived in a new hive on the old stand, or allowed to return, where you have the old queen so you can control her on account of her having a clipped wing ; but even then they will sometimes become so dissatisfied that they will hunt up the old hive, unless moved some distance from its old stand, and all or nearly all go back to it, or go into hives all about the yard, where in many cases they will be killed. If the above large cage is used, placing the cage over the frames before the swarm returns or is hived, and the queen allowed to remain in this cage for a day or two, the chances of suc- cess are much increased. On the whole I would not advise the changing of queens during the swarming season in any way or by any plan, for I find it to be much more annoying to try to change queens with colonies about to swarm, or with those which have lately swarmed, than with any others, or at any other time of the year; and, besides, a failure more often results. COLOR IN BEES THE LEAST. Question.— Did you read what the editor of Gleanings said on page 393 about the color of bees ? If you did not. please do so now and then turn to " Bees, Queens, etc.," in their il- lustrated catalog and read how the Roots charge more for queens of a yellow color than they do for queens of darker hues, thus putting a premium on the yellow ones. Are they not putting color to the front in this way as much as any one? How do you reconcile this with E. R. R.'s statement that he would not give color even a favorable position ? If the darker bees are the best, why not charge more for them and thus build up the best bee in the world, while S. E. Miller's owl shouts, " Who-who-who-are you?" Answer.— It is probable that the friends Root understand what they are about, hence I shall not try to reconcile the apparent discrepancy which the questioner points out — only saying that, perhaps, friend E. R. R. will enlighten us on this matter. While on this matter of color I wish to say that this very item gives the main "handle" we have in the improvement of any stock. Mr. Miller asks, " Are the prize-winning Jersey cows the prettiest cattle?" To this I answer by asking, "Do the judges awarding the prizes select the prize-winning Durham-cattle color to award the Jersey premiums on ? " All 522 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. July 1. are cattle, and it is the coJor and make-up of the Jerseys which give them the name of Jersey cattle, and whatever there is good in them. So all are bees, and it is the color and make-up of the golden bees which give them all the good qualities there is in them, and by this color I have been enabled to select a bee which has given me a greater profit than any other. If others wish to select any other bees by their color, they are at perfect liberty to do so; and I see no need of insinuating hard things against any bee-keeper who selects bees by the color black because he thinks they are the most prof- itable. [Why, friend D., it seems to me your ques- tioner does not take in all I have said. Evi- dently, the writer of said question is a little nettled over my position toward the yellow- banders, and, like all opponents, fails to give all of what the other side said. Now turn to our catalog, page 29. and read: " While we do not regard them [that is, yellow untested queens] as any better for real business, there are some who go in for beauty." And, again, under the paragraph headed " Select Tested," after describing the progeny as large and yel- low, this sentence occurs: "The progeny of these queens, for real business, will probably be no better than those from the ordinary tested." This answers the whole question, it seems to me; and the mere fact that we charge more for them is no evidence that they are belter, in the face of such statements concerning yellow- banders, as above given. There is nothing to reconcile at all. The very fact that we charge less for the leather stock, and more for the yellow, would induce most people to purchase in the interest of their pocketbook when it is distinctly stated that the cheaper queens are just as good. Another thing, we had to charge more for the yellow stock, because there was such an insane rage for the yellow at the time the catalog was written that we would have had no sale for the leather-colored stock.— Ed. J WAS LANGSTROTH THE INVENTOK OF THE MOVABLE-FRAME HIVE? Mr. Root: — I send you this. Perhaps it may be old to you, but I send it for what it may be worth. A. D. P. Young. Ashtabula, O. The popular notion that Langstroth wa8 the in- ventor of movable frames for bee-hives is an error. Such frames were known in Germany 30 years be- fore 1853, the date of Langstroth's first patent. In 1843 Baron von Berlepsch made use of movable frames, and he refers the idea to a man named Pro- kopovilsk, who employed it in 1841. Evidence to prove this statement is obtainable at tlie Patent Office in Washington. Furthermore, in a book pub- lished in London in 1841, entitled the Natural History of the Honey-bee, on page 300 may be found a descrip- tion of comb-frames hinged like the leaves of a book. By the way, tlie notion held by bee-farmers, that the dovetailed method of constructing hives has been patented, and must not be imitated, is a mistake. It has never been patented, and is a com- mon right. Anybody may manufacture such hives. [Strictly speaking, Langstroth was not the inventor of movable frames; but he was the inventor of the first practical movable frame — something that was of use to the world. The leaf hive of Huber, while the frames were, in a certain sense, movable, was not a practical hive, and one would about as soon have regular bo.x hives without movable frames. There is a certain person who seems determined that Langstroth shall have no credit for the great strides he made in bee-keeping, and that person is C. J. Robinson, who was cotemporary with Langstroth when he was doing his best work. 1 do not know whether the clipping abovagiven came from C. J. R. or not, but it is all of a stripe; but I do know that Mr. Robinson ap- pears to be jealous of Mr. Langstroth. Such kind of writing at this time is in keeping with the cJaims of those who say Columbus did not discover America simply because he found men here when he landed, so the natives must have been ahead of him. He was the first man who discovered it in such a manner as to make it of ^lse to the rest of the world, and in a way that seems just now to be dui'able — something the Icelanders did not do, although they touched our shores Just as Huber did movable frames. Far be it from me to detract from Huber. He is already covered with glory; but if he were living he would want none of the just credit belonging to the father of American bee-keep- ing.—Ed.] double-story langstroth hives. I read in Gleanings, May 1, a report by friend Nash and Mr. N. E. Doane about 10 and 16 frame hives with large colonies of bees pro- ducing large quantities of honey. I should like to say a few words also, which I know will please you. I started in April, last year, when I ordered that Cowan extractor from you, with only three hives; that is, to put two more stories on top of those hives as an experiment, so as to test the quantity of honey that those three colonies would gather. What was the result? They filled 16 frames in ten days, with, nice clover honey. Well, when that extractor arrived on Saturday evening, that next day I gave it a trial. It worked like a charm. I ex- tracted between four and five gallons of honey from one hive which had a half-story on; but those three hives where I put those two one- story hives on top gave me eight or nine gallons apiece inside of two weeks. Yes, I side in with friend Nash and friend Doane. This year I tried it again, and I received my reward from those same hives as last season. I shall here- after run all my hives on that scale. It is pay- ing. There is nothing like it that I have found. Of course, we must keep our colonies strong — that is, they must have a good laying queen. I have mostly hybrid bees. It is very hard ta get queens mated with Italian drones, on ac- count of so many parties having a few hives for their own use. Then another obstacle is, the woods are so close to our doors; but never- theless my bees give good results in gathering honey. George Schafer. New Orleans, La., June 1. 1895 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 533 THE RIGHT AND WRONG KIND OF FRAME- SPACERS. THE WANDER SELF SPACING FKAME HIVE. By EimcHi: A. Wander. The body of the hive can be the same as any in use. The hives with which I experimented are of the Quinby, Langstroth, and Gallup types, with the addition of slideways, which are affixed at opposite sides. The frames may also be those used in other hives with the ad- dition of pins or screws driven or screwed in at their respective places in end-bars; viz., two in each end-bar about one inch from the end. The slideways are so adjusted that they slide smoothly and easily. Closed frames with comb can easily be planed off on sides, and used. I prefer the slideways made by cutting parallel mortises in inside of ends of hive-body, and fastening flat strips of tin to the ridge remain- ing, as will be seen below. ^v-^-^-; .v\n;^:\<\\\